I've been continuing to do research on how to save money on groceries and I've decided to try the following:
- I'm going to do my darndest to buy everthing I possibly can at Aldi's
I typically won't buy produce or meat there, but anything else...that is where it is probably cheapest. Flour, sugar, canned goods, cereal, spices, mixes, there is really alot I can get there.
- I'm going to continue researching low cost & healthy recipes so I can make the most of what I am buying...
If you google the term "low cost recipes" now a days, you get plenty of hits that include the phrase "healthy" as well! About a year ago I tried the same thing and could find almost nothing out there that wasn't very high in both calories and fat. But times are a changin'! People want to save money, but still eat healthy too!
Part of the reason I gravitated away from Aldi's in the past was my desire to buy healthier things for us to eat, and not all the prepacked stuff, etc.
- When it comes to toiletries and cleaning products, I will use sales + coupons at Meijer or find stuff at Dollar General...
They carry Tide detergent, for example, and they also accept coupons. So that is the route I am going to try to go.
- If I do buy a brand name food product from Meijer or Wal-Mart I will try the "stacking" coupon technique...
You clip the coupon out of your newspaper circular and then you also visit that manufacturer's website to print out any coupons they might have there.
Then you use both coupons in the check out lane to increase your savings. It won't always be possible, but it sounds like a good idea in theory.
- I am going to visit the bakery thrift store by our house and see what kind of deals I can get there. With the price of flour going up and up, I'd like to know what my options are...
- We use alot of frozen chicken, so I will start to buy frozen chicken thighs when they go on sale (Buy 1 Get 1) instead of always getting chicken breasts.
It is cheaper for the thighs, they stay juicier when you grill them and the difference if calories/fat isn't that drastic...
- I'm also going to make an effort to use my freezer more to save on waste.
Did I only use part of that can of tomato paste, I'll freeze the rest in ice cube trays.
Same thing for chicken broth. And so on...
- Last but not least, I am going to try and get to the point where I only go to the store every 2 weeks. Supposedly, you spend less $ that way. But that will be an experiment for me...
That's all for now...but if I find any other thoughts/ideas I will continue to post... :grin: