6.6.09
31 Ways To Save On Your Grocery Budget: BONUS TIP
So I meant to include this in with one of the “31 Ways To Save On Your Grocery Budget” tips and I forgot. Yeah, it happens. A lot lately! 
Ever have a night where you are staring at your pantry looking at your inventory asking yourself, “What can I make with these things?” Well, here’s a website to check out.
It’s called “Super Cook.” You type in the ingredients you have on hand and it will pull up a few recipes you can make. Not only does it help you use what you have on hand, but it also helps you keep your meals fresh and new–keeping your family happy and your grocery budget lower!
You can check it out HERE.
6.1.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget (Without Coupons!) : Re-Cap
I hope that you have all enjoyed this series. I wanted to take a minute to re-cap what’s been posted:
TIP #1: – Create A GOOD Grocery Budget And Stick To It!
Tip #2 – Create a Weekly Menu Plan
Tip #3: – Have a “Low Inventory” List in your pantry /on fridge
Tip #4 – Inventory Often To Avoid Expired Food
Tip #5 – Shop With An Organized List That’s Listed By Store Aisle
Tip #6 – Never Shop Hungry–And Leave The Kids At Home
Tip #7 – Keep a Price Book
TIP #8 – Keep a Clean Fridge And Know What You Have On Hand
TIP #9 – Make Your Own Single-Serving Snacks
TIP #10 – Only Shop With Cash
TIP #11 – Use Your Leftovers
TIP #12- Use Proper Storage to Extend the Life of Your Food
TIP #13 – Create and Live Off a Stockpile
TIP #14 – Switch From Bottled Water To A Pitcher or Water System
TIP #15 – Skip Convenience Foods And Make Your Own
TIP #16 – Freezer or Once-A-Month Cooking
TIP #17 – Always Have a Quick Back-Up Meal On Hand
TIP #18 – Try To Work In Some Crockpot Cooking
TIP #19 – Use Recipes With Few Ingredients
TIP #20 – Be Creative And Make Your Own Restaurant Meals At Home
TIP #21 – Try The Store Brand Version of Products
TIP #22 – Try Alternate Stores Like Aldi’s or Warehouse Clubs Like Sam’s or Costco
TIP #23 – Buy Your Spices Elsewhere Or Grow Your Own
TIP #24 – Always Be On The Lookout For Great Store Deals That Don’t Need Coupons
TIP #25 – Simply Put, Use Everything!
TIP #26 – Consider Canning/Preserving Food
TIP #27 – Plant Your Own Garden
TIP #28 – Visit Pick-Your-Own Locations
TIP #29 – Shop At Local Farmstands And Farmer’s Markets
TIP #30 – Change Your Eating Habits, Take a Little, Go Back For Seconds
TIP #31 – Alternate Ways To Cut Meat Expenses
BONUS TIP – Use Supercook Website
5.31.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget: Tip #31
TIP #31 – ALTERNATE WAYS TO CUT MEAT EXPENSES
For the longest time, I was horrible at thinking a meal wasn’t complete without a big side of a stand-alone meat. But I’ve since found out that I could save a lot of money by working meat and protein into meals in other ways.
For example, instead of just chicken with a side of veggies, we’ll have chicken alfredo. I actually use up less meat this way. We really don’t need big portions of meat to meet our daily allowances of protein.
I’ve also heard that you can buy lower grades of, say hamburger, and after they are cooked, rinse off all the fat. (Great article HERE on this.) This way, you can pay the cheaper price and still prevent yourself from taking in unnecessary fat!
Another way to get your protein recommendations in are actually through meatless meals, such as beans or peanut butter or even some dairy products like yogurt and cheese. And all of these things can usually be bought during great sales!
You honestly just have to get out of that thinking process that protein only comes from meat or that you need meals with big portions of meat. By cutting back on larger portions or finding alternate ways to obtain protein, you can save on your grocery budget.
Well, that’s the end of the 31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget (Without Coupons) Series. I hope that you have enjoyed it and possibly found some ways to make little cut-backs that will add up over time!
5.30.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget: Tip #30
TIP #30 – CHANGE YOUR EATING HABITS! TAKE A LITTLE, GO BACK FOR SECONDS.
We all hate to waste food. So when our plates are piled high, we feel the need to eat everything. Sometimes, even to the point of feeling sick. But by changing how much we initially put on our plates, can actually cut back on the cost of groceries.
How’s that? If we start with smaller portions on our plates, we may be less apt to go back for more. We’ll eat a little slower and enjoy our food and actually let our brain catch up with how much we are shoveling into our stomachs. It will actually send out a signal saying, “I’m full!”
By simply skipping seconds at most meals, you’ll eventually find that your current recipes might make enough for another complete meal or even just enough for a small lunch to have at home or take to work.
