Spend Too Much On Groceries? Here’s How to Save Money on Groceries

Are you wondering how to save money on groceries?

I COULD NOT believe how much groceries cost this last time I bought!! It was $200 more than usual – for buying the exact same stuff I always buy!! 😱 I about died.

There was a time, when we really struggled financially, that I had to watch our grocery budget.  I mean, it was a lean, mean grocery budget machine.  (Meaning, we got no fun stuff!  😢 )

Seriously, I had to feed a family of eight on a Sahm’s salary.  (If you are wondering how much sahms make…it’s nada.  🤣😂 )

And not just any large family, either.  We’re talking a family of boys.  😱  Everyone knows boys eat more than girls, right?!?  🤣😂  I’m not being sexist!  It’s true!  Boys eat more than girls.

My little boys eat more than I do.  😆

And don’t get me started on football season….

My grocery bill skyrocketed every time football season rolled around!  I could not keep enough food in the house to feed these monsters! 😆

So, how did we manage? 

Well, it wasn’t always easy, or fun. But it was doable. 

And sadly, now that inflation has skyrocketed, and groceries are costing so much more than they ever used to, we are going to have to do it again. 

Bye-bye fun food….

via GIPHY

🤣😂   I’m scaring you unnecessarily. 

It’s really not that hard to cut your food budget. 

Here’s how I did it, with six boys – and a husband.  (He’s half boy, half man… 😁 )

How to save money on groceries

If like me, after that last trip to the grocery store, you have decided that NOW is the time to get serious about saving money on groceries, then I can help! These are my tried-and-true tips for slashing your grocery bill – sometimes dang near in half!!

1.  Create a grocery budget

The first step to saving money on groceries is to know how much you can spend on groceries.  So, it helps to have a budget.

If you’ve never created a budget before, here’s how I do it. 

Once you know how much money you have to spend on groceries, then you can decide what it is you are going to buy. 

The only way to stop overspending is to know what your limit is to begin with.  😉

2. Track how much you spend on groceries

It does no good to have a grocery budget if you continually ignore that budget and overspend anyways.

That’s an easy cycle to fall into.

I used to create my grocery budget – let’s say $100 a week – because that was all my overall budget would allow.

And then I’d go to the store and spend $400 a week.

(These are just estimates…I don’t recall the real amount, but the story is the same…)

And then I’d be over budget, and it would, of course, mess up our entire budget. We’d fall short somewhere and not be able to pay something because I spent too much on groceries.

So, if you fall into that trap, how do you stop it?

Well, you track how much you really spend on groceries. For a good month or two.

And that will tell you what your grocery budget should be.

$100 a week was not realistic for a family of eight. We’d starve!!

Likewise, you must figure out how much you really spend on groceries, and what is realistic for you.  If you set your budget too low, you’ll either: A.) Starve to death or B.) Overspend.

So, track your expenses for a month, and then set that amount as your new grocery budget.  It may mean you have to cut expenses somewhere else for a while.

But it’ll give you a jumping-off point for your budget, and then you can always use the following tips to cut it down even further.  😉

3.  Shop with cash only

If you have trouble staying within your limit, leave your card at home!  Take out cash and bring that. That way, you have no choice but to stay within your budget. 

Once the cash is gone, you’re done!

4.  Keep a running total while you shop

I tried really hard to keep a running total of what was in my cart in my head.  😆  Of course, I was shopping with three little guys. So, I’d often forget where I was at.

I started just punching it into the calculator on my phone. 

I remember way back when, before we had phones (I’m dating myself….) I’d bring a calculator to be sure I stayed within my budget. I actually found that a little humiliating.  🙄 

But phones are more discreet.  You can tally your purchases and people will think you are just texting someone.  😉

And then that way you know exactly what you are spending before you get up to the check-out aisle.

5.  Keep a running grocery list

Another thing I always do is keep a grocery list and a pencil right on the edge of my counter.  That way, when I’m cooking, and I see I’m low on something, I add it to the list.  I don’t even have to be out – just low.

I also add items as I’m cleaning the house or just beep-bopping around.

I then take this grocery list grocery shopping.  Now, truth be told, I often have more on that list than I can afford.  😆

So, while I’m shopping, I might prioritize.  Sure, I may want fresh asparagus and 9-grain cereal, but if the money is going fast, that’ll have to wait until next time.

I have used a grocery app before, too, but I went back to paper and pencil because I could find it and cross it out faster on traditional paper.

