Contributor ⭐

Grocery/Essentials Savings Tips....share yours!

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So, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I’m a 68 year old widow, who is having a rough time just covering the basic expenses. I don’t look like the people in the AARP ads, who are happily going on vacations, and spoiling their grandchildren with gifts. But...I make JUST enough that don’t qualify for any assistance. I live on Social Security, and a very tiny (less than $200) retirement check from my husband. I know I can’t be the only one stuck in the “in between” group...not comfortably retired, but not “poor” enough for government assistance.

I’ve gotten pretty good at saving money at the grocery store, but I’d love to hear what other people are doing. Here are some things I do:

*I forgot to mention that I am allergic to meat, so I can’t help with any meat ideas.

I bought a toaster oven, so that I don’t have to turn on the big oven for just one piece of fish, etc.

When frozen pizza is on sale, I cut it into fourths before I put it in the freezer. The personal size pizzas are so expensive, and rarely on sale, but if the full size one is $3.99, I can get 4 lunches out of one of them, without any waste.

I’ve gotten really good at making soup. I can eat 2 bowls for my dinner the first night. Then have lunch for 2 or 3 days, usually for less than $10 total. I buy the 2 lb bag of raw shrimp at Kroger when it’s on sale, then bring it home and divide it into 8 plastic bags, each costing around $2 per serving

I’m sure there are more things, but those are off the top of my head. Does anyone else have ideas to share? Or...am I wrong, and I really am in this all alone?

SummerOnTheWay1

Carol @CarolP683856 & AARP Sandy @sandy , looks like things are finally moving FORWARD with members stopping by to comment. 👍👍👍 Karla @KarlaP115117 , luv your suggestion!!! Tigger @4Tigger2 , thanks for responding to my comment about Kroger. Hope MORE folks will stop by. 🤞

👣 Remember to take 1 step at a time!!!

K

KarlaP115117

Contributor ⭐

Hello, I would like to share a couple to things that I take advantage of to minimize my food expense (which allows me to keep up with the rest of my bills). I asked a couple of smaller grocery stores what they do with the vegetable and fruits that they remove from the produce isles because it no longer look fresh. I found out that if no one asks for the food it gets thrown out. They have several people that come into the store every week and some pick up for their pets and some pick up for themselves and their families. I can tell you first hand that there is a lot of good food that gets thrown out and it could really go to good use. I usually share with my family members and neighbors. The food does not have to look perfect, it just needs to be edible. Also there are some food pantries that do not have income requirements , you simply have to go in and pick up the food when they distribute. You might want to find out if there are food pantries close to you and what their criteria is. In my town there are at least 3 that I am aware of and two do not ask for anything for picking up food. People line up and the food is distributed. I think that this practice also helps our environment by keeping food out of the landfills. I hope that some of this information is applicable and helpful to you.

4

4Tigger2

Contributor ⭐⭐

Please learn the sales cycles.

Set your max price after deals and stock per cycle for your groceries.

Take advantage of clearance.

Search for grocery/drugstore deal groups. Many will give the deals with online coupons, rebate app deals, manufacturer rebates, store deals/promos, all listed.

Brand name cereal/breakfast bars have 12-16 week cycles. You will pay $1 ea or less for those $4.99-$6.99 boxes. The expiration dates are usually 6-8 months out, so buy that 3-4 months worth.

Frozen pizza is a 10-12 week cycle. You won't have room for that many, but this is one that my non internet using Uncle does. His favorite pizza is $8.99 ea but goes on sale for 4/$20. He buys 8 for $40 instead of $8.99/wk..he saves $32 and has his favorite.

He does this with canned soup 16-20 wk cycle, but name brands $1.25 ea or less on that sale. They are NOT a cheap brand.

Peanut butter, jelly, taco shells etc are between. $1-$2 ea and easy to store.

I use sales, store coupons/loyalty offers, rebate apps, manufacturer rebates (yes they still exist and stack) and more.

Those 3/month AARP gift cards that I redeem for points are great for $15 more and sometimes I redeem for fast food and use the restaurant apps to get more for the gc.

