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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!)

5 Ingredients or Less! Fresh Recipes for Every Season Plus Clever Tips for Celebrating Every Day (Gooseberry Patch)

5-Ingredient Favorites: 700 Favorite Recipes with Five Ingredients or Less (Better Homes & Gardens Cooking)

Do you have any favorite “few ingredient” cookbooks?

TIP #18 – Try To Work In Some Crockpot Cooking

If I had to pick a small kitchen appliance as my favorite, I’m pretty sure I’d have to say my crockpot. I love throwing in a few ingredients and knowing supper’s done! And the aromas that fill the house throughout the day are delicious!

Now you might be asking how you can save with a Crockpot? Well, there are a few ways. First, since most crockpot meals take 6-8 hours, you have to begin them in the morning. This makes you think about supper early and prevents the temptation for take-out. Second, since the food basically marinates all day, you don’t need as many ingredients to make a really great recipe. And last, since meats cook all day, you can buy tougher, inexpensive cuts of meats and still have a tender, juicy meal when it’s all done.

Now, don’t think you can only make soups and roasts, etc in them. You’d be amazed at what you can cook in a crockpot! One of my all-time favorite cooking websites is A Year of Crockpotting. I wish I had hours and hours to just read every recipe. But my favorite one I’ve tried so far is Crockpot Applesauce. It’s not only yummy but super-amazing smelling! Next time you have guests over, make up a pot of this before hand and it will fill your house with a smell that everyone will want to dig into! (Who needs air freshners!):)

Another one to try is JustSlowCooking.com. There are several out there. Just do a Google on “Crockpot Recipes” and you’ll be amazed at what comes up.

Crockpot cooking keeps you planning ahead and allows you to use fewer ingredients and inexpensive meats. All of these add up to $$ saved on your grocery budget.

What’s your favorite thing to make in the Crockpot?

Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #19.

TIP #17 – ALWAYS HAVE A QUICK BACK-UP MEAL ON HAND

So you’ve been good and made up your Weekly Menu Plan. Things are going well and then, a glitch falls into your day and now that great elegant dinner you had planned has to be scrapped because you now have zero time to cook. What do you do? Call Carry-out or pick up fast food? No! Because you’ll have a quick back-up meal on hand.

Ideally, your back-up meal should be a healthy one but sometimes you just have to worry about feeding that hungry family!

On those nights that I don’t feel like cooking or need something quick, I tend to drag out my Sandwich Makermachine. It’s probably one of my favorite little appliances, next to my crockpot. Throw in some bread. Throw in basically whatever I have leftover in the fridge and supper’s ready! I usually make these recipes HERE for Pizza Pockets or Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwiches. These are usually my back-up meals.

Whatever your taste, just make sure you have something easy and quick to keep from ordering out. Preventing take-out helps you save big $$ on your grocery budget.

Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #18.

TIP #15: SKIP CONVENIENCE FOODS AND MAKE YOUR OWN

One of the quickest way to skyrocket your grocery budget is to load up on convenience items. Yes, time is money. But money is money, too!

I admit I am one of those that would buy up those quick “just add water” pancake mixes. I mean, how much easier can it get than to add water, stir and pour onto a hot griddle?! I’ve since found several great pancake recipes on other sites/blogs that you can make up big batches ahead of time and basically just add a few ingredients at the time of cooking.

Taking just a little extra time to plan out your meals or to find alternatives to convenience foods can save you big $$ on your grocery budget.

Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #16.

TIP #14: SWITCH FROM BOTTLED WATER TO A PITCHER OR WATER SYSTEM

For the longest time, we spoiled ourselves with bottled water. Not only was it an expensive habit, but it was very unfriendly to the environment. (Not to mention a heavy thing to haul around and out of the store!)

We originally switched to a water delivery service but we didn’t use enough water to make it worth the expense. We’ve since switched to the Brita/Pur pitchers with the intent of getting an installed water system someday. Our current town water is definitely not the greatest! I’ve noticed that I tend to drink more now that it’s filtered, which is not only great for health reasons, but it also saves on me having to put money into other beverages.

For those of you interested in switching to a pitcher/system, you can go HERE to get a money-saving coupon.

