CLIPPING COUPONS – Coupons do count! A few dollars a week might not seem like a lot, but the money you save by using coupons really adds up over the course of a year. File all your coupons in a convenient place where you will remember to bring them to the grocery store. Without your coupons in hand, they will do you no good.
SALE SAVVY – Take advantage of sales! Read the food section of your local newspaper and the weekly grocery store ads before you go shopping and stock up on items that can be stored. Canned goods, pasta and grains have a long shelf life; poultry, meat and butter freeze well. So if you have room, buying in bulk can be economical.
WRITE IT DOWN! – Make a grocery list before you go shopping; it will get you out of the store faster, and it will also prevent you from spending money on things you don’t need.
MEAT MATTERS – While pre-cubed, pre-pounded or pre-seasoned meats (or poultry) can save you preparation time, they cost a lot more than plain cuts of meat. If you can spare a few minutes to cut, pound or season your meat, you’ll find the savings are significant.
PRICING POULTRY – Dark meat costs less than white, so if your family likes dark meat, then you’re in luck. Also, consider that the more work done to the poultry, the more it will cost you. If you have enough time to remove the skin from the poultry yourself, or if you will be cooking bone-in pieces instead of boneless, then the poultry you purchase will be less expensive. Look for family packs whenever possible, as the price per pound is much lower and it’s very easy to repackage the poultry into cooking portions.
CONVENIENCE COSTS – Boneless chicken breasts are an example of a good timesaving investment, but snack-packs and lunch-size portions are not. If a convenience item significantly reduces your time and hassles in the kitchen, it’s probably worth the cost. But anything that can be done quickly and easily at home, such as bagging small portions of chips and slicing cheese, will save you a lot of money.
A MATTER OF TASTE – Follow the basic rule of shopping: If your family won’t eat it, don’t buy it – at any price! Even if you’re tempted by rock-bottom prices, these products will be no bargain if nobody likes them.
COST CUTTERS CHART
INSTEAD OF packages of sliced or grated cheese, BUY blocks of cheese.
INSTEAD OF refrigerated cartons of fruit juice, BUY frozen juice concentrate.
INSTEAD OF quart-size cartons of milk, BUY gallons or half-gallons of milk.
INSTEAD OF loose fruit and veggies by the pound, BUY bagged produce, such as potatoes and apples.
INSTEAD OF single-serving packages of snacks and cereal, BUY family- or economy-sized packages.
INSTEAD OF packaged veggies for soups and stews, BUY individual veggies by the pound.
INSTEAD OF small packages of nuts and dried fruits, BUY bulk nuts and dried fruits sold by weight.
INSTEAD OF brand-name grocery products, BUY generic and store-brand products.
