dollar stretching tips

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i found this info and thought that i would pass it along!


Dollar Stretching Tips

Compare prices. Often lower priced items are found on shelves that are above or below eye level.

Make sure a sale is really a sale. Sometimes less-expensive priced brands are a better buy than the name brand products on sale.

Stay away from pre-packaged convenience items as they are more expensive and in the case of pre-chopped vegetables, have less nutritional value.

Plan on using less expensive cuts of meat and poultry. For example, try flank steak or ground turkey.

When planning your menu, include a few meatless meals in the week. Use dry beans and peas along with rice for a nutritious and complete meal.

Plan for leftovers. Roast a chicken or beef roast and reserve some of the meat for later use in casseroles, stir-fry dishes and sandwiches. Portions that won't be used in a day or two must be frozen.

Stock up whenever staples (canned goods, pasta, rice, etc.) are on sale.

Farmers' markets can be a great opportunity to purchase fresh produce at reasonable prices in the summer.

Be creative with lower cost food. For example, cabbage is very inexpensive, and can be used for a lot more than cole slaw. Try Chinese cabbages such as Bok Choy, Sui Choy and Gai Lan. Use traditional North American cabbage to make borscht or sauerkraut.

Don't buy more than you can use. If you live alone, buy two or three peaches, not a basket. Ask the grocery clerk to sell you one cob of corn instead of a package of three. This way, you won't be stuck with rotten food.

Buy store brands. Believe it or not, store brands and name brands are often made by the same company, but packaged and priced differently to appeal to different markets.

Buy fruits and vegetables in-season as they'll be less expensive and better quality. You can always buy more than you need and freeze them for the off-season.

Don't waste money on cooking-wine or sherry. Instead purchase wine that you enjoy drinking and use some in your recipe. Cooking wine is salty and usually undrinkable, so why would you want it in your food?

Gather the advertising flyers for the week and plan your weekly menu around the items that are on special.

Be a focussed shopper. Begin by knowing what foods you already have in your refrigerator, freezer and cupboards. Keeping a detailed shopping list with information on weekly specials will help to focus your shopping and is a great way to avoid impulse buying.

Stay away from convenience stores as much as possible. They are fine for that last minute milk run, but can be really expensive if used regularly.

Review labels and compare price-per-weight. Stock up on items with lower per unit costs.

Clipping coupons may seem like a tedious job but using coupons can really help to stretch the family food budget. Just keep in mind that coupons only save you money if they're for items that you really want and will use.

Buying seafood, particularly items like salmon steaks can be expensive. Consider a few inexpensive alternatives like fresh mussels or bay scallops which usually cost less than shrimp, lobster or salmon. Another option is to use canned fish, like salmon or tuna, which is inexpensive and great for a number of dishes.

Exercise caution when buying oversize items. Even though that gallon of mayonnaise may seem like a bargain, it doesn't make sense if you won't be able to use it all before it expires.

The clearance bin can be a great place to find bargains if you are planning to use the food right away. Buy over-ripe bananas for banana bread or different vegetables for a soup, stock or stew.

When buying meat for sandwiches, compare the cost of pre-sliced and pre-packaged cold cuts to those sold at the deli counter. Often, you will end up paying more for pre-packaged cold cuts, and, with deli meats, you can purchase two or three slices at a time, if that is all you need.

Frozen dinners may seem like a real time saver, but they are usually over-processed and over priced. Instead, make extra portions the next time you prepare stew, lasagne, casseroles, soups etc., and transfer them to freezer-to-microwave contatiners.

Buying in bulk can be a great way to save money. There is no expensive packaging to pay for and you can buy exactly the amount you need.

Don't forget about nutrition. Packaged noodle dinners may be five for a dollar but they have little nutritional value. Instead, shop for foods that are good sources of nutrients. Be as varied as your budget allows. A lot of healthy food choices, like dry beans, rice, pasta, vegetables and potatoes, are very inexpensive.