6.  Meal plan

Something I just recently started doing is planning out our meals.  😂😆 It was my New Year’s Resolution.

When the twins were little, we had very little money, and very little food supply on hand. So, I didn’t plan meals. Because I often couldn’t afford to cook these fun, elaborate meals. And I didn’t have the time to!

So, I’d just cook whatever we had on hand, that worked with however the kids were being that day.  If they were clingy and needy, I cooked something fast.  If they were well behaved and independent, I cooked more elaborate meals, such as this Orange Glazed Pork Loin. 

When I started blogging a lot or freelancing, I often didn’t take time to cook at all.  I relied on my husband, or I bought quick, easy-to-make meals.  My hubby wasn’t happy.  🙄  🤣😂

So, for the last three months, I’ve been meal planning, and cooking almost every night!

When you meal plan, use a theme to get you started.  For instance, this winter, I tried hard to do one meat and potato meal, one soup, one casserole, and one random whatever. The other nights were leftovers.

Now, this summer, I’ll do two grilled meals, one burger/sandwich type meal, and one random meal.  It helps for planning purposes. 

Also, base your meals off ingredients you already have in your house, and then pick up whatever else you need.

For instance, if you have frozen venison that needs to be eaten up, make Venison Steak and Gravy.  Or, if you have a lot of left-over chicken breasts, cut them up and turn them into a stir fry.

Also, consider what’s in season and what’s on sale while you are meal planning.  Buying salmon for grilled salmon or salmon burgers will be a lot cheaper around Easter than it will be in the dead of winter. 

7.  Use what you have in your house

Before you go out and buy more, use what you already have on hand!!

I can’t tell you how many people I know who buy tons of food, with good intentions, and then let it all go to waste! They toss it out like it’s no biggie. They’ll just buy more.  🤪

It breaks my heart, because there have been times in my life when I couldn’t just go buy what we needed.  So, it kills me to see wasted food.

Don’t waste your food – or your money.  Eat what you have on hand.  Plan your meals and snacks around it.  Find new, creative ways to use up leftovers.

Make the most of what you have!

8.  Don’t buy more than you need

My husband used to get so mad at me when we were first married because I’d come home with TONS of food. And it was just the two of us.  🤣😂

“But it was on sale…and I had a coupon…” I’d complain.  🤦🏻‍♀️

Don’t do that.

Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean you need it.  Just because you have a coupon doesn’t mean you’ll use it.  And just because you can stock up doesn’t mean you should.

Only buy what you truly need.  Your finances will thank you.  😉

9.  Shop the sales

Speaking of sales….

If it is something you would normally buy anyway, and it’s on sale, buy it!  If you can afford to, that is.

Remember when I said I had to prioritize my grocery list, to stay on budget? Say, for example, creamed soups are on sale.  But I already have ten cans at home.

If I still have excess money to spend, after getting all my necessities, I will buy more creamed soup. Because it’s cheaper on sale, and we will use it all.  But if I have very little to no money left, after getting all my necessities, I will forgo the creamed soups, even though they are on sale.  😢

Shop the sales whenever you can, but don’t force it. There will always be another sale.  😉

10.  Shop in season

Likewise, some things are just cheaper at certain times of the year.

Your produce goes in and out of season. So, buy your fruits and veggies “in season”.  You can usually tell when each “season” is because they will be cheaper.  😉  For example, apples are cheaper in the fall than they are in, say, February.

So, buy more apples in the fall and less in February.  Instead, buy plums in February. 

If you don’t know which season is which for where you live, just google it.

11.  Watch the sales ads for all the local stores, not just one

When I get groceries, it takes me all day.  😞  I hate it.

But there is a method to my madness.

I shop the sales at every store.  So, I might run to our local grocery store, catch the sale items there, then run to Walmart, get the sales there, and then finish off at Sam’s Club.  It takes some coordination and planning, but it is oh, so worth it.

Also, pay attention to who honors sale prices from another store. We don’t have a Kmart anymore, but when we did, I loved shopping there.  I could bring in an ad from another store and they’d give me that sale price. 

They got my business, and it was one less store for me to run to! Win-win!

12.  Use coupons

Combine coupons with those sales for even more buying power!!

Many newspapers carry clipable coupons in their Sunday edition.  Most shoppers and ad circulars have clipable coupons as well.

