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Let's face it: These days, everything is more expensive, and the dollar just isn't going as far as it needs to. While there are many ways to save money, saving on the food budget is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to start living more frugally.

The first piece of advice most people offer for saving money on food is to clip coupons. WRONG! Coupons may help you save money on name-brand convenience products, but those items are already overpriced to begin with. The next thing you'll hear is to take advantage of the store's discount card. Both of these suggestions assume you buy most of your food at the grocery store. That's the first mistake most people make.

Grocery stores are not the only - or even the best - place to buy food. Two alternative sources will help you save big money on your food budget.

One of the best ways to save money on your total food bill is to seek alternative sources of food. No, I'm not talking dumpster-diving or food banks or scratch-and-dent stores. I'm talking about places where you can buy good, real food in bulk. The sources for bulk food differ from one region to the next. In this area, the local Mennonite store is an excellent place to start shopping. They offer bulk cereals, baking supplies and spices, as well as meats, butter and cheese. In season, they also have local produce. Amish markets offer similar bargains. In many areas, however, you'll need to do a little sleuthing to find stores offering bulk goods. Start with the phone book and the local shopper paper, then ask neighbors and farmers for suggestions. You may be surprised by how many alternative stores you discover in this way.

The next place to start looking for bargains is the local farmer's market. Actually, in most areas you'll find more than one market. Buying locally-grown produce helps you save money by reducing the overhead most grocery stores have. It also provides you with fresher fruits and vegetables that haven't traveled halfway around the world, then stored in a warehouse before finally reaching a grocer's shelves. Many farmer's markets and farm stands are open only from spring through fall, but you may also find local produce at flea markets and larger indoor farm markets. These will often be listed in your newspaper or local shopping paper.

One final step toward reducing your overall food bill: Change your attitude about food. Convenience foods may seem quicker and eaiser after a long day at work, but with a little imagination and ingenuity, you can have real whole foods on the table for every meal. You'll reduce your food bill, increase the nutrition content of your food, and help out local farmers all at the same time.

Learn more about this author, Roxianne Moore.
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