How to Save Money on Your Groceries

Despite the appeal of grocery store chains like Whole Foods, with the current economy most of us have to save money on everything, including groceries. Fortunately, we can still eat like a king (or queen) with proper guidance and creativity...

First, you will need to create a budget for your weekly groceries. The size of your budget will depend on the amount of people in your household, as well as any special dietary needs, such as vegetarianism. For example, I allot myself $30 a week on groceries, and generally I eat quite well! However, write down how much money you can spend each month on groceries, and divide that down to how much money you can spend each week. For instance, if you can spend $100 a week, on food, then that is a great start. Take out your grocery money in cash for the month, and store each week's allowance in a safe place, in its own envelope. Having a set amount of cash will help you spend less than if you used your credit card.

Next, you will need to plan out your meals for the week-- this is very important. Make sure that your meals are nutritious, as well as frugal. One way to do this is to limit your meat consumption, and to incorporate more vegetables and grains into your diet. Make 1 night a week pasta night, where you serve whole grain pasta, tomato sauce, and a variety of toppings, such as mushrooms and spices. Additionally, if you do not want to cook one night (and, trust me, you won't always want to cook), designate Friday night to be movie and a pizza night, where you can pick up 1 or 2 large pizzas (about $6 for an extra-large pizza at Aldi's) and cook them yourself. Become creative! The important thing is to write down all of your meals, stick to your schedule, and write down all of your needed ingredients for the week.

After you have all of your meals planned, make sure you buy supplies for breakfast and lunch. For example, Instant oats are great for breakfast, as are fresh fruit (found very inexpensive at your local Aldi's or other discount stores). Also, make sure to include potential snacks that your family will want to eat, preferably healthy ones. A good rule of thumb for estimating snack needs is to think of two snacks a day-- one between breakfast and lunch, lunch and dinner, or dinner and bedtime.

Know where to shop! While you can get great deals at certain stores, such as Walmart and private grocery stores, I recommend going to discount stores, such as Aldi's. They have great produce, and most of their products are fractions less than what you would find at Walmart. Additionally, try shopping at the Dollar Tree for spices and canned goods, as well as at Big Lots for ethnic foods and harder to find treats, and especially herbs and spices (most of them are only $1). Overall, I recommend doing your basic shopping at Aldi's or a similar store, while looking for extras at other stores.

Do not underestimate your available resources! If you and your family are struggling financially, apply and see if you are eligible for food stamps or other related services. As a social worker, I know that these programs exist to help people out, and if they are available to you, do not be afraid to use them. We all have difficult times.

Another great resource for food is Angel Food Ministries. This program can provide families and singles of any income level with wholesome, restaurant-quality food for a terrific price. One box of their food, which is very nutritionally-sound, will feed a family of four for a week, and is only $30! You can order as many as you want, and there are also other boxes, full of produce, ethnic foods, etc., that you can also order. This is a terrific program, and there are host sites everywhere. More people should take advantage of this program!

Eliminate certain luxuries from your diet-- trust me: your wallet AND your waist will thank you. Cut out sodas, for example, and instead buy club soda and mix it with half of a cup of juice. Also, cut out frivolous snack foods, and instead snack on fruits and veggies. Additionally, try to cut out alcohol. However, if you cannot, try to invest in a box of wine (Vella makes a great brand), preferably red, and limit yourself to 1 or 2 glasses a day.

Questions, concerns, song and dance routines? Leave me a comment!