Money Saving Tips in the Grocery Store

Money Saving Tips in the Grocery Store
By Christine Lamb

Now that the holidays are over, we have eaten too much and our bank account has a problem. Some of the effective ways to cut food costs don’t go out so much to eat, which can be hard to do. Make it yourself instead of going out. Buy dried herbs. Buy in bulk.

Be selective with meats. Meats are the expensive ingredients. Buying cheaper cuts of meat might need to be marinade and cook low and slow for flavor and tender. Don’t forget to use your leftovers. You can create another meal with the leftovers, so use them up. Example, dice leftover meat and serve over cooked rice. Chicken is often cheap unless you’re buying breast meat.

The savings also comes from cutting back on portion sizes and from buying less of the high calorie foods that tend to increase the amount spent at the grocery store. People tend to spend a lot on those "extras" foods that add calories little nutritional value, like sodas, chips, candy etc.

Planning meals around what's on sale can lower your grocery bill, especially if you also use coupons. Just make sure they're for items you would buy anyway. Don’t buy an item just because you have a coupon. Sunday newspapers are full of coupons and sales circulars to get you started.

Make lunch and taking it with you is a great way to save money, and an excellent use of leftovers for meals at work and school. "Packing your lunch not only saves you money, but you can control all the ingredients.

Before you place perishable food into your grocery cart, think about how you'll use it. Waste nothing!

Consider buying store brands instead of national brands, which is more expensive. "All food manufacturers follow standards to provide safe food and beverage.

And, click here to view some tasty recipes that are easy and affordable. Reminder, casseroles and soup will make your buck go a long way.