Making just a little change like switching from bottled water to pitcher/system can save you money on grocery budget in the long-run.

Tip # 13: Create and Live Off of a Stockpile

Eventually, you’ll find that there are several recipes that you enjoy making quite frequently. When you do, you’ll want to keep track of those meals and the ingredients in them so that when you find a good sale on them, you can stock-up.

Now, a good stockpile doesn’t create itself overnight. It takes quite awhile. A good way to start is to take the extra money you have leftover in your grocery budget each month and to buy up those things that you use the most that are on sale.

This is a good reason to keep that price book we talked about earlier. Knowing when the items you buy frequently are at a good sale price and when the next possible sale price might be are all vital information to stockpiling. You could be stocking up on what appears to be a good price on hamburger, only to find out that if you had waited a week, you could have saved $.50 more a pound.

If you don’t have a lot of time to focus on stockpiling, focus mainly on the items that you use the most that are the most expensive. Good examples are meat and cereal. When you see a good meat sale, stock-up! This can save you bundles! And when you see a great deal on cereal, stock-up! Cereal is one of the highest marked-up items! Normal cereal can sell for $4 a box but I rarely pay more than $1 a box because I stock up on a lot when I find a great deal.

Another way to get a decent stockpile on the cheap is to always buy the “loss leaders” for the week that you use. Loss leaders are those items that grocery stores drastically discount to get you into their store. Their hope is that they’ll reel you in with those items, stopping you from shopping elsewhere, but they hope that you’ll buy more while you are there. These items are typically labeled as “3 Day Only Sale,” etc.

Creating a good stockpile at sale prices helps you never have to pay full price for anything. And this can lead to great savings to your budget!

Tune in tomorrow at 9AM CST for Tip #14.

TIP #12: USE PROPER STORAGE TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR FOOD

So you just bought a pint of strawberries and in what seems like hours, they are moldy. Or that bag of carrots is now a disgusting pile of slime. Or the lettuce you cut for a salad a few days back is now brown, wilty and unusable. And that hamburger you got on discount is now 20% freezer burn. And the worst of all, those leftovers you intended on using are now a guessing game of “What was this?” because it got lost in your fridge in a non-see-through container. Any of these is a waste of food, money and can be frustrating. But, by investing in some great storage containers now, can save you $$ later!

Here are a few on the market. If any of you have found others that you’ve liked, please feel free to share and I’ll add them to the list!

~Rubbermaid Produce Savers- Great for fruits & veggies

~Fridge Smart by Tupperware - Same as above. Great for keeping baby carrots from going to slime!

~Lettuce Crisper by The Container Store – I love this! It’s amazing how long it stays fresh!

~Debbie Meyer Green Bagssold at most stores – I have not tried these but heard good things

~ Tupperware Cereal Saver-Keeps your cereal from going stale

~Banana Hanger w/ Fruit Basket sold at various locations – Gives Bananas a little longer life

~Ziploc,Hefty, Glad Freezer/Storage Bags – Keeps non-perishables from going stale and keeps freezer items from getting freezer burn

~FoodSaver, Reynolds Handi Vac or Ziploc etc versions – Great for sealing up foods for the freezer

~Rubbermaid Premier Easy Find Lids- Great clear containers that help you visually see your leftovers and they stack so great!!

These are just a few containers to help stretch the life of your food. By keeping food fresh and tasty for when you need it ends up saving you $$ in the long-run!

Tune in tomorrow at 9AM CST for Tip #13!

TIP #11 – USE YOUR LEFTOVERS

You’d be amazed at how many people I hear say they never have a “leftover night” or try to turn them into a different meal. Think of all that wasted food and money!

I’m with you when you say you don’t want to eat the same meal two nights in a row. (unless it’s tacos!) But a lot of times, I skip a night and have it again the day after. And more times than not, I try to turn it into a new meal.

One of the best one-time magazines I found was one that took several meals and showed you how to turn leftovers into a new meal. It actually got me thinking about a new weekly post called, “Rolling Recipes.” I’m planning on starting this up in a few weeks. I’ll share a meal with you and then tell you how you can turn those leftovers into a new meal the next night, or later in the week. I hope some of you have ideas, too! I’ve been looking for one of these online and I haven’t found one yet.