And now, many stores have gone entirely digital.  You can have coupons delivered straight to your inbox or you can find them on the store app.

I’ve even googled coupons and come up lucky that way as well.  Sure, ten, twenty, thirty cents don’t sound like a lot, but it adds up fast.  Especially when you use it on a sale item.

Years ago, they even had a double coupon day, where your coupon was worth twice the value it normally is.  I don’t think they do that anymore… 😅

13.  Shop earlier in the day

My husband used to race to our local store to get the “clearance” meat before anyone else.  🤣 😂  The early bird often does get the worm!

Pay attention to when they clearance certain items on your list, and shop accordingly.  Often the earlier you can get there, the better.  You’ll beat everyone else to the same item.

14.  Shop later in the day for price reductions in baked goods and deli

If you want fresh bread or deli food, often, the evening is best. They are marking down everything that didn’t sell during the day.

Or, if they aren’t, you can ask them to.  😉

15.  Stock up

If it’s on sale or clearance, in season, or you have a coupon, and it’s something you’ll use stock up!  Buy as much of it as space and your budget allows.

That way, there’ll be more money for other items next week. 

Plus, with the way the world is going right now, it might not be a bad idea, to stay stocked up.

When the toilet paper crisis of 2020 hit, it didn’t bother me at all. We had plenty! Even for a family of eight.

Because I always stock up.

I make it a general rule to buy at least two of everything when I shop.  More if I can afford to, but for sure two. 

Partly because I have such a large family, and we go through it fast, and partly because I live a long way from the grocery store.  🤣😂  If I run out, I can’t just swing by after picking up the kids. 

16.  Buy in bulk, or in bigger sizes, and separate it out or freeze it

We buy big tubes of hamburger or a family pack, and then separate them and freeze them when we get home. We’ll buy pork loins, and then cut them into our own pork chops when we get home.

I’ll buy family-size bags of chips and then pack them in a zip-lock baggie for school lunches.  I’ll buy a carton of yogurt and spoon it into a Tupperware for school lunches as well, rather than doing the single cups.

All these things are cheaper than buying the grab-and-go convenience versions.

Likewise, you can buy lettuce by the head, rather than prepackaged. Same with broccoli, cauliflower, etc. They are cheaper and they last longer. 

Just wash and chop when you get home.

Sometimes you can buy boxes or crates of oranges, peaches, and other “in-season” fruits.  I’ll pick those up and eat what we can fresh and bake with the rest!

Or I’ll make fruit smoothies, can it, jelly them, or turn them into apple sauce. 

17.  Buy fruit before it is fully ripened

This is especially important if you live a long way from the grocery store, or you have a large family.

I’ll buy bananas and avocadoes not fully ripened.  I do this because I can buy more of them, and then just let them ripen on my counter at home, than I could if I bought them all ready to go.

I’ll pick up enough ripe bananas for one week, and then grab enough green ones for the next week. By the time our ripe ones are eaten, our green ones are ripe.  😉

18.  Buy generic

Would you believe me if I told you that in many, many cases, the generic brands are the exact same as the name brands?  Just packaged in generic packages.  😱

I can’t tell you how I know that – it’s a trade secret.  ☺️ 

Not all generics are created equal, however.

Pop-Tarts are better than the generic brand.  Kraft Mac & Cheese is by far the best.  And I won’t settle for anything less than Jif.  😆

But learn what you and your family like and go generic whenever possible.  If you don’t notice the difference in taste, buy it!

And just realize that there will be some items you simply cannot compromise on.  🤷🏻‍♀️  And that is okay.

Also, keep in mind that name-brand items are sold at eye level.  (It’s not the liquor store! There is no prestigious “top shelf”! 🤣😂 )  So, look for the generic brands above and below the name brands.

19.  Never, ever….I repeat….NEVER shop hungry

As a sahm, it’s easy to do.  😁

Who has time to eat?!?  😆

But don’t do it! Grab some nuts, a cheese stick, or trail mix if you must. But never shop hungry! 

EVERYTHING will look delicious, and your willpower will wane.

20.  Give curbside pick-up a try, if you tend to add unnecessary items to your cart

I did the best ever at sticking to my budget when I shopped with the Walmart app and did curbside pick-up!  🙌🏻 🙌🏻

Plus, it was just heavenly not having to set foot into the store!  😆

Sadly, they got my order wrong way too many times. And while I was okay to put up with the wonky substitutions (a cinnamon apple Glade refill does not fit into a Febreze wall unit… 🤦🏻‍♀️) I was not okay paying full price for slimy expired lettuce and moldy avocados…

So, give it a try, but be wary… they often use teenagers to fill those orders, and teens don’t always think things through. 

