These days, we are lucky to have many resources available to help us find ways to make our food dollars go further. According to an article written by CNBC, prices for coffee, fruit, bacon, and pasta - along with other food staples - have increased as much as 40% in the past year alone! Whether you decide to use coupons, look at grocery advertisements, freeze your leftovers, shop at local markets or plant your own garden (or a combination of all these ideas), these are all great ways to make your food and money last longer.
Recently, coupons have been made a huge comeback in popularity; there are even television shows dedicated to couponing! The best part about coupons is that they are a great way to save money on the products you already love. They also allow you to try new foods at discounted prices.
Look at the flyers from your local grocery stores. These show what the store has on special for that day or week; you may even have a coupon that goes along with the special, allowing you to save even more! It makes sense to stock up on items you use when they are on sale.
Local Farmers’ Market or Vegetable Stands—
What’s great about farmers’ markets and stands is that you’re cutting out the “middle man,” which decreases the costs for you as the consumer! Not only are you saving money, but you’re spending your money locally and purchasing locally-grown food.
Freeze Your Leftovers—
Freezing your leftovers is one of the easiest ways to stretch your money. As the cost of groceries increases, you can keep your expenses down by freezing whatever leftover food you might have and not allowing it to go to waste. Even if you have just a few pieces of chicken left from a night of grilling, let it cool down, place it in the -freezer in an air tight container; next time you’re enjoying a salad, pop the leftover chicken out of the freezer, defrost it and add it to your salad! Using frozen leftovers is an easy way to jazz up a meal!
Plant a Garden of Your Own—
Planting a garden is one of the most efficient ways of stretching your food dollar. Although a garden takes time, money and proper care, the payoff in the end is glorious. Not only do you have your own vegetables to use for your meals, but you also can share your fresh veggies with your neighbors. A tip on growing a garden is to start with the right soil. Scope out your soon-to-be garden spot in early spring time and start supplying the soil with all of the proper nutrients that are necessary. Some great ideas to grow in our area are asparagus, broccoli, cabbage and carrots!
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