Eat Well, Spend Less: $50 Grocery Giveaway

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

This month I was honored to team up with a group of bloggers for the Eat Well, Spend Less series. This timely topic came just when gas prices are hitting new highs and thanks to TLC, coupons are the latest rage. People need to save money like never before.

Trimming the grocery budget can have an immediate impact on your finances. I shared some of my methods and favorite meals for saving money in the kitchen, as did my fellow bloggers. If you missed them, here are my posts from the series:

While the series is now officially over, this topic sparked a lot of interest and I plan to continue sharing frugal kitchen tips over the next few months. In the meantime, we are celebrating with a great giveaway from Kroger! What better way to end the series than to give our readers a chance to put our tips into action with $50 in free groceries. Spending less does not get any better than free!

When I first learned to use coupons, Kroger was my favorite stop. With double and triple coupons every day (no longer in select areas), their legendary Mega-Events and a generous selection of organics, Kroger is a great place to help you eat well for less.

I have one $50 gift card to giveaway to one lucky reader. This gift card is also accepted at all Kroger affiliated stores, including Ralphs, Dillons, Smith’s, King Soopers, Fry’s, QFC, City Market, Hilander, Owen’s, Jay C, Pay Less, Baker’s, Gerbes, Scott’s Food & Pharmacy, Fred Meyer, Dillons Marketplace, Fry’s Marketplace, Kroger Marketplace, Smith’s Marketplace, and Food 4 Less.

Enter to Win:

(1) $50 Gift Card from Kroger Co.

  • Leave a comment below (required entry): Share one way you eat well and spend less!

If you are reading via email or in a reader, please click through to the post to enter.

For up to (2) bonus entries:

  • Subscribe via RSS or email for free daily updates. If you’re already a subscriber (thank you!) simply leave a comment.
  • “Like” Kroger Co. and KingdomFirstMom on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you have done so.

This giveaway will end on Thursday, April 28th at 9 p.m. EST. The winner will be drawn randomly, and notified via email.

Disclosure: Kroger Co. is providing this $50 Gift Card. I did not receive compensation or a gift card for this post. As always, all opinions are my own.

Be sure to visit my fellow bloggers in the series for more chances to win:

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Comments

  2. Pam Lusk says

    Look at ads, wait for sales – buy more when it’s on sale – make sure you read ingredients of things you’re thinking about buying. Usually it goes back on the shelf.

  3. says

    A meal plan is a must. Otherwise I grab stuff that may or may not be used, have to make multiple trips to get what I do need to complete a meal, wasting time and gas in addition to grocery money and bringing more opportunitities for those money-sucking impulse buys! Thanks for the giveaway!

  4. Denise Wilson says

    I use coupons and try to find the best deals. I usually price match at Walmart, but once in a while, I go to place like Kroger and Meijer because of extra special deals. Like today, I am headed to Kroger to catch the GM cereal/gift card deal! Also, going to get some produce that is on sale. Also, I count on the blogs that I follow to find me the best deals!! 🙂

  6. Nicole J. says

    I purchase sale items in bulk and plan meals to be frozen from those specific ingredients. I end up batch cooking for a half day on the weekend while my daughter is napping. We have portions, a freezer stockpile, and far less food wasted!

  8. Bethany Goff says

    Some of the things I do to eat well while spending less is to look for organic/natural food coupons, produce coupons, and then when I can’t find those, to use the money I save from using coupons on other things to buy the fresh produce. I also use my coupon savings to help pay for meat, (which there are few coupons for, and the price keeps soaring on!)

  15. Lisa says

    I have been couponing for about 3 months & just starting to grow my stockpile. I have already found that when I stockpile staples for free or ridiculously low prices, I am saving a lot of money in the long run. My grocery bills are already lower & I find that we’re eating out less. And I am thrilled to already have a bag of items to donate to the church’s food pantry!

  17. Andrea says

    I am fortunate that my kids like fruits and veggies, and I pack them in their lunches every day. We eat well and spend less because I keep a mental list of all the fruits and vegetables that they like, and whenever I shop for groceries, I buy whatever is on sale for that week. The kids are actually excited when I tell them, “I bought strawberries and broccoli for your lunches!”