21.   Shop alone if you can

I know, I know…you’re a sahm, and as such, always surrounded by little people.

But if you can swing it, shop alone.  Those kids have a tendency of costing more!  😆  They are going to want things that aren’t on your list. And while you can say no, you will get tired of it.

Trust me.

Plus, if it’s an all-day trip like mine, you’ll have to stop and eat. That means a McDonald’s trip.  Your grocery bill just cost you $40 more dollars, simply by bringing the kids along.

22.  Shop less

Everything has its seasons, including your finances. There will be times when you will have more money for groceries, and times when you have less.

When we have more, I shop weekly.  Because my husband likes it when I do that.  To be honest, it’s easier to stay on top of the inventory with weekly trips.

But when money is tight, I only shop twice a month.

Because the more time you spend in a store, the more stuff you buy.  🤷🏻‍♀️

If you currently shop daily, try cutting back to a couple of times a week.  If you shop weekly, try bi-weekly.

It takes more planning, but it is definitely doable.

23.  Steer clear from processed foods

They cost more.

I’m talking about all those convenience foods. Chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and corn dogs.  Pop-Tarts, French toast sticks, and frozen waffles.  Pre-made hamburgers, chicken burgers, and frozen sausages. 

Biscuits and cookies in a tube.  Cake mixes, brownie mixes, and frostings.

Pizzas, pot pies, and frozen dinners.

All these things are super handy (and what I call the “fun foods”!) and quick, but they cost so much more. And you can make every.single.one of them by yourself.

Promise.

Yes, it takes more planning and more time. But it’s better for you.

And if you must slash your food budget, they should be the first to go. Because they simply are not necessary.

24.  Make homemade meals

Along that same vein, make your meals homemade.

Now, I’m not saying you need to make your own noodles and grow your own rice.  😆  (Although that is a possibility!)

But it’s good to make home-cooked meals.  Make your stir fry yourself.  Have your own DIY pizza night. And roll those meatballs yourself.

You don’t need to buy all that stuff already made.  It’s easy to make from scratch! And most often, cheaper.

25.  Serve a meat and potato meal at least once a week

I know a lot of people avoid meat and potato meals when they are on a budget because meat is expensive.

But if you grow up where I grew up, it would be the standard. Because I live amongst farmers.  😁

A ‘meat and potato meal’ is just that – a meat, and a potato.  🤣  I also serve one or two veggies and a bread with mine.

The meat is the only expensive thing in the meal because I garden. So, all my veggies are free, including my potatoes.  And I make my bread in the bread machine. 

When we are strapped for cash, it is a really cheap alternative to feeding our family – and healthy, for all those growing boys!

26.  Go meatless at least once a week

Meat is expensive.  Especially right now.

So, I also try to serve a meatless meal once a week.  This might be things like breakfast for supper (waffles, pancakes, eggs, etc. – forgo the bacon and the sausage!), meatless homemade soups, salads, sandwiches, or an all-veggie meal (garden veggie night is my favorite! 😋)

Going without meat for just one meal can do wonders for your grocery bill.  If you don’t have a family of all boys, you could consider even doing it for more than one meal!

27.  Use bread as a filler

I learned early on to always serve a side of bread.  Most often it is my homemade breads. But sometimes it’s cheesy “fire” bread (I’ll have to post the recipe sometime!), biscuits, or a peanut butter sandwich.  (Peanut butter sandwiches go great with stew!!)

Sometimes I’ll serve Stove Top Stuffing as a side of bread.  I just recently remembered those prepackaged Lipton noodles as well!  😂  They aren’t good for you, and they are an added expense, but they make a nice side to help stretch your meat out.

28.  Shop at the bread store or the dollar store

I miss our local bread store!!  😩

I used to buy all my bread there, including wraps and fancy rolls, buns, bagels, English muffins, and such.  And then I’d bring it home and freeze it.

It’s cheaper because it’s the day-old stuff that the grocery store doesn’t want to sell.

But now, since we no longer have a bread store, I go to the dollar store.  (Although they have currently raised their prices…it is now the dollar.25 store… 😆)

You have to be careful with the dollar store though. Sometimes you can get bread for less than a dollar at the grocery store, especially if you buy generic.

