Making Your Food Budget Stretch

With the rising cost of food and the uncertain direction that the economy is headed, many people are trying to find ways to cut food cost. People are looking for ways to stretch their dollar and still have delicious meals to put on the table.

Purchase bulk foods at food clubs such as Sam's Club and Costco. Buying in bulk will save you money compared to purchasing the same food in a smaller quantity. This is also a great way to begin stocking your pantry. In this day of uncertain economic times, it is important for each home to have emergency food and water available.

Planning meal menus prior to grocery shopping can also help save money on your groceries. It is important to plan nutritious and economic meals. Well known budget saver meals are: Spaghetti, beans & rice, homemade soups, baked potatoes, tuna casserole, meat loaf, oatmeal, pancakes and the old standard ramen noodles.

Learning to cook & bake from scratch can make a huge difference in your food budget. If this is a foreign concept in your home then start off slow and just try one meal a week from scratch. Gradually increase this until you feel more comfortable without using processed foods. A bonus is that you will increase the nutrition for your family.

Using coupons is an obvious way to save on food. There are many websites that have special tips on how to cut your grocery bill even up to half off. It is a good idea to know what food items cost so that you are able spot a deal. Here are popular couponing websites:

www.couponmom.com

www.couponmountain.com

www.thecouponclippers.com

www.savingsmania.com

www.coupons.com

www.flamingoworld.com

www.alexscoupons.com

www.redplum.com

www.couponcabin.com

www.couponchief.com

www.dealcatcher.com

www.swapbabygoods.com

www.momsview.com

deals.yahoo.com/coupons/

www.retailmenot.com

www.clevermoms.com

www.freeshipping.org

It is also helpful to know which stores honor advertised sale flyers from other stores. Wal Mart will honor other stores advertised sales. Just bring in the sales flyer to receive the discount. Michael's craft stores will honor other craft store coupons such as from Joanne Fabrics.

Even if you live in the city in a small apartment it is possible to plant a garden. A container garden, hanging tomato basket, raised garden beds, vegetables planted in your flower beds or if space allows a large garden plot.

Seeds can be started in seedling trays inside usually around March. Once they are growing they can be transplanted into pots and grown under a fluorescent grow light until the danger of frost has pasts. The tender plants should be gradually allowed to spend time outside for a few hours each day for a week or two before they are planted. This process is called hardening off; it helps the young plants to survive and to be strong and healthy.

Another tip, if you are planning to save seeds to replant for the following year, you will need to purchase only Heirloom non-hybrid seeds. These are sometimes called open pollinated seeds. These are becoming harder to find at typical garden stores but can be purchased online at several websites. Here are some great sources:

http://www.rareseeds.com

http://www.heirloomacresseeds.com/

http://www.seedsavers.org/

http://www.organicaseed.com/

http://www.seedsofchange.com/

http://www.victoryseeds.com/

http://www.heirloomseeds.com/

http://www.landrethseeds.com/

http://www.sustainableseedco.com/

http://www.vegetableseed.net/

http://www.skyfiregardenseeds.com/

http://www.seedstrust.com/

http://www.amishlandseeds.com/

http://greenpeople.org/seeds.htm

After you harvest your garden produce or purchase your produce from the local farmer's market, it may be time to consider food preservation of yesterday. Canning fruits and vegetables is not such a difficult project. With some basic guidelines provided by county home extension offices you can provide delicious, nutritious meals year round. Purchase canning jars discounted towards the end of summer or better yet, ask relatives and friends if they have any that they would like to donate to your new project. Online sources such as Ebay and Amazon have many canners and canning supplies available for canning.

Choose all or just a few ideas to help stretch your food budget. Being prepared before shopping will help you to stick to your list. It is also important not to shop hungry as most people tend to purchase more food when their stomachs are growling. Even on a budget, meals for your family can be loaded with nutrients, full of flavor and easy on your budget.