  18. jennifer b says

    I eat only what’s on sale or have a good coupon for I plan my weekly meals accordingly.

  32. susan says

    not sure what happened to the comment I was posting, as it vablnished, so I’ll repost. Sorry if this is a duplicate

    I do many of the things noted above, and also use a competitor’s $x off $y purchase at my local Whole Foods. When I can, I combine those with their in-store sales, in-store coupons, and, on things we use a lot of, case discounts. Once that resulted in the equivalent of buy 5 get 7 free relative to the usual price of a cereal our daughter eats.

  33. Melissa says

    We eat well by stocking up on healthy foods when prices are low and we use coupons, coupons, coupons!!

  35. Rose says

    What has helped me tremendously is planning….when I keep track of what I have and plan meals around those instead of what I “feel” like eating we eat healthier and less expensive.

  40. Stephani says

    I look for the manager’s unadvertised specials at my local Dillons store. Great deals!

  43. Andrea R says

    I’m a big believer in pastured chicken & grass fed beef. In order to afford it, our meals are typically casseroles or soups. This helps stretch the meat as much as possible.

  46. Jacqueline Hoge says

    I am learning the art of stock piling. It is helping a lot! I love to add coupons on top of buy-one-get one deals. I also am starting to use dry beans as a filler and stretcher of our meat budget.
    I subscribe to your emails.

  47. Lori says

    I save money by growing as much of my own food as I can. I learned how to can two years ago and it has been awesome! Anything else, I buy at rock bottom prices w/sales and coupons and stockpile it. Also, planning my menu has helped me not to waste anything.

  48. Lauren Peterson says

    My husband’s the cook in the family, so we go shopping together so I can find the deals, and he finds the foods he wants to cook with. It works really well 🙂

  57. Melissa says

    I love to shop Kroger even if they don’t do the double and tripple coupons anymore. To save I match my coupons with their deals, buy my large items at Sam’s (meat, etc.) then break them up, vacuum seal and freeze. I also make large batches of items like spaghetti sauce and freeze.
    I’m pretty good with my coupons and check for coupons before leaving the house for anything.

  65. Birdie S. says

    we have a big vegetable garden to help us eat fresh & spend very little in doing so

  66. Deb says

    I plan meals around seasonal fruits and vegetables. We try to avoid the center aisles and stick to the outer edges of our local Kroger for the best deals. We do have to venture “in”, we only purchase items that are on sale and that we have coupons for.

    We are starting to buy extra produce that we can freeze for use when they are not in season. I am hoping to learn how to do some canning this summer!

  71. The Sugar Tree says

    I find myself using Kroger the most. I also like Aldi for boxed/canned goods.

  72. Janet Krugel says

    I have just started the coupon experience and I am having so much fun organizing and planning. We aren’t going to be extreme couponers, but we have already decided that when there’s a good deal on a healthy food, we are definitely going extreme to fill our food bank.

    My family is in a very tough spot right now and we haven’t been able to buy even the cheapest food (with coupons)!! We are scraping the barrels right now and actually plan to go to the food bank later today for a bridge to get us through. We have been there before and the bank in our little town is not supported very well and not always the healthiest of foods.

    This gift card would mean so much to us!! We would use every penny to the fullest extent and plan it carefully so that we could even use it for the food bank. In Malachi 3, God promises in His Word: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it” (v. 10).

    God Bless you for providing information on healthy foods and budgeting. I know that whoever wins this gift card will be winning it at the perfect time in their life.

  73. Andrea says

    I love to kroger shop late on friday nights. After a long week at work, my friend and i , armed with our coupon organizer, go and have a wonderful time finding all the deals we can and feed our family the best and cheapest way we can. It gives you the feeling of accomplishment and to see the kids faces when we come home with great food and to see the smile on my husbands face because i saved money makes it all worth it!

  80. Tammie D says

    We plan out meals, especially since one of my daughter’s is vegetarian, so we make alot of things from scratch, have only healthy foods in the house and we control portions. Our days start anywhere between 4-6am, so we eat early, snack on veggies, fruit or protein bars during meals and stop eating at 9pm each night.

