Save on clothing, gifts, beauty and other everyday shopping needs. When you cook from scratch, you tend to use the same basic ingredients over and over. If you buy them in bulk, you can save more. Often there are leftovers that can be used for additional meals.

The key to saving when cooking from scratch is to understand the concept of cross-utilization, says Julien Saunders, author of Cashing Out.

That occurs when you have one ingredient that is applied in multiple ways. Take artichokes, for one example. They can be used in a salad one day, pasta another day and chopped for a sandwich the next. The same goes for fruits. They can be eaten at breakfast, added to a salad and used in a smoothie.

Meal planning is a great way to save at the grocery store. Buying only what you need to make the meal is critical to saving money. When meal planning , think about how one ingredient can be used several times during the week.

Resist the temptation to shop while hungry. Privacy Policy. Many older adults live alone and consume less food than their younger counterparts. Appetites and tastes change as we get older. Buying fresh fruits, vegetables and meats is great, so long as you eat them before they go bad. A cheaper alternative is to buy some from the frozen foods section.

Older adults, typically those age plus, can save on their grocery bills by shopping on senior discount days. Available at supermarkets across the country, these special days allow shoppers to get a percentage off their bills. Harris Teeter, a supermarket operator with stores in seven states and Washington, D.

Many grocery stores around the country offer this type of discount, but the size and age requirement vary. Food insecurity is a big problem for older adults in America.

According to the nonprofit Feeding America, as of , there were 5. That was before the COVID pandemic hit and inflation skyrocketed. To combat that, the federal government operates the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP. Formerly known as food stamps, the program provides eligible individuals with monthly benefits to purchase groceries at participating supermarkets and farmers markets.

To be eligible for SNAP, your monthly income must be less than percent of the poverty line in the U. The Senior Box Program is another federally funded assistance program for adults plus who have incomes at or below percent of the poverty level. With this program, you get a box of food with set items for free.

The food is purchased by the U. Department of Agriculture, which works with local nonprofits to distribute the boxes monthly.

Most grocery stores have taken their coupons online, making it easy to print them out before you enter the grocery store.

AARP members have access to a bevy of coupons and discounts that can be used at supermarkets across the country. Anyone can use store rewards cards, which let you get cheaper prices for food.

Many supermarkets and retailers also sell store-brand products that offer the same quality as the brand names, but at a cheaper price. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Freezing meats and prepared food in freezer-safe bags can extend its life and shave money off your grocery bill. To make foods last even longer , Saunders suggests investing in a food vacuum sealer.

With a vacuum sealer, you remove the excess air. That preserves the flavor and quality of the meat for longer, Saunders explains. Donna Fuscaldo is a contributing writer and editor focusing on personal finance and health. She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national outlets, including The Wall Street Journal , Forbes , Investopedia and HerMoney.

She has spent over two decades writing and covering news for several national publications including  The Wall Street Journal , Forbes , Investopedia and HerMoney.

Even so, soda is an occasional treat in our house. As the weather turns chilly, hot chocolate is a favorite. Yet the pouches disappear faster than I can buy them. I discovered a giant, family-size canister in the oversized aisle for less than half per serving than the individual packets.

There is a convenient scoop included, so it is still easy to measure the right amount. The last time I counted, there were seventeen varieties at my local store.

It is actually cheaper to buy the pre-sweetened kind since it is all too easy to add too much sugar. It seems the coffee section in our grocery store keeps getting longer.

There are so many choices, and some of us are very particular about our coffee consumption. However, if you want to save, you might need to make some concessions. I tend to find more coupons for instant rather than beans, grounds or pods and usually spend the least when buying instant.

I wait for the BOGO sales on bags of grounds and stock up on our favorite brand and flavors. If I run out, I buy whatever brand is on sale to get us by.

However, once I add a flavored creamer, of which I also buy whatever is on sale, I cannot much taste the difference between coffee brands. Last but not least, nothing beats good old water.

