Save 1/3 Or More On Your Grocery Bill

Who doesn't want to save money in these softmost of my meals out of a box. My wife,
economic times? One way to do it is to cut yourhowever being from the Philippines was more
spending on groceries. No, I am not talking aboutused to going to the market and cooking
clipping coupons, although that is a way if youeverything fresh on a daily basis. I still remember
don't mind taking the time to look and clip. Frankly,the stunned looks on peoples faces who were
I don't have time for all that. I think my way isbehind us in the grocery line. Our cart would be
faster and easier. Consider these seven tips. (1)overflowing with all sorts of fresh fruit and
Buy in bulk. Most cities have an outlet that allowsvegetables, rice and meat. It would still cost about
you to buy in bulk. Most charge a nominalhalf what their half-full carts of packaged food
membership fee. Even with the fee, the savingscost! (5) Buy store brands if possible. While the
over a course of a year make it worthwhile. Thenationally advertized brands may get more
advantage to buying in bulk is that the cost ofattention, they are usually more expensive. Many
individual units is less. While it may not be practicalstore brands are actually quite good. Most of the
to buy fresh produce inbulk, there are manymajor chains have their own brand. Try them,
non-perishable items that can be effectivelyyou may be pleasantly surprised. (6) Use
bought in bulk. Some of these include canned"stretchers". No, not the kind you carry sick
goods, dry cereal, pasta, frozen meat, etc. Mostpeople on. I mean the kind my mother and
of these can be easily repackaged to agrandmother used to make food go further. Most
manageable size for storage. Another idea is tomeat dishes can effectively be stretched by using
buy in bulk with a partner and split it. (2) Buyhalf the called for ground beef and supplementing
more than one. The problem with buying only onewith beans such as navy or pinto. Even Pork and
of anything is that you are at the mercy of theBeans works well. We do this commonly with
grocer the next week when you need to replace"sloppy joes" at our house and the kids love
it. Buying more than one of commonly used itemsthem. Bread crumbs or oatmeal can be mixed
allows you to store the extras, so that you caninto a pound of hamburger to stretch things when
wait for the next sale to restock. Most groceryyou are making burgers for a crowd. I know of
stores rotate sale items on a monthly basis, soone national chain restaurant that uses ground
that if you purchase a month's supply, you havebeef and beans in spaghetti. I have not noticed
enough to last until the next sale. (3) If it's not ontheir sales dropping off. (7) Use leftovers
sale, don't buy it! While this may seem to be acreatively. Sometimes the little odds and ends
hard concept, by following the above rule, youthat are left from a large meal can be effectively
likely will not need it until the next time it's on saleconverted into soup or a casserole with a little
anyway. We follow this rule religiously in our housecreativity. Sometimes a happy accident occurs
and it works to save us 30-50% on a regularthat you may actually want to repeat. We use all
basis. By all means if it's a dire necessity, buy it. Ifthese tips at our house to one degree or another.
not wait until the next time it goes on sale. (4)In so doing, our monthly grocery bill is less than
Buy fresh food. The general rule in mostmost comparably sized families we know. By
households these days seems to be to buytrying some of these, I'm confident yours will be
pre-packaged, heat and serve meals. While theretoo!
may be a time savings, it comes at the expenseDave is a "wanna be" chef and father two picky
of a higher grocery cost and compromised flavor.eaters. Visit him at Cooking With Recipes for
I learned this lesson shortly after my wife and Imore information.
were married. I, being the typical bachelor, cooked