No. 96: A Breakdown of My Weekly Groceries—Strategy, Spending & Saving

From Costco to Whole Foods to Target, this is a typical week in my grocery shop

saran wrap is doing the Lord’s work while we keep unpacking

In this letter:

• my monthly grocery breakdown

• the weekly grocery and meal routine to make cooking for four different diets possible mentally and financially

• a note for those cooking for food restrictions and allergies

• the new book release I devoured in two days this week from a favorite author

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I don’t know if this is for you, but it might be. If you read the subject line in your inbox and got butterflies, you are really my people. You know the annual Fall Menu post is coming up in a couple months, but for now we all still need to survive the grocery shop week after week somehow, some way. As a refresher, I eat a wholly grain-free Paleo diet (think a never ending Whole30) to keep my autoimmune disease from flaring, my kids eat a bit of a freer gluten and dairy free diet and O is vegan. You read that right—picture three different diets plus a baby who eats absolutely everything and you’ve got a front row seat into my kitchen every week.

Meal planning is essential to keep from overspending on last minute groceries and to-go orders but at this point of the summer, I only meal plan a portion of the week and leave a couple days free for possibilities.

Now, I will admit right here at the top that there are far greater experts out there when it comes to saving money on groceries. I have friends that shop strictly at Aldi and Walmart, I watch women on YouTube with zero waste commitments and a coupon collection, I’m absolutely obsessed with homesteaders who grow and raise the vast majority of everything their family consumes—I’m not that woman. Lord willing, one day soon I’ll have a raised bed garden with veggies and herbs and, in an overly ambitious leap for Zone 8, some fruit. Chickens absolutely terrify me so they’re out of the question and forget it for goats and cattle. I also prioritize organic, non-GMO food which instantly adds a bit of cost up front and try to make nutrient dense meals as much as possible as the bulk of our groceries which eliminates less expensive boxed options. Not to say I never purchase those, I do, but its very much an 80/20. Our grocery bill is much higher than it could be, but it is much better than it used to be and much less than it would be in the hands of someone else.

O might argue that, but this is my newsletter.

Monthly or Bi-Monthly Groceries:

Costco: Our Costco trips always include the same staples: The Omega 3 mix, the ‘fancy nuts’ (which is quite a name but let’s move on), paper towels, gluten free oatmeal, organic eggs, made good snack mix, skinny pop, jam, peanut butter, Kevin’s paleo chicken and paper plates. We have a few things we get every other trip but because our Costco runs are deliberately infrequent, these are the things we get every time. If we’re going to Costco before hosting a party of any kind, this is where I’ll be sure to grab drinks and we only buy our paper goods (toilet paper and paper towel) here.

Yes, there’s something to be said about factoring in the yearly membership fee which is a cost in and of itself. That being said, as a family of six with a gargantuan extended family we gather with often, the cost more than covers itself in the end. There is a way to shop at Costco that will destroy your budget and fill your pantry and fridge with excess food destined for the garbage. There’s another way, though, that saves you money and leaves you stocked.

Three tips I’d give to make your Costco membership work for you:

1. Unless you have a large family in the habit of working through product regulary or you’re in the routine of meal prepping, stick to the packaged and frozen items. This will ensure your ambitious bags of fresh vegetables won’t go to waste.

2. Turn to your Costco membership when you’ve cleared time in your schedule to make meals ahead and freeze them. Whether you’re cooking in bulk before a busier season, welcoming a new baby or just getting into the habit of having a stocked freezer, Costco’s portions allow you to get in the habit of doubling recipes and cooking ahead—something future you will love you for.

3. Go into Costco with a list of needs and don’t stray far from it. Of course, there are always new things you’ll want to try every once in a while, but going in blind is the best way to ensure you’ll spend $300 extra dollars on snacks you didn’t need or want in the house. Trust me.

I find it easier to hunt in Costco with a photo so screenshot this if you need inspiration on your next trip

A bonus tip: O once had to research Costco for his business school thesis and had some help with grammar and sentence structure (ahem) so I learned a shocking amount in the process. Costco does their market research better than most stores I’ve ever come across so you may notice each store is very specific to their shoppers’ preferences. If something doesn’t sell well in the region, they’ll phase it out. It can be devastating to run in for your staple snack only to find it’s disappeared. If this happens, bring it up to staff and you might be surprised to see it return in coming weeks. Not always, of course, but if enough people say they miss an item it tends to be reconsidered.