  89. Nancy W. says

    I shop at Wal-Mart and Save A Lot to stretch my grocery dollars. I also mostly buy generic items .

  91. Shar says

    For us to eat well & spend less, we try to combine coupons with sale items and not just one or the other on their own. Also, buy seasonal fruits and veggies and freeze if possible.

  96. Vicki Hornsby says

    I live equal distances from a Kroger, Publix , Save a lot and a Walmart. I try to match WHAT I NEED FOR THE WEEK, with who has it on sale and if I have a coupon, all the better.

  99. Theresa says

    I try to cook from scratch as much as possible. Combining this with deals and coupons helps a great deal! Feeding a family of 7 is always a challenge!

  101. amy says

    I shop Kroger often. I like to supplement my meat and produce with sales and markdowns from the organic section whenever possible!

  108. sarah w says

    i price match and plan my meals around what is on sale. also we are vegetable focused, using a lot of beans for protein.

  109. Kathy Rambousek says

    I try to plan my meals around weekly sale items. By eating at home and combining coupons to sales, we eat healthier and cheaper.

  115. Sharon says

    I’ve started going to Sunflower Market to get produce when it’s on sale and in season vs buying it at the regular grocery store when I feel like it, regardless of price.

  117. Stacia Jahnke says

    To help my family eat better and spend less on food, I make weekly meal plans based on the grocery sales and my coupons. I also am starting to do OAMC sessions with a few friends 🙂

  122. Jaynette Barnes says

    We don’t eat out without coupons, we get water at restaurants, we plant a small garden, buy produce in season, and I know my prices so I know if it’s a good deal!

  125. Hillary says

    Making large recipes out of a few, fresh ingredients lets me eat well on a small, graduate student’s budget! I survive on leftovers! Thanks for the helpful recipes!

  130. Connie Lasko says

    Kroger is also my favorite place for groceries. We have shopped Kroger’s for 25 years. Love your blog.

  132. JUlie says

    One way we eat well and save is to grind our own wheat flour and make large batches of breakfast foods and freeze them for during the week. It’s nice to get a good meal but not have to lose time doing it.

  133. maygan says

    I plan our meals based on what’s on sale and in season. I save a ton on fresh foods by doing this and we eat healthier 🙂

  141. AshleyD says

    We save money by using coupons. The majority of what we buy cannot be purchased with coupons, but 3-10 dollars a shopping trip can really add up after awhile!

  148. Allison says

    I love this series! I have tried to cook more from scratch and stock up on staples. I do coupon extremely and use southersavers.com for my matchups. I think it all just works together for the most savings!

  149. says

    I just recently made the switch to using olive oil in the kitchen. Since it’s so expensive I’m cutting down on my use of oil by using homemade applesauce in my baked goods. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

  151. Wendy F says

    I depend a lot on bloggers like you to learn which match-ups are going on. We also don’t eat much meat, but instead focus on beans and vegetables.

  153. LeaDawn Grant says

    Cooking from scratch allows us to eat well on less. I expecially love grinding fresh whole wheat for cooking!

  154. says

    I save on groceries by using coupons, shopping sales, and being creative with what I have in the pantry to avoid uneccesary trips to the store!

    Thanks for the series and this giveaway-loving it!

  156. Candice D. says

    I try to make grocery store lists (matched with coupons, of course), and don’t go to the store hungry.

  159. Doaa says

    I shop different stores to get inexpensive produce. For example, one store has apples for 78c/lb, cucumber .50c each and onions for 29c/lb. Then another store has baby carrots for $1/lb, zucchini 49c/lb, mushrooms $1.50 per 8oz pack.

  164. says

    I gave up on coupons. Nine times out of ten, if there’s a coupon for it, you shouldn’t be eating it anyway. After a while of making the rounds, I’ve memorized who has what cheapest, and I try to hit whatever store is on my way back from whatever errand I’m running, and then stock up on the things that are cheapest there. As a result, I go to the grocery store about seven times a week, and yet, I never make a special trip there, so I’m not burning any more gas in the process.

    That’s one thing people don’t factor in: your time and gas. If you burned a gallon going there, then you had better have “saved” $4.00 in the process or it’s a net loss.

