Shopping when Cooking on a Budget

One of the first steps to being able to make inexpensive meals at home is to have inexpensive groceries to work with. Check your grocery receipts regularly to catch any major offenders, and consider if you really need those purchases and what you can do to limit them. Here are some things to keep in mind as you start shopping for groceries on a budget:

Cut coupons and look for sales. We think of coupon clipping as a sure sign of old age, but there's nothing shameful about trying to get inexpensive ingredients when cooking on a budget. Coupons and sales can save you a lot of money in the long run, especially on expensive products like meat. Just be careful not to jump on every sale you see! $5/pound for a nice steak is a great deal, but getting a good deal isn't always the same as eating on a budget. Learn your seasons. Fruit and vegetables are a essential to preparing cheap, healthy meals, but their costs can vary wildly depending on the season. Learn when the fruits and vegetables that go in or with your favorite cheap recipes are in season. When certain produce is in season, find cheap recipes that take advantage of the lowered prices.

Buy bulk. Buying bulk is a great way to start cooking on a budget. Paying more upfront might make you hesitate, but if you learn to buy bulk and freeze perishables, you'll be saving a lot of money in the long run. If you're eating on a budget, consider getting a membership to Costco or Sam's Club. These sorts of stores can really help you stock up for more inexpensive meals.