How To Save Money On Food
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No matter how tight the budget gets, you can count on one thing... you'll always need food. Here, then, are tips for filling your stomach without emptying your wallet.
There are times when dining out can be cheaper than eating at home. Keep your eyes peeled for lunch and early bird specials.
Use 'Buy One Dinner, Get One Free' coupons. See the HotCoupons and ValPak links below to find these online. The Entertainment coupon book also has lots of these, as well as many other types of discounts:
Consider a frequent diner card membership:
Don't be afraid to take your leftovers home with you! For many people, dinner portions are more like two meals. Why not eat them both, separately?
Fast food can be a real deal, but don't make it the mainstay of your diet. Your health is your wealth.
Use coupons, but use them wisely. Ask yourself these questions:
- If the product is more expensive than your usual brand, will the coupon still save you money?
- If you have to buy several of an item to use the coupon, will you be able to use it all before it goes bad?
- Will you have to drive out of your way to take advantage of the offer?
- If so, will you save more than you spend on gas?
- Do any of the supermarkets near you have a day when coupons are worth even more?
Online coupon sites make finding coupons easier. Some require registration. Read their privacy policies carefully before entering your personal information:
SmartSource
Cool Savings
EverSave
No registration is required at these sites:
GetLocalDeals
HotCoupons.com
ValPak
Use a search engine to look up the websites for products that you use the most. Occasionally, companies provide e-coupons for their loyal customers to print out.
We don't recommend the so-called "loyalty" cards that are available at many grocery stores. Surveys have shown that shopping at a store without a loyalty card program may actually save you more. This is because stores tend to raise their prices after introducing the cards as an incentive for people to sign up.
Why do they want you to sign up? To gather data on your shopping habits. For more information, see:
Discount Grocery Cards - Do They Really Save Money?
Wherever you shop, look for in-store specials. Some stores make their 'sale' tags and 'everyday low price' tags look
See if there's a clearance item area in the store. These have the potential to yield excellent deals. Many stores just fill up a shopping cart and put a sign on it.
Make a note of prices on items you buy often by visiting several different stores. Sometimes you'll save more by going to multiple supermarkets. Again, factor in your transportation costs.
If you like international foods, you can save quite a bit by going to grocery stores that specialize. This is particularly true for Asian and Arabic foods.
Shop close-out and bakery outlet stores like Big Lots, Dollar General, Entenmann's and Mrs. Baird's. If you hit the jackpot, like finding your favorite pasta sauce for half its usual price, fill your cart. Don't do this with untried items. No matter how good they sound,
Consider buying a water filter. You'll save money over bottled water, and avoid the impurities found in most tap water:
Consumer Reviews Of Water Filters
Buy in bulk. This also prepares you for emergencies. You can often get a free day pass for wholesale warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's Wholesale Club. Only buy what you know you'll use before the expiration date. Those who live alone may have a hard time using enough before it spoils to make bulk purchasing financially worthwhile.
For snacks and sweets for big families, take a look at BulkFoods.com.
If there's an item that you buy a lot, and it can't be found at a warehouse, see if your usual supermarket will give you a discount for buying it by the case. Our experience suggests a standard discount of 10%.
Take a look at Ebay's food section. You'll find bulk lots, coupons and hard-to-find items.
- Pros: Few people know about this area, so competition is low.
- Cons: Boxes may have cuts and expiration dates need to be confirmed. Like all online auctions, figure shipping costs into what you're willing to bid.
Learn where your local farmers' markets are. Produce there is fresh and sometimes even organic. It may not be marked as such, because the certification process is expensive, but ask the grower if they use chemical pesticides. For those who buy organic produce regularly, this can provide significant savings.
Or buy direct from a family farm. For a hands-on experience, try a pick your own farm.
For other items, join a food cooperative. Carefully weigh the fee and membership requirements against the savings to decide if joining is right for you.
The Local Harvest website will help you find farmer's markets, family farms and food co-ops. For residents of the UK, try FARMA.
In addition, grow your own produce and herbs. This is the best money saver of all! You can grow food even if you live in an apartment. Find how-tos for every situation here:
Gardening at Knowledge Hound
Organic Gardening at Knowledge Hound
Savor your savings!
