Save money on your grocery bill

Is the increase in the cost of food squeezing your budget? It has mine. Although I have cut back a lot on going out to eat, I have noticed that even the foods I buy to make lunches I take to work and dinners I make at home are more expensive.

I have been looking for ways to save money on my food bill and so far it’s been working. By following just a few simple tips, you can save on your food bill, too.

Plan your meals ahead

If you walk into a grocery store with no idea what you will make, it’s more likely you will fill up the cart with a bunch of stuff you don’t need. Pick out a few recipes and then make a list. Better yet, check out your grocery store’s weekly ads to see what’s on sale and then plan your menu around those items. Don’t stray, and definitely avoid impulse purchases.

Store brand vs. name brand

While name brand products may look more attractive on the outside, it’s what’s inside that counts. In many cases, the food inside the store-brand product is just as good if not better than the better-known name.

In fact, a few years ago Consumer Reports tested 29 foods and found that 23 of the generic brands tasted as good, or better, than the corresponding name brand. The savings can be significant, as much as 25 percent or more in some cases.

Bigger can be better

Recently, I was faced with the option of buying a 15-ounce jar of peanut butter for $2 or the 40-ounce jar for $4.50. I did the math (using the calculator on my phone) and the larger jar was more than 2 cents cheaper per ounce!

That night not sound like a lot of savings, but every little bit counts. Peanut butter is one of those foods you can keep for a while. However, make sure if you do go for the larger item it’s something that will keep or that you will use before it goes bad.

Keep a price diary

Keep a list of the items you buy regularly (I keep mine in my cellular phone) and when you’re shopping, jot down prices. Then, when those items go on sale, you can see if it’s worth stocking up. You also can do this when scanning the ads in the paper. For example, is that package of paper towels you bought last week even cheaper at another store this week? If so, you might want to run over and pick up a few.

Make a game of it and keep track of how much you can save and try to beat the savings each week.