Reader Question – Where are my shopping trip post pictures?
Posted at 3:17 PM by I am THAT Lady: Lauren
I have been receiving emails from people wondering why I haven’t been posting my shopping trip pictures the past few month, and it prompted me to think about it and then I really wanted to share with you my struggles over the past year with grocery shopping.
I got diagnosed with a gluten-sensitivity almost 15 months ago and it changed the way I shopped! I had been spending $50 – $75 on groceries for my family for almost 4 years, so the thought of having to pay $3.00 for a box of pasta was very overwhelming to me. I learned how to save money and eat gluten-free by eating a lot of naturally gluten-free foods like fruits, veggies, rice, and meat and we upped our weekly budget to $100. I was able to stick to that amount for a few months but recently we have been spending more in the area of $150 – $200 per week on groceries because I have learned that I need quick and easy gluten-free foods during the day so that I am taking good care of myself.
So – that being said my grocery shopping trips probably look like many Americans, I spend on average $150 per week and still save around $80.00 every week. These aren’t the kind of shopping trips that are typically posts on, I am not sure that I can show you those GREAT deals that you are looking for because I can’t buy them most of the time….
I am still couponing and saving where I can – but just wanted to share my struggles. Am I alone on this? So many people just post on the best deals every week in their shopping trips, but I just want to encourage you that I am just like everyone else, we are all in this couponing thing together. I just wanted to put myself out there because many times people feel like they have ‘failed’ at couponing or saving money, and there really is no such thing as failure in grocery shopping. Failure to me means that I don’t take care of myself nutritionally and eat Wendy’s French Fries everyday 
, failure does not mean that I get the healthy foods that my familiy loves but have to pay more money. Just another example of what Couponing is not a competition – what one family spends may not be what another should try to spend, we each have our budgets and dietary needs and therefore have to mold our budgets around what we are currently going through.
Can anyone else relate? Have you ever had any struggles using coupons and budgeting?
Comments:
Right there with you! Between the rise in meat costs and buying allergy free foods for Jinny..we are in that same budget range.
Lauren, I was thinking over the weekend, that I would love to see what you put in your grocery cart! I am brand new to this gluten free thing and have too been overwhelmed by the increase in my budget and the many deals I can longer participate in because I can’t eat . You would be a huge encouragement to those of us living the gluten free life, if you did share.
Thanks for sharing Lacey – glad I am not the only one feeling this way. Going gluten-free can be hard, especially for someone who is new to couponing and trying to figure it all out. I will def. make a point to post some of my shopping trips too!
My family, too, is gluten free (except for my husband sometimes!), and we have found that most gluten free “convenience foods” are about 3 times as much as traditional foods. Pair that with few coupons and there rarely being a sale on those items, and you now have a grocery budget that has pretty much doubled-and that’s with hard work and budgeting! I used to be like you, going on shopping trips where the store pretty much “paid me” to shop. Since going gluten free, those days are gone, but like you said, we all have different needs, so this is one area where we can’t save a ton of money. We just have to do our best to save in other areas. Saving money isn’t about sacrificing your health and well-being. You need to take care of yourself and your family so you can all be your best.
Thanks Jennifer, you are totally right! We have to find other ways to save, but the weeks where I was spending only $100 at the store we were going out to eat once a week anyways – so I really wasn’t saving that much regardless.
Lauren,
I too have to eat Gluten free. Have you tried the pasta from Wegman’s? It is $2.49 for their brand and taste really good. If you happen to get prescriptions filled at Wegmans also you will find 1.00 off coupon on the pasta which makes it a great bargain. Wegmans also carries their brand of gluten free waffles in the frozen isle that they have coupons for.
Yes – I LOVE everything Gluten-Free at Wegmans! I live 30 minutes from the closest one but once a month go and stock up on pasta, brownie mix and their GF chicken nuggets. I have yet to try their GF frozen waffles but that is on my list for my next trip!
I’m glad I’m not a lone. in July I started the Wheat Belly diet. then a few months later I changed over to eating Paleo. In November I stopped buying papers. none of the coupons were for anything I brought or ate. I buy fruits and veggies and meat. pretty much I do my shopping at Sam’s Club. My grocery budget is through the roof. I miss couponing but not many coupons for fruit and veggies.
Well, I can kind of relate. We aren’t gluten free, but we are vegetarians and dont buy anything with HFCS. Most of those items are expensive as well. And we have kids that are very picky eaters. So we spend over $100 a week.
You may not want to post your grocery photos but what about other reader’s successes? We all find encouragement somewhere!
It isn’t just gluten-free that is causing your grocery bill to go up – it is everything! I was comfortable around $100/wk, now it’s closer to $150/wk for 2 of us, and we don’t have any issues that necessitate special foods. We all are feeling a bit more pain these days.
