Beating Food Inflation Prices

Yes, an "economic stimulus" tax rebate is on its way. And if you are like most Americans, it will probably mostly go to transportation costs (due to rising oil and gas prices) and to food costs. Indeed, many Americans are concerned about their financial security right now, so the tax rebate is not so much something that can allow them buy a little extra fun stuff, as it is something the need to keep their families fed. The good news is that, even with food prices inflation on the rise, it is possible to save some money on your grocery bill.

Plant a garden

It's spring, and now is the time to plant a garden. True, this may not impact you right now, but it could mean that you have more food later on in the summer. And that means you won't have to buy it then. If you have enough space for a large garden, plant enough that you can freeze or bottle some of the produce to eat later in the year. We used to do this with peas, beans and corn, and we bottled peaches and plums when I was young.

If you worry that you do not have a lot of space for a large garden, do what you can. You can plant things spread out along the side of the house (we did this when we were still renting) or you can create a container garden. Some produce, like tomatoes, can be grown indoors as well. We also have an herb garden. We keep it in the sunniest window and supplement during the winter with a plant light. This allows us to have (and inexpensive) herbs to use in cooking all year round.

Make your own mixes and sauces

You can save a great deal of money by making your own mixes and sauces. There are recipes online and in cookbooks about how you can make your own spaghetti sauce, salsa and marinades. We use our home grown peppers and tomatoes in homemade salsa. It only costs a fraction of what the store-bought bottled stuff costs, and it tastes better. I also enjoy making homemade spaghetti sauce that can be frozen for later, and used in a wide variety of dishes from pasta to eggplant parmagiana to lasagna.

Join a co-op

Often, you can get good prices on food if you join a co-op. You buy in bulk, and you get a good price. You may have to spend an hour or so to help sort the order, but that's not too bad. And some co-ops don't require you to do anything of the sort. You can also see about buying from local produce stands or visiting the farmer's market. You can often find good prices on local food. And it's better for the environment!