Following the post on reducing waste and saving money, I have been considering my approach to grocery shopping. This is an in-depth look at ways to save on our grocery bills and get the most efficient use of what we buy. While these can all be useful, implementing even just a few of these tips can help us get the most out of our food budget.
1. Plan and shop once a week – Aside from saving on gas with few trips to the store, I plan our meals in advance for the week. Keeping our “menu” on our kitchen chalkboard, I check the fridge and pantry for all the ingredients I’ll need and add any missing ones to our grocery list. At the store, I don’t deviate from my list, ensuring that I only get what we’ll need; eliminating impulse buys entirely.
2. Coupons/buying in bulk – In my younger days, I’d often get creative with new meal ideas but with finicky-eating kids now, that has changed a bit. I have a good sense of what they like and don’t like, so viable dinner ideas are more limited. Therefore, when there is an opportunity to get a staple ingredient cheaply with a coupon or by buying in bulk, I don’t hesitate. As long as items aren’t perishable (or can be frozen) and I know they’ll be incorporated into a meal eventually, I buy where there is greater value. For me, I always look more closely at the per-unit cost than the total price. If I’m buying more at a better price, those ingredients simply won’t need to be put on future grocery lists and I’ll have gotten them at a lower cost. This is where a membership at a wholesale club (e.g. Sam’s Club, Costco, BJ’s, etc.) can be advantageous too.
3. Consider “day 2” – If you’re making a big family dinner each night, think ahead about what will be left over. Could the rest be another good reheated dinner the following night? Can my wife take some to work for her lunch? I often make our favorite baked penne recipe with this in mind. Aside from being great for leftovers, I also don’t have to cook the next night – an added bonus that any parent can love. Consider the last bite of the meal along with the first and make an effort to throw away as little of it as possible.
4. Consider the total cost of each meal – Do a quick tally of the ingredients in your favorite/most frequent meals. You may find that some are pricier while others are cheaper. Having this mind when making your menu can save you a few extra dollars per week, which adds up quickly. You can also consider a weekly meatless dinner. This is recommended by researchers for better health, by environmentalists for conservation, and by me for cost reasons.
5. Track spending over time – View your bank statements online over a two or three month period and look for your transactions from your grocery store. Your costs will fluctuate from week to week, particularly if/when you buy things in bulk, so take a larger sample and get an average cost per week. Do the same quick analysis once a month to check your progress. If any of this makes you feel excessively cheap, then make yourself feel better by putting your savings toward a special outing with your kids.
These are just some of the ways that we can all save money and reduce waste, though I’m sure there are many others that I have yet to consider. What are some of your strategies?
Stuck with Dad 