Beyond Coupons: 3 More Ways to Save on Groceries
Posted on Saturday, May 14th, 2011 at 8:12 am
If you are using grocery coupons regularly, then chances are that you are saving anywhere from 30 to 80 percent on your food. But what if you could save even more? By combing good couponing skills plus the following three more ways to save on groceries, you can easily feed a family of four on $30-$70 a week!
Freezer Cooking
There is a reason that freezer cooking is so popular. Not only can you have the convenience of prepared meals ready and on hand during busy days, but you will also save a significant amount of money on feeding your family when you practice freezer cooking.
How can you save? Well, there are two ways. The first is by stocking up on basics when they are on sale. Buy the deals in bulk and then make them into meals. For example, when whole chicken is buy one get one free, purchase four of them, cook them up and incorporate the chicken into several dishes that you can freeze. You’ll always pay the lowest prices.
The second way to save is that you won’t be tempted to eat out when there are meals that can just be pulled out of the freezer and thrown into the oven or microwave. Even just two cheap fast food meals a week can wind up costing you $160-$250 a month!
Grow Your Own
Even a small patio or window garden can help you save money on groceries. Since produce coupons are so few and far between, growing your own produce will naturally reduce your food bill. Herbs, tomatoes, garlic, onions, lettuce, beans and more are very easy to grow, even for beginners.
You can start seeds from scratch, by seedlings or small plants or even purchase kits that will help you to get started on growing some of your own food.
You can also get small fruit trees, such as miniature lemon and orange trees, if you have a little more space.
Bake from Scratch
Many people are intimidated by baking from scratch, but if you have ever made a cake from a mix then you have all of the skills that you will need to make simple baked goods, such as muffins, corn bread, pancakes, waffles, cookies and more. Baking from scratch usually requires a total of two or three extra ingredients compared to a box mix, not that hard at all!
One of the best investments you may consider making is in a bread machine. With wheat bread costing an average of $3.50 a loaf in many places, making your own for pennies is a good idea. Fresh bread requires nothing more than adding a few ingredients to the machine, setting it and then letting the machine do all of the work.
You can get a cheap bread machine at a yard sale or thrift store to start. Later, you may want to opt for a heavier duty one, once you find that the bread machine is invaluable.
Besides bread, you can make pizza dough and cinnamon rolls. Some bread machines also have settings for everything from cake to jam, as well.
Try incorporating at least one of these tips this month. Then keep tract of your grocery bill and see how you can save.