93% of People Don't Grocery Shop This Way

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

ALSO! Julie often posts her monthly meal plans, so you can see she's eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, and delicious homemade meals, not just ramen or unhealthy crap. I meant to work this part into the video, but wanted to make sure I clarified in this comment! Once again, the link for Everything Frugal on Facebook: facebook.com/groups/2024633281012551/

[@daniellescott477]

😊😊😊

[@lindakingsley9486]

There are 4 Wal-marts circled around me and there are a few other stores scattered about but only 1 is closer than the Wal-marts. I find the other stores like Target, Reasers, Cash Savers, etc... higher or about the same. Even the Family Dollar near me has some prices less, about the same or higher. Mostly higher. So I shop very carefully there for the less or about the same. I am only on Social security and can not keep a stash. I also have pets and dog and cat food ain't cheap anymore. Walmart is the store they all seem to follow. I am in Tulsa and even the the Dollar Stores are not close and they are not as nice or great like other cities have. So it is difficult and I am trying to cut down. It is hard because I am scared of not having so I seem to eat more. I have to stop that fear of hunger. But, I can see this working for people who have a car. I don't.

[@lunabeta3516]

I just requested to join. Thank you. I clearly need to learn how to save on groceries .

[@remingtonruger]

Fact

[@jasonbeymer4025]

thank you for mentioning that. I was concerned that the nutrition in some areas may have been lacking. I also think people need to get back into hunting. I usually harvest 3 deer a year and that covers me for 9 months before I have to purchase any beef.

[@julieturbide3038]

Eating food is one thing ; eating healthy food is everything.

[@betsyr4724]

Agree. Seasonal and sales on healthy food is a must.

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

I’d agree! And I think Julie does too. All the fruits and veggies, every day! 😊

[@whydontyouaskme]

Variety of nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, vitamins, etc.. and variety of “exercises”.

[@user-ov4wr5yu4r]

​@@Homegrown_HillaryNo white flour, white sugar or meat allowed. Only fats allowed are olive oil, sesame oil, and a bit of unsalted butter, and whatever fat is in eggs. At our house. White flour, meat, and veggies is not quite ideal.

[@NineInchTyrone]

Eat less eat better

[@randomhodgepodge8902]

Starting out with a stuffed prepper pantry isn't the same thing as month to month consumption with a small amount of 'stash' in the pantry. I've been watching frugal channels for about a year now. The one thing I never hear any of them talk about is what is the cost to go to the multiple grocery stores multiple times a week to keep build the pantry and keep up with the best sales? Gas, maintenance, etc adds up. I do love the whole idea and applaud her frugal!

[@gimagr84]

I agree! I see these over stuffed pantries and wonder how much it cost them to get to that state. It looks like they did a massively huge haul at the beginning and are now in maintenance mode. I realize many started their hoard years ago. It would be a great exercise in transparency if they told us how long it took to get to where they are now. A few months, years, decades, millenia? With such high grocery costs, doing more than a few extra cans of veggies can be impossible. Thanks for asking the question I've been wondering about!

[@AgnesVandenBosch]

What she saves on groceries I save on gas. Going to the store every day?!! Are you crazy? I am retired. I go to town on Tuesdays and Thursdays ONLY. I do batch errands. I get groceries only on the second and fourth Thursdays. If there are 5 Thursdays in a month I have to eat from my stockpile. I only get my groceries at one store. In the course of a year, everything in that store will go on sale at one point. That is when you get some extra.

[@Smooshes786]

Yes! This and “shopping my pantry” - in my world that’s called planning. We live where weather dictates the need for a well stocked pantry. I paid for it- it’s not a savings or less per week when I use it. The whole $67 per month needs the value of what she takes from the cupboard to it.

[@kenyonbissett3512]

I agree. That’s where everyone’s situation is different. I have 4 grocery stores basically next to each other, so I don’t have the gas issue. There was a time I would shop 1-4 each week depending on sales. Shopping took/takes 15-60 minutes, that’s my door, shop and return home. I also look at when the stores are the least crowded. Keeping a 3-6 month supply/pantry allows me to use rain checks and buy at my leisure.

[@kenyonbissett3512]

@@gimagr84it took my a year to build a years supply of pantry, personal care and household goods. Employing - loss leader sales, coupons, reverse planning, shopping 1-4 stores (15-60 minutes a week), and rain checks cut my budget by 50% within 3-4 months. From there, I was able to apply my saving from a lower grocery bill and other frugal approaches to be done in a year. Something’s I only had a 6mos supply because of use by dates, example chicken the freezer, bread, etc. I could have frozen milk but chose not to.

[@ricardoroarke]

When I lived in Los Angeles years ago, i went to Pavillions in West Hollywood. One time there was a woman in front of me in line with two carts heaping with groceries - my initial irritation at having to wait for the coupons she brought out - changed to fascination and awe. She ended up paying $22 total. At least four different people plus myself clapped at her amazing feat.

[@sxwrtr918]

Brava! to that shopper. I lived in L.A. many years and remember Pavilions well..not cheap. Well-done, ma'am

[@BigBoyJay_69]

A real "and then everybody clapped" story? I choose to believe.

[@wordfarstudio2913]

The funny thing is , is this is the way us poor people have been living and we did not need a coach for it. Thanks for sharing for those that needed it.

[@reddobr]

The sad thing is that to live like this already sort of requires a minimum amount of money. The reality we're in means that the poorer you are, the worse it is to get out of the hole. For instance, you can't take as much advantage of large sales if you don't have at least a fridge to store certain products. And if you happen to have a freezer you can take BIG advantage of certain sales and possibly skip on certain purchases for months. And even all of this already assumes you at least have an oven, which, crazy as it sounds, it's not something everyone has. The entire game is rigged and the more money you have, the easier it is to save it.

[@Andre_Jordan]

@@reddobr I wouldn't say its rigged but it is easier to take advantage of deals the more money you have. About 80% of millionaires in America are self made and only about 31% of all millionaires earn over $100,000 a year over their careers. This highlights that most of it is due to saving and sound investments.

[@LiLBitsDK]

yeah it is just common sense... buy on sales... stock up... it is "boring" when starting out since you don't have the variety but when you are full on running you will have all the variety in the world with a full freezer and pantry

[@MamaMudskipper]

​@@reddobrinteresting how most canning jars are "Mason" jars. 🤔🤔

[@vigil4Jesus]

Had a look as I got curious too :-) The following is copy pasted from Google "A Mason jar, also known as a canning jar or fruit jar, is a glass jar used in home canning to preserve food. It was named after American tinsmith John Landis Mason, who patented it in 1858." @@MamaMudskipper

[@silversilk8438]

I respect you for conducting the interview without her video presence. It respects her boundary and it shows what I don’t think most people understand: A person’s words are enough to get the message across. That, and the value of privacy.

[@JM-wu8bh]

Fuel cost plus wear and maintenance on your vehicle is $0.67/mile (US Government rate - 1/1/2024). Pre-planning your shopping "loop" for several stores and making mostly right turns like delivery companies do might help you save more in the long term.

[@silversilk8438]

@@JM-wu8bh I think you meant to reply to someone else?

[@JM-wu8bh]

@@silversilk8438 Respecting boundaries is great, but the major fact is being lost here... $800/yr is not true. I spend $300/yr personally. Do you believe me? I have the numbers

[@JM-wu8bh]

@silversilk8438 Nope! It was a response to you. So I spend $300 a year on food and have full records. Awaiting your response.

[@silversilk8438]

@@JM-wu8bh That’s so awesome! I did a shopping loop today… Is the food quality? I like getting a bag of flour and baking bread fresh so spoilage/freshness is no issue but obvious that ends up in utilities bills. Do you eat a mediterranean diet and go fishing or what? Any other advice you want to share is welcome and appreciated!

