Health and Nutrition - Saving Money on Food: Simple Strategies for American Families

Saving Money on Food:
Simple Strategies for American Families

Written by Vincent E. Martinelli, Jr. Wednesday, October 02, 2024
Contributing Writer: Art Intel

As an American parent (well, great-grandparent to be more accurate), I know how challenging it can be to feed a family on a budget these days. In fact, most of the people around here never had a food budget before - recent economics have lifted food prices by almost a third in recent years. [I digress.]

True, grocery prices seem to be climbing higher every time I step into the store. The good news is that there are plenty of smart and easy ways to lower your food costs without sacrificing nutrition or flavor, or giving up the kids for adoption.

Let's start with the classic money-saving tactic: couponing. While it may seem old-fashioned, coupons can still be a real game-changer if you use them strategically:

Clip coupons from the Sunday paper, store circulars, and online sources like coupon websites and apps.
Stack coupons with sales and promotions for maximum savings.
Organize your coupons by expiration date and grocery category to make them easy to use.
Focus on coupons for items you actually buy, rather than impulse purchases.
Check expiration dates and only use coupons before they expire.
Contact me to find out what app I use to find lower prices, get cash back, earn money and points by simply scanning my receipts into my phone.
Bonus: I can teach you how to use one app to donate to the non-profit or charity of your choice, using Big Box Bank’s money - not yours!

Another smart move is to take advantage of store loyalty programs. Many supermarkets and big-box retailers offer exclusive deals, discounts, and rewards to customers who download their apps or sign up for their rewards cards. These perks can translate to serious savings on your regular grocery haul.

Speaking of flyers and ads, be sure to keep an eye out for weekly sales and promotions. Stores often feature eye-catching printed and online flyers highlighting their latest discounts and special offers. Invest a few minutes reviewing these ads before you shop, and plan your trips around these deals to score big on the items you need.

Pro Tip:
Never shop by price, if you really want to save money. Instead, shop by unit price. Yeah, you might think that huge packages of stuff is, by default, less expensive per unit than the little packages - so let me dispel that piece of common sense: it’s not always the case. Do the math.

Pro Tip:
Never trust the math. That is to say never trust the math that the stores (in-person or online) feed you. Many times, the unit price just doesn’t line up with the quantity as a function of the price. In other words, just take a few seconds to do the math yourself. Yeah, yeah, yeah, “I’m not gonna bring a calculator with me”; I know. So, use the one that’s on the smart phone in your pocket.

Saving money on food isn't just about coupons and sales – it's also about reducing waste. Get creative with "ugly" produce, veggie scraps, and other parts of foods that might otherwise end up in the trash. Carrot tops, broccoli stems, and even leftover bones can be transformed into delicious stocks, sauces, and soups.

Now’s a good excuse to reach out to that friend of yours who is a local chef or restaurant owner and ask for waste-reduction food use tips. Who knows … maybe you’ll end up on a date or get him or her to cook you up some outlandishly delicious and nutritious meals.

If you have the space and the green thumb, consider growing your own herbs, fruits, and veggies. Even a small backyard garden or a few potted plants on your balcony can provide you with fresh, affordable, organic produce all season long. (You do have a freezer, right?) Plus, you'll know exactly what goes into your food, belly, and body.

Of course, proper food storage is also key to preventing spoilage and cutting down on waste. Here are a few tips:

Understand the difference between sell-by, use-by, best-by, and expiration dates.
1. Sell-by dates tell the store, and customers, what the last day is that the food can be legally sold
2. Use-by dates indicate when a product should be used by for best quality
3. Expiration dates mark the last day a product is safe to consume.
Store perishable items like meat, dairy, and fresh produce in the coldest parts of your fridge. Crispers, for instance, are specifically designed for foods such as greens - so they shouldn’t be stored on the top shelf of the ice box.
Consider investing in a vacuum sealer to extend the shelf life of foods and prevent freezer burn. This is especially useful during harvest times, or when there’s a really good sale. If you buy meat in bulk, you already know about vacuum sealing.
Check expiration dates before you put anything in your cart, and, at home, purposefully use the oldest items first.
Freeze excess portions, fruits, and vegetables to enjoy them later. Like that wedding cake from 17 years ago that takes up way too much space in your freezer.

The bottom line is that with a little planning, creativity, and savvy shopping, American families can enjoy delicious, nutritious meals without breaking the bank. So start clipping those coupons, downloading those apps, and embracing the thrifty mindset – your wallet will thank you!