Tammy's Recipes

I just posted somethig about me and my expectations on being the best at everything. come by Tammy and check it out.
The prices have gone up tons over the years. slowly so we wouldn't notice it...
We consume about 6 jugs of milk a week!! Ha Ha...your 2 jugs sounds like a dream:)
Thanks for the down to earth post
mama

I have also felt the crunch of a growing family that eats a whole lot more, and the recent increases in food prices. It's getting harder and harder to stick to my grocery budget, even though it's been upped not too long ago!

I do my best to find deals and stockpile, I buy in bulk, and do everything homemade, etc. Still, I struggle with my budget from month to month, and especially when we are having a lot of guests or I want to make extra snacks and treats for my family.

But you're right. Ultimately, we are incredibly blessed for the way that God has continued to provide for our needs. I can't complain at all!

And I understand, it's so easy to compare ourselves with others. I really struggle with doing the same thing. But we're each in different situations, different seasons of life (even if they may seem similar on the outside- there are often many differences that are harder to see), and our only responsibility is to be faithful with what we've been given, to care for our families the best we can, and to trust God with the rest.

You're doing a wonderful job, Tammy! Blessings!

Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home
http://www.keeperofthehome.org

Yeah, I got a bit of those grocery-budget-inflation blues too.

Romaine lettuce was less than $2 a few months ago...now $2.79.

Tuna was was .39 a can ...now almost .67.

My wheat DOUBLED in price last time I ordered it.

Even my kids, who help me shop, are noticing the prices change almost overnight.

And last night, I thought I would faint when I saw a little can of soup for $1.30!!!

Funny you mention the cheese, I've been doing the same thing almost without thinking...waiting for the sale/normal price.

My food allowance is still the same but the prices are higher....and I find myself getting really bummed when someone wants a high-priced food item that I have to FIGURE (literally) how to work in and how to cut back somewhere else.

But, like you, I try to look on the positive side and be thankful that at least we don't have to eat white rice 3 times a day!:-)

And, I suppose there's nothing like a good challenge--to beat the system!

But Mrs Tammy, I will say this...when I had babies, I found that my food budget would go up a bit because I needed more easily available food around because of the time that I was nursing and holding a baby that did not want to be put down. Meals would be delayed sometimes and I would have to have extra 'grab it and eat it' foods on hand to keep the toddlers from thinking they would starve to death!:-)

Tammy, ive been reading your and crystals blog for about a year, I found you both about the same time(dont remember how) I am a daily reader of both, have learned alot from both. Ive wondered what your take is on groceries. you and I are about on the same wave lenghth there. Ive tried hard to figure out the cvs thing and cannot justify it. I must be almost the only one of her readers though that dont get it. I cant see it no matter how I look at it. I just about stick to walmart and kroger. Aldis does have good prices too. I can go there and not worry about how much Im spending, because Im familiar with the store. I am A WHOLE LOT more mindful of the price of everything nowadays. It is getting bad. We planted a garden this year for the first time in a few years. maybe that will help, but I dont know much else anyone can do. My husband is a picky eater and I have a 17 and 20 yearold living at home. Things were easier to budget when they were smaller. now I never know who is going to eat or when! theyre always running here and there!

I've been really beating myself up lately over the fact that I can't buy groceries for our family for $35-40 per week like Crystal does. It's just my husband and I, with a small toddler and a baby on the way. I have been learning how to play the CVS game, but we don't use a lot of items usually found there, so I feel limited. Plus, we rarely have access to coupons (aside from Internet ones) so my savings are further limited. I, too, shop at Aldi, which I am thankful my Mom taught me to do at a young age. :) Then I can finish my shopping at Wal-Mart or Kroger or Food Lion, depending on sales. I like how you said you shop for Joshua's preferences - that is how my husband prefers it as well. So I try to cook things I know he will like and enjoy, trying to stick to a reasonable amount of money each week. I do feel blessed to have access to so much abundance and I pray my Heavenly Father will help me be a good steward of the resources available to me. :)

Love this post we have a walmart and 4 other small town (but pricey) stores. So Walmart is the only one we really can use. Unless we drive 45 minutes which isn't the smart thing to do right now unless I am going that way anyway.

I sometimes feel guilty that I can't do the low budget but with 2 teens and a hubby who has a very active job the same goes for us I spend about $100 a week and that includes stocking up some and non food items. Planning is the key I have come to learn that I am doing the best I can with what I have to work with and I don't think I could do what crystal does anyway. I tried and got frustrated and felt I was in the car all day and still didn't have what I needed to feed my hungry bunch.

erika

We are hovering around $175 for our family of 9. Two teens, an active dad that eats a lot and a pregnant mama. It seems like a lot of money but I'm having to fight to keep it at that amount.
We buy cases of apples and oranges from the produce company, I stock flour and sugar in 50# quantities and I have two freezers. I have cut way down on our cheese consumption and I noticed the Aldi peas too! They used to be good but now they are rock hard! Weird.
I am not gifted with coupons. Even with a large family we just don't use much health and beauty stuff. A bar of soap and Suave shampoo and we're set. I just don't see the big deal for our family. It's hard enough for me to shop every two weeks, if I had to do the rebate coupon thing, I would cry. Really.

