I spend too much on food. Suggestions?

[Alex_Adviser]

These 10 smart shopping strategies put you more in control of your food budget:
1. First, go thru your pantry, freezer and refrigerator. See what you already have on hand that needs to be used up. Check the expiration dates. Many people fill their pantries and never use the food and then it expires. Use this food first and build menus around it.

2. Second, make a weekly menu. I know, writing out a menu takes time. But it works. Why? Because when you spend a few minutes up front to develop an action plan for the week it saves time and money later in the week because you know what you’re doing.

Remember, base your menus on what you found in the pantry and freezer. My schedule, like yours, is so crazy but every week I make a menu for the next week. It’s habit now. I look at our family’s schedule on the calendar and see what nights we’re at home and which ones we’re out. Then we cook on the nights we’re at home and make the meal do double duty.

3. Shop with a list. As you write out a menu, add needed items to your grocery list. Keep this running list on your refrigerator, on your blackberry, online, wherever it’s easiest for you. As you run out of something, add it to the week’s list.

4. Use coupons for items that you normally buy or plan to buy…not just because you have the coupon.

5. Look at the weekly flyers of the store(s) where you shop. Build your menus with what’s in your pantry and what’s on sale. Many stores have their flyers online as well s coupons that you print off and take with you.

6. Eat a snack before you grocery shop. Otherwise, everything looks good and it’s easy to overspend.

7. Buy the store brand. Store brands are usually lower in cost than the brand name competitor but not lower in quality. For example, Target has their owned brand, Archer Farms, which are premium products at great prices.

8. Buy in season. Produce in season will often be on sale or lower in cost. Some items can be frozen for later use. For example, when strawberries are in season, buy extra and freeze for later use. Again, a little prep time up front yields greater savings now and down the road.

9. If you’re a meat eater, consider a couple of meat-less meals. Make bean and cheese quesadillas, veggie lasagna or spinach manicotti

10. Use meat more as a condiment versus the main attraction. Make chili, stew, or soups where meat is part of the meal instead of the meal.
By shopping smart, you can make your food dollar go farther and feed your family tasty, healthy meals.

I am sure that if you follow the above instructions, you can improve on your food budget.

Regards

[sternchen]

buy only what your stomach can consume

don't go grocery shopping when you're hungry

this will tempt you to buy more food than necessary

[Frugal]

I would highly recommend learning to use coupons and maybe avoid the more expensive stores like Trader Joe's. I have been there a few times in my life, and I know it can be really over-priced, even if it seems like higher-quality items. There are surely other places you can get nice, frozen items, that are a little bit cheaper. If you combine matching prices in sales ads with using a few coupons now and then (even if you don't have time to use a lot of them), it might make a sizeable dent in your food budget being so high.

I also would start cooking on the weekends large dishes that you can stretch into several meals, and perhaps even freezing some of it, so you have some healthy, inexpensive meals ready to heat up at a moment's notice.

Good luck!

[thefrugaltoad]

I wrote an article on that very topic.

1. Compare Local Ads for Sale Items

It takes just a few minutes to compare ads for sale items from your local grocers. It may make sense to buy meat and fish at one store and bread and dairy at another.

2. Research Store Coupon Plans

Most grocery stores have coupon plans like double coupons every Wednesday or they might match competitor coupons. It literally pays to ask! Check with your store’s Customer Service Desk for details.

3. Use Coupons

Use coupons when you shop. This may sound silly but how many times have you pulled that coupon out of your pocket in the parking lot of the grocery store after you finished shopping? Not funny! Most Grocery Stores have shopper cards that you can load with electronic coupons and have websites that you can print coupons from. Don’t forget to ask your neighbor if you can have his Sunday paper when he’s finished. Chances are he is not smart like you and did not see this article about using coupons! The internet is full of sites for coupons. Coupons.com is a great site with coupons for just about anything you are looking for.

