11 Ways to Save On Food You Never Thought Of

If you were to write down your monthly budget (consider this your PSA to do so) a great portion after your living expenses, car payment, wifi, phone bill would be your meals.

Between the groceries you buy and eating out - you can burn a huge hole in your wallet just filling up.

Here’s 11 ways to save on food you never thought of (because we get it, you’ve heard the ol’ “you have food at home.”) Whether you love heading to Trader Joe’s, Stop and Shop or a Whole Foods haul - these tips can easily add up to major savings.

1. Cook with vegetable oil or canola oil. Butter while rich in flavor is more expensive than most oils by ounce. Same goes for olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil. Save butter and olive oil for baking, sauces, or flavoring rather than every day frying.

2. The following vegetables are grown in large quantities, store well, or are in constant supply: potatoes, carrots, cabbage, onion, zucchini, green beans and canned tomatoes. Ignore brusell sprouts, artichokes, mushrooms, fennel, leeks or okra if you’re trying to budget on veggies

3. Make a meal plan for the week and build your list around it. Check your pantry and fridge first to avoid buying duplicates and clip digital coupons.

4. We know it’s important to get your protein in. Prioritize chicken opting for the whole bird – often the cheapest per pound. Leg quarters or drumsticks are also cheaper than boneless cuts

5. Ignore grocery “essentials” you can actually get at a dollar store like Dollar Tree or Dollar General - think paper plates, napkins, paper towels or aluminum foil.

6. Shop mid-week: Tuesday or Wednesday which begin markdowns and new sales flyers. Stores usually start new weekly deals midweek and clear out old stock. Produce, meat, and bakery sections often discount aging items before restocking.

7. You can also shop at the end of the month as stores target budget-conscious shoppers with sales and “10 for $10” at the start of the next month.

   
   

8. Food needing some flavor? Saving on spices at the grocery store is totally doable with a few smart strategies. Store-brand or generic spices are often just as good and way cheaper. Skip expensive brands like McCormick unless they’re on sale or you have coupons. That said, spices lose potency after 6–12 months so only buy what you’ll use.

9. Skip the fancy beverages when all you really need is water. Yes we all enjoy treats but the soda, juices, flavored drinks are really not essential and can add up over time.

10. If you’re a coffee fan who loves his/her Keurig, consider reusable pods vs. the single use. You can get them from the brand of your coffee maker (like Keurig) or from a major retailer like Walmart. It’s cheaper and better for the environment.

11. Here’s a list of the cheapest carbohydrate foods you can buy at the grocery store—these are great for stretching meals and saving money: rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, oats, tortillas, ramen noodles, dry beans and lentils and cornmeal.

Like these tips? Let us know which piqued your interest most on Instagram at @wealth_elf