There are quite a few of us out there who are struggling due to the economy, our personal financial situations, being poor college students, and so on. I thought for this post I would share some tips to eating well and doing it inexpensively.
Tip #1 - Buy on sale. This probably seems like a no-brainer, but it bears repeating. If it isn't an absolute necessity and it isn't on sale, don't buy it.
Tip #2 - Buy store brand instead of brand name. This isn't a hard rule. I know that some store brand items just don't taste the same as their brand name counterparts. On top of that, store brand isn't always cheaper, especially if the brand name is on sale. However, it is worth it to try to substitute brand name for store brand whenever you can because it will save you money.
Tip #3 - Know how much you *should* be paying. This can save you a lot of money. The trick here is to figure out what is the cheapest amount you could be paying for an item. The best way to do this is to make a list of your commonly used items (bread, milk, eggs, ground beef etc.) and then keep an eye on the sales in your area. When you see a really good deal on these items, jot it down on your list. This then becomes the price you *should* be paying for this item - the lowest possible price. For example, I never pay more then $3.99 for 4L of milk because I know I can get it for that price. Another example? Chicken legs or quarters - $1/lb. It might not come on sale often but it does come on sale for that price.
Tip #4 - USE COUPONS. Coupons are seriously under rated, and this is sad because they can save you major money. I have been known to walk out of a store with $60 worth of food for FREE just by using coupons. Don't know where to get started? I suggest the following sites:
http://www.websaver.ca
http://www.brandsaver.ca
http://www.save.ca
http://www.smartcanucks.ca (great deals, freebies, contests, and coupon trading)
Tip #5 - Don't use coupons for items you don't use or need. I meant it when I told you to use coupons. At the same time, using a .50 off coupon for a $5 item that you don't use or need won't save you money. Don't use coupons just because you have them. Use them on items that you use a lot or that you need. The exception to this is if you can get the item for very cheap or free - then go ahead and try it out!
Tip #6 - Stock up. I realize this can be difficult to do if you are on a very limited budget. However, try to save a little bit of money (even if it's only $5) every month for "extras". Then when you see a canned good or freezable item for a good deal, you can buy some extras and save paying regular price the next time you want that item.
Tip #7 - Reduced meats. Meat that is close to it's expiry date can often be purchased for a fraction of the original price and frozen. Of course, you have to cook it right away after it is thawed. Personally though I don't find this a problem, especially when it saves me up to 3/4 of the price.
Tip #8 - Waste not, want not. It can be tempting to put all the 50% off produce into your cart and take it home. However, if it's just going to sit in your fridge and rot, you're wasting your money. Buy only what you can use before it will go bad, or chop it up and freeze it.
These are all the tips I can think of off the top of my head. Feel free to share any more you might have. And stay tuned for my next post when I will share some recipes that can be made for cheap.
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