| Who doesn't want to save money in these soft | | | | being the typical bachelor, cooked most of my |
| economic times? One way to do it is to cut | | | | meals out of a box. My wife, however being |
| your spending on groceries. No, I am not | | | | from the Philippines was more used to going |
| talking about clipping coupons, although that | | | | to the market and cooking everything fresh on |
| is a way if you don't mind taking the time to | | | | a daily basis. I still remember the stunned |
| look and clip. Frankly, I don't have time for | | | | looks on peoples faces who were behind us in |
| all that. I think my way is faster and | | | | the grocery line. Our cart would be |
| easier. Consider these seven tips. (1) Buy in | | | | overflowing with all sorts of fresh fruit and |
| bulk. Most cities have an outlet that allows | | | | vegetables, rice and meat. It would still |
| you to buy in bulk. Most charge a nominal | | | | cost about half what their half-full carts of |
| membership fee. Even with the fee, the | | | | packaged food cost! (5) Buy store brands if |
| savings over a course of a year make it | | | | possible. While the nationally advertized |
| worthwhile. The advantage to buying in bulk | | | | brands may get more attention, they are |
| is that the cost of individual units is less. | | | | usually more expensive. Many store brands are |
| While it may not be practical to buy fresh | | | | actually quite good. Most of the major chains |
| produce inbulk, there are many non-perishable | | | | have their own brand. Try them, you may be |
| items that can be effectively bought in bulk. | | | | pleasantly surprised. (6) Use "stretchers". |
| Some of these include canned goods, dry | | | | No, not the kind you carry sick people on. I |
| cereal, pasta, frozen meat, etc. Most of | | | | mean the kind my mother and grandmother used |
| these can be easily repackaged to a | | | | to make food go further. Most meat dishes can |
| manageable size for storage. Another idea is | | | | effectively be stretched by using half the |
| to buy in bulk with a partner and split it. | | | | called for ground beef and supplementing with |
| (2) Buy more than one. The problem with | | | | beans such as navy or pinto. Even Pork and |
| buying only one of anything is that you are | | | | Beans works well. We do this commonly with |
| at the mercy of the grocer the next week when | | | | "sloppy joes" at our house and the kids love |
| you need to replace it. Buying more than one | | | | them. Bread crumbs or oatmeal can be mixed |
| of commonly used items allows you to store | | | | into a pound of hamburger to stretch things |
| the extras, so that you can wait for the next | | | | when you are making burgers for a crowd. I |
| sale to restock. Most grocery stores rotate | | | | know of one national chain restaurant that |
| sale items on a monthly basis, so that if you | | | | uses ground beef and beans in spaghetti. I |
| purchase a month's supply, you have enough to | | | | have not noticed their sales dropping off. |
| last until the next sale. (3) If it's not on | | | | (7) Use leftovers creatively. Sometimes the |
| sale, don't buy it! While this may seem to be | | | | little odds and ends that are left from a |
| a hard concept, by following the above rule, | | | | large meal can be effectively converted into |
| you likely will not need it until the next | | | | soup or a casserole with a little creativity. |
| time it's on sale anyway. We follow this rule | | | | Sometimes a happy accident occurs that you |
| religiously in our house and it works to save | | | | may actually want to repeat. We use all these |
| us 30-50% on a regular basis. By all means if | | | | tips at our house to one degree or another. |
| it's a dire necessity, buy it. If not wait | | | | In so doing, our monthly grocery bill is less |
| until the next time it goes on sale. (4) Buy | | | | than most comparably sized families we know. |
| fresh food. The general rule in most | | | | By trying some of these, I'm confident yours |
| households these days seems to be to buy | | | | will be too! |
| pre-packaged, heat and serve meals. While | | | | |
| there may be a time savings, it comes at the | | | | Dave is a "wanna be" chef and father two |
| expense of a higher grocery cost and | | | | picky eaters. Visit him at Cooking With |
| compromised flavor. I learned this lesson | | | | Recipes for more information. |
| shortly after my wife and I were married. I, | | | | |