Family Grocery Shopping for under $100

How often do you associate clean eating with being uber EXPENSIVE? When I first embarked on a clean lifestyle I too got wrapped up in the trap of clean = organic and I quickly learned "I can't afford to eat clean!" As a single parent who had recently purchased her first home (and car) and then was laid off from her job, I was in NO position to be spending $2.50 on a organic spinach when I could get the store brand 2 for $2. So, I didn't and guess what? I still saw results not only in my health but also in my savings account.

I was literally living  paycheck to paycheck. I didn't have extra money to purchase my daughter even a small little something at the store. BUT I was DETERMINED to make this lifestyle work for me because I knew something had to give. I spent a few months buying organic, shopping at what I call "frufru" stores, and bought everything FRESH. I quickly learned that 1. I could not afford this lifestyle and 2. I didn't have to break my wallet to or learn extreme couponing (because who needs 8 tubes of toothpaste) to save tons of money at the grocery store.

Here are the things I learned:

Plan AHEAD
Just like any business meeting, concert, or event there is always a plan. A guideline. Why should shopping be any different? I grew up in a family where we went down every freaking aisle!! What does that get you? EXTRA CRAP! Organize your grocery shopping list by clumping items based off where they are located and take the same route.
      A. you will learn where the store "hides" all your go to items
      B. you will not be tempted by the candy or snack aisle as they will not be on your route

Eat leftovers
My meal plans have repeats. Yes, it may be kind of boring but I save money in the long run. My dinner on Tuesday will be my lunch for Wednesday.

Get BULK when you can
I eat a shit ton of oats, chicken and egg white so I do not waste my money on those items at my
standard grocery store. I plan a trip to a whole sale club. Guess what, your cleaning supplies, toiletries and paper products can be purchased there too!


I buy my veggies FROZEN
No not my spinach but my broccoli, green beans, mixed variety I head right to the frozen aisle. For $.99 you can get a frozen bag (3 servings). Although fresh is best, if you do NOT think you will eat all the fresh veggies you bought (for example you only planned for 1 serving of broccoli in your meal plan) a bunch will not get eaten and then you are WASTING money.

Buy STORE brand instead of name brand
Just like when you buy a car, you are paying for a name. Most likely the ingredients are the same but the store brand of your favorite cereal is always going to be more expensive than the store brand. I have taught this tactic to my daughter. She now looks at the prices of her items on the list and chooses the ones that are less expensive.





Do not think of yourself as being cheap, you are being smart. You make strides with your budget in terms of eating out, having date nights, buying extravagant items, building your savings why wouldn't you be SMART about the shopping you MUST do every week.