    Same with coupons. The average home printer cost about 27¢ to print a page, so if you printed a 25¢ coupon, you just lost two cents. Print more than one per page, or even shrink them down to print 8 or more, if you can.

    Cheers!
    Steve @ HPD´s last blog post ..April 18th- National Animal Cracker Day

  166. Dawn C says

    I shop different stores for the best price and that saves me money, whether produce or bulk or everyday items

  167. Amy N. says

    We are prepping an area in teh backyard for a garden. A few dollars on vegatable plants will hopefully produce a lot of healthy food for us.

  168. Kristan says

    I cook from scratch as much as possible, and I’m starting a vegetable garden this summer.

  170. Melissa says

    In order to eat well and spend less, I plan my menus in advance, try to have a good stockpile in my pantry and freezer, and cook from scratch meals daily. We rarely eat out.

  173. Lynda Clark says

    We are eating more locally grown produce and adapting recipes to use more veggies and less meat to make our meat budget stretch out farther.
    We have also started our first vegetable garden.

  177. Just Coupons says

    We eat well and spend less by growing some of our own vegetables and fruits (strawberries, blackberries, blueberries)

  185. Kristi F. says

    I have a large garden and grow and can a lot of produce. We also buy in bulk whenever possible.

  186. Jill says

    I found a local dairy farm that I can get raw milk for the same price as regular milk at the grocery store.

  187. Lisa Gutierrez says

    I try to eat well and spend less by eating more soups, bean-based dishes, lots of eggs, and planning menus based on sales when possible!

  190. Lisa Gutierrez says

    I “like” both Kroger and now Kingdom First Mom on fb! Can’t wait to get lots of great information!!

  195. tamathamc says

    unfortunately my area is one that out Kroger no longer does the double/triple coupons but I watch the sales & buy in bulk where possible.

  197. Becky says

    The best way for me to eat well and spend less is to be diligent on making a menu plan.

  200. Liz M says

    I am trying to simplify my meal plans to incorporate more inexpensive meals. I am particularly working to use more beans in place of or to supplement meat dishes.

  203. says

    Shopping for produce at the farmer’s markets is a great way to eat well and spend less (winning gift cards would help too!)
    Thanks for the opportunity.

  204. Lisa says

    We are doing our largest garden ever this year, a 12′ x 24′ area as well as our smaller plot. We plan on growing as much of our own food as possible and then using the farmers markets to supplement that in the summer.

  208. Brooke says

    I purchase a Bountiful Basket full of fresh produce weekly and use it as a GREAT way to try new recipes and add lots of veggies to our diet. It’s a co-op so it saves on my produce budget. 🙂

  210. Nicole Greene says

    I use coupons religiously and shop sales together! We get all the good food for a fraction of the costs without coupons/sales!

  214. Nichole says

    I love your tips! Living more frugally has helped our family to serve the Lord as we have become foster parents! It is great to see how the Lord has provided for us. Your blog has helped us stretch our dollar so we are able to provide more for our growing family!

  216. Sarah says

    I combine grocery sales and coupons to get the best prices, and I try to stock up as much as possible when things are on sale. I also try to never let any food go to waste.

  217. Patti says

    I best thing I can do to save money on groceries is stockpile meats and paper good when I can get them cheap. also, planting a garden will supply my family with great organically grown produce and save on gas. I already follow KingdomFirstMom and Kroger Co. on Facesbook.

  220. Karen Greenberg says

    I eat well and spend less by shopping seasonally. Whatever fruits and veggies are on sale for around $1 a pound, I use first. We have become quite creative with this method, considering that we eat more fresh fruits and veggies than anything else. It’s been a challenge, but it’s worth it!

  224. A Sim-Laramee says

    We grow our own vegetables in the summer to save $ and eat well. I also shop the circulars, and know which store has the best prices for items. We love to eat bean dishes and tofu that we buy at our neighborhood Vietnamese store for 50 cents for one cake of tofu!

