Save Money at the Grocery Store

You already know how it important it is to provide delicious and nutritious meals and snacks for your family. The challenge, of course, is figuring out how to save money at the grocery store in the process.

But, you can save money at the grocery store if you follow these simple tips:

Develop a Plan. Often, too much of what we buy to make meals ends up going to waste. If a recipe only calls for part of an item, then have a conscious plan for another meal or snack that will use the rest of it. This is especially important if you live alone or are only cooking for two. A little creativity here will stretch your food dollars further – and make sure you aren’t eating the same old plain grilled chicken breasts for a week.

Need help planning your meals? Check out this free report: Save Time And Money By Planning Your Meals

Make It Yourself. Although it takes longer to prepare home-cooked meals, it is less expensive than buying frozen or pre-packaged foods. In general, those items cost twice as much as the ingredients you need to prepare the foods yourself. If time is your challenge, try doing the bulk of your food prep once or twice a week, then freeze what you make for later in the week.

Consider Store Brands Over Name Brands.  Although you might be reluctant to try this approach, you can save a bundle. What’s more, the quality is often as good as the more recognized brand names – but you won’t be paying for the brand name item’s large advertising budget. For example, consider cereals and soft drinks. Name brand boxes of cereal can cost around $4 per box. When you purchase the store brands that come in plastic bags instead of the boxes, you will get twice as much cereal for less than ½ of the cost.

(Tip: make sure you pour those larger bags into airtight storage containers so they stay fresh).

Consider Growing Your Own. Okay, this won’t appeal to everyone – but it is definitely doable. Cooking and gardening are two of my passions and use fresh herbs like basil, thyme, cilantro and rosemary all the time. If you also enjoy cooking with fresh herbs, but cringe at how much they cost at the grocery store – try growing a few of your own. If you are ambitious, you can start them from seed or pick them up for a  couple dollars at most garden centers. I grow them outdoors all summer long at my house. Then, in the dead of winter, I keep pots of them on my kitchen counter.

A small vegetable garden can also do wonders for your budget, too. Again, it doesn’t cost very much to start plants from seeds – or to simply pick up starter plants at the store. (I find that tending to a garden is also a great way to relax and unwind). You can enjoy everything from fresh strawberries to field greens to delicious tomatoes for much, much less than you would pay to buy them in your local grocery store. (Plus, they’ll be more nutritious since the journey from the vine to your table is measured in steps, not miles).

However, If you decide to purchase fresh vegetables or fruits from a grocery store, get those that you have to chop up on your own. You’ll always pay more for the convenience of pre-washed or pre-sliced items.

With a little planning and effort, you can create awesome meals for yourself or your family – and keep a little green in your pocket while you are at it!