There are many ways to save big on food and groceries and in doing so, is a quick and easy way to make a dent in your household expenses. The tips below can save you 20% or more on your food bill. If you spend $600 a month on food, 20% is $120 in savings!
Food Saving Tips
1. One of the fastest ways to cut out food expenses is to stop dining out including pizzas and take-out. If you want to go out as a treat, save money by using coupons. Many restaurants include buy-one-get-one free in the Value-Paks you get in the mail or your Sunday paper supplements. Another option is to sign up as a mystery shopper which often includes testing local restaurants.2. Meal plan weekly or monthly.
3. Shop with a list. Check your pantry for needed ingredients and create a list. Buy only what’s on the list. The only exception is if there happens to be a great deal on a staple item that you have room to store. That doesn’t mean a sale on a pre-packaged food but a staple food such as milk (which can be frozen), beef, etc. One great advantage of this is that if you shop with your children, when they ask for the candy at the check out you can say, “its not on the list!”
4. Don’t buy convenience foods such as TV. dinners and packaged meals. You may think a $1.29 box of flavored rice isn’t a big expense but compared to a bag of rice and your own flavorings is actually over twice as expensive. Of course this means you need to cook from scratch. If you are like me, this was a scary thought until I realized that cooking from scratch usually involved only two extra steps.
5. The above rule includes snack packs for your kids lunches. Individually wrapped cookies, crackers and even juices are more expensive and bad for the environment.
6. Have all family members bring lunch to school and work instead of buying. It’s a great way to use leftovers.
7. The next step is to buy meat when its on sale or in family packs (which are usually marked cheaper per pound) and freeze.
8. Consider getting a freezer. Be sure if its used you get one that is rated for efficiency.
9. Get quality freezer containers and even a food saving devise that removes air and seals the bag. I got one at Kmart for $79.00 that came with lots of bags. The other great thing about the sealer systems is that the bags are reusable and can even go in the dishwasher..more money savings and better for the environment (be sure to follow manufacturer instructions regarding reuse of bags).
10. Don’t serve meat alone. It will go farther if used in stews, soups, casseroles, stir fry and fajitas.
11. Watch for ads on food specials but don’t waste your time and gas driving from store to store to save a few cents here and there.12. Don’t throw out food. Collect recipes or become creative at left-overs. Worse comes to worse, give leftovers to a pet.
13. Learn to comparison shop and read labels. The lower price isn’t always the better value. Learn about unit pricing.
14. Don’t shop when hungry.
15. Try not to shop with children.
16. Use coupons only if you have done the math and they are a better value. Use them only if it’s a product you would buy anyway. Use coupons at stores that double or triple their value.
17. Check your receipt for errors.
18. Buy generic brands or store brand items.
19. Stay away from convenience. Often they aren’t that much more convenient especially for the additional price.
20. Cook meals that don’t require meat several times per week.
21. Avoid junk food. Snack on popcorn (air popped), fruit etc.
22. Don’t run down you convenience store for milk or staples. They are more expensive there.
23. Make your own soups, breads etc.
24. Get fruits and vegetables from your farmer’s market. Better yet, grow them yourself.
25. Shop wholesale clubs only if you calculate the savings is in fact more than in your grocery.
