Going Frugal: 6 Ways to Save Money on Your Grocery Bill

Who isn’t looking for ways to save money on their grocery bill each week? We all have to eat right? But, if we choose to be smart about it, we don’t have to spend as much money on the food we eat and better yet, you won’t have to sacrifice quality to save money either!

Have you heard that you are what you eat? Well here’s a new take on that expression: The quality of your food matters just as much! But, quality doesn’t necessarily mean the highest priced items in the store either. It means having a little basic knowledge about food.

1. What you don’t know can cost you….money. Read up on meat and what the best and leanest cuts are for your family. Here is a free tool that helps you calculate the total cost of meat per serving.  This can be a big help in determining whether that cut of beef is worth the money, which can help in saving you money.

2. Shop at food warehouses like Cotsco and Sam’s Club. For larger families, buying in bulk can really help save money if you shop smart. You can make one trip for the entire month instead of making a trip or two a week and spending two to three times as much money. Read more about buying in bulk here and the benefits.

3. Be sure to shop for food that you and your family like to eat. Don’t settle for those store brands that you won’t eat and doesn’t taste good to you just because they cost they cost less. I made the mistake of doing this with syrup in our house! We eat a LOT of pancakes and french toast and syrup costs quite a bit! One store brand was on sale for $1.49 for a large bottle, so I stocked up with 4 bottles. The syrup was HORRIBLE therefore no one used it and it was just a waste:(  And wasting food that you and family won’t eat is NOT saving money! (please note, some store brands are comparable in taste for their value, just be sure you do like it before stocking up and don’t make the same mistake I did,lol!)

4. Use those coupons! This little money-saving trick can’t be stressed enough!! Coupons = Money:) Even if you save only a few bucks this month, the savings add up. But shop wisely, don’t use coupons to try new products just because you have a coupon for them unless it’s on sale and if its something you really want to try. And don’t forget about stores that double or triple coupons for maximum savings!

5. Take lunches and snacks with you!! Do you know how much school lunches cost these days? My daughter’s school charges $4.95 for a ham and cheese sandwich w/a small bag of chips. Are you kidding me?? We could get a whole lb of ham alone for that price and get a couple of lunches that week out it. Save your precious dollars by packing lunch for the kids and yourself. The trick is to buy foods they actually want to eat, not just peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, lol!  And another money saving tip:  throw in a snack for the evening bus ride or your ride home from work to avoid hitting the fast food places!

Yes food is necessary and good, but it doesn’t have to take all of your money. With a little pre planned thinking ahead and creativity, you can always find ways to cut down on food bills without cutting down on taste!!

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