If you need to survive on a low amount of money, cutting the cost of your grocery bill is a logical tactic. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spent $6,443 USD per year on food purchases in 2008, which was an increase of 5.1 percent since 2007. Despite this increase in average spending on food, you can save money on your grocery bill if you shop smart and cook from scratch.
Step 1
Use supermarket fliers and coupons. If you receive supermarket fliers in the mail or in your local paper you can save money by basing what you buy around items that are on sale, according to an article on the Woman's Day website. For example, if you plan on buying fruit and see that peaches are on sale at a local grocery store, you may decide to purchase peaches as your fruit rather than apples that are not on sale. Fliers often include coupons that can be utilized to save money on your grocery bill as well.
Step 2
Make a menu. Before making your grocery list, make a menu of what you will serve for breakfast, lunch and dinner for the week, advises an article on the Woman's Day website. Once you have made a menu, figure out how you can use leftovers in other meals. For example, you can set aside some chicken used for soup to use in tortillas later in the week. Once you have your menu planned, and have figured out how to reuse certain ingredients, make your shopping list based on the menu.
Step 3
Reduce your meat and increase your bean consumption. Beans are an inexpensive and high-protein alternative to meat. According to the Hillbilly Housewife website, using more beans and less meat in combination with other techniques makes it possible to save quite a bit of money on your weekly grocery bill.
Step 4
Buy in bulk. Buying items in large quantities not only yields significant savings, it also cuts down on the number of grocery trips you need to make. This strategy works well for certain items, while it does not work well for other items. Paper products such as toilet paper and dry goods are easily stocked up on by buying in bulk. However, groceries that spoil with time, such as milk and eggs, may not benefit from buying in bulk.
Step 5
Look for less expensive cuts of meat. One of the most expensive purchases you make while grocery shopping is meat. Do not just grab the first cut of meat you see that matches the item on your list. Instead, look for less expensive cuts that will still work with your menu plan, advices an article on the Woman's Day website. For example, cube steak is less expensive than sirloin steak. Also look for meat that is nearing its expiration date. Stores sometimes reduce the price of these meats and if you can use it by the expiration date you will have made a money-saving purchase.
Step 6
Distinguish needs from wants, advises the Get Rich Slowly website, featured by Money magazine as the most inspiring money blog. Shoppers often overspend on impulse purchases or purchases based on wants rather than needs. When you pick up something not on your list, consider if it is something you really need or if it is a want. You can still enjoy the food you need without splurging on items outside your budget.
Step 7
Cook from scratch. Not only does cooking from scratch improve the nutrition of your meals, it can also save you money, according to the Get Rich Slowly website. Prepackaged and processed foods often cost more than the total sum of all ingredients needed to make the same item at home. An added benefit to cooking from scratch is the ability to improvise and add or subtract ingredients to the liking of your family.
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