It’s a fact that families of three or more spend income-shattering amounts of money on food every year. Luckily, there are some great ways to lower food costs without the household going hungry.
Contents
1Eat In More Often
Image via Flickr by Eric F. Savage
You can feed the whole family at home for the cost of one or two meals at a restaurant. So, instead of going out, try eating in. Pre-making meals will save time and besides, eating at home is healthier.
2Buy Your Groceries in Bulk
Buying food items in bulk is a great way to cut grocery costs. Items such as canned foods, condiments, spices, and other dry goods last forever. Just make sure you have the pantry space before you go bulk.
3Bring a Lunch
Make lunch dates an office affair by bringing lunch to work. It’ll not only save money, but not having to get in the car and drive to a restaurant in lunch hour traffic will give you more time to actually eat.
4Don’t Shop Hungry
The only thing worse than going to the grocery store with an appetite is leaving with more food than you actually need. So, have a snack before hitting the aisles and stick to the shopping list.
5Eat Fresh
On average, fresh foods like fruits and vegetables cost much less than processed foods. Not only that, they’re healthier. In other words, leave processed out of the grocery shopping process.
6Start Gardening
Image via Flickr by Lori L. Stalteri
Growing a vegetable garden is a great way to put greens on the table while saving a little green too. Vegetable gardens are fun, easy to maintain, and get the whole family involved with dinner preparation.
7Cook More Efficiently
The better the cook, the more likely the family will want to eat in. So, get rid of that old stovetop oven and replace it with Gen2 Cooking Equipment. A new range from Gen2 will streamline the cooking process and ensure food is cooked to perfection.
8Clip Coupons and Save Big
Grocery store coupons aren’t just newspaper stuffing, they’re meant to save you money. Families that grab the scissors and cut out just a few coupons a week save 20% or more a year on groceries. That’s enough to buy new scissors.
9Buy Generic Brands
Store brands and generic labels are big money savers. And, in most cases, the store-bought brand doesn’t taste any different from the real deal. So, try Nutty-O’s and Chips-O-Chocolate rather than brand name: only your wallet will know the difference.
10Buy From the Source
Buying fresh foods directly from the supplier cuts the store premiums out of the equation. There are vegetable buying clubs and farmer’s markets everywhere that make buying direct possible. And, if all else fails, make finding the nearest farm a family adventure.
So, whether it’s eating at home, growing at home, or buying generic, there are ways families can cut food costs without curbing their appetites.