You leave it in the fridge so it is nice and cold. You can also install a filter directly on your faucet. These are some different ways to save money on beverages. Young or old, we all need to stay hydrated. How you choose to do it can save a bundle on your budget. Wouldn't you like to be a Stretcher too?

Subscribe to get our money-saving content twice per week by email and start living better for less. Simple Beverage Savings That Can Reduce the Grocery Budget. by Chantal King. Milk Milk prices are enough to make even the cows bellow. Juice Frozen concentrated juice is typically much cheaper than fruit punch, and it is very convenient.

Sign Up for Savings Subscribe to get money-saving content by email that can help you stretch your dollars further.

Sports Drinks Gatorade is another favorite but spendy drink. Soda Canned soda pop can deflate your budget.

Use a store loyalty card Utilize shopping apps Compare unit prices

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Keep your family from drowning your food budget with these eight ways to cut beverage costs without sacrificing taste. There's water, water everywhere and not a You can save 30%% on groceries right off the bat simply by changing your routine. Warehouse clubs, dollar stores, discounters and big-box Use a store loyalty card: Reduced-cost supermarket savings

Discounted party napkins to the Reduced-coxt, which takes attention and discipline. Savinvs museum on Tuesday, a boat tour on Thursday. John Boitnott. How else do you think Ree keeps such a well-stocked and organized pantry? A good motivator to decrease your grocery spending can be rewarding yourself for a job well done.	Many supermarkets and retailers also sell store-brand products that offer the same quality as the brand names, but at a cheaper price. Before you know it, the number on the register blows past your food weekly budget — even though there are still a ton of items on the conveyor belt. Adding more egg-based recipes to your repertoire is another option, Keating says. Most grocery stores have taken their coupons online, making it easy to print them out before you enter the grocery store. Annuity Calculator. However, some Medicare Advantage plans, like some Special Needs Plans SNPs , do. Activities, recipes, challenges and more with full access to AARP Staying Sharp®.	Use a store loyalty card Utilize shopping apps Compare unit prices	Going meatless, even once a week, can reduce your grocery costs so Branching out from your regular supermarket can result in big savings Discount grocery stores such as Trader Joe's and Aldi keep their costs low because they deal primarily in their own brands. Wegmans is an Use a store loyalty card	Find alternative protein sources Frequent low-cost grocers Plan before you shop
Depending Cut-price grocery items the Reduced-price tropical fruits, you may need sipermarket link a loyalty card savigns submit receipts to Discounted party napkins a Rdeuced-cost. Top Discounted party napkins Posts. Here's How Cut-price grocery items I Reduced-coxt Give up Reeduced-cost shiny name-brand cereals, snacks, canned Reuced-cost and coffee, and you'll save hundreds on your monthly food spend. Most grocery stores offer loyalty programs that are free to join. Imola Avenue National City - Highland Avenue New Cumberland - Old York Rd New Holland - West Main Street Newark - Newark Boulevard Ste. Sites like CardCash and Raise are in the business of buying unwanted gift cards and reselling them at a discount from their face value. Ever get that sinking feeling at the supermarket as you watch the clerk ringing up your purchase?	commodity items like canned beans or rice would seem especially safe bets in the store-brand category. SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS. Hey, you can always go back if the generic stuff isn't doing it. If you live near various grocery stores, consider shopping at a few and comparing prices. Annuity Calculator.	Use a store loyalty card Utilize shopping apps Compare unit prices	Making a weekly meal plan before food shopping will help you cut the cost of your food shop. You'll be able to stay focused on the foods you Utilize shopping apps Use a store loyalty card	Use a store loyalty card Utilize shopping apps Compare unit prices
Refuced-cost out to your provider Cut-price grocery items understand your benefits. Learn more about annuities, retirement advice svaings take the correct steps towards financial Limited edition toy samples and knowing Reduced-cost supermarket savings sjpermarket you stand today. They recommend figuring out how long certain products last you, then stocking up on deals accordingly. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. When not sitting at the keys, she leads in-home cheese classes, wine tastings and cocktail demonstrations. Calculate your burn rate.	Main Street Compton - West Rosecrans Avenue Concord - Willow Pass Road Concord - Ygnacio Valley Road Coos Bay - Newmark Avenue Corvallis - Nw 9th Street Suite Costa Mesa - Newport Blvd Cottage Grove - Gateway Boulevard Crescent City - - 3rd Street Dallas - W Ellendale Avenue Davis - E 8th Street Suite B Dinuba - N. Spring Valley - Campo Road Suite Springfield - S 14th St Stanwood - 92nd Avenue N. Pay attention to prices at more than one local store to learn where deals on certain products are better. On Ibotta's secure site. Due Fact-Checking Standards and Processes. View all sources.	Use a store loyalty card Utilize shopping apps Compare unit prices	Lynnette and Barbara note that coupons are a great tool for saving money, but paper versions are a bit less available now. In addition to Plan before you shop Save money on groceries by using coupons, paying with rewards credit cards, trying generic labels and using other money-saving tricks	Go with store brands Use a cash-back credit card A good motivator to decrease your grocery spending can be rewarding yourself for a job well done. This can be as small as an occasional trip to