[@FullCircleLife]

Thank you for addressing that it is harder for some individuals. I have always been frugal but became disabled a couple of years ago and live in an area with terrible loss leaders and sales. It changed the way I had to shop and made it much more difficult. We now drive 2 hours twice a year to stock up at a discount store in another state. We save and plan for this and it has been a game changer. Love your honesty and positivity 😃

[@CharTurner6928]

I also really appreciated her point on mobility.

[@Jackie_W82]

I recently moved to a very rural area. My nearest grocery store is a 60 mile round trip drive. Having a well stocked pantry that took four years to create took a big chunk of money out of my budget, but I knew that we were about to hit a major inflationary period. Thanks c-vid! Most grocery items in my area have gone up 60 percent. As a result, my pantry has saved me hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. I now only go shopping once a month to restock what I've used when those items go on sale and purchase some additional perishable goods.

[@kimhorne-fortner3938]

It's not inflation. It's price gouging. 60% of grocery store items are from 5 major companies.

[@mamadoom9724]

It’s crazy when I see price tags on stuff from my prepper stockpile as I use them. Boxes of tampons for .99, big bottles of NyQuil for $3, big bottles of ibuprofen for $1.99, womens vitamins for .99, even all the things I stocked from dollar tree before they raised their prices. My preps have saved me sooo much $

[@lilamontoya5609]

🙏🏽

[@davinasquirrel7672]

I am rural (but close to town). I am a semi-prepper I guess, still doing a smaller weekly shop mainly for perishables or commonly used items. What people don't understand is, you can stock the prepper pantry over time, buying a few extra this and that (long store items), and gradually you have built up stocks. I was reasonably stocked by 2020, including toilet paper and supplies lasted past when stocks came back. It was annoying that idiots on the internet were blaming preppers for the TP shortages, when it was quite the opposite - those who were unprepared went out and panic-bought, preppers sat at home until the dust settled. What kind of idiot would think preppers cleaned out the stocks? Didn't need them.

[@ErikLiberty]

​@@kimhorne-fortner3938Inflation is solely caused by government (the Federal Reserve) printing money out of thin air. That new money dilutes the value of existing money. A better word for inflation is dilution. Google "m2 federal reserve" to see a graph of how much money the Fed has created over time. Richard Maybury writes in What Ever Happened to Penny Candy?: "If the supply of money had not changed, then the only way for one person to have more money would be for someone else to have less. When one worker's wages went up, another worker's wages would have to go down. When one business's prices went up, another business's prices would have to go down. The value of your money would not change. "The only way for all wages and prices to go up is for someone to print money. If the money is not being printed, then each rise in a wage or price would have to be matched by a fall in some other wage or price. "For instance, if the amount of money does not change, and the price of oil rises, then the prices of comic books, food, clothes, and other items must fall. That's because people are using more money to buy oil, so they have less money left over to buy other things. "If someone demands money faster than it is created, he simply won't get it. No one will have it to give to him. That's why workers aren't demanding ten million dollars per hour and the auto manufacturer isn't demanding ten million dollars per car. That much money doesn't exist. Yet."

[@markbajek2541]

Don't forget to budget in the cost of a bigger freezer/fridge to store sale or close out perishables. Plus the added electric bill from running a freezer. And for those who can foods, the added costs of jars , lids , fuel or electric to heat the water and to can everything.

[@My2up2downCastle]

I dehydrate too.... in case the power goes out! I do have a freezer..... and a plan B if power outage is a problem. ..... that's one of the reasons i bought a massive slow cooker. I'm saving up for one of those magnificent canning pressure cookers that we don't seem to have in the uk until recently.

[@My2up2downCastle]

.... and you're right about the cost of jars etc..... i always feel better about paying for the jars when i'm using them for the second time 🌹

[@stevee2639]

One word. ALDI

[@franglais-riders]

We have a Lidl nearest but must be careful. Not all that seems cheap actually is. The bread for example. One loaf of sourdough few months ago was £2, for 400gr. You can buy a sourdough at M&S for £4 … 800 grams! So paying M&s prices at Lidl for that! Lidl keeps low price by reducing sizes! It’s a disgrace, as people may not realise how the size of bread has been seriously shrinking. Vegs are often more expensive now than at bigger supermarkets and often rotten inside. Best compare prices and quality. Now we spread shopping across several shops.

[@SimplyKatieWalks]

It's just me and my husband. I was able to be the daycare for my grandchildren, which saved my kids a ton of money, and I got precious memories. BUT, I have bad situational anxiety, which I've tried to overcome. I just can't go into a store. My savings is by buying in bulk. Thank God for pickup. We never eat out, and I do reverse meal planning. My kids and grandchildren love my low cost meals, so I cook and freeze and give them food when they come over. Thanks for your great videos. This old dog is learning new trucks.

[@weaverwagon6084]

Hello, it’s so wonderful you have found strategies to work with your anxiety. It’s great you are utilizing the new resources to grocery shop and not have to go into the store. It is also sooooo wonderful you can bless your family with your time. It is the best gift ever! Great job!

[@LisaApril]

If you use Costco there's also delivery right to your house. I never go to the grocery store anymore. I use Instacart.

[@TJohnson7782]

God bless you. My mom watched my kids a hand full of times when they were little and always expected money for just a few hours.

[@kathrynn3936]

if you aren't locked into a schedule for grocery shopping.....Instead of thinking...well, I got paid today, I need to go buy groceries....stop thinking that way, and only go when absolutely necessary. Every day you wait after payday you are getting ahead. You will be amazed at how much you save by not spending the $150.00 or whatever every week, you can wait another few days or week, by shopping your fridge (looking at what you have that you can make a meal with)

[@rcjo2]

This is what I do.

[@ratbastard6293]

Yes. being very intentional about where your money goes is important. We waste so much on frivolous things

[@FunUrth4All]

Works for me too. Some have to literally trick ourselves to get ahead😢

[@cynthiamyers4265]

Our grocery stores are a 45 minute drive away. I only shop every 2 to 3 weeks. Going more often would be a waste of so much time and money.

[@sjordan7085]

Mindful, frugal prepping, is by far he very best way to mitigate both inflation and shortages. Initially, I did it more to cover possible job loss, or illness, because I live alone. But. my goal was always to be prepared for both man-made and natural disasters that we have no control over. I have thoughtfully considered all aspects of my life, not just food. I never started out with a massive amount of money, rather, I just added to my stash as finances allowed and when I came across items likely to prove useful, starting out with used camping gear, which can double for emergencies. I fitted out my car, as well as my RV. Bit by bit, I added dehydrated foods I made myself from reduced fruits, veggies and herbs. I bought bulk organic grains, beans, lentils, and lastly freeze dried foods that were on sale, from Auguston Farms. Being able to shop at home from what I has proven a lifesaver to me, a person who lives on Social Security, plus a tiny pension. I never drive anywhere to specifically shop for food, rather, I stop when on the way to somewhere else. Considering, the present cost of everything, especially food, I am sure I spend far less than the average person. I also make use of wild berries such as blackberries during the season.

[@LoveyK]

Yep, I live in rural New Mexico. You’re forced to plan ahead.

[@meep2253]

How do you manage fresh fruit and vegetables?

[@LoveyK]

@@meep2253 I grow what I can in my garden.

[@LoveyK]

@@meep2253 I have a home garden.

[@deltahawkins7490]

Oddly enough, one of my personal favorite money saving strategies involves actively visiting my local grocery stores and writing down the prices of all the items I'd buy on a regular basis. Because of this, I gave myself a perfect reference for what are the most cost-effective items from where and how should I plan on spending my money. I try to tell my friends about just simply putting in a little work, and they were put off by how much effort it took. Like, yes, it's gonna take effort, but the yields in savings will help prolong my grocery budget indefinitely. Nothing puts a smile on my face faster than getting a ton of stuff for the month at a significantly reduced cost. It makes me feel accomplished and like I did something right.

[@valeriesalazar2743]

I use the store apps and price check at every store before I purchase anything!

