Inflation has got many of us feeling anxious about money recently. With the rise of the cost of living, especially in food products, we’re all looking for ways to save money and stretch our food budget. Registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator Julie Hutter has some advice for how to stay on budget and save on your next grocery bill.
Give these five tips a try:
Make a shopping list and stick to it.
Not having a shopping list can result in overspending on unnecessary items and overstocking your pantry with duplicates. So, before your next grocery trip, make it a priority to write down what you need and stick to the list when shopping.
Shop the sale section and make use of coupons
Most grocery stores have a sale section with heavily discounted items that are usually approaching their expiration date. You can make use of these items by meal-batching and freezing them for future use. Just make sure you use them up or properly prepare them before their expiration date. For non-sale items, check out the store’s coupon flyer for extra savings.
Switch to plant-based meals
It’s often much more cost- effective to cook plant-based meals rather than animal-based alternatives. Even if you switch a couple of meals a week, only to plant-based you can notice a reduction in your overall monthly spending. If you’re stuck on finding plant-based meal ideas, browse the many recipes available online at the Kidney Community Kitchen.
Buy ingredients in bulk
You can save a lot of money buying ingredients in bulk such as pasta, rice and flour. Remember to store these ingredients properly and use them up before their expiration date.
Choose larger meat pieces
Opting for bigger pieces and asking the butcher to cut it up for you if needed, will stretch your food dollar. Buying a whole chicken is much more cost-effective than buying legs or thighs only. Not only do you get more meat for your buck, but you can also use the bones to make homemade stock
Although it might feel overwhelming at first, if putting in the work to you carefully plan your meals and grocery trips, you can easily definitely make a difference in your grocery bills. Keep the above tips in mind next time you go grocery shopping and see the difference in your monthly spending!
