Saving on the Groceries

There are ways to cut our grocery bills even when we are building our food storage.  There are many websites to help you with this and I have listed a few here.

BlogHer tells all about frugality in a bit of a different way

Oprah's experts weigh in on couponing

Pinching Your Pennies will help you learn to coupon with access to grocery lists and coupon lists (online or in ads).  Not the most user friendly format, but a great resource if you are serious about dropping that bill

Everyday Food Storage Grocery 101- meat

Lastly here are 45 tips of ways to save on your groceries from fivecentnickel.com

Tips for Saving Money on Groceries

• Go shopping alone
• Have a budget and stick to it
• Make fewer, larger trips
• Don’t shop hungry
• Plan your meals in advance
• Scan your cupboards, pantry, and fridge before leaving
• Keep a running list of items you need on your fridge
• Break your list down by store and plan your outing accordingly
• Plan your trip through the store to minimize wandering the aisles
• Don’t forget your list when you head to the store, but…
• Be willing to deviate from your list for great deals
• Don’t be afraid of store brands
• Buy the Sunday paper
• Keep an eye on the weekly store circular
• Clip (and use!) coupons for name brand items
• Check the store’s website for printable coupons
• Be on the lookout for “double coupon” days
• Stack manufacturer and store coupons
• Keep a price list/book so you know a deal when you see one
• Learn your store’s sale cycle (sales are often cyclical)
• Stock up (within reason) when things are on sale
• Get rain checks when sale items are out of stock
• Visit multiple stores to get the best deals, or…
• Ask your preferred store to match prices form elsewhere
• Avoid non-grocery items that can be bought for less elsewhere
• Joins the store’s affinity program and flash your card
• Buy a chest freezer
• Buy in bulk, but…
• Be sure to look at unit pricing
• Bring a calculator (unless you’re a math whiz)
• Be on the lookout for “shrinkage” (e.g., 1.5 quarts vs. half gallon)
• Cook large batches and freeze for later
• Don’t waste leftovers
• Eat less – seriously, many people eat way more than necessary
• Cook from scratch, avoid processed foods
• Avoid frozen/prepared entrees
• Eat more fruits/veggies, cut back on meat
• Eat in season fruits/vegetables
• Plant a garden
• Hit the local farmer’s market
• Drink more water, fewer costly beverages
• Be on the lookout for pricing errors at the register
• Be sure they scan instant coupons that are attached to some items
• Always fill out and send your rebates

Get your veggies and fruit for LESS

I shared with everyone about the food co-op that you can order from.    

You order a fruit/veggie basket from the website and then go pick it up at the given locations.  Orders can be placed Monday and Tuesday and locations have pick up on Saturday (times vary by location).  A basket consists of roughly half fruit and half vegetables and almost fills a rectangular laundry basket.  The exact fruits and vegetables aren't promised before hand, but will follow the seasonal items and they try to keep it a mixture of items.  There are also extra offerings sometimes like bread, special groupings of italian vegetables or salsa makings.  The website will have more details on the order days for these types of things.  

As this is a co-op you bring your own baskets/bags to haul your bounty home and they ask you give some volunteer time before to help sort the produce.  But you save on the cost.  Calculated you will get roughly 2 times the produce you would normally get for the money.  And they do their best to use local producers so you can feel good you are helping your local farmer.  

For more details and prices check the FAQ page for Bountiful Baskets.