Tips to Save Money on Groceries

 YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT WHAT YOU CAN SAVE 

ON GROCERIES 

Scout your fridge and freezer for things that need to be used up.

• When planning your meals for the week, include these things first. 
  
• If you already have ground beef, choose a meal that would use it. 
  
• If you have a surplus of eggs, make deviled eggs, etc. 

Only store a week’s worth of perishable food in your fridge to avoid wasting food that has spoiled. (If you prefer to shop every two weeks or monthly, adjust accordingly.)

Choose one day a week to plan your main meals for seven days ahead.

(You could choose any day of the week, but it’s nice to have the weekend planned out to avoid the rush at the grocery stores. Fridays are sometimes crowded days at the stores. Monday is often a restocking day, and that’s a mess.)

Keep it simple. Make a master list of meals that are family favorites and keep it handy for future reference.

• Meatloaf, baked potato, and a vegetable.
• Tacos and refried beans.
• Pork chops, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable.
• Elbow pasta and red sauce with chicken.
• Chicken pot pie.
• Chicken fettuccini and a vegetable
• Quiche
• Black bean tacos
• Cottage cheese and fruit
• Scrambled eggs and toast

2.  As you think through the ingredients of each of these meal plans, write down what you already have on the What I Already Have worksheet. If you do not have something you need, write it on the What I Need worksheet. (You can download both worksheets here.)

3. Consider what snacks you already have. Write them on the What I Already Have worksheet. Do not buy any more until those are gone or supply is getting low.

4. Consider what beverages you already have. Write them on the What I Already Have worksheet. Do not buy any more until those are gone or supply is getting low.

5. Decide what routine cleaning supplies you will use in the next week. Take careful inventory of what you already have. Do not buy a new cleaning product unless you plan to use it that week. Try to use up everything you have before you buy more. 

Use natural cleaning products when possible. On the Internet, you can find tips on how use them. 

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Isopropyl alcohol
• Liquid dishwashing soap
• Microfiber towels to rewash and save on paper towels

Consider making these changes to save money.

1. Plan to serve meatless meals a couple of times a week.

Use the following foods to cook meatless meals that contain a healthy amount of protein. 

Eggs (1 egg has 6 grams of protein.)

Black beans (1 cup has 39 grams of protein.)

Cottage Cheese (1 cup of low-fat cottage cheese has 26 grams of protein.)

Cooked Quinoa (1 cup has 8 grams of protein.)

You can find all kinds of interesting recipes on the Internet using the foods above. For example:

• Grilled cheese sandwiches.
• Macaroni and cheese casserole.
• Quiche
• Frittata
• Black beans and rice
• Black bean chili

2. If serving meat, try making the portions smaller. Put less hamburger in soups and casseroles. Cut stew meat into smaller pieces and use fewer of them in a stew. It is not necessary to use a quarter pound of beef to make a hamburger taste good.

3.  Use a green salad as a side dish but try an apple cider vinegar and oil dressing instead of expensive bottled dressings.

4. Serve each person one-half of a large baked potato. It will usually be just the right portion.

My two biggest hints are (1) to take inventory and plan your meals before shopping and (2) to avoid shopping when you are hungry.

I fed a family of five on a teacher’s salary for many years, and these are just hints that worked for me. I still use them to cook for my husband and me. You can adjust accordingly. I hope you find something here that will help you.

I have a resource in my store that will help students avoid a common error when using apostrophes. You might want to take a look here. 

Thanks for reading,

Charlene

You will find some interesting blog posts below from my friends in The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Marketing Cooperative. 

 

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