You want to improve the quality of your daily diet, but you certainly can't afford to buy pounds of all organic meat every week. Fortunately, your diet does not have to suffer if you are strapped for cash. Your grocery bill probably won't be as low as it was when you bought only ramen noodles in college, but you may be surprised to realize how much money you can save by planning in advance.
Step 1
Write down a detailed menu plan before you head to the store. Knowing exactly what you need to get by for the week will encourage you to make fewer impulse buys. Make room on your menu plan for between-meal snacks, but also ensure that you have chosen healthy snacks that fit within your budget. Resist the urge to buy ingredients and snacks that aren't already on your list.
Step 2
Skip past the junk food aisles. Greasy potato chips, pre-packaged cookies, candy bars and 12-packs of soda are a double-whammy: they add lots of dollars to your receipt and pump lots of empty calories into your body. This doesn't mean you should stop eating occasional treats; just make them from scratch. Buying the ingredients may be more expensive in the beginning, but it will save you money in the long-run. Besides, who can really compare packaged cookies to home-made melted chocolate chip oatmeal cookies?
Step 3
Clip coupons online. Today's technology makes clipping coupons easier than ever. Now you can visit websites that will allow you to load virtual coupon codes onto your store's customer loyalty card. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that you are saving money if you get a discount on something you didn't plan to purchase. Only load the food coupons necessary to create your meal and snack plan for the week.
Step 4
Eat less meat. Meat is usually more expensive than other sources of protein, so don't feel that you need to make it the focus of all of your meals. When you create a meal that incorporates beans, whole grains and fresh vegetables, you will have a substantial cuisine that is also likely less fattening than one with meat in it. Don't forget that many stores allow you to buy whole grains and beans in bulk, which also cuts your expenses.
Step 5
Prepare your own food. You may save some time when you purchase pre-shredded cheeses and pre-sliced apples, but you don't save any money. By doing a few extra minutes of work, you are cutting down on unnecessary expenses. If time is really a factor, devote one day to doing all the busy work and then store the prepared food for future convenience.
Step 6
Buy in season and then freeze some of it. Produce is cheaper when it is in-season. Tailor most of your meals to incorporate in-season produce, but you don't need to miss out on out-of-season produce altogether. Buy extra in-season produce and freeze it for future enjoyment.
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