In this poor economy, we are all looking to save as much money as we possibly can. So many of us are having trouble providing for our families, much less paying for our bills!
Fortunately, there are ways that you can save a lot of money AND feed your family well. It takes practice, but if you will follow these great tips, you will be on your way to saving a ton of money each week:
1 – Plan Ahead
Planning ahead is crucial to saving money on your grocery bill. At the beginning of the week, sit down and plan out a week’s worth of meals, so that you know what your family will be eating for the entire week. Some people like to do this planning for month at a time.
If you have the funds and the ability, this can save you even more money, but many find that doing the weekly menu is much easier for their busy lives. It helps to get together your family’s favorite recipes and make a master list of all of the meals your family enjoys. Each week, you will just choose seven of those meals and you will be ready to make your grocery list quickly and easily.
2 – Shop With Coupons
Shopping with coupons is a great way to save a lot of money. You can find coupons in your local paper and online. These coupons are great ways to save, especially when you pair them with discounted rates in your local stores. Some people make the mistake of using their coupons right away, but it is best to hold off using the coupons until your store offers a sale. You can often get these items for very little, if you wait for the perfect timing. Some stores even offer double coupons, and this can help you rack up the savings even more.
3 – Buy Meats in Bulk
One of the best ways to save on your grocery bill is to buy your meats in bulk. If you buy the large family packs, you can then separate the meats into smaller packages, by placing them in freezer bags. This can help save so much on meat. Another great hint is to visit your store early in the morning. The meat managers will often mark the meat down that is about to go out of date. This meat is perfectly safe if you plan to either cook it that day or freeze it. This will help you load up your freezer frugally!
Don’t forget that there are many great websites that can teach you the art of saving on your grocery bills. Educating yourself is so important. Each month will get easier and easier, and you will soon become an expert and won’t be as stressed when it comes time to pay those bills. Since our grocery bills are such a big part of our budget each month, it is truly important to save all that we can!
About the author: Kyle Hennessy likes to write about shopping, frugality & saving money at www.termlifeinsurance.org.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Phillip Stewart.