But for me, the best way I was able to kick the “too much eating” bad habit was by switching from dinner plates to appetizer plates. I use these as much as possible! We’ve been finding ourselves getting full on less and our minds are tricked into thinking we’ve eaten an entire plate of food! I found a great article HERE on How To Eat Proper Portions. It’s well worth the read!
By trying this simple little “mind trick,” not only will you be keeping off extra weight, but you’ll also save on your grocery budget.
Tune in tomorrow for the final Tip… #31.
5.29.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget: Tip #29
TIP #29 – SHOP AT LOCAL FARMSTANDS AND FARMER’S MARKETS
When we first moved to our house, I was so elated to find an amazing farmstand right down the road from us. They honestly have the best sweet corn I’ve ever had! And their prices on vegetables were a steal! I am always sad when I see them close up shop for the winter. I enjoy the incredibly fresh veggies all summer/fall. (It really makes it hard to go back to store-bought!) They also have little baskets of discounted veggies that may have the smallest bruise on them that are just fine if you use them right away.
Also, several towns have what they call Farmer’s Markets. Some are weekly. Some monthly. But it’s just a gathering of all sorts of people selling things from produce to Tupperware to fresh flowers to PIE! I’ve heard that the best times to visit these are right before closing as they are sometimes willing to mark things down more so they don’t have to transport them back again. (Though, you take a risk of only being able to buy what’s leftover.)
By taking advantage of Farmstands and Farmer’s Markets you not only get fresher food and are supporting local farmers, but you can also save on your grocery budget.
Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #30.
5.28.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget: Tip #28
TIP #28 – VISIT “PICK-YOUR-OWN” LOCATIONS
Last year, Nathan and I went blueberry picking. We had so much fun! I told him that we’d make this an annual event! I went back a second time and spent most of one morning picking enough for our pancakes/waffles over the winter.
We also go apple picking in September/October, as well. We’ll have plenty of apples for snacks, pies, applesauce, etc. They also have activities there for the kids and we make a big family outing out of it, meeting up with my sisters and their kids, too!
And last year, we just started a new one of picking out pumpkins for Halloween at farms, rather than at a store. What I love about this is that you are helping to directly support a farmer rather than giving some of the profit to the stores.
Not sure where there’s a location by you? You can try this site HERE and see if they have one on their list.
Not only are pick-your-own locations fun family time but you also can save money on your grocery budget, as well!
Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #29.
5.27.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget: Tip #27
TIP #27 – PLANT YOUR OWN GARDEN
This has to be one of the funnest ways to save on your grocery budget! Gardening can be a great activity for both you and your kids to enjoy. They get to learn how putting work into something yields “fruit.” Even if you have limited space or are in an apartment, you can consider trying some container gardening. We did some container gardening for cherry tomatoes last year. Nathan loved it!
Planting a garden is not only fun but it saves on your grocery budget!
Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #28.
5.26.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget: Tip #26
TIP #26 – CONSIDER CANNING/PRESERVING FOOD
Now, this is one that I can’t give you a lot of tips on because it’s currently on my list of “things to learn.” My neighbor’s SIL cans tons of tomatoes each summer for chili, casseroles, etc during the winter when the price is higher. I need to take the time to learn how to do this, as I hear it’s easy.
Canning/Preserving foods now can save you money later helping you reduce your grocery budget.
Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #27.
5.25.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget: Tip #25
TIP #25 – SIMPLY PUT, USE EVERYTHING!
I remember watching the Rachel Ray show before when she’d have these segments called “Bottom of the Jar” recipes. She would take little bits of something that most people would throw out and use it in another recipe.
One of the ones my Mom taught me to use is bottom of the bag Doritos to make this Taco Salad. (To add an extra little kick, use Jalepeno Doritos!)
So before you throw out those “scraps” ask yourself if you couldn’t turn it into something new! By using everything, you’ll start saving on your grocery budget.
Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #26.
5.24.09
31 Ways To Save On Your Grocery Budget: Tip #24
TIP #24 – ALWAYS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR GREAT STORE DEALS THAT DON’T NEED COUPONS.
Believe it or not, you can actually get pretty good deals on items at the store without coupons. (Though, the coupons do sweeten the deals!) You just have to keep your eyes open and have your “low inventory lists” handy.
For example, our Jewel has a deal this week on Coke. When you buy 5 Coke products for $11, you’ll get 2 Hillshire Farms lunch meats for FREE. No coupons needed. No catalinas to try not to lose. It’s just deducted automatically on your order. Talk about a sweet deal, right? Grocery stores run deals like this all the time.
By keeping your eyes open and buying up deals for the items you use the most will help you save money on your grocery budget.
Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #24.
5.23.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget: Tip #23
TIP #23 – BUY YOUR SPICES ELSEWHERE OR GROW YOUR OWN.
Anytime I run out of a spice, I dread having to buy a new one! If I don’t find a good deal on it and I need a new one now, it’s usually a good $3-4 at the grocery store. I then realized that there were off brand spices sold elsewhere at a much reasonable price that were just as good of quality.
