Recently discount warehouse retailers Costco and Sam's Club put a limit on the amount of rice purchased by customers.
Price increases of this common food source found on tables around the globe have people panicking and purchasing rice in large quantities. Americans are feeling the pain at the supermarket checkout as the cost of staples like milk, butter and eggs continue to rise.
These perilous inflationary times can bust your budget if you aren't careful.
Planning, preparation and process can help you save big at the dinner table. Check out these tips below.
Grocery-Saving Tips
Have a plan. First, take a look in the pantry and refrigerator to determine what you need and make a list. You will avoid purchasing items you don't need or already have.
Take a look at what's in the sales circular and plan your meals accordingly.
Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season and buy at the local farmers market. You'll have fresh produce that hasn't been shipped and it will cost you less.
Avoid b.o.g.o or buy one get one free. Opt for sales that allow you to purchase several of the same item at a discount. You can buy one item and still get the discounted price.
Keep walking pass the gourmet counter that offers prepackaged or prepared foods. You can marinate and season your meat using common ingredients like lemon juice and teriyaki sauce with the same outcome.
Deborah Owens is author of "Nickel and Dime Your Way To Wealth" and host of "Real Money" on NPR Affiliate Weaa 88.9 FM. Visit deborahowens.com
Comments: (9)
Add a comment
By: Deanna on 5/07/2008 5:37PM
There isn't one suggestion here that my family hasn't use for decades! Food prices are higher so now the uppermiddle class feels it. The lowermiddle class and under know these tricks. It is a sad time when the people who have never known poverty...now run around not knowing how to make ends meet in the least. I wish the government would give tax incentives to have your own garden.(how ever small) They are very costly to start but to me are looking to be an option.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: scil on 5/07/2008 7:06PM
The above message is sooo true!! Thank you, it is new to them but not to most of us, we already know ways to save, have had to do it for years.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Gina on 5/08/2008 12:28AM
I must agree with Deanna, there wasn't anything they said about saving money on food; I don't already know and practice. I am from a family that taught survival tricks when going grocery shopping. My family was poor and had to feed many, so budgeting what they had was a must. I was also taught don't go grocery shopping when you are hungry, because you tend to buy by sight, which causes you to have items that are not needed; just wanted. My best advice is you must have food, so weigh your pocket book, select items you know you can afford and definately will use; and not throw out. Because times are hard and choosing between food and gasoline is no laughing matter.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Evelyn on 5/11/2008 7:10AM
Yeah, right! This retiree's food budget is soooooo
high because she can't resist those pre-packaged,
prepared gourmet foods! Thanks for trying, but there
was really nothing new in your "tips to save at the
supermarket" feature! I learned all these tips from
my momma......like about 50 years ago!
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: LORRAINE on 5/11/2008 10:58AM
THE ONLY TIPS I CAN SAY WORKS FOR ME IS COUPONS, COUPONS AND STOCKS OF COUPONS, THE COUPONS WILL SAY LIMITED ONE PER HOUSEHOLD, I DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THAT I WILL GO TO THE SUPERMARKET WITH SOMETIMES TEN OF THE SAME COUPONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S TOOTHPASTE YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH OF THEM AND I WILL STOCK PILE, I ALSO SURF THE WEB FOR THE LOCAL STORES IN MY AREA AND I WILL FIND OUT WHAT I NEED MAKE A LIST AND GO AROUND EACH STORE AND GET WHAT I NEED WHEN ONLY IF IT'S ON SALE IT MAY BE A HEADACHE BUT I DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO AND I REALLY SAVES ME ALOT.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: L. Hill on 5/11/2008 12:36PM
Most of us already know how to survive on little to next to nothing. People take for granted that a big paycheck will take care of all your needs. Guess what? It's not what you have it's how you use it. The best advice we can give each other is, not to live above our means, learn to shop by comparing the weight, count, and price. There are days you will have to go generic, guess what, look at the ingredients, 9 out of 10 times the ingredients are the same and manufactured by the same company, just a different lable has been placed on them. It's a common practice. A good deal is a good deal; don't be afraid to stock up. You too many of the same things, start bardering. Hey neighbor, brother or sister who ever, I have way to much of this item what do you have to trade. I'll give you this for that. Their is no shame in doing this, it's just a way of beating the system and coming out the victor.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Stop depending on on 5/11/2008 2:25PM
Stop depending on a paycheck and look into options such as Work at home opportunities like this one
http://ViralURL.com/MOMz1/Raspee
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: JD on 6/02/2008 1:01AM
@ Stop depending on, you are such a moron.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Victoria on 6/02/2008 1:38AM
Yeah to Deanna!
I wish the government would give tax incentives to have your own garden.
Gardens are really not too costly to start, if you have dirt and hope. Compost from the kitchen adds alot of nutrition to the soil for healthy growing produce and plenty of earthworms to stir it up. What more could one need but a chicken to pick bugs and lay eggs? From garden to table sure beats the time/trip gas and is a bust on the economy.
Reply to this Comment | Report This