Saving Money On Food

6 Money Saving Grocery Shopping Tips

Saving money on food offers a practical, easy way to increase our disposable income. We all grumble about the rising food costs these days, and one of the biggest reasons for higher grocery bills is the increase in fuel prices. Fuel is involved in every stage of getting the food to the store shelves.

Therefore, we need to find new ways to offset these costs and save money on grocery bills if we're to make ends meet or better yet, come out ahead. Below are six money saving tips you'll find helpful.

1. Saving Money With Grocery Coupons

For the frugal shopper, saving money with coupons is an excellent method for saving money on food. Check the weekend papers for coupon savings. Sometimes there's a small coupon booklet inserted in with the flyers that can help reduce some of the cost.

Every 25-cent or $1-off coupon you use adds cash to your pocket. There are also a number of online coupon sites where you can print out generic coupons for use at local supermarkets.

In addition, most local supermarkets feature weekly sale items. Take advantage by stocking up on these sale items and you'll save a significant amount of money in the long run.

2. Farmer's Market Savings

Support your area's farm community by shopping at a local farmer's market where you can save money on fresh vegetables, meat, and fruit. Not only is the locally grown food cheaper, but it's much fresher than anything you could buy in a supermarket making it healthier too. Establishing a relationship with the farmer or stall owner will often result in special deals and bulk purchases.

3. Generic Value Products

Buying generic no-name products can save you a tidy sum of money. Most generic products are around the same price as premium brands, but for items such as paper towels and most canned goods, the savings can be significant. Many shoppers find generic foods just as good as known brands and often can't taste the difference; indeed, generic foods are sometimes prepared by the same companies that supply the known brands. Try switching to generic products and save a few dollars on your weekly grocery bill.

4. Avoid Food Waste And Save Money

Grandma used to say, "Waste not, want not," and she was right. As we search for new and alternative ways for saving money on food, avoiding food waste can help to lower our grocery bills. The amount of good food that's wasted in North America daily is quite staggering. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 25.9 million tons of food gets thrown out every year in America; that's around 70,000 tons per day.

Whether you're buying in bulk or buying food as you need it, buy only those items that you are sure you'll have time to use for meal preparation. Don't purchase more groceries than you need or have time to cook and end up having to throw food out.

One of the best ways to avoid food waste is to prepare meals ahead of time for freezing. When you notice the good-until date on an item is about to expire, prepare a meal using that ingredient and either eat it that day or freeze it for eating later.

There's another old saying: "Never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach." It's so true. We tend to buy more items than what we see written on our grocery list when we're hungry, and these extra items often cost more than what we'd normally spend. Have a snack at home before you go grocery shopping and always stick to your list. Avoiding food waste can save money on grocery bills in the long run.

5. Saving Money On Food With A Pantry

If you maintain a pantry or food closet, and you should, sort the foods you have in stock so that:

You can see at a glance which items you have in stock when preparing your grocery list to avoid spending money on items you already have.

You can position the soon-to-expire items near the front so they can be used before they spoil and have to be thrown out.

You can easily locate items you need to prepare meals.

6. Frugal Meals & Menu Savings

Planning frugal menus ahead of time is another good way to save money on grocery bills. This way, you will buy only those food items you need for the week and avoid impulse purchases. Then, you can spend a Saturday morning with the family preparing money-saving meals and freezing them so they'll be ready for your main meals throughout the coming week.

Finally

Let's face it, we are all affected by rising food prices. However, by creating a realistic grocery budget and utilizing the suggestions on this website, saving money on food is not only possible, but you'll be able to prepare delicious meals for your family also.

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