How To Save On Groceries

by Judy Turner

We could save a lot of money if we just did not need to eat.
Unfortunately, that is not an option. Eating is a very
critical part of our well-being and is unavoidable.
Therefore, shopping for food is a necessary part of living.
There are many things we can do, however, to help cut the
food bill and keep as much of our hard earned money in our
pockets rather than in the merchant's cash register.

Here are just a few tips to help you save money when you
shop for groceries.

1) Plan your menus: Whether you shop weekly, biweekly or
monthly having your menus planned in advance will help you
save both time and money. Check your pantry for items on
the list that you already have. This will cut down on the
unnecessary expense of purchasing an item you don't need.

2) Stay organized: Organizing your kitchen and checking
expiration dates will help determine what you have and what
you need to put on your shopping list.

3) Stick to your list: Be sure everything you need is on
your list and stick to it. The only exception to this is if
you find an unadvertised sale for items that you normally
use.

4) Use coupons: Combining grocery coupons with weekly
sales can really help you save money. Swap coupons with
family or friends to save even more money.

5) Go vegan: One or two meatless dishes a week not only
saves money, but helps you get your recommended daily
allowance of vegetables.

6) Buy in bulk: Stock up on big packs of meat and poultry
and divide into meal size portions to freeze.

7) Be creative with leftovers: Finding creative ways to
serve leftovers is a great way to stretch your budget.

8) Cook for a month: There are several cookbooks that
specialize in cooking in bulk. Set aside one or two days
each month to prepare extra meals. Package these meals in
freezer bags or air tight containers and store them in the
freezer. This will save you money as well as much of your
valuable time.

By using some or all of these tips you will definitely see a
big difference in your budget each month. Start putting the
money you save in the bank or use it to pay off your other
debt.

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