How to Trim Your Grocery Bill

1. First and foremost, utilize your freezer. It isn't just for ice cream and Popsicles! Putting your freezer to good use can actually help lower your grocery bill. Buy in bulk; family packs of meat are more economical than individual cuts. Divide the packs into meal-sized portions; label and freeze them. For soups or stews, purchase steak on sale, and cut it into bite size pieces yourself. Often frozen vegetables are "buy one, get one free." Use one; freeze the other for a later date. Soups freeze well; make a large pot, label and freeze half of it for a busy day. (However soups containing potatoes have a tendency to become grainy when frozen -these are better eaten fresh)

2. Plan ahead. Peruse the supermarket flyers, and plan a weekly menu with food items that are on sale that week. Then check your pantry's inventory - you may already have on hand many of the items you need. Plan some less expensive meals like soups and spaghetti, to balance out the more expensive meals like steak.

3. Make a grocery list, and when you shop, stick to it. Don't indiscriminately add items to your cart just because they look or smell good. Add them only because they are on your list, or you know for a fact that they are needed. Tip: leave an envelope and a pencil on the kitchen counter; train your family members to write items down, as they are needed. When you are ready to shop, your list will be partially prepared.

4. Plan meals with recipes that can be doubled easily. Serve one; label and freeze the other for a later date. Often it doesn't cost much more to make a double recipe than a single one. Spaghetti is a good example; a double batch is economical, easy to make, and freezes well.

5. Make tv dinners with left-overs. Label and freeze these for a later date. When you have enough for one per person, have a "tv dinner night". Serve with salad and bread; everyone will have a complete, satisfying meal.

6. Find a bakery outlet. Day old bread is simply that - a day old. Its taste is almost undistinguishable from fresh bread, and it is much more economical. Make a bi-monthly trip to the bakery outlet and stock up. Freeze the extra loaves of bread until you are ready to use them.

7. Have "breakfast" for dinner one evening each week. It is much less expensive to serve an egg dish, French toast or pancakes than it is to serve a roast! Add some crisp bacon, fruit and a breakfast pastry (from the bakery outlet, of course) and everyone will enjoy the meal.

8. As often as possible, cook from "scratch." Prepared meals are much more costly than those you prepare yourself. Spend a Saturday morning marathon cooking - prepare 3 or 4 meals at one time. Label and freeze them for use during the week.

9. Pay for your groceries with cash. Having ready access to a credit or debit card will give you the freedom to shop carelessly, buying items you don't really need. If you take just enough cash to cover the estimated cost, you will be much more conscientious in your shopping.

10. Eat before you go shopping for groceries. If you are hungry, you are much more apt to keep adding items to your cart because everything looks good! If, however, you unavoidably find yourself shopping on an empty stomach, chew gum or sip a bottle of water while choosing your groceries.

11. Use coupons discriminately. What at first glance appears to be a good deal might not be. Often you have to purchase 2 of the item in order to use the coupon. Ask yourself-do you really need two? Also, the coupons are for name brands, which are more expensive. Quite frequently the store brand is just as good, and costs considerably less. You may find you save money in the long run by not using some coupons. However, if the coupon item is one you usually buy, wait until it goes on sale, or shop at a store that doubles the value of coupons.

12. Try to curtail grocery-shopping trips to once a week. If you are in and out of the market every couple days, you are likely to purchase impulse items, in addition to the needed items. If you find you must go to the market on a day other than your regular shopping day, go directly to the item you need, then directly to the checkout. Don't browse!