Save 50 Percent on Your Grocery Bill

People waste up to fifty percent of their food. That startling statistic provides a starting point for cutting the grocery budget. Food wasted is money wasted.

Most people will deny their food waste, but think for a minute. Restaurant take home boxes are often tossed out days later with stale, limp French fries and a soggy third of a sandwich. Vegetable crisper boxes are notorious for harboring withered and forgotten lettuce. People toss food because it spoils, gets slimy, molds, smells funny, and looks unappetizing. "Cleaning out the fridge" is less about wiping the shelves and more about getting the forgotten leftovers and weird unidentifiables out.

Save Money by Using what you Have

In a frugal kitchen the cook knows what she has on hand at all times and uses items in a manner to avoid spoilage and waste. Some people plan weekly or monthly food calendars and shop accordingly. Another method is to periodically peek in the fridge and make a quick list of the foods near the end of their shelf life. Refer to this list when planning a meal. Complex pantry lists and check off sheets are often more work than necessary.

Save money by Reviving Leftovers

Much wasted food is found in the form of leftovers. These foods are seldom as appetizing the second time around. One method is to remake the food into something different, adding fresh ingredients to give the item a new twist. For example, leftover rice is often a hard lump; but if you chop some onions, heat some oil, and add some veggies and soy sauce and you have delicious stir fried rice. A soggy Caesar salad can be wrapped in a lightly toasted tortilla and topped with freshly grated cheese for a lunch wrap. Adding freshly chopped veggies or a new sauce to revive a dish can use up those leftovers before they spoil.

Save Money by Buying Less

The best way to save money is not to spend it. If a serious look at your kitchen has you realizing you are wasting too much food consider buying less. The bulk size box of cereal is no savings if half the box stales before it is used. If cheese molds before you can use it up, consider buying smaller amounts or only one variety at a time.

Save Money by Using Less

Adjusting portion sizes benefits you budget as well as your waistline. If you know leftovers of a specific dish will not be eaten then only cook what will be used that day. Using less of the most expensive ingredients (meats, cheeses, condiments) is another way to save. Just make sure not to let these items spoil by hording them. The trick is to buy less, store securely, and know what you have.

Save Money by Watching the Wastebasket

Knowing what foods are typically being wasted in your household will help you to purchase appropriate amounts or to discontinue using some food items. If you consistently toss the same items use this clue and stop buying, cooking or ignoring those foods. You might also think of a way you could have used those ingredients if only you had thought of it before they spoiled. Take note and use that idea the next time around.

There are many ways to save money on the grocery bill but some of the most simple involve being aware of what you have, how much you use, and when it might spoil.