Grocery prices have a way of making even a careful shopper wince at the checkout screen. One mom says she has found a way to feed her whole family for a lot less, and her rules might surprise you.
Creator @messyjoymama says she feeds her family of 4 on $350 a month. She admits that a few of her habits “go against the norm of grocery shopping.”
“Just Because Your Kids Can Eat Them Like Candy Doesn’t Mean You Have To Let Them”
Her first rule is about berries. She does not buy them unless they are on a mega sale or frozen. Fresh berries are a fruit that kids can plow through in minutes, and she points out that being able to eat them like candy does not mean you have to let them.
The second rule is about ground beef. She will not buy it unless it is less than $4/lb, which she says is rare now. When it is higher, she picks other meats instead.
Her go-to swap is ground turkey. She calls it “a good dupe” for beef and says it is regularly $2.19/lb at Aldi.
Aldi For The Big Hauls, Sam’s Club For Just A Few Things
Her third rule goes against the popular advice to stock up in bulk. She says bulk stores are for a few staples only. There are a handful of items she buys at Sam’s Club because they are actually cheaper there.
But her main grocery hauls happen at Aldi. Since making that switch, she says, she is “saving hundreds per month” and wasting less food.
No Pop, No Alcohol And Very Few Snacks
Her last rule is the one that might draw the most eyebrows. She does not buy packaged snacks or drinks. No pop, no alcohol, and very rarely any snacks.
If her family wants something sweet, she makes it herself. As for drinks, it is water, milk or nothing. She jokes that her kids love going to their grandparents’ house, and she invites people to call her out for depriving her family if they like.
She also asks her followers to share their own unconventional ways of saving on groceries, which tells you she knows these rules are not for everyone.
Why Her Rules Work For A Budget
Look at what the four rules have in common. Each one targets a category where the price per serving is high, or where the convenience costs extra. Fresh berries, beef, snack packs and drinks can quietly eat a big share of a grocery bill.
Packaged snacks in particular tend to cost more per ounce than the ingredients to make something similar at home. Baking a batch of cookies or muffins is cheaper, and it fills the house with a nice smell too.
Swapping proteins is another proven trick. Ground turkey, chicken thighs, eggs, beans and lentils are generally cheaper than beef, and they stretch well in casseroles, tacos and soups.
Borrow The Ideas That Fit Your Family
You do not have to copy every rule to save money. Pick one or two and see what happens at the register.
- Check the price per pound, not just the sticker, and set your own ceiling for items like ground meat.
- Buy frozen fruit when fresh is expensive. It is picked ripe, lasts for months and works well in oatmeal and smoothies.
- Compare unit prices at a warehouse store with your regular grocer before assuming bulk is cheaper.
- Make a short list of staples and stick to it.
Planning meals around what is on sale helps too. Check the weekly flyer, build the menu around two or three bargains and use up leftovers before you shop again. Wasted food is wasted money.
Prices and sales vary by store and by region, so the numbers will shift where you live. The habit that matters is comparing, deciding on a number you are willing to pay and walking away from items that go past it.
Make Cheaper Meals Taste Like Treats
Cutting back does not have to feel like going without. Her habit of making sweets at home is a good example, since a simple homemade treat feels special because someone took the time to make it.
Build a handful of reliable, low-cost dinners that your family actually likes. Ground turkey tacos, chili, spaghetti and soup stretch a pound of meat a long way, and beans or rice can bulk up a pot without adding much to the bill.
Water and milk as the main drinks also save a surprising amount over a year. Soda and other drinks are among the easiest items to cut from a cart, and your dentist may thank you too.
Keep Track Of What You Spend
A monthly budget only works if you know where the money goes. Save your receipts for a few weeks, or use a simple notebook, and total up each category: produce, meat, dairy, pantry and snacks.
Most families are surprised by what they find. Once you see the number next to each category, deciding what to trim becomes much easier, and you can set a monthly limit that is realistic for your household.
The strategy from @messyjoymama is not about deprivation for its own sake. It is about deciding where the family’s food dollars go, and keeping them from leaking out through the snack aisle.
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