Many of us find ourselves facing some amount of economic uncertainty these days. Once you've cut back on extras and luxuries, you're left with the basics -- food and shelter. We all have to eat, but food is one of those flexible costs that you have a lot of control over. Here are some tips for how to grocery shop on a tight budget. We hope they'll help you stretch your food dollars further.
Scour Flyers
Your local grocery store likely has a weekly flyer and/or online equivalent that highlights items that are on sale. There may even be additional coupons and/or online coupons to 'stack' your savings. Look for foods you can buy for a low price per pound/kilogram and stock up.
Cheap, Filling and Nutritious
Even without sale prices, there are some staple foods you should try that are cheap, filling and nutritious. Dry rice and dry beans are inexpensive and store well. Oatmeal is a great, cheap and nutritious breakfast that pairs perfectly with almost any fruit you have on hand. Eggs are an inexpensive protein source that lasts a relatively long time. Potatoes and sweet potatoes are versatile, cheap and shelf-stable. Peanut butter is another inexpensive protein source that fills you up and stores easily.
DIY
Learning the basics of cooking will help you avoid more expensive (and often less healthy) pre-packaged and pre-prepared meals. Cooking a whole chicken is often cheaper than buying boneless, skinless pieces. If you've got flour, yeast, water, salt and an oven, you can bake your own bread. It's incredibly satisfying and makes your kitchen smell amazing!
Preparation and Planning
A little planning can help your grocery dollar go a long way. Shop with a grocery list that is based on a meal plan. Buy only what is on your list and make the meals within your plan. Create your meal plan based on anything and everything you already have on hand and the items you find in the grocery flyer. Keeping some frozen vegetables in the freezer is an easy and inexpensive way to add nutrients to any meal.
We hope these tips for shopping on a tight budget help you stretch your dollar while filling your belly with delicious and nutritious foods.
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