With food prices on the dramatic rise, consumers need to get creative on how to reduce their bills while still leaving the store with food for a week. My grovery bill used to hit nearly $300 per week. Thanks to some store savvy strategies, we have (and you can too!) cut the bill in half! Here are some tips to make this possible.

Think Thin

Ask for all deli meats and cheeses to be sliced very thin. You’ll use fewer pieces and stretch the deli items throughout the week. Not to mention you’ll save on fat and calories.

Buy Produce in Season

Don’t buy berries in January! Limit your fruit and vegetable purchases to what is in season as you’ll pay far less for it. Here’s what’s in season right now: mixed baby greens, spinach and dandelion, asparagus, brussel sprouts, new or baby potatoes, artichokes, carrots, sugar snap peas, snow peas, fennel, beets and sweet onions, rhubarb and strawberries. Buy the off season produce frozen…it packs the same nutrients as fresh and costs less.

Get Out the Slow Cooker

Buying inexpensive and tougher cuts of meats is no sacrifice when you slow cook them to melt in your mouth perfection. Slow cookers also make use of lots of leftover veggies so nothing goes to waste and your wallet doesn’t suffer.

Shop the Outer Perimeter of the Store

The outer perimeter of the store is the most wholesome area because it contains whole all natural foods like produce, seafood, dairy and grains. Once you hit the middle aisles, your bill skyrockets with costly packaged and preserved foods that offer no nutritional bang for your buck.

Come Prepared With a List

My husband does our shopping because I veer from the list and come home with extraneous items we don’t need. Saturday I bought a jar of jarred jalapeno picked beets for ten bucks plus a bottle of Mango Chili grilling sauce and Sake Soy grilling glaze. I don’t even have propane for the grill! My boy wonder sticks to the list and keeps our family of four fed for under $150.00 each week. Sticking to a strict list saves a ton!

Grow Your Own Herbs and Veggies

April is National Gardening month. Make a commitment this year to grow your own herbs. Do you know how much money you will save? The average fresh herb bunch at a grocery store is $1.99. That is just for one herb. Times that by a few for a recipe and you are out ten bucks just like that! I just started mine from seed indoors and then transfer them to the deck for use all summer. At the end of the season, I bring the perennial herbs like Rosemary, Marjoram and Oregano indoors and enjoy them year round. I have also started growing my own basic vegetables such as salad greens, tomatoes, and squash. Last summer, I barely bought a vegetable from the store and saved us a boat full of cash.

Have more suggestions for saving at the store?

Clip Coupons Wisely

Only clip coupons for items that you use. Don’t buy it just because there is a coupon for it. Also, match your coupons with sale items in the weekly circulars to save even more.

Here’s a GREAT unknown supermarket tip for you. All grocery stores accept competitor coupons. So, if Shaw’s has a $5 off ham coupon, Stop & Shop will honor it at their store.

I use them all the time and it saves me a ton. Also, go online and request coupons from your favorite manufacturers. I have done this with success many times.
Email me at slocketti@comcast.net. We need to share our ideas because it doesn’t look like prices will be falling anytime soon.