Thrifty Foodies

Thrifty Foodies know that to be sure you get the most from your grocery dollars you need to do your grocery shopping with a plan.

Recently some friends and I were discussing that teaching “Home Economics or Domestic Science” should be reinstated in schools where it is no longer a part of the curriculum. Learning meal planning and how to shop wisely has saved me thousands of dollars every year and in these times every penny counts.

Spending half an hour a few days before shopping day to walk around the house and check on the supply of staple items (things you use almost daily) and also those odds and ends things like the spice rack and the condiment shelf will save you a fortune in both money and time.

In the past I have wasted so much money buying things I did not really need and forgetting to get the things that were key ingredients to a particular dish I wanted to make. Often I’d have to make a special trip to the more expensive but closer store to grab that one item I overlooked. That one more expensive addition then throws off the per serving cost in a huge way.

Many grocery stores offer Blank Lists broken down by aisle or category, but I prefer to make my list according to store and then the layout of the store. That also helps me to spend less time shopping, and after all time is money.

Of course, everyone has heard “Don’t go shopping when you are hungry” at least once in their life. Remember it! Failing to heed that warning can and will cost you money and time (on the treadmill).

Here are some things I have learned that have saved me a lot of money over the years.

1. Make a general meal plan for the week before you make the grocery list.
2. Set a budget for the week for food and for essentials and stick to it.
3. Know the prices of items you  buy often, in specific stores.
4. Don’t stock up on something just because it’s on sale unless it’s something you use VERY often.
5. Buy family packs of meat even if you are only one or two people and portion it into meals and freeze it.
6. Don’t buy everything in one store unless you have no choice.
7. Don’t assume warehouse stores are less expensive just because they sell bulk quantities.
8. Don’t buy bulk unless you’re going to use bulk!
9. Check packaging and sell by dates on everything!
10. Know the coupon policies of each store where you shop. Some allow coupon stacking and that can save you tons of money.
11. Don’t be afraid to buy “reduced” meat if you will use it or freeze it right away.
12. Carry coolers or at least cool bags and ice packs with you when you shop. Keeping vegetables and fruit temperatures even helps them last longer.
13. Spend the money for some of those Fresh Bag or Green Bags
    they do work. (more on this later)