How to Save Money on a Food Bill
When you're looking to cut corners and trim your household budget, the first thing you should look at is your food bill. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a family of four spent an average of $155 per week on groceries in 2007. This doesn't include eating at restaurants or takeout food. Trimming $25 a week off your grocery bill adds up to $1,300 a year.
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Instructions
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Read the weekly ads from your local grocery stores before your shopping trip, and note the items that you use that are on sale. Most sales run on a rotating plan and feature the same items once a month, so plan on buying a 4-week supply.
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Write both a menu and a shopping list before your trip. A menu for the entire week or month will cut down on last-minute trips for forgotten ingredients, and a shopping list will allow you to estimate your total bill for the week before you leave home.
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3
Look for coupons in your Sunday paper, and only clip coupons for items you usually buy. Save the coupons until the item featured goes on sale to maximize your savings. If you don't subscribe to a paper, buy the Sunday edition specifically for this purpose, as you will save more than the cost of the paper.
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Resist buying prepared or "instant" meals. Purchasing noodles and sauce to add to your hamburger will be a great helper in lowering your food costs, as these items will be more economical because you can buy them in bulk.
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Refrain from eating out. Most people don't consider restaurants as part of their food bill. Keep a record of your monthly expenditures at restaurants, and include this is your food budget. If you spend $25 a week eating out and reduce that to every other week, you'll save $50 a month, which is another $600 a year.
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Track your food bill in a notebook, making sure to add any "quick trips" to the store and any money spent on lunches, restaurants and takeout food. Review your expenditures at the end of the month so you can see exactly where your money is going.
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Tips & Warnings
Purchase generic foods whenever possible. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season, and freeze them for later consumption. Consider joining a bulk food store and buying by the case.
