9 Tips to Cut Your Grocery Bill by Up to 50 Percent

Food is one of those variable expenses that can definitely hit your budget below the belt. I mean, have you seen the price of beef lately?

According to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average U.S. household spent about $4,000 on groceries in 2012.

The good news is that couponing, shopping sales and making a list aren’t the only ways to save a substantial amount of money on your grocery bill. In the video below, Money Talks News money expert Stacy Johnson offers some tips to slash your food costs by up to 50 percent. Take a look and meet me on the other side for additional suggestions.

Watch the video of ’9 Tips to Cut Your Grocery Bill by Up to 50 Percent’ on MoneyTalksNews.com.

1. Do your own slicing and dicing

Prepackaged products are convenient for the consumer, but they also come with a much higher price tag. Although it may be a tad bit time-consuming, buying whole food products, such as fruit from the produce section, whole chicken, block cheese and fresh vegetables, will save you a substantial amount of money.

In other words, put your hands to work and stop paying others for something you can do on your own.

2. Buy generic

What’s the point of buying the high-end version of the product if the generic one is comparable in both quality and taste? That’s exactly why you should give those generics a shot, and save between 20 and 50 percent on your grocery bill while doing so.

I was once a Froot Loop junkie until I discovered that the Walmart brand not only tastes better, but is half the price.

And with store brands, you can also rest assured that you’re not wasting money, as most grocers offer a money-back guarantee on their products if you are not satisfied. So why not give it a shot? You may just be in for a treat.

3. Seek alternative sources

Be sure to check out alternatives to the major grocery chains to substantially reduce your grocery bill. And, no, I’m not referring only to warehouse clubs, such as Sam’s Club and Costco, but local meat markets, fruit stands, food coops and salvage grocery stores. The latter stock dented cans, closeouts and items with torn packaging — at rock-bottom prices.

Please note that dented cans have the potential to be hazardous to your health. Check out this document to learn more.

4. Store food properly

Storing your food in the most effective manner possible will extend the food’s shelf life and significantly reduce the number of trips you make to the grocery store each month. You can butter cheese to prevent mold, store perishables in smaller quantities in durable, air-tight containers, and freeze meats.

Also, take a look at this list of optimal storage times from FoodSafety.gov.

5. Shop strategically

Just like everything else in life, saving big bucks on your grocery bill requires that some sort of strategy be implemented.

For instance, you should never go to the store hungry because you will be tempted to buy all sorts of junk food and other items that look good. Instead, fill up your food tank before heading out so you don’t need to resist the urge to give in to your cravings.

If you’re a member of a warehouse club, take advantage of the bulk offers on the items that you consume frequently. The Sam’s Club in my neck of the woods offers a jumbo box of oatmeal for $8.99, which is what I used to spend for two small boxes each month. But thanks to what I like to call the “mega-pack,” we are still eating away three months later.

6. Look forward to leftovers

There’s nothing better than a good old-fashioned family feast that provides plenty of leftovers, enough to last for several days. In my home, after a holiday meal or other special occasion I know I’ll be spared from cooking duties for a few days.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you cook a Thanksgiving feast for a family of four in an ordinary week, but it’s not a bad idea to prepare a large enough meal to yield leftovers that can be consumed for lunch the following day.

7. Set boundaries

The ultimate goal here is saving, correct? That’s why your needs must supersede your wants. Isn’t it funny how we all of a sudden crave items that we hadn’t thought of before we spot them in an aisle at the grocery store? You must not give in to your cravings, but be disciplined enough to stick to your grocery budget and list.

8. Check the bottom racks

Manufacturers pay for shelf space, and they sometimes cover the cost by passing it on to the consumer. When you’re grocery shopping, take a moment to look at the lower shelves for the cheaper products that you may have been overlooking in the past.

9. Plan ahead

It’s important to plan ahead if you want to cut your grocery bill in half. For instance, you won’t spend money on items you already have in your home.

I’d also suggest creatively combining the food products already at your disposal and preparing meals with items that have been collecting dust on the shelf. In other words, be wise with what you already have, and don’t let food go to waste.

Help Lower Your Monthly Bills is a blog dedicated to helping you save money on your monthly bills. We find the best money saving tips and offer them on our easy to navigate blog. We also offer a easy to use workbook that is guaranteed to lower your monthly bills and save you hundreds of dollars a year. Hopefully you find this information helpful and put it to use in your montly budget!

