Frugal Friday with Marsha–Grocery Basics

Grocery basics have been on my mind for a long time. I am curious as to what you consider to be your grocery basics. That meaning the foods that you try to make sure to always have on hand.

Here is my list:

1. Milk
2. Bread
3. Cheese
4. Eggs
5. Salad dressing
6. Mayonnaise
7. Cereal
8. Onion
9. Lunch Meat
10. Ovaltine
11. Sweet Snack
12. Salty Snack

When I shop for my food for a week, I typically buy the same items. These are the items from the list above, plus fresh fruit, and yogurt. A good week I will buy 1 or 2 yogurt cups, a banana, an apple, and an orange.

I change up each week. Some weeks I will buy bagels and cream cheese or cottage cheese and canned crushed pineapple.

Eating the foods just myself, a lot of the foods last. A half gallon of milk will last me 2 weeks. A dozen eggs last me 3 or 4 weeks, same with a box of cereal. Salad dressing and mayonnaise will last weeks as well. A canister of Ovaltine can last me up to 6 weeks, and I drink a glass each day.

If I have these foods on hand at all time then I know that I am not going to be hungry, and I will be eating relatively healthy.

How much do I spend on average each week for food? The answer is less than $20, and usually less than $15. I buy what I can at Dollar Tree.

I hope you will comment on what your grocery basics are. 🙂