How much do you spend on food each week? For many people, this is an area that they could cut back on and still eat well. All it takes is planning and discipline. 

Shopping Tips

1. Set a budget
2. Create a list of regular items you use every week
3. Make a list and check it before getting in the checkout line
4. Figure out what is a necessity and what is extra
5. Add up the cost of your groceries while shopping
6. Buy at sale prices
7. Buy in bulk
8. Don’t do all your shopping at one store
9. Avoid prepared food
10. Buy “Whole Foods”
11. Replace disposable with washable

Stick to Your Budget

The best way that I have found to cut back on grocery expenses is to set a budget and stick to it! Make sure the amount is realistic, for the number of people in your home and your income. While you are shopping, it is critical to keep a running total of items, that way you know when you have reached your limit BEFORE reaching the cashier. Use a calculator if you need to, but total the items as you add them to our basket. If you have to make a sacrifice, or a substitution you can do it before checkout! 

Necessities Versus Extras

Determine what is absolutely necessary and what is extra, then shop for the necessities first. This is different for everyone, but it is an important step to take in prioritizing what to buy and what to leave behind. One way to do this is to select cheaper substitutions for an item you need. For example, you want Steak Diane for dinner, so you picked out a nice steak for $5.98 a pound. Instead, you can get a round steak, hopefully on sale for $2.68 a pound, and tenderize it when you get home. I have made Steak Diane many times with round steak, and it works just fine. Look at other substitutions you can make: oatmeal for boxed cereal flakes, a bag of un-popped popcorn instead of chips, Lemonade instead of soda pop, and so on. Look carefully at what is on the shelf, and how much it costs, there are often less expensive options near the item you are purchasing. Buying items from the “Bulk Foods” area is another way to cut costs.

The List

Make a list, keep a list, and follow the list! This one simple step can save you a lot of time and money. By using a list, you can go to the store just once a week, you won’t forget that crucial item you needed for your new recipe, and you probably won’t get a bunch of extra stuff, because you already know what you need. Keep a pad on the refrigerator door and when you run out of something, write it down. Keep track of regular things you buy every week, so you don’t miss the basic things. And, check your cupboards and refrigerator/freezer before finishing your list to make sure you have what you need for the week. For example, the following are things I buy every week: Fresh veggies, fruit, eggs, meat, and rice milk. When you need a specific fruit, vegetable or meat, write that down: onions, chicken breast, and broccoli. This way these items don’t get missed. Also, when you may need more than the usual quantity of something, make a note of it. I made an angel food cake last week, so I needed a dozen extra eggs for that. The other reason to use a list is to make sure you pick up those sale items you saw advertised. Sales are a great way to stock up on things at a great price, so write those items on your list.

Buy at Sale Prices

Always buy at sale prices. Plan your menus around what is on sale and what is in season. When your budget allows, stock up on items at an especially good price. When chuck roast is on sale, I have pot roast, tacos, braised Italian roast with noodles, and stew. During strawberry season: Strawberry smoothies, strawberry shortcake, waffles, muffins, etc. It is worth the 15 minutes to look at grocery ads from the stores near you. Be careful when shopping for sale items, expensive stores will have great sale prices, just buy those items and stay away from the regular priced items.

Shop Around

Don’t always shop at one store; there can be a huge difference in prices from store to store. While most grocery stores will have many of the same items on sale, at similar prices, the regular prices on many items vary greatly from store to store. For example, a 4oz package of pecans in the baking aisle was $3.79 at one store, $2.25 at another store, and on sale for $3.99 a pound ($0.99 for 4 oz) in bulk at yet a different store. Which would you rather pay, $3.79 or $0.99? Always figure out the price per pound, so you can effectively compare prices. There are 16 ounces in a pound, so 8 oz. is ½ pound, and 4oz. is ¼ pound (this applies to dry goods, not liquids). Don’t be fooled by marketing, many discount stores will advertise how low their prices are, but in reality they are often the same or higher than your neighborhood grocery store. It helps to keep track of items you buy regularly in a small notebook, update this list occasionally, for stores frequently change their prices.

Beware of Discount Groceries

Beware of “discount” grocers, lower price can mean lower quality. I have shopped at several discount grocers recently, and yes their prices are lower, but the produce has no flavor and spoils too quickly. And sometimes the meat is questionable. Some produce in peak season can be good deals at a discount grocer, but try it out first before buying much. These stores often have a poor selection or are frequently out of stock on some items, there is a longer wait in line, and they offer fewer services, i.e., no cash back on your ATM card, no plastic bag recycling, postage stamps, or bus passes. Shopping at discount stores can save you a good deal of money if you are selective about the items you buy. A discount store near my house always had a great deal on good quality cheese in a 2 pound size, when most stores price was $9.98, they regularly had it for $4.98. For me it was worth a walk over there to pick up cheese.