Food Stamps Being Cut Learn How to Maximize Coupons

Maximizing Coupon Savings

If you are like most people, you clip a coupon here and there and feel great about saving your 50 cents. You probably have also seen those die-hard coupon clippers in front of you in line at the grocery store who have a coupon for everything. Have you ever wondered to yourself, "How do they find all those coupons and save so much?" Today is your lucky day. Here are the keys to couponing success!

You obviously need to take the time to match your coupons to items you buy. Maximizing yoursavings means matching the coupons to items when they are on sale. If you save 50 cents off Ziploc bags, it is a better deal to save that 50 cents off the sale price than full price!

Horde all the coupons you can find! Coupons are found in more places than just your Sunday paper. Look for coupons online, at the grocery store, attached to products you recently bought, attached to bottles of wine (this varies by state), and through coupon clipping services. If you horde all the coupons you find, you'll be able to trade away coupons you'll never use for multiple copies of ones you will use. I don't have any pets, but I love to trade those coupons for diaper coupons to keep my little one dry! A great resource for finding coupons you're looking for is AFullCup.com. Since the membership is free, it is a great one-stop shop for all your savings needs (and not just at the grocery store)!

Stockpile items that have a long shelf life. Shampoo, razors, canned goods, soda, soap, laundrydetergent, diapers, perfume, gifts, lotion, cereal, the list could go on and on. When a good sale pops up, get a fistful of coupons and go stock up! When cereal went on sale $10 for 10 boxes, I got 30 boxes, matched a coupon to each, and watched the cashier's jaw drop. 3 months later, I'm still enjoying it!

Rebates are the frugal couponer's dream! The triple threat: sale, coupon, rebate! Partial rebates definitely add to the savings and sometimes combined with the coupon and sale actually end up being full rebates. Find an item on sale, clip the coupon, send in the rebate. I often get items (like my contact solution) for the cost of one postage stamp!

Sometimes spending more means saving more. My local grocery store often hands out dollar off coupons if your total is higher than the stated amount. Recently, the amount was $180. For a family of three, I rarely get $180 worth of groceries at one time. However, if I am getting $20 off of $180, why not take the time to see if there are some areas of my stockpile getting low and add them to my grocery cart to bump my total up so I can save that additional $20 I would not have before? Don't let this be a trap. Only get what you have a coupon for and what is already on sale!

Don't be loyal to one store. It is so tempting to save some time and shop only at one store; however, this mentality keeps you from maximizing your savings by having multiple sales available to you at once-after all, not all sales are created equal!

Ask for the coupon policies at your store. Some supermarkets double coupons. If yours doubles up to $1, a .50 cent coupon (which can be doubled) is more worthwhile than a .55 coupon (which will not double) for the same item. My local supermarket takes expired coupons up to 6 months old! Maybe yours takes competitor's coupons!

The more you coupon, the more you save. It is an investment of time, but just like most things in life the more you put in, the more you get out! The more you coupon the better you get. Why not go to AFullCup.com and start your savings today?!

This article was written for AFullCup.com by Mandiedq

Help Lower Your Monthly Bills is a blog dedicated to helping you save money on your monthly bills. We find the best money saving tips and offer them on our easy to navigate blog. We also offer a easy to use workbook that is guaranteed to lower your monthly bills and save you hundreds of dollars a year. Hopefully you find this information helpful and put it to use in your montly budget!

Ways To Save Money At The Grocery Store

How to Save Money on Groceries

A home-cooked supper costs the typical American family of four about $5 per person, and that figure is on the rise. But you can beat the trend. Use these tips for easy, affordable meals that will have you spending less but eating better.

Help Lower Your Monthly Bills is a blog dedicated to helping you save money on your monthly bills. We find the best money saving tips and offer them on our easy to navigate blog. We also offer a easy to use workbook that is guaranteed to lower your monthly bills and save you hundreds of dollars a year. Hopefully you find this information helpful and put it to use in your montly budget!

