Balancing the Grocery Budget: Healthier Eats for Fewer Dollars

The holiday season marks the time we start spending on a lot of extras - travel, gifts, food for feasts, etc - and trying to save where we can! Grocery bills are something we can all relate to, as they're a necessity, and yet there's quite a difference in what each individual might spend.  Most of what we buy is out of habit, some out of seasonal preference, and the rest is usually an impulsive splurge.

If you're ready to keep the extras out of your grocery cart and off of your bill, we're here to help. Healthy food does not have to be more expensive; a little bit of planning goes a long way! See the tips below on how to select foods and staples that will keep your weekly eats healthy but affordable!

1)     Search for Sales on produce: if fruits/vegetables are on sale, it often means they're in season! This is the time to buy them - not only because they're inexpensive, but also because they're at their peak in terms of flavor and nutrients.

2)     Lose the brand loyalty: sales and coupons vary week by week so be open to trying new brands! Chances are there's a generic version of your staple food, no matter what it is.  When in doubt, check and compare ingredient lists to make sure the two products are similar in quality and nutrition.

3)     Plan out your plates: make a plan for each plate of the week! Think about what you can cook on Sunday and/or Monday night that will also provide leftovers for lunches; have a general plan for dinner each night of the week; plan to cook the fresh foods first, and use any canned or dried foods later in the week.

4)     Buy in bulk: if you haven't check out your local grocery store's bulk section, you're missing out! You'll often find dried beans, grains (rice, quinoa, flours, etc), nuts and/or trail mixes, dried fruits, cereals and/or granolas, rolled oats, etc. You can buy exactly what you need, and it's often cheaper than the packaged version.

5)     Try to DIY: we sometimes forget how easy it is to make some of our staple grocery buys. Recipes for homemade sauces, dressings, dry rubs and marinades are easy to find and easy to make yourself! You'll save a few dollars every trip by not buying the bottled versions.

Once you put all of these tips in your grocery-shopping toolbox, remember the single most important thing you can do is to set a budget. The amount will vary for each person and/or family, but you can start by averaging what you spend each week for 1-2months and seeing where the little things add up. Think about what you would realistically like to be spending, and find a happy medium!

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Do you have other grocery-budget tips that work well for you? Share your expertise by leaving a comment!