  226. Charlotte VanderBent says

    I shop at year round farmer’s markets and and grow some of my own veg’s in raised gardens in the back yard. It’s a little more work and all worth it to me but I get upset when these great foods go bad before we eat them so this year I’m learning to preserve foods for storage.

  229. Sara Dickinson says

    I am currently working on a price database for the stores that I shop and the most common items I buy so that I can pair my coupons with sale items for the best price possible.

  231. Conni says

    Shopping our local farmer’s market, not only for food but for plants at the beginning of planting season and for honey from hives.

  232. Melissa says

    I try to find manager’s special and look out for sales and if is cheap I try to stock up.

  238. Debi Payne says

    I buy vegetables like tomatoes, cukes, radishes (I try and buy them at the farmers market) and then serve them as an appetizer. This fills us up so we eat less plus we get our veggie servings for the day.

  244. Thabal says

    Sticking to meal planning reduces the need to spend money; cooking at home helps us in eating healthy. Thanks for the giveaway.

  247. Darla says

    One way I eat well and spend less is by shopping less. I look in the pantry and freezer and plan meals from there. Planning our meals from sale items works well and planting items we enjoy eating encourages healthy, frugal eating.

  248. Lauren says

    I love your blog! And I’d love $50 in groceries from Kroger! I liked both Kroger’s and your blog on FB 🙂

  251. Megan says

    We try to stock up on commonly used items that are on sale. We also have meals in the crockpot often and make meals ahead that are ready in the freezer.

    – Megan

  253. says

    Thank you so much for participating in this series! The articles are helpful and $50 in groceries would mean so much right now!

    I’m trying to coupon and shop all the sales to spend less, and I’m eating well by cutting out all restaurant meals and making everything at home. Soon, I’ll be replacing a lot of the meat in our meals with alternative proteins, hopefully.
    Ashley Gunn´s last blog post ..More bride freebies

  256. Renee says

    We use coupons, we also shop when the sales happen, I go by one store weekly to buy the discounted bread…… often I can get bread for 69 Cents.. but last week I was able to get bread for 49 cents! Oh…. and the most important way to save…… is to shop without my little blessings in tow…… then I don’t get the “mommy I want….” comments and I can focus on being wise! 😉

  257. April Dudgeon says

    I buy bags of lettuce that are on sale and add my fresh veggies I have at home to it to have a healthy filling salad every day for kunch! I don’t have alot of time to fix/eat a meal on my lunch hour and salads keep me satisfied until supper and I don’t spend alot to have a great meal every day! Love it!!

  258. Teresa Rothert says

    Hi! I am leaving a comment for entry for the gift card 🙂 I am enjoying your site very much!!

  259. Marsha Chambers says

    I eat as “close to the farm” as I can – meaning fresh vegetables and meats. Stay away from process foods.

  263. Joy says

    I love to shop at Aldi and Sprouts for the great produce prices. I freeze as much as I can for the times when it isn’t so cheap!

  264. Annie says

    I am trying to spend at least half of our budget on food directly from farmers. The cost is comparable to grocery store costs (for “organic” foods – meat and dairy, especially), sometimes even a bit less. I know the value is WAY better, though, and the money is going into the hands I want, if that makes sense. Thanks for the giveaway!

  265. says

    I look for manager specials at Kroger all the time on natural yogurt, veggies, milk, and meat. These items are still ok and we usually eat them fast enough before they go bad. And the meat can be frozen.

  266. Karen says

    I use coupons to save money and buy raw milk and other dairy products from a local farm (pay less than buying their products at a store).

  271. trina k says

    We raise beef and process to have meat in freezer…saves a lot on grocery budget.We also grow a garden.

  273. Mary Beth Elderton says

    I buy some items in bulk, use coupons/sales for frozen veggies and pasta, and search the circulars for specials on fresh fruits, veggies, and meats.

  275. barb m says

    I would love to win the gift card to Krogers/Smiths!! Our family has 3 teenage boys, 2 younger girls and we can never get below $200.00 a wk, even with coupons, as our store does not double points. We do, however, save about $40.00-80.00 each week, so that gives you all an idea of how much food is consumed in this household!! My sons are in sports so they can eat!!

