I sympathize with you Ygrec because I have lived on a very tight budget for the last 3 yrs. I'll give you my tips and you can pick and choose what applies to you. I shop at a lower end grocery store - which basically means you pack your own groceries - the quality of the produce is the same if not better than the more expensive stores - I've saved hundreds by doing this. I make a list and plan meals for up to 10 days, then buy almost everything on sale or the lowest brand. If I'm buying Ketchup, I look at which one is the cheapest. For example - if I buy a whole chicken for me and the girls - I can make sandwiches the next day and then make a dish called Chicken A La King for dinner....that's 2 dinners and 1 lunch from one chicken.

I don't buy store bought pizza - I buy the dough and make it myself. It would cost $23 to buy one with all the toppings but a homemade one is about $7. We rarely buy fast food and never go out for dinner. Don't buy unnecessary foods like deserts, chips or junk foods - I buy them occasionally if I'm ahead a bit. I look what meats are on sale and won't buy the ones not on sale. I cancelled satellite and all unnecessary phone extras like call waiting, identicall, 2 lines etc. I don't run to the store several times a week and I plan other errands on the same day as shopping, so I'm not using too much gas. Make a list of everything you buy and really ask yourself what can you do without - I know your wife likes to drink - so maybe you need to cut down on this and opt for the milk and eggs....just being honest with you. Stick to the list of necessities and buy them all at once rather than buying a few items and then going to the store 4 days later. Hope some of these tips help.