Money Listens

GROCERIES TAKING A BIGGER BITE was the headline in today’s newspaper. Not in the Metro or the Business section but right on the front page “above the flap.” “If it seems like you’ve been paying more at the supermarket, it’s because you have. And you may have to get used to it.” San Antonio Express-News Thursday, April 3, 2008. A gallon of milk has gone up 15% and eggs a whopping 24%. The culprit is the rising cost of energy. Everybody from the farmers to the truckers is paying more and that cost is getting passed along to you and me. At the same time, we’re trying to lower our food bill so we can pay off debt and save. Next to shelter and transportation, food is the biggest item in our budget. Can it be done? Yes, but there’s no one-size-fits-all way. I think you have to try lots of different ways that all add up to spending less. You’ve heard these all before, but now you and your money need to listen and select some to put into practice. Many of them are better for you physically as well as fiscally. These are in no particular order, just how they popped into my head.

1. Plan meals, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
   The shopping list I use has the meals on one side and grocery list on the other. I can plan out meals and have them when I shop , side by side with my list, so if something is on sale I can see how that fits with my plan.
2. Have something other than name-brand boxed cereals for breakfast. Oatmeal and homemade granola are far less expensive.
3. Fewer packaged snacks. Go for popcorn that you pop yourself on the stove or in the microwave (Not those microwave-ready bags with oil). Pretzels are often the least expensive snack.
4. Take cold hard cash money to the grocery store. And a calculator.
5. Fruit. It seems expensive, but get lots of what’s on sale. Even a full price melon has several servings and is much less than other snacks. A few expensive berries on oatmeal in the morning is much less than boxed cereal.
6. When boneless chicken breasts are on sale grill or bake about 24 (don’t overcook them!), then slice for sandwiches. Cheaper and tastier than deli meats. Freezes well and makes great paninis.
7. Beans and Rice.
8. Go to a store that has bulk bins and buy oats, rice, cous cous, and beans. Get all your spices, too. It’s usually much cheaper, but compare prices to make sure.
9. Learn to cook. Or at least to make meals.
10. Go shopping on a day when your family can help you “prep” that evening. Cut up fruit and veggies for lunches and the next few meals ahead of time.
11. Go to Mrs. Baird’s or another bakery outlet for bread. The savings are tremendous. Switch off with a friend or neighbor.
12. Have one meal a week that is the same. Pick something easy and inexpensive that everyone likes. Change about every 6-12 months. We had baked potatoes and broccoli every Thursday for about 2 years. Now we have Hamburger Vegetable soup every Thursday (yep, we’re having it tonight).
13. Enjoy the time you spend preparing meals. The variety of food we have is a great gift to us and can be one of the great joys in your life. Take pleasure in planning and doing as well as eating.

Please send me a comment with your favorite tip for saving money at the grocery store. Just click below on the word comments.

This entry (Permalink) was posted on Thursday, April 3rd, 2008 at 10:43 am and is filed under Food and Stuff That Tastes Good, Spending Less and Less. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site.