Cookerati

Recent spiking food prices have spurred a flurry of blog postings and articles about people going broke at the supermarket. One caller to a radio talk show claimed that times are so tight she can’t afford to feed her whole family. She buys food for her kids and she and her husband eat what the kids don’t finish. “But we’re middle class!” she lamented.

I have a few ideas to help with the pain. Let’s assume you’re a savvy shopper who has the basics covered. You know how to compare unit prices, you buy store brands, watch for sales, cut coupons, shop in bulk, and save your leftovers. (If you don’t do these things, I highly recommend them.) Here are a few more ideas to help you shave a few bucks off of your grocery bill.

1. Save your receipt and get out your red pen. You know when it’s spring cleaning and you need some room in your closet? And you must decide what stays and what goes? You pick up a garment and ask yourself: when was the last time I wore this? Keeping a grocery receipt and revisiting it a few weeks later can give you some feedback about what you’re actually consuming. Did those cold cuts end up a in a moldy pile in the back of the fridge? Circle them with your red pen. How about the cereal that your kid just had to have? One bowl and then left for stale? That gets circled too. When you’ve circled all of the things that ended up being thrown out, consider the list again. Is there anything on there that’s non-essential or could be replaced with a less expensive option? You like to buy the fancy dental floss but could you get by on the cheap stuff? Put a check mark next to it and write in an estimate cost of the cheaper replacement. Finally, go through the circles and check marks and calculate how much you might have saved. Addendum: one problem I encounter is finding ways to use leftover ingredients. Here’s a website that help you find recipes for what you have in the fridge.
2. Eat cheap meals. OK, this sounds totally obvious. But do you know how much your favorite meals actually cost per plate? This is another time when a shopping receipt comes in handy. Add up the cost of each ingredient per meal (I usually exclude the seasoning since the amount is marginal) and divide by the number of servings. Now you have a basis for comparison.  Consider adding meals to your repertoire that are a little more modest in price. Casseroles, stews and other one dish meals are not only often healthy but great bargains. When I was growing up my mom had to feed six people on a budget and I remember eating a lot of baked pasta, red hots with potato salad and goulash. You can declare that chili night will be once a month, or make Fridays sandwich night. (That doesn’t have to be peanut butter and jelly. Make paninis with leftover grilled vegetables or curried egg salad on toast.) Don’t let the picky eater in your family be a dictator. If everyone’s down with chili night except for one person, help him/her think of a substitute.
3. Eat a meatless meal now and then. I’m a vegetarian and it pays off at the supermarket. I can easily feed myself on very little money using items from my pantry (whole grains and legumes) supplemented by fresh and frozen produce. However, I recall that my first meatless meal was rather nerve wracking as I was ingrained with the idea that eating meat is necessary for good health. (It’s not.) Substituting a wholesome protein source such as beans or tofu is not only good for your wallet and body, it’s good for the earth. Producing meat requires a significant amount of grain, fuel and water resources, while growing bean plants actually replenish the nutrients in soil! Look for meatless recipes (there are many here on cookerati) and use the formula in #2 to determine if they would save you money. Recently I made a Mexican stew with corn and beans. Using prices from netgrocer (excluding the cost of spices) it came out to $1.35 a bowl! If you aren’t eating occasional meatless meals, they’re well worth investigating.
4. Use your kitchen: time vs. money. I love to make things at home that cost a lot otherwise, such as granola and pizza. As long as the preparation is quick and simple, this is a great option. Sometimes, though, the time investment may not be worth the few bucks you save. I was in the cookie aisle the other day and after a quick mental inventory I realized that I had most of the ingredients for cookies at home. Choosing to make cookies instead of purchase them lightened up my grocery receipt, but I did spend about forty minutes in the kitchen prepping, baking, and cleaning up. I enjoyed this time but for other people it might be better spent on other things. If you like to cook and bake this option may save you quite a bit.
5. Eat seasonally. When I started shopping and cooking for myself, I had no idea about seasonal eating. It took me a while to catch on that strawberries were a lot cheaper when they came into season locally. Buying apples in the fall, asparagus in the spring, and peaches in the summer not only saves cash but you really get the best food that way. If you’re not sure what is available seasonally where you live, try looking here.

I hope this list has inspired you to save some money!