How to Cut Your Grocery Bill
I just came back from a trip to the supermarket and came back in shock. In less than a week the blueberries went from $1.50 to $3.09 a pint. A box of cereal (17.7 ounce) was $4.79 and a very small package (not bunch) of fresh basil was $2.47. And that’s the tip of the iceberg (not the lettuce) price-wise.
Are you noticing enormous price increases? Do you have some price-saving tips to share with us? Please send them along.
Here are some tips on how to make the most of your grocery dollars sent to me by the National Cooperative Grocers Association.
Plan Ahead:
- Clean out expired or unusable food from the pantry and fridge
- Inventory what’s in your freezer
- Draw up a list of staple foods you’ll need every week
- Create a grocery list you can re-use every week
- Share the list with your family for their input
Shop Wisely:
- Stick to your list; avoid impulses
- Coordinate your purchases with what’s in season
- Take advantage of sale items.
Change Your Patterns:
- Don’t overstock
- Minimize purchasing food at convenience stores where prices often are higher
- Slowly add more cooking time into your schedule