General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHow to save money on your groceries...
These are food storage jars. Get quite a few--these ones are made by Anchor Hocking and come in sets of four, as pictured above. If you're not worried about appearances, you can put a plastic sack inside a lidded one-gallon bucket or an Empty Paint Can (they sell new empty paint cans at Home Depot) and save some cash that way.
Any decent supermarket has a Bulk Foods department. The more staples you can buy in bulk, the less you'll spend on food.
Ilsa
(61,717 posts)Beans (many varieties)
Rice
Sugar
Salt
Please add more of your favorites.
handmade34
(22,759 posts)but I would rather forget the "decent supermarket" and form food cooperatives; share the labor and expense and buy in even larger bulk...
also community gardens and potlucks!
also store in a freezer (the fuller a freezer is, the less energy it takes and many things keep better in the freezer)
grow your own sprouts (very easy and inexpensive and provides fresh greens in winter)
use a slow cooker to make soups and stews
gateley
(62,683 posts)in about 5 days.
But this is a great thread. Bookmarking for when I make it back to the land of the living.
marybourg
(12,650 posts)gateley
(62,683 posts)about 30 minutes max, I'm getting plenty of rest!
Robb
(39,665 posts)There are several websites out there that track major grocery store prices and sales, then cross-check them with a database of currently available newspaper and printable coupons.
It is only slightly time-consuming, and requires a rudimentary filing system. Also requires having the money to "strike" when a deal is very, very good and stock up.
One I like right now: http://www.couponmom.com
YMMV, but I can't bring myself to pay full price for stuff I know goes on deep discount eventually.
ejpoeta
(8,933 posts)and we actually have groceries.
gateley
(62,683 posts)expect me to pay full price! I'll check out this site -- thank you!
shraby
(21,946 posts)to store my stuff in..that way I can see what I have and how much of it. I store spaghetti and lasagna pasta in one of those oblong box type clear ones that will snap shut good. Sure is better than opaque containers.
appleannie1
(5,082 posts)freeze a lot of what I grow. I have even grown tomatoes and peppers in pots on the back porch. I also grow my own herbs year round on window sills. In this country about a third of what is grown for market is thrown away simply because it is not perfect. If something is shaped funny or has a small spot on it, it is thrown away because no one will buy it in stores. It is a total disgrace. And then supermarkets throw away tons of produce every year because it is past prime but is still usable if you use it right away. We should all demand that they sell things of that nature at low cost markets. Or at the very least, donate it to food banks. When a person is hungry they don't care if the tomato is not perfectly round.
bluerum
(6,109 posts)that I would not want in my food.
jmowreader
(50,601 posts)I would probably use a gallon ziploc bag in a paint can...the can itself being there to keep the vermin out of your foodstuffs.
noamnety
(20,234 posts)at thrift shops. While you're there, you can pick up a cheap dehydrator for using on fresh seasonal produce.
unkachuck
(6,295 posts)....work the sales as much as possible....pick up those items on sale today that you know you're going to need next week....
....have a clear shopping strategy; know what you're going to buy before you enter the store, purchase the items and get out....