This time my question of the week was found on Debbie’s (my mom) blog. She wants to know  “Anyone got any ideas how to do this program (Weight Watcher’s) on a budget? I spent 278.00 on groceries 2 weeks ago. Tonight my son was making out the menus for the coming 2 weeks and I have stuff left for 1 week, but like he said then it will be a 300 trip again to the store!! We dont eat extravagent things….and we use our leftovers. just a thought. I wonder what I spent back before we started the program??? I know we ate out alot! Both our schedules were so that we didnt meet alot for meals.”

So…I am going ot provide my answer but I would also like any of you to post your money saving tips to Debbie’s question.

1. My biggest suggestion is to make your menu and grocery list around healthy foods you already have. I stock up on can goods, frozen veggies and frozen chicken breasts when they are on sale. Then when I make my menu I start with those items. We eat chicken breasts almost 2 times a week sometimes more if I can work them into recipes.
2. Buy in bulk!  Buy meat in family packs if you can.  I break them down into smaller portions and freeze the rest.  This does mean I will pay a little more for one grocery bill since I am buying more meat than normal but in the end I will come out ahead since I will not be purchasing meat again for a while.  Roni has a great method for storing ground meat when you purchase it in bulk.  Ya know, this does not have to just apply to meat.  I buy large containers of whole wheat couscous and brown rice instead of the smaller packages that are preportioned for 1-2 people.  I save a good deal by doing this.  Last August I bought a variety pack of rice and couscous on Amazon.com.  I still have a LOT of it left and we eat some of  it every week or so.
3. Be picky about the stores you shop in!  Roni has a great ALDI’s shopping list that is a true money saver. 
4. Shop foods that are in season!  I know strawberries in the middle of winter SOUND so great…but you are going to pay a higher price since they are not in season for most of us.  Right now my grocery store has zuccini’s for the lowest price all year (including 2008)…I am buying them up and eating the crap out of them.  I also picked up a bunch of winter squash (that is still have) before the store stopped selling them.  They look great in my veggie basket and they keep for quite a while.  I have butternut, spaghetti and two acorn squash just waiting for me when I decide to eat them.  And I got them at a great price because I waited till they were just about out of season at my store and marked down.  Also on occasion, the Weight Watchers main page has recipes for veggies/fruits that are in season.
5. Save money on convenience items…like 100 calorie packs, microwave popcorn, diet soda.  First off if you can do without it…do WITHOUT it!  I do not buy 100 calorie packs unless they are one sale.  My last shopping trip I found 100 calorie packs of pretzels on sale for 99 cents.  That was a good deal.  But normally that box was $3.99  NOT a good deal.  Make your own 100 calorie or single serving packs by purchasing a snack and portioning it out in baggies.  This will also help to keep your hands out of a big bag/box of food that you might endulge on.  In this post, Roni talks about making a 100 calorie bag of popcorn…the real way.  Sometimes popcorn can be a real money sink if you are purchasing name brand stuff.
6. Use coupons and shop items on sale.   Name brand items are not alway the ‘shiznit’ (haha!).  Buying off brand items can really help to save.
7. Buy frozen instead of fresh.  I know many people LOVE fresh veggies and meat.  But I find that I get a better deal AND it lasts longer if I buy frozen.  For example…this last shopping trip I have 4 heads of fresh broccoli in my shopping cart.  The total price was about $3-$4 for the bunch.  I never eat the stalk so that is money going to waste.  I ended up checking out the price of frozen broccoli and was SHOCKED.  I got a BAG of frozen broccoli for $1.00!!!!!!  It was the store brand, but so freaking what.    Not to mention I am not pressured to eat it up really fast.  So…next time I go back I am going to check out the price of other veggies that we normally get in cans or fresh.  I know that zuccini will always be fresh…along with lettuce.  But they have so many  frozen options to chose from.
8. Since we are on the topic…do not buy more produce than you really need.  I remember starting out on WW’s 1.5 years ago and I found I bought so much stuff.  My shopping bills were huge for just me and the husband.  I bought so much food that ended up in the trash before we could eat it.  Also I freeze all the meat I buy.  I can always defrost it later if I need it.  But if I leave it in the fridge I might forget about it.  Point in case this past holiday season.  Our store had a GREAT sale on prime rib roasts so I picked up a nice small one for $12.  I had intended on making it for my husband and I for New Year’s Eve.  Well 1 week after New Years I found it sitting in the back of our fridge…spoiled of course!  Hold yourself accountable for the food you buy.  Seal up crackers, pretzels, cereals, breads, etc…if it goes stale you are wasting food and money.  Also keep your veggies/fruit propperly stored.  My onions and potatoes are stored in a dark dry place but my tomatoes normally sit on the window ledge to ripen more in the sun.  If a veggies goes bad I toss it out quickly so that it does not tempt others to spoil.
9. I am not sure where I picked up this tip (Roni, I think) but IF I buy salad or spinach in a bag…I always open the bag when I get home and wash the leaves.  Then I let them dry in  a strainer lined with papertowels.  After that I place it in a large ziplock bag with a paper towel in there.  The towel soaks up the extra moisture and keeps the leaves dry.  Every now and then I replace the towel.  I have found this also works with iceburg lettuce too.  When I buy a head of it I will take off the leaves, wash them, dry them, and then store in a baggie with a paper towel.
10. My last tip is to eat what you cook.  Unless prepackaged meals (smart ones, healthy choice, lean cuisines) are on sale don’t buy them.  Sometimes my store will sell them for $0.99 each and then I stock up…but normally I eat left overs or something else for lunch.  There are cheap/easy lunches out there.  I have found that I can do a soup and sandwich (cheaply) and low in points.  I tend to find recipes that I will be okay eating for the whole week (for lunch) and then I make them on the weekend and take during the week.  Sunday is usually my day to cook.  I always make my lunch items.  Lately I have had omelets for lunch so I prep my omelet filling on the weekends too.  If I know ahead of time I have a busy week in store I will also make some chicken breasts in the crockpot to keep on hand through the week.  You would be suprised how many ways a chicken breast can be used.

So…what other tips do you have for keeping your shopping bill under control?