Thrifty Grocery Challenge 2011

So here's what it is:

The USDA has a website of "food plans", the average cost for couples, families, etc to buy food in the US. They do one for each month, the latest is Nov 2010, and they have four levels: Thrifty, low-cost, moderate-cost, amd liberal. For a couple aged 19-50 the thrifty plan averages 80/week.

Aaron and I have decided to try to keep our bi-weekly grocery bill to under $150, which is a little under the "thrifty" designation. We'd like you to try the challenge too!

We're defining groceries as:

• food,
• beauty & personal care products,
• household items like trash bags, batteries, and aluminum foil,
• dog food*
• also any time we buy food outside the home it counts as well, so McDonald's, Dunkin's, they all count.

*we feed raw, although recently took a couple month break from grinding etc. We have been feeding a high quality grain free kibble in the meantime and our dogs look and smell awful, and have been shedding LIKE CRAZY so we're going back to raw. I have all the supplements still, so only need to buy the chicken, vegies, and rice when we need it.

I think this will be tight, but we'll see how it goes. Obviously we're not starting from a bare pantry, and I'm assuming you aren't either, right? You'll also notice there are some items we don't buy, including paper towels (we use rags or dishcloths), paper napkins (we use cloth napkins and wash them), and feminine hygiene products (check out the diva cup). We're also committed to buying as many whole fresh foods as possible, including our $7/gallon raw milk! To accomplish this we decided to use an envelope system. Each pay period we'll put $150 in an envelope marked "groceries", and once it's gone, it's gone....

Sound like something you'd like to try? Burning to flex your frugal muscles? Well go for it, figure out the "thrifty" amount for your family, define "groceries" and get to it. Each week on Thursday, starting January 6, I'll be posting what I bought, what I paid, and what kind of deals I got where, if you have a blog I'd love for you to post your weekly or bi-weekly shopping trip!

We'll be re-evaluating at the end of February to see if we're willing to go on... there may be a prize, for thr thriftiest blogger, likely knitted socks. =0)