With recent costs of many food items going up in price (milk is slated to go up again this year), it is getting more and more important that families find ways to cut the cost of feeding everyone. This can be really hard, especially if you are on a low budget and your family size is larger, but even single people and small families are feeling the pinch as well. Below you will find tips to help you save money on your grocery bill.
Tips for Beating Rising Food Costs
Stop shopping “where you always have” and check out other stores in your area. You might be pleasantly surprised by the kinds of sales they are offering that you have been missing out on because you thought you were getting the best over-all deal at your regular store. There is a lot of competition these days with grocery chains that they are offing things like Buy 1 Get TWO free on expensive items like Steaks, to draw people in. Use the Favado app to find the best sales at not only your local grocery stores, but also the best deals at dollar stores, drug stores, warehouse stores, and superstores.
If you don’t coupon, now is the time to start. You don’t even have to go to the extreme with it to save money. With just a little homework and clipping, you can save 10-20% or more off your bill. If you are spending $300 a month on groceries, that is a savings of $30-$60! Here are tips to help you start using coupons. Below are some great sources of coupons.
Sources of Printable Coupons:
- Coupons.com Printable Coupons
- SmartSource Printable Coupons
- RedPlum Printable Coupons
- Target Printable Coupons
Sources of Electronic or Mobile Coupons:
Buy Meats from a Wholesaler. Companies such as Zaycon, cut out the middle man and allow customers to buy large quantities of meat monthly or quarterly from frozen or refrigerated trucks at a deep discount. Visit Zaycon’s site to see when they are coming to your area. Used code NEW22 on your first order from Zaycon to save 22% off your order.
Meal plan and make lists. Meal planning is one of the simplest and effective ways you can save money on your grocery bill. It forces you to be creative, use leftovers and be strict with what you will and won’t buy. No more getting up to the register with no idea how much you spent or being surprised that all those extras you didn’t plan for added up.
Meal Planning Tools:
- Printable menu plans, a shopping list, and other useful printables.
- Creating menu plans to help reduce food waste which includes mention of various meal planning techniques.
- Meal planning tips for busy people.
- How to fill your freezer in 30 minutes a day.
Buy in bulk if it is something that makes sense to. Spices, meats, pasta, dried goods and so on, are all good things to buy in bulk, usually. However, don’t think you will always save by purchasing in bulk. If food is wasted before it can get used up, that won’t help. Also, make sure to check out the unit price of items before you buy to make sure you are not actually being charged more by buying in bulk sizes. To help you make your bulk buying decisions, here is a list of foods that freeze well.
Skip meat once in a while or at least supplement it. You can supplement many recipes with half the meat and another protein source like beans. If you skip just one meat meal a week, you can save over $50 in many cases. Try a soup night as many soups do not contain meats and are just as filling. Here is a list of meatless meals to get you started.
Shop local. When spring hits, make it a point to buy your produce at the local co-op or farmer’s market. Since the food doesn’t have to be packaged as much or driven as far, it is often much cheaper and as an added bonus, it is usually grown organically as well.
Learn to can. This way, when you find a great sale on produce, you can preserve it in a cost effective way and have food for months down the line. You can also use your freezer to save you a lot of money. Buy produce and meats in bulk and freeze them into single meal sized portions for later use.
Split the costs. There are many ways you can buy huge amounts of meats, produce, dairy and other perishable food items in bulk at a discounted rate. If you split the costs with another family member or friend, you can each take a portion of the product and save even more.
Christine (iDreamofClean) says
Thanks for the great tips! I would love to start using more coupons, but just haven’t found the extra time. I have been able to save a lot of money by buying in bulk or going to multiple stores for the best prices. Thanks for sharing!
Deborah J Lucas says
Everyone in my family eats at different times. How do I get around the temptation to buy “fast foods” and prepare healthy and nutritious meals at a lower cost?
Alea Milham says
Cook recipes that keep well and still taste good when reheated. Then prepare ahead of time or prepare that day for the first person who eats the meal and then it is ready for others to reheat.