93% of People Don't Grocery Shop This Way

Today I'm sharing my "interview" with frugal living expert and creator of the Facebook group Everything Frugal, Julie McCarry Goheen. Here's how she feeds herself and her husband for less than $800 for an entire year!
Julie's Facebook group: / 2024633281012551
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The information contained on this channel and my associated website are for educational and informational purposes only. I am not a tax professional nor a financial advisor. The information I provide is not a substitute for financial advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation. In fact, I expressly recommend that you seek advice from a professional. Homegrown Hillary shall not be held liable or responsible for any errors or omissions on this channel or its associated website, or for any damage you may suffer as a result of failing to seek competent financial advice from a professional who is familiar with your situation.
#frugalliving #groceryshopping #cheapeats

[@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.

[@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!

[@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."

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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,...

[@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.

[@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 ❤

[@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. 😂

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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 😊

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@normaname5118]

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

[@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.

[@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)

[@PenniestoDollars]

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

[@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.

[@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).

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@dylanakent]

She''s not counting in that her time is money. If you're hanging out in the store 3-4 hours a week, you're not saving.

[@joypower3199]

You have lots of time when you're retired, believe me. Going to the store & making a game for savings can be something to look forward to (sorry to say)

[@michelleadams5609]

@@joypower3199retirement is elusive. The next economic turn will take everyone down

[@be1tube]

If you compare it to the time she'd spend in the office and the freedom from not having to work those hours, she'd prefer this way.

[@Meladonessable]

3-4 hours a week? The fuck you on there? It takes me 45 mins

[@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.

[@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?

[@KathyJacksonSanDiegoRealEstate]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@cjhoward409]

We’re fortunate and have a good salvage store near us. They sell items close to or just past the “best buy” date. I’ve gotten food from 25-90% off the retail price. The latest great deals was grass fed beef for half the price as the same brands online. Was excited about that. And there’s another discount store nearby that sells all their bread for $1 each. Their other things aren’t necessarily discounted though.

[@numberoneappgames]

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

[@pennynickels5216]

It's great if you have transportation and want to do all that shopping! Not everyone does. I take advantage of sales but I have 1 grocery, Walgreens (they used to have some food deals), and a ridiculously overpriced organic market.

[@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.

[@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

[@Goldzwiebel]

Julie's ideas are really great and I'm sure it'll work well for her! For me personally, shopping three times a week sounds like a hobby. and that even though I work next to a supermarket! Are there still no food delivery services in the USA with good online shops where you can filter the products? I can no longer imagine having to look for offers every week because I order annual rations when the products are on sale. So I need a maximum of 3 orders a year until I have all the non-perishable food and bathroom products. I only go to the supermarket for fresh food and the price doesn't really matter because everything else is bought cheaply.

[@eydiegarcelon8889]

Oh Wow..... this is the first video I've watched of your channel now Hillary. I am looking forward to learning ALL I can from your videos! I live in a small town, Northern Minnesota. 2 high price grocery stores here, a Walmart, and a brand new Aldi, so I use Aldi and Walmart now. Grocery pickup is my friend for sure! I am physically limited, so the online shopping is perfect. Definitely looking forward to all the tips and tricks I can find here.

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Welcome! I’ve got family in northern Minnesota! Lovely place, and I hear it’s a mild winter for you guys there, too! 😊

[@eydiegarcelon8889]

@@Homegrown_Hillary .... very nice! We are near Park Rapids, if they are close by there. A beautiful area here. Definitely not much of a winter this year, and we are fine with that! Lol.... but hard on the economy, as we all rely on the tourism, snowmobiling and ice fishing.

[@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

[@ritabagnato8357]

I do not understand how a couple can sustain that grocery budget on an ongoing basis. It works out to 2.19 a day. I know if is possible for a short term or an occasional meal that works out to 40 cents but not ongoing. I want to know how she is doing it. It cannot just be from shopping sales.

[@goheen04]

It is fully from shopping loss leaders, markdowns, and reduced... Also portion control is huge too... A lot of people I know put a full lb of ground beef in their spaghetti... we use 8 ounces... We do not grow anything (tried and failed.. lol) and we don't raise anything... We buy fresh meat and fresh veggies... eggs, pasta, cook a lot from scratch...

[@goheen04]

@JoLynnDrake-mc6bb ha! We eat fresh chicken, fresh pork (pork, bacon, sausage, chops,), ground beef, turkey, ham...

