Shop to Save Money on Food - Frugal Cooking and Making Leftover Recipes Are All Part of Living Cheap

There is an old saying "that some people get their wants and needs mixed up". This is very true in the grocery store as well as other places. When shopping, there are many ways to save money on food. First shop as infrequently as possible; monthly or semi annually would be good. Do not make special trips to the grocery store. Shoppers always spend money on unnecessary items each time they shop. Not only will one save money on food but also money on gas. When a supply runs out, use what is in store. Keep products in the pantry like dry milk, can milk and extra supplies for emergencies. Peanuts stay fresh for a long time and can easily be ground into peanut butter for an emergency snack. Buy bread from the day old bakeries. It is still good and freezes well. Learn to make a homemade bread recipe or fresh biscuits for when the bread runs out. Use canned fruits and vegetables if fresh are not available.

When it is necessary to make a trip to the grocery, plan ahead; make a list and only buy what is on the list. The exception is, if there is a special sale on a necessity. Always look for marked down items or out dated products. These should be products that are normally used so the quality is already known. Make it a habit to "comparison shop". Some stores have a practice of having sales on meat while others have good prices on canned goods. Do the research and get to know the local stores. Get to know the managers and produce managers to be alerted of good buys. When great buys are at hand, this is the time to purchase extras to stock the pantry. When flour or grains are on sale, buy a large supply. Place these in the freezer for two weeks before storing them in a food container. This process will prevent infestation of bugs. Remember to check quantity with the price and buy the most for the money. Many people like to shop using coupons. This is all right if it is for a product that is generally used and needed.

To save money on food, skip the isles with the sodas, junk foods and prepared foods. Eliminate frozen dinners totally from the diet. These items usually are much more expensive and provide fewer nutrients. Cold water with a little fresh lemon or lime juice is a much better choice for a drink, saving soda for only a special occasion. Keep bulk popcorn on hand for a healthy family snack. Microwave popcorn is more expensive and has fat already added.

A freezer and canning equipment are important items to invest in, especially if cooking for a family. If land is obtainable, start a garden or turn the yard into an edible landscape. Dollars can be saved and earned just by growing herbs. If growing a garden is out of the question, local farmers' markets are a source for finding good prices for healthy food. Check them out and find what days they are open and what time they close. Visit on the last opening day, shortly before closing time. Make an offer for bulks of produce that is needed. Most of the time they would rather sell it off at discounted prices than pack it up and move it. Another source is the local farmers themselves. After they pick what they want from their gardens, many will let outsiders come in and pick for free or at a minimal charge. Do not be afraid to ask! Preserving vegetables and fruits in some manner will save money on food in the future. If freezing and canning are not options, drying foods is another alternative. Look for possibilities of trading or "bartering" for products. For example, ask someone to give eggs to make noodles and make enough to give noodles back for the eggs. Many people would love to get homemade egg noodles. Keep the mind open to all possibilities.

When trying to learn to cook, concentrate on frugal cooking. This is the first step to the overall living cheap lifestyle. If one learns how to save money on food, one can learn other ways to be thrifty. Make it a habit to never throw any food away. Place small portions of food on plates for meals; additional servings can be made, if needed. This will avoid wasting food left on the plates, especially with children. Very small portions of meat and vegetables can be kept in a plastic freezer container for leftover recipes such as stews and soups. Be careful using plastic freezer bags because they can rack up dollars. Reusable containers are cheaper. Milk cartons and the likes are free.

Frances Moore, chef and author with daughter Kelly created http://www.painlesscooking.com to share easy instructions and recipes for cooking. Frances shares tips from the depression era passed down by parents and older siblings http://www.painlesscooking.com/cheap-living.html