It is hard not to compare ourselves to others - I am sometimes guilty of this as well. For example, wondering why I can't be more budget conscious like Crystal. But it all comes down to this - if we are truly seeking God's will, direction, & leading in our lives, then He will absolutely help us to do our best in all areas of being a wife & mother, & homemaker, etc. The best that each of us can do is not going to exactly line up with Mrs. So & So. We have to strive to do what God wants us to do each day, while following our husband's leading. It is also wonderful how we can encourage each other like this. I too have learned a lot from this website & also Crystal's. I am 40 years old, have been married for 17 1/2 years,& have 3 children, & I marvel at how well these younger ladies are doing starting out with their families. I wish I had had the training & examples when I was first starting out in my marriage. Keep it up ladies, you are doing a terrific job!!!
In Christ - Kat

Don't be hard on yourself about spending more than Crystal. I have a boy and a girl. My girl eats a LOT, but my son eats like the equivalent of TWO GROWN MEN SOME DAYS!! (The doctors estimate he will be around 6'4" when full grown). My husband is also very physically active and eats a LOT. Certainly more than most of my friends' husbands. Those of us with family members who eat a lot of food just need to be okay with the fact that our grocery bills WILL be higher than families with a couple of little girls. There are literally days during growth spurts that my son can not go for more than a half hour without eating (and he is thin... not in the least bit overweight). And I know when it is real and not boredom because of the LOOK in his eyes and the fact that he is gobbling down anything I give him (fruits, vegetables... ANYTHING).

Hi Tammy, Long time, no comment.
Crystal does phenomonally with her budget but keep in mind, she's feeding girls. Boys eat MORE. Period. You may occasionally find a picky boy or an occasional piggy girl but for the most part, BOYS EAT and EAT and EAT... just wait until highschool and they're in football or soccer... YIKES!!!

Our budget is $50/week and I've been "off the budget bandwagon" for over a month now. I just can't do it. With three milk drinkers, milk alone is half my budget. Add in OJ and a hubby who won't eat rice and beans in any combination... ah well.

We've had some success with getting Angel Food. The mean is usually pretty good (if you don't like the pork, just give it to a friend, that's what we do) and having an occasional convenience food never hurt anyone.

Our 'solution' is to use the van way less and to just deal with things. As long as my kiddos are healthy (which they are for the most part), I'm thankful.

That being said, anytime you want to head this way for an Amstutz Pantry run, give me a call and you can bring the kiddos over to play.

Katie
http://coldnoodlesforbreakfast.blogspot.com

Tammy,
I just want to say that you are doing a great job, Tammy! You have a growing little family that you cook great meals for day in and day out! You all love food and food is a fun part of you life. I think $80 to feel a family your size healthy meals 7 days a week is excellent! I don't hear of you eating out and packing lunches adds a real extra cost!!! But think of how much healthier it is for your dear husband!

I've been blessed over the years by your blog.

God bless you and your growing family!

Great Post! I have three kids. Two girls and a boy. I don't think I could ever do the $40 a week. My son eats a ton. We also like variety and I love to cook. We spend a little more on groceries because of that. When I saw Crystal's post a few months ago where she said what her husband had spent on eating out, I thought the same thing you did. I may spend more on groceries but I always have stuff to send my husband. So that made me feel a little better. To me food is food. I know we each budget it differently but it made me realize that even though I might spend more then some on groceries I always have food and we never eat out because we have too. I have really realized a jump in grocery prices. Especially produce. I also keep waiting for some of our favorite things to go on sale and they never have this spring. What is now a sale price used to be regular price. Grains have really gone up. Flour prices are really high. I buy rice in large # bags and it was a lot more expensive last time I bought it. Thanks for the post.

I also feel frustrated reading Crystal's posts - she mentioned having four grocery stores within 5 miles. I have two high priced stores that are 10 miles away, and one high priced store in each of two other directions (also 10 miles).

I do have a Wal-Mart and a Walgreens 25 miles away, but I try to limit my trips and it also becomes a time factor because I have several other stops and the little one only lasts so long. No Aldi, no Kroger, no CVS, no Rite-Aid, no other major chains. Sigh.

Thanks, Tammy, for reminding us to just do the best that we can - that's all we can do!

I'm sure all of us have been in comparison mode at one time or another -- and some of us, frequently! :)

Menu planning has consistently been an area of comparison. I tried the whole menu planning thing, but it just doesn't work for me. Buying ingredients for a meal for two gets blown out of the water when we suddenly end up having a family of 7 over for dinner, too!