Also, when I can, I try to grow my own spices. Herb gardens can be fairly easy to maintain and you always have fresh spices on hand.
Getting spices at a reasonable price or growing your own saves money on your grocery budget!
Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #24.
5.22.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget: Tip #22
TIP #22 – TRY ALTERNATE STORES LIKE ALDI’S OR WAREHOUSE CLUBS LIKE SAM’S OR COSTCO
Several years ago, I made a trip to Aldi’s and wasn’t overly impressed. But let me tell you, ours has come a long way since then. I still cannot get over the prices on their staple items such as bread and milk and the quality of their produce is top-notch. If you hate to coupon clip and watch sales ads, I would highly recommend you do the bulk of your shopping at a store like Aldi’s.
Another path to check into are warehouse clubs such as Sam’s Wholesale or Costco. They usually put out free one-day passes where you can look around and pick-up any items you may need. You just have to be careful that you are really getting the best price for the amount you are buying. Some items are actually higher there. Overall, these places tend to be the most advantageous to those needing to buy in bulk.
By finding alternative stores to shop at, you can sometimes get really great deals and save on your grocery budget.
Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #23.
5.21.09
31 Ways To Save On Your Grocery Budget: Tip #21
TIP #21: TRY THE STORE BRAND VERSION OF PRODUCTS.
Without using coupons, it can sometimes be hard to get name brand items at a good price. They have to figure in their Marketing expenses along with that extra padding for the coupons they do distribute. When you buy store brand items, you are sometimes even get almost the exact same product, just with a different label.
I have been slowly testing out some store brands. Some I liked. Some I didn’t. My advice is to try them when they are on sale so you can get the best price in case it doesn’t match the quality you are looking for.
Some of the items I’ve liked are Jewel Pepperoni (for pizzas), Aldi’s Nacho Cheese Chips and for our dogs, Wal-Mart’s Old Roy sticks. What have you tried and liked/disliked?
By veering from brand loyalty, you can get items for less and save money on your grocery budget.
Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #22.
5.20.09
31 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Budget: Tip #20
TIP #20: BE CREATIVE & MAKE YOUR OWN RESTAURANT MEALS AT HOME.
We all have our restaurant favorites—the things that we always like to order when we go out and wished we knew how to make at home. Well, there’s some good news if these restaurants are “chains”…there are recipe sites out there that have posted some of these recipes, as close as they can make them. Test out a few and see if they are good chefs or not and be sure to read the reviews by other readers. Definitely start out with the FREE sites first!
But my all-time favorite site for this is Top Secret Recipes. This used to be a free site but now some recipes are $.79. But I’m OK with that. I like to give back to those that make my life great! And $.79 is a cheap price to pay if it keeps you from paying entree price at the restaurant! Also, his recipes seem to be the closest to the real thing. I have several printed copies that I got back when they were free and some of my favorites are his Applebee’s Baked French Onion Soup and Olive Garden’s Pasta e Fagioli. (That last one is FREE still!) And I’m eventually going to try out his Olive Garden’s Alfredo Pasta. (another Freebie!) You can sign-up for his email newsletter and get notified when he’s added his weekly addition.
There are other sites (which I haven’t tried) such as CopyKat Recipes and All-Restaurant Recipes.
Also, go directly to the restaurant site. I was happy to see that one of my favorite restaurants, Bahama Breeze, had some of their recipes online! They have amazing Caribbean food!
Basically, Google your favorite restaurant dish and see if anyone has created a match. Being able to create your favorites at home not only saves you on carry-out/dining expenses but it can also teach you how to be more creative in your own kitchen. Your favorite meals can become regulars in your Weekly Menu Plan. Or save them for special occastions and skip the eating-out expense! All of these things will help you $ave on your grocery (and entertainment!) budget.
5.19.09
31 Ways To Save On Your Grocery Budget: Tip #19
TIP #19 – Use Recipes With Few Ingredients
When we first got married, I thought being a good wife meant having a “gourmet” dinner on the table every night. Then I came to realize that my hubby liked the ordinary meals just as much. Whew!
When I started picking recipes with just a few ingredients, I noticed that not only did my grocery bill start dropping, but so did the hours I’d spend in the kitchen! The meals were easier to fix and I didn’t have all that clean-up work either! And to be honest, the meals were just as good!
What’s even better? When I do make a “gourmet” meal now, it’s even more special! It’s almost like eating in a nice restaurant…at home!
One of my favorite discoveries was a recipe book with not only few ingredients but also…for the crockpot! Double Bonus! It’s called Fix-it And Forget-it 5-ingredient Favorites
When I did a search, I also found these, but I do not own them so I can’t give you any kind of review on them. (Something to research at the library!)
Do you have any favorite “few ingredient” cookbooks?
