Photo: Great grandparents at their farm in Blandinsville, IL, with five of their six children .. my grandpa was yet a twinkle in grandma's eye. Stable boy and governess also pictured. Hodges farm, circa 1903-4

Sunday, January 09, 2011

Buying In Bulk .. and better home management

Well .. the new year is starting off good.  The family seems to be on board to purchasing groceries in bulk.  We are slowly switching from a monthly supply of goods in the pantry .. and adding six months of supply.  This means .. and here is where the adapting comes in .. that I don't have to take any grief if we are out of a particular item.  Say mayo .. or .. bread .. or a hundred other things they complain about if we are out of.  I have been making mayo (for example) for the past six months.  If we are out .. it's because I may have just one farm fresh egg left in the fridge for an emergency .. so make your sandwich with mustard and get over it (LOL).  Too much 'want' .. instead of basic need .. this is 'a-changin' ...  hallelujah!  We are saving up for a flour mill.  I hope to have enough money by the time we have used up our current supply of flour.  And .. my friend, Maria .. at Shallow Thoughts From Iowa .. buys her coffee beans (fair trade) green .. and roasts them herself at home ... will attempt this as the organic grind I buy is pushing $11.50 a pound.  Please share any cost savings tips you may have.

5 comments:

Mama Rachael said...

I buy quite a bit in bulk, even though there are only 2 of us (until May!): flour, sugar, rice, many condiments, freezer items, cheeses, meats. I have the best unit price in my head and check often. sometimes the grocery store offers a really good price and I'll buy several then. I have to be careful to not have too much back up that will spoil before we use it. but it makes the weekly grocery run very simple, which is very nice.

Dani said...

Mrs Mac - I totally agree! We have certainly become a society of "want" not "need". If we can all get back to the simple things in life it will become far easier, less stressful and a whole lot more manageable! As well as far gentler on the planet.

Sounds like your family is pulling together for the good of all - well done ! :-)

Mr. H. said...

Roasting your own coffee beans sounds like quite the experience and something I would also like to try one of these days. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts on better home management.

Felisol said...

Dear Mrs. Mac,
I enjoy reading about your thrifty household. I recognize much of it from my mother's household for fifty years. The last ten, she's had to reverse it.
I am ashamed to tell; I have no pantry at all. I have the roof to wall cabinet in my kitchen and a couple of freezers. I know I can get some kind of a pantry made in our cellar. Hmm. Thinking, inspired. I can buy cheaper than I do now, buy buying grand.I will definitely not roast coffee, but I can buy larger and cheaper quanta. Likewise sugar, flour e.t.c. I can even store potatoes like we did when I was a kid. Hmm. I think I can start once the Christmas semester is over. That will be today. We have a monthly budget on $ 700 when we are two + restaurant expenses. (Not that high) When we are three,-I've stopped counting.
These New Years household writing have been inspiring reading.
I shall start today.
Felisol

LynnS said...

I enjoy reading your household posts and follow along with your budget items, etc. I have begun to save receipts from our food purchases and now wish that I had started saving them when we decided to buy more foods in bulk. Oh well.....I can only say that between foods we raise and the bulk purchases, we don't spend very much at the grocery store. Shopping is most done in the pantry or freezer. lol

Keep inspiring us!