[@goheen04]

@JoLynnDrake-mc6bb I am not sure what you are saying...Not sure where you got the $200 from. If you could explain better, I might be able to help ya out

[@livinforlessinsingapore3601]

Wow. This is super interesting. $800 for 2 pax. Means about $1.10 per person per day! I live in a single person household in Singapore. So, that’s about SGD1.50. As I’m overweight, I’m going to try to do ONE meal a day for the rest of my life. 1. Frozen boneless chicken legs are $9 for 2kg. Cheapest I can find. I guess 200g per day might be ok. So that’s 90 cents. 2. Any decent amount of veggies. At least $1 here. 3. Small portion of fruit. 50 cents. 4. Misc 10 cents. For Oil, butter, spices etc. That’s at least $2.50. I would vary the chicken protein with eggs and tofu. 90 cents would get me 2.5 eggs. Could use beans and lentils too. Even at $2.50 I can’t get any decent amount of fish, beef or even pork. Let alone prawns etc. Not easy to do where I live. Fortunately, I don’t have to. 😀

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

This is such a cool breakdown! Thanks!

[@livinforlessinsingapore3601]

I’ve thot a little more about this. In Singapore, some days I could reduce costs by eating: 200g cabbage. About 40 cents. 100g carrots. About 20 cents. If I eat 200g tofu for protein, that’ll be about 60 cents. A quarter of a big guava: 30 cents. Oil etc. 10 cents. So that’ll be SGD1.60. Hmmm. Almost possible. Shopping sales or cost leaders not easy for some of us. So, being innovative or daring about recipes might be something to think about. My first 3 ingredients above can make something rather delicious: Poh Piah or spring roll filling. Or lumpia. To make it better, I usually add prawns and pork. But many people eat the vegetarian version. 😊

[@bet3lyn3G3]

Thanks I joined Julie’s group

[@jacobbenivamondez4460]

Definitely subscribed after this video. Great energy !

[@PandorasFolly]

Ethnic stores. Especially supermarkets. The asian grocery stores near me always have amazing amazing produce at the same price OR lower than the regular grocery stores. I was told at a cpuple stores the reason they keep The quality of the produce so high is that the older people thay shop there will absolutely try and use any excuse they can to get it marked down

[@melissan.2201]

Ok just paused the video to see when this was published thinking this must be 4+years old there's no way in my mind that you could spend only $800 usd a year on groceries... as of this post it has been only been 6 months🤯 ok girl you have my attention! Please teach me because we just spent over $500USD for what might last 2 weeks😮

[@judithgrace9850]

I just stock up I shop once a month online for groceries etc. for home delivery.

[@briserenity]

I think they just named Massachusetts as having the most expensive and lowest quality food. I Am interested in lowering grocery expenses. 🙌🏾

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Woah! I hadn’t heard that!

[@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!

[@ToudaHell]

Most people plan out a menu in advance and then go shopping instead of buying what's cheapest that week and then get creative in their cooking with what they got. They also don't go to markets (ones the restaurantors go to) and buy things in bulk. I enjoyed finding recipes for garlic scapes after buying 5lb of it at a bargain. Though buying in bulk means a big initial investment like 2- 10lb bags each of flour and rice at once. At today's prices, that means at least $60 up front even if you end up saving in the long run. Only those who has been as frugal as we are can make that investment because we put that money away preparing for it. I know a friend of mine wouldn't have $60 to spare on the dot at anytime. You kind of need a little bit of cash on hand to be able to make big savings long term. That's why so many in poverty can't do what we can.

[@melaniehancock2210]

Wow that sounds magical. My grocery budget has been $300 a week for a family of 5. I’ve been slowly changing the way we eat to bring the bill down. My husband and I are gluten free (not a choice) so that adds a lot to the bill. No more gf specialty snacks, no more empty calories like chips and cereal. A lot more meat, fruit, veggies, and dry beans. Sometimes some gf pasta. I don’t snack as much during the day anymore, just eating wholesome meals. I will say though that we pour through sparkling water so that adds $9 a week to the bill. lol

[@Mt.Nyuszi]

I just started writing down my expenses and I thought about how will I know about fake discounts? I must try out the price book too.

[@chrisnolin3039]

Inspiring! I do wonder the time it takes to get these savings (I.e 10 hrs a week, multiple car trips, gas etc) if that time could be spent on a part time job and would be a wash or coming out ahead.

[@beth3535]

I recommend doing both.

[@cindynok]

Do they use any food pantries? Food stamps, vouchers! Eat at senior centers, I just find it hard to believe eat balanced meals that cheaply.

[@donnaleeah5075]

I use one credit card. It gives cash back. I charge, come home and immediately pay it off. I'll never pay interest, but happy to get the cash! I dont need a new cell phone. I do buy 1 that is 3 to 4 years old, refurbished sold by a company wuth a guarantee. They work the same. Be smart.