I felt much better when you one time mentioned that you tend more toward a "just have everything on hand" method. Me too! I'm a moody-chef -- I cook what I'm in the mood for. :)

Hi Tammy,
I use to look at those who spend under 50.00 a week to feed their family and wonder why I couldn't do that. Then I releized they were not being totaly honest about the amount. They didn't include all the meals. We eat 3 meals and 2 snacks 7 days a week at home and we have health issues. That is why our bill is more. Also they eat mark down and expired foods. I also figured out they don't eat a variety of foods and very little meat. Add in these factors and it all made sense.
I have learn somethings too from Crysal's site but I have no desire to go that low on my food bill at the risk of my family's health.
I enjoy reading your blog because you are real. You cook real healthly foods and that cost.So chin up my friend. You are doing what works for your family.
Hugs,
Elizabeth

I too have been feeling the strain of the rising grocery costs. I make the majority of our food also, buying only a few items of prepared foods, but am still finding it difficult to stay within my budget. When we moved to Colorado 20 months ago, we were faced with having no Aldi (which is where I had been doing a lot of my shopping). We also have no Kroger or CVS. I am forced to shop at Walmart or the Commissary (which doesn't have prices that are that great) because the local chain grocery stores are soooo expensive - for regular stuff and Whole Foods for the healthy things I can't find at Walmart.

I have just started learning how to do 'couponing' and have posted a few times about it on my blog - but even with that we still struggle. We do have a budget and it's quite a lot compared to Crystals, but it's too time intensive for me to spend hours trying to find the best deals and gas costs too much for me to drive all over town to get them.

I'm not sure what your stance on State assistance is, but in case no one's ever discussed WIC with you.... They provide all of our milk, cheese, eggs, dried beans, peanut butter, cereal and juice each month because we are low income (military) - and with a 3rd child on the way, it's wonderful to have this burden taken off my budget each month. If you are not opposed to State Assistance you might look into it.

We are not a large family (only dh, me, ds, and dd) but ds eats more than me and he is not even 7 yrs old yet and dd is almost at that point to (she is 4yrs). For us Aldi's doesn't work because it quite a hike to get there and here it really isn't any cheaper than the regular grocery store (after my coupons!) I generally shop at Giant Eagle, they double all my coupons up to $1 and give us 20 Cents off gas for every $50 spent there (including on gift cards, I buy gift cards for the other stores I need to go to and use them there and get the cents off gas...every little bit helps there!) I have cut back the kids milk consumption (really they do not need to drink it all the time and are fine with filtered water) my kids are skinny (you would think they never eat but they eat constantly but they love the good stuff fruits, veggies, meats) but they can put away food in surprising quantities, so does my dh (he is a roofer and he does hard, physical work all day in the heat and in the cold)! I stopped buying bananas when they hit 99 cents a pound here we have also cut out all sodas, etc (gotta have my coffee though!).
My solution for the rising gas and food prices was to basically stop driving unless absolutely necessary, consolidate errands, and ride our bikes everywhere (we are within biking distance to the bank, library, meat market, Big Lots, Dollar General, 6 different restaurants (not that we go to them often) and two carryouts! We are getting lots of exercise this summer (hence yesterday dh was home due to rain and sent me shopping for shorts and pants that FIT me I have lost probably 10lbs since we started walking and biking all the time. (of course I could still stand to loose more!) We figured out that by not driving everywhere we saved over $60 in one week! I also planted a huge garden for us again this year (dh tilled it bigger than ever!) and we have been harvesting lettuces and radishes already! The garden will save us tons this year!

I think it's pointless to compare your family's budget to what you read someone posting online. Not talking about Crystal here, but there are some bloggers who brag of their strict grocery budget, but forget to mention that they have an extensive garden, or bought an entire cow earlier in the year, or get government aid.

And at the end of the day, you have to do what works for your family. Crystal's menus simply would not work for my husband. He doesn't consider soup or salad a meal, and doesn't like eating sandwiches for lunch. Also, hitting multiple stores for groceries isn't feasible for me.

What have I done to cope with grocery prices? I simply stopped baking. I recently had my 2nd baby in 18months and have some pounds to lose, so not baking helps me 'tighten the belt' in more than one way :-) Wheat, butter & eggs are so high it actually is cheaper to eat produce than muffins.

Please don't be hard on yourself at all! Groceries not only feed our bodies and minds, but good food is a celebration.

I know that you do a great job of budgeting and shopping, much better than I do. You need to remember that you are a young nursing mother with two active little boys. Stress and worry about being a good shopper is not what you need right not. Just enjoy your family and rejoice that you are so blessed. Spend even more, if you have the money!

GinnyBerry

We are trying to get ahold of our budget as well. I usually shop at Walmart, but I am thinking that I am going to shop at Kroger for a few months. I plan to shop on the double coupon days and watch for their sales. We will see how we do shopping there. I find it is too easy to buy non-food items when at Walmart. Hopefully we will be able to rein in our costs.

where we can shop. We have one very high priced grocery store in town. To go to Walmart, it's a 20 minute drive, so we try to only go once every two weeks. The gas is just too expensive to go more than that. There are no Aldis, CVS, etc. For a family of six (seven come July), we average about $100 a week for everything. I have found that with my gang getting bigger (ages 13, 12, 10, 7), I don't have the left-overs I once had to work with. My 10 yr. old son is a bottomless pit. "What's for...(breakfast, lunch, dinner)" is his favorite question. We don't snack during the day (and rarely at night). I also don't have much in the lines of desserts, either and our meals are pretty basic. I find it frustrating that I can't keep my grocery budget lower.

