| Who doesn't want to save money in these soft | | | | most of my meals out of a box. My wife, |
| economic times? One way to do it is to cut your | | | | however being from the Philippines was more |
| spending on groceries. No, I am not talking about | | | | used to going to the market and cooking |
| clipping coupons, although that is a way if you | | | | everything 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 is | | | | behind 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 allows | | | | vegetables, rice and meat. It would still cost about |
| you to buy in bulk. Most charge a nominal | | | | half what their half-full carts of packaged food |
| membership fee. Even with the fee, the savings | | | | cost! (5) Buy store brands if possible. While the |
| over a course of a year make it worthwhile. The | | | | nationally advertized brands may get more |
| advantage to buying in bulk is that the cost of | | | | attention, they are usually more expensive. Many |
| individual units is less. While it may not be practical | | | | store brands are actually quite good. Most of the |
| to buy fresh produce inbulk, there are many | | | | major chains have their own brand. Try them, |
| non-perishable items that can be effectively | | | | you 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. Most | | | | people on. I mean the kind my mother and |
| of these can be easily repackaged to a | | | | grandmother used to make food go further. Most |
| manageable size for storage. Another idea is to | | | | meat dishes can effectively be stretched by using |
| buy in bulk with a partner and split it. (2) Buy | | | | half the called for ground beef and supplementing |
| more than one. The problem with buying only one | | | | with beans such as navy or pinto. Even Pork and |
| of anything is that you are at the mercy of the | | | | Beans 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 items | | | | them. Bread crumbs or oatmeal can be mixed |
| allows you to store the extras, so that you can | | | | into a pound of hamburger to stretch things when |
| wait for the next sale to restock. Most grocery | | | | you are making burgers for a crowd. I know of |
| stores rotate sale items on a monthly basis, so | | | | one national chain restaurant that uses ground |
| that if you purchase a month's supply, you have | | | | beef and beans in spaghetti. I have not noticed |
| enough to last until the next sale. (3) If it's not on | | | | their sales dropping off. (7) Use leftovers |
| sale, don't buy it! While this may seem to be a | | | | creatively. Sometimes the little odds and ends |
| hard concept, by following the above rule, you | | | | that are left from a large meal can be effectively |
| likely will not need it until the next time it's on sale | | | | converted into soup or a casserole with a little |
| anyway. We follow this rule religiously in our house | | | | creativity. Sometimes a happy accident occurs |
| and it works to save us 30-50% on a regular | | | | that you may actually want to repeat. We use all |
| basis. By all means if it's a dire necessity, buy it. If | | | | these 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 most | | | | most comparably sized families we know. By |
| households these days seems to be to buy | | | | trying some of these, I'm confident yours will be |
| pre-packaged, heat and serve meals. While there | | | | too! |
| may be a time savings, it comes at the expense | | | | Dave 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 I | | | | more information. |
| were married. I, being the typical bachelor, cooked | | | | |