USAinDebt

Rent / Mortgage, Vehicle and Food are usually the biggest expenses that we have to deal with every month. And while you can live without a car, food you definitely can’t live without. And since starving is also not an option, let’s see how you can reduce your grocery bill by becoming a smart shopper.

Coupons are a great way to save money. Your Sunday newspapers had a ton of them. Most stores also have free programs that you can join and either receive cash-back or point, which are then translated into valuable discount coupons. Of course, don’t just buy stuff because you have a coupon. You can also look-up coupons online, before you go shopping. Have your list ready, and before visiting the store Google the products that and check for coupons online.

Bulk shopping. Bulk food is always cheaper and it also save you gas and time, since you don’t need to drive to the store often to buy it. Try to concentrate on non-perishable items. A good idea is to repack bulk foods into smaller packages when you get home. If you are buying perishables, freeze them.

Brown bag your breakfast, lunch and snacks. There is no need to spend money on food when you are at work. Bring food from home and you will not only save, but you will also eat less junk food. Buy a thermos, it is a nice thing to have in the winter!

Limit ready foods because they cost more and besides that, they are usually canned. Which means lots of sodium, not good for your health and helps on adding up weight as well.

Eat out less, maybe once a week instead of two or three times. Eating out always costs you at least 10 bucks or even more. Add that up and you will see where those extra $200 per month have disappeared.

Buy cheap food like whole grain pasta, potatoes, brown rice. They are not just healthy but also fill you up right and cost less.

Buy generic “store” brands which are always cheaper and taste the same. The colourful packaging doesn’t mean higher quality of the product, don’t fall for the famous brands, they are not always the best.

Pick from farms. Go to http://www.pickyourown.org/ and find a farm near you. You can even pick more and then share it with your friend families.

Don’t buy more than you need and also don’t go shopping on an empty stomach. Be careful with perishables, especially in the summer when they wither very fast and you have to throw them away.

Eat less but do it often. Separate your food on smaller portions, take small healthy snacks. You will end up eating less and it will also benefit your health. Drink more water - it will fill you up and once again, it’s beneficial.

If you have children, try to shop without them. They like to gran everything that is colorful and that they like and they also won’t allow you to concentrate on your money-saving task.

Get a slow cooker and cook! There are a million great recipes, and it is great on cooking rice or potatoes with meat. Besides that, all you have to do is fill it up and leave it to do the cooking for you.

Tags: saving | coupons | bill | debt | credit | money