Making Food Affordable

Times are hard.  We know that.  So how can we afford to keep paying our bills but still eat well?  When things get tough, usually the first area that sees cuts are eating out and entertainment.  However, if you aren’t careful you can still end up spending the same amount of money on food and not even realize it.

For example, you may decide that you want to start eating at home more so you head to the grocery and start throwing things into the cart.  Maybe some fresh produce and fruit so you can stick to that New Years Resolution.  A little of this and a little of that and before you know it the cart is full.

Two days later you are leaving work starving and dreading the idea of going home and starting to cook.  It’s been a long day and all you want to do is sit on the couch, watch some television and not think.  But there is nothing cooked in the house.  So you decide to take a detour on your way home and pick up some food.

You may have started the week with the best of intentions, but you wandered.  In order to ensure that you actually do save money on food costs, plan out your weekly menu before going to the grocery store.  This way you only buy what you will need for the week.  This prevents impulse purchases which usually pad the grocery bill and pack on the pounds.

Once you have a menu planned, check out your Sunday paper for coupons or a website that offers coupons online that you can print out and take to the store.  There are several wabsites that offer coupons.  Check out Pillsbury or www.couponmom.com or www.coupons.com.

After you have purchased the stuff for the week, spend a few hours over the weekend when you have the time and energy and prep the recipes.  This can mean making an entire recipe so you only have to reheat it when it’s time to eat or perhaps preparing a casserole and then freezing it until you are ready to cook it.  By doing this you have no excuse for picking up fast food on the way home.  Following these tips will help you have a healthier life and hopefully a fuller wallet.

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