I have to agree with you all... It is very hard to not try to strive to what others are doing and to get frustrated cause you can't for whatever reason. I do it all the time and my husband gets mad at me about it. ( like one savings is to eat more Beans instead of Meat as a protein, well Hubby will not touch a bean, so that money saver just went out the window!)

I do coupons, and shop around, I have read Crystals blog, and several other blogs. One I really like to read the owner is very into doing the CVS shopping. It does not make sense to me. But seems to work for her.
Recently I have factored into my shopping is, " is the sale price worth the gas in the car to drive to that certain store? So some of Crystal's ways of shopping does not work for me.

I love reading your blog Tammy and other ladies like you, but I always try to remember, to glean from what you all post and apply it to what will work for me and my family.
Try not to let it get you down.
I do have a question about ALDI, which I shop at here and I love, but the one thing that I have noticed and I wonder if anyone else notices this with their products or at least some of them. Does anyone else find some of their items overly salty ?

Sue

Tammy, as you can see from the replies, so many of us struggle with this...you are not alone by far! :) I read both your and Crystal's blogs and am blessed tremendously by both.

We are military and shop primarily at the commissary. Here in Southern California, the commissary offers SIGNIFICANT savings - the cost of living here is very high. I do shop a little "out in town" if I can find a super duper meat or produce sale at Ralph's or Von's which isn't very often (maybe twice a month). I have found that Costco, for our family, is a big rip-off. I can get everything cheaper at the commissary (and can save even more by pairing it with a coupon, which I can't do at Costco). We have a "farmer's market" type store called Henry's here that offers very fresh produce. They have great weekly sales, so I get most of my produce on sale there. I am not a die hard Cvs'r, but I do shop there when I can get the toiletries we use for free or very cheap. I save a lot of money by doing that.

I grew up in a convenience food / "Hamburger Helper" every night kind of family. So the fact that I have found your and Crystal's blogs are a godsend for me. You have helped to teach me how to be a homemaker in my kitchen and for that I am eternally grateful. I feel like God has brought me so far this year. I started my journey by replacing many of our "convenience" and "processed" type foods with homemade. Just by doing that I saw a HUGE chunk of savings back in our account.

It can be disheartening to feel like we are working so hard but that our efforts don't measure up to someone else's. I too suffer with perfectionism and the comparison diseases. :) But I think you hit the nail on the head when you said that all of our situations are different. God has blessed us all with different skills and abilities. Some of us struggle where others excel. I think we should always strive to do our best and challenge ourselves to be better. But I also think there is great freedom in learning to accept where we are at the moment and savor it. To look at these fleeting days with our wee ones and take in every moment. I want to do the best I can with our budget, but in this ever changing world that is a constantly changing area. So I change my goal to strive to do my best, to stay on top of current areas that I wish to improve, and most of all to provide a loving and tranquil home to my beloved and babies. To me, that is the definition of a successful home.

I've only been reading your blog for a few months now, but I can tell you that in the area of your home, you are a success Tammy! :) Thank you for blessing so many of us.

Your friend, Michelle

The inflation in grocery prices is killing us! Back when we were on WIC and had just 5 in the family we could get away with $60 or $70 a week on groceries. We made everything from scratch, used angelfood program and ate less. :) Now with a family of 6 going on 7, a mega hungery Mama, a picky papa and we've 3 boys all big eaters, and No WIC were going through about $100 to $125 a week. I dont bake as much as I used to and I buy tater tots and the like once and awhile or it would be cheaper I suppose. And coupons NEVEr work for me. I dont buy that stuff anyway. We've just discovered Aldi's. Their OJ is gross but most every thing I get there is good. And Aldi's has kept our groceries down closer to $100 or less.

Its very hard to buy food these days. :(

Forgot to sign in. :)

Michelle

I agree with everyone's comments about boys eating (and eating and eating). I've got a 4 year old and a 15 year old and between the 2 of them, they nearly eat me out of home. That doesn't even mention my husband who is famous in the family for how much food he can put away at a meal! We hardly ever have leftovers and nearly all our dinner meals end with sandwiches because they are still hungry.

We spend between $50-$100 on groceries per week and we don't use coupons or anything. We have 2 grocery stores in town, one is a mom & pop store and the other is Brookshires. We also have a Walmart in the next town over. We just don't have many choices unless we want to drive 45 minutes to buy groceries. I stock up on sales when I can. I'd love to be able to what Crystal does, but we just don't have the options. I have been keeping my eyes on here Walmart listings though. We have to drive 45 minutes or more to find a CVS, Walgreens and a HEB. Also, because we're trying to go all grass-fed/organic, it's a bit of a chore as all our local stores don't carry much in the way of either.

