Fifteen Simple Steps for Cutting Your Grocery Budget

Due to rising grocery costs, most of us are trying to stretch our grocery budget as far as possible. Here are some tips to help do just that.

Tip # 1

Prepare a menu and stick to it. Same goes for a grocery list (okay, this is two tips in one!). This cuts your time in the store and helps you to prevent spending money on unnecessary items. Preparing a menu isn't a daunting task if you know a few simple guidelines. To learn more about menu preparation, read ,"How to Plan a Weekly Menu in Four Easy Steps."

After your menu is prepared, go through the freezer and pantry to see which items you have on hand, and which you need to buy. Use this information to make a grocery list. This step probably saves me the most on my grocery budget.

Tip # 2

Use the local sales ads to create your menu. Usually, the best buys are on the first page. These are called the loss leaders. Loss leaders are a great way to stretch your grocery budget. These sales items are usually offered at the store's cost or a little more or less. Loss leaders are designed to lure you into the store to buy the sales items. Then the merchant hopes you will stay and fill up your cart with non-sale items as well.

Some stores will match prices. This means you can take all the local sales ads into one store and take advantage of not having to run from store to store. Running from store to store will drive your gas budget through the roof. Watch out, though. Sometimes the grocery stores that match prices are more expensive on regular staple goods. This can be a threat to your budget. Be a savvy shopper and call ahead to ask your local stores' policies on price matching. While you're on the phone, go ahead and ask them about their coupon policies as well.

Tip # 3

Match coupons with sales ads. Most sales happen in cycles. Manufacturers ,in some cases, have contracts with the stores to have them place their brand of products on sale at certain times. They then issue coupons for this same time period. This insures that people will purchase more of their products throughout strategic times of the year. this is good news for you and your budget.

Beware of online printable coupons. Many stores will not accept them. It's best to call the store and inquire about the coupon policies to avoid wasted time and extra ink and paper expenses.

Don't see a coupon for a product you want? Call, write, or email the company. Many times they are happy to help. I've been in contact with some that haven't had coupons available, but told me of the local stores that were about to run sales on the product. There are also Yahoo groups that trade coupons. A good one is called ' Coupon Choo-choo Train'. You can make requests for coupons and trade for coupons. They usually supply lots of tips for using your coupons to get the most for your money. The members of Coupon Choo Choo Train also posts grocery receipts showing how much money they have saved. Even if you don't trade coupons, it's worth joining just to receive the multitude of budget stretching tips found there.

That reminds me, some stores will double or even triple coupons.

Tip # 4

Shop in the reduced or clearance section of the store. Sometimes canned goods are reduced when they have been dented. If the can is rusted, leaking, or the ends are swollen, pass it by. Other times, it's because the manufacturer has changed the look of the package. Stores like a uniform look on their shelves. That's good news for your budget! When a product is near the expiration date, it's price is often reduced as well. If the product expires next month, only buy as much as you will use before then.

Bent-and-dent type stores often have good bargains as well. One chain in my area is called the Grocery Warehouse. I've purchased canned goods that still have two years or more before the item expires. Be very careful at these type of stores. At one store (not the Grocery Warehouse), I noticed cans of mushrooms that had stickers for dates instead of the usual dates that are stamped in ink on the can. I looked closer and noticed scratch marks. The store had sanded the manufacturer's dates off and replaced it with their own! If you're in doubt about safety, pass the product up. Trips to the emergency room for food poisoning are not fun( or budget friendly!).

Tip # 5

Buy in season. Most fruit and vegetables that are in season can be purchased locally by the store. This reduces the shipping costs, and that savings is usually passed on to you. If there is a farmer's market or local co-op, take the time to stop and see what is being sold. Not only are you saving money on your grocery budget, but you're supporting the local economy.

Tip # 6

Consider buying from a food buying club. I do this almost every month. A group of people get together and order from a large company. You order cases of products to get the best prices. In my food buying club, Morningside Organics, we split cases. That means that if I want to buy some crackers, but don't need twelve boxes, I claim how many boxes I want. The other members of the club each get to choose how many boxes they would like. If, on the other hand, I want the whole case, I can order that, too.

I order sweeteners, bulk grains and beans, beef jerky, trail mix, etc. My club also offers nonfood items such as deodorant and sun block. That's just a small sampling that is available from food buying clubs. I simply place my order online, and then meet with my club at the designated pickup point to pay and receive my order. Not wandering up and down the grocery store aisles trying to find things, all the while putting unnecessary items in my cart. It's win-win. Plus, my group is very friendly. I look forward to seeing them each month. I have found this a very enjoyable way to stretch my budget.

Tip # 7

Eat before you go shopping. Don't stuff yourself, though. If you are hungry, you are more likely to either hit the drive thru, or throw all kinds of things in your cart that just "look good" to you. If you're over full, you are likely to skip over things on your list just to get shopping over with. This means repeat trips to the store through the week. Repeat trips mean more chances to be lured by impulse items. This can be hazardous to your budget. Can't you just feel the money pouring out of your wallet?

Tip # 8

Set a grocery budget. When you are able to stay within your budget easily, tighten it. Always refine your shopping skills. This will help you from becoming complacent and your grocery bill won't start to slowly inch it's way back up again. When you find that you have done a good job of saving money on a particular week, don't spend the money on other things. Instead earmark it for grocery money.

One good way to do this is by purchasing prepaid grocery cards. Purchase a card in the amount that you have saved. Buy the cards that are refillable, and keep adding to it every time you come in under budget. You can then use this card for special events such as birthday celebrations, or when the in-laws are coming for dinner. When an unexpected expense cuts into your grocery budget, you will have this card to help out .

