Shop Smart and Save on Groceries

With the rising cost of groceries it might seem6) Make your grocery list and stick to it. Beware
impossible to cut your food bill. Here are 13 tipsof those impulse buys! The only exception is
that will help stretch your food dollar while feedingwhen the store might be having an unadvertised
your family healthy meals.sale on products that you currently use.
1) Plan your meals around the sales. Stores7) Shop after dinner. you wont be tempted to
routinely rotate sales items every 6 weeks sopick up fast food because you are too tired and
plan accordingly and stock up. Are the big packshungry to cook dinner. If it isn't possible to shop
of chicken breast on sale this week? Instead ofafter dinner then be sure to have a snack before
buying one pack purchase several packs, separateyou go to curb your appetite.
into family size portions and freeze. If you were8) Shop alone. Nothing blows a budget quicker
to purchase extra of the items that are on salethan when your kids are with you! You will also
each week you will have a well stocked freezerget out of the store much quicker which will
and pantry in no time.actually save you money.
Try to avoid buying anything in a box. MostThink of creative ways you can use meat and
boxed foods are full of preservatives and transpoultry for more than one meal. Meat sauce is
fats so it is best to avoid them. Do you like thejust as satisfying with half the amount of ground
convenience of boxed foods? There are severalbeef. Slice cheaper cuts of meats thin and use for
good cookbooks and recipes online for makingstir fries. Leftover chicken and beef is also great
homemade mixes to keep on hand. Everythingon top of a salad.
from homemade cookie mix to macaroni and10) Don't be loyal to just one store. Most grocery
cheese and more. Put these mixes in a pretty jarstores have certain items priced really low to get
with the directions to prepare and it also makes ayour business. If you have several grocery stores
nice frugal gift!in your area try and take advantage of what
3) Use coupons wisely. How many times havedeals each store has to offer. Of course with the
you found yourself spending more than youhigh price of gas it helps to plan these trips when
planned after using coupons? The key to savingyou are in the area, such as stopping at stores
with coupons is to only purchase the items youthat are on your way home from work.
would normally use anyway. You will also find that11) Have breakfast for dinner once in a while.
the store brand may still be the better bargain. AnFrench toast with fruit and milk is quick and
even better idea is to hold onto that coupon andeconomical and the kids will love it for dinner.
wait for the item you want to go on sale.12) Think leftovers! When planning your meals
4) Do a coupon exchange. Check with family andthink ahead of creative ways you could use the
friends who get the Sunday paper and exchangeleftovers. Did you roast a whole chicken? Shred
coupons for ones you can use. This is a goodthe leftovers for a quick chicken casserole the
strategy for stocking up when you use couponsnext day.
for items on sale.13) Invest in a freezer. To really stock up on sale
5) Buy produce in season. It will taste muchitems then you will find that purchasing a freezer
better and you will usually pay less. Also in thewill pay for itself in no time. Watch for sales in
warmer months be sure to take advantage ofyour local paper. We found the best deal at our
farmers markets for low prices on produce. Buylocal warehouse club.
items like peppers and onions when on sale, chopThese are just a few simple tips to help you
them and freeze them for quick recipes duringstretch your budget. Even if you use just a few
the week. Zucchini freezes well once it isof these tips you will find them useful for saving
shredded. You can use it for anything from breadmoney!
to mock crab cakes.