  276. Heather S says

    I make a lot of things from scratch. I also do freezer meals/cooking frequently. (I made a bunch of “breakfast” dinners with the .77 eggs that were on sale last week at Kroger.) I’m also hoping to get a garden started soon.

  279. barb m says

    I like Kroger on Facebook now, in fact, one of my best gfs who I MET online in another state, works for Krogers and I am surprised I didn’t go and “like” them before now, but I shop at Smiths in my city, so I had forgotten to.

  281. Mary F says

    In order to save money and eat well; my husband and I have a raised bed garden. I also will freeze leftovers for easy meals. I have followed your site for a month and am saving money!

  283. Deanna K says

    if I make a menu for our dinners then I’m more likely to stick to it and not want to go out to eat because I didn’t plan for something!

  287. Lisa Peterson says

    I purchase a box from an organization called Treasure Box which is distributed thru local churches in CA & AZ. Approx 25 lbs of food (mostly frozen with some dry goods) for $32 a box. Usually includes rice or other such staple in addition to entrees , frozen veggies and meat. Helps subsidize many meals and what we don’t eat, gets traded with neighbor or goes toward babysitting payment. treasurebox.org. Doesn’t use coupons, but does help us alot.

  290. Lauren says

    don’t spend much on snacks…and try and mix in some fruits when shopping. then you aren’t buying bad food and when you snack, it’s better for you.

  296. Natalie J. Vandenberghe says

    As middle-age approached, I started implementing better eating habits. I’ve always loved fresh fruit & vegetables, but I’ve also tried to increase the amount of whole grains I eat. We save money by having our own (small) garden. Thanks for the giveaway.

  299. LisaR. says

    I have been using coupons and have joined several food blogs for meal ideas which I schedule my family meals around. Lately pasta dishes allow me to stretch our food budget and prepare meals creatively.

  300. Jen says

    We take into consideration the price of produce when we choose our vegetables. Sure potatoes would be fun and easy, but I can get them for less than a dollar. Peppers and lettuces are my most important plants.

  302. Heather says

    We do a lot of “u-pick” fruits and veggies in the summer. It’s a fun activity for a toddler and a friend, and it makes produce SO much cheaper. Plus, a lot of the places don’t mind if you nibble while you work, so you can at least have a snack, if not a meal 🙂

  304. Kathleen K says

    We try to plan ahead (less waste) and eat seasonally, paying close attention to sales.

  305. Janet Krugel says

    I have caught the end of this Eat Well, Spend Less, but I am so excited to get caught up!! My husband and I have been on a weight loss journey for the past year. I have lost 90 lbs and he has lost 160 lbs!!! We both have quite a way to go, but it’s been fun so far. We have just discovered the power of coupons and I have been trying to find the right network of blogs for me. I wondered when we began looking at coupons if we would be able to keep up our good eating habits with the coupons and this series is PERFECT!!

    How we save money (prior to discovering coupons): My husband works in the meat market at Brookshires and my stepmom is a Dept. Manager at Kroger. We find out about deals at both stores through those inside connections!! The trick is we have to have money when the special happens and that is not always easy for us. We have bought a LOT of markdown, almost out of date, meat over the past couple of years and it feels like we are at the mercy of people not buying something before it goes bad. Just in the past three weeks, we are getting better at the coupons and are having so much fun!!

    I am following all of the bloggers on this series now through email and when our computer gets out of the pawn shop (ugh!!) I will be following everyone on Facebook as well.

    God Bless You All!!!
    Janet

  306. Emily says

    I am a member of a local CSA from May through October, so we get an abundance of locally grown vegetables and fruits for much less than we typically spend on produce in the grocery store. The produce is much better quality, less expensive, and supports our local farmers…plus, I’ve learned a few new recipes and introduced my family to a few vegetables we didn’t use to eat 🙂

  308. Bethany says

    I recently signed up for a local farm’s CSA and that has been such a blessing! We end up eating all of the box and even have a few veggie-only meals (a treat for me since hubby is a meat & potatoes kinda guy).

  312. angie longmore says

    We just started eating wheat pasta, I wait till there is a buy one get one free sale and hopefully pair with a coupon and stock up on them. I always have a surplus of wheat pasta in the cupboard. Healthy and inexpensive.

