5 Ways to Save Money on Your Food Bill

Although we have to eat, sometimes the grocery portion of a week's bills gets relegated to left over dollars. That means scraping up more dollars to eat out - a bigger expense even with the creation of the dollar menu. Some small time spent before shopping can save you some large cash. Here's how:

1. Plan your menu ahead of time. Sound simple? Maybe. But smart planning is better still. That means planning meals that work together. Have a small roast one night (a little bigger than what you normally eat)- put the leftovers in a stew, have that another night. If there's not much stew, then complement it with grilled cheese sandwich, salad or other simple fare. One night of cooking, 2 meals. Pork chops can be treated similarly. Cook up twice the amount of pork chops; cube the spares, bread and bake in a casserole the next night. One night of more involved cooking, second night assembly and pop in the oven.

Not sure on recipes? There are dozens of sites online to find recipes. You can even search by ingredient.

Not only do you save on time spent cooking; by planning ahead of time, you can buy your meats in larger packages - cheaper per pound price.

2. Shop the sale flyers before you shop the store. The mailbox and newspaper overflow weekly with ads from every grocery store in town and nearby. Use the ads to help plan meals will increase those savings. But you should also use the ads to plan your shopping.

Have a favorite store? We all do. But it never hurts to look over the competition's ads. For example, I usually shop at Acme Markets, but two to three times a year, Pathmark has a great can-can sale. It's worth stumbling through unfamiliar aisles to stock up on canned goods.

3. Use wholesale clubs wisely. Wholesale clubs are great. The bulk method certainly has advantages. But if the items are going to go bad before you use them, then bulk, of that item, isn't for you. Unless you can find a family member or friend who would split the item and the cost with you. This works great between some friends and I - provided we both like the brand. Which brings us to the next point.

4. You don't have to be brand loyal. Sure you like Green Giant veggies; but try the store brand - just have some salt, pepper, & your favorite spices ready. Save the dollars for those brands that you really can't live without, like Oreo cookies. Other items that cooked in, like pastas, veggies, and sauces can be substituted without a lot of fuss. In the meanwhile, buying "plain wrapper" brand items can save big dollars. And most stores offer a shopper's card (for free) that gives you even greater savings on their items than what's marked on the shelf.

5. Coupons. Use them. There are various websites, including the manufacturers' sites that will send you coupons by email. The caveat-not all stores accept internet coupons. For those that don't, you still have the traditional clip method. Coupons abound in the mail inserts, in the ads themselves, and in the newspapers - primarily on weekends. Stores also have displays with coupons you can use immediately. Food items come with coupons on them that can be peeled and given to the cashier at checkout. Never underestimate the power of coupons.

With these tips, you should be well on your way to cooking up more cash in your wallet.