How to Save $$$ on groceries! {with a Running Shopping List Spreadsheet}

When our family experienced a drastic cut in income, choosing to say goodbye to a full-time, good paying career in order to work from home, I had some serious financial issues to deal with.  We had become so used to living on an excessive income that we simply failed to budget.  After combing through our spending and finding that we spent between $900 and $1000/month on groceries, I knew that needed to be the first expense to be cut!  At the time we had a family of six, with a fifth child on the way.  With a few simple changes, we cut our grocery budget IN HALF, while still eating as "organic" as possible!

-Make what you can yourself
            Just say no to ANYTHING pre-made!

            Flour {invest in a grinder and buy bulk wheat!  It's healthier AND cheaper!}

            Breads

            Cereals {We saved a TON of money just by NOT buying cereal!

            Sauces
            Easy cheeses {like ricotta and cottage cheese}
            Yogurt {homemade yogurt is cheap, easy, and DELICIOUS}
            "convenience foods" {frozen pizza, nuggets, mac-n-cheese, etc.}
            Baked goods {pancakes, biscuits, rolls, etc}
            Cleaning supplies {laundry detergent, window spray, all-purpose cleaners}
            Diaper wipes!
-Canning or freezing IN SEASON produce
            Diced tomatoes, sauces, and salsas
            Fruits and berries, jams, jellies, sauces
            Pumpkin puree
            Green Beans
            Greens {kale, turnip greens, collard greens, etc}
            Peppers 
            Pickles 
-Buy BULK whenever possible

         Meat {we don't always have the cash, but we have saved tons by purchasing a quarter cow, half a hog, etc}

           Produce {find a good farmer's market!}
           Grains {buying clubs have been a God-send}
           Beans {Dried beans are SO MUCH CHEAPER and healthier than canned!}
           Nuts and dried fruits
           Toilet Paper and paper towels 
 -Go shopping ONCE A MONTH

            Whether you live near a Super-center, or an hour away like we do, it's amazing how much you can save by limiting trips to the store and sticking to a list.  Besides saving on the spur-of-the-moment purchases that add up substantially, you also save good money on gas.

-Take inventory and use a "running shopping list"

            You would be surprised by how much extra you spend monthly on what you won't use up, simply by failing to plan!  

 -Plan a generic menu for the month

           Put plenty of soups and stews on the menu!   And add some beans!   {We've found that we can really stretch dishes like tacos, enchiladas, chili, and soups by adding lots of beans.   Black beans are our favorite!}

          Don't be a slave to your menu by planning precise meals.  Instead plan what you will use for meats and veggies, not exact recipes, giving yourself freedom to change it up if the mood strikes.

             Implement "Meatless Mondays" Meat is by far the most expensive grocery item.  You can save a ton simply by going vegetarian one night a week.

-Get creative!   Use what you have in the pantry and fridge instead of shopping on a whim for whatever sounds good at the moment   ;)

*Eggs, milk, and bananas cannot be stocked up on enough, so reserve a mid-month trip to the local grocer for these items ONLY.

So, here's where the metal meets the meat.  Implementing all of the above.  For your convenience, I have added a copy of my own "running shopping list".   Study it, copy it, tweak it to meet your family's needs.  I like to keep my pantry well stocked, so I try to keep a certain number of every item on hand every month.  Planning a shopping trip is simple when I refer to my list and peruse my pantry and freezers!  I simply figure out how much of which item I need to maintain my pantry and scribble those quantities onto my list.  Easy peasy!

I want to add here that the vast majority of these items I buy are organic.  We can't afford to buy EVERYTHING organic and local, as I'd like to,but we do what we can!  We also supplement our groceries with game and easily foraged, highly nutritious foods, like nettles and milkweed.

*Note--These items are our "staples", I have left room on my list for other items that I may need each month depending on my menu, or what is on sale.    

You may also notice that we don't buy alot of common items like deli meat or juice.  Here at our house we only use 'real meat' for sandwiches, and we drink alot of water and kombucha!