Has your grocery bill more than doubled in the last few years? You aren't alone. Although you will certainly have to spend more money than you once did, there are some clever ways to save and reduce overall costs. Here are 12 clever ways to save on your grocery bills without sacrificing quality.
Sam's or Costco for Bulk Buying
Bulk buying saves money. If you can't use all of the products, go and shop bulk with a friend. You can get your typical amount of groceries, split the cost, and save a lot on your total bill.
Grow Herbs
Herbs can quickly be grown in a bright window. They require very little maintenance, the seeds are cheap, and you won't have to spend money on expensive store-bought herbs to class up your favorite dishes.
Buy a Water Filter
Water filters make it possible to keep costs down on bottled water. Let's face it: cutting back on some plastic waste certainly won't hurt either.
Meal Plan
Plan your meals out ahead of time. You can then use your bulk items more effectively plan meals that coordinate and use the same ingredients. If you need milk for one recipe, make another one that uses milk and ensure you are using the entire milk container.
Compare Labels on Generic Brands
Some generic brands are just as good as the name brands. This is especially the case with certain organic products; check your labels and see if name brands make a difference.
Stay In Season
Understand the fruits and vegetables that are seasonal. These will always be priced better, and you can find them more readily.
Check The Weekly Ads
Check your grocery store weekly ads as you do your meal planning. It's a great way to save money but also to be inspired by certain foods to make recipes with.
Go Once A Week
Try to stay out of the store. Go once a week and be smart about what you purchase. The little trips for $30 or $50 really start to add up.
Leftovers For Lunch
Eat leftovers for lunch the day after. You can save a lot of money by making 1.5 of a recipe and then ensuring that everyone is fed for lunch the next day.
Shop The Perimeter
Shop the grocery store's perimeter, where you get quality ingredients like fruit, vegetables, and meat. The center of the store is filled with more processed foods, which are costly. Bananas can be $1.00, but a bag of chips is $4.50. Just keep that in mind.
Use Your Freezer
When you get a great deal, freeze it! Pay close attention to what you have in your freezer so you don't waste it, but take full advantage of this space.
Buy Some Online
Although it isn't always practical to purchase all of your groceries online, take a look and see if there are some that you can get away with purchasing while you shop online. You may be surprised at the deals you can find, especially for products like organic flour, spices, and more. Some people have an easier time sticking to their budget when they buy groceries online.
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