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Step 1
Menu plan, and have food in house. If you plan ahead on what meals you're going to make day-to-day, you won't feel the need to rush to the store (or local fast food place) in order to pick up dinner.
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Step 2
Stop in bulk for meat items. Warehouse stores like Sam's and Costco have a fabulous selection of high quality meats. Invest in a small chest freezer to take advantage of sale items, and to store extra cuts. When buying a meat product, divide the bulk into smaller portions you can use. For example, if purchasing a 12-pack of pork chops, break it up into groups your family can eat at one sitting. For a family of four, place four chops together in a freezer bag. That way you'll only take out what you need for each meal as you make it.
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Step 3
Shop stores with private label items. Stores like Aldi can save you 50% off of your total grocery bill because they offer items made especially for their store. They also tend to avoid advertising costs and instead pass the savings to the consumer. While not every product has the same quality as regular grocery stores, many items are equally good and in some cases, better. Experiment and don't be afraid to try something new.
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Step 4
Learn to bake. Processed cookies are not only higher in artificial ingredients, they are also much more expensive than if you'd made them yourself. Better yet, do the cooking with your kids. It will give you some more bonding time while teaching them about saving money.
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Step 5
Use your slow cooker. Slow cookers (or Crock Pots) expend less energy to cook than your stove. They also allow you to cook meats of lesser quality, because the long cooking process help tenderize the meat.
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Step 6
Grow your own vegetables. A great way to save money (and get the family involved ) is to plant a garden. Vary the vegetables you grow, but be sure to either use or give away everything that comes up. Experiment with different recipes in order to incorporate all your stock.
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Step 7
Reuse leftovers. Find new ways to incorporate parts of uneaten meals in order to create a new delicious dish. Store various parts of the meal separately. For example, keep the noodles separate from the meatballs and sauce if making spaghetti. Then, you can create a brand new side dish with the noodles, while using the meatballs for sandwiches or meat pies.
