Discussions

User Comments

1. 

   4/24/08

   daniel23

   Buy bulk. Don't buy snacks. Join a buyer's coop.

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   1. 

      6/02/08

      BennyGreenberg

      survey says... You spend more and waste more when you buy bulk. You are getting a better deal - but you tend to buy more than you will ever use and things that you will never use -
   2. 

      6/02/08

      rearvumirr

      I buy canned goods in bulk when they are on sale. I don't buy anything I know we won't use.
      
      Meat is purchased on sale in large quantities and re-packed at home. Vacuum packing helps it keep in the freezer for a good long while.
2. 

   4/24/08

   ekim941

   Don't buy prepared meals.
   Look at unit price and not final price, get more for your dollar.

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3. 

   4/24/08

   daniel23

   Make friends with Eastern Europeans with dodgy mustaches and white vans.

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4. 

   4/24/08

   choochoo

   I wholeheartedly agree with not buying prepared meals -besides being more expensive, they are more processed, higher sodium, higher fat and less fibre in general.
   I also stock up when there are sales on items I buy regularly like coffee, cereals and meats.

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5. 

   4/24/08

   bibitoribio

   Maybe buying in big amounts like : Rice, ketchup, cereal,etc in places like wlamart, costcos.

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6. 

   4/29/08

   krista

   I'm going to try out the farmers market this weekend. I hear food bought there lasts longer because it's fresher. plus you cut out the middleman. so it may be a few cents cheaper, plus you have more time to consume it before it goes bad. and in my book, throwing away less food adds up to spending less overall.

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   1. 

      5/02/08

      bibitoribio

      Good idea!
7. 

   6/02/08

   JanelleV

   I buy fresh vegetables.. You get more for your money VS buying in the can or in a frozen package. It's healthier too : ]

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   1. 

      6/06/08

      Aprilfreelance

      According to a lot of chefs and nutritionists, frozen vegetables are just as nutritious if not more so than fresh. The reason is that they are flash frozen at their peak, rather than sitting on shelf or delivery truck past their prime.
8. 

   6/02/08

   myriadlife

   Go to street and town markets to buy the best fresh produce and items that are different from the High Street. If you have a weekly market near you, check it out, save on petrol driving to the supermarket and use your legs.
   Shop in the fresh air and enjoy the exercise, banter and atmosphere of markets - the most ancient way of shopping - it's how shopping began!
   
   Check out my blog to find out more about market life!

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9. 

   6/02/08

   kirewass

   Plan ahead!
   Don't end up with items that you did not mean to buy from the beginning. Stores are purposely designed to promote impulse buying.

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   1. 

      6/02/08

      lordiwanttobewhole

      Yes, I agree planning ahead by making out meal plan for the week is so important then you know you are buying ingredients that are essential for the meals you intend to make.
10. 

    6/02/08

    wolfcreek

    Make sure to travel once to the store, and go while full. You won't impulse buy so much when you are well fed.
    
    Also if you aren't a grocery list maker...start. It saves you the extra trip to the store during the week for the milk you forgot.

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11. 

    6/02/08

    lordiwanttobewhole

    Get invited out to dinner at other peoples homes

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12. 

    6/06/08

    eapitera

    Don't buy prepackaged snacks (ie: 100 calorie packs, etc.). Buy normal quantities and package them yourself at home in ziplock bags (and, if you follow the recommended serving size, you'll cut down on your calorie intake as a bonus!)
    
    Also, another point of interest: I read in the paper the other day that supermarket chains are starting to list weekly sale items on their websites. For example, Publix supermarkets, which are popular where I live, now lists all the "buy one get one free" items on their site so you could feasibly consult this while making your shopping list. Then you won't be as tempted by the endcap displays and "impulse" buys.

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13. 

    6/10/08

    pelenaka

    We spend about $100 a month on food for 4-5 peeps - this includes dairy such as eggs & milk, meats, limited papergoods, and buying items on sale/clearence/bulk to stock our pantry.
    That being said the second part to this is pure elbow grease - garden the heck outta our city lot, glean, forage, and barter (coops) for everything we can.
    
    Third portion to our method is practicing long term storage nonelectrical food storage - canning in mason jars & dehydrating. Limited freezing.
    
    It's never ending but on a side note the peace of mind is priceless. Forgot to mention that a good portion of our food organic, low sodium, no artifical preservatives & less than 25 miles from our home.

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14. 

    6/10/08

    wehireu

    Check your fridge to see what you don't eat or goes bad and stop buying it. A lot of people buy things they are not going to use. Even if you spend a little more it is better not to waste food. Buy generic products not name brands.
    
    Get a discount card from your supermarket. It may track what you are buying, but they already do this kind of nonsense. Buy dry goods in bulk, toilet paper, paper towels, stuff that won't go bad.
    
    Write a list of goods that you need to buy before you leave the house and stick to it. Supermarkets are designed for impulse purchases. Don't let the music get to you or the snacks or you end up buying more than you need. The lighting also is designed to make things look enticing. Coupons are usually for things you don't need.

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15. 

    6/10/08

    PetLvr

    In my other life (before Marriage) .. I actually tested this theory. It was cheaper, as a single individual, to eat out every day in a restaurant where they actually serve you dinner and coffee .. (including breakfast) .. than shop for one.
    
    In my current life .. I find that the healthier we eat the more costly it is .. and, especially if we go out and buy the vegetables at the Farmers' Market (always buying more than just veggies)

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16. 

    6/10/08

    jackpayne

    Buy nothing but raw, unprocessed Wheat Germ, about the most nutritious food it's possible to consume. It's the only grain product that contains complete amino acids. Costs around 90 cents per pound. If you ate nothing but this--at a quarter cup per serving--you could feed a family of 4 for about $12 a week (including milk added).

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17. 

    6/10/08

    CrotchetyOldMan

    I buy dried beans, and use them in various meals. Cheaper than meat, and better for you. And a pound of beans at less than a buck goes a long way. Should be able to get at least a couple meals out of it.

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18. 

    6/10/08

    CrotchetyOldMan

    And the other advantage of beans? They provide sound effects that amuse the kids, thus stretching your entertainment dollar, too.

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