As a wife to a hard working hubby and mom to 3 growing teens and 1 growing pre-teen, I understand about food and the cost of it. In our home, the grocery bill varies from under $100.00 a week to $200.00 a week. On the weeks that I spend $200.00 the food usually lasts another week, but we may need to buy extra milk, bread, ect...  I count our grocery bill as every item we use. That includes paper products, dog/cat food, laundry det. , food, and everything that I get while grocery shopping. I probably should try a grocery food budget, of just food but I need to get the other things any way and I usually get them at the same time.

This is what I do:  Every week I make a menu, or use one already pre-made. The menu consists of 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 suppers, and snacks. It is not set up daily, but instead as a list of breakfasts, lunches, suppers, and possible snacks. I tried having a daily menu, but everyone liked it better having a list of possible meals and going from there. I guess we all like spontanity. ;0)

Once the menu is made, I write out EVERY single food item that is needed to complete the menu. If I have something already in house, I don't write it down unless it is needing to be refilled or replaced. For instance if I'm making meatloaf and already have bread crumbs, I don't write it down on the list. If, however, the bread crumbs are almost gone then I write it down and buy more.

I try to go to 3 seperate stores. The first one is the discount food place. I get things like cereal, bagels, sauces, ect... there. This place can be just as expensive as the reg. store, so I really need to pay attention to the prices. However, there are usually great deals on many things. The only thing is that the package it comes in will be dented, marked, ect.... If that bothers you, then don't shop at one of those places. ;0)  I mark off my list anything that I got there, so I don't accidently pick it up at another store. Then I usually head to Wal Mart....... (to be continued)