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Tips to Stretch Your Food Budget
There’s no getting around it: Food is expensive right now. It may be hard to stick to your budget, but there are many ways to be resourceful with what you have without feeling as though you have your head just above water.
The tips below, from four budgeting experts, can help you maximize your food budget:
- Focus on Cooking- It should go without saying, but cooking at home is almost always cheaper (and healthier!) in the long term than going out to eat or ordering in. To make it even easier on yourself, keep your pantry stocked with essentials to make quick, simple recipes.
- Eat Less Meat- Toni Okamoto, who runs the blog Plant-Based on a Budget, recommends cutting out meat at least one or two times a week. It’s the “one thing that comes up over and over again,” Ms. Okamoto said, in the budget cookbooks she has read, both vegetarian and not.
- Avoid Wasting Food- Several experts noted that wasting food is basically throwing money in the trash. Be mindful of what you have and repurpose your odds and ends into something else. Finally, store your food wisely. Some foods are better held at room temperature, others in the fridge. Knowing which is which and packaging them accordingly can help you keep food out of the trash and save those dollars.
- Sign Up for Coupons and Don’t Forget to Price Match- Many grocery stores and big-box sellers often let you price match with competitors or allow for adjustments if items go on sale within a certain window after purchase.
- Know Your Grocery Store- Get to know your store’s layout and use it to comparison shop. Stores often place similar ingredients — like beans, rice, and spices — in more than one spot, and they may be cheaper in a different section. Learn your grocery store’s rhythms: It may have a consistent sale day, or a day when sales overlap.
- Snack Less- It may not happen overnight, and that’s OK, but cutting down on snacking and, in turn, buying fewer snacks, can have a significant impact on your grocery bill.
- Learn to Love Your Store Brand- Private label food is often much cheaper, and the offerings are only expanding as retailers are trying to meet a growing need.
- Look at the Price per Ounce- Found on the price tag, a price per ounce indicator can give you a better sense of whether something is a good deal or not.
- Lean on Your Community- Sometimes community support can help. Food banks, pantries, community gardens, and fridges are all options for those who are still struggling to make ends meet.
These expert hacks can help you lower your grocery bill. Trying these tips should help you save and maximize your food budget.
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