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More simple tips on how to get more food for less money
- Avoid trips to the corner store. Or the gas station! These are some of the most expensive stores.
- Try co-ops. You can often save a lot of money at these types of places for staples.
- Consider shopping at two stores. There’s no store with a monopoly on savings. Each has savings on different items on different weeks. You might switch between two stores on alternate weeks.
- Think deep freeze. If you really want to save, you’ll need a big freezer. Ask around — someone you know might have a relatively new model they don’t need anymore. You can use freezers to stock up on meat, frozen veggies, and similar staples, and to freeze big batches of pasta, casseroles, and other dinners you prepare ahead of time.
- Use everything possible. Got a bunch of leftover ingredients (half an onion, a bit of tomato, some pasta, a few other veggies?) … combine them for a quick meal, so that these don’t go to waste before your next grocery trip. The more you can stretch the food, and the less you waste, the less you’ll spend in the long run.
- Don’t waste leftovers. Have a list on your fridge of what leftovers are in there, so you don’t forget about them. Plan a leftover night or two, so you’re sure to eat them all. Pack them immediately for lunch, so they’re ready to take the next morning.
- Don’t buy junk food (or buy as little as possible). Junk food not only costs a lot of money for about zero nutrition, but it makes you and your family fat and kills you.
- Rain check. If an item is on sale but the store has run out of stock, ask for a rain check.
- Go when the kids are in school. When you bring kids, they will pester you and pester you until you buy something for them.
- Go for whole foods. Look for things in their least processed form — whole grain instead of white or wheat bread, fresh fruit instead of canned or juice, whole grain cereal or oatmeal instead of all other kinds of cereal.
- Stick to your list. Avoid impulse buys. They are almost always bad, and even if it’s just a couple dollars, they will add up to $50-100 for a trip.
- Use store savings cards. These can add up to big savings over the long run.
- Cut back on your restaurant eating. It’s never cheaper or more nutritious than eating at home. Plan your dinners and bring your lunches to work and save a ton of money.
- Avoid frozen dinners or prepared entrees. These cost way more and are usually much less nutritious.
- Drink water. If you regularly drink iced tea, Tang, sodas or other types of drinks, cut those out completely and just drink water. It’s much better for you, and much cheaper.
- Pack healthy snacks for the kids. Whole wheat crackers, popcorn, cut-up fruit, raisins, and other kid-friendly snacks are much better than higher priced items like chips, candy, and cookies.
More food for your money
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