Food: are you a hoarder/stocker-upper or a daily shopper?

[ladelfina]

Recently it's been kind of chilly and wet and we just haven't felt like doing our normal shopping which is always kind of a big enterprise. So day by day I've been trying to cobble meals together with what we have on hand. This started more than two weeks ago, and I could probably stretch it out another week at least. (N.B., no going out or takeout.. that would be 'cheating'!) The only added item I had DH pick up was a package of eggs. It's not that I plan to survive a siege.. just the "normal" contents of a (small) fridge/freezer and pantry. I actually like the bare fridge since it makes me focus and things are not 'going missing', but it's very rare situation that also makes me feel incomplete.. like I'm getting ready to move or something.

What's your food strategy and why? (or do you not think about it?)

Also, do you see clear advantages/disadvantages to your approach? (I've gotten pretty good at keeping the fridge full to bursting without having much of anything go bad, but it still happens from time to time.. Here there are no real discounts to be had on bulk purchases, so in my equation that's not a reason for stocking up.. instead, it just must be an instinct.)

[jambo101]

We usually do a major shop once a week but usually have to buy stuff a couple of times a week that we forgot in the big shopping list.
Chilly and wet sounds like nice weather to me,try a foot of snow and -20

[Walt34]

Usually once-a-week. Keep a 3x5 card on the kitchen counter and write down what will need replacing. Sometimes she forgets to write something down and one of us has to make another trip. Of course I never forget to write anything down. It just evolved that I do the grocery shopping because I'm better at sticking to a list than she is, and early in the marriage much of the time I had days off during the week.

The only bulk purchases happen when two conditions are met: It's on sale and can either be frozen or doesn't need refrigeration.

[Sarah in SC]

I fantasize over those catalogs for the end-timers--I love the idea of having 20 lbs of freeze dried vegetables and the survival bars, but have never actually bought any. I dream of having one of those super stocked "bug-out" bags that the survivalists always talk about!

I usually buy once a week, but about once a year, I go through the cabinets and we eat all the stuff that has piled up uneaten. It makes for inventive meals, for sure! Since we live a 1/2 hour round trip from the grocery, there is no running out for something.

I have recently bought frozen (grass fed) meat in bulk, from local SC farmers, to keep on hand. I now have a stocked freezer, full of tasty beef, pork, and chicken from farmers I know. I also just signed up for the first CSA (community supported agriculture) to be started in our area, and I'm looking forward to getting a basket of fresh, local produce through the 2008 growing season. All of these represented big expenditures in up-front costs, but will mean less spent at the grocery store.

[megacorp-firee]

When I was still w*rking, my DW was a stocker upper. She had four 6 foot high shelves filled with all sorts of cans and dry goods. She would pick them up on sale as many as 24 at a time (beef or chicken broth).
The freezer and fridge were the same way. I swear there was some meat in the back that she forgot and was a year old (I'm exaggerating).

Before implementing our retirement plans (extensive traveling), we started a year 1/2 ago to start eating out fo the larder. It took us almost the entire year to finish everything in the fridge and off the shelves, but we did it.

If we ever get back to a routine, I am sure she will go back to her stocker upper ways. I am willing to bet she save us 30% on our food and even more on our clothing costs. She did this for over 30+ years of marriage. She is a great partner and the reason why we could FIRE.

[laurinsane]

I look in the flyer and typically go once a week, and if there's a really good sale I'll stock up on something especially if it's something I use all the time like soup, rice, and pasta.

[Sandy]

We do one large shopping once per week, but end up back at the store another 2-3 times during the week for consumables such as milk, bananas, extra sandwich meat, etc. With 2 active kids on the edge of puberty, I only expect it will get worse.

On the other hand, the pantry has plenty of boxed, canned, and other stuff, that could stretch for quite awhile. We tend to buy those things on sale and stock up. (not as much as megacorp-firee). There are also things that DH buys trying to get something different, but finds that no one wants it (eg rice-a-roni, weird canned soups). I cull those things out for food drives.

[Bigritchie]

I keep 2 weeks of normal eating food, and then alot of canned foods, and normally freeze a deer or something large in my freezer, which I keep a backup generator for.

#1 Venison is amazing
#2 You never know, do not want my wife to be hungry because I wasn't ready.

(BTW another question, how much would you all say you spend per month on food, my first month of ER, my wife and I spent around $500)

[FUEGO]

We fall into the "daily shopper" mode - except it is weekly for us. That cycle serves our needs very well and we don't really eat at home that much anyway. We also have very limited shelf space in our kitchen/pantry for storing food (approximately 15-18 square feet). If we stock up on stuff it usually goes bad (especially perishable stuff).

One weekly trip to walmart and the occasional monthly trip to trader joe's for hummus, wine, nuts and cheese.

We do hoard the wine from TJ's but that is because it is so far away. And it is non-perishable. But they are building a new TJ's down the street, so it will be much more convenient soon.

