Shoppers today are now more concerned with the family dollar. Product advertisements on television contain a common theme of pitching 'the most bang for the buck' - whether concerning car insurance, health care, or paper towels. Clearly, cost is of primary concern to the consumer.
A significant portion of the average household income is relegated to family meals. Meal preparation time is often a concern for those families with both parents working full-time. Meal planning and cooking can be time consuming, but with a little effort and understanding of packaging, advertising, and basic ingredients, considerable savings can be realized.
Take Time to Investigate Coupons and Store Ads
An initial understanding of basic foods is essential. If shopping and preparing meals are new ventures, one can begin by watching a few cooking shows on television. This is good exposure to cooking methods and likely preparation of basic familiar foods. A balanced diet that includes variety and flavor is optimal.
By checking online coupons and store ads of area retailers, families may take advantage of significant savings with such specials. It is important to take the necessary time to really shop for values; comparing particularly the regular prices of staple items among nearby grocery store chains, dollar stores, and discount department stores. Smart shopping takes more time than convenience shopping.
Smart Shopping for Staples, Produce, Meat and Dairy
One best practice is to purchase staple items in the largest quantity that can be afforded to buy and store. Items such as rice, pasta, potatoes, grains, and breads should be well-stocked. These ingredients typically create a foundation of most entrees, and meals can be varied by interchanging this starchy element of the dinner.
Perishables such as fresh vegetables need to be purchased on a more frequent basis. Aromatic vegetables such as carrots, celery and onions provide basic flavors essential to many entrees and should be readily available in the kitchen. Garlic and herbs are relatively affordable in the fresh state. Salad items, tomatoes, and other fresh items can be selected based upon preference and quantity allowed by the individual budget. It is smart to create a weekly meal plan around the best values, utilizing current coupons and specials. Fruits are largely seasonal and a matter of taste. One can vary a few fruits based upon pricing from week to week.
Meat prices are higher than ever, and this big-ticket item makes up a huge slice of the grocery budget pie. Advance price comparison among the grocery chains and discount department stores is essential here. It is a good idea to physically shop the meat section of each store occasionally to see what is not advertised, such as "Manager Specials". Packaged meat items that are winding down to expiration date are discounted by the butcher and discovered by value-seeking shoppers. Purchasing more of the discounted/lower priced items this week and less/none of the more expensive type is smart shopping. It's good to familiarize one's self with various cuts of meat and the recommended preparation.
Beware of Gimmicks and Be Prepared
Equally important is to beware of overpriced packaging, such as kabobs and stuffed chops. An investment of time toward breaking down larger meat packages saves a lot of money. Good quality kitchen equipment such as knives and other utensils make this work relatively easy. Having a supply of freezer bags on hand enables cooks to portion and label quantities necessary to prepare individual meals.
Cheeses and dairy items vary by brand and packaging. A block of cheddar cheese may be significantly lower priced per ounce than the shredded amount of the same type of cheese. Kitchen equipment such as a grater and food processor is essential. When selecting milk and cream, it is important to only purchase an amount that will be used prior to the expiration date. Eggs, like staple starches, are a stock must-have, and are vital in the preparation of many foods.
Sundry items are most cost effective when purchased in their most basic form. Special sauces can sometimes be recreated in the kitchen and with improved flavor, such as cocktail sauce. It is also wise to try different sauces to compare taste and shop for the best buy. Overall, the fewer prepared foods that are purchased, the greater the savings for the grocery bill.
Fresh baked bread is a wonderful thing, but store bakery items are certainly good. Prices vary greatly on the bread type and brand name. Consideration of how the bread will be served helps one make the decision. When making french toast, a person may use any type of bread, perhaps from the day-old discount bin. If serving a hearty stew, the cook may prefer to serve a more rustic, high quality bread.
Shop at Discount Stores and Avoid Prepared Foods
Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to purchase toiletries, medications, and cleaning supplies from the grocery store. Discount department and dollar stores routinely have the best prices on these things.
Avoid the frozen food items that can be cooked from scratch more inexpensively at home. Meatballs, entrees, fried fish and chicken are included in this list. It pays to steer clear of the chip/snack and soda aisles in the store. Restaurant-style tortilla chips can be made at home for a fraction of the price of a bag of corn chips. Instead of soda and energy drinks, a better choice is frozen juice concentrate. A great buy is an inexpensive plastic beverage dispenser with a tap to refrigerate and serve home-brewed iced tea.
Savings and Rewards
Using coupons and being aware of food values will make an instant impact upon the family grocery budget. Once practiced, smart shopping becomes a way of life and can even be fun! Parents including family members in the art of meal planning will find it can be a valuable educational tool, bonding experience, and life skill for children. The family meal, with thought and planning, is an area of the household budget where today's much needed savings can be immediately and measurably realized.
