The average American family spends about $330 on groceries each month. Above all other bills, most people said that groceries eat the bulk of their budgets, as feeding a family can be expensive nowadays.
The good news is that there are several things that a person can do to reduce one’s grocery bill. All it takes is a bit of planning, some organization, and a bit of smart shopping, and anyone can reduce their grocery bills by at least 15%.
Here are some tips on how to save money on your grocery bills.
Take stock of what’s in your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator
Most people have a lot of hidden or forgotten food, so take stock of what’s in your pantry, freezer and refrigerator to see what you can use to make your family’s meals. Make sure to check out expiration dates on canned goods and move the ones that need to be consumed to the front of your pantry.
Once you’ve done an inventory of what you have, see if you can use a few odd bits of food to make a dish. For instance, a few chunks of meat which you’ve found in the corner of your freezer, a lone carrot, a stalk of celery, two medium potatoes, and a can of chicken broth can be turned into a delicious soup.
Plan your meals before going to the grocery
Get a notebook and pen and write down your meal plan for the week. After doing so, make your grocery list. It’s important to stick to the list when shopping to save money, so that means avoiding any impulse buys when at the grocery store.
Consider using versatile ingredients for your dishes
Buying versatile ingredients mean that you can use them in different dishes throughout the week. For instance, instead of buying a bottle of sesame oil for that one dish in your menu, think about buying olive oil, which works in many dishes.
Among the most versatile ingredients are chicken stock or chicken broth, Greek yogurt, pasta, tomato paste, eggs, nuts, garlic, cheese, rice, ground meat, onions, potatoes, canned beans, and tuna. These ingredients can be turned into casseroles, stews, stir fry, salads, sandwiches, pies, and more.
Check out generic brands for staples
Where’s no need to buy branded items in the grocery store when it comes to staples such as flour, salt, sugar and the like. See if your grocery carries generic or home brand staples and pick these items over the popular brands.
Buy in bulk—but only if you truly love the item
Buying in bulk is a great way to save money at the grocery store. However, many are simply thrilled by the bargains and don’t even use or eat much of what they bought. Why buy a whole case of canned pineapple if no one in your family likes it? But if everyone at home eats a particular kind of food in large quantities, then buying in bulk will definitely save you money on your grocery bills.
Use coupons
Anyone who’s ever seen the “Extreme Couponing” show on TLC knows that coupons can save people a lot of money at the grocery store. Oftentimes, some of the expert couponers featured in the show walk away with carts of products and only pay 20% of the original total cost.
The Sunday paper usually comes with coupons for the grocery store, so clip those and use them to save money. Also, check out online couponing sites, such as The Krazy Coupon Lady, which give tips on which items are going on sale for the week.
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s tips on how to save money when eating at restaurants.
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