The dollar store is also a great place to get little lunch box treats.

29.  Eat your leftovers

I deliberately plan a few leftover nights into my weekly meal planning.

What I do is literally pull everything out and put it on the counter, buffet style. Then the kids get to choose what they want to eat! They go through and tell me what they want, just like they are at an all-you-can-eat-buffet!

And I warm it up for them.

It helps to eat up our leftovers and it teaches the kids to do that.  Plus, they get to repeat their favorites.  😁

Sometimes I have too much of one thing, like chicken breasts.  And it isn’t getting eaten up fast enough. So, to keep it from going to waste, I’ll turn it into another meal – such as chicken salad sandwiches.  😉

Always be looking for innovative ways to use up your leftovers.  (Send them to work in your husband’s lunch as well!)

30.  Freeze meals

If you have a lot of leftovers, freeze some!  They will be fresh and new one night when you have nothing to make! 

Soups, casseroles, and meats can all be frozen.  Pasta and rice dishes can as well, along with saucy things, like stir fry and gravies.  Nearly everything can be frozen.

If in doubt, google it.

You can also cook two and freeze one.  I’ve done this with hot dishes and lasagnas.  Or, I’ll ground extra meat, or have my husband grill up extra chicken, and then freeze that for later meals.

You can toss them in soups, salads, and hot dishes.

You can also use the weekend to make extra meals and freeze them.  I never do this. I prefer to just make two the day I’m making something, but some people do.

31.  Bake

Dessert isn’t a thing of the past!  😆 

I never grew up having dessert after every meal.  But my husband did.

I don’t generally make a dessert. But I do bake.

For a few reasons. 

First, it’s too expensive to buy all those prepackaged cookies and treats. 

Especially for how much I would need, to feed my family.  (I literally quintuple?? Is that the word?  😆 cookie recipes – I must make five batches of one cookie recipe to feed my entire family.)

But I also bake because it is a cheap filler. 

Baked goods make great after-school snacks. They also go well in a lunch box.  And, after supper, the kids do enjoy something sweet. 

Just last night my 17-year-old got up from the table, grabbed a cookie, and left the dining room.

Most people would be shocked that with that kind of behavior.  😱  Isn’t that bad for him?!?  (Well, if you knew him, you’d say no….he’s so skinny!! 😂🤣 Despite his never-ending appetite….)

But I look at it like this: he could have had three chicken breasts.  Instead, he had two, and a cookie.  🤷🏻‍♀️  Cookies are cheaper!

So, make that dessert!  🤣😂

32.  Know what’s cheaper pre-made

Generally speaking, I don’t buy pre-made items, like cookies, meal kits, frozen dinners, boxed goods, etc.  They most often cost more than you could make it for at home.

But I do buy frozen lasagna.

Walmart’s family-sized lasagna (used to be!) is just ten bucks.  I couldn’t make my own lasagna for that price!  And I need two or three lasagnas to feed my family.

So, know what items actually are cheaper to buy pre-made. And then buy them! 

Homemade lasagna is a treat in my house.  ☺️

33.  Search for ‘thrifty meal’ recipes

These recipes aren’t as fun as say, tortellini, but they will do if you are on a beer budget!  😆

I remember looking for a yummy fun recipe that was cheap and had very generic ingredients one time…and I found a “thrifty dinner pie” recipe in an old cookbook. So, I tried it!  😆  I didn’t have to buy one single ingredient – I already had everything.  And it was good!

Don’t be afraid to make stuff up, either.  One time, we had an abundance of eggs but not much else. And we wondered if we could make an “egg lasagna”. Turns out, we could!

Create a Pinterest board of just thrifty recipes and use that for your cooking for a while.  Tortellini will be a holiday treat.  😉

34.  Pack lunches

We pack lunches.  A lot.

If you have a hard time affording hot lunches for your kids at school, pack them a lunch. Even a bag lunch from home just one day a week will help.

Send your hubby off with a lunch. That’ll cut down on eating out.

And pack those older kids lunches for their athletic events.  I remember many times when my older boys were in sports when I packed them a lunch.  I’d do nice things, like sub sandwiches. 

The team would stop at Mcdonald’s for greasy burgers, and my son would pull out a homemade sub.

His friends were always jealous.  Which, trust me, kids like it when their friends are jealous of them.  😆

I also packed lunches for the little boys when we went to those sporting events.  I couldn’t afford to stop at Mcdonald’s to feed my entire family after a game (that was a $75 bill!!) and I certainly couldn’t feed them at concessions.