Avoid Prepared Food

Yes, it is convenient, but it is much more expensive (figure out what you are paying per pound!) Not to mention, prepared foods are usually less nutritious, and very high in sodium. In addition, there is the packaging to deal with, some you can recycle, some you can’t, either way, it is one more thing you have to deal with. If you don't have much experience cooking, check out my other hubs.

Buy Whole Foods

Instead of buying breadcrumbs, croutons, and a loaf of bread, just buy the loaf of bread. With it you can make: Sandwiches, French toast, croutons, breadcrumbs, bread pudding, etc. Buy fresh fruit for snacks, salad, desert, marinades, and so forth. An orange (lemon or lime) can be juiced for a smoothie, dressing, or marinade, and the zest can be removed and dried for seasoning baked goods. Eggs can be used for: omelets, quiche, frittata, soufflé, strata, angel food cake, mayonnaise, deviled eggs, cream puffs, etc. A roast can be cut into smaller sizes, single serving, stew meat, or steaks. Cut up the whole chicken and separate pieces into groups, breasts, wings, legs and thighs, (keep the backs for stock) keep pieces in bags in the freezer.

Make Your Own

Make your own, whenever possible. This saves on packaging to dispose of, it is healthier and fresher, and you know exactly what is in it (no unpronounceable ingredients). A good item to start with is stock. Vegetable stock and chicken stock are very easy and economical to make at home.

Basic Chicken Stock 

Brown one chopped onion, three stalks celery (with leaves), two carrots and 4 cloves of garlic in oil until brown. Add chicken backs and neck, as well as any other chicken bones (if you remove the breast or thigh from the bone.) cover with water and add two bay leaves, 3 peppercorns, ½ teaspoon salt, 4 whole cloves, ½ teaspoon rosemary and ½ tablespoon sage, and bring to a boil, allow to simmer until liquid is reduced by half. ½ hour before removing from heat, add 2 tablespoon thyme and salt to taste.

Additional Tips: Many things can be added, but the flavors can cancel each other out if too many different things are added. Be sure to include something sweet (carrot, apple, or red bell pepper.) The ingredients can also be put in a crock-pot and allowed to cook overnight. I usually put the crock-pot under the hood and turn on the fan, so I don’t smell it all night. When done, strain out the liquid and freeze in ice cube trays. Place the “stock cubes” in a ziplock bag in the freezer, so you always have stock in any amount on hand.

Goodbye Disposable, Hello Re-useable

Replacing disposable with washable is cheaper and is better for the environment. Say goodbye sponge, hello dishrag! Yes, this is a washcloth for dishes, but you can also clean the counter and wipe up spills with them. The best part is, you can get out a clean one every day, goodbye moldy sponge! Try to wean yourself away from paper towels, a dishrag can be used to wipe up spills, a metal cooling rack can be used to drain grease away from fried things, and yes you can use napkins. Cloth napkins can often be found at thrift stores, often in sets. When you do you laundry just fold the napkins immediately and keep in a basket on the table or counter. The addition of dishrags and napkins really don’t add that much to your laundry. Don’t forget about kitchen towels, I like to have thin smooth cotton ones for covering dough, and rolling cakes. Also, get some terrycloth towels for drying dishes, wiping up big spills, and to use as a napkin while eating a meatball sandwich. Just think, all the money you are saving on paper towels, napkins, sponges and the like can be saved for that vacation you always wanted to take!

Use Glass Containers

Keeping your food organized and fresh tasting in the refrigerator is easier when using clear glass containers to store prepped food and leftovers. Look for glass containers with lids, these can be jars you have saved and washed out, containers that you buy, or even canning jars. If using canning jars, look for the “wide mouth” style, it is easier to get your food in and out of these. When reusing those glass jars and bottles – save the lids! I like glass because it does not react with food, or get stained. With the clear glass, you can see what you have without needing to open the container. I love Pyrex, I can use it in the oven, microwave, freezer, and most of my Pyrex has lids (if not I use foil).

These are just some of the ways you can save on groceries. The best thing you can to for your health and your budget is to stop buying processed foods and make your own. If you don’t have one, get a good basic cookbook, Sunset Basics for cooking, Better Homes and Gardens, or the Joy of cooking are great places to start. Beware of recipes on the Internet, there are many good ones, but if you are just learning, there is a lot of misinformation. Stick to a good basic cookbook and build from there. Happy cooking!