by A. C. O'Brien

Created on: March 18, 2009   Last Updated: February 01, 2010

"We are what we eat," but do we really need to devour our whole budget in one week. Eating our way through our family's monthly food budget in the first week is not going to feed the family for the other three weeks of the month. We all need to eat, that is a basic fact of our lives. What and how we eat and how we purchase what we eat; these are the variables. Choose wisely and we can take advantage of sales, coupons and applied basic wisdom to save our money and stretch our budget. You will be able to make those dollars stretch so they last the whole month.

1. Taste test store brands. Often they are manufactured by the same company that makes the national brand labels. They really do taste great. If you find them not to your liking, perhaps it is made by another brand label. Cross off that store brand item and go on to the next taste test on your list. There is money to be saved here. Keep going.

2. Buy oranges, apples, potatoes and onions in bags. Individual fruit and vegetables cost almost twice as much as those that are bagged. Just be sure to check the bag for wet spots where a piece of fruit or vegetable may be damaged.

3. Avoid impulse purchases, they really add up at the register. Turn a blind eye to the eye catching displays and leave the kids home when you go shopping for groceries. While your at it, avoid making non-grocery purchases at the grocery store. You will do better at mass market stores like Walmart or Target for your shampoo, deodorant and make up as well as over the counter medicines.

4. Never buy takeout, that also means that you should avoid the salad bar at the grocery store. Leaving those vegetables n fruits sit out all day can not be good for them. I know that paying some one else to cut them up is not good for your wallet. Get a decent knife and a cutting board. Watch the videos on Moneky See or on an instructional cooking site to learn how to slice chop n dice. It's not hard at all.

5. Eat fresh, avoid prepared foods. Frozen vegetables with sauce can cost more than twice as much as the un-sauced ones. The only prepared foods you need are a few staple condiments. Everything else should be purchased fresh, or frozen in the case of plain vegetables and fish. Think of how good you will feel serving wholesome fresh foods to your family. It really does not take that much work and those sauces, who knows what is added to them?

6. Buy frozen seafood instead of fresh. Yes, I advised against fresh! Fish is usually frozen right on the ship

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