[@Happy2Run4Me]

I’ve decided that supplementing our grocery budget with homegrown food has been the best decision ever. We especially save on herbs and spices that I grow. Plus they taste sooo many times better and I’ve learned no cost or super low cost gardening practices as well. We cycle all our food waste back into the garden too. I love it because there’s a huge synergy there I’d never known before. I’ve also found when grocery shopping I have to limit myself to two of any item because I tend to get “hoarder” very easily and buy too much of some things we don’t need or won’t use very soon just because of a scarcity mentality. Now I’m trying to foster a mentality of abundance and not relying on the grocery store as much helps a lot with that. I seriously had to limit my shopping and shopping trips and be strict with sticking to my lists. We used to spend over $1200 per month for 3 of us with lots of take out and restaurant eating because I definitely failed at meal planning. I am improving all the time and have gotten us down to under about $300/month but we can do even better when the garden is in full production. Plus I can up or freeze anytime there’s extra for when those foods are out of season. I made a goal to grow a year’s worth of one item each season and focus on that until I can master growing that one item. It’s working! Now we can put our money into our house build and stay debt free. 👍🏻Also, all we are near is a Walmart or the dollar stores.

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

$1200/month to $300/month?? That’s amazing!! And I totally agree about the herbs. 😊

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

That is great !!!!! You are definitely headed in the right direction, I’m proud of you !!! Just a tip…. A lot of herb plants can be brought in and do well over the winter and a cheap dehydrator is worth it’s weight in gold ! I have 4 dehydrators, all bought at garage sales or thrift stores, not only herbs can be dried but veggies and fruits !!! Herbs are actually better air dried by hanging up. Well done and good luck on that new home ❤

[@Happy2Run4Me]

@@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123 Thanks! Yes, I definitely have a dehydrator I’ve used for years. ☺️ I don’t have space for anything more than that right now but once my house is done being built I can get crazy with it again. Haha. I do bring in some things but into my small greenhouse but most are cold hearty as I’m in zone 9a and our winters are mild so I don’t worry too much. I do save rosemary etc because I had to buy those as starts because I tried for years to grow them from seed with no luck. Basil, dill, cilantro, sage and parsley are no problem for me to grow but those thyme, rosemary and oregano ones eluded me. So now they live in my Greenstalks. I’m excited to be able to can and freeze my garden harvests. I’m currently living in our RV so I have a very tiny kitchen. I have to really plan and also keep it tidy at all times. Theres no room for clutter or mess. Still I have the goal or making our meals everyday and avoiding eating out. Most of that $1200 we spent when I tracked it a year or two ago was spent at restaurants and take out. We had to nip that and most convenience store foods/snacks asap. Once we did that and I meal planned a month at a time (and mostly shopped once a month with small weekly trips for fresh dairy or fruit and veggies) our food budget shrank significantly! Now I’ve got us down to even less per month. I’m very proud of myself and hope I can keep it up when I start my new job next month. I’ve done it before I can do it again. If I plan plan plan. 👍🏻It’s tough going from being a mom of 6 to almost an empty nester living in a tiny space. It’s all part of our current journey!

[@alanbirkner1958]

I'm a long-term cheapskate. We never got into debt in the first place. We retired at 53 and 55, when our youngest graduated college. Tina, Al's wife

[@UndertheMedian]

Hillary, I have been hearing some very nice things about your channel from some of my viewers. I'm so glad I stopped by. I'm super excited to see that you interviewed my personal friend, Julie Goheen. A great video and very fun to watch. Congrats on your up-and-coming channel.

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Oh my goodness! Hello, Hope! Yes, I just learned yesterday from Julie's group that you knew each other, and I had to laugh at what a small world the frugal community is. Thanks so much for stopping by (and your community post! You didn't have to do that, either!) 😊

[@sjordan7085]

That's a very generous and kind post, Hope. I have often watched the videos you and Larry, and sometimes, your son produce. And, I love it that you are a vegetarian family!

[@shroomer3867]

The thing I noticed is that the more healthy you eat the more your expenditure on groceries tends to go down since you aren't wasting it or buying junk food which would leave you hungry afterwards. Also, the more basic the foods, the better, even if eggs cost a lot than previously, they are still really good because you can just plop 2 of them for a breakfast with some extra stuff if you want to and still be under 2$, a dozen egg cartridge is esentially enough for a whole week or more if you really want to be frugal and only eat 1 egg per breakfast. Just start looking at food as in how many days will this feed me? Snacks? Less than one day, don't buy. Veggies? Several days and many ways to cook them, buy Meat? Several days and uses like soup, stock, dishes, etc. Fruit? A few days but is a good source of fiber, buy occasionally Etc, etc, etc... This doesn't mean you shouldn't eat what you want, I ocassionally snack sometimes but I keep at a minimum so I can stretch its enjoyment for several days intead of eating the whole packaging in one sitting.

[@marthaC495]

Another reason I couldn't really do this is because of the weather. I'm handicapped, must walk with a cane and if it's raining the street/sidewalk is slippery and I can't take a chance of falling. Anyway, when the weather is nice, I definitely do this. Today I found a good deal on ground turkey which tastes good in a recipe, and I can't tell much difference between that and ground beef. Thanks!

[@Gumbier_Than]

Really wish people with disabilities especially mobility could get a discount on grocery delivery services.

[@Karen-qv9ed]

I would like more context. I live in the Northeast where groceries are very expensive. Also did she start with a full pantry, does she supplement with a garden, what exactly do they eat? $800 a year would not be doable here.

[@zipporah8875]

you're right every household is not the same.❤

[@Barbara-e7d5u]

Yes, so much depends on where you live!

[@OurRetireEarlyJourney]

We live in NH… we can’t even spend 66$ a week never mind a month.

[@JigsawPuzzleConnection]

It is not if you eat healthy.

[@aphillips5376]

​@JigsawPuzzleConnection I live in MA. Today I saw a pumpkin at a discount store for 12.00. That's 1 pumpkin for 12.00. Pumpkin is healthy but on 66.00 a month that leaves 54.00 left to eat for the entire month. No, it's not doable here.

[@widowswatch6610]

Wow 67 dollars a month for two people? This is very hard to believe. I shop only for organic foods and other products all organic. And the store is 50 minutes away. I spend a lot of money on foods but I refuse to eat the chemicals, additives, and GMO’s. But I enjoyed this video and I believe you can definitely save money if you shop non organic items. Thank you

[@sjordan7085]

You are very wise. I eat plant-based whole foods, organic where possible.Sometimes, I splurge on wild smoked salmon. Still I do not spend a fortune. I steer away from anything processed at least 80% of the time, but also allow myself a treat now and again. More often than not my treats are healthy too. For fitness, I need to focus more on riding my electric bike, even with good locking system, I am afraid to leave my bike unattended. I am an older person who had cancer two years ago, so I totally agree with you about GMOs and also avoid toxins in toiletries, cleaning products,Teflon etc. Eliminating unhealthy oils can be a challenge. I used extra virgin olive oil or avacado oil. Winco, has a large selection of organic fruits and veggies for lower prices than most stores, but not everyone lives near to one. I also plan to grow my own.

[@PleaseNo-p7n]

Ya I need to manage my grocery money better, but under no circumstance will I live off frozen junk just to save money. I believe in the end cheap food is going to cost you. We see a lot of these prepper types whose plans aren't going to work since you cant stockpile diabetes medication.

[@vladstad8102]

and here i though i was doing good at about 90 to 180 for just myself a month haha

[@sjordan7085]

I prefer organic where possible. Where I shop I can find organic produce at a good price at Winco. Their bulk bins are handy, and they have a few bulk organic items in sacks I agree about avoiding chemicals and GMOs where possible. I eat plant based, except for wild fish very ocasionallly. Today, I spent about $40.00 on food, which will last me more than a week, I also supplement it with items that I already have at home. Big fan of homemade soups and eating off it for two or three days, it fills me up. I could make my own bread, but most of the time buy Ezekiel for 3.49 at Trader Joes. Organic bananas are also cheap there. I always combine my errands to save petrol and time. And, have a wander round the Thrift Stores on Senior Days.

