Everyone is looking for ways to save money and the grocery store is a great place to start. Next time you are there, try peeking at other shoppers’ carts and take a look at all the store brands that have been replacing the more well known names. That is the first step, but altering what you buy can also have a huge impact on your bank account. Here a five easy tips to help you save more during your next trip.

1.       Skip the prepackage stuff. I bet you have already made the switch to more home prepared meals, but take it a step further. Pass on those packages pastas and rice dishes; they are loaded with salt and preservative any way. Instead make your own pasta or rice and season it yourself. This also works for salad. No more pre-bagged salad, just get a head of lettuce and some fixings and make your own fresh salad everyday.

2.       No fortified foods. Energy bars, cereal, yogurt, vitamin drinks, and more now come with a long list of extra nutrients and things that are supposed to help your body. But those extra nutrients some with an extra price. Most of the time, many of those extras are not needed. Remember that you can get most of the nutrients you need just by eating whole foods and they are a fraction of the cost.

3.       Use it later. Instead of tossing those small parts of chicken or that left over ¼ pound of ground beef, use it later that week in a recipe. Fajitas, tacos, or soup are all great meals that can be created by using left over meat.

4.       Buy Bulk.  Okay, you may not need a 12 gallon jar of peanut butter, but buying in bulk at the local “Club” store has a huge advantage, if you buy staples. Think milk, eggs, cereal, pasta; even frozen items like chicken breasts or nuggets can be found at a huge discount.

5.       Go Meatless. This does not mean you have to become a vegetarian, but beans, polenta, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta are packed with nutrients and cost much less than meats. Switching to one meatless dish a week will help your budget’s bottom line.

Photo by ralphbijker