1. buy ingredients rather than processed foods.
Yes, many processed foods are cheap, but the quality (an nutritional value) is often poor, and they tend to expire sooner than raw ingredients do.
2. buy in bulk.
Warehouse stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club, Smart n Final, etc., often sell food and other supplies in larger packages at greater savings than your typical sizes you would find at the grocery store or Walmart. The key to achieving savings here is to make sure you’re not letting product go to waste - break down the large packages into smaller, more manageable sizes or plan to use larger packages when you’re feeding a crowd.
3. buy wholesale
Some items you can buy direct from the manufacturer with a wholesale account and save even more money with a monthly buying club. That’s how I buy essential oils, vitamins and supplements - if you’re interested in doing the same, get in touch with me for more information.
4. get more bang for your buck at the grocery store through smart meal planning.
Planning your meals to get the most out of your grocery dollar is a smart way to go. Coupon and take advantage of grocery store sales, buy bulk packs of ground beef then cook up enough to stretch into 2 or 3 meals in a row, plan entire meals from your leftovers.
For example, in my home, a roasted chicken can be stretched into 3 different meals: 1. roast chicken with potatoes 2. chicken tacos and 3. chicken soup. Similarly, when I cook up ground beef with onions and garlic, I can make taco meat then use the leftover in chili, or cook up enough to make 3 or 4 meals, divide it and freeze portions for later.
5. Learn your meat cuts.
Learning how to cook different cuts of beef, for example, especially some of the cheaper cuts like chuck, shoulder roast, london broil and boiling beef, is a great way to stretch your food dollar. Check into buying meat in bulk at your local butcher shop - often you can buy either 1/4 cow or a big box of meat for less.
6. Replace soda with iced tea
Brew your own iced tea or make lemonade by the pitcher in order to eliminate the need for expensive juice and soda in your home.
7. Eat vegetarian twice a week.
Not only is it healthy to take a break from meat now and then, it’s easy on your wallet. From pasta alfredo or mac n cheese to 3 bean casserole, stuffed baked potatoes, chinese stir fry or noodles, grilled cheese sandwiches, and more, there are lots of tasty options for your family’s dinner table.
8. Buy produce in season.
Fresh veggies in season are not only better for you than canned or frozen, they are often cheaper.
9. Leverage low-ticket items in your weekly menu
Eggs, pasta, ground beef, chicken (especially legs and thighs) are still fairly inexpensive. Casseroles, the heart of midwest cooking, are still a cheap way to feed your whole family for just a few dollars. Fried rice, mashed or baked potatoes, and pasta will stretch your meals and also make for great leftovers the next day (thus saving you on eating lunch out as well).
Don’t forget the Dollar Store can be a good place to pick up cheap eats. Some dollar stores even have a fresh produce section, and many sell bread and frozen foods as well.
10. Make a budget and stick to it.
Whether your weekly grocery budget is 20 dollars or a hundred, it’s important to make a budget and then live within that budget if you want to be able to make your food dollar go longer. One tip that can help is to do all your bulk shopping at the beginning of the month (or twice a month), and then commit to buying nothing else, except for fresh veggies and dairy, for the rest of the month. Plan your meals around what you have in your cupboard and see how far that takes you.
What are your favorite tips for saving money on your food preps?
vaporwave
janainaart
andulkaphoto
izzy806
stormborns
titsay