This post has blessed me as well, Tammy. :o) Even without a growing family as of yet, the need for food allergy friendly food has always forced our grocery budget to be higher than it would be otherwise, but with the gas hike and food prices going up...can I just say OUCH! Even still, like you said, having access to the food I need, and also many other ways to save major money (having excellent public transit + biking /walking friendly city for one!) is something to be most thankful for, no matter how high food prices might get. :o)

~Amy Brigham
http://inclotheslinealley.blogspot.com/

Wow, I love all the comments about this. It's good to talk about these things and as someone else said, "be real" about our particular situations.

I do have a question, though. Where do you all go to get 50# bags of rice and flour and all that? Costco? Soon after we heard about the food crisis, the hubby and I stocked up on bags of rice (before the prices went up here), but I couldn't find anything larger than a 10 lb. bag.

Also, one of the things I learned from my husband is to look at unit prices. Sometimes the unit price for a smaller quantity for an item will be cheaper than the largest size they have. Then I just stock up on that and it saves a few pennies. It doesn't seem like a lot, but it can add up.

I can't get into the coupon thing either, because most of the items that appear on coupons are things we don't eat or use. It doesn't do anyone good to get a deal on an item that won't be put to use, does it? :) Now if they had coupons for things I *do* use, it might be a different story.

--
As for God, his way is perfect, the word of Adonai has been tested by fire; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God but Adonai? Who is a Rock but our God? -- Psalms 18:30-31

Do you live near a Costco, and know someone with a membership who can get you cheese? We pay 2.25-2.50 a pound all the time, buying it in 5 pound loaves. It's medium, not sharp. We prefer sharp, it runs 3 something a pound at Costco and we only buy it once in a while. For us, Costco is a great deal, but we don't pay for our membership in the first place and our other options are limited. We get deals at Fred Meyer [kroger] every so often, and stock up but that's not the norm.

I'm craving chili now reading here... :)

Tammy... go check out this online calculator: http://www.bcm.edu/cnrc/energy_calculator.htm

According to that, my seven year old son needs about 2326 calories a day.

And that's when he is NOT spending all day running around outside. And doesn't take into account the fact the he genetically has a very fast metabolism.

My three year old girl, on the other hand, only requires about 1400.

Someone asked about buying large #bags of rice and flour. I buy my rice at either Sam's Club, we don't have Costco where I live, or an Asian Food Store. Both are good options. My Sam's has limited selection. I got a #25 lb bag last time, I think it may have been larger. Asian stores tend to have more variety of rices if you like something a little different. But their prices are usually good. I hope that helps. I buy most of my flours at the specialty stores because I like the whole wheat brands they carry but I know Sam's and Costco carry large bags of flour and sugar but I do not know how the price compares.

Hi Tammy! Love your blog as well as Crystal's. I too needless beat myself up for not having a super low grocery budget. We budget $75 a week for groceries (family of 6 - 3 adults, 3 kids). But last week I went over by $6.xx. And of course I was down about going over. But really, how silly of me to have been so hard on myself for just $6. I should have been thankful that I had the $6 extra to spend. So thanks for the reminder to not compare and be kind to myself!

Mary Ellen
http://carolinamomma.blogspot.com/

The fact that we all live in different parts of the country with different circumstances and sales, different strategies, and different ways of life in itself is a huge handful of reasons why we shouldn't really compare to one another.

For instance - we know Crystal's AMAZING (omg - I'm always astonished by her), but she and other grocery bloggers have some advantages and disadvantages when compared to me:

1. I live in the Land of No Doubles. I'm a couponer, and I have to make those measley $.25 off TP (reg. $8.99 - Thanks, P&G. A whole quarter off *sarcasm*) coupons stretch harder than those who can triple coupons to $1.

2. I live in the PNW, and our coupons tend, on a large scale, to suck in comparison to the midwest states. We get lower amounts on our coupons, or simply don't get coupons at all (Covergirl BOGO coupon? Pssh, what's that?)

3. Produce is cheaper on the coast. The less distance you have to truck perishables across land, the cheaper it is. I live in Seattle, so for me, my apples, bananas and oranges are cheap in comparison to the $2-$3/lb some people are paying.

4. I live in the city, meaning that I have access to multiple stores. Those people living out in the middle of the boonies may have to drive 30-45 minutes to get to a place where they have access to many stores.

5. I'm single. If I don't want to cook one night, I don't have to. If I'm not hungry, I won't cook. Some people have families, and when it's meals on top of snacks on top of beverages on top of desserts... it's much more exponentially expensive to keep hungry mouths full than it is if you're single (ie: I really don't need ice cream this week, so I simply won't buy it. If I had kids, it may be our Friday Night routine to watch a movie with a bowl.)

6. Some of us include pets in our budgets. With cats, you have food and sand expenses. Dogs require food and grooming. Ferrets are food and toys. Etc. I have a separate budget for my animals, so it doesn't affect my grocery budget. I spend about half of the same amount of my grocery budget on my animals every month.

