How to save money on grocery shopping in the USA: top seven tips
'04.03.2021'
Source: CNBC
Homemade food saves a ton of money compared to eating out in cafes and restaurants on a regular basis. Yes, the cooking process takes a lot of time, but it's worth it. Caitlin Elkins, journalist CNBC, specially checked my expenses during the month and confirms this idea: it is quite possible to spend 50 dollars per week or even less on products. And you too can, sure the author. What does she advise?
1. Get creative with what is already in your kitchen. Any chips left? Make Mexican Chilaquiles. Have a bowl of overcooked vegetables? Combine them in a blender with broth or cream and turn into cream soup. Even what you previously thought was waste can be used - stale bread easily turns into croutons, salad dressing can serve as a glaze for meat, and a delicious broth can be cooked on chicken bones.
2. Write a shopping list and stick to it. Plan what you are going to cook during the week and make a list of the necessary ingredients. When going to the store, strictly limit your costs to this list.
3. Pay cash only. When you pay by card, it is less noticeable - it always seems that you have spent less. The next time you visit the store, determine how much you are ready to spend on groceries per week or month, allocate this amount for yourself in cash, and do not take your cards with you at all.
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4. Buy what makes your costs efficient. Caitlin has built her diet around cereals and pasta because they are cheap and very filling. When buying meat, she bought a whole chicken, not just thighs or breasts, and stretched it into several serious dishes - even bones for broth were used. And half a jar of yogurt, if there is milk in the house, can be turned into a whole pan of a healthy fermented milk product.
5. Compare prices in your neighborhood and stores away from home. Sometimes even a trip can be cheaper than buying from a nearby supermarket. But keep in mind that shopping at multiple locations can take a long time - keep this in mind when comparing prices.
On the subject: Personal experience: how I didn’t buy anything superfluous for 90 days and saved $ 4000
6. Eat easier... Complex sauces, an excess of spices or delicacies are not cheap pleasure. When it comes to buying flavor enhancers, go for the versatile ones: soy sauce, olive oil, salt, and so on.
7. Master the skills of proper storage - the less food you throw away, the more you save money. Store ripe avocados in the refrigerator to last longer, wrap leftover cheese in wax paper instead of plastic, and keep the herbs and stems in a glass of water.
