Support Little House Living by Sharing This. Your email address will not be published. You did so much work for these lists — thanks! Something to try is finding out if there is a community-sponsored or other small scale farm near you, and asking if you can exchange volunteer work for produce.

There is one in our region and it has a store. In addition to selling, they also provide groceries to those with reduced incomes, even for some who cannot afford groceries. Because of their kindness and community awareness, grocery stores and markets in the area will often send their overstock.

The volunteer work includes packing orders, sorting, helping in the store, and tidying up. When the various items are on sale, is when I stock up!! Then, over the next few months, I can meal plan. It feels good to always feed my family at the lowest possible food cost, per pound! Skip to content This post may contain affiliate links.

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Toggle Menu Close. Cutting coupons that you receive in your Sunday newspaper seems like a thing of the past, but thanks to apps like Ibotta and Rakuten , consumers can receive rebates or cash-back on their grocery purchases.

Both Ibotta and Rakuten offer rebates on grocery items purchased from national chains like Walmart and Target. You can receive rebates on items purchased in-store or online, so you can use it regardless of how you're grocery shopping.

Moncel and Chase both recommend the Flipp App , which allows customers to enter their location and find coupons and sales for grocery stores in their area. By using the right card when checking out at the supermarket, you can end up saving a lot of money on groceries.

There many credit cards that have higher rewards on groceries such as the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express. See rates and fees. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon. com checkout. See rates and fees , terms apply.

If you're looking for a card with no annual fee , you might consider the Freedom Flex or the Freedom Unlimited, as both offer a grocery benefit for the first year of card membership.

If you want a card with rotating categories, you should opt for the Freedom Flex, but if you want a card with a flat cash-back rate, the Freedom Unlimited offers 1.

For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here. Skip Navigation. Credit Cards. Follow Select.

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One of the easiest ways to save a little money is to build your grocery shopping list with the best cheap foods your household enjoys. Here are As grocery prices increase, a budget grocery list is crucial for saving money. Here's my essential grocery list for shopping on a budget The cost of groceries has jumped more than 12% in the past year. Here's how to make a budget grocery list that will stretch your money

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Discounted groceries for budget shoppers - From tomato paste to beans, here are the cheap grocery items chefs recommend always keeping on hand for delicious and affordable meals One of the easiest ways to save a little money is to build your grocery shopping list with the best cheap foods your household enjoys. Here are As grocery prices increase, a budget grocery list is crucial for saving money. Here's my essential grocery list for shopping on a budget The cost of groceries has jumped more than 12% in the past year. Here's how to make a budget grocery list that will stretch your money

Again, buy the store-brand or use coupons for the more expensive stuff. Canned tomatoes are definitely an important pantry staple. I use them the most often for recipes like Taco Soup. Nothing like a bowl of cereal when you need a quick meal, am I right? And it beats ramen noodles in my opinion!

Not all cereal is cheap of course, but if you look for the store-brand you can always find some varieties that are very inexpensive.

Store-brand pretzels are relatively cheap sometimes just a dollar for a bag and make a great snack option, especially if you have kids. A well-stocked pantry should always include some basic baking goods like:. Make those inexpensive chicken thighs taste extra good by using some basic, inexpensive spices like chili powder, garlic powder, etc.

And a hanging spice rack like this is great for storing them! Now what? You may also be interested in: How to Meal Plan on a Tight Budget.

Note: Grocery prices are constantly changing, so some of the prices in the articles below have already changed. However, all of these meal plans are very frugal, even with rising prices. Want to get better at meal planning regularly?

Check out my Meal Planner and Recipe Binder. What are some of your favorite cheap foods to buy on a budget? Any favorite recipes? Please share in the comments! Looking for more ways to save at the grocery store? Check out this post for 15 ways to save money on groceries! Apples Apples are one of the cheaper fruit options and are one of the staple favorite foods in our home.

Bananas Bananas are another inexpensive fruit option. Frozen Vegetables Frozen green beans, peas, etc. Carrots Carrots are a staple around here. Healthy and cheap, they make the perfect snack! Lettuce Buy it uncut and unwashed if you want to save money!