[@TheGoodLifeStarterPack]

When I read the video title, my reaction was: “Tell me more.”

[@DeborahGusman-k8w]

Thanks Hillary, great ideas❤

[@KS-jf2jf]

Nice! Under the Median sent me here ❤ subscribed ✅

[@shikha5246]

I only spend 10$ or less at ALDIs for groceries for myself every week. People complain about produce going bad fast but can easily freeze it to make it last longer or simply eat it within that week before it goes bad 😅instead of letting it rot

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

I’ve found the same! They have some great sales on produce, and if I eat fresh first or preserve right away, it’s a big savings.

[@bryankasper8567]

I'm not shopping at aldis because I want my money to stay in as close of a proximity to my community as possible. Long term, shoping at aldi removes more money from my local community, and it is not sustainable for an entire community to only shop markdown products. How will the company survive if people start only buying products that are at a loss to the store? This doesn't make sense for an entire community. The biggest chain I'll use currently is wegmans because they are headquarter in gates ,NY. Regardless of the price, they are going to be the ones that should be spending more money in the local/ regional communities etc. I refuse to support a chain like aldi where the only reason the produce is so cheap is because of how they rip of either employees, suppliers, or producers, or don't support local producers and buy goods from somewhere far away where obviously prices are going to be cheaper. Communities should ultimately be buying produce and food from their local growers directly. Not some big chain that year after year, steals more money from employees and consumers.

[@shikha5246]

If I could, I would. But right now my main focus is on paying off my debt. For once, I'd rather focus on my own financial well being . I can't support the local companies if I'm broke. Debt Freedom is my priority right now.@@bryankasper8567

[@jasonvella4230]

Supermarkets and grocery stores have a names for people who only buy markdown items only tightass or seagulls we have the same few customers who just follow us around the store grabbing items soon as we mark them down

[@jamielivingston7765]

Loss leaders are almost always cheaper than markdowns. Also, ALWAYS buy the loss leader of something you ise alot of, even if yoi dont need it TODAY.

[@juststoppingby390]

I think people like her jabe the real super powers

[@Vivi_LaRue]

Some of this is good advice.

[@charitycaldwell7750]

Thanks for the recommendation!

[@brittanyday8439]

I only spend $480 a year on myself for groceries.

[@denakelley4363]

Wow- I spent that much last month on just me. And I don't even eat fancy, no shellfish, beef, nothing exotic. I mostly eat chicken and vegetables. Groceries are expensive where I live (Alaska).

[@Fuzzmom903]

Okay, maybe I missed something. I was raised by parents who grew up during the depression. So canned and smoked food were a big part of our diet. While I don’t can as much as I want, and do not have the skills to smoke, I follow other routines they utilized. Nothing was wasted, any scraps were for farm animals or compost for the garden. No such thing as not liking left overs or what was put on our plates. They shopped once a month and only went to the grocery store for special occasions or emergencies. Everything was bought in bulk, so there was always a back stock of staples. In fact, the rule was, if you had staples, you had food. No such thing as running to the store to pick up items for dinner. You cooked based on what you had available. Period. I try to do most of those things. I don’t have a smoke house, farm animals, or a large garden, but I meal plan based upon what I have available. I shop monthly for staples. I set my budget and typically get my bill within a penny of my budgeted amount. If it’s not on the list, you can’t have it. My 2 cents. . .

[@barbarabruce7648]

Gosh... so many negative Nellies commenting. I shop this way. It works! I pass all my shops daily enroute so I duck in to check out the markdowns. This is a great way to afford fresh produce so cheaply. Just because you dont travel daily or have a pantry stocked with seasonings, is no reason to be a Debbie Downer. Julie gives good advice on how to beat the system and eat well. If you cant say something nice ....

[@goheen04]

Actually I am surprised there aren't more negative Nellys commenting! LOL

[@johncasey5594]

I would have to say, at least for me, discretionary spending was the first and most effective place I started to save. Out of control discretionary spending is an addiction that you can control. Every time you go to spend money on something other than rent/mortgage, utilities, food, etc., ask yourself, do I really need this. If you decide you really, really want it, then treat yourself without guilt. Over time you will refrain more and more. It is a slow process, but it is worth it and you will be happier in the end. Then after that, yes groceries would be the next best place to start to save.

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Ok yes. This is an incredibly valid take.