Bird Bargains

Eat cheap: Supermarket rotisserie chicken makes a fast meal, but convenience costs: about $7 for the average bird. You can roast your own three-pounder in an hour with inexpensive herbs from the pantry for $3.50.
Bone up: Swap boneless chicken breasts ($5.99 a pound) for bone-in thighs ($2.19 a pound), which is perfect for easy-prep-and-cook casseroles.
Talk turkey: Not just for Thanksgiving, a hefty gobbler can serve up three hearty meals, with enough meat left over for sandwiches. Choose a frozen turkey, at $1.29 a pound, over fresh breast fillets, at $4.89 a pound.

Sizzling Savings

Avoid the tender trap: Buy value cuts like chuck pot roast, bone-in sirloin roast, and pork shoulder, at $3 to $5 a pound. While not as juicy or as quick-cooking as rib-eye or pork loin roasts, they have top-notch flavor, tenderize with slow cooking, and can feed a crowd.
Meet a new meat: For an economical version of premium, $20-a-pound filet mignon, try flat iron steak (also called top blade), a richly marbled butcher's bargain at $5 a pound. This newly created cut, from the steer's shoulder blade, used to go into the grinder for hamburger until a more precise cutting technique was developed.
Steer clear: Skip those pricey premade burger patties. Make your own with ground beef from a family pack of three or more pounds and save nearly 15 cents per patty; freeze any extra meat for another night.

Liquid Assets

Fish around: Switch out halibut and sea bass, which can cost $25 per pound, for wallet-friendly fish with similar tastes and textures. Tilapia and cod are as mild-flavored and firm as fancier fish, at one-third the price.
Fake it: If a dish calls for $11-per-pound lobster or $25-per-pound crab, opt for surimi ($4 to $6 a pound). Used in Japan for 900 years, this imitation shellfish (made with real white fish seasoned with crab or other seafood extracts) works well in salads, crab cakes, and casseroles.
Be happy as a clam: Fresh seafood doesn't get thriftier than blue mussels and chowder clams. Both are under $2 a dozen, and can be made into dollar-stretching soups.

Deals on Dairy

Keep your sunny side up: While the cost of eggs is rising to more than $2 a dozen, they're still a nutritional steal: Eggs are one of the fastest ways to make over leftovers or to quickly create filling dinners. Cartons of 18 are often marked down, since they're not as popular as the classic dozen. And pick up whatever size eggs are on sale; unless you're baking, it doesn't matter if they're jumbo or large.
Say cheese: It seems counterintuitive, but spending $15 for a pound of ultra-flavorful cheese like Gruy�re or feta can actually save you cash. Because the taste is strong, you'll use less for cooking.
Milk it: With a gallon of milk inching above $4, why not try the powdered stuff for baking and cooking? A four-pound box of dry, nonfat milk costs about $8 and yields five gallons when reconstituted.

Meal Multipliers

Hit a whole in one: There's no better budget stretcher than cooking with whole grains. Pearl barley ($.90 a pound), brown rice ($1.15 a pound), and bulgur ($1.76 a pound) are low in fat, high in protein, and tummy-filling. Combine with meat or veggies to make a little go a long, healthy way.
Try dry: Dried beans, lentils, and split peas are less than $1 a pound and packed with nutrition. Cook up a pot and eat for three nights, turning them into a satisfying, Southern-style meal, Veggie Bean Burgers, or Pasta e Fagioli.
Do the math: A box of rice pilaf will set you back $2.29 and yield three cups, or one meal. Spend a dollar more on a five-pound bag of rice, and get the equivalent of 50 cooked cups. Mix with onions and chicken broth for DIY pilaf.

Heed nature's call: Seasonal, local fruits and veggies are always cheapest, so look for supermarket signs for produce from nearby farms. Bulk-purchasing lowers costs even more. 
Chill out: Hit the grocery's frozen aisle for out-of-season produce that's affordable and full of flavor, as it's picked at its peak. Just bypass the pricey sweetened fruits or seasoned vegetables, and shop the store brand. Also a deal are canned veggies, especially tomatoes: A 28-ounce can delivers top taste for $1 less than the price of a pound of fresh. 
Make the cut: Put in a little time slicing and dicing, and spend a lot less money on produce: Whole veggies and fruits can run a dollar less per pound than the precut versions.


Help Lower Your Monthly Bills is a blog dedicated to helping you save money on your monthly bills. We find the best money saving tips and offer them on our easy to navigate blog. We also offer a easy to use workbook that is guaranteed to lower your monthly bills and save you hundreds of dollars a year. Hopefully you find this information helpful and put it to use in your montly budget!