Comments: Good, Better, Best Money-Saving Ideas: Groceries

You know I LOVE money saving tips. So when I got a comment from a reader named Debbie, I knew I had to share it with you.

She was responding to my post on "Good, Better, Best Money-Saving Ideas: Groceries" and said:

I would call all of these merely good--getting discounts.

BETTER: Keep track of prices at different stores in a notebook or a PDA. Then buy things only when you know you're getting a good price.

When I did this, I was surprised. I found that of the two stores that I thought were about equally priced, one was clearly better overall except in the dairy department where the other was better. I was right about the stores I thought were more expensive, but one of them has very good sales.

BEST: Cook from scratch. Don't pay extra to have someone prepare your foods for you. Cooking baked goods from scratch doesn't take much longer than from a mix (except yeast breads). Plus then you can put more fiber and less sugar in your food and gear it to your own tastes.

I cook a lot of things from scratch, especially quick breads, desserts, and main dishes (spaghetti, chili, quiche, etc.) I recommend an oil pastry for pies and quiches--much quicker than using butter or vegetable shortening. However I do buy pre-cooked beans (cheap), pre-cut mixed salads (not cheap), macaroni and cheese mixes (not much more expensive than plain noodles) and the occasional frozen dinner or pizza.

But then I also go out to eat several times a week (too expensive!).

Another idea in this category is to plant at least some of your own food. Find out what grows well in your area and start there. Also, even if you don't have a yard, you can grow herbs pretty cheaply in flowerpots if you have a sunny window or patio.

I keep telling myself I'm going to get around to this, but all I have now is rosemary and chili pequin (the latter which I just think is pretty and would never eat). I've also had luck with strawberries, basil, and chives and would like to try garlic, tomatoes, and other peppers. And maybe one squash plant.

Thanks, Debbie! Great ideas!

Anyone else have other great money saving tips?

Comments

[javasoy]

you are going to have somebody to tell you that they are not farmers and they can even keep a pot of flower alive. In any case, a simple garden is a lot of joy, just not for everyone.