Save Money: Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half

How to save money on groceries.  These days it’s getting harder and harder to say ahead financilally and stick to a budget.  And as fuel and food prices rise and everything else we must find new ways to cut costs.  The food portion of your budget is often the one that can be pared down the easiest.  Little changes can really make a difference and add up to big savings.  Little things like using less meat and more sauce or putting leftovers into soup.  You may have to do a bit of creative thinking but you can stretch your food dollars and save some money.  Here is a list of five ways to help cut your food bill in half.

Do you take advantage of food coupons when going shopping?  Yes it takes some preparation on your part but clipping coupons can save you a bundle.  You can find coupons in your Sunday paper, on-line and in your store flyer.  There are all kinds of free internet printable coupons for grocery items.  Don’t forget to take advantage of the grocery’s double coupon day.  Make sure you don’t use a coupon just because you have one, which could end up costing you more than you wanted.

Shop at a no frills grocery store like Save-a-Lot or Aldi’s.  These stores save you money because they do not have the fancy displays like the others.  Sometimes the food is just displayed in the box it was shipped in or on the pallet.  Don’t forget to bring your own shopping bags and a quarter for the cart.  Just a simple change of where you shop could cut your grocery budget by 10% to 40% less.

Try buying the store brands of products you need.  Store brands or private labels are often made from the same manufacturer as your name brands.  Now if there is some thing that you just have to have the name brand because it tastes better that is fine.  But don’t fool your self into thinking that you are sacrificing taste or quality just because it isn’t a nationally known brand. Many groceries have stock up and save sales or loss leaders.  They have an excellent sale on a few products to get you in their stores.  May be it is cents on the dollar for chicken or a 10 for $10.00 sale.  You may have to stop at a few stores to get the best bargains but this is another good way to save money.

Keep to your shopping list and make it one that has at least enough meals for a few days.  Sit down with your family and make a master list of meals and sides that you can make.  Then refer to your master list while you are making your grocery list.  Try to make your list as comprehensive as possible so you won’t be adding this and that while in the store.

Get more bang for your buck.  Pasta meals are very inexpensive and you can add little thing to dress it up.  Beans are cheap and filling, you can find so many recipes that include beans.  Eggs and peanut butter don’t cost much but are packed with protein.  The goal is to use these ingredients for meals that fill you up so you don’t need more.