Ten ways to feed a family on a budget
Over the past couple of years, the price of groceries has increased dramatically, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to feed a family on a budget. As a mom to three growing boys, I am constantly looking for ways to save money on healthy food options. Today, I’m sharing 10 budget-friendly ways to feed your family.
• Plan your meals – Planning meals is great because it allows you to just buy what you need, meaning less food is wasted. Also, having a plan eliminates the need for frequent shopping trips and reduces the temptation to eat out.
• Make a grocery list – Making a grocery list prevents impulse buying and waste. Just make sure you stick to your list.
• Shop sales and mark down bins – Look through fliers and search out discounted items. You can save a lot of money buying items that are close to the expiry date. Also, make sure you take advantage of coupons and points programs. Both are fantastic ways to save money on the items you are already buying.
• Use less meat – Meat is very expensive, so adding one or two meatless meals each week can really help reduce grocery costs. Also, to reduce the amount of meat required to feed a family, consider using meat in casseroles or in pasta dishes rather than making the meat the star of the show.
• Eat out less – Make coffee at home and pack lunches for school and work. These costs really add up over time.
• Buy in bulk – Buying in bulk can be a fantastic (and easy) way to save money, but only if you are buying items that you eat frequently. If food is going to be wasted, you are better off buying smaller quantities. It’s also important to look at the “per unit” cost of bulk items to make sure you really are getting a good deal. I love buying snack items in bulk and putting them in small containers for my kids. It’s a lot cheaper and allows me to choose my own quantities.
• Find budget-friendly recipes – The internet is a great resource for budgetfriendly recipes. Search out a few options and add them to your weekly meal plan.
• Stock and organize your pantry – Stock up on pantry items when they are on sale, but make sure your pantry is organized so you don’t lose track of what you have. Buying no name products and store brands can also save you money.
• Stock and organize your freezer – Stock up on items that can be frozen when they are on sale, but make sure
your freezer is organized so you don’t lose track of what you have. Buying frozen fruits and vegetables (instead of fresh) can save you money too.
• Shop around – In order to get the best deals, it’s sometimes necessary to shop in unconventional places. In addition to groceries stores, check out prices at: Amazon, Costco, Dollarama, Shopper’s Drug Mart, Giant Tiger and
local farmers markets.
It takes a little bit of planning and prep to feed a family healthy food on a budget, but it’s well worth the effort. You don’t need to use all these tips all the time. Make small changes and the savings will really add up over time.