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- Don't by better quality than you need. You don't buy prime rib for pot roast. Low-cost meats do very well, and most
times even better than hi-cost cuts in stews, casseroles, pot roasts, pot pies, soups, etc.
- Keep meals simple. Hey, everyone loves mac and cheese. How about a homemade pizza? hamburgers, hot dogs, meatloaf,
chili, bacon and eggs for breakfast OR dinner. Good doesn't have to be fancy or take a lot of time. In fact the more "gourmet" you make a
meal, the more expensive it's going to be. In addition, you'll probably have to buy ingredients for which you'll have leftovers that you may
never use again. So follow the K.I.S.S. principle at all meals.
- Buy a freezer. This is only advocated if you can afford it. However, a freezer is a very good way to take advantage of
bulk purchases. When there's a really good deal on meat, for example, you can buy a large quantity and freeze it. Buying in large quantities
at big-box stores like Costco and Sam's Club makes sense when you have someplace to store your purchases. Also, you can double the amount you
cook of something like spaghetti sauce and freeze the excess for a later meal. Freeze butter, cheese, tomatoes in season, soups, stews,
breads -- the list goes on and on.
- Check the fridge daily. It's oh so easy for small things, heck even big things, to go bad before you can use them. Think
lettuce and cucumbers, yogurt and leftovers. By checking your fridge every day, you can ctch these itmes and hopefully use them before they
spoil.
- Go meatless. Try cooking a meatless meal twice a week to save money. How about Vegetarian Italian?
- Beware of supermarket tricks. In fact, this is a trick pulled on the consumer by many large retailers: They raise the
price on a popular brand for about two weeks and then cut the price to just under the original price to make you think you're getting a
bargain.
- Use the phone. Almost every grocery item has the manufacturer's phone number on the can, box or bag, and some even have
instructions to, "Let us know what you think." Well, pick up the phone and call that 800 number. Tell the customer service rep how much
you enjoyed the product. They will usually offer you cents-off coupons and possibly even FREE coupons for the product itself.
- Take it back. Sometimes it happens. Something you've purchased is bad. Soured milk, rotted fruit, fizzless soda, broken
eggs. Don't be afraid to take it back. Food is simply too expensive NOT to get what you paid for. Return bad items for credit or
replacement. Most stores will gladly oblige.
- Stock up after Thanksgiving. November and December are the best months of the year to save on groceries. There are more
coupons issued in these two months than at any other time during the year. The day after Thanksgiving, stores practically give turkeys away.
This is when a freezer comes in handy. You'll find some great bargains both after Thanksgiving and after Christmas. This is the time to stock
up on bargains.
- Check out supermarket web sites. Supermarket home pages often have coupons and specials listed.
- Look up. Look down. The most popular and expensive items in an aisle are often put between waist and shoulder level.
Less expensive brands usually show up on the upper or lower shelves. Check to make sure you're not missing out on something just because it's
hard to see.
- Check out different forms of the same food. Before you buy green beans, check fresh, frozen and canned to see which is
less expensive by unit price. This goes for more than just green beans -- obviously.
- Ditch disposables. Coffee filters, plastic bags, razors, water filters (instead of bottled water) and more can be
replaced with permanant items saving you money and saving space in the landfill.
- Plan your meals. This is perhaps the hardest of all the ways to save money on groceries, but it can be one of the most
financially rewarding. You rarely buy things you don't need; you free up precious time; you're less apt to waste food or better yet throw
good food away. Like planning your day, planning your meals can make a difference in your stress level.
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