Buying Groceries for Less

Whether yours is a family of two or twelve, food is a major expense in every family's budget. The average family of four spends approximately five hundred dollars a month on food. This is on actual groceries and not on restaurants or fast food. However, if you know how, there are ways to save big on your family's food expenses.

To begin saving, it is essential to plan your meals. Otherwise, you will find yourself wandering aimlessly through the grocery store picking up whatever looks tempting, only to get home and not have what you need to complete your family's favorite dishes. I spoke with Dawn Jordan, a mother of thirteen children, about how she plans her family's meals. (Yes, I said thirteen children. I figured she'd have to be considered an expert on stretching food dollars.)

Using her computer, Dawn said she has a master list of fifty meals that she has tested on her family with winning results. She chooses fourteen of these meals without designating which meal will be for which day of the two- week period. This gives her the freedom to choose each day which recipe she wants to prepare that day. In choosing, she also refers to the newspaper grocery ads as to what meats might be on sale during that time period. Then she makes a list of the ingredients she knows she needs, checking with her food supply on hand. After completing this, she uses her word processing program to rearrange her list according to the aisles of her favorite grocery, to make shopping easier. She sticks to her list and avoids impulse buys, and never shops with her children in tow, if possible.

Clipping coupons is one way to save on items you know you use often. It is important not to buy items that not regularly used. Otherwise, it is just added expense. For coupons, check online, in your local paper, women's magazines, and in the flyer of your grocery store, usually at the front near the entrance. Some grocery stores have "double coupon" days, and these can save even more money. However, be sure to check with your grocery store about any limits they may have on redeeming coupons, so you don't cause long delays for other shoppers in line.

Buying is bulk is much easier now that there are warehouse grocery stores in almost every neighborhood. Again, it is important to buy only those items you normally use. I usually buy canned tomatoes, rice, beans, pasta, ketchup, and cheese at my local warehouse. In addition, items like laundry or dishwasher detergent, dog food, and personal items like toothpaste or shampoo can be much cheaper when bought in bulk packaging. When buying in bulk, however, be sure to consider how much storage space you have available in your home to store food. Keep food in a climate-controlled environment to avoid spoilage, and not in a garage or attic.

Another great help to many families is a food co-op. One co-op group that is available in most states now is the Angel Food Ministry. Many churches participate in this ministry, where each family receives a unit menu that changes each month. The current price to buy one unit is twenty-five dollars, and a family can purchase as many units as they need. A unit normally feeds a family of four for one week. After purchasing one unit, optional specials are available such as boxes of steaks or chicken for an additional eighteen dollars each. Anyone can participate in this ministry, not just low-income families. You also do not have to be a member of any church to participate. The food is first quality, name brand items, not "day old" or dented, etc. The food is one twenty-five dollar unit would normally cost $50-$75 in most grocery stores nationwide. Check out www.angelfoodministries.com to see if a church in your area is a host site for this program.

If Angel Food Ministries is not available in your area, form a co-op with other families you know. By planning monthly, a group can buy bulk items to divide. In addition, buying in season, such as produce at a farmer's market, and canning or freezing for later is a great way to save on food costs. When my children were small, a friend and I planned our menus together, and bought our food in bulk at the local Sam's Club, dividing it when we got back home. We also had two nights per week designated as, "I'm sick of cooking night," when one of us would cook double meals for the other family. This gave each of us a night off from cooking. This could easily be expanded to include more than two families' participation.

When planning meals, don't forget to think low-cost. Substituting beans and whole grains for meats in some dishes can provide excellent nutrition while saving dollars. Using legumes, brown rice or whole-wheat pasta, one can "stretch" the amount of meat in a recipe. Also, cooking ahead, such as using the various "Once a Month cooking" programs, can save money. Look for cookbooks on monthly cooking plans.

If finances are tight in your family for whatever reason, cutting food costs can make a big difference in the budget. Use your imagination and the tips here to plan and save big on your grocery buying expenses. If you have other ideas that have worked for you, be sure to leave your tip in a comment for others to see.