You know how to trim green beans; you know how to trim carrots. But do you know how to trim your food budget? Read on for enlightenment!
1. Coupons. While it’s time consuming to flip through flyers for coupons, it’s usually time well spent. And if the items you want happen to be on sale at your grocer’s, the coupons will deliver even greater savings.
2. Fill up! Food shop when you’re hungry and you’ll be tempted to toss all manner of goodies into your cart, including those you don’t need. So, have a snack before setting out for the store. Popcorn is cheap and filling as well as nutritious, provided it’s not drowned in butter.
3. Plan ahead. Map out the meals that you will need for the week. Make a shopping list and stick to it.
4. Get back to basics. Generic/store brands can save you some cash. There isn’t much difference between brand name canned goods and staple cereals, such as corn flakes. For other items, you may want to buy smaller size to sample them before committing to family size portions; if you wind up tossing them out, you’ve wasted your money. The same is true of household products. No frills trash bags, for instance, are thinner than their more expensive counterparts, so you can’t overload them as you can the more expensive varieties.
5. Shop like the Native Americans. The natives encountered by America’s colonists only took what they needed from the earth. Adopt the same strategy when food shopping, particularly with produce, as it spoils rather quickly. If your veggies are a bit past their prime, you can toss them in soups. Make smoothies, muffins, or breads out of slightly overripe fruit. If you can afford the initial outlay, a machine that seals food in plastic bags is a good investment. By removing the air that surrounds the products, they last longer in both the fridge and the freezer.
6. The Chop Shop. You’ll save money if you butcher your own meat. Buy larger portions (i.e., a whole chicken, from which you can cut legs, thighs, and breasts) and freeze what you won’t use immediately. If you buy the parts separately, you’ll pay for that convenience. And if you’re not sure of how to cut raw meat or poultry properly, refer to your Kitchen Bible, The Joy of Cooking/
7. Yoga Exercises. Practitioners of yoga are skilled in stretching their bodies. Stretch your food and you can save some bucks. Add rice or bread to meatloaf or meatballs. Dishes like chili require less meat as they take advantage of beans, onions, and other veggies. Add sliced leftover hotdogs to a can of baked beans for a filling meal. Make patties out of uneaten mashed potatoes. Add chives, parsley, or other herbs. Dredge in breadcrumbs and sauté them for a tasty, homemade side dish.
8. Don’t Be Outdated. Taking a few minutes to note the expiration dates can save your money and your health. Obviously, you’ll want to check all perishables, including breads and frozen dishes. But don’t forget that canned and jarred products also carry expiration dates.
9. Pinch that Penny. Make a food budget and don’t veer far from that path. Meals eaten in restaurants comprise part of your budget. If you splurge on an expensive meal, balance it with cheaper fare the rest of the week. Try having breakfast for dinner; eggs are relatively inexpensive. So are meatless pasta dishes.
10. It was an impulse! It sure was. You didn’t mean to buy that movie house sized bag of M&M’s or another magazine promoting Brangelina’s ever growing brood. But it was just staring you in the face as you waited on line at the check out counter. Why do you think those items are placed there? To get you to part with your hard earned money, that’s why. Resist temptation!
11. Leave the kids home. This includes big kids, like your husband, who simply can’t live without three Hostess cakes and the pudding in those little cups. Preserve the contents of your purse as well as your sanity by shopping alone.
12. Visit the Farmer in the Dell. If you can take advantage of the wares of local farms, go for it. The food is usually very fresh and tends to be a bit cheaper in these rustic environs than it does in the bright and shiny supermarkets.
13. Deep six the toiletries, OTC meds, paper products, and pet food. Shampoos, soaps, aspirin, antacid, paper towels, and Fluffy’s chow are more expensive in grocery stores. Buy them instead at large chains such as WalMart and Target. Or, if you have the room to store items in bulk, join a club such as BJ’s or Costco.
14. I’ll be watching you. Hum the old Police song as your cashier does his or her thing. He or she may not be out to cheat you directly, but human beings make mistakes. Be sure that you are being charged properly for your items.
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Good tips; thank you very much. I’m guilty of buying toiletries and other non-food items at the supermarket just because it’s more convenient to stop in one place rather than two. But you’re right. The savings will add up if I shop for these things at the WalMarts and Targets.
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I am no longer a kid, but still I love popcorn. Yum! Yum!
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What steaks you favor for grilling? How long do you cook (slow cooking?) and what special seasonings do you use?
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While we’re on the topic of 14 Ways to Stretch Your Food Budget, Let’s say for example you don’t have time to prepare a spinach dish, or you just don’t enjoy the taste of spinach, you can just blend that nutritious leafy green into your banana smoothie and presto: you mask the taste of spinach and at the same time ensure you have your proper intake of essential nutrients, as well as stretching your food budget!
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