4. Buy What is on Sale

If salmon is on sale this week and your family likes it buy it. Don’t buy the expensive cut of meat just because that is what you want for dinner that night. If you are following my advice you would have that steak in the freezer anyway!

5. Make a Weekly Menu

Build your weekly menu around sale items and be sure to check the pantry and fridge as you are making your menu. Nobody needs six bottles of ketchup!

6. Make a Grocery List and Stick to it

This is where your planning will pay off if you stick to purchasing only those items on your list. Another tip is to be aware of impulse purchases. You know those pizza cutters hanging on the door in front of the frozen pizzas? Leave them alone!

7. Buy in Bulk When on Sale

If your budget allows buy extra sale items. You can always divide meat and poultry and freeze for later use. Be sure to use quality freezer bags and label bags with purchase date.

8. Do Not Shop When You Are Hungry

When you shop when you are hungry you are more apt to grab that five gallon container of Hagen Daz Ice Cream or that candy bar at the checkout. Stick to your list!

9. Leave the Kids with a Babysitter

Do I really need to explain this one?

10. Form a Shoppers Club

Buying a side of beef from a butcher can be expensive but you can get some great deals if you find a few other neighbors to split the cost with you.


Hope that helps,

Paul - The Frugal Toad

[MonkeyMama]

Do you feel you need to cut your food bill to achieve specific financial goals, or are you just asking in the sense that you feel *guilty* and/or know you can do better?

I only ask because at your age I Was extremely frugal, but the one thing I never paid much attention to was eating out. I never did well cooking for just one or two, and I also worked an insane amount of hours at that age. (& I can tell you, I saved enought of my income, that the eating out didn't amount to a hill of beans - in that it did not comprimise any financial goals. May have been my only real luxury).

I just share as a different perspective that I don't think you are doing bad at all, and maybe no need to change.

That said, when it comes to changing eating habits, I always have to say that little changes over time can REALLY add up. So, just know that instead of doing a 180 and trying to significantly cut your food spending, you will find it easier and more rewarding to make small changes. For example, start cooking one meal on the weekends and freezing leftovers. I really like the idea of a dinner group - if even once a week or once a month, or so. Start small, and continually look for ways to economize.

[red92s]

Do you feel you need to cut your food bill to achieve specific financial goals, or are you just asking in the sense that you feel *guilty* and/or know you can do better?

Well . . . this originally posted almost three years ago. Not sure how it ended up back up top.

In the time since I've moved three times (one across the country), been laid off for 6 months, found a new job, and gotten engaged.

Future wife is a great cook and does a really good job a couple nights a week. I think we STILL spend too much on food, but only because I'd like to be saving more towards the upcoming nuptials. Interestingly, this was originally posted about 2 weeks before we reconnected while I was home for the holidays in 2008.

[ShawnaC123]

If there's a product that you like a lot and buy often, look on ebay for coupons for it. You can buy coupons...usually like 10 or 20 coupons for a dollar or two. You can end up spending 2 bucks to save 20. And that way you don't have to waste time and money looking for and clipping coupons.

[jteezie]

Red,

I'm in a similar situation as you financially, but I felt that I was saving too much so I opted to go out more often to cut down on my savings... that was fun for a few months, but now I'm back to my old ways. I found that eating out actually takes a whole lot of time. Finding a place, getting there, waiting for service, waiting for the food to cook, waiting for the bill, getting home, etc. At least an hour!

You can makes some pretty simple things and be much more economical with your time.

I do however recommend spending more on healthier foods. Much like saving for the future, you should invest in your future health.

[MonkeyMama]

Well . . . this originally posted almost three years ago. Not sure how it ended up back up top.

Ugh - well, nevermind!

[FrugalDad123]

When I am in an especially frugal mood, I flip a coin in the morning. If it's heads I resolve to eat nothing but beans, water and a little rice. If it's tails I just try especially hard not to exceed my food budget for that one day.