Use these tips while food shopping

There is no doubt that prices are increasing. During a recent grocery shopping trip, I noticed significant increases such as Kraft Parmesan cheese increased one dollar. Here are a few tips to help you save at the grocery store. 1. Keep a grocery list. Gas for an extra trip to the store easily can add a dollar or more to your grocery bill. And the less you shop, the less likely you will make an impulse purchase. Keep a grocery list where it’s easily accessible and remember to take it with you to the store. Stick to your list for added savings but stay flexible if you encounter a sale. (1) Gas to drive four miles for an extra trip to the store: $1 (or more). (2) Impulse purchase of snack crackers at the store: An additional $2.50 spent. 2. Garbage check. We lose money whenever we toss food because it spoiled. If leftovers get the heave-ho because they’re left too long, we’re putting money in the garbage. Make planning to avoid tossing foods a priority. If wilted lettuce is a frequent occupant of your garbage can, serve more salads at the beginning of the week. If extra mashed potatoes get tossed, make less next time. Or recycle them as potato patties, shepherd’s pie or potato soup within a day or two of making them. Tossing a half bag of “tired” lettuce: $1. 3. Avoid shopping when hungry. Everything looks good on an empty stomach. And it’s all too easy to buy something to eat in the car until we make it home. Eating before shopping not only helps forestall impulse buys, it may save calories. If you’re shopping with your kids, feed them in advance, as well. Buying an energy bar to tide you over until you get home: $1.50 more spent. 4. Brown bag it. If you normally eat out at noon, consider packing lunch at least one day a week. The typical fast food meal out can cost $5 or more. Take food left over from the evening meal to work the next day. (1) Eating a sack lunch once a week: Save $2.50 (or more). (2) Eating a sack lunch five days a week: Save $12.50 (or more). 5. Coupon common sense. Use coupons only for foods you normally eat, rather than for extras. Don’t miss out on sources of valuable coupons. Check your grocery receipt — there are coupons on the back. If you have access to a computer, check online for coupons such as the Web sites of products you use. On the KCCI Web site there is a coupon link. It’s on left side of the page under Marketplace: Get Coupons. (1) Not buying that new dessert mix: Save $2. (2) Using two 50-cent coupons for items you do use: Save $1. 6. Check expiration dates. Avoid buying food that is past its prime. If it’s on sale and near its expiration date, use it soon. Avoid dumping a half gallon of soured milk down the drain: Save $2.50. 7. Small scale experiments. Before trying a new food, buy the smallest package. If your family doesn’t like it, you won’t be stuck with a big box you are not going to use. Limit your purchase of an exotic spice you discover your family won’t eat to a small container: Save $1.50. 8. Costly convenience foods. How much time do you really save when you buy a convenience food? It takes just a few seconds to mix your own sugar and cinnamon rather than buying it pre-mixed. Microwaving a bowl of regular oatmeal rather than pouring hot water over a pre-measured package adds only a few minutes. You will save by cutting fruits and veggies yourself. Plus, the precut ones do not keep as long. Buying a carton of old-fashioned or quick oatmeal that provides 30 servings vs. buying three boxes of instant oatmeal that contain 10 packets each: Save $5.50. 9. Staple food stock up. Invest in staple foods when they’re on sale. Buying a boatload of bananas isn’t a good investment. Stocking up on items such as sale-priced canned tuna, tomato sauce or mandarin oranges can be. Stocking up on 10 cans of food reduced by 20 cents apiece: Save $2. 10. Bulking up when the price is right and you will use it. First, do the math and check if you actually do save by buying a larger package. Plus, will you use the food while the flavor is still good? Always check and if the larger size meets your criteria, go for it. Buying a five-pound bag of rice instead of a one-pound bag: Save $1.50. 11. Store brand savings. Store brands are comparable in nutrition to name brands. Taste-wise, there may be little difference. Some store brands may vary more in size, color or texture than the name brands. However, this may be unimportant, depending on their use. Buying just two store brands and saving 50 cents on each: Save $1. 12. Prevent food flops. Check preparation methods for unfamiliar foods. That tropical fruit looked enticing at the store. However, if you’re not sure how to prepare it once you bring it home, think again. Or that new cut of meat — do you slowly roast it or grill it? Either way, find out or risk having a food flop. Often the produce person or the meat manager at the store can give you some tips. Purchasing a bag of self-rising flour without reading the directions and discovering it won’t work in your recipes: Lose $2.50. 13. Beware of snacks. Unless you’re very active and need the calories, enjoy low-nutrition snacks, such as chips, cookies, candy, in limited amounts. You’ll save money and may lose unwanted pounds at the same time. Buying one less bag of chips weekly: Save $2. 14. Shop the specials. Plan your menus around sale items, especially more expensive purchases, such as meat. Buying several packages of meat when it’s on sale and freezing it may save quite a bit. While raw ground meat maintains optimum quality in the freezer for three to four months, larger pieces of meat like steaks or chops will maintain optimum quality for four to 12 months. Buying meat on sale: Save $2. 15. Think before you drink. Buy a reusable water bottle and fill it with tap water. Your investment soon will pay for itself. Drinking tap water vs. buying a 12 pack of bottled water: Save $4. 16. “Checkout” temptation. As you’re waiting in line, think twice before buying some last-minute temptation. Resist that magazine with the latest diet: Save $3.50. Grand Total. The more of these tips you use and the more foods you use them with, the more you can save. If you were able to use each of the preceding examples in one shopping trip, you could save as much as $40 a week. Multiply that by 52 weeks and the savings would be more than $2,000 yearly.