Grocery Savings - Your Kitchen is a Goldmine!


Your food budget is the most flexible area of your household budget. Grocery savings will free up a significant amount of money if you need to balance the budget, or fund your savings accounts.

If you haven't figured it out already, your kitchen is a Goldmine. There are numerous ways to reduce the grocery budget and free up funds to use in other areas.

How much should you be spending on groceries?

The USDA Food Plans at the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion suggests that a family of four is currently spending about $100 to $116 per week based on the "Thrifty Plan", depending on the age of children. Anyone trying to reduce the food budget should follow the guidelines for the "thrifty plan."

This should give you at least some idea what the average family spends. I recommend you shoot for something less than that figure if at all possible by implementing as many of these grocery saving tips as possible!

  • Eliminate eating out! Period! - O.K. if you're family is screaming mad at you then take them out at least once a month. Make it an occasion. Most of us get caught up in fast paced living and eat out at least one or two times per week. It's just an insane waste of money.

    Your family will appreciate a dinner out much more when it's not such a regular event. Consider it "quality time out". And, remember to look for coupons good at local restaurants for additional savings.

  • Minimize the use of convenience foods. - You can make it yourself for a fraction of the cost, try it! Many of us are so accustomed to convenience foods that we forget we can make it ourselves.

    If you already love to cook from scratch then congrats! For the rest, I know this is a scary thought. It's hard to go back into the kitchen and actually get your hands dirty. However, I must insist you try this. There's gold in them there hands! Use 'em.

    If you don't have a lot of time, don't worry there are literally hundreds of recipe books for the busy lifestyle. There are many that promote frugal living as well.

    You'll find substitute recipes for everything from baking mixes to shake and bake and salad dressing. All it takes is a little extra time. Even if you had to pay yourself for doing the cooking you would come out ahead.

  • Do your homework! - Know what's on sale and plan your menu around the weekly sales flyers. Investing a little extra time in planning will help maximize grocery savings and reduce the food budget!

    I make it a rule to never buy meat over $2 a pound. Although I allow myself $2, I usually only spend on average 39 cents to $1.69. Occasionally, (rarely) I indulge in something special if it's a good value.

  • Eat meatless meals at least twice a week. - Beans and rice are a good example. Egg dishes are a nice change in routine for dinner. Try a vegetable stir fry or casserole.
  • Don't use packaged mixes. - Cake, breads, muffins, pastry, pizza dough, pancake, and waffles all come in a variety of pre-packaged mixes. Make your own for not much more effort and a lot less money!
  • Know what your local stores offer. - Which ones have the lowest prices? Start carrying a little memo book to record prices of items you buy regularly. You can organize trips to save time and money when planning your grocery shopping.

    Who accepts coupons and do they double? Do they have a rebate program? Do they have a clearance or bargain area? Which grocery stores accept additional discount programs like ValuPage?

  • Build your coupon file! - It seems coupons are available everywhere now. Your newspaper is a great starting point. Pay careful attention when looking through magazines. These are easy to miss. I often find coupons in home, ladies, or cooking magazines.

    Check out the free grocery coupons on-line. Be sure to do your research, many stores do not accept computer generated coupons due to the high incidence of fraud. Be sure not to waste your valuable time on this one if you don't have a local store that accepts them.

Be an informed consumer. I can't stress this enough!
Informed consumer = More grocery savings!

Once you know where to shop, use all your resources. Combine rebates, sales, and coupons whenever possible for maximum grocery savings. This takes a bit more dedication but, you can literally get paid to purchase items if you're willing to invest the time.

Grocery savings aren't just for the grocery store. many drugstores now have food sections where you can save on groceries.

Here's a great tip:

Always check your cash register receipt. Many stores offer a refund of full price policy for items that do not register the correct sale price. I have cashed in on this one many times. Remember, these price adjustments are usually entered by humans. Human error is always a possibility, so cash in on it!

Because of a simple mistake, you have increased your grocery savings!

If you....

  • Plan ahead - Use your sale flyers to plan weekly meals.
  • Use what you have on hand first - Plan meals based on foods you have in your fridge, freezer, and cabinets already
  • Utilize your savings tips - Get more for your money using a combination of resources listed above
  • Make it yourself whenever possible
  • ....You will be able to tap into that Goldmine hiding in your very own kitchen!

    Cheryl Johnson is a mother of four helping herself and others become and remain debt free. Publisher of Simple Debt Free Living at http://www.simpledebtfreeliving.com - A self-help plan, ideas, and resources for debt management, household budget planning, frugal and debt free living, and extra income opportunities. Money saving tips for groceries, clothing, home decorating, and much more, maximize savings everyday.



    RELATED LINKS

    Accept Credit Card Payment Online

    Accept credit card payment online and increase sales by 400% or more.... Find out how ...

     

    Advanta Credit Cards

    Apply for an Advanta credit card with 0% APR, rewards and cash back.

     

    American Express Credit Card Application

    Apply online for a new AMEX rewards credit card. See special offers.

     

    Best Airline Miles Credit Card

    Earn Frequent Airline Miles for Every Dollar Spent with No Annual Fee.

     

    Best Cash Back Credit Card

    Earn Up to 5% Cash Back on Every Day Purchases. Apply for Yours Today.

     

    Best Reward Credit Card

    Compare & Apply for the Best Reward Credit Cards with Up to 5% Cash Back Rewards and more.

