by Barry Tadmore

Created on: July 30, 2008   Last Updated: December 30, 2010

For many families, the food budget might be the second highest expense in any given month behind mortgage/rent.  But it doesn't have to be!  Here are a few tips for saving money on food!

1. Plan your meals for the week.  Then take note of what you have in your pantry and refrigerator.  Make a list of the things you need and only the things you need.

2. Organize your pantry and refrigerator.  Before I became organized with my kitchen, I ended up buying things I thought I had run out of only to find that I ended up with two or three bottles of ketchup.  There is no way I can use that much ketchup before the expiration date, so I wasted money!

3. Clip coupons!  There is no shame in saving $5 or more on each trip to the grocery store because of a few minutes spent clipping coupons!  It only adds a few extra seconds at the check-out counter and you'll end up saving several dollars with every week's grocery trip.

4. Don't stray from your shopping list.  Research indicates that for ever 10 unplanned minutes you spend in a grocery store, you'll end up spending $20 more than you need!  It's important to get in and get out!

5. Buy in bulk.  When you're comparing which jar of peanut butter to buy, don't pay attention to the final cost.  Look, instead, at the price per ounce.  You pay much less per ounce of peanut butter when you buy bigger jars.  This applies to anything you can buy in bulk.  If you'll eat/consume it anyway, why not get the better value?

6. Avoid junk food.  Not only will this help you save money, you'll also be healthier!  Sure, a soda tastes good, but water is (almost) free!  Getting a water filter will be a much better more cost effective form of beverages.

7. Never shop when you're hungry.  When you're hungry, everything looks good and your willpower to avoid the impulse purchases will be lowered.  You'll end up getting home and asking yourself, "Why did I buy this?"

8. Start a small garden.  Do you like tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, or any other easy-to-grow vegetable?  It's much more inexpensive to grow your own food than it is to buy it in the store.  It doesn't require a lot of space in your yard and won't demand a lot of your time.  And you end up getting to eat fresh, healthy foods!

9. Eat in.  For too many people, eating out has become all too common with their busy lives.  I can create a nice steak dinner for my whole family for about $20.  If I take my family out for a nice steak dinner at a restaurant, it will cost nearly $100.  Is the convenience of eating out worth the extra $80?

To sum up my money-saving tips, it's important to plan your meals and cook them yourself!  Shop wisely at the grocery store and you'll find yourself with a lot of delicious, cost efficient meal opportunities in your own home.  Good luck with the saving!

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