Economizing on Groceries

For many families with kids, grocery shopping eats a huge chuck of change each week.  Of that weekly bill, a large portion goes to meat.  This source of protein and vitamins is one of the most expensive components of most meals.  So you’re not ready to go vegetarian?  Here’s a couple of tips for cutting the cost while still incorporating meat into the menu.

• Buy less expensive cuts.  Use the crockpot to slow cook and tenderize.
• Learn how to braise meat.  It’s pretty simple- pop a chunk of meat (a pork or beef roast) into the oven at a high temperature; cook for a short period.  Lower the temperature and cover the dish and cook for a longer period, depending on the meat- it makes for moist and tender meats.  This works for inexpensive roasts and is great to add inexpensive root veggies like potatoes and carrots.
• Incorporate meat into larger dishes, rather than making it the main attraction.  Stir fry chicken breasts and cut into slices- add to a salad or stir fry veggies.  Toss chicken or shrimp into pasta with alfredo sauce.  Pan fry a few fish filets, break into pieces, and make fish tacos.  Make regional specialties like shrimp and grits; chicken and dumplings; gumbo; green chile and pork stew. 

Use your iPhone to Store Your Grocery List

The iPhone really is a great little device. DirectoryM.com has put together a review on several different grocery shopping applications for your iPhone. These handy programs allow you to manage your grocery list with the touch of a button. You can also link your list easily to your desktop computer, keep a list of staples you buy every week, even list prices from the circulars so you can comparison shop in the field. Now the only thing missing from your iPhone is a second screen so you can multitask!

While none of the programs I reviewed have turned my weekly grocery shopping chore into a pleasant experience, now at least I have a valid reason to bring the iPhone along on the journey.

What Supermarkets Don’t Want you to Know

I started to become a little suspicious when grocery stores took away the coupons and gave us those plastic cards. After all, they were tracking our spending habits not just making those deals a little easier to get to. But it turns out that market research isn’t the only sneaky thing grocery stores do. Sally Adyka from MSN Health and Fitness lists 10 secrets your supermarket is keeping from you.

Bargains aren’t always a bargain.

Who can resist an offer like “buy five, get one free,” or “three for $1”? Apparently, very few people can. “Any time you see numbers in a sign, you’re likely to buy at least 30 percent more than you may have purchased otherwise. “So if you go looking for soup and the sign says “limit 12 per person,” chances are you’ll purchase several more cans than you intended to buy,” he says. And of course, if you buy more than you need, it’s not necessarily a bargain. Or worse yet, it could lead to over-indulging. “Mindless shopping leads to mindless eating,” says Wansink. “Once the stuff is in the house, you’ll eat it whether you really want it or not.”

The Frugal Grocery Shopper

In the last 15 years, my husband and I have enjoyed shopping together. It’s our guaranteed once a week getaway, and we find it loads of fun. My husband prepares the recipe list for the week (he does all the cooking) while I look for the best prices on the items he picks. I also supplement or subtract based on coupons and items we have purchased during our “bulk shopping” trips. But, even after all these years, we still look for tips and tricks on how to save money. Audrey Okaneko from www.recipe-barn.com had these tips to share:

1. Buy day old meat. If you freeze the meat it will hold for several months. Sometimes I can save 50% on the cost of the meat by buying day old meat. This applies to poultry also.

2. Buy bread at outlet stores if available. Again, I save 50% by buying the day old bread. I keep bread in my refrigerator, so it will last many days. If you don’t have an outlet store, compare the price of store bought bread with the price of day old bakery bread.

3. Watch the store sales. I try very hard to not run out of items so that I only buy items when on sale. For example, we make spaghetti at least once a month. I use Prego sauce as a base. I buy it when it’s on sale, knowing I’ll use it in the next month.

4. Use coupons. If I see a coupon for a product I use, I cut the coupon. If your store offers double coupons, shop on the days your coupons will be doubled. If you can buy an item on sale and use a coupon, you’ll save even more. Consider trying a different brand, if there is a coupon and it will cut your overall grocery bill.

5. Grocery stores tend to put the higher priced items at eye level. Check the top and bottom shelves to see if a different brand or different size might be a better price.