By Lucinda Jefferson for Work-at-Home.org
Sometimes giving up that outside job can put a crunch on a family’s finances. Reducing costs can be a very effective way to get ahead financially. As a mom of seven beautiful children, I'm always looking at ways to save when it comes to my grocery bill. Here are some of the tricks, tips, and organized ways I've learned to do things to save an extra 20 to 30% on my grocery bill every month, and you can, too. Sometimes it's the little steps we take that make a difference in saving!
Personal Ways To Save:
• Buy Bulk: This could be for medium size to larger families or based on the consumption of food. You need not buy individual sized packaged, boxed, or canned foods.
• Sale Rack: We all know the slang term for this word (knock offs), which is a quick way to say sale. I find that if you search in the front or towards the cash register area you will find the rack with food has been misplaced by other shoppers who decide they don't want that particular item. What happens to that food item is it's put on the sale rack, most of the time it has no openings or damage maybe a small rip or tear but it may be reduced as much as a whole dollar.
• Expiration Date: Look for the dates with longer staying power in the dairy, meats, and foods with certain preservatives. Buying foods that will expire in a few days can be a waste of money because most of us don't plan on eating that food as soon as we get home, we wait until we have a certain taste for it!
• Processed/Pre-Cooked: This tip is one of my favorites for health reasons. Pre-cooked and processed foods are very expensive because you are paying for both the labor and not having to cook that meal from scratch. It doesn't provide a daily source of vitamins and minerals, you over pay for a smaller portion size, and it lacks true value for your dollar amount. Buy real food and cook it yourself for the most cost savings and health benefits. Working at home gives you more time to do that.
• Foods Voted The Best By Your Family: Try sticking with foods that everyone can eat together as a family. Money can be wasted when you try to incorporate buying for two different eating styles. Learn how to add certain favorite dishes each person loves but on different days! For instance, hubby may love salmon but, the kids want to eat hamburgers you can still make them all happy by making their favorites on different days to cut your costs and wasted leftovers.
• Holiday Seasonal Buys: This could be the death of your wallet! Not to mention an almost pre-planned vacation a waiting you! For your special holiday occasions you want to try buying anywhere from one to three weeks earlier for certain out of season items to save you more than a few dollars! Never buy the week of the holiday for some items because you may not only miss a reasonable buy but the regular prices may have crept back in to set you back more than just a couple of dollars.
• Happy Coupon Lady: Now, I know what you're thinking! You won't have the time or the patience to sit and cut a million coupons! Well I couldn't do it either but, let’s just say don't cut them out but keep the food coupons of the items you usually buy in a convenient place until you need them. You'll still save money because you won't have to regret throwing it out later when you would've used it to save fifty cents to two dollars.
• Planning Meals: It's a good time to ask for some opinions in the house. Planning mealtime can save you time, money, and gas for the trip to the store because you lack a certain ingredient. Write out your menu. This will also help you buy in bulk more effectively.
• Set Limits For Children: Set positive boundaries on eating habits and time frames for a child that's able to fix certain meals for themselves. Overeating between meals can really pound your wallet for families who have none of these rules, guides, or limits in place.
• Don’t Impulse Buy. Stores, including grocery stores, often put the most expensive items right in front of you, so you choose them, of course. Work a little harder looking higher, lower and don’t buy from special “promotional” displays throughout the store unless the prices are shown and they’re really good prices.
• Value-Priced Foods. Be sure to use recipes that use plenty of low cost foods, like beans, lentils, pasta.
• Avoid Name Brands when possible but don’t assume they’re always cheaper. Read the price labels on the shelves!
Remember; Save your money to eat more, while paying less!
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