It’d take the entire concession stand to fill them up!  😆

So, I’d pack them little lunch boxes.  They loved it!!

The trick is to make them fun. Things that you normally don’t serve at home.  Special things you baked, homemade apple sauce or fruit roll-ups, meat and cheese sticks, and yes, even pop and candy once in a while.  😉

And finally, my husband and I have been known to pack lunches for our outings or dates. 

Sometimes when you are out and about on the town, running errands or whatever, you just can’t afford that extra $50 for a romantic dinner for two. 

So, a nice lunch box at a park is a great alternative.  😉

35.  Make your own baby food

Here’s a little secret…. 🤫 you don’t need to buy baby food!!

Babies can eat everything you are eating (considering you are eating healthy, to begin with….)

When my kids were little, I took what we were having for supper and ground it up in our Magic Bullet.  And wha-la!  Dinner is served.

So easy and so much healthier.

You don’t even have to make your little one a separate meal.  They can eat all those fruits and veggies that you are eating.

I don’t remember doing meats… or hot dishes with ground meat in them.  But I’d do meatless pasta and such as well.  You can always search for recipes, to serve them meats.

Homemade apple sauces are another great option for feeding your baby cheaply. 

And whatever you do feed them, be sure to leave the butter, salt, pepper, and extra seasonings out.  You don’t want to give them a tummy ache.

36. Breastfeed

Breast milk is best. But it is also the cheapest!

Formula is currently $50 a can!!  Fifty dollars!  And a baby can drink anywhere from one to two cans a week, depending on the age. 

So, if you are pregnant, or have a newborn, consider breastfeeding.  It is better for your baby and your budget.

You can even pump and freeze milk, to stock up.

37.  Plant a garden

I have always had a garden. 

It is the only way I could feed such a large family.

I plant everything:  corn, string beans, peas, tomatoes, peppers, banana peppers, carrots, lettuce, kale, spinach, rutabagas, turnips, beets, cucumbers, asparagus, onions, potatoes, dill, cilantro, oregano, basil, pumpkin, zucchini, squash, swiss chard, brussel sprouts, cabbage…I’m sure I’m missing something!  😆

I’ve tried broccoli, cauliflower, watermelon, and cantaloupe, but haven’t been very successful with that. 

And at times, I’ve also had raspberries, strawberries, apples, and rhubarb.  Of course, I keep moving…so I keep losing those.  🤦🏻‍♀️

I can and freeze all of that. I also cook and bake with it. 

I’ve meant to do more garden posts for you, over the years, but it never works out.  I’m always too busy tending to all that produce!  😆

But now, a lot of people are planting gardens.  Because the food shortage has them scared right now. So, I will try to get more posts up on how to do it all for you!

38.  Utilize hunting and fishing seasons

Most people hunt and fish for sport.

Not us.

While my boys do enjoy it, it is also a great way to feed our family. 

If you hunt, you can have the meat processed at a meat locker.  It can get spendy, which does drive the cost of the meat up.

Or you could do what my husband does and process it yourself.  He makes summer sausage, brats, breakfast sausage, meat sticks, and burger out of his venison.  He also saves some as steaks, (not sure of the proper term there…) to make venison steak and gravy, and other similar meals. 

39.  Buy meat from farmers

You don’t have to buy your meat at the grocery store.  You can buy it directly from a farmer.

Anything from chicken, to pork, to beef.  You can even get eggs from a local farmer.  Of course, you’ll have to have someone process it for you.  (Unless you want to tackle that yourself…we do not.)

It’s a big bill all at once, but it sure does help on that weekly grocery bill!  Plus, it’s nice when meat prices rise, and you don’t have to worry – because you already have half a cow in your freezer.  😉

40.  Consider raising your own meat

Depending on where you live, raising your own meat might be an option. We did pigs once!  😂🤣  That was quite the adventure. 

If you don’t have the space, you can buy and raise your meat at a local farmer’s place.  My sister-in-law did this. She bought the pig and paid a gal to raise it.  Essentially, it was like renting that gal’s space – and time for feeding it.  I think my SIL even paid for the feed. 

You could do pigs, goats, cows, and chickens, depending on where you live.

41.  Shop at Farmer’s Markets at the end of the day

I love farmer’s markets.  ☺️ I just like the atmosphere of them.

