How to keep food costs down?

[WinniWoman]

My Costco bill is about 1.5K per month.

I spend less than that in a year at Sam's Club.

 

[sue1947]

My Costco bill is about 1.5K per month.

Are you utilizing all of this? It's very easy to buy those large containers and end up wasting/throwing away lots of it when you don't use the whole can, package of meat etc. '
I think you are on the right track to analyze exactly where your money is going. The key is to make sure you are spending it on things that are important to you and getting good value for that money. You enjoy good food so keep drilling down on that grocery bill and see if you can't purchase better for less elsewhere. Smaller sizes on sale at the local grocery might be cheaper than the larger sizes at Costco if you do have lots of waste. The eels etc might be cheaper at another store etc. Or buy the large lots at Costco and freeze it into smaller packages. A small freezer might pay off if you buy in bulk or on sale.
You are on the right track, just keep on working through it all.
Sue

 

[dioxide45]

Are you utilizing all of this? It's very easy to buy those large containers and end up wasting/throwing away lots of it when you don't use the whole can, package of meat etc. '
I think you are on the right track to analyze exactly where your money is going. The key is to make sure you are spending it on things that are important to you and getting good value for that money. You enjoy good food so keep drilling down on that grocery bill and see if you can't purchase better for less elsewhere. Smaller sizes on sale at the local grocery might be cheaper than the larger sizes at Costco if you do have lots of waste. The eels etc might be cheaper at another store etc. Or buy the large lots at Costco and freeze it into smaller packages. A small freezer might pay off if you buy in bulk or on sale.
You are on the right track, just keep on working through it all.
Sue

We are a household of two people and we shop at Costco quite a bit. The best options are paper products and other non perishables. We don't buy large cans of tomatoes or beans or anything that once opened will spoil before we can use it. We do buy large packs of ground beef and steaks. I then take those and portion them out and put them in Food Saver vacuum bags and freeze them. It would be very easy to waste a lot if not shopping carefully at warehouse clubs.

We then buy most of the other small items and produce at Aldi. I rarely actually have to buy anything at a traditional grocery store. Just usually that odd item that Aldi doesn't carry.

 

[VacationForever]

I just got a survey from Walmart about something that might fit you.

Sounds like a lot work.

 

[VacationForever]

I think this is amazingly expensive. Is it a Japanese market? We have a Mitsuwa here and it's so expensive that it's like a food museum. Even getting your eel and other items from Whole Foods would be less expensive.

It is a very large Asian supermarket chain? around here called Koreana Plaza / International Market or something.

 

[VacationForever]

And if you move to Henderson permanently when you retire, you'll immediately recoup 13.3% of your income since NV has no state taxes! Then there are things like "Military Mondays" at Stations Casinos if either of you were in the military. You register once, then just pick up the coupons the first Monday of the month. We often use the 2 for 1 buffet coupon and go to Green Valley Ranch's buffet for lunch. That makes it $10.80 for two! And they have a Mongolian BBQ Stir Fry section among all the others.

There are many other eating out specials that you can avail yourself to if you live in Henderson.

Fern

No state tax is certainly attractive. Husband hates California and I am not too crazy about it either. We don't have military background, just neighbors that are vetetans and that is how we get invited to New Year dinner and such at the military base. We definitely need to spend time exploring how to get membership cards at various casinos. We don't gamble so we have never paid attention to the deals that come with the membership.

 

[VacationForever]

We are a household of two people and we shop at Costco quite a bit. The best options are paper products and other non perishables. We don't buy large cans of tomatoes or beans or anything that once opened will spoil before we can use it. We do buy large packs of ground beef and steaks. I then take those and portion them out and put them in Food Saver vacuum bags and freeze them. It would be very easy to waste a lot if not shopping carefully at warehouse clubs.

We then buy most of the other small items and produce at Aldi. I rarely actually have to buy anything at a traditional grocery store. Just usually that odd item that Aldi doesn't carry.

We don't buy large packages except for paper products, vegetables and some meat. We don't buy canned tomatoes, beans,, and anything with a lot of carbs or sugar. We do let some vegetables go to waste when we don't finish them fast enough. We do buy ready to eat / heat items from Costco like ChIlli verde and soups. Family got tired of their rotisserie chicken.

