I have gotten a lot of emails lately asking me for my tips on saving money on groceries. Generally I am pretty frugal food shopper and rarely have any food waste. I also only grocery shop once a week, some times less.
1. I read all of the local store ads and decide where to shop at by which store has the best deals on meat, seafood and staples.
2. I buy large quantities of meat when they are on sale and freeze them in meal sized portions.
3. I pay attention to cycles in sales, baking stuff goes on sale in December, yogurt about once a month, roasting chickens in the winter etc and stock up the best I can.
4. I plan meals around what is on sale rather than rushing out and buying (full price) ingredients for a specific dish.
5. I only buy and eat in season vegetables and fruit. It is tastier and cheaper.
6. I make a trip to Wegmans every 6-8 weeks to stock up on cheap staples like canned beans (about 50 cents a can), 28 oz cans of tomatoes (about $1) and Cabot cheese in large blocks.
7. When I open a new jar or container of something I add it to a running list so I know to keep an eye for it so I can pick it up when it goes on sale. This helps eliminate having to run out and pay full price for something I am totally out of at the last minute.
8. I keep a mental list of prices and deals. $6 for two jars of mayo sounds like a good deal unless you know that a store frequently has it on sale for 2 for $4.
9. I go to ethnic supermarkets for good deals on spices, sauces, produce and staples like noodles, panko, flours etc. I also try to stock up so I don't have to buy soy sauce at the regular supermarket for twice as much.
10. The farmers market is a great place for deals on produce, dairy and eggs. I always take one trip around before buying anything to make sure I am getting the lowest price. There is nothing worse than spending $6 on squash then seeing it 15 feet away for $2.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
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6 comments:
Great tips! I too shop the sales and stock up on things. I am a bargain shopper!
Good tips! I also recommend a CSA -- veggies straight from the farm for a much better cost than what you pay for the trucked versions in supermarkets! And you'll try things you wouldn't have thought about buying!
I have trouble with #4. If I shop the sales, I end up with weird things that don't go together. I begin with a recipe and stick to that list and that seems to keep me in line. But I am a highly suggestible impulse buyer.
Also, it's a weird control thing. Like, I want to have chicken because I want to have chicken, not because the grocery store decided for me that chicken would be on sale and therefore I will have chicken. A very grass-is-always-greener problem. If chicken's on sale, I want pork/beef/fish.
pomme de terre -
That's why I stock up, if chicken is on sale and I don't feel like eating it, I already have pork or beef or shrimp in the freezer that I can defrost and use. I can just freeze the chicken. This also helps with the "things on sale don't go together issue", there is a lot of flexiblity if you have a stocked pantry/freezer.
While I also eat in-season fruits and vegetables, I know that frozen vegetables have as many, if not more, nutrients than fresh (unless the fresh stuff was grown and sold down the street!).
"In 1998, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that frozen fruits and vegetables provide the same essential nutrients and health benefits as fresh. It's no wonder. Frozen fruits and vegetables are nothing more than fresh fruits and vegetables that have been blanched (cooked for a short time in boiling water or steamed) and frozen within hours of being picked. Further, frozen fruits and vegetables are processed at their peak in terms of freshness and nutrition.What's not to like?"
I really admire how well you and Matt manage your budget. Chris and I are no slouches, either, but I think you have us beat.
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