The Family Wallet

photo credit: Phillie Casablanca

For many families, food costs make up a huge part of the monthly budget. While some luxuries like cable television or expensive clothes can be cut from a budget when necessary, food is always going to be a part of a regular budget. There are, however, many ways to reduce food costs when times get tough. Check out these suggestions to get the ball rolling:

Buy generics whenever you can. If you’re worried about your family’s reaction, start switching over to generic products slowly. Your family may not even notice when you use generic dry goods like pasta or flour.

Avoid eating at restaurants. Dining out should be a special occasion, not a matter of convenience. Preparing meals at home will almost always be cheaper than purchasing them at a restaurant.

Take advantage of sale prices to stock up on items your family regularly uses. Meat bought on sale can be frozen for your use later. Can goods can last virtually forever in your pantry. You can make the most of sale prices by buying a large supply of these foods with a long shelf-life.

Use smaller portions of meat. By providing plenty of vegetables at each meal, you can use smaller quantities of meat and still have plenty of food available for your family.  

Stay away from expensive “convenience” foods. Frozen dinners and snack foods are infamously expensive and often, not very nutritious. Help your family eat healthier and save money at the same time by skipping these types of foods altogether.

Clip coupons. Coupon savings can really add up if you’re consistent about using them. Keep your coupons organized and always carry them with you when you’re going grocery shopping to ensure that you’re able to take advantage of them each time you shop.

Join the frequent shopper program at your favorite grocery store. Often, sale prices are only available to “members” of the store’s frequent shopper club, so you’ll need to join the program in order to take advantage of sales. Be sure to carry your membership card with you, too, when you’re shopping.

Shop with a grocery list. Entering the grocery store with a plan will help you to avoid the temptation to buy products that you don’t really need.

Price match at your favorite grocery store. With the high price of gasoline these days, it is way too expensive to drive from store to store to take advantage of sale prices. Instead, shop at a store that will match prices from other stores. Then, carry copies of the competing stores’ sales ads with you when you shop. You’ll get great prices without running all over town.

Pay careful attention as the cashier rings up your purchases. Although every cashier tries to do his best, they are all human and sometimes mistakes happen. If you have questions along the way, don’t hesitate to point them out.

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Filed under: Food Expenses