SummerOnTheWay1

Tigger @4Tigger2 , EXCELLENT tips my friend!!! Yes, those AARP Rewards "points only" eGiftcards have saved me ALOT at Staples. I have yet to "spend" money = luving FREE. 👍🙃💃🎉 I just wish AARP & the Merkle AI would post at "least" ONE Kroger one. Not sure WHY they stopped. 😞 ALWAYS good to hear from you here. Take care, Nicole 💛🤗

👣 Remember to take 1 step at a time!!!

4

4Tigger2

Contributor ⭐⭐

Businesses probably donate or offer discounted gift cards to AARP to draw business from us. Kroger used to have sweepstakes and instant win games, but has stopped. There ARE deal forums, Facebook groups that list deals that combine sale prices/deals, store online coupons, rebate apps and sometimes, manufacturer rebates and ALL stack.

I look at carts when I am in the stores and feel bad when I see the store brands for items that the brand names have stacking deals that make them free or less than $1 or $2.

With the holidays approaching, consider giving " useful gifts". Most of my "giftees" are happy when i spend $ for brand razors, bodywash, toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, soap, their makeup, hair care, jelly, their favorite candy, cookies etc. I can give them 5 times the value in useful gifts rather than a gc or cash. I use a reusable shopping bag with tissue paper on top to gift. Or totes. Those go on clearance and are more useful than wrapping paper. I have a few people that want gifts, like clothes, sports things and give them those things.

Buying the usable gifts spreads my costs out over time. Receiving useful things means that they have a little extra in their budget at the holidays and after.

Hth

C

CarolP683856Author

Contributor ⭐

Sandy, I appreciate your support. But apparently I really am alone in this. I guess I'm the only senior who has to stick to a $225 monthly grocery budget (no eating at restaurants at all) in order to stay out of debt. Yes, I've "started the conversation I was hoping to find" but, like the rest of my conversations in my empty house, I'm just talking to myself. I've now tried 3 avenues, and reached nothing but dead ends. Maybe it's not important to anyone else.

sandy

Community Manager

Hi @CarolP683856, you are definitely not alone and thank you for starting this conversation. I’m sure many others can relate to being in that “in-between” group you described.

You’ve already shared some really creative ideas! I especially like the idea of dividing larger items into individual portions before freezing them—and homemade soup can go a long way.

I’d love to hear what others are doing too. What are your best tips for stretching the grocery budget or saving on everyday essentials? Sometimes the simplest ideas can help someone else the most.

Thanks for getting the conversation started!

C

CarolP683856Author

Contributor ⭐

Hi Sandy! I can’t wait to see what other tips people post. Last year, our library hosted several informative talks about different topics. The woman who scheduled the talks asked if anyone had any ideas for more talks. I suggested finding someone who was well-versed in frugal living. She said she liked the idea, but nothing ever came from it. I’ve also gone to some meetings at our local Council on Aging. I’ve asked them if they could start holding a meeting where we could share our money saving ideas, but nothing has come of my requests. These are just two more reasons that I feel like we have gotten lost in the shuffle.

I just finished making a pot of red lentil soup. I doubled the recipe, and it still only cost about $6.50. As soon as it cools, I’ll dip out one serving into a freezer container for a day when I don’t have time to cook.

sandy

Community Manager

Hi @CarolP683856, I like your idea of bringing people together to share practical ways to save. Since you haven't been able to get something started locally, maybe we can create a little version of that right here in the community.

And $6.50 for a double batch of homemade lentil soup—with a meal going into the freezer for another day—is exactly the kind of tip that could help someone else!

I did some looking and found this AARP resources that fit perfectly with this conversation. 9 Grocery Shopping Dos and Don'ts has ideas for cutting grocery costs.

Hi ​@CarolP683856, I like your idea of bringing people together to share practical ways to save. Since you haven't been able to get something started locally, maybe we can create a little version of that right here in the community.

And $6.50 for a double batch of homemade lentil soup—with a meal going into the freezer for another day—is exactly the kind of tip that could help someone else!

I did some looking and found this AARP resources that fit perfectly with this conversation. 9 Grocery Shopping Dos and Don'ts has ideas for cutting grocery costs.

Keep those ideas coming, Carol. You may have started exactly the kind of conversation you were hoping to find!

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Hi @CarolP683856, I like your idea of bringing people together to share practical ways to save. Since you haven't been able to get something started locally, maybe we can create a little version of that right here in the community.