Since the cost of feeding my family is the single largest outlay of cash in our monthly budget, I thought it might be interesting to make a list of all the ways that can be implemented to help a family save money on their groceries. You don’t have to do all of these things to save money, I know we certainly don’t do all of them. But if you do add one or two (or three or more) of these tips into your grocery shopping routine, I just know it will save you money.

Before you shop

• Scan sales fliers each week, looking for loss leaders.
• Menu plan based on sales and what you have on hand.
• Make a list based on your menu plan
• Match coupons to sales items for deep discounts
• Eat before shopping
• Keep a running list of items you run out of
• Create a food budget so you know how much you can spend and stick to it.
• Check your pantry, refrigerator and freezer before planning your menu and writing your list
• Use what you have on hand
• Shop once a week or less often if possible – fewer trips mean fewer impulse buys
• Make a master grocery list
• Know your store’s layout – write your list based on where items are in the store
• Shop the loss leaders – purchase as many extra sales items as your budget allows Shop early in the day – fewer people – fewer distractions and many stores markdown items early in the day
• Know your store’s policies – some stores buy one get one free items will ring up at ½ price each, which means you should be able to use 2 coupons on your purchases – some stores ring the first item up at full price and the 2nd item free allowing you to only use 1 coupon.
• Find a store in your area that honors all competitors’ ads – this will help you save money, time and gas
• Shop the grocery outlet store, warehouse store or bag your own grocery store
• Choose the grocery store that will give you the most for your money

In the Store (general tips)

• Shop alone – leave the kids (and husband) at home if possible, fewer distractions = fewer impulse purchases
• Stick to your list, unless a food item is on sale or lower-priced and can be substituted for another item on your list, or if a family staple or favorite is on sale – buy larger quantity.
• Don’t be brand loyal – buy generic or store brands
• Avoid convenience food – it is much cheaper and more nutritious to buy and use the basic ingredients and make your own.
• Check the unit prices to get the best deal – larger does not always mean cheaper
• Don’t be fooled by end cap displays
• Check shelves high and low – usually the more expensive items are placed at eye level, yours and your children’s
• Buy only what you will use – purchasing large amounts at a great price is wonderful, only if it doesn’t go to waste
• Take advantage of store loyalty/rewards cards
• Watch the register to make sure items ring up at the correct price – check your receipt for errors as well
• Stock up on non-perishable or long shelf life food bargains
• Avoid junk/snack/empty calorie foods
• Pay with cash – take only what you have budgeted for – using credit cards for groceries means paying interest on your purchases
• Get a rain check if your store runs out of a sale item – combine it with coupons for maximum savings
• Know your store’s policies regarding price matching, coupons, rebates and rain checks
• Stop buying soft drinks – drink water instead
• Go meatless a day or two each week – alternate protein sources tend to be less expensive than meat
• Buy only groceries at the grocery store – purchase health and beauty aids, cleaners and paper products at a discount, department or drug store
• Look for the clearance or markdown bins
• Check the ethnic aisle for bargains
• Shop the perimeter of the store first – usually contains produce, dairy, meat and bread, all of the most important groceries for your family
• Shop with a calculator
• Don’t fall for multiple item sales – if an item goes on sale 4 for $10.00, you can buy one item for $2.50 – Normally you won’t have to purchase 4 items to get the sale price – be sure to check the fine print on these types of sales items
• Avoid impulse buys
• Check the sell by and use by dates to be sure you are buying fresh food
• Consider quality as well as price – try 1 can of a cheaper brand to see if your family likes it, before purchasing in bulk
• Always check weights – size and shape of containers can be deceiving
• Read the labels to see what you are paying for – the ingredient listed first is usually the largest quantity in the item

Coupon Tips

• Use coupons wisely
• Match coupons to sales for extra savings – be sure to check store and generic brands – is it cheaper than the item on sale with coupon? If it is be sure to purchase the lower priced item. Just because you have a coupon for the product doesn’t mean you have to use it.
• Find and shop at stores that double or triple coupons – know their policies regarding this
• Find coupons in Sunday newspapers or National magazines
• Look for blinkies, tearpads, and hangtag coupons in stores or on products
• Contact manufacturers by phone, mail or email – many times they will reward your time with coupons
• Join a coupon swap club
• Ask friends and neighbors to give you their unwanted coupons
• Request free samples online – many times they will come with money off coupons
• Dumpster dive at the paper recycling center
• Combine manufacturers coupons with store coupons if your store allows
• Use your coupons on the smallest size product allowed – you may get some items for free or close to free this way
• If a coupon makes an item “free” purchase it – if you don’t need or use it, donate it to a food pantry
• Don’t use a coupon for an item that you don’t need or use unless you plan on donating it

In the Dairy Case

• Try powdered or evaporated milk instead of fresh milk when cooking
• Fresh non-fat or low-fat milk usually costs less than whole milk, and provides the same nutrients – minus the fat
• Instant non-fat dry milk may cost less per serving than fresh milk – you can save money by using it for cooking or drinking
• Extend your fresh milk by mixing it half and half with reconstituted dry milk
• Milk in gallon or ½ gallon containers is usually cheaper than quarts or pints
• Pre-sliced, individually wrapped cheese is more expensive than bulk or store brand cheese
• Buy in bulk when on sale
• When buying eggs compare the price of large and medium eggs. If the large eggs are more than $.07 higher than the medium eggs, medium eggs are the better buy