7. Some have access to bulk warehouses. Sam's Club, Costco, etc. are a way of life for some people. As a single person, the portions of MUCH of the stuff at those places are just too much for me! Plus, I take exception to having to pay to shop at a place with those "dues" that seem to get steeper and steeper every year.

Bottom line? Don't compare - compete against yourself to make your budget work. My bf is moving in with me soon and I'll have to increase my $19/wk food budget to accomodate. He's a snacker. I'm not. He gets a sweet tooth. I don't. He outweighs me by a good 100lbs of muscle and will require more protein - I'm perfectly happy with vegetarian meals most often. Our circumstances should dictate our budgets, not the other way around.

Deep breaths!

Thanks so much Tammy for sharing your heart on this. It is something I've really been mulling over too.

I have found lately that the joy I used to find in planning meals and making our dollars stretch has been somewhat (at times anyhow) replaced by frustration and discontentment over why I can't do better. All the while overlooking the good that I have done and most importantly, the good that God has done and continues to do for us.

Lately I've been running around like a chicken with it's head cut off, all the while focusing on all the tricks, coupons and someone else's techniques. I'm just zapped.

With all of this said, your post was so timely and has blessed me a lot.

Thanks again,

Carol

I posted earlier this morning and I have been watching the others post their comments, and Ive gotta say, this post of yours Tammy, was just what I needed, and I guess alot of other people too. Thanks so much for being who you are, a real person! now I realize Im about average just like everyone else apparently. Im tired of blogs that seem too supermom good to be true. Life is too short to beat ourselves up over a few dollars and cents here and there. Lets eat!!

I have felt bad about our grocery bill too! I try so hard and we don't seem to have stores here with coupons like I hear about there in the States. So I do the best I can. We eat well and bake from scratch. I really don't know how some poeple do it. :) Another thing, when I see all the free things, I wouldn't use them, so why buy them?? A thing I keep in mind when shopping is to try and stay on the outer edges of the store, if you notice that is where most of what we really need is, fruits, veggies, meats, and dairy. I do have to venture in at times too, but it helps me from buying things we don't need. I bake our own bread and cloth diaper, so that does help too. :) Thanks for sharing, Tammy, I don't feel alone! :) ~Tanya - mama to 5 :)

I know they aren't everywhere in the US, but I know you live in Ohio like I do and wondered if you lived close enough to go to a GFS (Gordon's Food Service)? I can't do Sam's, Costco or BJ's right now. GFS is a no membership, bulk food place that I go to for cheeses and stuff. American cheese and pre-shredded cheddar are both around 5# for $13. Its actually cheaper to buy shredded then to buy the blocks. You might want to check their website.

I agree with most all of the comments as well. I was always comparing myself. I was going to the grocery store all the time just to get the good deals when I had never done that before. I was stressing myself out! I created a Master List of Meals. I also host a cooking club where we do freezer meals and exchange them. The Master List of Meals has helped out a lot lately. I am slowly cutting down on using paper products like paper towels. The only paper product I am currently buying is toilet paper. I also am using cloth diapers and am starting to use cloth wipes more now too!
We have to do what is best for our family. I think you do that very well. I really enjoy your blog and your recipes!

Sometimes I wondered if I was the only one who felt that way. My daughter and I have so many food allergies that I spend twice as much on our food (even though she is only 2!) than I do on the food for my husband and 14 year old son!

One thing that helps me a lot is when my husband tells me what his coworkers share about their money crunches with inflation/recession/life as then I know it's not just us that's feeling the pinch. Also it helps me keep things in perspective to remember my family's main goal with watching our money is so I can stay home with the kids - as long as we're able to do that, we're a great success!

The one thing that I focus on from Crystal's post is not how much she spends each week, but her attitude about it. That *all* savings - from all methods (budgeting, meal planning, careful consumption, couponing, bulk buying, etc.) - are a blessing. This one thing has had such an impact on my frame of mind! Now when I come home from any shopping trip, even if I was a little (or a lot) over my target budget, I feel grateful and blessed that we are able to feed our family well on less than many other families. We are all blessed!

We don't have Costco here, though there is a Sam's ~60 minutes away (I think... I've never been to that one.) There is a GFS about 35 minutes from here... I never would have thought they carried cheese! Next time we are in that area (could be months...;D) I'll have to stop in and look at prices. :)

I get most of my bulk items through a food co-op or (even better) at bulk foods stores. If you call ahead, you can get 50lb bags of oats, flour, wheat, etc. :) 

Tammy, I think your grocery budget is not only good, but exceptional. We ALL have different reasons for the things we buy. From what I have read, you cook mostly from scratch as well as me- but I STILL seem to have a weekly budget of $80-$120.00 depending on what I'm buying. I try to get everything that I can at Aldi's. A lot of the time I only see a few good things at my local stores. My stores do not double coupons and if only a few things are on sale at Meijers- is it really worth the gas to drive there? Not for me. I try the CVS thing, but I live 30 minutes from a store and most of the time the items that are free after ECB's are GONE. My scenarios never seem to work. Just do what you can do and save money in the areas that you can. Keep your chin up. :-)