  313. Tanya says

    I shop at Fred Meyer’s all the time! In particularly the Nutrition Center section of the store..How perfect of an opportunity!! Thank you!!

    Tanya

  314. Kimberli says

    We eat well for less by stockpiling when items are on sale with coupons, then cooking from scratch. Processed foods are very expensive as is eating out!!

  315. Rebecca says

    Since being introduced to “couponing correctly” by my daughter, my family has been eating well for a LOT less money! I spend less on canned and dry food and use that money for fresh fruits and veggies! 🙂

  318. Sherry Perry says

    Love your website! Besides coupons and a veggie meal once a week, I think mainly try to use leftovers more creatively. I have practiced and really have some great meals derived from previous ones and my family (all guys) really likes them!

  319. Stacey Morgan says

    We plant a garden each year and plan our meals around the coupons and sales each week.

  326. Kristen Sehl says

    It’s only been a few weeks that I’ve been trying this. My husband and I recently purchased our first home and decided rather than move all of our food to the new house, we would eat up everything in our cabinets, refrigerator and freezer. The first few days were easy, but now the biggest challenge is finding amazing deals at the grocery store to add something to our meals. Coupons are great- and I also spend a lot of time searching the websites of stores to see what’s on sale. It frequently gives me ideas. (ex- Whole Foods has salmon patties on sale for $6.99/lb that are usually $9.99/lb) Time to get creative and save!

  327. JoAnne says

    I am learning how to make more bread items with whole wheat flour and save by making my own ~ and my family loves my bread!

  329. Cassidi says

    In a family with 4 daughters, we have to have a meal plan. Otherwise, I browse too much and end up buying what we don’t need. And to stay healthy, we try to buy from the perimeter of the store (fresh produce, dairy & meat).

  332. Sabrina says

    My local Kroger in Little Rock has a policy that they cannot have more than three expiration dates for any given product. Check produce, specialty cheese, dairy, meat, fish, bakery and frozen – learn where they keep the markdowns for each category. On Monday, I got Ben and Jerry’s ice cream for .25, celery for .49, mushrooms for .99 and flat bread wraps for .99. I also check the clearance rack every trip.

  336. Betsy M says

    I stockpile and then use things I have a lot of to make meals combined with the produce from my garden. Frugal and healthy!

  338. Gina says

    We eliminated meat from our grocery buys and replaced them with eggs and beans. Big $$ saver.
    I am a fan of yours on FB and a fan of Kroger.

  343. Rebecca L. says

    I grow my own vegetables….corn, green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash to name a few. They have the best flavor and help my grocery budget!

  350. Carley says

    We eat well by buying fresh veggies in bulk when they are on sale for super low prices, then blanching and freezing ourselves. It saves money and we are still getting to eat “fresh” veggies.

    I signed up for RSS through My Yahoo!
    I “liked” Kroger on Facebook.

  351. Amy says

    We eat lots of fruits and veggies, and in the summer months I love to buy from local producers. It’s much cheaper and much better quality!

  356. says

    Since we have food allergies, eating right for less is a lot more difficult. I do the majority of our cooking from scratch so I keep a close watch on sales. I also trade coupons at hotcouponworld to get more coupons for allergy friendly food items
    Theresa´s last blog post ..Earth Day!!

  359. Ruth Smither says

    I shop at Kroger in Cincinnati and regularly take advantantage of the Mega sales in conjunction with double coupons and save a ton of money. I also use the coupons Kroger sends me in the mail which often contain free items.

  362. Carrie M says

    One way we eat well and spend less is by gardening! We love to put out a big vegetable garden and put away as much as we can for winter.

  364. Karen Smith says

    We eat well for less by having “meatless” meals once in a while. In the summer we enjoy fresh veggies from our garden and in the winter (sometimes in summer to!) we have dried beans, cornbread and greens. YUM!

  366. misty gorman says

    i like to shop at target where you can use store coupons and manufacturers coupons together. the savings is remarkable. i have gotten many household necessities for nearly free. thanks for the nice giveaway!

