Spending wisely at the grocery store doesn't have to mean dull dinners.
The cost of food is most definitely going up. Milk, for example, keeps climbing in price. It is not even unusual to find eggs, the used-to-be cheap protein, at three dollars a dozen. Milk and eggs are very basic ingredients. Meats, produce and specialty ingredients are increasingly difficult to find at reasonable prices. Rising prices do not, however, have to be prohibitive. There are a few secrets to keep in mind if you want to keep your menu varied as well as affordable.
- Shop the Sales This 'secret' may seem like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at how few people actually make their grocery lists based on the grocery ad. Certainly, you have to come up with enough food to make meals for a week, but when you're shopping on a budget, the first rule is to take advantage of what is on sale. Don't necessarily buy everything in the grocery ads, however.
- Do your Homework Grocery ads do hold many valuable deals for the budget shopper. They also loudly advertise some foods and products that are not necessarily on sale. Don't rely on the layout of the ads to tell you what a bargain is this week. Make sure you know regular prices and typical sale prices of the things you regularly buy at the grocery store. Don't be reeled in by clever advertising. Along the same lines, don't buy things that seem to be a good deal if they are not items that you normally use in your kitchen.
- Buy in Bulk When you do find a good price on something that you do use in your home, buy a bunch. It is hard to tell when that particular item will be on sale again. If it's canned tomatoes for 50 cents a can, fill your pantry. If it's boneless skinless chicken breasts for $1.75 a pound, buy as much as you have room for in your freezer. By buying commonly used items in bulk when you can get them at a good price, you will be free from paying the normal high prices when the foods are not on sale. Buy enough of the items you use and you'll be able to wait to buy until they are on sale again. Once you have stocked up on several items, you'll be able to choose new menus every day right out of your own pantry.
- Shop in Season Some things cannot be bought in bulk. Fresh fruits and vegetables just don't last for weeks and weeks. In that case, it is important to buy foods that are in season. Apples and oranges are inexpensive in the winter. Berries and peaches are inexpensive in the summer. Be flexible when it comes to these items. Don't waste your money on low-quality cherries in the winter. Buy a colorful mixture of beautiful grapes instead.
Following the guidelines listed above will help you to stock a variety of foods while keeping on a reasonable budget for foods. Specialty foods rarely go on sale because of their low volume sales. Buy these things only occasionally, or consider shopping for them in a large volume, specialty store.
