How to Food Shop On a Low Budget
The key to shopping for groceries on a low budget is selecting food that is nutritious, filling and tasty, yet inexpensive. As the price of food rises, it becomes more challenging to do this. By examining your grocery budget and developing strategies to cut costs, you can reduce surprises at the store and in your wallet. Commit to staying within your food budget and to making healthy food choices for yourself and your family.
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Instructions
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Calculate how much you spend on food each month. Compare your monthly food budget with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chart for the cost of food at home. The chart reveals whether your spending is sufficient to provide an adequate diet for your family. If your spending falls within the "thrifty plan," check with your local Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to find out whether you are eligible for assistance. If your budget falls within the "liberal plan" or "moderate cost plan" on the USDA chart, review your monthly expenditures to identify items that you purchased but did not use, items that are not healthy and brands that can be replaced with generic products.
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Plan economical meals that are nutritious and filling using foods such as enriched and whole-grain breads, pastas, rice and cereals. Fish and poultry are generally less expensive meats than beef and pork. Dry beans and eggs are low-cost, nutritious options, particularly if you are cutting back on meat. Peanut butter, oatmeal and fat-free dairy products are also good choices. If you don't have a cookbook with thrifty recipes, check your public library and the online USDA publication "Recipes and Tips for Healthy, Thrifty Meals."
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Create a weekly menu based on the thrifty recipes you have found. Use seasonal produce and items that are on sale at your local grocer. Clip coupons if they are for products that you will definitely use and if using the coupon is a better deal than buying a generic or store-brand product. If your grocer permits it, you may be able to use both a store coupon and a manufacturer's coupon on an item or get double coupon values.
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Write a weekly shopping list based on your menu plan, noting the price of each item on the list. Add the expected cost of your shopping list to find out whether you will be within your budget, estimating sales tax if necessary. If your shopping list exceeds your budget, make adjustments to your menu plan. Check to see if certain items are less expensive at a dollar store, another grocery store or at a farmer's market. You might also raise a garden to reduce expenses.
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Pay for your groceries with cash. When you go to the store, take no more cash than you have budgeted for the week. This will help you resist the temptation to buy extra items. Use your receipts to calculate costs for future visits to the grocery store.
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