[@douglasanderson7301]

Thanks, good practical introduction to your channel and philosophy. I noticed a few comments regarding organic and healthy choices and would offer a thought I'm sure you've covered in other videos. Healthy is important and in addition to organics the wife and I are vegetarians. I would add we are far from pure on either. The healthiest I eat is from my garden. Suburban yard, start small, grow what you enjoy eating.

[@sjordan7085]

As a long time mindful prepper, I keep a wide variety of items in my pantry, and only shop WOW deals at Grocery Outlet stores and some fresh fruit and veggies at one other store. I use some now, and dehydrate the rest. By doing this I avoid unnecessary trips to the store and avoid impulse buying. I never meal plan ever. Instead, I choose what I want to eat from what I already have, using what needs to be used first to avoid spoiling. I never waste food, or anything else for that matter. I have a garden as well as a DYI hydroponic set-up, as well as a herb garden, I eat a plant-based, whole food diet, organic where possible. I avoid sugar and processed foods, as well as alcohol. I sometimes eat fish, but it must be wild. I too spend very little on groceries. Almost everything else is bought used in excellent condition from Thrift Stores and yard sales, even free. This allows me to be able to afford petrol and I always plan my routes, to best advantage in saving gas. I drive a used 2005 Toyota, which is in pristine condition, and came with less than 120,000 miles, thus insurance costs only $50.00 a month and vehicle registration $78.00. The car has only ever needed two repairs since I owned it, one was for a starter, not made by Toyota, the other for oil seeping. I also own an electric bicycle for exercise, fun and some errands. Frugality is not a mystery, it is nothing more than common sense. I never worry about the future, because I have chosen to forgo luxury to be well prepared.

[@karenr7931]

Thank you for your comment. It was nice to hear from someone who shares a similar mindset. I agree that frugality is not a mystery. The issue is that it requires people to be willing to take responsibility and make the necessary sacrifices.

[@redgingerbreadpam]

Your life sounds a lot like mine. I don't have TV service or Internet. I use my straight talk phone for everything including making my videos. It's a mindset & I'm very happy & not feeling like I'm missing out on anything. I'm well prepared & can even travel occasionally. No credit cards. No debt.

[@sarahpauline4904]

bingo^ me too. I want to enjoy good food that will keep me healthy and strong for as long as possible.

[@MountainTopHigh]

I want to be like you when I grow up!!! I just need to develop your level of commitment!!

[@JuditFarkas1]

@@redgingerbreadpam how do you watch this video if you don’t have an Internet

[@loriburgess1866]

I appreciate your Hillary. I’m 65. I have been a wife and then a mother since 1979. I reverse meal planned but didn’t have any idea there was a term for it until recently. I began this kind of cooking in the beginning because I didn’t have all the ingredients needed in a recipe but just kept moving forward. An example might be the recipe called for green onions and celery. I didn’t have those so I used finely minced regular onion to top something or left it out. If the onion was to be mixed into the ingredients I used onion powder. The same with the celery. I noticed that it came out wonderfully delicious and that was the goal. Second I only bought what was on sale, really on sale. I figured out how to divide the animal protein up to feed us all. I extended with protein packed beans and lentils. If eggs were dirt cheap I bought a few cartons and employed those. It can be done. It does take some time to find a rhythm that works for your family. You also can not be a picky eater. Cooking this way requires a bit of adventure and confidence. I now have 5 adult children and they know how to do this too. I never formally taught meal planning or cooking to any of them. They obviously caught on by exposure.

[@melissasmith7069]

2 weeks ago I went in to the store and they had Pepperidge Farm Herb Seasoned stuffing for 32 cents a bag. Yes I bought 10 bags, came home and poked a small hole in top of bags to get all the air out and then put that bag into a vacuum bag and boom, being a dry good will last way past the expiration date. And we love stuffing. Win win

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

I found that same deal at Aldi, I bought 16 bags, told my daughter and she went and bought a bunch also! I love stuffing and it’s such an easy side to add to a meal ❤

[@snapdragon2441]

We just try not to waste anything. Left overs for lunch today then cooked a fresh meal for this evening. The left overs of that will be eaten tomorrow for lunch. I shop on the way home from work as I drive past the store, saves fuel.

[@suseanneegoulet1033]

Sometimes Amazon can be a decent source of markdowns, but not necessarily on Prime Day. Look daily, if you can find the time, at lists of items you really want to buy. I am still using up the last case of rice noodles I bought for less than $12. The current price is about $25. Last month I stocked up on my usual decaf coffee under $10 for 2 lbs. It's over $14 today.

[@lemongeth]

Honestly didn’t realize the circulars were actually good deals 😭 our grocery burget is $90/week for 2 people, and I’m looking to get it to $70/week. I think these are great tips for me to start out. I don’t think I could live off just $800/year tho unless I wanted to eat nothing but rice and beans. But thanks for sharing your interview

[@durandus676]

If you did that it would be about $100-200. Rice and beans are cheaper than you think

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

Get it down to $70 a week, take that extra $20 a week and stock up on sale items you will use but not needed in your weekly meal plan. Do that for a few months, you will have a stocked pantry and freezer, then you will find you won’t even need to spend $70 a week ! Now you can spend $40 a week on fresh fruits, veggies and dairy, take that extra $30 and stock up on sale items. You will be amazed at how much you can save and will even have weeks you won’t need to shop. Practice no waste cooking with perishable foods, cook from scratch and keep searching for budget meals to add to your menu. It’s easier than you think, it builds on itself and soon you will never pay full price for anything because you won’t have too ! You’ve got this, eventually when you are stocked up and are living frugal you can take that extra money in your grocery budget and put it towards your mortgage or car payment….. being debt free is the sweetest thing you will ever taste !!!

[@CynthiaRockroth]

Most people when extremely low budget have a small veggie garden. Either a neighborhood plot or a container garden. And BUY WHEN IN SEASON.

[@Desiree_Rose]

I don't think you could buy enough rice and beans to last a year for $800...and we love rice and beans! They are cheap, but not THAT cheap in the PNW (and I mean conventionally grown, not organic!)

[@hunterg1088]

I don’t live like this because I’ve been fortunate in life but it’s interesting to see a window into this kind of living.

[@jetjaguar5200]

Health is wealth.

[@MarenWilliams-oc8hh]

Also, if you have a patch of dirt, grow your own! We are lucky to have some land & are putting it to good use. Right now we have heirloom & cherry tomatoes coming out of our ears, lol! Also going- kale, fresh basil, different kinds of peppers, celery, garlic & squash. Just finished up the green bean harvest & may get in a second crop of peas. As fall comes in, it’s time to plant some lettuce & spinach.

[@kyleb2044]

Going to the store daily, unless you drive by anyway, can be shockingly expensive. 8 mile round trip to the store, let's say you have a $30k 30mpg vehicle, you're probably looking at about $2.20 x 365 is $803 in gas and wear and tear per year. Grocery bill doubled.

[@indigobunting5041]

I work 2nd shift at a grocery store and usually shop after work. During the most restrictive time during the covid lockdowns the store was closed the same time I got off work. This caused me to use more gas than normal to make an extra trip just for groceries.

[@veggielovinaccountant]

I live outside of KC. There are NO markdowns in my area. When I worked part time at my local grocery store, I found out that all the food/meat/etc that would be marked down is given to a place that distributes everything to the various homeless shelters. Which, don’t get me wrong … that’s awesome. But, I get tired of KZbinrs talking about go get the markdowns when that isn’t available to everyone. I do my best with local weekly sales and buy in bulk when I can. But, I can always strive to do better. 🤪

[@user-ov4wr5yu4r]

Great, and now migrants will get it too, so regular people can't save.

