I shop once a week--having no storage space and the world's smallest kitchen--and still as I go through the store it looks like I am leading a wagon train of shopping carts! Send the scouts on ahead.

I do the bulk of our shopping at a military commissary--the rules were changed in 2004, so that members of the reserves may shop there. That means I can save about 30% on an average grocery bill. You need to have ID to shop there. My husband used to be active army, so whenever we would move I would introduce ourselves to the commissary manager, lest they be thinking that I am running a restaurant or feeding a small European country.

I also belong to a food co-op and during the summer subscribe to a community supported agriculture program, where for a fixed amount I get a share of vegetables, fruits, and eggs. It is more expensive than the commissary or co-op, but I like supporting the local farmer.

Milk we have to buy every day, as there is no storage for the 2-3 gallons we go thorough daily.

(Yes, we are Quakers and husband is former army. Talk about life changing events.)

When we were using a lot of milk, we went to Morning Moos. Less expensive than regular powdered milk, and tastes much better. It was a bit of a pain to make it every day, but it sure saved on the budget.

With only four children left at home, I'm buying less groceries. Unfortunately, our grocery budget is twice what it was when we had a houseful, partly because prices have risen so badly, and partly because some of us now have sensitivities that mean we can eat "regular" food.

Laura
Mom to Eight