Every frugal minded individual knows the value in clipping coupons, but what other ways can you save a few dollars at the grocery store? We were curious so we searched around and found 5 rather simple tips to remember when you’re stocking up on groceries.
1. Buy Generic or Store Brands
It can be intimidating and bit scary but these days store brands have come a long way in terms of quality. It’s best to experiment with simple, staple items at first before moving on to other products. Frugal Families has an excellent post on ‘How to Choose Generics or Store Brands.’
2. Avoid Prepared Entrees; Buy Real Food
The grocery store tempts us with a bevy of prepared entrees but we pay for that convenience. BlogHer states the importance of buying ‘real food.’
To save money, to be frugal grocery shoppers, this is all we’re going to buy. Much ‘real food’ is one ingredient long. Lettuce. Carrots. Milk. Chicken. It’s an ingredient. It hasn’t been cooked by a company. It likely doesn’t have a brand name and a promotion budget. It’s real food, it’s ‘whole food’. It’s at the bottom of the dinner chain.
3. Cook and Store Leftovers
Cooking can be challenging but if you get into a routine and make sure your fridge is stocked with leftovers, then each meal becomes significantly less of a chore. Of course, you can also make it fun and learn how to make different dishes by exploring new recipes. The web offers endless recipes and cooking tips. RecipesToday offers some excellent tips for ‘Cutting Cooking Costs.
4 . Go Vegetarian
Meat can get expensive, especially if it’s included in every meal. Plus, we all probably eat too much meat than is healthy for us, so why not pick one night out of the week and designate it vegetarian night? Sure, cooking vegetarian meals can be challenging but with a little research you can find plenty of options.
5. Drink Water
Soda, juice, coffee, tea and all those other drinks tend to add up not only in calories but also on your grocery bill. If you get into the habit skipping out on buy beverages, you’ll start to notice a steady decrease in your grocery bill. We all know the importance of drinking water, but in case you need a reminder, the Mayo Clinic provides an excellent overview on the health benefits of drinking water.
If you’d like more tips and tricks, these articles are great resources.
Top 10 Grocery-Saving Tips
Cut Your Grocery Bill
Family Finance: How to Save Money on Groceries
How to Save Money on Groceries – 45 Ways to Reduce Your Grocery Bill
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