     

    Business Credit Card Online Application

    Compare Business Credit Cards from All Major Banks. Apply Online Now

     

    Chase Credit Card Application

    Find Credit Card Applications from Chase & Apply Online in Seconds.

     

    Citi Credit Card Application

    Citibank offers credit cards that have 0% APR balance transfer options, Rewards, Cash Back, and much more

     

    Credit Card Application For Bad Credit

    Great card for bad credit just got better. 8.9% APR, instant decision.

     

    Credit Card Balance Transfer Deal

    Great Rates: Balance Transfers and Purchases. Capital One Credit Card

     

    Debit Cards

    Control Your Spending with a debit card. Guaranteed Approval.

     

    Discover Credit Card Offer

    Discover Credit Card Offers with 0% for 12 months, no fees & cash back.

     

    Gas Credit Card Application

    Save money at the gas pump with a new gas credit card. Apply now.

    Fast Easy Payday Loan

    Get the fast cash you need with an easy payday loan. Compare and apply

     

    Hotel Rewards Credit Card

    Earn Free Stays with a Hotel Rewards Credit Card. Apply Online Now.

     

    HSBC Credit Card Application

    Get 0% Intro APR, No Annual Fee, Great Service, Benefits. Apply Now.

     

    Low Interest Credit Card List

    Compare & Apply for Credit Cards w/ 0% Intro APR for Up to 15 Months

     

    Master Card Application

    Apply for MasterCard Credit Cards with 0% APR, Cash Back & No Fees.

     

    No Annual Fee Credit Card

    0% APR with No Annual Fee. Compare No Fee Credit Cards & Apply Online.

     

    Online Car Loan Application

    Loans and Refinancing for New and Used Cars. Online Approval.

     

    Online Debt Consolidation Services

    Consolidate your debts today - ease the strain of monthly bills.

     

    Online Foreign Currency Trading

    FOREX is a serious game. Play it with the pros. Start with just $50. The best trading platform available today. Start Trading and see why.

     

    Online Mortgage Application

    Apply online for a mortgage for your home. It's fast and easy. Great Rates!

     

    Online Visa Credit Card Application

    Compare & Apply for Visa Credit Cards with 0% APR and No Annual Fee.

     

    Prepaid Credit Card

    Get a Prepaid Credit Card with Free Direct Deposit. No Credit Check.

     

    Shopping Reward Credit Card

    Shopping Reward Credit Card. Fast Online Credit Card Application ... You have found the best shopping reward credit card site on the Internet!

     

    Student Credit Card Application

    Pay 0 Interest for 6 Months & Earn Rewards with a Student Credit Card.

     

    Travel Rewards Credit Card

    Compare Frequent Flyer Credit Cards Apply Now and Start Earning Miles.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    PersonalFinance: Keeping watch on your credit file
    Reuters - 5 hours ago
    (Linda Stern is a freelance writer. Any opinions in the column are solely those of Ms. Stern. You can e-mail her at lindastern@aol.com. ...


    Mutual Funds & Personal Finance
    Investor's Business Daily (subscription) - 22 hours ago
    BY DONALD JAY KORN If you're a recent college graduate, repaying your variable-rate student loans is about to become less expensive. ...


    Top Personal Finance Stories for 2008
    istockAnalyst.com, OR - Jul 3, 2008
    ... the year behind us, it is an opportune time to review the past six months and to look ahead to the rest of the year in the world of personal finance. ...


    MarketWatch

    More Personal Finance Daily stories
    MarketWatch - Jul 2, 2008
    "But there also are reasons to stay put, even if your ARM is guaranteed to jump. If you don't plan on staying in your house more than a few years (yes, ...


    California Check Cashing Stores and NetSpend Offer Personal ...
    FOXBusiness - Jul 2, 2008
    "I didn't realize how much high school seniors think about personal finance until I started giving these presentations," said Allyson Holmes, ...


    Personal finance chat with Jason Lilly
    Boston Globe, United States - Jul 1, 2008
    Jason_Lilly: Welcome to today's personal finance chat, I'm Jason Lilly, CFA, CFP, a Portfolio Manager with Rockland Trust, and I'll be your host for today's ...


    MarketWatch

    More Personal Finance Daily stories
    MarketWatch - Jul 1, 2008
    I know some people don't like this political slogan, but ... 'it's the economy stupid!' Objectively, what have Bush and the Republicans brought us? ...


    Personal Finance, County Market win
    Pontiac Daily Leader, IL - Jul 2, 2008
    Personal Finance and County Market were winners in Jr. Girls softball at the Rec-Plex on Tuesday. Rachel True and Jordan Johns scattered nine hits but held ...


    Mutual Funds & Personal Finance
    Investor's Business Daily (subscription) - Jul 2, 2008
    BY TRANG HO Greg Woodhams and Prescott LeGard have so much conviction in their stock picks that when Apple (AAPL) sold off at the beginning of the year, ...


    Top 5 Personal Finance Blunders
    istockAnalyst.com, OR - Jul 2, 2008
    Personal finance can be a tricky subject to master. You may feel comfortable with the stock market or perhaps you’ve taken on a mortgage or two, ...

    Personal-Finance - Google News

    home page | article index | site map
    Credit  |  Currency Trading  |  Debt Consolidation  |  Debt Relief  |  Insurance  |  Investment  |  Leasing  |  Loans  |  Mortgage and Refinance  |  Personal Finance  |  Real Estate  |  Stocks and Mutual Funds  |  Taxes

     

    © Copyright 2006 - SmarteCredit.Com. All rights reserved