Cutting the Food Budget – Possible Strategies

A couple days ago, I asked all my FB friends for strategies to cut our food budget. Here's the list I got. My friends are geniuses. And also, THANK YOU... 



PLAN AHEAD:

• shop sales/ plan meals around sale items
• shop at Aldi
• Plan your meals, including snacks and lunches
• Buy at on sale en masse and stockpile things like:

• Facial tissue
• Toilet tissue
• Hair care products
• Body wash
• Feminine products – tampons, pads
• Contact solution (use FSA card)
• Canned food
• Dishwasher detergent

Make it or grow it

• Plant a garden
• Make your own bread
• can or freeze sale produce to use bounty later
• make your own yogurt
• dried apples

Buy in bulk when possible

• meat – Mosley’s or Carfagna’s boxes
• grains (rice, quinoa, flour)
• cereal (oatmeal, “Cheerios”, etc.)
• raisins
• milk
• cheese

Limit shopping

• “Allowance” - $20/week you can use on anything you want, including lunches out. Once
• it’s gone, it’s gone.
• Eat out only2x/month.
• Don’t shop – use your pantry!
• Buy the cheapest store brand/generic you can find for most things.
• For items you won’t buy store brand, use coupons and buy on sale.

Reduce your consumption:

• Don't buy cleaning supplies (rely on vinegar, lemon, baking soda, etc. instead of manufactured stuff)
• Pre-portion snacks, especially bulk items, to reduce waste
• Avoid items like:
• frozen foods (frozen veggies allowed, but only plain)
• soft drinks
• paper products
• processed food

You can also download it here:
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BwSGlRSfWRiSQThScjVsanlzeGM