 

[klpca]

And if you move to Henderson permanently when you retire, you'll immediately recoup 13.3% of your income since NV has no state taxes!

Fern

Although our taxes are high, you only are at the 13.3% rate if your taxable income exceeds $1 million. And if your annual taxable income exceeds 1mm, I'll bet that you aren't timesharing and worrying about grocery bills. The highest tiers of taxes (roughly the tiers over 10%) are directed at the top 1% of earners. Most folks pay less than that. (Not picking on you Fern - just wanted to save people from thinking that they will get a 13% tax cut by moving to Nevada. Unless they are high net worth folks, it will be less than that.)

http://www.tax-brackets.org/californiataxtable

 

[sun&fun]

"We don't buy large packages except for paper products, vegetables and some meat. We don't buy canned tomatoes, beans,, and anything with a lot of carbs or sugar. We do let some vegetables go to waste when we don't finish them fast enough. We do buy ready to eat / heat items from Costco like ChIlli verde and soups. Family got tired of their rotisserie chicken."

Then I wonder how much of the $1500/mo at Costco is actually for food. I still can't get my head around $5000/mo for dining and groceries for 3.

 

[WinniWoman]

Most of my Sam's Club purchases are frozen foods- the veggies, the fish, etc.
Also some snack and specialty items I can't get elsewhere or big packages that I like because I use the product a lot.

Sometimes I will buy the blueberries and freeze them.

I have started to get my paper stuff on Amazon subscribe and save, as well as some toiletry items..

 

[VacationForever]

"We don't buy large packages except for paper products, vegetables and some meat. We don't buy canned tomatoes, beans,, and anything with a lot of carbs or sugar. We do let some vegetables go to waste when we don't finish them fast enough. We do buy ready to eat / heat items from Costco like ChIlli verde and soups. Family got tired of their rotisserie chicken."

Then I wonder how much of the $1500/mo at Costco is actually for food. I still can't get my head around $5000/mo for dining and groceries for 3.

I don't really know other than I can tell you that we do not buy alcohol from Costco, since many folks here think alcohol maybe one of the culprits. We do stock up on frozen food that can be baked or nuked without a lot of hassle. Other non food items snapware also make the list. I am always surprised at the check out counter when the bill is typically runs $200-$400 for each trip.

 

[Passepartout]

I am always surprised at the check out counter when the bill is typically runs $200-$400 for each trip.

Everyone we know nods knowingly when I say that at Costco "I'm not sure I can afford to save this much."

It's getting about that bad at Amazon as well when Buster Brown has to use a handtruck to get the boxes to my front door.

 

[sun&fun]

Sounds like a lot work.

Yes, there is some "work" required to plan, shop and eat sensibly. There is some work required to set budgets and live within them. I think that has been discussed a lot in this thread. If you are serious about cutting back expenditures for food, you need to put in some effort. That means a thorough examination of where the $$ are going now and what can be reduced or eliminated.

Don't mean to be preachy. This thread started with the idea of reducing your monthly food costs. The advice here is only that. You have to determine what is feasible and affordable for you and your family.

 

[WinniWoman]

A woman that used to work with me one day decided that she was going to use pretty much everything in her pantry and freezer and fridge before she went food shopping again. And that is what she did until she was down to nothing and started her shopping again. I think she went for about a month before she stepped foot in a supermarket again.

 

[geekette]

Everyone we know nods knowingly when I say that at Costco "I'm not sure I can afford to save this much."

It's getting about that bad at Amazon as well when Buster Brown has to use a handtruck to get the boxes to my front door.

I've found that if I have a list, stick to the list, and keep moving to hit checkout within 30 minutes, I can get out for under $100. If I'm there more than an hour, it will be at least another $100.

I don't do Amazon so no danger of addiction for me there.

I think that what's concerning is that OP isn't sure where the $ go. If I was dropping $1500 monthly at Costco, I'd need to know what habit was doing that (seafood? imported cheese? impulse home items? stockpile of Duracell batteries?) Couple hundred on fuel isn't unusual for me in a month, but the other 4 digits in food and home supplies would be of keen interest.

