Budgetary and Pantry Woes

barefoot_cavegirl · 07-04-2011, 04:52 PM

Ugh I am having a conundrum.

We have been eating primal since the end of April. It has done wonders for my husband's health and everyone in the house has benefited weight wise, even my kids look less bloated.

But I have two problems. First off is money. I am struggling to feed us this way and stay in our very small budget. I need to feed 4 of us on $125 a week and that is 3 meals a day plus usually a snack or two depending on the day and person. This month we ran short of money at the end of the month and we are off the low carb and primal wagon until Saturday when I can shop again. I have tried shopping the sales and only buying the cheapest stuff I can find. It is not helping obviously.

My other problem is that I like to be prepared. With having no extra money I am not able to stock up on anything. I like to have extra on hand in case of emergency and I just do not have much other than a bunch of carby grains and beans from pre-primal and pre-lc.

Has anyone figured out how to make this woe work? I am just so frustrated! I know we need to do this but HOW?

Pamalee63 · 07-05-2011, 10:11 AM

There is a thread on this site with ideas for cheapskate low-carbing that might help. You might have to vary things a bit for your plan.

You should be able to search for cheap and see what comes up.

Dottie · 07-05-2011, 10:25 AM

Do your best to budget in a freezer, even a small one, if you don't have one. That way you can take advantage of sales, marked down meats, etc. It can really free up your normal weekly food budget if you can have stuff "on hand" to cook and maybe save up part of the budget for better sales.

Dottie · 07-05-2011, 10:26 AM

Also, be sure to check manufacturers web sites for printable coupons! And if they don't have any, email them or call and ask for them to send you some. Most manufacturers are happy to gain a customer that way.

Kerry · 07-05-2011, 06:18 PM

Frozen veggies instead of fresh, and I always stop worrying about grass fed when money is tight.
Shop at international markets, meat/poultry/pork/veal/chicken/seafood is so much cheaper at the asian and russian markets around my way. EVEN VEGGIES ARE TOO!

Midlyfechrysalis · 07-05-2011, 07:10 PM

I often shop late at night or early in the morning. Groceries often have the greatest selection of clearance items at that time. Kroger (I'm in Texas, you might have to experiement to see what stores do this near you) has the best mark downs on produce items.

I can often get cut, ready to eat fruits and veggies far cheaper than if I purchased and processed myself. I get the veggies for me, give the kids the carrots, and there are often apple/cheese trays on clearance.

The same for meat. I buy one sale *and* clearance meats. I haven't had a full price steak in years.

I've seen primal/paleo friendly hot dogs on clearance, I've gotten 100% grass fed frozen burgers marked down by half, chicken and pork chops are commonly marked down, too.

If you do yogurt (I am currently Whole 30, so dairy is out for me right now) greek yogurt is often marked down.

Even bags of salads can be found very discounted.

GME · 07-06-2011, 08:06 AM

I am no paleo expert, but aren't beans OK? Work them into more of your meals as filler and spread them out that way (so you aren't overdoing it at the end of the month).

juliekaboolie · 07-06-2011, 09:12 AM

@GME- no, no beans at all.

Eggs, sale meats...I've also read to do roasts as they are cost effective. I wouldn't worry about grass-fed and organic at this point. Frozen veggies are good, but I've had better luck cost-wise buying fresh? You can usually find good prices on apples in bulk, too. (((HUGS))) Nuts in bulk are relatively easy to find, too.

Cuthbert · 07-06-2011, 03:06 PM

Add Whole coconuts to your list. They are usually less than 2 dollars a piece.

momtocj7mea · 07-08-2011, 07:04 PM

Find out from your meat manager at your local grocery store when they mark meats down. For me, it is early morning and I always go early morning at least twice a week and stock up.....boneless skinless chicken thighs for $1.50 a pack, 3-4lb roasts for $4-$5, pork tenderloins for $4.50 each, etc. If it don't have an orange sticker on it, I typically don't buy it, lol!!

Speck333 · 07-08-2011, 08:07 PM

Buy your meat and eggs (and any dairy like butter) in bulk at Costco or Sam's club. Pick up veggies at the regular market. I've been doing it this way for years and years and save a good deal of money over when I bought all our meat at the grocery store.

07-04-2011, 04:52 PM	#1
barefoot_cavegirl Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Bama Posts: 10 Gallery: barefoot_cavegirl Stats: 230/207/170 WOE: Primal, No grain, LC, My way! Start Date: May, 2011	Budgetary and Pantry Woes Ugh I am having a conundrum. We have been eating primal since the end of April. It has done wonders for my husband's health and everyone in the house has benefited weight wise, even my kids look less bloated. But I have two problems. First off is money. I am struggling to feed us this way and stay in our very small budget. I need to feed 4 of us on $125 a week and that is 3 meals a day plus usually a snack or two depending on the day and person. This month we ran short of money at the end of the month and we are off the low carb and primal wagon until Saturday when I can shop again. I have tried shopping the sales and only buying the cheapest stuff I can find. It is not helping obviously. My other problem is that I like to be prepared. With having no extra money I am not able to stock up on anything. I like to have extra on hand in case of emergency and I just do not have much other than a bunch of carby grains and beans from pre-primal and pre-lc. Has anyone figured out how to make this woe work? I am just so frustrated! I know we need to do this but HOW?