Thankfully they are very economical. Potatoes I generally find that a big bag of Russet potatoes is the cheapest option. Whatever fresh vegetables are on sale Check the ad for your local store to see what fresh produce is on sale!

Whole Chicken Cooking a whole chicken and deboning it is a bit of extra work but it will save you money on your groceries! Chicken Breasts Chicken breasts are not the cheapest cut of chicken but if you stretch them ie: one chicken breast cut up with tons of veggies for stir fry they can be quite cost effective.

Chicken Thighs Chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks are usually pretty inexpensive and are very flavorful. Canned Tuna Who else grew up eating tuna fish sandwiches?

Smoked Sausage Smoked sausage is a great meat to keep on hand for quick meals. When you focus on the cheapest foods, especially the ones that are the most nutrient dense, you get a bigger bank for your buck!

Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Grocery Budget? System to save money? Booming economy? The good news is that there are some simple strategies you can implement to reduce your grocery spending while still enjoying great meals.

With a food budget and a system for making budget-friendly meals, you can make ends meet with extra to spare. The secret is knowing which food items deserve your hard earned money. Lower your food bill when you plan meals based on generally affordable ingredients.

A budget grocery list offers flexibility. I first created a cheap grocery list after we purchased our first home and money was tight. I started a spiral notebook and jotted down all the budget foods we enjoyed along with meal ideas to go with. In this way, I was never short of inspiration for cheap meals.

Your budget grocery list is nothing more than a list of generally affordable ingredients that you can turn to when you need to pivot. If chicken breast is too expensive this week, what can you have instead? One of the easiest ways to save a little money is to build your grocery shopping list with the best cheap foods your household enjoys.

Here are some of the cheapest groceries you can buy these days:. Protein is usually going to be the most expensive category in your local grocery store. When you find a great price on foods you normally buy, buy extra to store for later.

eggs — Eggs are great budget foods in baking, but also serve as a key protein element on their own or worked into casseroles, salads, or sandwiches.

canned beans — Add beans to soups, salads, chilis, and burritos in addition to serving them as a side dish. Add them to your list tout de suite. lentils -Lentils are a hearty budget food, a cheap protein that you can add to soup and salads.

You can also make homemade dal and save on restaurant food prices. dry split peas — A key ingredient in Instant Pot Split Pea Soup , split peas are another cheap plant protein.

canned chick peas — You can serve garbanzo beans in salads and soup, but you can also make your own Homemade Garlic Lime Hummus.

Some cuts will be cheaper than others, but generally speaking pork will be cheaper than most chicken, beef, or fish. Load up when you see a sale and stash the extra in the freezer. chicken legs and chicken thighs — Bone-in chicken legs and thighs tend to be the most affordable cuts of chicken.

Compare prices at the store though! I have seen situations when the boneless skinless breast was cheaper than chicken legs or quarters. Consider it as a viable option for soups, casseroles, and Chicken Salad Sandwiches. ground turkey — While ground beef is super easy to stretch, the price of beef can be too high for many budgets.

Ground turkey is a nice alternative, but make sure that the only other ingredient besides turkey is rosemary extract. This will ensure a very fresh clean flavor and not that weird ground turkey thing that turns people off. canned tuna — Widely available and generally affordable, canned tuna has been a good cheap eat for generations.

sausage — Bacon may be your preference, but bacon prices probably are not. Consider sausage as a more affordable alternative to bacon. You can find it in all kinds of flavors, including turkey, pork, and even plant-based options.

ham — Like its fresh pork counterpart, ham is going to be the more affordable lunch meat. marked down meats — Depending on where you shop, you may be able to keep any meat you like on the table by purchasing marked down meats. Talk to your butcher about their manager specials and when they sell those items at a discount.

Use or freeze these cuts prior to their best-by dates. It can be fried, scrambled, grilled, baked, and even worked into smoothies. peanut butter — Peanut butter is another affordable plant protein, one of those budget foods that can jazz up smoothies, breakfast toast, and baked goods.

protein powder — While you might not consider protein powder a budget food, it can boost your baked goods and smoothies with protein that might be harder to come by otherwise. Grains such as white rice, brown rice, oats, and pasta are cheap and filling. You will often, but not always, find the best deal in the bigger bags of grains.

