Food costs are going up fast. Some foods, such as rice,
are already being rationed at Sam's and Costco. What's
worse, there is no relief in sight as the prices for your
favorite foods are rising at an inflated rate of 4.5% per
year.
That means your eggs have already gone up 30 % in the last
year, and your milk, cheese, flour, bananas and even peanut
butter will be more expensive to buy. All that comes on
top of rising gas prices, which are predicted to double in
the next four years.
In spite of all that bad news, can you still be in control
of how far your food dollars stretch?
Here are 21 simple ways you can start saving money today.
1. Learn the secret food codes
Bread companies have their own codes for when bread is
baked and delivered. Each company is different, but the
general code is alphabetical. Monday-blue, Tuesday- green,
Thursday- red, Friday-white, Saturday- yellow. Learn the
codes, and look toward the back of the shelf to find the
freshest loaves.
2. Do most of your cooking ahead of time
This saves time as well because you are more organized.
Freeze the food and bring it out for individual meals as
your family needs them. You can also give them more
variety and choices. If someone would rather have spaghetti
instead of a casserole, for example, they can warm up an
individual serving. Invest in a deep freeze and freezer
aids which will more than pay for themselves over time.
3. Get out of the grocery store as quickly as possible
Buy only what you need and leave. The longer you stay, the
more you will buy and the store knows that. That's why
your store's layout may not always make sense to you. They
want you to wander around and yield to temptation to buy
more than you need. Always ask yourself if you really need
that gallon of "Death by Chocolate" ice cream just because
it's on sale. Those extra impulse dollars can add up fast.
4. Never shop when you're hungry
Always eat first before you go to the store. The hungrier
you are the more you will spend, and your spending will get
out of control.
5. Always check label dates
You may be surprised at how much difference in food
freshness you will find on one shelf. For example,
prepared salad fixings can vary by several days. Again,
look toward the bottom of the shelf. That's where they
will put the latest deliveries. Get in the habit of
rummaging through. You'll be richly rewarded for the effort.
6. Go for bulk
Join a warehouse club like Sam's Club(Walmart) or Costco.
If you don't want to pay for a membership by yourself, go
in with a friend and shop together.
Buy the stable items only such as canned vegetables,
coffee, rice, spaghetti sauce, mayonnaise. These will be
the items you use most often and they are the foundation of
your pantry. Stay away from the bakery and free food
sample give-aways, although some people have been known to
eat lunch going from counter to counter.
7. Do most of your shopping in one trip
A Sam's or Costco is perfect for a full morning of
shopping. Get it all done at once. This helps you stick
to your inventory and budget because it eliminates
unnecessary trips to the grocery store. Tuesday's are the
absolute best day for shopping if you want to avoid crowds
and get individual attention from the sales staff. (I know
this for a fact because I grew up in retail.) The one trip
shopping days will also help you save on gas, and you can
even fill up your tank at Sam's.
8. Don't buy individually packaged foods
Don't guy grated cheese, or individually packaged cheese
slices. These cost more. Grate your own cheese and stay
away from the cute convenient packaging, especially for
snack foods that appeal to children. Also avoid vending
machines at work. If you want a soft drink, take your own.
You can also buy those in bulk at a warehouse store.
9. Don't buy as many snacks
Fix your own, because this is where food companies really
come in for the kill. Many of today's snacks are full of
salt, sugar, and high fat. They are bad for you anyway,
but cutting down on them may help you cut down on your
medical bills later. Substitute muffins, fruits, and
homemade cookies instead if you have to have snacks.
10.Eat less meat
Needless to say, meat can be very expensive, especially if
you buy meat with big bones. Stick to the lean meats and
watch for the sales. Also you can save by buying frozen
chicken in bulk.
Dried beans or legumes can be substituted for meat and you
can fix tasty recipes using them that your family will love.
11. Learn when your grocery store brings out the best
specials
Every store is different, but they all have the same
problem of how to sell day old bakery items and bread.
Also, ask for ripened produce that will be cheaper. Make
friends of the staff and learn when they first mark
everything down and get to the head of the line.
Even if food inflation seems out of control there are many
ways you can still stop up huge holes in your budget, eat
well, and keep more of your hard-earned money.
----------------------------------------------------
Alice Stevens writes about issues concerning the elderly
and their caregivers for the blog Aging Parents Authority.
http://www.agingparentsauthority.com
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