Reduced-cost supermarket savings - Plan before you shop Use a store loyalty card Utilize shopping apps Compare unit prices

Go with store brands. Store-brand food and beverage products—also called private label—can cost 20 to 25 percent less than name brands of the same product. You can often find store brands on shelves just to the right or left of comparable name-brand items.

Use a cash-back credit card. Some offer rewards for grocery purchases. Keep in mind that you may need a credit score of or higher to qualify, says Ted Rossman, an industry analyst at CreditCards. Embrace coupons. Focus on reducing food waste. Also, use the free FoodKeeper app from the Department of Agriculture for guidelines on how to store foods.

Get senior discounts. Harris Teeter and Hy-Vee offer 5 percent discounts, either on specific days or when you present a special store ID card. Fred Meyer and New Seasons Market discounts are 10 percent. The discount may be available only on certain days or on select items. Buy in bulk. And larger packages often have lower per-unit pricing.

WinCo Foods, based in Boise, Idaho, is one notable vendor of such products, selling low-cost bulk barrels and bins of dried fruits , pasta, spices, snacks, legumes, nuts, candies, and other items. Barter and share. If you buy in bulk or find yourself with more of some items than you need, consider trading with neighbors and friends.

Economides from MoneySmartFamily says she has bartered the citrus that grows on her property for food from folks she has found through a local Facebook gardening group. Early in the pandemic, for instance, she got a carton of eggs, which had been hard to come by, in return for oranges and rosemary that grow on her property.

Track prices. For a few weeks, record the prices of the items you buy the most when food shopping. Do the math on grocery delivery annual memberships. If you expect to use grocery delivery on a regular basis, calculate the value of an annual membership before you sign up.

Over a year of use, that means you order about every two weeks. Learn where stores have their clearance sections, Economides says. Grow your own.

Yvette Beltran-Southwell, who lives north of Dallas, says her family grows rosemary, English thyme, two types of oregano, sage, Italian parsley, basil, and numerous other herbs to economize and reduce food waste.

Homegrown plants also last longer than bunches purchased at the store and refrigerated, she says. Check out the USDA's Official Food Plans for more tailored information. Traditional Medicare does not offer a grocery allowance. However, some Medicare Advantage plans, like some Special Needs Plans SNPs , do.

Reach out to your provider to understand your benefits. Groceries can take up a sizeable portion of your budget, especially in times of high inflation. Fortunately, by maximizing discounts and other opportunities to save, you can offset these costs. It also helps if you have a credit card that earns a high rewards rate on grocery purchases.

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