But basically, if you aren’t using what’s leftover and constantly throwing things out ask yourself–does this happen because I didn’t work them into my Weekly Meal Plan or am I not finding creative ways to make them tastier later?

By using what you have left not only saves money, but it can also save you time in having to make another meal later in the week! And saving waste and time = big $avings!

TIP #10 – ONLY SHOP WITH CASH

I noticed a huge difference in my grocery budget when I simply switched from using a credit card to using the debit card. But let me tell you, the amounts I saved by simply bringing only cash was mind-boggling—especially when I only bring along just what I figure my shopping list to be.

Let me tell you, the chance of sheer embarrassment when your total exceeds what you have with you will make you second guess any additional purchases AND you’ll be closely watching the totals of what’s on your shopping list!

Yes, I know. When I used credit cards I’d argue that I was earning 1-5% back on my groceries by using it. And maybe you have more willpower to say no to additional purchases. But, when I pulled out some old receipts and started adding up additional purchases, let me tell you, those purchases far exceeded my 1-5% earnings! It doesn’t take much. Those spending $400 a month on groceries would only earn $4-$20 a month or around $1-$5 a week. Throwing in even one or two extra items voids those earnings.

Using cash, and by only bringing with you what you need, helps prevent impulse items which can easily and quickly start adding to your monthly grocery budget. But in the end, regardless if you use cash/debit/credit, everything comes down to willpower. The power to say no to things not on your list, especially those you don’t really need and are just hungry for!

TIP #9 – MAKE YOUR OWN SINGLE-SERVING SNACKS

It wasn’t so long ago that the Marketers realized that 100 Calorie Packs would go crazy on the market. Everyone’s looking for that quick snack but not the quickly added weight gain! But, like every convenience food, they put a steep price tag on those items. Every so often you might find a good price-cut on them through a deal but even at a discount, you can usually still get more for your money by making your own.

And let me tell you, it’s sooo easy to make these up yourself. Ziploc/Glad even have special bags called “snack bags” that are the perfect size! Foods all have the nutritional content on the back that includes serving size. By using those portions, you can make your own little “100 Calorie Packs” very cheaply and quickly. What to do with those bags when you are done making them? Most retail stores sell little plastic “shoe box” containers that will fit nicely in most cabinets. Not only will the kids have a quick snack that limits their calories, but you can also use them to quickly throw them into their/your lunches.

And the same goes for snacky items like pudding or Jell-O. Rubbermaid makes these cute little 2 oz. containers that work great for making single servings. You can also use these for splitting yogurt cups if you want two smaller sizes, or for storing any you have left over for a snack later. Consider buying up a large container of the regular/vanilla yogurt and make your own flavors by simply adding fresh fruit or by mixing the yogurt and fruit in a blender. Not only could you possibly get more for your money, but by using washable plastic containers, you save on all that extra waste.

Be creative. Come up with your own healthy single-serving sized snacks! In the end, not only are you saving on those extra convenience food price tags, but you can also make much healthier versions to keep your family in shape! After awhile, they will get used to the portions and you’ll save $$ on your “snack budget.”

TIP #8 – KEEP A CLEAN FRIDGE AND KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE ON HAND

I had to laugh the day I read Annie’s definition of a “Forgeterator.” That’s exactly what can happen to my Fridge, if I’m not careful. I always swear there’s some kind of “black hole” that food slips into and then re-appears right after it expires.

There are several benefits, aside from health reasons, of why it’s good to keep a clean fridge. The obvious one is so that you don’t let foods expire. But one of the most important reasons is so that you know what leftovers you have and work them into your weekly meals.

Being a stockpiler, my fridge can sometimes look like my pantry…full! I started to not only keep one specific area for leftovers but I also write them down on a paper when I put them in the fridge. I then cross them off when I use them. It works out great on those nights when you are like, hmmm, is there anything easy I can fix…oh yeah, supper from two nights ago!

Another benefit of keeping a clean fridge is reduced stress after shopping trips! We’ve all done it. We bought up a bunch of good deals. We come home and then we’re like, OK, where is all of this going to fit? I do my best to always clean out my fridge the night before a planned shopping trip. Then I get home, throw everything on the table for a quick picture and boom, in the fridge they go. Having it cleaned ahead of time can also help you avoid buying too many deals that you don’t have the fridge space for.