In the Meat Case

• Go meatless once or twice a week – alternate sources of protein include beans, eggs, peanut butter and tofu which tend to be cheaper
• Buy cheaper cuts of meat – cook them in a slow cooker it will make them tender and very tasty
• Shop the meat counter when the store opens to find marked down meats – either cook and eat it the same day or freeze it for later use
• Stretch ground meat with bread crumbs, oatmeal or beans
• Chicken and turkey tend to be less expensive than other types of meat
• Buy chickens and turkeys whole and cut them up yourself
• When comparing cost of meat, compare cost per serving, not cost per pound – To figure cost per serving, divide the price per pound by the number of servings one pound will yield:

• a. lean boneless meat, such as extra lean ground beef, fish fillets, lean boneless roast, ham or canned meats will yield about 4-5 servings per one pound of meat
• b. small bone-in meat, such as chuck, round or rump roast, turkey breast, chicken breast or stew beef will yield about 3-3 ½ servings per one pound of meat
• c. large bone-in meat, such as Boston Butt (pork) roast, pork chops, whole chicken or turkey, drum sticks, thighs, whole or half ham will yield 2-2 ½ servings per one pound of meat
• d. Bony meat, such as spareribs, pigs feet, ham hocks and chicken or turkey wings will yield 1-1 ½ servings per one pound of meat Buy a larger cut of meat and divide it into several meals (I am not sure where I found this information originally – I had written it down in a notebook many years ago)

In the Produce Section

• Buy in season
• Compare fresh with frozen and canned to determine the best value
• When buying pre-packed produce for a flat cost, such as 5 lbs. Potatoes for $2.69, actually weigh the bags to find the bag that weighs the most
• Grow your own fruits and vegetables if possible
• Try a local farmer’s market
• Pick your own at a you pick farm
• Consider a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share
• Buy in bulk when produce is in season you can preserve or freeze them for later use Buy fresh fruits and vegetables that are free of wilt, bruises and decay

On the Breads/Cereals Shelves

• Buy day old bread from a bakery outlet – good for toast, bread crumbs and stuffing Buy plain breads and cereals which are usually cheaper
• Look for whole grain breads, crackers and other baked goods – they are more nutritious
• Hot cereals, such as oatmeal cost less per serving than ready to eat cereal and are generally better for you
• Bake at home – prepackaged baked goods or fresh bakery items are more expensive Buy from the bulk food bins when possible – they are often less expensive than prepackaged food

After Shopping

• Keep a price book – track sales cycles of items you use the most – know where the best deals are on the things you buy frequently
• Keep a running list or inventory of items you have on hand – don’t forget to track items in your freezer, refrigerator and pantry
• Cook at home – eat out less often and use coupons when you do
• Cook extras – eat one and freeze one or two for later use
• Cook from scratch
• Decrease portion size to the recommended daily guideline sizes 3 oz. portion of cooked meat = 1 portion
• Make your own convenience foods
• Stretch your foods – keep bacon grease in a jar in the fridge to add flavor to what you cook – Bake a chicken – serve baked chicken tonight – take all the remaining meat off the bone and freeze for another meal – save the carcass (freezing is best) add it to a stock pot with onions, carrot, celery, garlic, peppercorns and water to make a delicious homemade stock (which can be frozen for later use) – Make a roast – use the leftovers in a salad, soup, stir fry or sandwiches
• Use everything you buy – reduce waste
• Use your freezer – freeze everything you can – leftovers saved in individual portion sizes make a great brown bag lunch
• Keep a “soup container” in the freezer, add all leftover vegetables and meats to it throughout the week. At weeks end, pull it out of the freezer add stock, maybe more vegetables, rice, barley or pasta for a delicious leftover soup or stew.
• Use your leftovers or freeze for use another day – learn to “make over” your leftovers into a casserole, soup or salad – don’t waste food
• Keep a stock of your most frequently used items – purchase them in bulk when they are on sale
• Stock up on items as they go on sale
• Avoid convenience foods – learn to make your own – pull an already prepared meal from your freezer on days that you are too busy to cook from scratch
• Stretch meat by making casseroles or stir fry meals
• Limit eating out – use a coupon when you do – be sure to include these costs in your food budget
• Buy in bulk when unit price is the lowest
• Make your own snack size packages
• Learn to make soup – soup can be such a low cost, healthy meal
• Serve simple inexpensive meals, such as beans and rice, tacos, spaghetti, etc – simple, nutritious and easy to make
• Save bread ends and crusts – toast and crush to make breadcrumbs, stuffing, bread pudding or croutons – store them in the freezer

If you need assistance:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program  (SNAP) formerly known as the Food Stamp Program
SNAP helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health. You apply for benefits by completing a State application form. Benefits are provided on an electronic card that is used like an ATM card and accepted at most grocery stores.  
via:  USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children  - known as the WIC Program
WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.  
via:  USDA Food and Nutrition Service

National School Lunch Program  (NSLP) The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.  
via:  USDA Food and Nutrition Service

The USDA Commodity Food Network  CFN is a one-stop website that provides links to a wealth of information about USDA Commodity Food Programs.  via:  USDA Commodity Food Network

Summer Food Service Program  
SFSP is the single largest Federal resource available for local sponsors who want to combine a feeding program with a summer activity program. Children in your community do not need to go hungry this summer. During the school year, nutritious meals are available through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. But those programs end when school ends for the summer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program helps fill the hunger gap.  via:  USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Head Start
Head Start is a national program that promotes school readiness by enhancing the social and cognitive development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families.  via:  US Department of Health and Human Services

Feeding America formerly Americas Second Harvest
Their mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.   

I will be writing in more detail on many of these tips in the weeks and months to come, but if you have any questions about these ideas, or if you can think of anything that I may have forgotten to add, please let us know in the comments. I love learning about and putting into practice many ways to save (it’s one of my hobbies


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