07-05-2011, 07:10 PM	#6
Midlyfechrysalis Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Katy, Tx Posts: 686 Gallery: Midlyfechrysalis	I often shop late at night or early in the morning. Groceries often have the greatest selection of clearance items at that time. Kroger (I'm in Texas, you might have to experiement to see what stores do this near you) has the best mark downs on produce items. I can often get cut, ready to eat fruits and veggies far cheaper than if I purchased and processed myself. I get the veggies for me, give the kids the carrots, and there are often apple/cheese trays on clearance. The same for meat. I buy one sale and clearance meats. I haven't had a full price steak in years. I've seen primal/paleo friendly hot dogs on clearance, I've gotten 100% grass fed frozen burgers marked down by half, chicken and pork chops are commonly marked down, too. If you do yogurt (I am currently Whole 30, so dairy is out for me right now) greek yogurt is often marked down. Even bags of salads can be found very discounted. __________________ Joanne Taking a break from measuring or weighing. I started in July, but my husband's health tanked, and I was in my last semester of graduate school. Started again in January. Down from a 20W to a loose 18W. My Blog

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07-05-2011, 10:11 AM	#2
Pamalee63 Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Littlefield, TX Posts: 4,784 Gallery: Pamalee63 Stats: 255/255/155 WOE: South Beach Phase 1	There is a thread on this site with ideas for cheapskate low-carbing that might help. You might have to vary things a bit for your plan. You should be able to search for cheap and see what comes up.

07-05-2011, 10:25 AM	#3
Dottie Administrator Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 68,569 Gallery: Dottie WOE: JUDDD calorie cycling plan	Do your best to budget in a freezer, even a small one, if you don't have one. That way you can take advantage of sales, marked down meats, etc. It can really free up your normal weekly food budget if you can have stuff "on hand" to cook and maybe save up part of the budget for better sales.

07-05-2011, 10:26 AM	#4
Dottie Administrator Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: S.E. Texas Gulf Coast Posts: 68,569 Gallery: Dottie WOE: JUDDD calorie cycling plan	Also, be sure to check manufacturers web sites for printable coupons! And if they don't have any, email them or call and ask for them to send you some. Most manufacturers are happy to gain a customer that way.

07-05-2011, 06:18 PM	#5
Kerry I'm not fat, I'm fluffy Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brooklyn Ny Posts: 6,608 Gallery: Kerry Stats: Post Preg:195/151/140 (pre prego 230/135/130) WOE: PALEO/PRIMAL just call me cave lady! Start Date: Low carb living a few yrs now.. Restart Nov 2010	Frozen veggies instead of fresh, and I always stop worrying about grass fed when money is tight. Shop at international markets, meat/poultry/pork/veal/chicken/seafood is so much cheaper at the asian and russian markets around my way. EVEN VEGGIES ARE TOO!

07-06-2011, 08:06 AM	#7
GME Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: CA Coast Posts: 6,606 Gallery: GME Stats: 250/175/175 And again...223/208.4/146 5'7 WOE: Misc. Start Date: April 2000 (the first time)	I am no paleo expert, but aren't beans OK? Work them into more of your meals as filler and spread them out that way (so you aren't overdoing it at the end of the month).

07-06-2011, 09:12 AM	#8
juliekaboolie Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 1,382 Gallery: juliekaboolie WOE: Whole30 Start Date: 1/7/11	@GME- no, no beans at all. Eggs, sale meats...I've also read to do roasts as they are cost effective. I wouldn't worry about grass-fed and organic at this point. Frozen veggies are good, but I've had better luck cost-wise buying fresh? You can usually find good prices on apples in bulk, too. (((HUGS))) Nuts in bulk are relatively easy to find, too.

07-06-2011, 03:06 PM	#9
Cuthbert Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Greeley, CO Posts: 295 Gallery: Cuthbert Stats: 265/199/200 WOE: Paleo Start Date: December 2010	Add Whole coconuts to your list. They are usually less than 2 dollars a piece.

07-08-2011, 07:04 PM	#10
momtocj7mea Senior LCF Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 165 Gallery: momtocj7mea Stats: 282/179/162 WOE: Paleo/Primal..whole foods FTW! Start Date: 11/30/11	Find out from your meat manager at your local grocery store when they mark meats down. For me, it is early morning and I always go early morning at least twice a week and stock up.....boneless skinless chicken thighs for $1.50 a pack, 3-4lb roasts for $4-$5, pork tenderloins for $4.50 each, etc. If it don't have an orange sticker on it, I typically don't buy it, lol!!

07-08-2011, 08:07 PM	#11
Speck333 Blabbermouth!!! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 5,453 Gallery: Speck333 Stats: 181(16)/163(12)/99(0) ~ 5'2" WOE: Semi-Primal Start Date: Atkins restart: Jan. 3, 2010 (7/99 original start)	Buy your meat and eggs (and any dairy like butter) in bulk at Costco or Sam's club. Pick up veggies at the regular market. I've been doing it this way for years and years and save a good deal of money over when I bought all our meat at the grocery store.