And the last benefit of keeping a clean fridge is so that you know when you are getting low on something. You don’t know how many times I thought I had Ketchup, cream cheese, butter or sour cream, only to find out there isn’t any. (Or else, it’s dropped off into that black hole!)

All of these reasons helps you save $$ in the long run and stretches your grocery budget a little further.

Tip #7 – Keep a Price Book

What is a price book? It’s a book that you keep prices in. Well, OK, to elaborate, it’s a book of the items that you buy/use the most with their regular price and basically a tracking of sale prices and at which stores. Over time, you’ll be able to see a trend in what the “rock bottom” price is and what the sale cycles are for it. You’ll see it on sale for $2.50 but you’ll know, if I wait a week, it should be at $2.00.

Obviously, this is not an overnight process. But even just knowing the regular prices of the items you buy the most is helpful. You’ll then know when a sale is a great sale and when it’s just their trickery of marking it down $.10 and saying it’s on sale! Which, it easy to see when you are in the store but when you are looking through a sale ad and deciding if you should buy it or not, it’s not so easy. (Though, I do commend Jewel for usually listing the regular price with the sale price in their ads!)

I have to admit, I haven’t done a quite so elaborate price book. (BUT it is on my list of new things to start doing!) I have learned the regular price of items I buy a lot but there are some things I’m still unsure of sometimes. I usually have the hardest time with meats. But I have seen a benefit to keeping track of sale cycles.

For example, you are low on cream cheese. They have it on sale. But Thanksgiving is coming up. Let me tell you, every year they mark these down during most holidays. So what I would do is only buy one if I absolutely needed it and wait to stock-up on any more! Just like Cinco de Mayo. If two weeks ago I needed taco shells, I’d know to wait because right before Cinco de Mayo, they mark them down–and usually the coupons/deals come out to match!

So while having a book of every item and it’s sales cycle would be ideal, my advice to you is start off small and at least keep track of the regular prices of your most used items in a book. And if you happen to come across a great sale, note it.

Knowing the best price for the items you use most not only saves you money, but it also helps you stockpile at the right amount. And an extra bonus: it may help you decide that one store is more right for you because they always have the best prices on what you need most. These three things result in $avings!

Hope this one helps. Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #8.

Tip #6 – Never Shop Hungry–And Leave The Kids At Home

Couldn’t you just buy up the whole store when you shop BEFORE a meal? Everything always looks so good when you are starving!

Yes, this long-old advice really is true! But, I am the first to admit, it’s easier said than done! And here’s a big reason why. We tend to make long shopping trips and which store do we always leave for last?…of course, the grocery store! You have to, or your groceries will spoil/melt, etc. But I have found ways to curb that appetite long enough to get through the shopping without hitting a drive-through.

I’d love to tell you to eat a Snickers but, well, not only is it not healthy it’s not very practical to transport on hot days! Instead, I keep Special K, Nutri-Grain or Kashi bars in my purse/diaper bag/center console of my car for this very reason. I catch these things on sale/deal and stock up! So whenever I’m about to shop and feel that hunger pain, I can quickly eat one. Another choice–apples or bananas. I grab these when I head out for my “big trip” and eat them, as needed. Whatever your tastes are, have something small, but filling, and easily storable on hand, or to grab quickly to take with you to prevent over-buying!

Also, whenever possible, don’t shop with the kids! Not only do they tend to add extra items to your cart, they can be a big distration to following your list and keeping totals. But if you do have to take them, (and we all do!) bring along a distraction. Rich and I call it a “bribery bag.” Just a small little snack to hold them over until we’re done. Or a pen/paper to scribble on while shopping. Or, sigh, shopping with that car cart. (Oh how I hate those! They are impossible to steer!)

In the end, the less distractions you have, be it hunger or impatient kids, the better you can stick to your budget and that equals $avings.

Hope this one helps. Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #7.