[@PS-bs8oe]

Veggie lovin', you just made the best point by your introduction. When we were students one of us who had no support but his own job, always worked in food businesses. He litterally fed our entire household" of 4 to 6 students first with his high end fastfood job that had fab' salads and then bringing home huge cheeses from the cooling ware houses he worked at. Working in canteens can also be goid, or any job you receive at least 1 meal per day or daily meal refundor leftovers. I know someone who lives in a tiny home on a faim. He gets his place and food for free in exchange for some working when there are major cropharvests. He has enough time to work on his books, channels, ayurvedic massage business , travel,...

[@itsnearly3am]

i moved into a more walkable neighborhood that was more expensive in rent but I found i've been saving money every month because I can save so much money being able to go to the grocery store almost everyday and not having to pay for car expenses

[@colleenwood8220]

We live in a rural area and the local grocery store closed 10 years ago. It’s 15 minutes to a Price Chopper and 30 minutes in 4 directions to an Aldi, although we are getting an Aldi 15 minutes away in the fall, which is great news for my area. Her strategy is great for those close to stores. We had 3 kids in 4 years and taking all of them grocery shopping was something I refused to do unless my husband came along, so understand what you’re saying. I’d love to do what she does! This was so good and informative. Thank you!

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Oh yeah, you really do get it! 😂

[@ElisabethGrace22]

I'm glad to hear you will be getting an ALDI closer to you! We are lucky to still have our local grocery store here in town! I'm at least 75 miles away from any chain grocery store in rural ND.

[@Loretta_C]

Same here I live in rural Ontario and it is 30 minutes to a Walmart and discount grocery store. We have a local grocery store but the produce is so expensive. They often have good specials on meat so I take advantage of that when I can.

[@ElisabethGrace22]

@@Loretta_C Produce is often quite bedraggled at our town grocery and can be quite expensive. I buy their frozen veggies on sale, and for fresh I usually stick to green cabbage (which seems to last forever in the fridge) apples and carrots when those go on sale.

[@colleenwood8220]

@@ElisabethGrace22 We’re in Upstate New York, near Cornell. Everyone thinks my state looks like NYC. We just had four cows cause a traffic jam yesterday. No red light here and if someone passed out in the yard of our only bar, not only would you be left alone, someone would throw a blanket on you and then trash talk in the churches on Sunday. 😂

[@Echenard]

I live in Minnesota, there are a tone of ranchers you can work with direct to get meat at a really good value. Beef $3-5lbs hanging weight. I haven't bought store meat in years. Plus I like supporting my local family businesses and they tell me everything about how the animals are raised and fed. Starting to do the same with fruit and veg now. I hope more people can do this. Just ensure the meat is inspected and the butcher is good.

[@FunUrth4All]

or eat plants and let all the animals have fun on earth too.

[@TheVideoGamesHistorian]

We have paid our mortgage and have zero debt and live on a fixed income . We care for our grandchild when her mother works . It takes sacrifice to get to this point but it means now in our early 50s we have time which is priceless .

[@AnimaLibera]

Totally agree. Debts and maxed-out credit card cost you a lot more than you could ever save on groceries.

[@joycegonzales4994]

I’m not going to a store that often. But it’s an inspiration

[@KathyJacksonSanDiegoRealEstate]

I love that Julie wants to spend the time with her grand baby. Me too!!!

[@lindagbukvic9441]

I started doing a price book, why back in The Tightwad Gazette days. But these days, prices can change weekly.

[@jenniferrosenthal7731]

I still keep a book and record current prices and dates so I can see when prices start to come back down (eggs!)

[@sjordan7085]

Instead of a price book, my mother used to write down every food items she bought, along with cost. That way, she stayed abreast of prices. I don't need to do that, because I shop Grocery Outlet stores more than 80% of the time.

[@jenniferrosenthal7731]

I shop at a Bent and Dent store but prices have gone way up there and I can’t use sales and rebates to my advantage. I still check there every couple of weeks but I buy less and less each time. I used to buy our applesauce cups for our kids from there because when they were sold as singles, they were .05 each, then they went to .10 and now they are .25 each-.30 each depending on their stock

[@missreynolds3637]

​@@jenniferrosenthal7731 I wonder if buying on sale apple and making your own applesauce would be cheaper for you? I make and can applesauce when apples are on sale. We just got five pounds for $4. I decided to dehydrate this time for oatmeal, muffins, and just to snack on.

[@ronmellott8811]

We shop at amish bent and dent grocery stores every thing is about half price. We garden , can and raise our own beef. We spend less then 40 dollars a month at the bent and dent for 2 people.

[@cjhoward409]

We have an Amish run discount store. It’s called the salvage store. The food is near or just past the “best buy” date. It has helped us SO much. Plus we have 2 big veggie gardens too 😊

[@donedennison9237]

Thank you so much for including the mobility and circumstances comment. I'm legally blind and live in a rural town. I CAN go to the store using paratransit for $2 a ride. I do have a partner who drives and works so they pick up orders I do online. Usually Fridays because the place that has the best produce in my area has 4x fuel points those days. My partner also work retail, so are in a store workdays. Though they're not as price conscious as I am. They used to work in EVERY grocery store, so when they saw shelf stable deals, they could grab them. Obviously, no sales on meat or produce that would fair poorly left in a car half the day. Frugal bonus of working retail is all the neat odds and ends that get given away because it's "trash." Not as often food,tho that does happen. We have tons of shelving. We once got a whole bunch of lights from a remodel. This was double savings as the lights replaced power hungry fixtures with pricier bulbs.

[@chichita9202]

I find that the being away from stores can be a blessing too and sort of force me to use what I have to make do and not have things I would buy if I could and in the end save money. I buy pantry items in big bulk amounts and make everything from scratch.

[@MsDoglover02]

Thank you so much for introducing me to Everything Frugal! Julie is awesome and I love her page!

[@Chelsea-lyn]

I always say I would rather go without certain things if it means I don’t have to work as hard. I want TIME.

[@frogmoonmama]

Reverse meal planning is a game changer. I use the Flip app to look at weekly sales fliers for stores in my area. Garden. Milk, dairy and some produce is all we need to supplement with. (upstate NY so can’t garden all year sadly)

[@ros8986]

Laundry - I just started using distilled vinegar (2 cups in the wash cycle) and baking soda (one cup in the rinse cycle). OMG it has made such a diffference in my clothes coming out clean. Note we have a large washing machine so you might want to use less in a smaller washer. The vinegar kills bacteria, the baking soda then neutralizes an vinegar that does not get rinsed out from the wash cycle. Also I always dry on medium (and my clothes are 100% cotton). Drying on hot makes the fibers brittle, then they break, then you get holes, etc, etc. I had tshirts that eaisly lasted over 12 years being washed at least 26 times a year (I changed to a different size so in 2023 I switched to new larger tshirt/dresses and gave the others away).

[@4LuvOfGAIA]

I use vinegar to clean. I found out recently that vinegar corrodes metal eventually so be careful.

[@numberoneappgames]

Buying savings products always reminds me to track my savings. Don't let your money evaporate. :)

[@NomadJane]

Great video I could only add that besides groceries it is possible to spend $15 month on cell phone with Mint Mobile and lowering water and electricity use as well. Whatever works for each of us, thanks for the ideas.

[@sjordan7085]

If a person is low income Tracphone is free, as is a tablet computer, and the monthly charges for both. An Ooma, house phone runs off the Internet and costs approx $7.00 a month and one can call all over the US and Canada and speak for as long as one likes for nothing extra.

[@brindlekintales]

@@sjordan7085 I'm on a low income and am eligible for free cell service. However, every single free cell service I look into had abominably low customer ratings...lousy service overall.

[@Judith-b3t]

I love Mint Mobile.