We find it is a lot more exciting to buy a pack of steaks or chicken or some type of fish (fresh or frozen) and make it for a meal or two than to have a freezer full of frozen chicken, fish and meat. We do keep a small supply of staples on hand - a few cans of beans, cans of fruit, a couple boxes of mashed potatoes and potatoes au gratin, lots of jar pasta sauce, a few boxes of spaghetti, bags of grated cheese, etc. Stuff that we can make into a meal or to compliment some other main dish. Or to take into the office for potluck lunch type deals.

[brewer12345]

We tend to accumulate stuff and then work it down a couple times a year. DW does most of the weekday cooking since I have no time and she cobbles simple stuff together while chasing the two kids. I do most of the shopping and tend to be optimistic about how much and what she will cook during the week, so some ingredients hang around until I use them on teh weekends. Two small children ensure regular trips to Costco and the supermarket.

Aside from milk for the kids, I would guess we could get by for a month or two with what we have on hand. After the 2005 hurricanes, I also bought a case of MREs and make sure to keep a 5 gal stainless steel homebrew keg of fresh water around.

[Outtahere]

Dh shops weekly for staples like bread, milk, fruits, veggies and what ever meat he wants for the week. I shop every couple of weeks for the stockable things like canned goods and any special items I want to prepare, once a month or so we go to Sams to stock up on paper goods, cereal and peanuts (dh loves them).

Before we were married dh would shop daily but the grocery store was in his backyard, made it very simple.

[cute fuzzy bunny]

By primarily shopping at Costco and Sams, my food strategy is dictated by my retailer. Which means case lots and large boxes, jars and cans of everything.

To some degree, having a couple of weeks of stuff built up was how it had to work when we lived a 50 minute drive from Costco. Now that its a few miles up the road I guess I could cut back, but four years of habit forming is tough to break.

Now what exactly am I going to do with a 3lb bag of sundried tomatoes and a big plastic jug of enough dried mushrooms to reinsulate the attic?

[maddythebeagle]

We stock up more than probably need...t-p, coffee, paper towels, soap, etc. when find deals/Sams Club....

[FUEGO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cute fuzzy bunny Now what exactly am I going to do with a 3lb bag of sundried tomatoes and a big plastic jug of enough dried mushrooms to reinsulate the attic?

And that is why we don't shop at Costco/Sam's Club!

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Eh, the way I look at it is that the price is so much cheaper and the quality is so good, that if I have to throw half of it out then I'm still doing okay.

Case in point: Half and Half for my coffee. I usually buy a half gallon at Costco for about $2.60. We use it in soups and chowders and for any apps calling for dairy like souffles and savory/sweet custards. I always end up chucking a half cup or so when it goes past its expiry. But a quart of the stuff is about $3.10 at the supermarket. Another one: Half gallon container of really good cottage cheese is about $4 at Costco. We'll eat it and make stuff like cottage cheese coffee cake out of it and usually finish it. Small container at the supermarket is $2.95.

I do wonder sometimes if any of this bulk shopping driving the menu ends up turning into extra pounds.

Oh yeah, and before I forget...four pounds of BACON at Costco are under $9...

[maddythebeagle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cute fuzzy bunny Oh yeah, and before I forget...four pounds of BACON at Costco are under $9...

I am awaiting a reply that you made cake out of that, too

Seriously, there was a thread on this topic in Fire and Money awhile back...I believe it was Masterblaster quoted some author that pointed out saving 20% on stuff you were going to use was better return than what you could get from investments...

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Indeed.

So far no bacon cake. But I do wrap meatloaf in it, wrap filet mignon kebabs in it that I make from the tail ends of the whole filet mignons I get at Costco for $9.98/lb and hand cut at home, bacon wrap the fist sized scallops I get at Costco for $8-9/lb market price...but so far I've avoided the 5 gallon can of water chestnuts...

About the only thing I've struggled with from Costco was the two giant cans of minced clams. I spent a weekend making clam dip, clam chowder, clam fritters and linguine with white clam sauce. Still didnt quite use them all up before I was massively overclammed.

[Sarah in SC]

CFB, I never thought I'd say this, but thank God my DH doesn't cook--we'd be big as houses with that kind of "man" cooking. Not that bacon wrapped meatloaf doesn't sound really awesome!

[maddythebeagle]

YouTube - Elvis Clambake Trailer

[CuppaJoe]

OP, I’m afraid I’m your opposite, I'm a "a dirty-rotten market-timing spendthrift." I’m reducing my exposure to the grocery markets these days, its too cold and rainy to carry much home from the store; and the produce is unappetising. I wind up eating frozen veggies and just scrounging if I eat at home. I feel that this is the time of year to go easy on myself (and SO) so we go ahead and "cheat": eat out and get take out & deliveries. Looking forward to signs of spring: Ground Hog Day, Mardi Gras and Chinese New Year. Will increase my grocery market stock when the really good produce comes in. Soon soon, spring is just around the corner.

CFB: The clam idea inspires me: once substituted champagne for the white wine in the clam pasta sauce, best meal I ever had at home.