Be sure to store them in airtight containers to prevent food waste. rice — Rice is key for breakfast, lunch, or dinner: in Cream Of Rice , Vegetable Fried Rice , or as a base for bowl meals. Rice is one of those no-brainer budget foods to add to your list of pantry staples.

oats — Use oats for Baked Oatmeal Cups, as oatmeal, or in granola. They are a powerhouse of fiber and super cheap to buy. It makes for a good cheap eat any night of the week.

Ditch the msg-laden seasoning packet and make your ramen something more. The noodles are super cheap and quick to fix.

tortillas — You can do so many things with tortillas: pizza! and enchiladas! In line with the point above, make a decision to only shop after eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

You will spend less. It is that simple. Some people love eating leftovers the next day while others do not. If you want to save money, eating leftovers is a great idea, especially if you get creative.

Have some rice left? Make a fried-rice dish. Left-over roasted potatoes, mash them up and add some other ingredients to it to create a new dish.

Have left-over black beans? Use those tortillas in the fridge to make a bean burrito. Best of all, many left-over dishes actually taste better the next day. This little trick really works if you make it a habit! Before putting all your groceries away, create a list of items you purchased.

You can do this on your phone or simply write it down. Write down dates of expiration or shelf-life whenever possible. We recommend creating two lists: one for the fridge and the other for the freezer. Having these two lists allows you to easily check on the ingredients and foods you have on-hand without constantly rummaging through your refrigerator.

Having the expiration dates handy also helps you to meal-plan more efficiently and avoid food wastage. Another tip we have is to, whenever possible sometimes it is just unavoidable , avoid grocery shopping with your kids.

By doing so, you avoid distraction and are able to focus on shopping wisely. You also will avoid the pressure from your children wanting to add items to the grocery cart. Food preservation techniques like pickling, canning, and jam-making are fun and effective ways to lower your grocery bills.

You could buy tomatoes in bulk and can tomato sauces, for example. Bell peppers can be pickled for consumption in the winter.

You can make blueberry jam in the summer and fall to enjoy later. Simply by substituting more beans, vegetables and fruit to your diet, you will save money.

Because these foods are generally cheaper than meat and dairy, and they have the added benefit of being healthier for you bonus! Fresh herbs are wonderful additions to dishes, but they can be expensive. Consider growing a small array of your favorite herbs near a window or in your kitchen.

Herbs such as parsley, green onions, oregano, rosemary, etc, are relatively easy to grow at home, especially if you invest in an inexpensive growing lamp. All of us have experience with going to the grocery store to pick up a small item only to emerge with five other items that caught our eye but do not need.

Try to plan ahead and limit the number of times you visit the grocery store. One method we use to save money on groceries is to use up the existing food in the fridge in creative ways before going shopping. For example, a small head of cabbage, a couple of carrots, a bag of peas, a small amount of pasta, and some left-over broth can be cooked and made into a delicious soup.

If you get creative, you can have fun coming up with new dishes using the food you already have. Many credit cards offer cash rebates on grocery items.

It only makes sense to use these types of credit cards when shopping because this helps you to save additional money, even on items that are already on sale. As we discussed earlier, grocery stores are expert marketers and want to get you to spend as much as possible.

One way they do this is to offer seemingly good deals that are actually not that great. The way to circumvent this is to pay attention to unit prices.

For example, calculate how much those berries or nuts cost per ounce so that you can compare it with other options and brands. Figure out how much an item costs per ounce so that you can compare all your options, including other grocery stores.

While not intentional, it is common to be overcharged for items at the grocery store. With thousands of items in the store, it is inevitable that some prices will not be recorded correctly by the check-out scanner, especially sale items. Always check your receipt.