Great post! I used to use what Food Stamps would provide as my budget amount. I can't do it anymore [let me be honest--I don't have to since I don't rely on real food stamps] because I'm not willing to slap box mac/cheese on the table ever. We DO like beans/cornbread or rice but not more than 1 or 2 times per week. I also read lots of frugal blogs [Chrstals is one] and try to do the drug store thing, but it leaves me exhausted. My 13 year old son eats as much as two adults right now. He actually ASKS for balanced meals--veggies, fruits, etc, so I supply it. We do buy angelfood but I'm growing very disenchanted with the amount of crap in the order and how awful some of the meat has been. Still, it can really be a help. I buy zero convenience food. It just tastes nasty! Doing the best you can with what you've got and being content with it is the main thing.
Lisa at http://hopewellmomschoolreborn.blogspot.com/

Tammy, it sounds to me like you are doing pretty well :) . Our family eats bean and grain based dinners five nights a week, low to very low meat and dairy, make our own bread, yogurt, etc and groceries still run $120 to $150 a week for our family of seven (including paper products, cleaning stuff, hygiene and odds and ends). My husband does not eat a whole lot, either. We don't use coupons since I can rarely find any for something that isn't highly processed. I am willing to pay more for better food, if I can afford it. We are also very short on time, and can't spend it searching for coupons or driving to different stores to get the best deal.

I guess all I am saying is that the cost of basics are really going up, and I am with you -just thanking G-d that He has provided for us and that we can still afford to pay what we do, and that there is still food on the store shelves that we can buy.

You know, it is never good to compare....what is that verse that says it is not wise in the bible?
Anyhow, boys do eat more....I have four of them and as costs rise, I have tow work harder, so much harder to keep myself on the budget for food.
Crystal does not use milk, I thinkshe said half a gallon a week!! Milk is very important to my husband so we have to buy milk. I buy it at Costco where it is $2.50 a gallon, but I also learned to check a couple stores for the milk that is expiring that week. Since we use it in a week, it is good that long. I got a bunch for $2 a gallon this way recently. I figured out how much milk you are supposed to have and I buy 3-4 gallons a week. If we run out before, we live without. I was given powdered milk from my in-laws awhile back and it is running a little low now, but I use it in all my baking which helps too.
We limit cheese too, I just can't afford it right now much. I spend about $45-50 a week on food, but it is hard some weeks.
It really helps that we eat a low meat diet, but we spend more on wheat, oats etc as I try to bake all our snacks like you!

What it comes down to is you have to look at what you have and spend that. It is not a contest, it is not a holiness issue. Crystal spends alot on insurance, many people could take issues with that. That is up to them!
They go out to eat some, we could take issues with that. It is really what we find is right for our family! There have been times in my life where I had $20 in one month for food for our family and we survived. God provided in lots of different ways, and yes, our health did suffer, but I think that may be what God had for us at that time.
We worked for food too, we made crabapple sauce and chokecherry juice, we picked wild raspberries and learned about wild food. I enjoyed trying cattails and did not enjoy some of the other things.....
A couple times now a man offered me stuff from his garden and I ripened lots of green tomatoes all over the house....that was fun!

I think forget about the bandwagon, glean from others what you can and do what is best and be thankful that God has provided the money for you to spend more as maybe He has another area in your life He needs you to work on!

Sorry- I didn't realize that I wasn't logged in on my earlier post (Don't beat yourself up....) So here's one more suggestion for Tammy and everyone else out there who is a SAHM: have you checked to see if you qualify for WIC? There's no shame in it for sure. Of all the useless spending the government does- the BEST use of a small amount of money is WIC. It helps women and children who are the most at risk for deficiencies and hunger. Yet unlike "food stamps" you can only buy healthy foods. For the record I am not saying that everyone who uses the Bridge card buys junk food, but some do. To give you an example- in MI a family of my size (2 parents plus five kids) can make as much as $57,000 and still qualify for WIC. It's worth checking into.

WIC is not based on income or maybe VERY loosely based on income. At least is wasn't years ago when I used it. It is based on nutrition. You have to fill out a few pages of forms that ask you what kind of things you eat. I've known of people who lied on and it filled out all the junk food and processed food as opposed to the fresh fruit and veggies they ate so that they would qualify. They will also test your childrens blood to see if they are iron deficient. Lo and behold we qualified (many years ago) because my daughters iron was low. Didn't have a clue. The amount of food you get is pretty awesome esp when you're pregnant and nursing.