[@rozchristopherson648]

I'm 63 and vegan for 8 years. I thought I was frugal at only $35 a week for food. Not sure I can go all the way down to $800 per year on groceries. I usually have my groceries delivered, so I am not in the stores for the super marked-down items. But I will try some of these other tips. Thank you for this video.

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Hey, I think you’re doing fabulous as it is!

[@TheRebeccaLivermore]

You're doing a great job! I think delivery actually saves a lot of money because you don't do impulse buys.

[@adam7349]

As someone that used to work in the meat market at a grocery store she is correct that first thing in the morning around 7-8 is that we mark down all the meat that is going to expire the next day. One thing that has helped me is that since I work from home mostly I would grocery shop on my lunch so I have a mandatory time limit to be in and out of the grocery store and I also don't need to take my kid with me since he goes to day care.

[@catwhisperer9524]

Wal mart in Moulton Alabama (North Alabama) (hint hint Lol) marks ours down at around 9 pm for the next day. Meat and produce both I am positive of bc I'm the one who does it :) happy shopping, and get there before the employees get off st 10 Lol

[@GeckoHiker]

We do this, spending no more than $1 a day per person. We include the cost of garden seeds in our $60/month budget. There are no commercial labels on anything in our pantry, no waste, and we have a 7 year supply of one-ingredient foods. We also do not use food banks or SNAP. We don't need to.

[@Savage.Doomer]

What do you eat for $1 a day?

[@paulcarlachapman628]

You're correct -- it's not always possible to check grocery deals 3 (or more) times a week. Julie must live very close to her shopping and be in good enough shape to manage all this "popping into the store". We live 13-14 miles away from the nearest grocery and I am older and have arthritis, which makes multiple trips beyond what is manageable. However, I am seriously cutting back on what we were spending, pantry shopping first, making nearly all baked goods from scratch, and trying to gradually build up pantry and freezer foods. Our costs are coming down!

[@vivafamilia7867]

I worry I will sacrifice health. Anyone know of healthy frugal people. She sounds awesome and so disciplined.

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Have you come across See Mindy Mom yet? I really appreciate her balanced approach to budgeting groceries, too.

[@dianebryant4684]

I shop once a month only. No credit cards, No unnecessary debt. As a senior this is how I stop unnecessary spending and can live.

[@PenniestoDollars]

That's how I shopped too before I retired. I am no longer in town multiple times a week.

[@lindamckeny876]

Hello I came across your video and I must say you're full of energy made me want to listen to you all the way through . Best of luck on your channel.

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Thank you!

[@ClassicGamer2996]

It helps when you work at the store, example, this week we had a sale on 3 pack chicken thighs for $4 - $5 CAD,

[@alexisg7644]

I spend a lot more than Julie, but I don’t put in the level of time she does. I spend $400 cdn per month (Approx $75 usd weekly) on 2 people. I try to challenge myself to spend under that, but I am finding that as prices go up it’s getting harder. I will try some of these tips. Thanks!

[@totoroben]

Use your freezer extensively to not let food go bad. If you buy a gallon of milk but can't finish it, freeze it in quart size jars with a little head space. You can also freeze bread instead of leaving it to get stale or moldy. I would say a freezer, if you can afford/ make space for one, is an excellent tool for stocking up on sale items, having extra food on hand so you always have something to eat and aren't tempted to order out, you can meal prep and have several heat and eat things ready, and you save time because you can go grocery shopping less often. It is possible to live out of a chest freezer for a whole year even, but fresh salad greens and cream cheese and a few other things do not freeze well.

[@janetstonerook4552]

I do buy milk by the gallon and then freeze half of it in glass quarts as soon as I come home. I live alone and don't use much. It actually tastes better this way. Also I buy meat when it's on sale and pressure can or freeze it. That way I only have to do that a few times of year. And I have it ready for stews and casseroles.

[@SarahS-lf4pt]

I love food and I do care what I eat so I will not go this low. But it’s interesting to see what can be done-thank you!

[@mommabear2many]

I think it’s great! We don’t have loss leaders here but still stay about $100 per month

[@durandus676]

I spent $25 dollars on groceries in August 2023. $5 of that was icecream

[@pamelasmith514]

Ice cream is a necessity for us, not a luxury. Anything chocolate.

[@WhytePip]

I just spent $20 on milk. $5 per 2litres. I don't drink milk but an elderly person in the household does, and so do the cats that hear the electric jug boil 😂

[@kenyonbissett3512]

I would like to see a menu plan with cost breakdown to be able to truly understand how she does it. And, of course, food prices vary greatly by area. And, I would definitely need a freezer beyond the fridge freezer. $800/52 (weeks)=$15.38 a week for 2 people or $1.10 per person per day. Eating nutritionally for $1.10 a day per person is a big challenge.

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

She's got plenty of meal plans in her Facebook group, actually! Can't remember if she does a break down by cost-per-meal on all of them though.

[@cynthiamilo5571]

Or impossible

[@JRoseBooks]

Definitely not possible in my area. Just one head of cabbage for the week is like $5. …I mean if I ate unhealthy and ramen with no tofu (or vegetables or fruit). (Sure rice and dry beans are also cheap). But then I’d just get sick and be more unhealthy in my older years.

[@kenyonbissett3512]

@@JRoseBooks what area of the country do you live in?

[@JRoseBooks]

@@kenyonbissett3512 Denver. Even like 15 years ago, I still remember it cost me like $60 to make a huge pot of vegetable soup for the week. (Normal grocery store/not organic. No meat).

[@kieranmorley2833]

Yesterday I stocked up on wine and batteries. Yes they’re random items but I saved $71.06 on the batteries (120 AA’s for $8) and $22 on the wine which I purchased for $2.00 for 2 bottle. It’s all about what’s available at the time because you’ll need it eventually

[@TheJanet4321]

I live in a big city. I rarely see mark downs on foods in supermarkets. I am really liking the loss leader tip though.

[@joonlee7884]

Like you said it takes work, talking to empolyees, knowing which are fake or real deals. If you spent half of this time and effort on a side hustle, you can make way more than what you save.

[@LoonarFox]

I'm blessed to live in an area in Southwest MO that is basically the discount grocery capital of the world.

[@katymckenna2550]

I would love to know what area you live in. We'd drive down occasionally from south KC if it meant discount groceries!

[@Fritz0616]

Thank you for your video. I love Julie we have a lot in common, but one thing when I started my journey of being frugal. I started it about 20 years ago. I only worked part time, and I learned by working part time that it was a balance that I could be home for my family and live below our means and live the life that I wanted then we bought our house and I lost my job of 16 years. I became a stay at home mom, I was a couponqueen, I learn to grow a garden. I learn to use a pressure canner I learn to forage. I learn to stretch a meal and within six months of living in my house I started my edible medicinal landscape for my three sons by being self-sufficient and growing what you can and preserving what you can and living within your means no one needs to work like they do at least back in the day if you think about. I had a coworker who is always having issues with money and everybody would be feeling bad for her but yet once a week she would go out and buy takeout food stop at the convenient store to buy her $10 pack of cigarettes and her cappuccino, buying from the vending machine at work five days a week she create their own problems and I tried multiple times to help her but when they don’t help themselves by making their own food, bringing their own lunch buying on sale in bulk. it really is a matter of what you’re willing to give up to create a better life for yourself and your family Julie I love Julie, like I said, but she saves every single dime which there’s nothing wrong with that but she’s debt-free and I don’t look at life as having to save every single dime, even though we have a mortgage payment and a motorcycle payment and some credit card debt, I’m not gonna stop my life from living the way I want to and still, I can still stay at home people need to find balance, and still live a good life now I’m not sure about now because everything is absolutely outrageous and I live 45 minutes away from the nearest big store so there’s no way going to the store every single day it’s gonna work for me so what I have done and have been doing for many many many many years is when there is an awesome sale especially me because all of my family loves me if hamburger went on sale for $1.99 a pound I bought 50 pounds I need meals from them A food saver is your best friend and what people don’t know because it always seems to be the USDA contradicts itself is that food in your freezer can never go bad it can never get salmonella poisoning so as long as it’s protected from ice crystals in freezer burn. It has an indefinite life now I’m not talking ice cream or vegetables. I’m talking in my case meat.

