My Monthly Grocery Shopping

I have had a lot of interest in the way I buy groceries to feed our family.  Why would it be interesting, you ask? Well, for starters, I only shop once a month.  And I make most of our food from scratch- not much in the way of pre-packaged or "convenience" foods here.  Also, I am vegan.  My husband eats meat, but only meat that he has hunted and killed for himself.  

Side note: many people wonder how I do with a husband who hunts since I feel strongly about animal welfare.  But I say, if he's going to eat meat, which is totally his choice and his right just as it's mine to be vegan, hunting is the most sustainable way for him to get it.  It's not always the cheapest, but I'm totally on board with the way my husband hunts- he's very respectful of the animals and hunts as humanely as possible.  Many people probably wonder how I could be hypocritical, but it's my husband's choice and I respect the man to no end.  Plus, speaking of respect, if your going to eat meat, I think it's far more respectable to go out and get it yourself than to buy it off the grocery store shelves, where you may not know what kind of life it had or what kinds of other products were used in the production.  But I digress... and I will get off my soap box now.

Although the hubs eats meat, it is actually pretty rare.  So I am cooking vegan meals for two people (breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner) for the whole month.  And I usually do it under $230 a month.  This may not seem like an outstanding savings, but eating a healthy, balanced vegan diet can cost just a little more at times.   Plus, we aren't able to grow our own produce year-round in our current area because we have nowhere to put a greenhouse, so we must buy all of our produce for ten months out of the year.  And there are still some things that I will buy only organic.  So yes, I could cut that $230 down, and I hope to each month.  But I love to cook, and I love a good variety of meals.

So here are a few tips that I go by each month:

Menu plan!  Each month, I draw a calendar (on recycled or reused paper) and I write in each day what we will be having for dinner that day.  Every month, I learn something new about doing a menu plan.  First, after you write EACH meal, write all of the ingredients (or tally, or make a checklist-whatever you find easiest) on your shopping list.  I have a running checklist of groceries that I always keep in the house so I don't forget anything.  That way you don't leave anything off your list.  Because when I say I only shop once a month, I mean it.  No quick runs to the store- I make do without if I forget something.  Each time I used to go to the store for one of those quick runs for one item, I would undoubtably come home with six other things that were not on my list.  Shopping once monthly means getting the minimum of exactly what you need, which means saving money.  One key to making life easier with a menu plan is leaving plenty of nights for leftovers.  The first month I did a plan, we had WAY too much food.  Leaving room for leftovers means you will be more efficient and waste less food by the end of the month.

I take leftovers for my lunches.  I always make sure to pack my lunch for the next day as I'm making my plate at night for dinner.  

I choose a few things to have on hand for breakfasts throughout the month- be it a batch of granola or trail mix, toast, homemade oatmeal, something home-baked like scones or pancakes, or just some fruit.  Make breakfasts easy because you will be plenty busy making dinners.  

Have trusty standbys.  I keep veggie burgers, sweet potato fries, and burger buns in my freezer at all times in case we need something easy, or incase we don't have enough left from dinner for my lunch.  That way, I'm always prepared.

Get creative with leftovers.  If you don't have enough for a full meal the next night, but you have a few things left that you could throw together or dress up, go for it.  Some of my husband's favorite meals were from mixing two or three nights worth of leftovers into a casserole dish, adding a few new ingredients, and heating it up in the oven. (FYI- vegan Thanksgiving leftovers are AMAZING this way!)

Stock up on bulk staples.  Here's what I buy in 25 pound bags: rice, dry black beans, quick cooking rolled oats, and whole wheat bread flour.  These things are cheap and you only have to buy every few months to two years (check expiration dates).  For most other things, I buy from Costco.  Olive oil, canola oil, nuts, seeds, spices, coffee, chocolate chips, pasta, fruit, vegetables, almond and rice milk, just to name a few.  If I can find it in bulk at Costco or another big box store and the price is unbeatable, you can bet that I'm going to buy it there.  Why?  Because then in only have to buy it once every two or three months, which saves a lot of money.  

Get an extra freezer...you're gonna need it if you're anything like me.  My grandma gave her old one to us when she needed to downsize, and it has been amazing.  There are just some things that are only cheap or good when you pick them in season. For example, blueberries and strawberries for smoothies or for making freezer jam.  And some things that are better when you make them yourself but they store in the freezer, like applesauce.  And don't forget about bread items, tortillas, and leftover soups.  I also have some pre-made crockpot meals that I put in the freezer for emergencies.  I made eleven meals in one day and they have been great to have around for the past year when I want an easy day or when we are having unexpected company over for dinner.  And speaking of the crockpot, I make dry black beans in mine and have batches in my freezer so I don't have to take hours and hours to make them each week.  A freezer also let's me take advantage of great sales on things like flash frozen broccoli, which really tastes like fresh when it's steamed.  And when I get free produce from friends and family during the summer, like apples, pears, plums,and tomatoes, I can make sauces to last the whole year in the freezer. We also make smoothies for breakfast and keep frozen produce just for that purpose.  Also, don't forget that you can freeze fresh herbs, which has saved me a lot of money because they're expensive and I don't usually use a whole package in one recipe.  

Lastly, but, in my opinion, MOST important, my FoodSaver with the mason jar lid attachment.  This is how we eat fresh produce all month long.  There's the secret.  I buy enough fruit and veggies on my monthly shopping trip to last the whole month and then I spend a day cleaning and slicing them and sealing them into single portions in mason jars.  For example, each bell pepper gets it's own jar, so I always know how much to add when a recipe calls for peppers. you can even seal up your lettuce, but I still try to use it at the beginning of the month just to be safe.  (Yes, we have a lot of mason jars.  But we literally use all of them.  And you can get them at Goodwill for 29 cents.  Just buy new lids and rims so they are super clean and flat, and get a good seal with the FoodSaver.)  The only things we don't slice and seal are onions, potatoes, and carrots, because they last just fine, as well as things that will be used in the first week or so, which don't need to be preserved.  Another tip: waste not, want not!  If your lettuce is about to go bad, put it in the blender with water and puree it.  Then pour it into ice cube trays to freeze.  These cubes can then be put into a resealable container and dropped into smoothies when you want.  We do this with our beet greens too, since they're so good for you, but they don't really cook up well in a meal.  

When planning out my shopping day, I categorize items on my list by which store I will buy them from.  I always take a pen or pencil with me to keep organized and cross things off my list as I buy them.  This is the point that I will also search for coupons- if, and only if, I am already buying the item.  And sometimes, the item with the coupon is not the cheapest, even after the discount, so pay close attention.  It is very helpful to keep a running price list so you know which stores have the best prices on which items.  We also pay cash for all of our food.  There is something very satisfying about getting all of your food for a month with the cash in your wallet.  And don't forget your own reusable shopping bags for three reasons: 1. You get money off your bill at almost every store if you bring in your own bags.  2. The last thing you want after carrying in bags and boxes of a month's worth of groceries into your house is to have a paper or plastic bag rip and spill your groceries all over.  3. It's mindful of our environment, of course.

This past month, I spent $216 for our food groceries.  But my overall goal is to get it down to $100 to $150 per month, and still eat wholesome, fresh foods.  I make all that I can from scratch, which helps so much with overall cost...and health.  I will be posting more on making things from scratch in the future.  In the meantime, what tips and tricks do you have to add to this post?  How do you save money each month?  Thanks for reading about this mindful home.