But they can be spendy.

So, if you go, go towards the end of the day, when they are shutting down. Those farmers don’t want to carry all of that produce back home again with them!  You’re sure to snag a good deal.

42.  Visit “pick your own” farms

One of my favorite memories growing up was going blueberry and strawberry picking.  I loved it!

You can visit hobby farms, orchards, and ‘pick your own’ farms to get your produce.  Anything from blueberries, strawberries, corn, apples, asparagus…Oh, I’m sure there’s more, but that is what comes to mind where I live.

Then just freeze it, can it, or turn it into sauces and fruit roll-ups!  Of course, eat it fresh and bake with it as well.

43.  Go wild

Take a trip out into the country and do some wild picking!  We’ve picked wild blueberries and wild asparagus before.  It’s such a nice treat!

Once you learn where things are growing, be sure to stop back often and repick! And try to get there before everyone else does.  🤣😂  Asparagus season can get pretty dicey around here!

44.  Let people know you’ll take extras

I live amongst farmers. And gardeners.  And everyone knows we have a large family.

They also know I can and bake.

So, when they have way too much produce, rather than throw it out, they’ll give it to me.  It makes them feel better, knowing the food is not going to waste. And it helps to feed my family!

So let friends and family know you are learning how to can and freeze produce. They’ll remember that when they have too much.  😉

45.  Set regular mealtimes

Eat by the clock!!

Odd tip, I know.  But if you set regular meal and snack times, and stick to it, your kids will stop “grazing” or eating out of boredom.  Grazing costs money!!

Plus, regular mealtimes trains your body when to be hungry.  Your kids will start getting hungry around mealtime, and at snack time, rather than being hungry at all hours of the day. 

And if they are hungry, they will eat more of their dinner, and less junk.  😉

Let’s face it:  junk food costs more than real food.  🤷🏻‍♀️

46.  Serve smaller portions to your kids

It’s not that you want to starve your kids – just control waste!

I don’t know about you, but at my house, I don’t force my kids to eat everything on their plate, especially if it is something they don’t like.

I won’t eat things I don’t like. And I won’t eat something if I’m full. Why would I make my kids?

So, to control waste, I just give them tiny portions. They can always get more, after all.

(I let my teenage boys serve themselves, of course…they just can’t seem to eat enough… 🤷🏻‍♀️)

47.  Eat less!

If you’re spending too much on groceries, maybe it’s time to go on that diet you’ve always meant to go on… 😁

Learn about proper portion sizes and start cutting yours.  We Americans eat way more than we need to.  Our bodies were designed to live on less.  You’d be surprised by how much you truly need!

Also, forgo the seconds and cut out all the junk.  Seconds means making more, which means buying more… and junk is just too expensive anyways. 

You don’t need chips, popcorn, and soda.  Forget the pizza rolls and egg rolls.

Your body – and your budget – will thank you!

48.  Spend unexpected windfalls on groceries

Occasionally, unexpected extra income comes your way. 

Use this extra money to stock up!

If you have a good, solid base under you, then you can stretch your food dollars out even further, by buying what’s on sale or clearance and staying stocked up.

You can also use this money to get a half (or full) cow or pig. These are expensive purchases that are well worth it!  But maybe the only way you can afford them is to use unexpected income.

Sometimes we just need that good foundation to get started, and then it’s easy to stay stocked up and on top of our inventory.

At the end of the day…

It can be tricky, momma, feeding a family on one income!  Especially right now when prices are outrageous.

But with these tricks, it is doable.

It will take more effort, no doubt.  A little more planning, and a lot more time. 

But the end result is often more than just money in the pocket – it is new skills learned and time spent together, as a family.

Learning how to cook homemade meals, baking, hunting, fishing, gardening, canning, freezing, processing your own meat… all of these things are great moments to build memories with your kids.

Like I said, some of my best memories are from berry picking with my mom, sister, and cousins.  And I have great memories in the garden, and snipping beans, as a kid too…even though I hated it at the time!  🤣😂

Now I treasure it.

My boys love hunting, fishing, and processing the meat with their father.  Funny…they hate hanging out in the garden with me though…🤔 😆

And wouldn’t it be great to teach your kids how to fend for themselves?  I mean, who knows what’s going to happen with these food shortages. 

If we know how to make homecooked meals, bake, hunt, and garden…wouldn’t our children be better off in tough times?  😉