Frugal Living: Save Money on Food Costs

Food represents one of the biggest costs you are likely to have for your household. Food inflation is a reality right now, and, with out busy lives, it is sometimes easier to grab pre-packaged foods and eat out. This food strategy can be a real problem, since it can result in spending more on food, and it encourages unhealthy habits. So, not only do you spend more now, there is the potential for you to spend more later as the health effects of a high-sodium, high corn syrup diet from packaged foods and restaurant food take their toll.

Happily, with a little planning, you can save money on food costs, by reducing the need to eat out. Here are some strategies that can help:

Learn to Use a Slow Cooker

One of the greatest gifts to my food budget is the slow cooker. Slow cooker meals are generally easy to make, and you don't have to spend a lot of time with them. Just put the ingredients in the cooker, and then let it sit for six to eight hours. Whip up a quick salad as a side to the entree, and set out some fruit, and you are set. There are whole books of slow cooker recipes that can be used to help you save time and money.

Invest in 30 Minute Meal Type Cookbooks

You might not always want to use the slow cooker, so you can look for fast meals. There are a number of recipe books that offer you insight into quick meals. You can even find some that use basic, simple ingredients. As long as you plan ahead of time so that you have the ingredients you need, it can be a simple matter to put together a quick dinner.

Bring Snacks when Running Errands

Another pitfall is what happens if you are out, and you get hungry. It can be tempting to just pick something up, or eat out. You can stave off the hunger by bringing snacks with you when you run errands. Trail mix, granola bars, and fresh fruit all make great snacks. Bring extra water, too, to stay hydrated. If you have a little bit to tide you over, you will keep up your energy, your mood, and be more likely to last until you can get home and fix a more nutritious, cheaper meal.

General Tips for Saving Money on Meals

If you are serious about saving money on meals, you need to be prepared to do so. Here are a few general pointers that can help you achieve your goals of more cost-efficient meals:

• Plan your meals: Put together a meal plan before you go shopping. If you are into coupons, you can plan your healthy meals for the week around what's in the sale fliers, and what coupons you have.
• Shop according to your list: Use your meal plan to create a list of ingredients that you need for the week's meals. Then, shop from your list and avoid impulse buys.
• Don't shop hungry: Make sure that you go to the store with a full stomach -- or at least one that's not growling. You will be more likely to stay focused on your list if you aren't hungry.
• Buy in bulk: If it's practical, you can buy in bulk. You don't need a huge stockpile to be successful and save, but you can save in the long run by buying more if there is a good price. You can bottle or freeze items in some cases.
• Grow your own: Save money by growing your own produce and herbs. YOu can preserve these for winter if you have a good yield.
• Use your rewards card: Since you have to buy groceries anyway, you might as well use your rewards credit card. Many cards give extra points for grocery purchases, so you can maximize your earnings.

What are your best tips for saving money on food?

This post was included in the Festival of Frugality at Totally Money and the Carnival of Wealth at Control Your Cash.