Shop Smart to Stretch Your Food Budget

©All articles are copyright of Dr. Susan Mitchell and Practicalories, Inc. and cannot be reprinted or used without permission. To obtain permission, please contact Dr. Mitchell.

It takes an outrageous amount of money to fill our gas tanks, friends and family are losing jobs, and the cost of many food items continues to rise. Are you feeling the pressure? It can be very unsettling when you feel that these events are out of your control. What can you do? You may not be able to control the prices of gas and food but you can control how and when you shop and what you buy. These 10 smart shopping strategies put you more in control of your budget and how far your dollar stretches.

1. First, go thru your pantry, freezer and refrigerator. See what you already have on hand that needs to be used up. Check the expiration dates. Many people fill their pantries and never use the food and then it expires. Use this food first and build menus around it.
2. Second, make a weekly menu. I know, writing out a menu takes time. But it works. Why? Because when you spend a few minutes up front to develop an action plan for the week it saves time and money later in the week because you know what you're doing. Get your family involved. Ask other family members what food they would like to have or help make. Get them in the kitchen and create family time together while you cook. It's fun.
3. Shop with a list. As you write out a menu, add needed items to your grocery list. Keep this running list on your refrigerator, on your blackberry, online, wherever it's easiest for you. As you run out of something, add it to the week's list.
4. Use coupons for items that you normally buy or plan to buy.not just because you have the coupon.
5. Look at the weekly flyers of the store(s) where you shop. Build your menus with what's in your pantry and what's on sale. Many stores have their flyers online as well s coupons that you print off and take with you.
6. Eat a snack before you grocery shop. Otherwise, everything looks good and it's easy to overspend.
7. Buy the store brand. Store brands are usually lower in cost than the brand name competitor but not lower in quality. For example, Target has their owned brand, Archer Farms, which are premium products at great prices.
8. Buy in season. Produce in season will often be on sale or lower in cost. Some items can be frozen for later use. For example, when strawberries are in season, buy extra and freeze for later use. Again, a little prep time up front yields greater savings now and down the road.
9. If you're a meat eater, consider a couple of meat-less meals. Make bean and cheese quesadillas, veggie lasagna or spinach manicotti.
10. Use meat more as a condiment versus the main attraction. Make chili, stew, or soups where meat is part of the entrée instead of the entrée.

By shopping smart, you can make your food dollar go farther and feed your family tasty, healthy meals.