I TOTALLY AGREE!!! Groceries are getting more expensive all the way around. We are trying to eat cleaner since I have developed some mystery rash – if you want to eat healthier, you have to pay for it. We are planning to buy a 1/2 cow locally raised and grass fed and the same with chickens to save money and eat better. It’s all about planning and making the most of the food you have – we’re trying to watch leftovers and throwing away food too.
I’m glad you posted this because even without having to negotiate the dietary issues (other than picky eaters) I was feeling discouraged this weekend because I can’t seem to break through the 50% savings barrier on my bills. (Note that I shop 2-3 grocery stores on a reg basis) I have to remember that a bit over a year ago, I didn’t know what I sent on groceries (family of 5), not to mention eating out most nights. So now the bill for groceries is reduced $600 a month and we rarely eat out. This year maybe we won’t save as much, but focus on healthier choices.
Funny you should post this today. This was the first time since the week of Christmas that I have really had to break down and do some serious food shopping over the weekend. I spend $200 and saved $60. Not what I am used to spending (or saving for that matter) however I have chosen to make the switch to organically grown vegetables and fruits whenever possible as well as choosing the “organic,” “lower” (or no) sugar options and salt free options. Wow – what a difference that makes in the bi-weekly budget. I want us to eat healthier and this will take a toll on the old pocketbook.
Lauren I can totally relate. My husband has to watch his carbs because of diabetes and then recently I had to cut out red meat, milk and some other foods because of digestive problems after having my gallbladder removed.
I realized I was actually saving money by simply making a list and sticking to it and shopping sams, walmart and aldi for more whole foods instead of shopping the deals and then eating out or fast food because the food simply didn’t last or wasn’t food I really liked.
My goal in couponing is save where I can on the things that I normally buy. I see bigger savings on non-food products–tissues, TP, detergent, shampoo, razors, etc. I don’t feel bad about spending money on the food that we eat if I can get it fresh or frozen–I have an unsual allergy to sodium benzoate and some other preservatives in canned and jarred food.
I still buy some of the canned items that I find on sale at Price Chopper (my only grocery store within 45 minutes of my home) to donate to the local food bank. I have found that I feel better about spending $100-$150 per week for four adults if I also spend $10-$20 of it on donations to the food bank. I have also reduced our food budget by eating less meat at each meal or even not having any at a meal.
I am lucky that I have (ironically 13) “pet” chickens who provide me with 5-7 fresh eggs per day. I can whip up breakfast for dinner or even lunch anytime
I love making Frittatas or egg bakes with all of those little leftover bits.
So no one should think of themselves as failing if they are being strategic with how they are spending/saving their money, spending time with their families, and choosing to be aware of what they are eating. We are all feeling the sting of price increases but as good savers, we can deal with it and adapt.
I’m with you also! We are organic mostly, gluten free always, local grass fed meats and dairy free mostly. Nothing screams “yea right” to extreme couponing like dietary restrictions! Extreme couponers just annoy me
if you’re doing your best with what you have than I’d be happy about that 
posts like this are so great to read…reminding everyone that you don’t have to be a super shopper to save money.
You certainly don’t need to be a super shopper to save money and we also buy our meats grass fed from a local organic farm. We just picked up 25 lbs. on Saturday – so at least we save on that!
Where is this local farm you picked your meat up from???
I get my meat from Happy Hooves Organic Farm in Martville, NY.
Lauren- You should post some of your trips anyways! A lot of people are eating gluten free by choice and seeing whats available might be useful. I love to see the deals on household items and personal items. I try to get my lotion, soap, shampoo, dish soap, toothpaste, paper products, laundry soap…..all that kind of stuff as cheap as possible and then have that extra money to put into my food budget. We eat mostly produce/organic/gluten free stuff by choice. But it makes for a more $$ grocery bill. There are still tons of coupon bargains to be had!
I am right there with you. I find that shopping at Aldi’s and Walmart or Big Lots is where I can save on gfree foods. Aldi’s even had gfree chicken nuggets last week and they were pretty good.
hmm, I’ve never had their gf chicken nuggets at Aldi- I will look for them next time.
I am facing this issue now. About a month ago, I started having extremely bad reflux. It was so bad, I’ve been on 5 different medicines in that time. I finally ended having to take 3 every day just for the reflux. One of them is $98 a bottle!
That’s definately taking a chunk out of my budget, but now I also have to shop for foods that won’t trigger the reflux. No tomato sauce, very little milk, no spicy, etc. It’s definately a life style change.
You are not failing! You still saved $80 in your example. I think people who need to eat gluten free would be very interested in what you bought and if coupons are available for some of those items, or what stores have gluten free items and healthy items on sale. I am very interested in saving even a little money on healthy foods. You could just post the items that you think would be of most interest to people.
