How to Save Fifty to a Hundred Dollars on Food This Month!

With gas on the rise, the price of food is going up! Here are some simple ways to cut your food bill and eat healthier in the process!

People who don't know how much they are spending on groceries each month are 20 times more likely to be in substantial debt. The average US family spends nearly $4,000 a year on groceries alone. Many of us can eat better and spend less if we are more conscientious of our spending and aware of what we are consuming and wasting.

With a little planning and practice you can cut your grocery bill drastically! Here are 16 easy ways to reduce your food budget this month!

Start a record- Start by tracking every penny you are spending on food. It is helpful to write down what you are spending each day and on what. Try this for one week. You will be amazed if you have never done it before.

Make a price book - If you are truly serious about saving money start a price book! You will need a tiny notebook and some time. Each and every grocery item you buy should be written down. You can make a list for each store you frequent. Take this book with you while shopping and you can check instantly if you are getting a good buy or not.

Plan a menu - Gather your family's favorite recipes and create a menu for all meals and snacks. Make a list of everything you need to cook your recipes.

Eat ethnic- Ethnic recipes are delicious and cheap. They are also usually relatively cheap and very nutritious. Try out new recipes with an Indian, Mexican or Asian flair. The sky is the limit with ethnic dishes! Search the Internet or your local library for ideas and recipes. Or try recreating your favorite restaurant dishes.

Make a list- Always shop with a detailed list. If it's not on the list, don't buy it! This takes some discipline and practice.

Shop for 2 weeks- Shopping for two weeks at a time will save you money. The less you are in the store the more you will save.

Cut out convenience food- Keep a close eye on how much you are spending on cheap, and not so nutritious, convenience foods. Soda consumption alone can be an expensive habit. As well as snacks and pre-made foods. Each week try to eliminate or recreate from scratch, one or two regularly used convenience food. Search the web for knock off recipes. You will be amazed at what you can create yourself in you own kitchen! Homemade snacks are tastier as well! Homemade bread is even more satisfying! You can save a bundle by cutting down on convenience foods.

Buy generic and in season- Buying the store brand will save you a lot of cash with sacrificing taste. Most private label companies produce identical products for name brand companies. Also try to buy and cook what's in season as far as produce goes. You can also learn to can, dehydrate or freeze this season's surplus of produce for the year. It is worth the time and effort invested to save some money!

Bring cash- Leave your debit or credit cards at home! After you learn how much you are spending this will become easier. Don't tempt yourself by brining credit cards or more money than you will need. This may be a challenge at first, but with some practice you may even come home with cash left in your pocket!

Buy in Bulk- Buying in bulk can mean big savings for your wallet. Not all bulk items are a value though. You will want to figure out unit pricing and consult your price book. Another great reason for buying in bulk is that it also saves packaging, which will reduce your amount of waste.

Cook Bulk Meals- Double your recipes and freeze the extra meal for another day. This will be a great time saver on days you don't feel like cooking and stretch your food and your dollars.

Use coupons- Use coupons for things you normally would eat not just because the item is on sale. The best way to receive coupons for the things you eat, is to comment on the company's product through email or by calling the customer comment phone # on the product..

Avoid eating out- It's so easy to pick up fast food a couple of times a week. It is hard on the budget. Make a pact to only eat out a specific time a month and stick with it. Plan ahead and make meals you can take along for lunches or snacks for work or school. Freeze meals in advance for those busy times.

Use your community as a springboard- Your community can save you a lot of money! Try finding a farmer's market to shop at for produce or consider joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or a co-op. Community gardens are also popular in a lot of metro areas. You can feel good knowing your dollars are supporting your community and the people in it directly.

Grow your own produce- You can grow your own produce and learn how to preserve your harvest to save even more money! Search the Internet or borrow books on gardening from your local library to get started.

Create a meal exchange- This is a great way for families to help each other out. Each person in the exchange would make one meal for each family. Ideally you would want to make things that can be frozen. In turn you will get a variety of meals for your freezer!

Using these tips your family will be on the fast track to cutting your grocery bill. You will be surprised how fast it adds up and how much you are saving.