I think that the only way to get a handle on this is to actually track where the money goes. After a trip to Costco, haul out the calculator and total the Food. At the end of a month, go thru other receipts and/or credit/debit card statements and pick out restaurant and grocery expenses. I strongly believe that the non-food items need to be removed from the calculations to focus on food cost exclusively. Costs of running a household are, to me, a completely separate budget line.

I just don't think there is a shortcut to chopping down food cost without knowing where, exactly, the black hole is. Without analysis, it's just guessing.

 

[Passepartout]

We went to Costco last night. 3 items on the list- about $45 worth, and a $45 reward check for renewal and previous sales refunds. So there were these nice $12 T-shirts ( got 3), hadn't had dinner yet, so a rotisserie chicken went in the basket. Then remembered we were about out of fabric softener. Oh, and the frozen wheelbarrow loads of peas and fruit are good to keep on hand. And a case of beer was a good deal for $1.10 a can for local craft IPA. There were more treasures, but you get the idea. What should have been a nearly no-cost trip ended up costing about $150.

Yup, I know how addictive Costco is.

Jim

 

[geekette]

We went to Costco last night. 3 items on the list- about $45 worth, and a $45 reward check for renewal and previous sales refunds. So there were these nice $12 T-shirts ( got 3), hadn't had dinner yet, so a rotisserie chicken went in the basket. Then remembered we were about out of fabric softener. Oh, and the frozen wheelbarrow loads of peas and fruit are good to keep on hand. And a case of beer was a good deal for $1.10 a can for local craft IPA. There were more treasures, but you get the idea. What should have been a nearly no-cost trip ended up costing about $150.

Yup, I know how addictive Costco is.

Jim

How long were you in there? I have found bill directly correlates to time in store. Dangerous place. "Oh look, haven't seen that here before ..." and we all know, it may never be back, so grab it if you see it ...

I need glucosamine for doggie, easily $60 right there. My hands won't be full with just that little bottle. Alarm bells, evasive maneuvers to avoid triple digit bill... I am lucky that there are 2 stores here - one is near work so I can get that little bottle at lunch, when I do not have time to look around and impulse shop.

I am looking forward to the reward checks (Costco + Amex) as they will combine in a wild shopping spree for me in Feb/March. I will miss Amex as The Card as it has been a lucrative partnership for me.

 

[Fern Modena]

My bad. Make it at least a 9.3% tax cut if you move from Cali to Nevada. More if your income is higher.

Fern

Although our taxes are high, you only are at the 13.3% rate if your taxable income exceeds $1 million. And if your annual taxable income exceeds 1mm, I'll bet that you aren't timesharing and worrying about grocery bills. The highest tiers of taxes (roughly the tiers over 10%) are directed at the top 1% of earners. Most folks pay less than that. (Not picking on you Fern - just wanted to save people from thinking that they will get a 13% tax cut by moving to Nevada. Unless they are high net worth folks, it will be less than that.)

http://www.tax-brackets.org/californiataxtable

 

[wackymother]

It is a very large Asian supermarket chain? around here called Koreana Plaza / International Market or something.

I guess it's Korean, then. Try to shop around for eel, or buy it when it's on sale. Like any fish/seafood item, it can be pricey, especially if it's imported. You might have fish markets near you that sell fresh eel.

 

[klpca]

My bad. Make it at least[/COLOR] a 9.3% tax cut if you move from Cali to Nevada. More if your income is higher.

Fern

So true - 9.3% is bad enough. Although I'd like a try at having an income level high enough to be in the 13.3% bracket.

 

[VacationForever]

Costs of running a household are, to me, a completely separate budget line.

Yes, it is a different budget line item and you don't even want to know what that line looks like on my balance sheet. It's pretty ugly....

 

[MuranoJo]

A woman that used to work with me one day decided that she was going to use pretty much everything in her pantry and freezer and fridge before she went food shopping again. And that is what she did until she was down to nothing and started her shopping again. I think she went for about a month before she stepped foot in a supermarket again.

DH decided we should do this several months ago, and we've made a good effort to do so (sprinkled in with a few 'fresh' purchases). It's a good way to force yourself to see exactly what you waste or shouldn't be buying in the first place. I've personally learned to think twice about bulk or impulse purchases.

Re. the topic of budget, it really is helpful to try to differentiate food costs from monthly household miscellaneous items--and I realize it does take some work since we mingle both at most stores. But if you really want to know how much you're spending on food...

