Managing your food budget in uncertain times

In a down economy, it’s relatively easy to adjust your shopping habits so that you get more for your money. This doesn’t necessarily mean cutting back on the things you love. Rather, it means making the most of what you have.

By carefully managing your shopping trips, using money saving techniques and becoming a savvy shopper and cook, you can shave a lot of money off your food budget.

Smart shopping 101

The first way to save is to stop spending wildly on things you’ll never use. Most families impulse buy as they shop, stocking up on new items, special promotions and junk food. Resist the temptation and stick to your shopping list.

If your children are with you, use the opportunity to teach them about smart shopping and don’t let them fill up the cart with their favorites. Also, stick with raw ingredients for meals instead of prepared foods. Chicken breasts take the same time to cook as an entrée with chicken in it and the Internet is overflowing with easy recipes that take no time at all to make and are delicious.

Use coupons whenever possible

Manufacturers love to provide you with incentives to buy their products. Let them court you with their “Buy 1, Get 1” or “cents-off“ coupons. Place them in an organizer and use them during your shopping trip. Really savvy shoppers have managed to come home with a cart full of grocers for almost no money at all, thanks to coupons and rebates. Being wise with your money doesn’t mean you have to starve or make due with house brands.

The best way to use your organizer is to arrange it by aisle. If you shop the same story regularly, this should be easy. Then you can shop by coupon as you move through the store. If you want additional coupons, visit the various websites of the manufacturers or a site like valuepage.com.

Shop the sales

Every store has weekly sales. Learn to take advantage of them. Look at their weekly ad and see what is featured. There are patterns to what is offered so you can quickly fill your pantry, freezer and refrigerator with your favorites by learning when they go on sale.

If there’s a 10 for $10 sale, buy 10 and store them up. Always buy to the maximum quantity offered. If you need additional storage in your home, an empty closet or the space under a stairwell can serve as an auxiliary pantry.

Speaking of pantries…

Nothing eats a budget up faster than buying food only when you need it. When you’re in panic mode and stop by the store on the way home from work, you’re going to make poor purchasing decision. Learn to use additional space in your kitchen or home as a pantry and stock up on the raw ingredients that will make meals quickly. Pasta sauce and spaghetti are very inexpensive when compared to dinner out at an Italian restaurant.

Plan your menus

Each week, go through your pantry, fridge and freezer. See what you have on hand that needs some additional ingredients to make a meal. Be sure to rotate your frozen meats and pantry items so they don’t go to waste. Then add in additional meals based on your household’s appetites, buying new items only when they’ll be used. A huge hole in your budget comes from buying foods you never use or finding out they are no longer good once you get around to using them.