Let's face facts. Nevermind the price of gas -

it's almost like - who can afford food anymore?

Ketchup went from $1.00 a bottle to $3.00. Laundry detergent prices has doubled, and store sliced cold cuts are more expensive than a good cut of steak - which I can't seem to afford anymore either.

Milk is just about $3.00 a gallon (here in New Jersey), and sliced bread fetches whatever the manufacturer could bring - close to $3.00. Even the store baked bread is over $2.00 for a small Italian Loaf.

Go figure.

FIRST - START READING LABELS!!! Get to know what is contained in the food that you purchase. You will be suprised. Don't fill your cart with expensive pre-made foods. Nix the pre-packaged name brand frozen foods that can be nuked in a zap. Not only do they contain a lot of sodium and bi-products, they are just too expensive.

Examples:

Chicken nuggets, frozen pizza, frozen dinners, pre-made mashed potatoes, "Lunch-A-Bals", prepared canned soup, canned macaroni, packaged rice mixes. The list could go on, but you get the idea.

Start thinking "bare bones", and go from there. Start in the fruit and veggie aisle. A 5 pound bag of potatoes are 5 times cheaper than a 1 pound container of nukable mashed potatoes.

I happen to love Rice a Roni and Pasta Roni - but at $1.79 per package, I simply do no think that it is worth it! I can purchase one pound of rice or pasta for $1.00 or so. Add my own seasonings (this is the fun part), and off we go. I get 5 homemade servings for the same price of the pre-packaged.

Personally, I do not like to cook. I think that it is very time consuming and the clean up is just a headache. Well, if you want to save money, you need to change the way that you think. Saving money is your job, not anyone else's especially the supermarket!

Be one step ahead by reviewing your local supermarket's circular for the upcoming week. Cut coupons if you can.

Plan meal and menu ideas based on the items on sale for the week. Be creative and utilize what you may have existing in your pantry.

For Example: SALE PRICES FOR THE WEEK

Store made bread at 1.00 per loaf, butt ham portion at 0.69 per pound......

I have eggs and cheese, on hand as well as a sack of potatoes and some canned fruits and veggies.

Nite one: Sliced ham with mashed potatoes and canned string beans, side of gravy. Dessert would be Jello that I may have in the cabinet, (yes, need to plan and make ahead and makes 6 servings.)

Nite two: Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, with a side of mixed fruit. Use whole wheat bread and that is a plus. Jello again (from last nite) works well as a dessert.

Nite three: Potato pancakes with ham, and applesauce on the side and whatever dessert that you can whip up. I like to make "cups" or "smoothies" - all of fruit. What ever I have on hand, and is in season. I may have a mixed fruit bowl with toothpicks so my family can choose what they like.... or I may whip up an exotic fruit smoothie - watermelon and kiwi, mixed with a tad of seltzer and milk... THE BEST.

Okay, I spent 1.00 for the bread, 5.00 for the ham, and had the rest of the staples. I got 3 days out of it and, spent 2.00 a day for dinner. I am feeding a family of 3. One Large, One Medium and One Small. Good deal, huh??

Don't purchase fruits or veggies out of season. We (all of us) seem to like the freshest items available to us - don't settle for less.

"Day Old" items could be a bargain at your local store. Although, if you will not use them ON THE SAME DAY.. do not bother.

Don't try shopping on an empty stomach. Boxes and cans will appear in your cart like magic! This is when the supermarkets really get you.

If hungry... get a loaf of bread that is on sale (Italian loaf, preferable for $1.00) and snack on that while shopping. It's big and hard to chew. It will satisfy you while you are in the store (although, you may need to purchase another one for your family to endulge at dinner time).

As I had previously said, I do not personally like to cook. But, if cooking will save me some money to do other things, I will do it. Cooking in big batches and freezing food for a later date works well.

Pasta Sauce is one of those things that I do well. Big Batch, cheap ingredients, and freezes well.... you cannot go wrong.

Be creative with the food that your family likes, and you will be successful.

While we cannot change our habits overnight; working towards the goal of cutting food expenditures is a big one.

Hang on, and go for the ride. After a few weeks, you will find that you were spending too much money on food all along.

Continue to be creative and get your family used to eating in. Sure, it's work... but it sure beats $16.99 (plus tax and delivery) for a large pizza pie.

Check me out for further hubs. Thanks for your support.