many of us these days are wondering that - how to feed our family
nutritious & delicious meals without running out of grocery money
before the month's over! some of the best advice my mom ever gave me
about shopping for food ~ (1) never go grocery shopping while you're
hungry; and (2) make a list before you go & stick to it - unless you
find a REAL bargain. also, check your pantry & shelves before you
go; you might find items you can use to supplement what you'll
purchase. if you're into it, coupon clipping & refunding can be big
sources of budget-relief, but it takes time & dedication. enlist your
kids or spouse's help for shopping and cooking also. if you buy a
good roast or big chicken, plan to use the leftovers a day or two
later, or freeze them for later use (stew, sandwiches, etc.). i found
an online book you can download for free (searched for: cooking on a
budget): http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:iIEP53yNhi4J:www.30daygourmet.com/Downloads/Files/Budget_Book_Sample.pdf+cooking+on+a+budget&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
if you have a big enough family to justify the possible expense of the
card, join a Savers Club like Sam's, or enlist some neighbors, friends
or church group - buy in bulk, split the costs and everybody saves.
when you find a really good bargain, buy all you can afford (obviously
not for perishable goods like fruit and veggies unless you know how to
can or freeze them). if you shop at farmer's markets, go late in the
morning or afternoon when the sellers may be ready to bargain (so they
can go home!). adding rice & pasta can 'stretch' a cut of meat and
add nutritional value, too. buying store brands - particularly frozen
vegetables - is often a big money saver; fresher & with far less salt
than canned varieties, also. watch for unadvertised, in-store
specials and - if its something already on your list - substitute the
sale item for what you had intended to purchase. remember,
ready-to-serve meals are usually not (a) a bargain, or (b)
particularly healthy -- most are high in fat and horribly high in
sodium. i have strayed from your original question, so pardon me,
please, but i hope some of this has been helpful. |