Tip #5 Shop With An Organized List That’s Listed By Store Aisle

I never realized how much time and money creating my shopping list by aisle saved me until my younger sister rushed “the process” one week when she was here. I was like a lost puppy zigzagging through the store wasting precious time and, sigh, adding unnecessary items into my cart. Because it seems to hold true, the longer you are in the grocery store, the more items you seem to buy!

Creating my shopping list is quite a little process but it totally pays off! I always start with the rough draft of just jotting down the things I need in any order, keeping sale ad items last, though. Those things are from my “Low Inventory” list and from my Weekly Menu Plan that I’ve created. I also throw on some items that are on sale/deal that I might be interested in picking up. Next to each item, I put the sale price or a guesstimate of what I think it costs. Then comes the tally. If I am over budget, the fun begins! I have to decide if I am going to change my meal plan or debate if some of the deals are worth losing.

Once I’ve whittled my list down to my budget, hopefully leaving a cushion for any items that may pop-up during the week, I then create my “Master List.” This list is written up by store aisle. This is when shopping at the same store branch helps! (And if not, ask for a store guide. They usually have hand-outs for these.) Since I am a couponer, I put a little “Q” next to the items that I have coupons for. This way, I won’t forget to make sure I have it if I’ve found the item was available. (I have all of them pulled out ahead of time, but sometimes, things are just out-of-stock.) I also make a note of any store Qs for $$ off or catalinas so I don’t forget to hand those over, too.

Like I said, it takes a little bit of extra time, but shopping is now a breeze. I go up and down only the aisles I need ONCE! I am not very good at keeping a running total on a calculator so here’s my version. Since I already have a total by each item, I leave it if the item is that price or adjust it if it’s wrong or not available. Before I check-out, I do one quick total to make sure I’m within my limit.

And here’s a tip for those of you that stray from your list. For each item not on your list, put it in a separate area of your cart. Before you check-out, scan over all those items for two reasons. #1-Ask yourself if you really need it or did it just look good? And #2-How many items did you add? And always remember to stay within your budget!

Keeping an organized list not only saves time at the store but it also saves you $$ by preventing impulse buys. Both add up to $avings! Try it once and see if those extra few minutes of creating an “aisle list” don’t make it sooo much easier at the store! (Don’t forget to bring a pen to cross off the items!)

Hope this one helps. Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #6.

Tip #4 – Inventory Often To Avoid Expired Food

Nothing is more aggravating to me than to work hard to find a great deal on something and only have to throw it away because it “slipped through the cracks” and expired. Not only is it money out the window but if you don’t notice it expired, it can really throw a meal plan for that day out the window!

I try to check my inventory often. Prior to my second child, I had a day circled on the calendar each month as “Inventory Day” and I’d check stock and pull out the soon-to-be expired. I don’t get to it quite that often now. But, I have found a temporary solution. In my pantry, I have a separate area for the “soon-to-bes.” And those are the first things that I work into the next weekly menu plan. So far, it seems to be working. But I’ll go back to my monthly inventory day here real soon.

To me, each time I sadly have to throw away an expired item, it feels like I’m holding a burning dollar bill in my hand, watching it turn into ashes. Don’t let yourself waste money unnecessarily. Inventory often! And do like they do at the grocery stores, those that expire first, go in the front!

Hope this one helps. Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #5.

Tip #3: Have a “Low Inventory” list in your pantry and on your fridge.

You know the scenario. You’re making out your grocery list and you say, “I know there’s something else I needed. What was it?!” And of course, you never seem to remember until you are unpacking the groceries! So this means one of two things–make another trip or re-arrange your Meal Plan. Both equal aggravation and usually lost $$.

By keeping a “Low Inventory” list, it not only helps you expedite your shopping list creation, but it also helps prevent you from that missing needed item. And another bonus, by knowing what you are getting low on, you can keep your eyes peeled for a great sale on it to either buy one or stockpile!

I also recommend that you not only jot down the item but also a notation of “Low, Out-Of or Need-to-Stockpile.” This way, you’ll know the exact quantity of what to buy.

The worst thing you can do is wait until the point that not only are you out of something but you need it NOW…and of course, it’s not on sale!! This is how you can unnecessarily add to your grocery costs.

Hope this one helps. Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #4.

