I keep blowing my totals with produce and meat.

[ilazria]

Is there any way to save on fresh fruits and veggies and fresh meat? I do alright stockpiling things like canned and boxed foods, frozens, toiletries, etc. But I'm still spending $300-$500/month for our family of 4, plus 4 cats and a hamster. What can I do to save more on these things at the grocery store? I garden and shop farmers markets when I can, but I'm still a bit of an amateur in the garden, and I can't get to the farmers market on a regular basis.

I'd say that at least half of my weekly total is spent on milk, fruits, veggies and meat. I try to buy only what's on sale, and stock up on what I can, but this isn't feasible with things like fresh produce. My kids like to eat fresh bananas and apples and such, which I don't want to limit, since the alternative is crackers and cookies and junk.

[tacatcon]

Hi there
There are a few ways I try to save on meat. If you buy the manager's markdowns for meat that is close to or at it's sold by date, you can save some $ there. Combine that with $ off coupons or winetags for meat and you can get some really good deals. Also use mail in rebates to get some of that money back. There are rebates out all the time for meat, fish and shellfish.

For produce, whatever you can buy when on sale and freeze-do it. Or can-I don't personally can but I imagine for alot of fruits you can save alot of $. For veggies, buy frozen when you can't get a good deal and/or grow your own.

I'm sure others will have a lot more to say. Hang in there! You can do it.

[tmsmalley]

You just have to make room for those things first on your list and stockpile last. So, if you need 3 kinds of meat for the week, get those first (look for the things on sale this week, things that have been reduced for quick sale, frozen instead of fresh when possible, etc.). If you've got freezer space, definitely stock up on good deals. Then get your bananas and apples and the like. THEN, get your stockpile items.

Also, check your store's website each week. I shop at Safeway and they often have an IP coupon or two for meat or veggies or fruit. Today they have a great sale on apples, fresh pineapple and pomegranates and for veggies, cucumbers, carrots and bell peppers.

At least once or twice a month they have a coupon for eggs in the weekly flyer too. Last week I believe it was something like $1.70 for 18. And they routinely do 2 gallons of milk for $1.99 each instead of the regular price of $2.49 each. Get the longest expiration date and I'm sure with 2 kids you can go through 2 gallons within the time span (we do). Or you can freeze one if you have a big freezer.

Tess

[crouton]

One thing I do for meat is have one of my hunting loving relatives get a deer for us annually. One deer costs us about $65 to have processed and it lasts my family of three about 4-5 months. We get ground meat, steaks, roasts, chops and sausage. I round out the deer meat with good sales on chicken and turkey meat. I rarely buy beef anymore.

I hate to say that I rarely buy produce, but we've recently moved to an area with a farmer's market and I do want to change that.

[434Teresa]

I try to buy meat that is marked down, mondays and friday seem to be the best for those..we eat alot of fruit also and every now and then I will find a few coupons to help on that but they dont come very often..if you shop at walmart make sure you price match the weekly sales on fruit that helps some to.

keep in mind that the people that spend $20/$40 a week may not be buying the amount of meat you are and alot of people Dont buy fruit because of the cost they just by pass those lanes all together..my food runs me about the same as it dose you I think.. I spend about $500 a month on food and stock, but these days most of that is for food fro i have lots of stock already..

I try not to look so much at what I have to spend as I do the amount I save with sales,price matching and coupons..it works out to be what I do spend or more each month.. I am thankful to have saved that much

I do find that if you have a meat market you can save some there by buying a package of meat cuts and sperating them at home into what you need for a meal, its like buying in bulk....I have done this a few times but its hard for me to spend that time putting it away for my twins keep me on the go and everytime i get my hands in it good they seem to need me.

[tbbucs03]

Each week there is usually some kind of meat on sale.For instance one week it will be chicken breasts @$1.99lb and then the following week it may be ground chuck @1.69.If you have the freezer space, stock up when something is on sale and repackage it in freezer wrap as it will last longer.Then the next week,stock up on that item buying extra when it is on sale will save you money later.After a couple months,you will have your choice of meats in your freezer. When I first started,I spent an extra $20 to $30 on sale meat each week.Now my freezer has beef, pork, chicken,roasts and all bought on sale.Now I look for meat coupons.A couple months ago I was able to buy 15lbs of bacon for free with internet coupons and a sale. Hubby loves when I make breakfast on Sunday.Recently there was a bogo dozen eggs IP.Save where you can and stock up when you do.

[petergabrielfan]

I find it hard to get good deals on veggies, fruit and meat. We're a fairly healthy-eating family, so I don't skimp on those things.

I am extremely picky about meat and I only buy better cuts and try to look for those on sale. I should also say that I don't eat any meat but white meat poultry and my husband & son are not big meat eaters so that is not a huge part of my own budget (very little advice from me on that front, in other words).

I can occasionally find a "save $x.xx on fruit WYB cereal, milk, etc" deal, but those are few and far between.

Like others have said, shop the sales and definitely shop in season. If you buy asparagus in the dead of winter you will pay dearly for it. There are lots of charts out there online that tell which fruits and veggies are on sale in which month, and it's pretty easy to deduce that by looking at weekly ads.

Honestly, I don't worry as much about the cost of those things because I'm saving elsewhere & the trade-off in your health from eating fresh fruits and vegetables is worth way more than the money you spend (or save). As far as healthy food goes, my philosophy is that you pay for it now or you pay for it later with your health. Just my 2c.

I also try to spread out buying those things between the weeks so I'm not spending $40 or more on meat or veggies in one trip. Also, I stretch a little bit of meat in a dish by using healthy fillers like beans (in soups) or whole-wheat pasta or brown rice (in casseroles). It's amazing what you can do with those inexpensive ingredients.

[Annye]

If you go to the website for your county's department of cooperative extension (federal program every county in the US has), you should be able to get a list of vegi/fruit by season. The list will show both what is being planted and what is being harvested every month for your exact area.

You can then go to local harvest on the web and find places in your area, selling these items. I prefer to go to the farms themselves, shop from the stands over the farmer's market. I find not only a better selection and quality, but also lower prices since I'm not paying their transportation costs and space fees.

For many areas of the US, this will also work for meat/poultry/fish. Though the availability of deer meat varies by region LOL

In peace,

Annye

[ilazria]

Thanks everyone, this has been a big help.

Where are some good places to find the meat and produce coupons? In my area, the stores I have to choose from are Kroger, Food Lion, HG Hill, Publix and WalMart. I tried to get some deals when those Tyson chicken coupons were out, but it seemed like everywhere I went, the stores only had the expensive special versions of tyson, or didn't have any tyson at all.

[diyod]

Occasionally you will get coupons for meat from Kroger. A few months ago when I got one of the Kroger Plus pack of coupons, there was a coupons for $1.50 off a $5 or more package of ground chuck. I've also received a coupon for their organic chicken in one of those mailings too.

Those are the only meat coupons I've ever come across, so I'd love to know where you can get others.