Dear Tammy,

I've really enjoyed your blog and your recipes. I think you are doing great at your grocery budget, considering the healthy foods you are feeding your family. Different parts of the country have such different prices/different stores and because of that I have never felt guilty that my food budget was twice that of Crystal's even with a family the same size. Often the deals she posts cost us more in the West (for instance, when she says Honey Bunches are 12 cents at Wal-Mart with a coupon they are over 50 cents at our local Wal-Mart). Produce here is outrageous and there are only a handful of coupons in our weekly local paper. While I've learned a lot about saving on groceries/personal care products from her blog I also realize that even though I'm SUPER frugal and we don't eat meat every night, it's hard to squeak by even on $75 a week in our town. Some weeks I may spend only $40 if I have a big pantry stockpile and fridge-full but most weeks it is about double that. My husband has no problems with our budget and has even suggested upping it to $110 a week with the rising prices (that includes stamps, yard sale-ing, extras, etc.) Even though I only have a 1 year old boy, and a 3 year old girl, they eat like crazy and I've averaged out that they eat $1-$2 per day EACH in snacks, not including meals. That means my kids can eat in snacks each week 2/3 of Crystal's entire food budget. Maybe a lot more if I included the milk they drink. I'm not talking about processed snacks either. We're talking fruit (bananas 30 cents each, apples 50 cents each, etc.)cheese, and yogurt and homemade bread, etc.) I'm pregnant and hungrier than normal and my husband is a carpenter who works up a huge appetite and snacks a lot even though he's a beanpole.

Crystal has the unique opportunity to get a lot of things free (more stores, tons of coupons) and it seems like they eat tiny meals and don't have big eaters. They also don't give their kids milk to drink, which I've always heard is very unhealthy. And like someone else said, we all splurge in different areas. You are a fabulous and inspiring cook and I'm sure your husband appreciates that and is amazed you can still do it on way less than most women spend. Crystal splurges on insurance (as someone else mentioned), eating out, and highlighting her hair periodically (which you would probably NEVER do!)

Thank you for your wonderful blog and keep up the great work in the kitchen and with the grocery budget!

I can definitely feel your pain! Our costs are increasing every week. I am feeding 3 children and a hungry hubby. They eat a lot!

I have never attempted the low budget that Crystal is so succesful with but by following her tips I have learned so much and have cut my grocery bill way down. I am so thankful for all that I have learned from her! Since I am not naturally frugal like you and Crystal, I glean so much from your wisdom!

I try to think of the rising grocery prices as an opportunity to get creative. I am thankful my husband loves beans and soup, so that helps :)

My take on this is that we can learn something from everyone. I think Crystal has her talents that is blessing her family as well as many others. Tammy has her talents as well and chooses to live a little differently perhaps, utilizing her own strengths and abilities.

I feel I can learn from both ladies and from many others, young or old. I glean from others what is helpful and applicable to my own life. It really comes down to us as women to stop comparing ourselves with everyone else and to just do the best we can do.

So, Amen to Crystal and to Tammy, and thanks for all that you both do. And here's to what we each can do with our own talents and strengths. :) Lyn

You mention that you buy 50 pound bags of flour and oatmeal and things like that at stores and co-ops. How would you suggest to one to find these places to get the bulk items?
I am interested in it but have a hard time locating things like this in my city.

If you click on this link and then click on "member stores"; it will show you co-ops all over the US.
http://www.ncga.coop/

Is anyone else wondering how Crystal would feel if she were reading this? There are several comments which border on being critical of her.

In my opinion it doesn't really matter how our choices compare with Crystal's or Tammy's or anyone else's. We just set our own budget and seek to live within it.

Here's to living within our means! - Ruth Ann

I was thinking that some posts were bordering on being mean. I know everyone was just trying to say that it's rough all over, but remember that we ALL have different gifts and you have to do what's best for your family. I have learned so much from Crystal and I appreciate her hard work.

I have found this post very edifying. Not just with the blog mentioned but with others as well, I felt like I couldn't live up to what others were doing. Yet I was being extremely frugal. Some things just didn't add up. It's always good to see the full picture and not have assumptions that aren't true.

Tammy, I think that you do well for $80/ week. We do average $100 and that is for 8 of us, with another coming soon. This includes nonfoods but not beef. We bought a cow this past spring. We have 3 meals a day here with very rarely eating out.

My take on WIC is exactly the same as well.

Crystal's work is godd for inspiration but I'd be hard pressed to compare with anyone.

Susan W.

I love Crystal's websites :), they have been partially instrumental in helping me bring our grocery budget down by about $200 dollars a month in the last couple of years! And that is with adding another little appetite to our food budget, and boy can little boys eat :)!!! Even though I knew better I was very much a reactionary shopper. God truly blessed me by bringing me to the point of recognizing I needed to make some big changes in my grocery shopping habits both for health and common sense reasons before the sharp rise in food costs even hit. That said we have hit a plateau and it had been kind of getting me down seeing how awesome so many other mothers have done. This may just be as good as it gets for our family in this location and in this season of life. Thanks for the timely reminder Tammy :).

angelfoodministries.com

you can order food (good food) such as steaks, eggs, vegetables and much more... they say you can order enough for a family of four to eat for a week for $30.00
not based on income so anyone can order.