Saving money in NEVER a fail. Everyone has different situations they have to work around. When I had my daughter in May my budget had to adjust because of diapers and wipes, then more when I had to formula feed which I was not planning. It was definitly a shock when I had to buy my first can of formula!! But I had to do what was best for my daughter and start suplementing her. Be proud that you are saving money and keeping you and your family healthy!!!! You have touched my life and I know that you have touched many many others!!!!!!!
I just want to say thank you for this post. I struggle to keep our budget on groceries down but with food allergies and perfume sensitivity this can be dificult! We just have to try our best.
Oh my gosh! No THANK YOU as now I don’t feel alone! Last week I started heavy into using my fitness pal and I knew it would happen but seriously kinda mourned my ‘old’ 70ish percent saving at the store. I thought…. Girl you have a problem! Healthy and special diet foods are soooo much more expensive and that in itself is quite sad. I like someone else said just had to put in my mind that I will save on the other items and still do the best I can using the few coupons available for what I now need.
Thanks for the honesty! We all face challenges, and it’s so much better to support and encourage each other. Thanks for still hooking us up with deals, even if they’re not on your menu.
Have you checked out the gfree rice pasta noodles in the Asian food section at Weggies? They’re pretty good. And spices are so much cheaper in the international section, as well.
Just wanted to let you guys know about vitacost.com They sell vitamins and food and have sales, coupons, and free shipping over a certain amount. You should check it out at least to compare prices. I also do not save on food since we eat grass fed beef, organic, cage free and such. Deals are harder but we know we are eating better. So I’m happy when we can get a great deal on beauty and hygiene using coupons.
They also have a referral program. That helps $10 for you, $10 for them. Vitacost.com
Your honesty is yet another reason why i recommend your site and why i keep coming back. ou’ve truly changed my life with all of your inspirational words and money saving tips. Thank you and may God continue to bless you.
Thank you for sharing!
My main frustration with most couponing sites is that their savings are so often on pre-packaged salty, sugary, starchy foods. Our family is no longer gluten-free because my son grew out of his sensitivities. However, we try never to buy food that comes in a box unless I’m really desperate to save money or unless I’m comfortable with the ingredients label. Our savings at the supermarket come from stocking up on canned tomatoes, frozen vegetables, coffee, 100% powdered cocoa, rice, beans – whatever whole ingredients we can find with a coupon or on sale, as well as household paper products, diapers, etc. It’s not as exciting as saving 90% on groceries, but I’ve learned from your site how to stock up on staples so we have money leftover for fresh foods, which is where the bulk of our food budget goes. Thank you for that – you’re a frugal lady and if you’re spending $150-$200 a week on groceries, it’s because it’s what you and your family need!
My son has a dairy allergy, so I can’t budget just $50.00 for groceries. I’ve just accepted that. I save on what I can. I love making foods that my son can eat but sometimes the ingredients you have to substitute for dairy are expensive. It’s a trade off, but I know my son is safe and eating healthy.
I have been gluten free for several years now and we were spending an astronomical amount of money on groceries. I started couponing last year to try to get our grocery bill down but because my whole family eats gluten free, and we try to eat all fresh produce and meat, it has proven very difficult to find coupons for the items we eat. I have found that coupons tend to be for mostly food that our family would not consider eating. We then made a switch to BJ’s buying as much as we could there. We get their coupon book in the mail and they take manufacturer’s coupons so even though we walk out with a hefty bill, we walk out with a lot that keeps a base of stuff in the house. We then hit up Price Chopper next for as much as we can to get the gas savings on anything we couldn’t get at BJ’s and leave Wegmans for anything else we can’t get at BJ’s or Price Chopper. Eating gluten free and healthy can be very difficult because there are very few coupons that fit into the two categories. I agree with other readers that I would like to see what you get when you shop. Also, there are some great gluten free deals on Amazon.com if you plan ahead. Most items are free shipping over $25 and you get the items cheaper than in the store so as long as you plan ahead for shipping time you can save that way as well. You are an inspiration to all of us – to me, ever more so now that I know you are gluten free!!!!!
I completely understand. I have 3 children and one has a life threatening nut allergy and the another is lactose intollerent. It is a challenge every week to find coupons to match there foods. So I average about $200 a week but they are staying healthy so it is worth it. I still truely enjoy your site and I don’t need pictures to read it.
Aw thanks Carol – glad you enjoy the site with or without pictures. One of my daughters is lactose free too, that just puts another wrench into the mixture.
