A while back when my niece was moving out on her own, I made this guide for her to help her save on grocery shopping. And now I thought it would be a good idea to share it with the rest of you. So just consider me your "Auntie" Victoria, as I present you with some of my sage tips on getting the most from your food shopping dollar. #1 – Do not start with a menu list for the week! #2 – Look at the circulars every week, and make your list from the sale items (you have to know your prices, just because it says it’s “on sale” doesn’t mean it’s a good price). Learn your prices. You can keep a book/ list of them if you want to. #3 – Then plan your meals for the week, based on what you have. #4 – Stock up on items when the sale is super good. #5 – Buy store brand / generic. It is almost always just as good (and, in fact, the same exact product) as the name brand. And you will pay much less. #6 – Keep a running list of what you are getting low on (to replenish), and keep a well stocked pantry. This eliminates the need to go out shopping for a few needed items between (weekly) shopping trips. # 7 – Which brings us to: Shop only once a week! (In fact, some savvy shoppers shop only once every other week), This saves time, gas, and the temptation to impulse buy! #8 – Plan meals based on inexpensive ingredients! Rice, pasta, eggs, etc. Eat less expensive meat. Chicken, ground beef, stew meat, things like that. Eat meatless as much as possible, See my blog on how eating healthy (vegan) is cheaper. #9 – Don’t buy prepackaged food (i.e. boxed “mixes”, frozen “meals”) Make things from scratch. It's cheaper and healthier too! #10– Don’t buy things in single portion sizes. Portion out your individual size snacks yourself into baggies, little containers, etc. #11 – Use reusable containers as much as possible. Not “throwaways” (such as tin foil and plastic wrap,) Always ask yourself if a reusable container would do for this purpose. (Baggies can be washed out and reused, but even better to use an actual reusable container). #12 – This goes for cleaning products too. Use rags instead of paper towels (you can wash them, and reuse). #13 - Don’t buy bottled water! Tap water is fine. In fact most bottled water comes from a tap somewhere! If you are worried about your tap water, you can buy a filter for your tap, or a filtered pitcher for your fridge. Buy reusable water bottles to fill yourself when going out. If you absolutely must buy bottled water (which you don’t), buy the gallon size (of store brand), and fill your water bottles (or glasses) from that. This also saves the environment from all that plastic! #14 – In fact don’t buy drinks! They are a super expensive, and unnecessary product, and usually just glorified sugar water. Not good for your budget or your health! Stick to water, or non-dairy milk drinks, or maybe orange juice (which you can buy from frozen concentrate, and make yourself). I know they sell “100% juice drinks”, but they are even more expensive, and even though it is “fruit” sugar, it is still just sugar. If you must buy juice (which you don’t), then at least water them down (a lot!) when you drink (serve) them. And don’t even get me started on soda! #15 – Use the smallest amount of product necessary to get the job done. Experiment to to see what this would be (by using smaller and smaller amounts – or starting with a tiny amount, and working your way up. For instance, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, laundry detergent, dish soap, cleaning products, and also expensive ingredients in recipes (if you can’t eliminate them altogether). Make a game out of it. “Waste not want not!” Does anybody even know what this expression means anymore? (#16– And now for the subject of coupons. I know you would think being frugal, I would be one of those crazy coupon ladies, but actually I’m not. The problem is they are mostly for expensive, prepackaged, processed junk food. And it is way too expensive (and unhealthy) to buy that crap anyway. If you do come across a coupon for something other than that (usually for health and beauty products), it is still usually cheaper to just buy the store brand. The only time it is usually worthwhile, is if the store is having a sale, and you have a coupon (especially if the store has a double coupon policy). But, of course you have to know your prices (what that item usually sells for, and if store brand is cheaper). #17– You also have to know your prices, when it comes to Bulk Buying. I often find that the prices on those giant bulk packages (i.e. Sam’s Club) are not better than you can get when that item goes on sale in the grocery store. So, if you are going to bulk buy, make sure you check the unit price (you should always be comparing unit prices anyway!) and know what it typically goes on sale for. And make sure you will be using that item up, before, say, 2 years past the expiration date or (if it is perishable) it turns into a science project. It’s not a bargain if you end up throwing half of it away. #18 – Speaking of Expiration Dates, they are not that magical. The item is not made to self destruct, or go suddenly bad, on that very date on the packaging. And the companies give themselves plenty of leeway on that (better to be safe than sorry on their end) – it also keeps you buying more of their product as the one in your pantry “expires” and you have to replace it. Take them with a grain of salt (so to speak). I have eaten things long past the expiration date, and am still here to tell about it. #19 – Don’t throw any food away!! Save even the tiniest amounts. You can use them for your lunch the next day, or incorporate them into dinner, or whatever. Learn to be creative with leftovers! #20 – Always start your dinner plans with “What has to be used up first?” (vegetables or meat “on their way out”, leftovers that have been in there a while, etc.). (Things in your pantry past the expiration date!). In other words: Don’t waste food!! You should never be throwing out food that you spent good money on! #21– You can also take advantage of this concept at the supermarket. They will usually have a ‘bargain rack” of bread, etc., just at it’s expiration date, or fruits veggies that have to be used up in the next day or two, at very reduced prices. Take advantage of this. Buy them and use them right away. Well I guess 21 tips are good to start with. LOL!! I could go on and on . . . . Not only with food shopping tips, but ways to save money on everything!! If you ever want help on budgeting to raise a family and “get by on less”, you know who to come to! Your “Auntie” Victoria, of course! Happy Saving! Bonus tip! (Since you read all the way to the end)... If you really want to save money go Vegan! Meats and dairy are the most expensive items in your shopping cart. If you eliminate them from your diet you will save even more. It's cheaper AND healthier to eat this way. I did it! It's easier then you think! And you will feel great too!
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