Buying Food on a Budget

Is money a little tight right now? Are you trying to stretch those dollars? In today’s society it’s very common to have difficulty making enough money for the things you need most. But, using a few simple tricks, you can save money on the things you need to buy, like food, and learn some important things along the way.

1. Clip coupons for the things you buy. Try shopping at stores that double or even triple the value of the coupon. Buy one get one free can be a great savings, but only if you’re going to use both items before they expire. The use of coupons helps to save money in big and fast ways.

2. Join a coupon swapping organization. This type of group tends to swap items for coupons. So for example, if you have a coupon for peanut butter but you don’t need peanut butter, you can go to this group and trade someone for milk, or an object you may need.

3. Create a grocery list and stick to it. Many people tend to go over budget because they see things at the store that they think they need when in actuality, it’s not needed. By having a list, it helps you to stay focused and aware of the things you need to buy and the things that you don’t.

4. Don’t buy items you don’t need just because it’s a great deal. Only buy what you know you are going to use.

5. Stick to your budget – Record your monthly spending on food and look for ways to save based on those numbers. This will force you to become more creative with your recipes and eat healthier, more nutritious meals.

6. Compare prices of different brand foods based on their weight. Bring a calculator with you to ensure your calculations are correct in figuring out which brand is the cheapest and most affordable.

7. Buy your food in bulk. Many times, buying things in higher quantities means more money saved. Buy durable things in bulk that you’ll need in the future, like paper towels, toilet paper, canned food, and beans.

8. Shop for baked goods during the daytime. If you’re craving for something from a bakery, go during the day. This is when the bakers will be marking down all of their day-old food.

9. Buy store brand items. In many cases, store brand foods are a lot cheaper than those more well-known brands.

10. Avoid processed foods as much as possible. These foods are usually more expensive, and oftentimes are less nutritious. Buy the inexpensive but healthy items, like oatmeal.

11. If you are looking for a job, look for a job in the restaurant industry. Oftentimes, after a long day, they allow their employees to take home any leftover foods.

12. Plan out your weekly meals before going shopping. This will help you to shop for only the ingredients you need for the dinners you’re serving.

Knowing how to properly shop for food is key in saving money for those other things you need. Ensure that if you are having money issues, you make some attempt to save as much money as you can wherever possible.