Friday, December 18, 2009

Lowering Your Monthly Food Budget

By Mike Jones

With an economy in disarray, there are many ways to save some pennies. Your food budget, for example, is a good place to start saving.

A good place to start saving is in restaurants. Well, actually stay out of restaurants. You can make major savings by eating in more regularly. If this is too difficult an adjustment, you can reduce the number of times you eat out or search newspapers for restaurant coupons.

Grocery outlet stores are also a good way to save in that they are widely available in most cities. While they may not offer every kind of brand and product you need, you can find great deals on many products. The same goes for shopping in bulk grocery stores where prices are reduced because you are forced to buy in large quantities.

Once you are in the super market, but sure to compare prices of different products. Taking time to do this will ensure that you find the best prices on your needs. You will often find that store brands are lower priced without skimping on quality. You should also take time to use coupons, which can usually be used in conjunction with store sales.

Coupons can also be used to buy in bulk for extra savings. Be sure to scour newspapers and magazines for savings vouchers.

First, replace vegetables and fruits for expensive junk food and candy. Another great way to save: grow your own food. Well, you can save a ton by gardening and growing your own produce. Not only will your fruits and vegetables be fresh and delicious, but you will save loads on typically pricey vegetables.

Also, do not shop when you are hungry. It is inevitable that your cart will be more full than if you have already eaten.

When making meals, it is often difficult to cook for just one. In order to prevent waste, you can save your leftovers for future meals. This, along with the aforementioned tips above, will help you save a little bit at a time. Hopefully, after a short while you will begin to notice significant savings in your budget.

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