Food is expensive, any tips on?!
Answers: saving money when grocery shopping?
The trouble with being on a tight budget is that your options seem to close right down. All the really interesting food is priced at a premium to match. Even the mark down prices of close to sell by premium ready meals is just too much.
If you want to eat cheap but still want to have some flavour and excitement in your life then the way forward has to be buying the basic ingredients, (say using the cheaper cuts of meat) but invest in some key packet spices /herbs to add flavour. There are huge numbers of free online recipes you can use and it doesn't necessarily mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen - how difficult can it be to rub some jerk seasoning into meat before cooking, or to sprinkle some marjoram over potatoes before roasting ?
Asda has the cheapest range in the supermarkets but be aware that a supermarket own brand just offers you the most popular herbs and spices. You then find yourself looking at the premium ranges like Schwartz for the more exotic ones spices and seasoning blends. Dont go there. You can buy them online so much cheaper that any postage cost will easily be recovered.
Buy the supermarket's own brand products whenever you can - they're exactly the same as the name brand products, but a fraction of the price!
Make sure you have a list of what is to be bought. Refrain from being an impulsive buyer. Buy what is only needed. Make sure you check-out all possible stores or markets to find quality goods with affordable price :-)
Write a list and stick to it.
Supermarket lay-outs are created by marketing men to increase sales on specific items and to create impulse buys. Only buy 'buy one get one frees' and '3 for 2' offers if you actually going to use the items.
Plan your weekly menu ahead if possible, as this way you know what you are going to have before you go shopping!
Good luck - shopping is a minefield, I hate it!
look in section that has things close to sell by date - always fantastic bargains there.
but what is cheap and seasonal at time - do not buy out of season as that has usually been flown in and price increases
buy store products instead of name brands - usually very little difference (however always buy Heinz beans and coca cola!!!!)
Check what you throw out of fridge each week - amazing how much gets bought and then goes out of date.
Make enough for two meals and freeze what is left - mean you can bulk buy carrots for example and save that way
do not buy microwave meals etc - cook from fresh cheaper - maybe more expensive to buy ingredients at first but works out cheaper in long run
Good luck
by groceries on line, helps you not to buy any unnecessary stuff,...works
own brands are NOT the same, dont let anyone tell you they are.
watched a tv prog (must be true)
Take baked beans, they are the same beans the sauce contains more water and less beans in the tin.
so they are not the same.
but dont shop at expensive shops
What i do is shop at my local COSTCO store and get all my meats in bulk.....my paper towels, toliet paper, milk, eggs, bottled water and peanut butter. This way I dont have to go every other week for them...I shop WAL MART for my other items like cereal sugar and fruit. Then I shop SAV A LOT for my veggies...I get those by the tray..12 in a tray and I get all the vegetables I have a large pantry to put my cans and a deep upright freezer for my meats butter and other frozen items. I use coupons when I can and when I cant I get what I need and keep going....a lot of coupons are not for items I normally get. I use generic detergent and a lot of other generic items but some things I have to get name brand like most of my cleaning supplies.
I saw a program on the Food Network about a website called thegrocerygame.com. It is set up by a woman who tracks sale ads and coupons all over the country. She lists the current sales and coupons for you to print out and take to the store with you. I actually saved mucho money (when I stuck to the list). Check it out may have a listing for a grocery store local to you.