Money Saving Grocery Shopping Tips
Everything is getting more expensive today. From gas to groceries, our hard-earned dollars are challenged to stretch further. Now, we may be able to ride a bicycle around town if we can't put gas in our cars. But, we have to eat. There's no getting around that. So, we have to find ways to spend less on groceries while still getting the things that we need to feed ourselves and our families. Here are six money saving tips to try the next time you go grocery shopping.
1. Clip coupons. They put those in the newspaper for a reason. If there are new items you want to try, use a coupon to get it at a discount. If you like it, you have saved some money. On the other hand, if you don't take a liking to it, you didn't pay full price. For me, coupons save an average of ten or more dollars per visit. That's money in my pocket that I can put towards gas for the car.
2. Buy more staples than prepared foods. It is easier to buy a box of macaroni and cheese, but is it more economical? A large box of macaroni and a block of cheese will make more servings for your family than one box of prepared macaroni and cheese. The next time you go shopping and pick up a box or bag of an already prepared item, ask yourself if you can make that at home for less. If you can, then put that item back in favor of less expensive staples.
3. Buy in bulk. Consider the food items that you use most often. Cereals, meats, vegetables, condiments, juices, and paper products can be bought in bulk usually at a lower price at food warehouses like Costco, BJ's, and Wal-Mart. If you have a coupon, you'll save even more money.
4. Don't shop when you are hungry. This is a definite no-no. Shopping on an empty stomach means that you will pick up more things than you need. You are more likely to pick up that bag of chocolate chip cookies or that box of donuts when the growling gets underway.
5. Take a grocery list with you. This is another protection against picking up things that are too costly. Check your cabinets and the fridge to see what you need and write them down. Remember, the goal is to stick to the list as much as possible.
6. Shop at the same stores. This is more of a frustration reliever. In a new store, you spend most of your time looking for things and walking up and down every aisle, which oftentimes leads to forgetting an item or two. Going to the same store each time makes you more familiar with the prices so you can estimate your bill as you write your grocery list.
Rising prices don't have to mean a lean dinner table. There are ways to make your food dollar go further and if you take the time to implement the ideas listed above as well as others of your own, you'll see savings each and every time you shop.
1. Clip coupons. They put those in the newspaper for a reason. If there are new items you want to try, use a coupon to get it at a discount. If you like it, you have saved some money. On the other hand, if you don't take a liking to it, you didn't pay full price. For me, coupons save an average of ten or more dollars per visit. That's money in my pocket that I can put towards gas for the car.
2. Buy more staples than prepared foods. It is easier to buy a box of macaroni and cheese, but is it more economical? A large box of macaroni and a block of cheese will make more servings for your family than one box of prepared macaroni and cheese. The next time you go shopping and pick up a box or bag of an already prepared item, ask yourself if you can make that at home for less. If you can, then put that item back in favor of less expensive staples.
3. Buy in bulk. Consider the food items that you use most often. Cereals, meats, vegetables, condiments, juices, and paper products can be bought in bulk usually at a lower price at food warehouses like Costco, BJ's, and Wal-Mart. If you have a coupon, you'll save even more money.
4. Don't shop when you are hungry. This is a definite no-no. Shopping on an empty stomach means that you will pick up more things than you need. You are more likely to pick up that bag of chocolate chip cookies or that box of donuts when the growling gets underway.
5. Take a grocery list with you. This is another protection against picking up things that are too costly. Check your cabinets and the fridge to see what you need and write them down. Remember, the goal is to stick to the list as much as possible.
6. Shop at the same stores. This is more of a frustration reliever. In a new store, you spend most of your time looking for things and walking up and down every aisle, which oftentimes leads to forgetting an item or two. Going to the same store each time makes you more familiar with the prices so you can estimate your bill as you write your grocery list.
Rising prices don't have to mean a lean dinner table. There are ways to make your food dollar go further and if you take the time to implement the ideas listed above as well as others of your own, you'll see savings each and every time you shop.
What's On This Page?
Cook for a Day - Eat for a Week!
Busy days can lead to frustration when it comes to making dinner. Who has time to fix a meal when they don't get home until 6pm or later? Better yet, who feels like cooking a meal after a hard day's work? So, what's a girl to do in order to avoid frozen dinners or worse yet, fast food? Use your weekends off to prepare all your meals for the upcoming week.We've all been there at least once and if you're like me, more times than we wish to admit. We go to the grocery store and spend a ton of money so that there will be food in the house. We then make a promise to cook each and every night since the food is already there and ready to be consumed.
But, guess what happens? I come home from work late and I am tired. Everyone else is tired from work and school and no one wants to cook. It falls on me to cook so I suggest that we order take-out food. We spend twenty or thirty dollars on food for one meal when we have a freezer full of food. Have you been there, too? Not a very good choice when we're trying hard to save money, right?
One way I've found to stop this endless cycle is to pick one day on the weekend and have a cooking party. Yes, you read that right - a cooking party. I make a menu for the week and thaw out the food on Friday. Then, on Saturday morning I get to work. The kids can help me if they choose and when they do, they get a say in what we will be eating.
For your weekend cooking party, decide on the menu early. This ensures that everything needed is present and accounted for. Start with the meats. They will take the longest to cook so get that going and try to have a variety so you're not bored with the same meats all week long.
Side dishes should be prepared, too. It seems like such a small thing to cook the main part of the meal and save the rest for later. What usually happens is no one feels like cooking anything. Avoid the drama by cooking everything at the same time.
