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Ten Smart Ways to Save Money on Food

Written By: Hilary on June 15, 2009 No Comment

grocery The global financial crisis really took us all by surprise and the effects of it are starting to take a toll on our lives—starting with our health. We are working more, resting less. Food prices are going up higher and we are either eating foods of less quality, or just eating less. If you are a parent, you know the importance of feeding your family healthy nutritious meals should come as no question. So the challenge that these modern times are posing to us is how to save money while still being able to eat and feed our family. Below are some smart tips and tricks on how to save money on food without sacrificing quality or frequency of meals.

10. Make a list and check it twice. When you need to replenish the stocks in your fridge, it’s wiser to make list than to just take mental notes. This way you can really jot down what are needed and stick to it. The problem with mental notes is that if you see something you want, you can always make an excuse for the purchase. It’s best to keep a tangible list of food items that you need to restock.

9. Shop online. Grocery shopping is fun and even therapeutic for some people. But if you’re on a tight budget, then maybe it’s time to skip a few supermarket trips and shop online instead. The way a grocery shop is set up is deliberate and enticing. From the positioning of the food items, to the lighting used inside it, everything is meant to look desirable to you. If you’ve ever been doggedly hunted down by one of a grocery clerk telling you just how important it is for you to have

8. Shop wholesale or in bulk. When it comes to getting more “bang for your buck,” buying by bulk is the way to go. You get more for lesser cost. However, this is only best done if what you’re buying is something you’re going to use a lot of. Buying an optional ingredient in bulk is a waste of money and chances are if you don’t consume the item soon enough, it’ll just reach expiration date.

7. Be creative in the kitchen. To serve a great meal, you don’t need to follow 5-star restaurant type recipes from cookbooks. Those recipes are usually formulated for special occasions and entertaining guests. They also normally require a lot of ingredients that an amateur cook (such as you and I) don’t need to fuss with if in reality, our kids and are happy with a simpler and more nutritious meal. Experiment with what you’ve got and try to use up all the stocks in your cupboard or pantry before your next grocery shopping. That way you don’t risk the other food items in your cupboard reaching their expiration date.

6. Save the leftovers! It’s never good taste to let food go to waste. If you happen to have cooked up a slightly bigger batch than can be consumed at the moment, then set the leftover aside and store it for either reheating the next day or later or for your next meal. If you have any leftover roast chicken, for example, you can shred it up and use it for a chicken taco salad lunch the next day. You’ll be surprised at how artistic you can get while still being able to come up with delicious meals on a budget.

5. Construct a weekly menu. Each week you can build a menu that has meals with the same basic ingredients. If you make some pork chops, for example, you can save the cooked leftover pork for some minced pork and pineapples in barbecue sauce or any other variation you can think of. This strategy will also help you shop more efficiently by buying more of what you need per week depending on your core menu.

4. Purchase store brands. When it comes to being smart about money, we can’t afford to let our purchasing wisdom and resolve be swayed by brands. Store brand items are almost always cheaper than label brands—both in food and clothing. A brand is a brand, but a status symbol can’t feed you or your children.

3. Use food coupons. Collect food coupons and use them on your next grocery trip. You can get pretty good discounts and some supermarkets will sell their products at cost (or less than cost) in order to get more shoppers into their store.

2. Avoid pre-made or pre-packaged meals. Pre-cooked and pre-packaged meals are more expensive and at times you can’t control the taste (some may be too salty or too spicy). Cooking from scratch is not only cheaper but it also allows you to cut back on certain flavors of the dish. If you are watching you sodium intake, you can always decrease the amount of salt being put in the dish. Cooking from scratch and adding a little improvisation can be fun for the whole family if you can get everyone to join in. It also teaches your children how to be reliable around the kitchen.

1. Support your local community’s produce sellers. Buying from your local produce is a great idea because it is cheaper than buying goods that need to be transported. Often, the price of the goods is higher because of the transportation cost. It’s also a terrific way to get to know more people in your community—especially those who supply and sell a very important commodity. Establishing and cultivating a good relationship with your producer vendors will help you make sure you get the freshest ad healthiest fruits and vegetables.