This week I am beginning a series on budgeting and saving money. Topics will vary from general tips to specific details. If you have any questions or suggestions for post ideas please feel free to email me or leave a note in the comments section!
Most everyone has heard to “buy what is in season” in regards to saving money buying fruit. This same principle can and should be applied to other areas of shopping. Here are some areas where it really pays to compare prices:
Meat – Learn to look at the prices of ALL types of meat – briskets, stew meat, roasts, etc. Often I have found that the cost of brisket or a roast is less than ground beef. I purchase the brisket and make my own ground beef in the food processor. You can check to see if the butcher will grind the meat for you – sometimes butchers will do it for free. Be sure to look also at stew meat as well – it can be chopped up in the processor for ground beef. (It is VERY simple and easy to make your own ground beef!) When roasts are on sale I stock up because one roast can usually give me at least two meals and sometimes three or even four! Chicken and pork have fewer selections but look at all varieties as well. Don’t forget to check out the marked down meat section as well!
Fruit Juices – if you purchase fruit juices be sure to check the price of the ready-to-serve bottles and compare them with the concentrates. Our local grocers have had 64 oz ready-to-serve jugs available for $2.29 while the least expensive concentrate is currently $2.59.
Breads – if you purchase bread be sure to check out the bakery area for good deals. When I am unable to bake regular bread for our family I’ll stop by the grocer’s bakery to see what they have. Often, I have gone early in the morning and asked the baker for loaves they are putting on day old – less than 24 hours have elapsed so the bread will still be fresh. Even full price bakery bread can be less expensive than a regular shelf loaf and can even be better for you!
Canned Tomatoes – stewed tomatoes can easily be turned into puree with a food processor. They can also easily be diced and tossed into a mason jar and, at least in our area, stewed whole tomatoes tend to be easily $0.50 less a can. A 32 ounce can of pureed tomatoes (or stewed that has been processed) can be dumped into a cheesecloth-lined sieve and turned into tomato sauce. I can get about 28 ounces of sauce for around $2 or $3 instead of $0.90 for a 4-ounce can.
Cheese – Block cheese is generally the best value; however, there are times when the grocers will run a sale and the sliced or grated cheese will actually be less expensive. Also, check the deli area because they often will have deals on cheese that are less expensive than what is in the dairy case.
Saving Money at the Grocers - Part 1, Comparative Shopping
Most everyone has heard to “buy what is in season” in regards to saving money buying fruit. This same principle can and should be applied to other areas of shopping. Here are some areas where it really pays to compare prices:
Meat – Learn to look at the prices of ALL types of meat – briskets, stew meat, roasts, etc. Often I have found that the cost of brisket or a roast is less than ground beef. I purchase the brisket and make my own ground beef in the food processor. You can check to see if the butcher will grind the meat for you – sometimes butchers will do it for free. Be sure to look also at stew meat as well – it can be chopped up in the processor for ground beef. (It is VERY simple and easy to make your own ground beef!) When roasts are on sale I stock up because one roast can usually give me at least two meals and sometimes three or even four! Chicken and pork have fewer selections but look at all varieties as well. Don’t forget to check out the marked down meat section as well!
Fruit Juices – if you purchase fruit juices be sure to check the price of the ready-to-serve bottles and compare them with the concentrates. Our local grocers have had 64 oz ready-to-serve jugs available for $2.29 while the least expensive concentrate is currently $2.59.
Breads – if you purchase bread be sure to check out the bakery area for good deals. When I am unable to bake regular bread for our family I’ll stop by the grocer’s bakery to see what they have. Often, I have gone early in the morning and asked the baker for loaves they are putting on day old – less than 24 hours have elapsed so the bread will still be fresh. Even full price bakery bread can be less expensive than a regular shelf loaf and can even be better for you!
Canned Tomatoes – stewed tomatoes can easily be turned into puree with a food processor. They can also easily be diced and tossed into a mason jar and, at least in our area, stewed whole tomatoes tend to be easily $0.50 less a can. A 32 ounce can of pureed tomatoes (or stewed that has been processed) can be dumped into a cheesecloth-lined sieve and turned into tomato sauce. I can get about 28 ounces of sauce for around $2 or $3 instead of $0.90 for a 4-ounce can.
Cheese – Block cheese is generally the best value; however, there are times when the grocers will run a sale and the sliced or grated cheese will actually be less expensive. Also, check the deli area because they often will have deals on cheese that are less expensive than what is in the dairy case.
Next week - Part 2, Other Tips for Saving at the Grocers
1 comments:
Revee, I have an money saving idea for those of us who don't bake our own bread. We have a couple of bread outlet stores in town. When the driver, who delivers the bread and pastries to the grocery store, has to pick up the outdated items he takes them to these outlet stores to sell there. We go to the outlet store to stock up. (The bread, etc. are fresh enough for us.) The bread outlet store we go to has two senior days a week.....10% off your total bill.....so we can save more. One of the stores gives you a free item if you spend a certain amount.
Loved your "budget" hints. Look forward to learning more from you this week. Love, Debbi
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