How to Save Money Buying Groceries in Season

Grocery shopping is not fun when you know that you are spending more money than you can afford. Unless money is no object or you are an amazingly smart shopper, you most likely get frustrated, but you can save a bundle by buying what's in season. So don't worry, grocery store savvy is just a few minutes away.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Paper and pen
• Sale flyers
• Grocery list
• Coupons

Use All Your Resources

1. Call your local extension service or do a little research. Find out what's in season through the year by calling your extension service, talking with a local vegetable stand employee or doing a little online research. Your local extension service is a wonderful source of free information about this, as well as freezing, canning and cooking instructions. You'll also need to know which fruits and vegetables can be frozen and you'll want lots of new recipes if you haven't shopped this way before.

2. Look through the sale flyers. Ask about your favorite grocery store's policy about honoring ads from other competitors. Ask if there are things they will not honor, such as buy one get one free. If your store doesn't honor other ads, look for another because this will save you a ton of time and money.

3. Look through the sales ads, noting what kind of meats and main dish items are on sale. You'll want to match these up with the in season bargains at the produce market (or grocery store department if you don't have one). The produce stands or markets are always cheaper, their produce is fresher and their employees are usually very knowledgeable. They also use more local items which are generally much cheaper and tastier.

4. Match the produce to the main dish items. Are bell peppers and ground meat on sale? Stuffed peppers are easy, they freeze well and they're really filling. Peppers and sausage make a good spaghetti. Are pork roasts on sale? Look for apples and acorn squash to use in stuffed pork roast or as tasty side dishes. Ask the people in the meats and vegetable departments for new ways to cook the items you buy.

5. You can go to many of the online recipe sites and just type in the ingredients you'd like to put together. There's a link to a master list of these sites at the end of this article. Being willing to try new things will save you money, too. Be careful to look for recipes with ingredients on hand, quick and simple prep times, and those whether the recipes can be frozen.

6. Don't be afraid of the large packs of things being sold cheaply because they need to be used soon or they'll spoil. Cooking 12 ears of corn is no more work than cooking 2, so buy them - and freeze the rest in packages for one meal each. The new press and stick type of plastic wrap is wonderful for freezing because it lets no air in.

7. Some things can be cooked ahead, and some frozen uncooked. Just ask when you buy it. Remember there are things like onions that freeze really well for cooking. If you freeze them in ice cube trays you can pop them into zipper bags later to make taking a little at a time easy.

8. Get in the habit of asking questions and of reading over new recipes. Be willing to try new things so you can always cook seasonally. When things are at rock bottom prices, stock up and freeze.

Tips & Warnings

• Shop in bulk when you have time to prepare and freeze or cook and freeze. It's only a bargain if you can use it all.
• Get to know the produce people at markets and stands. They'll keep you informed of specials, new recipes and information.

[Tfurby]

on 12/5/2008 Good job! I am a firm believer in buying in season.

[momandpopoften]

on 6/3/2008 Great ideas! Of course, you're going to need more than vegetables and meat. I REGULARLY buy over $100 in groceries for less than $10. Take a look at my articles where I share how I do it: http://www.ehow.com/members/momandpopoften-articles.html