How to Cut Your Grocery Budget

We've all been there...there's still a week left in the month, the pantry is empty, and you only have $50 in your checking account. I've been there more often than I'd like to admit. Living off a one-income family requires sacrifice and quite often that means no more eating out or quickie convenience foods. I've learned how to cook more from scratch in the past year than I ever have! So, here are some suggestions on how to make your grocery budget stretch.

First, I suggest you meal plan. Look through your grocery store's weekly circular and plan your meals around the sales on meat, produce, & dairy from there. Look for meat below $2.50 a pound such as ground beef, smoked sausage, and chicken pieces (thighs and legs). Try the store brand--you can find everything from store brand flour to peanut butter to milk at less expensive prices. Frozen vegetables can usually be found for $1 a bag. For fruit, stick with bananas (always cheap!), and grab a bag of mixed apples and oranges. Cut out the granola bars, cookies, and chips! Not only do these increase your grocery bill, but they'll also increase your waist line! For breakfast, make your own muffins, pancakes, and flavored oatmeals. Stick with leftovers for lunch or make a big batch of homemade vegetable soup to eat through the week. Good 'ole PBJ sandwiches are always easy on the budget, too! Nothing beats a delicious home-baked chocolate chip cookie; they're more affordable & better for you!

Second, I encourage you to start using coupons. You can even match sale prices from grocery circulars up with coupons. If you don't subcribe to the newspaper, ask a friend who does to save the coupons for you; more than likely they just throw them away! You can also print coupons online through websites like http://www.coupons.com and http://www.smartsource.com . In some cases you can even print coupons directly from the manufacturer's website. You can get the best deals on toiletries and personal items at drug stores rather than grocery stores. Make sure you've signed up for a memebership card if the store offers.

Third, I want to share with you a few meal ideas!
--Breakfast for Dinner (scrambled eggs, sausage, & biscuits)
--Spaghetti, Green Beans, & homemade garlic bread
--Soup & grilled cheese
--Bean & cheese quesadillas with spanish rice
--Red beans & rice
--Loaded baked potato
--Tuna Noodle casserole

For recipes, look to helpful websites such as http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com and http://www.miserlymoms.com . To use up the ingredients in your pantry without having to spend much more at the store, I suggest you use the "ingredient search" link on http://allrecipes.com . This resource allows you to enter in the ingredients you have and it will provide recipes using these specific ingredients.

Finally, for a little help at a low cost, look for an angel food ministry location in your area. Go to http://www.angelfoodministry.com to locate a location and to see the monthly menu. Open to everyone, angel food ministry is available at churches across the United States. Each month, you can purchase a variety of food including meats, vegetables, fruit (and even dessert!) for only $25. Retail price of the food varies between $40-$75. Even though it may not be food you would typically purchase at the store, it is name brand products and will help you get by in a pinch.

Before you know it, payday will be here! Beward though--don't splurge at the beginning of the month and be left with an empty pantry again! Use these tips throughout the month. You might have to cook a little more than you're used to (you might like it!), and shop around for deals, but in the end it's all worth it. Eating at home provides the added benefit of eating healthier, too!