Tip #2 – Create a Weekly Menu Plan

This simple little tip is probably one of the bigger money savers. And for me, one of the hardest! I have a huge stockpile so I don’t usually buy food by what I need but mostly just what’s cheap to replentish my stock. I also think this one is hard for everyone because we tend to cook by what we are hungry for that night.

But even having some kind of plan to start off with helps! I always feel like anytime I say, “What should I fix for supper?” I’m not only wasting time but I usually end up grabbing something quick and not as healthy.

There are a few ways to make a good meal plan. Some will create their plan completely around what’s on sale. Others will create it solely based on what they have on hand. I tend to do a little of both. I’ll check the ads to see what the best deals are out there and get some menu ideas. And then I check to see what I have and then make a list of the little things I may need to complete those meals. I usually try to go with meals that have the fewest missing ingredients that are on sale!

In order to have a good meal plan, you need to figure in your weekly events. Have an early soccer practice and need a quick meal? Don’t plan a 45 min. prep-time meal that night! And don’t forget to figure in that night for leftovers. I’ve gotten in the habit of doing that on Thursdays since our garbage day is Friday. This way, anything that I know won’t be eaten goes into the trash and doesn’t sit around all week! (Though, my overall goal is always, no waste!)

The nice thing about meal plans is it also gives your family a “heads-up” on what to expect for dinner. I know some of you have families that never seem to like the same thing. Try allowing everyone one day, whether each week or month, where they get to choose the meal that night.

While I do miss a week or two doing this, I do have to admit, all the weeks that I get this done…they tend to be so much less stressful on me. I do my planning and I don’t have to think about what to cook for another week. I just pull out anything needing to be defrosted the night before and off I go the next day at suppertime or morning if I am crockpotting.

For those of you needing more info on how to plan a menu, click here. Need a little inspiration, check out the weekly Meme here called “Meal Plan Mondays.” She also has a FREE Menu Planning template here.

Having a menu plan helps you use what you have on hand and keeps you from ordering take-out because you didn’t plan out what to have for dinner that night. Both of these things equal $avings! And it really doesn’t take that much time!

Hope this one helps. Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #3.

TIP #1: Create A GOOD Grocery Budget And Stick To It!

Don’t groan, folks. Let’s be realistic. You can’t save on a grocery budget, if you don’t have one. And you’d be amazed at not only how many people don’t have a grocery budget but how many have no idea how much they spend or what they spend it on.

And here’s the kicker–if you are easily meeting your budget each month, maybe it’s too high and you should consider dialing it down. I’ve learned to dial mine down to $50 a week but it takes work–and I am hoping to get it back to $40 here soon!

So how do you create a good budget? My best advice is to dig out all those receipts! Ideally, you should go back a month. But even a week or two’s worth gives room to work with. For those of you that chuckle at the idea of knowing where receipts are, pull out your credit/debit card statements and tally them up as best you can. But then going forward, keep your receipts.

What should you look for on receipts? Two things. What are you spending money on and are you over-spending? Two quick ways to tell if you are over spending–check out the “Today you saved” area. If it’s very small, you are probably over-spending, unless you buy mostly perishables like milk, bread & produce with small markdowns. The other way to tell…most stores put a “Saved X amount” to the right of or underneath each item. Your ultimate goal is to see that by everything. But start off small and get as many listed that way as possible. BUT you can have that by everything and still not be saving if those items don’t make meals for the week!

Here’s another thing to look for and consider. Are you spending a lot in junk/convenience foods? Just because you run out of those things doesn’t mean you need to run off and buy more. What do I mean? Say your family LOVES Doritos and Pepsi. It runs out, you buy more. Try this. Put a set amount on those items each month. When they run out and the money’s gone, too bad! They’ll learn to ration it better next month! (and not to mention slowly cutting back will help their health!)

Setting a grocery budget takes time and work. And it should always be re-analyzed. Keep pushing yourself to cut back more and find other ways to make the most of what you buy. But at the same time, you need to take “Life Changes/Events” into consideration for budgeting. Having a baby, visitors or an upcoming party, etc. may force you to alter that budget. Just make sure you get back on track quickly!

The perfect budget? Getting the most groceries for the least amount to create the most meals your family will eat!

Hope this one helps. Tune in tomorrow at 9AM for Tip #2.