8 Tips for Spending Less on Food

I know everyone means well when they say you should shop at a farmer's market, but where I grew up, a lot of things at the farmer's markets did not come from the local area and the farmer's markets ceased to operate after September or October, once tomatoes and other summer vegetables died off. So it's not always possible.

I've never understood why people feel they have to buy coffee rather than brewing it themselves, unless it's a situation where they can't brew it. Just seems like a waste of money.

Did she really just promote the use of artificial sweeteners and fat-free creamers in your coffee? Those are chemicals. Duke University just released a report in the The Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health on America's favorite little yellow packet, AKA Splenda. The findings are summarized on: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2008/09/splenda_study.html. And fat-free creamers? Packaged coffee creamers and powdered creamers are typically chock-full of corn syrup and trans fats. To sweeten your coffee, try a little agave nectar. One teaspoon has twenty calories and it's low on the glycemic index so it won't cause spikes in your insulin levels. For creamers, nonfat milk is fine, but it doesn't do much to make your coffee creamier. I use a tablespoon of lowfat instead. I appreciate ideas on how to save money on food, but not if they don't promote good health. I think people should eat real food.

Here's another fabulous time and money saver. Every time you cook a meal, dish up and freeze one extra plate. Then, if you have 5 people in your family, on the 5th night you can save a night's electricity and oodles of time when each person gets a potluck plate from the freezer.

Don't forget coupons - both from local and internet sources. My wife is always scouring the Sunday paper for coupons - we can save close to $20 a week if we stay on top of coupons.

I've been able to save a lot of money just shopping around too - one product at Hannaford may cost less at Shaws.

To your health and success,

John Sifferman NSCA-CPT
Fitness Professional

The registered dietitians at Meals Matter came up with 10 great money saving tips for back to school AND some ways to go green. Meals Matter is a free nutrition and meal planning site that makes healthy eating easier with thousands of searchable recipes, a meal planner, shopping list tool and more.

And that web address is http://www.mealsmatter.org

Thanks for all of the wonderful tips! I used to drink fancy coffee every morning, and yes it does add up quickly. Now I just make my own coffee every morning and it tastes just as good... it actually tastes even better since I know I have 4 extra dollars in my pocket :)

I never understood people who buy a coffee from the coffeeshop every day instead of just investing in a decent coffee maker and making your own. Even though coffee at the store SEEMS expesive ($8 a pound or so), one pound of coffee makes a LOT more coffee than $8 at Starbucks will.

I also swear by buying only store brands of foods (aka, generic) because they taste EXACTLY THE SAME as brand names. There are a few items that I do buy brand name because I can't find the generic equivalent. I also do try to go through the newspaper every week and find all the specials to see if I can find anything decent.

Another good tip: If you are going to be eating what you are buying that night, you can look for "reduced" meat and produce that's about to expire. Many stores mark it way down so it'll sell. It's also good for the environment because if it doesn't sell, the stores will just throw it out.

These are all really good tips. Making a list cannot be overemphasized. It's so easy to go to the store without a plan and just buy things on a whim. If you plan out meals, and go to the store only to buy for those meals, it is much easier to avoid buying stuff that you don't need.

Definitely pay attention to what day your grocery marks down food. Many of mine have theirs -really- marked down on Monday evenings. This is a good way to get things cheap - for whatever reason, BiLo almost always has yogurts with $.25+ off coupones on them. I also found quality lunch meat that was $1.50 off due to close expirations.

It may be a good idea to do food shopping weekly or every other weekend, rather than doing it whenever you like. Because buying food one at a time not only wastes your time and energy, but also probably your money on unnecessary extra trips.

As pointed out above, you'll need to make a list. By knowing what you need to purchase all at a time, you'll save a lot on not only food but also other expenses. And you may also get other benefits like free gifts and lucky draws when buying over a certain price.

I think the most important rule is to NEVER go shopping when you're hungry. Whenever I do this, I end up buying way more that I need. I also buy a bunch of items I'll never use.

Great post!

I'd just like to emphasize for the benefit of others, the importance of your first point. Menu planning can have a dramatic effect on your food bill.

Neglect it, and you'll be sure to waste heaps of food and money.

I have another suggestion. After you make the shopping list, give it your significant other to do the shopping. Chances are, he/she will stick to it a lot better than you will. If you're the one preparing the meals and the shopping list, it will be easier for you to buy additional things on your trip. Your significant other my just be more a of a task master and get just what is on the list.

You will have to be very specific with your shopping list, so you don't get many surprises when you open up the shopping bags that are brought home.

Thanks! We can use all the help we can get in this economy. I especially like the recommendation to eat seasonal fruits and vegetables. They taste so much better that way and are way cheaper! A good way to know what is in season is to shop at local farmers markets :)

Thanks for sharing this post... Great tips! :)