[@MountainTopHigh]

How do you protect your meat from freezer burn & ice crystals? Like you, I bought a LOT (100#) of hamburger @1.99/lb. Cooked a bunch/froze in 2 lb bags, made meatloaf/meatballs/lasagna. With the price of beef now I wish I had bought more!

[@Fritz0616]

@@MountainTopHigh ~My Foodsaver..worth every single penny..be sure to buy their brand of bags (off brands gave me nothing but headaches ) and partially freeze your meat or if cooked freeze completely then Foodsaver.

[@BlackieBearz]

Our Dinner Meals - 3x a week, Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner with a Costco $5 chicken. Carrots, Onions & Celery are organic- $2.50 each for both of us - 1x a week, ground up turkey meatloaf. 1 cup Organic Ketchup, 1 cup Stubbs BBQ Sauce. Buy only when on sale- $3 each - 1x a week- Tuna Sandwiches w/tomato atop- $2.50 each. $2.50 for vegetables ground up in a blender added to ice cream= $5 each. - 1x a week- Split Pea Soup and biscuits- $2.50 each/$5 Lunch- 3x a week- Egg Salad Sandwich- $2.50 2x a week- Hot dog Breakfast- Usually nothing but we can have oatmeal about 3x a week. Add Maple Syrup & butter= $.75 cents each We spend about $300 on groceries here in California bu only because we buy what's on sale in bulk. Eat that for a few weeks then go onto to something else.

[@Mydogsareawesome]

Vegetables ground up in a blender added to ice cram for a tuna sandwich? 😂. I’m assuming that’s a typo.

[@BlackieBearz]

@@Mydogsareawesome Sorry we juice the vegetables so it's not a blender, Thanks

[@Mydogsareawesome]

@@BlackieBearz NO, I meant you add vegetables to ICE CREAM and tuna ? 🍦 🍨

[@BlackieBearz]

@@Mydogsareawesome Nope :)

[@radiola3454]

This is interesting and thank you for this video. But I thought it would be like: by raw foods and cook from scratch or smth else. Cause can end up buying some crap on these sales, or you know highly processed foods are the cheapest, and you can live frugal until your medical bills kick in. Besides, how much you could make instead of visiting grocery shop daily. Unless you walk there - then it’s really good. Any way, great food for thought, thank you again 😊

[@alinewright1093]

Reverse meal planning, I thought it was normal. I just never heard called by that name. I have a note on my phone to put things that I am almost out of, as I discovered it.

[@betterlivingonabudget]

In my area, (se FL), our most expensive 'standard' grocery store is Publix, but they have fantastic BOGO deals that I can occasionally combine with coupons and Ibotta deals - that's when I stock up on things like meats, etc. I also discovered that Sprouts has fantastic clearance prices on veggies which is def hit/miss, but worth checking at least once per week, right after they open. It's normally very pricey to shop there, so I never went, but one day stopped in for a specialty item from their bins, and decided to take a gander on the outer-aisles cooler sections - mind blown. So my shopping strategy is first Sprouts, hit Publix with a specific list of deals, and fill in at Aldi, rarely Walmart. I spend about $150/mo for one person, so am nowhere near on Julie's level, but still solid frugal shopping by today's standards.

[@NOVAFrugalFamily]

I am shocked that more people don’t shop and meal plan like this because I thought it was normal. I have a $200 monthly budget on groceries and household goods per month to stock up on things at the lowest prices. I do an inventory of my fridge, freezer and pantry and do a monthly meal plan based on what is in the house already. If I don’t have ground beef then we aren’t having tacos but I do look for more sales to get some for the following few months. I make rolls, bread, pizza dough, cookies, tortillas, bagels, English muffins and baked goods from scratch. I make whatever I can to save money like enchilada sauce, spaghetti sauce and more. I am not at that amazing low yearly spend but I can see why it wouldn’t be hard but I am currently happy with my monthly budget meeting our goals.

[@karenherring8883]

How many I your household? Sounds like you do a great job

[@NOVAFrugalFamily]

@@karenherring8883 we have a family of three

[@ShoestringJane]

I agree it is tricky to go in daily if you work full time or have to drive a distance to the store. Also, petrol is very expensive here in the uk, so going to multiple stores several times a week will cost you. Although if you are passing I’m sure it’s worth it. Using Olio to get free food is a good tip if you have a group locally, and if you volunteer to collect it you get first choice.

[@Wendy-je6cz]

Local group to use Olio and collect it to get first choice?! What does this mean please?

[@Paulzm1]

I agree on paying a higher price for good nutrition food, Meat base lifestyle, Carnivore

[@AnimaLibera]

Yep!

[@TheSpecialJ11]

My grocery store (a Kroger subsidiary) has weekly digital deals and pretty routine great deals on meat. I'll stuff my freezer with meat and buy whatever great weekly digital deals there are of the healthier shelf stable stuff (canned tomatoes, nuts, and the like) as well fill my freezer with cheap meat, and man do I cook good meals for cheap.

[@frazeejr]

My family and I have to drive an hour away for each grocery haul due to living in a small town, so this method of frequent shopping is not possible for us. I do love the reverse meal planning approach, and I'll be implementing that ASAP.

[@teresanorris4769]

I was frustrated last week. They had 80/20 ground beef on sale for $2.50 a pound but on the first day of the sale it wasn’t there. The meat employee said they didn’t have any. I feel this is bate and switch. This is our only stand alone grocery store chain in town. I feel they use their lack of competition to do this. They recently were bought by Kroger but the ads are still different then the regular Kroger ads. Our other options are Walmart and Sams. I just needed to vent my frustration on this.

[@M_SC]

That’s super annoying and yea bordering on illegal advertising. Probably due to the switch in ownership, it’s still being run by the local people but the ads are set by Kroger and they’re not in sync.

[@morningmoondove5065]

RAIN CHECK! Good for 30 days. Then order from the butcher how much you want. Yes I work in a grocery store.

[@andersonomo597]

Not all stores give rain checks. Here in Oz, where our 2 main grocery competitors control 80% of the grocery dollar and they do EVERYTHING in lockstep, one chain gives rainchecks, the other doesn't. We really lack competition here!@@morningmoondove5065

[@jeromehenry4484]

Rainchecks disappeared in my area (Houston Texas) during Lock-down and have never come back. Ran into that problem of 1st day sale items not available, so I started going on 2nd day of sales, and usually it's in stock! There might be a delay in shipping or just getting it unloaded & on the shelves.

[@morningmoondove5065]

@@jeromehenry4484 legally they have to give you a raincheck or it's false advertising. They can get into trouble for that unless it says "while supplies last". All of our ads said that for around 18 months while everything was constrained. When things got to flowing again those words came off of our ads and we once again wrote rainchecks.

[@samrichmond2940]

Only $60 a month on food costs but all the driving to the store triples the cost because of fuel prices and then add in maintenance to the vehicle. Not to mention what’s a persons time worth?

[@normaname5118]

This video is so funny. Amy Dacyczyn taught most of this back in the 90’s. I everything old is new again.

[@thorn.charmer]

Kroger has definitely caught on that some people only shop markdown sales and they have started doing tricksy things with their pricing. I always do the math on price per pound, especially with meat markdowns because it's not always the sale that you think it is.

[@Chnacatsnflr]

I also use this strategy. Our local Grocery Outlet store has a senior discount day, 10% off. I only look for their mark downs on that day.

[@Chnacatsnflr]

@@DS-mw8yu At our store the discount is for everything, thankfully. Not sure about other stores in my area.

[@user-ov4wr5yu4r]

My parents do senior day. It's excellent if you're able to.

