February 15, 2007

Saving On Food Expenses

By Dana Joseph

I’ve written quite a bit on saving money at the grocery store.  Here are some more ideas on saving money on food expenses:

1.  Track your food expenses.  To get a handle on food expenses you need to monitor your spending.  This can be done using a program like Quicken (which is what we do) or just a notebook.  I make sure that every receipt I receive is entered into Quicken.  I keep receipts for items paid with cash too because I want to find the total amount spent, whether I paid cash for it, wrote a check, or put it on the debit card.

2.  Keep a price list.  I’ve done mine on a spreadsheet but you could use a notebook too.  The main idea is to keep a list of the products you purchase, its price, and the store.  You will be able to quickly see who has the best price on what item, you won’t have to rely on your own memory of the prices, and you’ll also be able to see price increases quickly. 

3.  Buying in bulk.   If you’ve got the room, buying in bulk can be a big money saver.  When chicken breast goes on sale for $1.99 per pound, I stock up and freeze it.  You really do need to calculate unit prices though to make sure you are getting a good deal.    

4.  Cook from scratch.  This is my all time number one tip for saving money on food.  Learn to cook!   Start with simple dishes and work your way up to the more complex.  I’ve found that a crockpot and a bread machine are invaluable in this area.  Here are some ideas for frugal breakfasts and tuna casserole recipes. 

5.  Use leftovers.  A really simple but timeless idea.  Don’t throw out food.  Either use it the next day for lunch, make something else from it, or freeze it for use at another time. 

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Topics: Cooking At Home, Saving Money |



One Response to “Saving On Food Expenses”

  1. Not Made Of Money : 10 Ways To Save Money Says:
    February 24th, 2007 at 9:44 pm

    [...] 1.  Cook all food from scratch.  I am not a great cook but I have learned how to make the basics.  All you need is a basic cookbook and just the mimimal amount of cooking utensils.  Start with easy recipes and work your way into the more difficult ones.  If you like to grill, then practice those bar-b-que recipes!  We save a substantial amount of money each month by cooking our own food. [...]

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