OTOH, we keep a separate line item for dining out because to us this is like an 'entertainment' category--it's something we reserve for maybe once a week.

 

[LLW]

I guess it's Korean, then. Try to shop around for eel, or buy it when it's on sale. Like any fish/seafood item, it can be pricey, especially if it's imported. You might have fish markets near you that sell fresh eel.

I don't think she wants fresh eel. The whole point of why their food budget is so high is that they prefer/have to have packaged/pre-cooked/ready to heat food items that don't require standing at the sink or stove. They also like more elaborate stuff instead of the plain type. Those items are expensive to purchase even at Costco/Trader Joe/Asian market. But to not have to buy them would require a taste/lifestyle change, which they may not be ready to accept. If they can afford and are willing to accept it, there should be no problem.

Some reverse engineering may be possible, if so desired. Say you want to try to cut the $5K cost to $3K. That's cutting by 40% or keeping at 60%. Their current $1.5 K per month at Costco is done by about 5 trips ($200-$400 each trip averages $300 a trip, dividing into $1.5K equals 5 trips). 60% of $300 is $180 each trip. Calculate how much the $180 should be before taxes. If it is $160 then that's how much the food items should cost before taxes.

Take a calculator with you. Add up each item that you put into the shopping cart. Start going towards the casher stands when you reach about $160. If along the way you see some stuff that you have to have, throw some stuff back on the shelves that would cost the same. You could decide either to have fewer stuff or to have less costly stuff as you do the exchanging. You are the master.

That way you may be able to keep each trip at $180. Keep yourself to 5 trips. Do the same thing with any other shopping places such as the Asian markets.

For restaurants, reduce the number of trips and the cost for each trip (order less expensive stuff). It probably takes a combo of both. And do it in small steps. As to which restaurants and what menu items, you probably have a much better idea than we do.

That is, if you really want to do it.

 

[VacationForever]

LLW, I think you got it nailed. We won't change our taste preference and yes we can afford to not make drastic changes. But there are things we can do to cut down costs as not every meal needs to be elaborate or expensive. I go through more effort and serve more elaborate food when I put dinner together for 2 or 3. We also enjoy hosting friends and neighbors and that is when there is a ton of waste as I put out alot of food and varieties of food. I enjoy not having to prepare food for anyone and we call it "scrounge night". I get to eat anything that I want, sometimes food that only I enjoy in the home. I met with my financial advisor who happened to come by my office and I showed him my retirement plan that included income sources and expenditure as I had it all figured out. He will go back and update his system. I guess we kind of reversed roles. So, yes, thanks for everyone's inputs and I got the validation that I needed and I have more work ahead but even If we don't change a thing, we are just fine, financially. It has been a I want to cut down our expenses but if we don't, we don't.

 

[johnsontrio]

How long were you in there? I have found bill directly correlates to time in store. Dangerous place. "Oh look, haven't seen that here before ..." and we all know, it may never be back, so grab it if you see it ...

I need glucosamine for doggie, easily $60 right there. My hands won't be full with just that little bottle. Alarm bells, evasive maneuvers to avoid triple digit bill... I am lucky that there are 2 stores here - one is near work so I can get that little bottle at lunch, when I do not have time to look around and impulse shop.

I am looking forward to the reward checks (Costco + Amex) as they will combine in a wild shopping spree for me in Feb/March. I will miss Amex as The Card as it has been a lucrative partnership for me.

Just want to mention that I cash my check each year, usually around $700, and take that cash home and use it for spending money or cash for traveling. If you use the rebate check at the register for purchases, you are not earning the rebate on that money spent. The American Express is going to continue to earn money and the manager at my Costco told me that amount will somehow rolled over to your Visa when it automatically arrives in April. They want to assure folks you will not lose your rebate earned in Feb and March.

On another note, I am so fed up with Delta and their ridiculous prices to Cancun from Detroit, that I opened a Southwest Airlines Chase Visa and earned 50,000 Southwest Points. I am transferring 140,000 Marriott points to equal another 50,000 Southwest Points. I should be reaching by the end of February, the 110,000 Points needed to have a Companion Pass for the remainder of this year and all of 2017. I have really enjoyed the Costco Amex but am now looking for something that will maximize my Southwest Points.