Save Money on Groceries

A some very good articles on your grocery shopping from Diabetic Living On Line web site. You can follow the link at the end of the post for all the articles.

Save Money on Groceries
By Lori Brookhart-Schervish



Grocery shopping doesn't have to break the bank. A few tips and tricks can help you save on food without a lot of hassle. We'll show you how to do it.
Track Your Spending

You'll never know how much you save on food if you don't know what you spend. Look at it as an experiment. That way, you aren't locked into a new system and won't feel guilty if it just doesn't work for you. Give yourself the freedom to try new ways to save money on groceries.

    * Set a timeline. For example, try shopping for two weeks the way you normally do and two weeks using a money-saving tip like those you'll find on the following pages.
    * Write down what worked. Keep track of what you spend and how much you save.
    * Add another tip or two. If you are satisfied with your new way of shopping, keep going!
    * Make it a family affair. Like any game, saving on groceries can get addictive. Bring the family in on the secret and watch everyone get excited about your growing dollar signs.

Plan Your Meals Before You Go to the Store

This is an important step that can make a big difference. The better you plan, the more likely you are to make better food choices. If your cupboards and refrigerator are stocked with foods you can easily grab for snacks or meals, you are less likely to spend money dining out.

Make a list. Write down the foods you eat on a regular basis or the foods your family gobbles up in one night. If there is a recipe you plan to try this week, get the ingredients ahead of time so you are prepared and not distracted by running back and forth to the store.

Stock up. When you spot a sale or coupon for those items, buy as many as you can without going overboard. If the item can be frozen or has a longer shelf life, having extra on hand could save you another trip.

Shop sales. This might not work for everyone, so this could be one of those experiments. Instead of making a shopping list before you go to store, shop the sales and then plan your meals after you have purchased your discounted groceries. This could work well with whole foods like produce and lean meats, which can be mixed in all types of healthful recipes.

Clip Coupons

Coupons are not a new concept and are still offered as inserts in most newspapers once or twice a week. But if you're not a coupon-clipper or lost your knack and want to test the waters to see if they can really make a difference without a lot of hassle, then give it a try for a couple of weeks and see how it goes. According to Randall Putala, author of Better Groceries for Less Cash -- 101 Tested and Proven Ways to Save on Food (We Deliver Vegas, 2008), you can save money every time you shop by using a system that organizes and updates coupons. His system: clip coupons while he watches TV on Sunday and categorize them in envelopes.

"If I save less than $50 a week [at the grocery store] then I've done a lousy job," says Putala, advertising executive and family shopper for five.

You can also find coupons online. Smart Money Magazine lists these coupon sites among its top picks:

    * www.Coupon.com
    * www.CouponCabin.com
    * www.CouponMom.com
Freeze Meals for Later

Prepare double the servings (or more) and freeze them for a quick meal you can pop into the microwave later. This can save money as well as time on those nights you might default to greasy, expensive takeout or a trip to the store to buy frozen dinners.

Labeling your leftovers is another great way to make a meal a two-for-one deal. This might seem like a no-brainer, but we have all done it: You reach into your freezer and pull out a frozen container of ... mystery food. If you don't know what it is, you probably won't eat it!

Others ways to make your freezer leftover-friendly:

    * Pick a night to have a smorgasbord and thaw all your labeled leftovers to make room for more.
    * Freeze portion-ready servings for a one- or two-person snack or meal for convenience and portion control.
    * Use space-saving freezer bags to store soups and vegetables. These bags allow for easy thawing in a pot of water.


http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/food-to-eat/nutrition/save-money-on-groceries/?page=1