The first, which I know I mentioned sometime recently, is Angel Food Ministries. You get a nice variety of food for $30 and can add on additional food packages for more variety once you buy the regular box. For example, in January, the regular box includes:

Steak, chicken leg quarters, hamburgers, manicotti, pork ribs, chicken breast strips, ground turkey, several pounds of veggies, oatmeal, milk, muffin mix, tortillas, beans, rice, a dozen eggs and a dessert. It is supposed to be enough food to feed a family of four for a week.

If you want more variety, you can buy a fresh fruit and veggie box or a meat combo box for between $20 and $23 each.

The second food package site, which I just discovered today, is Share. They have a cool concept – rewarding people who volunteer with discount groceries. You don’t have to volunteer for anyone special. Babysit your neighbor’s kids for two hours when she has to run out for an emergency errand and you qualify. It costs approximately $20 for around $40 of food. The package includes meat, veggies, fruit and some basic staples. The link I have is for the Philadelphia region, which includes Eastern Shore Maryland, PA, NJ and Metro NY. You can find other regions’ contact info in the FAQ.

Have you used one of these services? I’d love to hear how nice the selection is and whether you think you are getting a good deal.

photo by Robbie Owen-Wahl

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1.  I talked recently about how I keep my grocery bills at $40 a week.
2. Deb had a great post about shopping for loss leaders.
3. Deb also reminds us to shop the perimeter.
4. Grocerysavingstips.com has a great list of over 20 tips for saving on groceries.
5. Thrifty Mommy offers a free way to find grocery deals.
6. Keeping the Castle talks about grocery shopping on a budget.
7. Solo Mother has a post about saving money on groceries.
8. Money Saving Mom talks about organizing coupons.
9. Angel Food Ministries offers boxes of food for around $30. They do not limit the boxes to low income families. They hope that people who have a bit more money and use their ministry will help others in different ways with the money they save on groceries.
10. Refund Cents has a subscription based site that is crammed with money saving chat. It costs $12 for a year to access the online site or you can pay more and get a print mag, too.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy