Tips To Save You Money When Grocery Shopping
With rising costs of just about every essential item in our daily lives, it is absolutely necessary to find ways to meet our basic needs and still stay on budget. Keeping food in the house that is healthy and budget friendly is not an impossible task. With some simple, strategic planning any family can maintain a well stocked pantry and refrigerator without going broke. Below are a few tips and ideas to help you get started.
Frugal Food Tip #1
Many stores allow you to sign up for a discount card that can be used for each purchase. This little card is just like a permanent coupon to receive the in store savings. Some stores like Kroger allow you to earn discounts on gas when purchased at a Kroger gas station. Frugal Food Tip #2
Become the coupon queen or king. Every Sunday paper comes with packs of paper coupons. But don't limit your savings to coupon clipping. Another option for coupons is to check online and see if you can load virtual coupons onto your grocery card. Proctor and Gamble allows you to do this at their website. Frugal Food Tip #3
Comparison shop from brand to brand as well as store to store. This may seem to take a lot of time, but it doesn't have to. Keep a list of the items you shop for the most and while at the store, jot various prices and brands down for future reference. Make notes when you do read the sales papers. Another option is to join a group like GroceryGame.com that does all the work for you. It is extremely reasonable priced and takes all the leg work out of comparison shopping for the extra busy shoppers. Just How Much Do You Spend?
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Frugal Food Tip #4
Keep an eye out for closeout prices as well as manager markdowns. All fresh meat and other cold products have a short lived shelf life. The date on the item is the date it has to be off the shelves, not necessarily the date it has to be consumed by. So meat can be frozen and milk is good for about a week past its date.
Frugal Food Tip #5
Shop generic when possible. Many stores often purchase the rights to package name brand products in store brand packaging. So you get the same quality at a cheaper price. Some generic brands are quite tasty. This is especially helpful in buying canned fruits and veggies. Why pay 75 cents for green beans if you can get the store brand for 45 cents?
Frugal Food Tip #6
Switch your menus around. If you're used to eating meat at dinner 7 nights a week, try limiting that to just 3 nights a week. Cutting back on your higher priced items like meat makes your shopping less expensive. Replace your meat with other protein filled foods like various beans. This tip also applies to other items like soda. Try limiting your intake and watch your savings add up.
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Frugal Food Tip #7
Bulk vs small packages. There are pros and cons to both. If you have a large family or consume large amounts of certain items, then bulk may be the option for you. If you find yourself buying bulk but throwing much of it out because it goes bad or stale before you can finish using it, bulk may be eating more of your budget than you like. Consider what your family needs. Good bulk items to consider that do save money are items like toilet paper and paper towels.
Frugal Food Tip #8
Stretch your meals into more than just one. Many dinners can be re-vamped into a new dish for the next day's lunch or dinner. A Sunday roast can make sandwiches the couple days while a chicken or turkey breast left over can be shredded for turkey or chicken salad. So figure out how to make your food stretch beyond just one meal. Frugal Food Tip #9
Consider batch cooking a couple times a month. Many items do cost less when you buy them in larger quantities. So if you have a meal that you eat often, consider making more than one and freezing them. This allows for your ingredients to be used more efficiently and gives you a quick meal on busy days.
Frugal Food Tip #10
Shop the perimeter. Most stores have their less expensive and healthier items on the perimeter of the store. For example, fruits and veggies can last much longer and provide much more for your money than some of the prepackaged over priced items. Most meals can meet the nutritional needs of your family by shopping the outside loop of the store: Fruits, veggies, grains, meats, and dairy.
Keeping your family happily fed with nutritious and affordable foods is possible. With these tips and maybe a few you learn on your own, you will find that both your pantry and your wallet are full. Happy savings!
by Alicia_Holman_Photography
Hi there,
I am a Georgia gal born and raised. I have spent time "growing up" in Asheville, NC shortly after college. I am now back home in the 'bur... (more)
I am a Georgia gal born and raised. I have spent time "growing up" in Asheville, NC shortly after college. I am now back home in the 'bur... (more)