Tip # 9

Grow a garden. You don't have to be Farmer Brown. Stick a tomato or squash plant in a five gallon bucket or tuck a few pepper plants into your flower garden. I grow a few herbs and vegetable plants this way. Since we eat lots of veggies, this shaves quite a bit off my budget.

You can also ask a friend or family member to garden with you. I don't have a lot of land to grow all the veggies I like, but some of my family does. My sister and brother-in-law is wonderful about sharing their garden surplus with me. I simply show up when they ask and help pick the produce. For a little time and sweat, I usually have enough green beans, peas, squash, cucumbers, and other vegetables to last the whole year. All for free! My Dad also lets me share his garden. We all show up with the kids and have a potato planting party. When they are ready, we show up to dig them and split them. My stepmother can't tend the garden as much as she'd like, so I pick vegetables for her and she usually gives me most of what I pick.

I will be tending family's garden this month while they are on vacation. In return, I will get to keep the produce. I will share with other family members, and church members that have shared with me. This works out for everyone, and I will be getting tomatoes, watermelons, okra and peppers. A friend at church is kind enough to offer me corn, which I freeze for the year.

Also, My Dad is letting me plant some of my own plants in his garden space this year. I will, of course, share my bounty with him and my sister. It pays to be nice and share. We all get varieties and vegetables that we otherwise wouldn't have the space to grow.

This not helps stretch my budget, it helps the budget of each family participating.

Also, consider growing some goodies during the winter months. Place a tomato plant in a sunny southern window, or grow some herbs in a kitchen window. Bathrooms with skylights are a good place for pepper plants.

Tip # 10

Learn to forage. No, I'm not crazy. By learning which wild plants are edible in your neighborhood, you can take advantage of free food. Besides, no one else wants it, anyway. Make sure to follow common sense, and get a good field identification guide. Ask landowner's permission, and don't pick from chemically sprayed or polluted places. Today, I'm getting wild grapes this way ( on my way to picking cucumbers from a family member's garden). I've gotten dandelions, plums, and cactus fruits this way. All free.

Tip # 11

Another budget friendly tip is to plan ahead for leftovers. Nowadays, most people don't like the thought of eating leftovers. My children complain when I serve them too often. Instead of serving the exact same meal two nights in a row, I plan my menu considering the new meals I can make with leftovers. I call this the Cook Once and Eat Twice method of cooking. This not only saves me money on my grocery budget, it saves me money on my electric bill. It also saves me a great deal of time in the kitchen.

Tip # 11

Freezing bits and pieces of leftover meals stretches my budget a lot. If I have a serving or two of a meat or vegetable left, I will put it into the "soup bucket". When the bucket is full, It's time to make soup. I used to use a plastic gallon ice cream bucket. Now my "bucket" is actually a gallon freezer bag. I've used margarine containers before, too. Leftover pasta or pizza sauce makes good additions to the soup bucket.

If you or your spouse are able to take lunch to work, consider purchasing some sectioned trays. Buy the kind that are both freezer and microwave safe. As you have extra meat, fill one compartment with it. When extra vegetables or dessert are to be had, fill the remaining compartments. Doing this has saved my family a great deal of money on our grocery budget over the years.

Tip # 12

Cut back on eating out. Use the extra money to put toward your grocery budget. Use the internet to look for 'copycat' recipes of your favorite restaurant foods. Make extra and freeze for busy nights.

Tip # 13

Plan ahead for breakfast and lunch. Many people plan for dinner, but forget the other two meals. Allow some room in the grocery budget for lunches and breakfasts. Lunch can simply be leftovers from the night before. Soups and salads are also quick, budget friendly lunches. Consider cooking extra scrambled eggs, pancakes, hash browns, etc. and freezing them. I like to mix scrambled eggs with hash browns and roll into a tortilla. Wrap in plastic wrap, put in a zipper freezer bag and freeze. One minute in the microwave, and we're out the door. My kids love these, and we don't blow our budget by stopping through the drive thru.

Tip # 14

Learn to preserve food properly. Canning, freezing, and dehydrating food will save you tons of money on your grocery budget. I often will can leftover soup or sauces while I'm cleaning the kitchen after supper. When a busy day happens, we can open a can of chili, pasta sauce, or whatever, and have an impromptu meal. Ask friends or family to borrow equipment. Most only use it once a year, anyway. Shop yard sales for canning jars. A lot of times friends at church offer me jars for free. They know that I can, and they no longer do. I've gotten about twenty cases of jars and three canners from one nice lady. She wanted to clean out her shed. Freecycle often has items needed to can. Just post what you want.

There is an abundance of recipes and canning instructions on the web. I have used this information to stretch my produce preserving to the max. I learned how to make grape jelly, wine, syrup, juice, fruit leather, and vinegar. This really is budget friendly, especially since I foraged the grapes for free!

Tip # 15

The final way to save on your grocery budget is to get your family involved. Show the kids some budget friendly recipes and let them choose a few. Give them a certain amount of money to spend. While at the grocery store, Challenge them to find the ingredients they need for their menu, while staying within their set budget. This will give them an understanding of why they can't just throw everything they want into the cart. Also, when they get home, they are responsible for putting the food away, and helping you prepare the meal. Make sure the cleanup is also on their to do list. Not only does this teach them good life skills, it gives you some quality time with each child. Plus, you get help with the dishes! Now, that's a good way to get the most from your budget!!

Shaving money from your grocery budget is a snap once you are familiar with a few tips. If you would like to read more about cutting money from your grocery bill, read," Cutting Your Grocery Bill in Eight Simple Steps".