Because there are many options in most parts of the country food is generally the easiest category in which to reduce your spending. To do this without negatively impacting your health you should learn how to read nutrition labels and shop with a calculator in hand.

Bulk Purchases and the Cost of Convenience

Buying staple food items in bulk can afford savings. Smaller packages of the same item carry a convenience charge with them. Consider the cost of a gallon of milk vs. the cost of a quart.

A gallon (128 fl oz) of vitamin D milk costs, $3.24 (2.5 ¢/fl oz). A quart (64 fl oz) of the same milk costs $1.83 (2.9 ¢/fl oz). If buying by the quart, a gallon will cost you $3.66. Therefore you will save $0.42 by buying the full gallon. This is a simple example, but typically this is the way when it comes to most items. Therefore if you use the larger amount and you have a place to store it, you will do better to purchase more and save yourself the convenience cost of the smaller, more manageable size.

Coupons and Sales

Many people have mastered the art of shopping with coupons. The trick is to read the fine print and understand exactly what the coupon is offering. Also, check to see if it can be combined with other coupons and offers. That is how you stack savings. In addition to coupons, understanding when stores in your area stock their shelves can help you get to the good stuff early before it sells out.

Freezing for Lean Times

Take advantage of sales by purchasing more of an item and freezing it if at all possible. Some examples of foods which can be frozen for future consumption are:

• Meat

• Dairy

• Bread

• Baked Goods

Note: Any liquid you freeze will expand and potentially destroy it’s container. It is best to pour off a little liquid fist to account for this expansion.

Meat being sold with a close expiration date can be purchased for a lower price as the store is trying to get rid of it. You can take advantage of the lower price by freezing the meat the same day and defrost it to eat in the future.

You can even freeze your own dishes such as breads, cookies, soups, and chili. In fact you can really save yourself time when you cook a soup or chili in a slow cooker and then freezing it for future use. You will only need to remember to start the defrost early in the morning so it is read to heat by dinner time.

Learn to Cook

Cooking for yourself will always be less expensive than buying the same food prepared by a store or restaurant. Cooking is a skill which anyone can learn. Start with some simple recipes from the many recipe laden websites available or borrow a few cookbooks from the library.

Note: Physical books do not have pop-ups and advertisements which will divert your attention away from the subject and towards a purchase.

Cooking can be fun, relaxing, and even a form of entertainment. Whether making cheese hamburgers, pizza, or your own chicken tenders, you can do so at a fraction of the cost. Plus the ingredients you purchase will have use in other recipes.

Eat for Fuel, Not Custom

Years ago my family stopped subscribing to the certain foods for certain meals philosophy. We began eating dinner leftovers for breakfast (or first meal). We ate traditional breakfast foods for dinner. Most importantly we recognized food as fuel rather than custom. A frozen burger cooks up fairly quickly and is a great boost of protein in the morning instead of a high carbohydrate bagel which will crash me later and have me reaching for caffeine.

No one is going to call the police because you ate meat sauce for breakfast and a chocolate protein shake and popcorn for dinner. Keep it simple by just eating what you have. Food is also less likely to spoil when it being eaten regardless of the time fo day. Pancakes are not just for breakfast. Make a bunch for dinner and freeze what you do not eat for another day.

Key Take Aways:

• Buy in bulk when possible

• Freeze foods for later use

• Learn to cook

• Eat what you have