The Frugal Cheapskate’s Guide to Grocery Shopping: How to Feed Family of 4 on $100 a Week

How to Save Money on Groceries.

Without clipping coupons!

Skip the sale!

I feed my family well-balanced home cooked meals.

Prepare and Plan meals; No food waste to throw away!

Plan and Buy.

I’ll help Guide you through the Grocery Store.

The Frugal Cheapskate aims to not waste.

Less food=Less Waste

Buy Less, Create More

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Here’s the method to my madness:

This day and age; literally everyone is saying “Groceries are so expensive”. There are memes circulating around how 3 bags of groceries=$100

I’m here to tell you that you CAN feed your family on less than $100 a week. And I don’t even coupon! Or spend hours leafing through sales ads. However, I DO cook
(I  love being in the kitchen!).

Walk through the grocery store with me..

Grab a buggy and a sales ad. What catches your eye? Front page! Cauliflower is 99 cents this week! Head over to the produce..

My thoughts in the grocery store are something like this;

“There is the cauliflower! And it is on sale! 99 cents. Tonight we’ll have cauliflower and chicken”

“I’ll grab a couple of zucchini for tomorrow. Maybe have fish or shrimp with it. ”

“The day after tomorrow is Saturday. Oh! That’s when we’re going to the Demolition Derby. I’ll plan on pizza or something quick”.

Shop Often, Buy Sparingly

I go grocery shopping two or three times a week. Each time I go to the store; it’s about $20 to $40. Then once or twice a month at Sam’s; $100 to $200.

Vegetables

I really do enjoy fresh produce. We eat fresh produce about two or three nights a week. We also enjoy canned or frozen vegetables. On pizza night; who needs vegetables? Right?!

Quick tip: Never buy more than three days worth of produce. Typically (two or three veggies and one or two fruit “packages“)

I really like Aldis exclusively for produce.

Meat

We eat meat probably five or six nights a week. It’s a rotation of chicken, beef, fish, shrimp, ham, sausage.

Frozen over Fresh

I keep stocked on frozen chicken tenders. Frozen shrimp. Burger comes frozen from a local meat market; in one pound tubes. We do eat processed meats; kielbasa and sausages. I rarely buy fresh meat; UNLESS.. it’s on sale.

The Middle Section

The middle section is shelf-stable/mostly-processed foods. Like pasta, cereal, chips, and cookies.

When I’m grocery shopping, I keep myself to the outside of the store exclusively. Produce, meats, cheeses, milk.. Then to the checkout!

I’ll weave into the middle section for rice or spaghetti. Or cereal.

Whenever necessary. However, I try to keep myself on the outskirts of the store; UNLESS.. there’s something I need.

Rather than dropping a pack of $5 Oreos into your shopping cart; plan to make cookies this weekend.

Sales

I do like sales! They’re enticing! As much as I love a good deal, I also hate wasting food. Check expiration dates and do the math before buying.

Let’s pretend the 1lb pasta boxes are on sale for 75 Cents;

But is it necessary?

Sales rotate, flip, and circulate each week. Pasta is pretty shelf safe. However, I’ve been guilty of “stocking up”, then throwing a bunch of food away.

Leftovers

When I’m cooking;  I prepare by serving size.

I make a meal for the family to eat that night.

I do NOT make extra or “leftovers”.

Expiration dates exist.

For a family of four:

1lb of meat
4 servings of Vegetables
4 servings of Starch

It’s inevitable.

Sometimes we end up with leftovers. Especially if we’re having a roast or tacos.

One of my weird “talents” is making a soup or a casserole out of anything!

Get Creative with Leftovers

For leftover gravy: Vegetable Beef Soup or Chicken & Dumplings!
For leftover tacos; Taco soup!
For leftover roast; Shepherd’s pie!

Less Food=Less Waste

Tossing food in the trash is sad.

If you’re stuck with leftovers, toss it right in the freezer! I especially do this when it comes to taco meat or leftover roast.

It’s all about sticking to the assignment and having a plan.

Summary

Buy Less food. Spend less money. Less waste in the trash.

Jesus said..

“Do not lay up treasures for yourself on  Earth… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Treasure is linked to the Heart

Food “security” may feel like treasure.

A well-stocked pantry would be a “treasure chest”.

It is only a temporary comfort.

Moth and rust destroy.

Expiration dates exist.

Find an everlasting comfort in the way, the truth, and the light.

You are so loved ❤️