GREEN GROCER

Please Scroll Below to Find Updates on Recent Grocery Bill Amounts

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SEPTEMBER'S GOAL....A REVIEW
I achieved success in getting the grocery bill at Whole Foods to 65 dollars a week. Keep in mind that i have a husband who has a crazy schedule misses many of our regular mealtimes. Also, i have two little ones who don't eat like another adult would.  This particular dollar amount may not be realistic for some who have a different situation, and as my children grow i know it will be harder, but i do believe that in general we can reduce our current grocery bills by at least 40% if not more by:

• Using our freezers like a "savings" account
• Planning your menus
• Eating less meat
• Making food from scratch
• Using reuseable bags, etc. at your grocery store for added discounts
• Breakfast for dinner one night a week -sweet potato pancakes with veggie/parm cheese scrambled eggs is cheaper than steak!- and the kids think it's a riot to have breakfast for dinner :-)
• Buying ingredients in bulk (whole foods offers 10% discount for crates)
• Find and use all the coupons you can.  

I rolled up my sleeves and have found this to be TOTALLY NUTS at times and imperfect (last week i spent 90 bucks), but doable and satisfying. 

I'll start re-posting my receipts soon and will also add my monthly bulk-buying receipts at BJs as well. I  need to work on getting those items to be more organic, natural, and/or of recycleable materials....Ahem...you remember the paper towel situation of late July/Early August. I am currently experimenting with tracking my expenses along with my menus and recipes in table (excel/access) format to post to this blog for easier viewing. check back here at the end of February/beginning of March for this new feature! thanks for your patience, i promise it will be a little useful! In the meantime, browse a sample of menus for a week based on what is in my fridge at http://heavyenlightenment.blogspot.com/p/whats-in-fridge_05.html and good luck on finding creative ways to maximize your current groceries budget!

Please do comment, as your experiences and exchanges are great inspiration :-)

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FEBRUARY UPDATE: 
            2/13/2011 - Grocery bill at Whole Foods: 85.99
            2/20/2011  - Grocery bill at Whole Foods: 160.00 - extra provisions for overnight guests
            2/23/2011 - Picked up a few more things at Stop and Shop for overnight guests  20.05
            2/27/2011 - Grocery bill at Whole Foods 79.89 ___________________________________________________________________________________