Last week, the USDA announced that food prices are expected to rise 4% in 2011.
Most of us will just shrug our shoulders and prepare to pay a little more at the grocery store each month. But it doesn’t have to be that way! There are lots of things you can do to keep your grocery budget under control.
Here are some ideas:
Plant something. You don’t need a yard to have a fabulous garden. Grow some herbs in your windowsill or a cherry tomato in a 5-gallon bucket. Learn how to garden in your apartment at Life on the Balcony.
If you have garden space, even better! Zucchini are easy to grow and one plant will feed your whole family (and most of the neighbors). Try a salsa garden, with tomatoes, peppers, and cilantro, or tuck some herbs around your flowers. All New Square Foot Gardening
will help you get started.If you’re ready to go all the way, rip out your front lawn! We did with our recent remodel and haven’t looked back. There are six artichoke plants out front, and I’m starting some rainbow chard under my homemade seed starting light. Soon there will be strawberries, green beans, snow peas, and medicinal plants beautifying our neighborhood! Learn more with the new and fabulous book, The Edible Front Yard.
Make your own. There are tons of cookbooks that teach frugal cooking and how to stretch your food dollar. Here are some that I recommend:
- Family Feasts for $75 a Week
- The Everything Beans book (brand new and edited by yours truly!)
- More-With-Less Cookbook
Do it yourself. This might sound extreme, but it can be a real money-saver. At my grocery store this week, ground beef is $3.99 a pound--but boneless chuck roast is $1.72 per pound. If you have a stand mixer with the grinding attachment, grab some chuck roasts and grind your own hamburger. Or ask if the butcher will do it for you (mine does). If you’re eating lean, grind chicken or turkey breasts--these are great for tacos. I picked up this tip and many more from Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with America's Cheapest Family.
Make your own granola bars, bagels, or strawberry jam. Voila! You’re ready for snack time.
Share the wealth. Once you’ve reduced your grocery bill with any (or all!) of these tips, donate a few dollars to your local food bank. Most of us can shrug off a 4% grocery increase, but many people are barely making it. My friends at Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services distributed groceries to more than 18,000 people last month. Find your local food bank at http://feedingamerica.org.
How do you save on groceries? Share your tips with us in the comments!
I always really enjoyed your blog, but I find myself enjoying it more and more! Your positive and fresh outlook on things is so helpful, as are your tips. Keep up the great work Pam!
ReplyDeleteSome very good advice. And it's a given that this isn't the last time we'll hear about rising food/commodity prices.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! We rent so I'm going to give container gardening another go this spring/summer.
ReplyDeleteIf you shop somewhere with bulk bins-SPICES! You pay a fraction of the cost for spices from the bulk bins and you can buy just what you need. Plus, it's so much fresher when it's something you don't use too often.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog and its great. You've given great advice here.
ReplyDeleteWe are planning our garden atm and I am trying to incorporate food plants to help with groceries. My husband just wants 'normal' plants, but I think I am getting him to change slightly.
We are trying to be more conscious of what we eat and portion sizes to reduce wastage and save our $$$.
I'm now following you with interest! :)
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