Sales and Freezers

by Lynn
(Jackson, GA)

One of the first things that will help save money on groceries in the long run is buying a freezer!

Even a small freezer will allow you to buy in bulk and freeze the extra for future meals. It will also pay for itself in the money you will save buying meats and frozen vegetables while they're on sale.

For example; my local grocery store had ground beef on sale at $1.78 per pound, I bought a nine pound package and, when I got home, divided it into eight packages of slightly more than one pound each to freeze until needed.

That's meat for eight meals (such as spaghetti, chili or stroganoff) at about $2.00 per meal.

If I'm making hamburgers or chopped steaks it runs about $4.00 for a meal. Since I usually buy my fresh and frozen vegetables, pasta, potatoes and rice when they are on sale I can feed six people for $10.00 to $20.00 a day.

This, also, includes breakfast and lunch for at least three of the six every day and dog food for the menagerie.

I also use dried beans when possible. They are much cheaper than canned or frozen and a crock pot makes them trouble free to prepare.

I do keep a few cans of chili, pinto, black beans and others that I bought on sale just to have if I need to fix something in a hurry.

I'm not knocking canned foods, they do serve a purpose, and canned tomatoes make wonderful spaghetti, soups, stews and chili.

I use canned tomatoes all the time, since they are much easier and cheaper than trying to use fresh tomatoes.

Another good tip I try to live by is I do not buy convenience foods very often, other than the occasional breaded fish filets, frozen french fries or corn dogs; and then only if the sale price is very good.

It helps to have a few easily prepared items in the freezer and pantry for those days when time is at a premium.

Also, instead of soft drinks and flavored waters (which are both very expensive) we drink coffee, tea, water, drink mixes (where I can control the amount of sugar) and fruit juice.

Another way to save on the grocery bill is to grow as much of your own food as possible. Even a couple of tomato, pepper and squash plants grown in pots on a window sill will help take a bite out of the grocery budget.

The added benefit is that nothing beats a fresh, just picked, sun-warmed tomato; especially on a sandwich.

Another way I save is by using more than one grocery store. I have two very near my home that I shop at most often.

There's another near my daughter's workplace that she frequents with whatever list I've made for her online.

One more store is located a little further; but, about once a month they have such a great sale that it's worth the distance.

They have the best BOGO items I've seen. Cereals, salad dressings, pasta and quite a few other staples along with great produce and meat sales make the trip worthwhile.

I'll spend around $100 and come out with close to $200 worth of food at full price.

So, remember to watch those sales, plan your meals accordingly, get a freezer if possible and stay away from junk and convenience foods except as a treat or to have for those days when time has gotten away from you.