I’m not in much of a shopping mood today. I find myself unmoved even by deals on shoes, which is a sure sign that I need professional help. And probably more caffeine.

Regardless, today I’m thinking about my grocery bill. Just to be perfectly clear: I am not one of those ninja couponers. I don’t have the time, and I don’t buy many of the things you can usually buy with coupons (most of those items are usually things which—if we do use them—I can buy in bulk, at a significant savings, on Amazon). I think I do okay, though, by shopping the sales, buying in-season, and planning meals. But I would like to do better.

Time for a bit of grocery group therapy! I’ll start!

Best: My biggest budget “success” this past year, I’d say, was the switch to dried beans. I used to think dried beans were somehow scary and difficult to prepare. Because I was a moron. After making them in the crock pot (so easy!) I can freeze and pull out as needed. I haven’t bought a can of beans since I started doing that, which means I’m saving money and space. (Yes, we eat a lot of beans.)

Worst: I feel like I spend half our grocery money on milk/cheese/yogurt. Even on sale (and/or with coupons), the organic stuff is expensive. I’m drawing ever-closer to attempting to make my own yogurt. But until I figure out how to either make my own Muenster cheese or make my children stop inhaling it, I may be in trouble.

Your turn.