Eating Healthy on A Budget
Every day it seems like everything is more and more expensive. Energy. Gas. Food. Air…just kidding…but maybe someday.
Today I’d like to help alleviate some of the stress of at least one of those expenses…food. One thing I think a lot of people could benefit from in school but is not offered (to my knowledge) is how to shop healthy on a budget. I am fortunate to have been raised by one of the most frugal people I have ever met in my entire life, my mom. Having gleaned what I could from her years of guidance, I’d like to offer some of this knowledge to all of you now, in the hopes that I can save you some money where I can.
For starters, it is very helpful to have some idea of the meals and snacks you would like to have during the week. Pick a day and sit down and actually write out a menu for the week for yourself. Now what do you need to make this weekly menu a reality- time to write your grocery list! A helpful tool in this menu planning is the weekly circular for your local grocery store. Browse the ad and see what looks appealing and what might be on sale. BONUS: sometimes these ads include super coupons you can use to save some extra money!
For extra savings, sign up for discount cards for the grocery store. I know I always use my Shoprite Price Plus card (around the holidays that means big freebies like a free Turkey!) Another money saver is trying store brands of items you would normally buy; chances are that they are most likely the exact same thing but will save you money! Check out the ingredients and compare!
Sometimes stores offer “club-sized” items which are larger, which means more savings for you when you purchase them. I know I like to buy large cuts of meats and cut them into meal-sized portions and freeze whatever I will not be using during the week of purchase.
To save money once you’ve made your purchases, be sure to properly store perishable items in the refrigerator or freezer once you are home. Another way to save money at home is checking out the expiration dates on your food items and using those with the earliest expiration dates first.
Hope that helps keep some money in your wallet!
