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+--- Thread: Food Budget - Reality Check (/showthread.php?tid=9469)
RE: Food Budget - Reality Check - Radiopeg - 11-06-2011
We (2) eat a lot of Dairy, and fish and meat on the grill. We buy whatever we need that's the cheapest (no brand loyalty) and will eat pork chops or chicken for a few days in a row if it is cheap. Most of our bucks are spent at Foodland except for the few things we pick up at Safeway that have no other option we have found so far, Marie's Bleu Cheese, and their Italian sausage chub.
We have a small propane refridge and tiny freezer, and not even a normal amount of storage space as we are in a RV trailer. I started tracking our basic food by the month. We run from mid 600 to low 800s. We will buy cheap fish at Suisan's or shark, when they have it. They also have occasional deals on butter or yogurt.
We could eat cheaper by changing a few things, but what bothers me is the fact that produce does not last in our fridge. That is a real waste factor for us. Can't buy half a head of lettuce, etc. Everything gets wet, and nasty if you don't keep it well wrapped.
If I didn't love Safeway's peanut butter, buy the huge jar, and oatmeal, I'm sure we would spend even more. We wouldn't want to be anywhere else, however.
I am planting fruit trees, and food plants, and will someday cut down on what we buy. Almost never get to Costco because we have no storage. I tire easily, and have pain issues, and can not do the run around for the cheapest stuff.
The keeping of two cats and a 60 pound dog is a cost we gladly pay, but the cost of flea stuff and heartworm meds, as well as the food would easily feed a third person. It our choice to care for them.
Life goes on, with you or without you.
RE: Food Budget - Reality Check - dwedeking - 11-06-2011
We're doing $130 a week for all food and household items (cleaning supplies, etc). We shy away from all prepackaged foods as much as possible. Gardening (even container gardening) is one of the best ways to cut your bill when living in Hawaii. Look at your most expensive vegetable items that you purchase and then try to find ways to grow those items first. I never did any gardening before moving here 2 years ago and now we have a full garden going, so it's not as hard as it seems at first.
Also learn to shop the specials. We do shopping on Thursdays so we can get the ads in the mail on Wednesday and then plan a strategy on what to get from where. Target (paper supplies, some food items), Safeway (for those mainland things my wife can't live without) and then Foodland for the last items.
RE: Food Budget - Reality Check - tada - 11-06-2011
All my info comes from the WSJ- came across this article which says vitamins are overrated-
http://ctwatchdog.com/2011/10/25/taking-dietary-supplements-time-to-reconsider-if-you-want-to-live-longer
I always look for liquid refreshments with vitamin C. But maybe now I'll just look for the 2 liter diet soda sale for $1 or less but the bubbles rot my teeth.
This author had another article about how wine causes cancer for the enophiles among us.
RE: Food Budget - Reality Check - terracore - 11-07-2011
Food is cheaper in Hawaii than in Alaska, basically we have learned not to buy anything unless its on sale. Most of our dried and canned goods are from the "dented 50% off" section of the store. We also buy a lot of stuff right at the expiration date at discount and it goes straight into the freezer. Other than that, we get a lot of stuff from Costco (Juneau has one of the smallest Costcos ever built. When we saw the one in Kona we were amazed, it was almost like you could fit our entire city into it). Amazingly, you can sometimes get good deals on food at amazon.com or even eBay with free shipping. We have tried growing food a few times, but the growing season here is too short and the weather is too wet and cold. Basically, if its not native to Alaska it doesn't stand a chance, and only berries will grow here, and the wildlife gets first dibs on them. Our produce is horrible. All of it is imported from either Hawaii, California, Mexico, or South America so it is never fresh. Occassionally we can find stuff from Washington and very rarely from Alaska (and it costs more than the food from the other places). If we buy any fresh produce it has to be eaten almost immediately because the process of decay has already started. Occassionally my wife will buy "fresh" berries that are flown in, and even then she has to pick the moldy ones out. When we go to Hawaii we are overwhelmed by all the choices in fresh, healthy produce and it is almost impossible for us to pass a stand or farmer's market without stopping and buying something. It tastes so much better than the stuff that is picked green and ripened on barges. The thought of living somewhere where you can grow food on your own land instead of paying to transport it several thousand miles is so foreign and exotic it seems almost like a dream. I can't imagine what it must be like to go out into your yard and pluck a fresh avocodo from your own tree instead of driving to the store and buying one for six dollars that is either starting to rot or is so unripe its rock hard. We are going to grow as many fruits and vegetables in Hawaii that we can!
RE: Food Budget - Reality Check - dayna - 11-07-2011
Another thing terracore (my hubby) didn't point out is that I have what produce we do get usually flown in from Washington. I am a member of a CSA, and spend about (give or take) $100 week on our produce boxes. The nice thing is that I can also buy things like cheese, butter, eggs, some meat, pasta, etc from them as well.
I then usually spend an additional $100 to $400 a week on other grocieries from the store (and like steve said, the bulk of them are from the 50% off dented or expired shelves).
When the cost of food (GAS) is up, and the 50% off shelves are low, I've had to spend as much as $2,000 on basic groceries and toiletries in one month for a family of three.
The Big Island keeps looking better and better every single day.
Dayna
www.AvianNation.com
RE: Food Budget - Reality Check - tada - 11-07-2011
I heard Alaska was great for veggies like brocoli and cabbage with the cool sunny weather. I heard they don't have much of meat section because of all the meat on the hoof running around??
RE: Food Budget - Reality Check - dayna - 11-07-2011
Up north where it's warm in the summer and has longer days. we live in a rain forest, summer temps are ususally in the 50's.
Dayna
www.AvianNation.com
RE: Food Budget - Reality Check - mella l - 11-07-2011
We grew watermelons on Kodiak Island close to Old Woman Mountain and they were huge, just like the mosquitos! I was a little girl then and I still remember the milk that was shipped in. Not good!
mella l
Art and Science Our Future
[url]http://www.bytheseasoaps.etsy.com/url]
RE: Food Budget - Reality Check - maud gonne - 11-07-2011
Here's a figure I just learned (from a woofer acquaintance, with zero income, who gets food stamps in Hawaii).The maximum allotment is $314/month for an individual. And it's considered a supplemental program, not necessarily covering all food costs. Plus it doesn't cover nonfood items. If I multiply that by 2 it comes to more than my husband & I spend per month ($600)for all grocery items. It gives me an idea of what Hawaii considers a basic food budget ( a reality check).The responses posted here for Big Island budgets run the gamut from low of $35/week (about $150/month/one person)(Jackson) to radiopeg's low $800s/month (2 people).
RE: Food Budget - Reality Check - macuu222 - 11-07-2011
We grew huge cabbages and broccoli in Fairbanks Alaska. The summer growing season is short...but with 21 hours of sunlight...things tend to grow very fast. You just have to watch out for the moose. They have a very good idea when harvest time is and if you don't take proper precautions...you'll wake up one morning with your entire garden eaten!