I’ve been a budget counselor for over seven years, and the one area where most people overspend is food. Most families spend large amounts of money purchasing pre-packaged convenience foods at the grocery store. Then they compliment those purchases with expensive meals “on the run.” Cooking meals at home can save your family literally hundreds of dollars. However, cooking at home can be expensive if you buy too many kitchen gadgets, make poor grocery shopping choices, or “panic shop” for each evening’s meal. Here are a few tips to make the most of your food dollars.

 

Grocery Shopping Savvy: • First and foremost, use SHARE as a great way to consistently save money on food! • Buy produce that is in season, as it's cheaper and tastes better. • Purchase dry spices and herbs whole as they retain flavor longer and cost less. • Use dry milk for recipes as it costs less and lasts longer. • Buy real cheese. • Purchase in bulk to take advantage of sale pricing. • Slow cooking less expensive cuts of meat works miracles. • Utilize your local farmer's market or purchase direct from local farmers. • Use ethnic grocers; they often have great pricing on spices, juices and other foods. • A well stocked pantry keeps you from "panic shopping", which will cost you big bucks! Basic items include tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, herbs and spices, oils, flour, oatmeal, dried and canned beans, several types of rice and pastas, parmesan cheese, potatoes, frozen vegetables and bacon. Kitchen Essentials: • All-inclusive cookware sets aren't the deals they appear to be. Check restaurant supply stores for deals and only purchase the key cookware you need. • Knife sets aren't always necessary; a good chef's knife is a great all-purpose kitchen tool. If you have a little extra to spend, consider a paring knife and a serrated knife. • Choose versatile bakeware. A 13x9x2 baking dish can handle casseroles, desserts, storage, etc.