  367. Kathy says

    I make lots of stuff from scratch… granola, yogurt, bread, jam… healthy, delicious, fun, and frugal. 🙂

  368. misty gorman says

    i like to shop at walgreens or target where they will let you use manufacturer and store coupons together. we have saved hundreds every year.

  373. Cheryl F. says

    We eat well and spend less by couponing and shopping at multiple stores 🙂 *Thanks* for the giveaway!

  376. Amy E. says

    I make a monthly meal plan and have cut my grocery shopping to every other week – this has helped save money by reducing my opportunities for impulse purchases.

  377. Megan says

    I take advantage of the sales that Kroger has on their rotisserie chickens. I got one yesterday for $3.99 plus I had a $1.00 off coupon. That was an awesome deal!!

  380. Mandy says

    I always buy “apple and eve” fruit drinks for my daughter b/c they have way less sugar than reg. juice and also provide one serving of veggies! i have been able to use coupons with each purchase for the last three months!

  383. Agnes Peterson-Read says

    I shop FRY’s (part of the Kroger family) in sunny AZ and love the tips for making life better for my family!

  384. Melissa G. says

    I buy fresh meat and produce on Manager’s Special and use it that day in a meal or freeze it. Sometimes you’re saving 50 percent or more just by buying the manager’s specials.

  386. sharon harris says

    Kroger is my favorite grocery store. I could really buy alot with $50 gift card. Thanks for the chance.

  387. Sarah H. says

    Hi Alyssa!
    First, I have “liked” Kroger and already subscribe to Keeping the Kingdom First!! Yay!!
    I am learning to cook more with beans, lentils, and rice! I love the challenge to shop for bargains, using coupons, and shopping the sales. I love the blogs out there by women that have given their valuable time to help out perfect strangers!! Thanks for all you!

  391. Brianna says

    To eat well and spend less, I shop ads and cook and bake a lot! We love to eat good food, so we make it!

  395. Annalisa says

    I eat well and spend less by waiting until organic fruits and veggies are on sale and buying them in bulk. I prefer to use organic produce as it’s healthier and tastes so much better but I can’t always afford until it goes on sale. I also tend to watch for things that are available for free (like pasta and stovetop stuffing last week) and then I combine them with healthier choices.

  398. Steph S says

    We eat well and spend less by growing our own fruits and vegetables and raising chickens for eggs!

  399. Rachel Vogel says

    one great way we save money on meals is to replace ground beef with lentils. For example instead of making sloppy joes with beef, I make a pot of lentils and drain well. Simply add a couple of cans of manwhich and make up some homemade buns…voila…sloppy lentils!

  402. Melissa says

    We are growing much of our own produce for canning and freezing. I am doubling my efforts to locate organic product coupons.

  404. Julie says

    I am working on making my own sauces like enchilada, cream of chicken and cream of mushroom so I don’t have to buy the canned version. Cheaper and healthier 🙂

  409. says

    We have expanded our garden this year, which is already and will continue to save us money. We’ll be freezing some of the produce for use throughout the fall/winter, which will help further the savings even more!

  411. Amy says

    To eat better and save more, we collect the “culled” fruit from local packing sheds and can during summer to eat better during the winter. We also have a garden of our own this year, and of course I coupon as much as I can! Thanks!

  412. says

    I love Kroger!!! My tip is to try to pay cash. It helps me to control my spending better. Also don’t go to the store everytime you run out of something wait until you need to make a big trip.

  413. Lori S says

    I try to buy items that will cause an overage so I can get veggies and fruit.

    Thanks!

  417. Susan Garretson says

    I plan all my fruits and veggies around the sales that week. And I always price match other stores. We make our own salsa to cut down on the canned stuff. I also shop at Farmer’s Markets…I try and go at the end of the day/weekend, sometimes I get deals as the farmers are trying to get rid of product or slightly damaged goods.

  419. Rebecca R says

    I eat well and spend less through the use of coupons….i’ve cut my grocery bill in half!

  420. Jackie says

    I have switched from a frozen breakfast sandwich to oatmeal with fruit. Much less expensive and saves me about 500 mg. of sodium per day. And it turns out you can microwave it just like the more expensive instant stuff in the packets.