There's nothing worse than waltzing down the grocery store aisle, filling up your basket, walking to the cashier and end up looking at a crazy expensive number on your bill. "Where did that come from?", you might wonder. If you're trying to be mindful of your health, and you're buying organic groceries and things that are good for your body, it can be really disappointing to end up paying a pretty penny every time you go to the grocery store. But it doesn't have to be that way! Follow these easy tips to save on your grocery bill and be healthy on a budget.
5 Tips To Save Money On Groceries
- Plan Your Meals and Make a List. This is the starting point to stay healthy on a budget. Start by planning and writing down a meal plan for you and your family for the entire week, and write the list of foods you'll need to cook those meals. When you're doing this meal plan, be mindful of the seasonal fruits and vegetables, as they're usually cheaper than their non-seasonal counterparts. Then, check your refrigerator and pantry to see if you already have some of those items or others that might work as fine substitutions. For example, you might have planned to make a quinoa salad, but you have a bag of wild rice sitting in your pantry. This could work just as well and you'll end up saving money! Check off the items you already have from your list. Finally, you're ready to go grocery shopping and save on your grocery bill.
- Never Shop When You're Hungry. This might seem a little far-fetched, but shopping when you're hungry can have terrible results! You'll deviate from your list, end up with a cart full of unhealthy stuff that only seemed appealing because your stomach was growling, and you'll spend a lot more than what you had intended. Another great tip is to stick to the produce section of the supermarket; that way, you'll stick to fruits and vegetables and avoid all the packaged and processed stuff. Eating a bowl of this seasonal and delicious Crunchy Fruit Salad before you head out to the supermarket will fill you up, curb cravings, and prevent you from straying from your goal to save on groceries.
- Buy in Bulk. If you’re buying stuff that doesn’t really have a shelf life, then it might make sense to buy in bulk to save a bit more. Stuff such as pasta (made from approved grains), wild rice, oil, seeds, as well as household essentials, can be much cheaper when you buy them in bulk. It's also a more ecological option, as you're cutting down on significant packaging than when you buy individually wrapped items.
- Check Online For Discounts. If the supermarket or store has a website, it might be a good idea to shop online so you can stay healthy on a budget. You can also check a few different supermarkets to see which one has the best prices, shop online, and have them deliver your groceries to your home, thus saving on gas as well. For fruits and vegetables, an organic farmer's market is always the best option, and it can be pretty cheap if you buy stuff that it's in season. Remember that buying in season it's better for you - and the environment. It's a win-win situation! This Blueberry Cobbler is made with seasonal ingredients, it's healthy, and your family will surely love it.
- Eat Leftovers. If you make a big dinner and end up with a ton of leftovers, don't toss them away! They can make a great lunch the next day. If you have leftover soup, stew, pasta sauce or pancakes, you can even freeze them and eat up to 2 weeks after you made them. For example, this Chickpea Lime Soup is a great dinner option - and makes a ton of leftovers.