[@TheNewMediaoftheDawn]

I do about 150$ per month US for a single with the odd person over for dinner, and could easily half that. I eat well though, like free range eggs, good meats and seafood on sale, ect. A few tips: giant bags of rice, oats, potatoes. Only eat seasonal local veg, buy big bags of carrots, onions, beets, potatoes, ect in fall and store them, and yes always hunt sales on butter, oil, milk, cheese ect cheers🎉 Edit; I only shop once a week, 2 stores.

[@BohemianLifer]

Using a credit card instead of your debit card is a major saving. Of course, paying FROM your chequeing or savings account to pay it down twice a month is paramount. Ex; pay 500.00 mid month, then pay your full balance at month end, or a week before your online or paper statement comes in.

[@melodys.portlandoregon556]

👍👍👍 Thumbs up for Julie!!! Thank you for sharing her information. Also, in regard to mark downs, sometimes grocery stores will indicate which days they will have mark downs via their web site.

[@Josh-99]

I'm not sure exactly where you live, but in Florida we almost never have sales or markdowns on produce, and produce is what is most important to me and my wife. I prepare almost all of our food from scratch with fresh fruits and vegetables. I do buy food in the cheapest form possible; i.e. I buy dry beans and dry rice instead of canned or packaged versions. When there are sales I stock up (I'll freeze produce if I can get a really good sale), but they are just so rare, and almost never on any produce that is actually expensive like avocados, berries, and fresh herbs.

[@jamesbriggs5740]

I tried a price book once. It is a PAIN in the neck. It takes so much time. In our area prices change so much. I shop once a month (my husband's choice). It works for us. Kathy B

[@amydecker6207]

Our price changes are volatile as well. I would have to readjust the entire price book every week.

[@jenniferrosenthal7731]

I still keep a price book, but we don’t have a lot in it because we don’t buy a huge variety. We have about 50 entries and I don’t need to change them every time I shop because I’m not buying everything in my book at once.

[@EB-bl6cc]

That's the issue with a lot of these extreme shopping techniques. You're pouring tens of hours into this stuff, you might as well work more hours at your job or get a 2nd part-time job and you would end up making more money that way.

[@jelliebean1]

I made a price book when I was getting started on "paying attention to the prices" and budgeting and frugal living. It WAS a lot of work to get started, but eventually after using it for less than a year (I'd guess), most of it sunk into my head so I didn't need to keep using it. It was worth the effort for me, because I was a SAHM with a lot of kids. I got a lot of savings for the time invested in doing it.

[@Cardbordboxonfire]

I’m a manager at Walmart. You are correct, our markdowns are trash. We’re not a bargain store… “save money, live better” yeah right! Walmart runs off of convenience, we have everything you could possibly need under one roof (for the most part) You can buy groceries, remodel your bathroom, buy a shotgun, go birthday shopping, get a new phone, get a birthday cake, pick up your prescription, do your taxes, get your eyes checked, get your hair cut, buy new clothes, all while you’re getting your oil changed in your car…. Just good luck on a that yellow markdown sticker, it doesn’t dress to impress.

[@brg2743]

We just buy loss leaders, and what we are out of that we use often. A few fresh veggies and fruits, milk, bread, dairy. If the oantry and freezer are kept stocked, it becomes easier to get the price of weekly groceries down.

[@stephkammetler5104]

I am curious, why are so many people who are frugal very against credit cards? If you pay the statement balance off every month, you never pay interest. You can earn up to 3% back as a reward of using the card. What is the downside of this? I have not encountered anyone charging me more because I use my credit card, when I do I pay cash.

[@Wendy-je6cz]

Some of us low income people have never had the luxury of having credit cards to use

[@user-ov4wr5yu4r]

Unless it's a high yearly fee. I only have three cards, no balance. 1 has a high fee, but excellent benefits.

[@renatal1972]

I have all of my bills go to my card, along with groceries and gas. I pay it off monthly when I get paid and end up with a lot of cash back that I pull and put in a high yield savings account, I then use that for vacations.

[@elizaC3024]

Hope and Larry sent me, glad that I found you. Great information.

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Aww! Thanks for stopping by! :)

[@AnimaLibera]

You can always make changes that save you money but $800 for an entire year sounds like a fairy tale to me. I live in Europe where things may be different but there is no way you can buy groceries for $66 a month. We are pretty frugal and we pay a lot more than that *per week* . I have found that you can save a lot more by checking all your recurring payments for unused subscriptions, memberships, insurance policies etc. and getting rid of those. Not eating out can make a huge difference in some cases. but the biggest savings for many people would be to simply pay off their credit card(s) and other debts. It can be done. BTW: Going to the store every day is very time consuming and your grocery store may not be anywhere near where you live. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) the average cost per mile of driving a car is $0.58 (for gas, insurance, repairs and maintenance, depreciation etc.). If your store is 10 miles away, which is 20 miles round trip, and you go there every day of the week, this costs you about $350 a month. You need to add that you your groceries to see how much they really cost you.

[@AnimaLibera]

Oh yes, and I forgot to say that you can also save a lot of money by not wasting anything. We haven't thrown anything edible in the garbage in years. That too saves you a lot of money.

[@zelmawills8606]

Here in Australia it’s higher to live The only way to cut down is to have a vege garden

[@TD-izAbxy]

I think it's amazing she's able to spend so little each year! I'd like to throw a disclaimer out there and say, without sounding like some sort of doomsday prepper, only having a few days worth of food in your house by choice may be an unwise decision. We are living in very strange times right now. Not only is the economy rough, and the prices of everything steadily climbing, but the weather patterns seem to be shifting and many people live in areas where flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes and drought are problematic. Not to mention our very vulnerable power grid. If the power goes out for days or weeks, I ask that you ask yourself, how are you going to feed your family with no power and no grocery stores. Also. Every time you go shopping the prices are higher.. why not buy 20 lbs of white rice at today's prices? Or 10 lbs of ground beef? Long term food storage will always be a thing in my household and I encourage others to keep staples stocked in your pantries as well.😊

[@meglukes]

I would regret having the 10lbs of frozen meat in my house if the power went out.

[@JustAnotherRandomPersonOnline]

@@meglukes Fair enough, however having 10 pounds of beef for cheaper is better then getting a couple pounds every week or so.

[@beccascraps8141]

I feel ya, Hillary. I’m in a wheelchair and buy almost everything online for my family of 9. But even so, I think we can do better

[@KatherineMiller-e8z]

I AM NOTNEAR LOSS LEADERS AND I TAKE A CAB ONCE A MONTH TO THE STORE I AM CHALLENGED BY HEARING AND SIGHT LOSS. I AM WATCHING JULIA PACHECO AND SHE IS AMAZING YOU ARE TO HI ARY. I AM TRYING TO EAT ON 100 A MONTH TY GREAT ADVICE KATE❤CAPS❤BLINDNESS

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Yes, I also like Julia Pacheco!

[@Bawkr]

Wow that's pretty good course I'm eating a lot more red meat for health. Mine would be about $960 a year for one person but right now I eat food bank stuff so pretty much at 0$ past 3 months

[@My2up2downCastle]

I'm in the uk...... our Supermarkets 'yellow sticker' stuff that's reduced..... i like finding fruit/vegetables i can either freeze or dehydrate.... my favourite thing to find, reduced is double cream (heavy cream). I make butter out of it and use the buttermilk for making bread.

[@catwhisperer9524]

Wal mart in Moulton Alabama (North Alabama) (hint hint Lol) marks ours down at around 9 pm for the next day. Meat and produce both I am positive of bc I'm the one who does it :) happy shopping, and get there before the employees get off at 10 Lol

[@eliporter3980]

I'm single, but I'm pretty much doing the same thing. I should have my mortgage paid off in 2 years and be debt free by 45. I already started calculating and my monthly bills will only be $1,000/mo and I'm seriously looking forward to the freedom.