[@pinschrunner]

Being debt free is very important in the "Great Reset" because if u do t own it, they can tax u out of it or raise insurance to the point you cannot afford it

[@jasonmighty3328]

Sorry but some people may fail tremendously if there enter a store/shop daily. It's very hard to enter a store and not purchase something. I try and avoid entering shops myself.

[@driiifter]

My mother hates going to the store, she tries to go once every 2 weeks and ends up over spending and things rot, you also end up squandering what you've spent with bad practices, like putting the bread in the freezer to try and make it last because you don't want to go back to the store. Really you save more stopping by the store every day and buying only what you need to make dinner for that night, so a thing of meat, a roll of asparagus or whatever and maybe something else, you probably already have rice at home. I much prefer doing this than spending 400$ in one day every 3 weeks.

[@christinabryant5725]

I love her Facebook page!

[@Homegrown_Hillary]

Right?!

[@sct4040]

Cook from the sale items make more sense to me.

[@kerrydesilets4226]

omg I am in the same boat with three little kids lol That many trips to the store in a week is simply not happening.

[@wakawaka1976]

When a gallon of milk and a dozen eggs cost $5 each… Chicken is $2+ a lbs… rice is $1 lbs ground beef $3 lbs… I’m guessing this is non California budgeting for her. We got a family of 7 and probably spend a quarter of our funds on food. Sure there’s waste in there but $800 x 4 = $3200 (since there’s almost 8 of us) that’s about 2 months of grocery shopping if we are skimping. We go out to eat quite often so that’s one of our joys. The only reason we aren’t in debt is we were left a home by my parents. Living a spoiled life…

[@tatsumakisempyukaku]

I’m definitely doing something wrong, I’m spending like five to $700 a month on groceries

[@clarifyingquestions]

Im guessing she doesnt buy organic , grass fed, fresh , variety and greens, greens, greens

[@unusualsheep9626]

So?

[@DR-zj4od]

Using credit cards is not bad. Credit card debt IS HORIIBLE. Use credit cards and pay them off EVERY month and you pay no interest. Get credit cards with rewards you will use and pay them off each month. We get free airline miles and luggage when we fly, we get 5% off at Tractor Supply on farm and ranch supplies, we get about 8% off per gallon of gas, 3% off at the veterinarian, 3% off at grocery stores, etc. and NO interest payments. Learn to manage money BEFORE you get a credit card and then use it wisely. And don't forget to invest in learning job skills so you can keep getting higher paying jobs and you can stop gripping at how the job market sucks and all you can do is flip burgers at a food joint or be a waitress. Learn to be an electrician, mechanic or open a small business but keep learning so you can be a manager, higher other electricians to work for you, etc.

[@tranger4579]

It can be done people. As a single person I was able to survive at 60 dollars a month early 2000s. Wife and I now survive off 180 dollars a month of groceries. We were at the at the grocery store yesterday yesterday and there was a couple complaining about the price of Doritos $4.10 and they stated the quantity was less and the price more expensive yet they took 5 bags because they said they have 3 teenage boys. Either way that's insanity 4.10 a bag 20.50 for 5 bags no way

[@OrganicGreens]

TO me its more about what you buy. Healthy food is actually much cheaper than processed food. Things like potatoes, rice and beans are always cheap. Canned and frozen vegies are also cheap when the fresh versions are too expensive. Your biggest cost is meat and processed junk you shouldn't eat anyway. For meat buying larger cuts, butchering them yourself and freezing will save you ALOT of money on beef. Chicken is cheapest in bulk at big box stores like Costco. Or even better business centers that cater to resultants. Everything is cheaper in bulk. Learn how to use your freezer and buy everything you eat regularly in bulk like restaurants do. You can feed a families of 5 for less than 50 dollars a week

[@ArtTheSinger]

I currently spend $80-$100 a day on groceries. $800 a year is insane!

[@paulawinstead5660]

A day?

[@tavern.keeper]

It's the classic trade-off of saving money by spending time. Go to the store multiple times per week? No thanks.

[@CramRockets]

Awesome video!

[@garrettvranicar6470]

Why not finding stores that have organic non gmo, keto friendly products at a cheaper price like buying from the Amish. I could buy plastic gallon milk for $4 but I would prefer to spend $10 on glass jugs of raw milk for better health benefits

[@ArtofWEZ]

This sounds like it would be easier to make a side hustle that brings in 2K more a month =

[@hannakinn]

$800 a year is just $66.66 per month. I don't see how anyone can do this in this day with grocery prices what they are now.

[@kimscott8176]

yeah doesn't happen at our grocery vendors.

[@katrielisrael7262]

My husband and i eat the bare minimum and the bill is still 800$ a month...