How to Buy Groceries For A Family of Five on $50 A Week

According to Good Housekeeping, fresh in-season produce is cheaper than out-of-season produce (Source 3).

Grocery shopping does not have to be a dreaded chore. Families can make the most out of a $50 grocery budget with careful planning. If you feel strapped for cash at the end of the month, then you should consider modifying your grocery list by identifying what your family needs, versus what your family wants. After you take inventory of your family's needs, then it's time to consider where and how to shop for groceries.

Instructions

1. Write down a seven-day meal menu and include portion sizes, as this will help you determine how much of each food item to buy. If you are preparing three meals a day for seven days, you will need to plan for 21 meals a week, which means that each meal should cost approximately $2.38. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests buying in bulk may be cheaper than buying individual items.

2. Download coupons from your local supermarket's website. Sign up for additional coupons and free samples at such sites as Coupons.com and Couponmom.com. Supermarket circulars and the Sunday newspaper also include deals and promotions. Plan your menus for the week around the best bargains on the items your family enjoys.

3. Visit the local farmers market. These public markets support area farmers by offering them a means of selling their goods directly to the general population. Farmers markets typically offer fresh produce, spices, grains, eggs, fish, meat and cheese at discounted prices. The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program offered by the USDA in 45 states provides supplemental food and nutrition education at no cost to certain low-income families.

4. Shop at discount grocery stores such as Aldi's, Safeway and Save-A-Lot. Many of these stores offer customer loyalty programs such as shopping clubs, which include more promotions and incentives.

Tips & Warnings

• Families can save even more money at the grocery store if they decide to start a vegetable and herb garden, depending on the location.

• According to the USDA, a family of five may qualify for state supplemental nutrition assistance if they meet the gross and net income tests (see Resources 1).

• Invest in a freezer and pantry space, so that you can take advantage of sales of perishables and "stock up" on nonperishables. You may have to go outside the $50 budget at first in order to build up some "inventory" that will help you stick more easily to that budget later.

• Add your own sauces and marinades to food from supplies on hand and mix your own juices. Already-mixed-in sauces can raise the cost of some foods as much as 50 percent, and pre-mixed juice takes a 60 percent bigger bite out of your budget than frozen concentrate.

References

• USDA Food and Nutrition Service: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• USDA Food and Nutrition Service: WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Service
• Good Housekeeping: Fill Your Cart with Budget-Friendly Grocery Basics and Save Big
• US Department of Agriculture: MyPyramid.gov: Going Green with MyPyramid
• Good Housekeeping: Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

Resources

• USDA Food and Nutrition Service: Nutrition Assistance Programs
• Coupons: Home
• Couponmom: Home