With all this amazing feedback it sounds like a gluten-free shopping post is needed! I am interested in just eating better in general as well as couponing. They just may end up being two interests that don’t necessarily overlap. I’ve found that most of my great deals are on health and beauty products or cereal (Cherrios mainly for my little ones). While watching those extreme couponing shows is fun; I don’t expect to be able to replicate any of it. Who wants 500 packages of noodle soup? I also find that a lot of posts on other sites for great food deals are mainly packaged foods. I don’t want to stock up on those and wouldn’t consider many of the people on those shows a healthy role model. I would love to see what you buy. I think you would stongly represent an every day woman trying to balance her family needs and a budget. You’re a wonderful inspiration for many! And I always enjoy seeing you on the local news/local shows.
It seems like I may have to start posting my super expensive food trips, lol! And here I was thinking no one would want to see them, I guess I was wrong.
I am an older mom, but follow your blogs faithfully. I do not shop like I used to, and I also have tried to eat better. I honestly feel that gluten free is going to be the wave of the future, because frankly, wheat isn’t as good as it used to be for people. I think most people who switch to GF, even if they don’t have to medically, feel so much better. I find too that many coupons are for the stuff we don’t eat anymore, or don’t want to eat (Mfg congolomerates) however, I still try to get the most for my money. It is NOT cheap to eat healthy or GF. Thankfully Wegmans does have some good GF choices. Having been a mom of young kids, I feel the pain of you and alot of readers of “trying to do it all” and being the perfect wife, mother and shopper. I will say cut yourselves slack — the fact that you all do so much with your kids and with your shopping dollar is testament to your great skills. We all can only do what we can do, and being the “perfect” of anything is just not important. I have learned that over the years. I do what I can and raised two wonderful, happy, healthy, smart, morally-grounded kids who are now adults.
I am amazed at what you do Lauren with posting all the blogs, appearing on TV, answering questions and running and house and family. A fantastic success I’d say. I think Moms these days always immediately feel like a failure if they don’t do something as good as the next Mom, or have other moms lecturing them on why their baby will be healthier if they do this or that and make other Moms feel bad about their choices. In my opinion, we’re all in it together, trying to do the best for our families. What works for one may not work for another and that’s no reason to criticize or lord it over them that they’re a better mom (not that anyone is doing that here, I’m talking about other blogs I’ve read). It’s very difficult to raise a happy, healthy, morally-concious family, work, shop, clean, cook, give attention to everyone in our lives, and be what we consider a success. Any little part of any of those things each of us do proves we are a success. It’s not as easy as it looks, and I think you do a fantastic job Lauren. I am always telling my daughter how impressed I am with your site. I love following it. Not so much in the grocery dept., but you have saved me TONS of money on other purchases – usually daily!! So keep up the good work, cut yourself some slack, and let each person take what they can from your blog. Remember ladies, we are all in this together! Who knows, maybe we’ll start seeing some coupons for GF or fruits in the future. I love seeing the savings some people get, and yet we have to remember it’s not a competition. I learn from each post I see and try to pass the information on to others. Thank you Lauren for all you do!
Thank YOU for such a kind reply – my life is busy but I have so much great help here on the blog now. As a team we strive to help you all learn how to make the best of the money that you have. And yes we are all in this together!
I am not gluten free, but my grocery bill has sky-rocketed! My husband and I are both retired, so groceries are budgeted and it seems like every week a product we like takes a price hike. Recent coupons do not help as hair coloring and junk food are not in our budget and this seems to be the majority of coupons offered. I really miss the farmer’s markets for fresh veggies in the winter but have found frozen ones a close seconds. I could go on and on, but to no avail. Keep up the good work as a lot of people have been helped.
I miss the farmer’s markets too – With things going up and up the best we can do is budget and plan our meals around those sale items.
It would be interesting to see product reviews of the gf foods too, for those who are new to eating gf, and when preparing it for someone else…
Great idea!
why not post reader submitted shopping trips? that way everyone can see both the GF way, and the regular way!
I like the idea of posting reader trips! I would have loved to share my last Price Chopper trip where I spent $60 for a bunch of food including meat for 5 meals, produce, cereal and a great deal on neosporine and band aids. I am never that interested in the shopping trips that are done for the purpose of maximizing savings. I would love to see real shopping trips
It would be neat to show how readers are using your blog to save real money.
I am always open for reader trip pictures – maybe I need to write a weekly post asking for submissions. Thanks for the advice.
It’s really nice seeing so many other couponers out there that do actually spend more than $50 on a shopping trip because of sensitivities. Our home is borderline gluten free, casein free (hubby), lactose free (son) and vegetarian (me, mom). We buy a lot of veggies and I mean a lot.
I and it seems many others, would love to see how you save on your gluten free trips. To top it off my store doesn’t take printed coupons, only clippers. I save money but can’t tell how much because their price is discounted but it doesn’t show savings on the receipt.
I have on that is Lactose Free too (one of my daughter’s) so dinners are lactose and gluten free + lots of fruits and veggies.