Cooking that much food for later requires containers to hold it all. There are two ways this can be done. One way is to use containers that are large enough for each side dish and the main meat courses. Each day, take a meat and two sides out of the fridge and heat it up for dinner.
The second way gives the family a little more of a choice each day of what they want to eat. When the food cools (everything needs to cool before placing it in containers), have each person scoop what they want to eat into a serving container. Have one meat and two sides per container. In the absence of the family you can do it yourself. Label each with what is inside. During the week, everyone can pick from a variety of dinner combinations.
Each works, but it is up to you to decide which is better for your family. Cooking on the weekend saves time and money because you'll be less tempted to go out when you're tired from working all day. Not to mention, for once you're sure to use the leftovers!
If your food makes more meals than you could eat in a week, freeze several of them for another time. Simply thaw each meal the day you plan to serve it. Yes, you will have to make an investment in dinner size containers, but it pays off the more you use them. Once you see how much stress you relieve and healthier your family is eating it will be well worth the initial cost.
Have Me Later Chili
What You Need:1 lb ground chuck
1 lg onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 T chili powder
1 t ground cumin
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
2 (15 oz) cans chili beans
2 T cornstarch, optional
1/4 C water, optional
How to Make It:
Place the ground chuck in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the onions and garlic.
Cook until meat is browned through and vegetables are tender.
Drain well.
Place the tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper into a large saucepan.
Place over high heat.
Bring to a rapid boil.
Add the meat and beans.
Reduce heat to low.
Cover and simmer for 1 hour.
Remove lid and continue cooking for 10 minutes.
Place saucepan in the refrigerator for a rapid cool.
Pour chili into freezer containers and freeze for up to 3 months.
To reheat, remove chili from the freezer.
Place 1/4 C of water in a saucepan.
Add the chili and cook over medium heat until heated through.
To thicken chili mix the cornstarch and 1/4 C water together.
Add to the chili and stir well.
In a Snap Meat Loaf
What You Need:2 eggs
1 C milk
1/2 C white bread crumbs, soft
3 t salt
1/2 t pepper
2 lb ground chuck
Aluminum foil
How to Make It:
Beat eggs and milk together in a large mixing bowl.
Add the breadcrumbs, salt and pepper and blend together well.
Sprinkle in the salt and pepper.
Place the ground chuck in with the milk mixture and mix well.
Use your hands to mix making sure all the ingredients are combined.
Place a piece of aluminum foil in a 9X9 inch pan.
Be sure the aluminum foil comes about 6 inches over the edges of the pan.
Form meat mixture into the pan.
Pull the aluminum foil over the top and seal well.
Remove from pan and freeze for up to 2 months.
To heat preheat oven to 350 degrees
Spray a 9X9 inch baking pan slightly with a non stick cooking spray.
Unwrap the meatloaf and place in the pan.
Bake 1 hour 30 minutes or until set.
Frugal Cooking Books
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Dining on a Dime Cook Book: 1000 Money Saving Recipes and Tips
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The American Frugal Housewife: Dedicated to Those Who Are Not Ashamed of Economy (Cooking in America)
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Frugal Living for Dummies
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The Frugal Duchess: How to Live Well and Save Money
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Post Your Money Saving Ideas Here!
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Reply
- ryetta ryetta Jun 27, 2009 @ 5:12 am
- Great Lens! I am going try the recipes. My family love chili.
I save $ by, making my own pizzas, and I can make many of them from the ingredients that I have purchased.
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Reply
- CatJB CatJB May 19, 2009 @ 7:20 am
- Good ideas on this lens, perfect for the current economic climate and getting back to basics. One thing I do is make my own yogurt, very easy to do and saves us some $$$, as all my family love yogurt. Very informative lens!
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Freezer Shrimp Stew
What You Need:1/2 C olive oil
1 clove garlic, chopped fine
1 medium onion, chopped
2 green onions, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 3/4 C burgundy
1 T parsley
2 t oregano
1/2 t basil
2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
3/4 C water
1 1/2 lb halibut steaks, cut into 1 in pieces
1/2 lb raw shrimp, shelled and de-veined
2 (6 oz) pkgs frozen crabmeat, thawed
Aluminum foil
How to Make It:
Place oil in a large soup pan over medium heat.
When the oil is hot add the garlic, both types of onion and green pepper.
Cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and the tomato paste to the cooked vegetables.
Slowly add the burgundy being sure to stir well
Mix in the parsley, oregano, basil salt and pepper.
Once all is mixed together well pour in the water.
Bring to a rapid boil.
Reduce heat to low.
Simmer uncovered 1- minutes.
Add halibut, shrimp and crabmeat.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
Uncover and cook an additional 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
Line a large bowl with foil being sure the foil extends at least 6 in over the side of the bowl.
Pour the cooled stew into the bowl.
Fold the aluminum foil over the top of the stew being sure to secure tightly.
Freeze until firm
Remove from the bowl.
Wrap again tightly with foil.
Freeze for up to 6 months.
To cook, remove foil.
Place in a large soup pan.
Add a small amount about 1-2 C water.
Cover and cook on low until heated through.
How To Organize And Get The Most Out Of Grocery Coupons
Hello, my name is Michelle Jones and I'm the editor of the money-saving Web sites, BetterBudgeting.com and GrocerySavingTips.com! I am also the author of Dealing with Debt, Frugal Family Recipes and the Better Budgeting Class (a 5-week family budgeting course that I teach online). As a frugal mom of four I save thousands of dollars every year and would like to help you do the same!"Don't Think You Have TIME for Coupons? Order My Ebook Today and Learn How I Saved $18,000.00 Using Them Wisely!"
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