Beans and legumes are probably one of the cheapest nutritious foods you can purchase. However, if you are determined to save even more money, buy dried beans instead and soak them overnight before cooking. Many grocery stores will give you a raincheck if they run out of a sale item. That means that you can come back at a later date and they will still honor the sale price.

They do this because they want your regular business. Did you know that green onions keep well when placed standing up in a glass of water on your kitchen counter? Cilantro does well the same way but lasts longer if that glass is kept in the fridge.

Spinach does well in the fridge when stored with a dry paper napkin to absorb moisture. Doing a bit of research on how to preserve the life of different types of foods is definitely worth the effort.

How to Save Money on Groceries and Shop on a Budget When you buy something using links in our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Here are forty ways to do just that: 1. Sign up for a grocery store loyalty program Almost every grocery store has a loyalty program that rewards you for shopping there.

Down the free grocery store app Almost every grocery store has a free app that customers can download. Scan the grocery store weekly specials online We recommend scanning the weekly specials online for your local grocery store before going shopping. Clip coupons Clipping and using coupons is still one of the best ways to save money on your groceries.

Use a rebate app Many people do not take advantage of rebate apps that offer specific product rebates. Consider buying generic or grocery store brands Have you considered buying generic rather than branded products?

Make a list and stick to it One of the most effective ways to save money on your grocery shopping is to make a list before shopping and then sticking to it. Only buy items that are on sale This tactic takes discipline and practice but it can save you a ton of cash, especially in the long run.

Discounted groceries for budget shoppers - From tomato paste to beans, here are the cheap grocery items chefs recommend always keeping on hand for delicious and affordable meals One of the easiest ways to save a little money is to build your grocery shopping list with the best cheap foods your household enjoys. Here are As grocery prices increase, a budget grocery list is crucial for saving money. Here's my essential grocery list for shopping on a budget The cost of groceries has jumped more than 12% in the past year. Here's how to make a budget grocery list that will stretch your money

The kids have them for a snack almost daily! Bananas are another inexpensive fruit option. Look for markdowns on bananas that are slightly over-ripe and freeze them to use in banana bread and smoothies.

However, depending on the time of year you can score other fruits for great deals: oranges and other citrus in the winter gotta get in that vitamin c!

Always check your local grocery store ads to see where you can get the best deal! Frozen green beans, peas, etc. Buy it uncut and unwashed if you want to save money! But be sure to prep and wash it so that it actually gets eaten!

I like to keep it on hand for making soup. I generally find that a big bag of Russet potatoes is the cheapest option. Check the ad for your local store to see what fresh produce is on sale!

I often see sales for green peppers, asparagus, and more. Cooking a whole chicken and deboning it is a bit of extra work but it will save you money on your groceries!

I like to cook whole chickens in my crockpot. Chicken breasts are not the cheapest cut of chicken but if you stretch them ie: one chicken breast cut up with tons of veggies for stir fry they can be quite cost effective. Chicken thighs or chicken drumsticks are usually pretty inexpensive and are very flavorful.

Change Your Life Chicken is a fabulous recipe for chicken thighs! Who else grew up eating tuna fish sandwiches? I like it mixed with a bit of mayo and chopped tomatoes and served with crackers.

I like to wait for a good sale and then stock up! Smoked sausage is a great meat to keep on hand for quick meals. A little can go a long way in dishes like a breakfast casserole for example, making it very cost effective, especially if you purchase it on sale.

Hotdogs could also be used in similar ways! Eggs can be a great cheap source of protein. I say can because lately in my area the price of eggs has more than doubled.

So, take this one with a grain of salt and be sure to check your local prices for eggs. Brown rice is a great alternative to white rice with a lot of health benefits and is still a great cheap food.

I cook my brown rice with this method and it turns out perfectly every time! I use them often for oatmeal, baked oatmeal , granola , cookies, muffins, and even in meatloaf!

While the very cheapest bread is not going to have the most nutritional value, watch for markdowns on nicer loaves made with whole grains. Check the different stores around you to see which ones have a markdown cart in their bakery section — many of them do!

Store-brand tortillas are typically pretty inexpensive and you can use them for all sorts of meals. At a dollar or less a box in my area pasta is a great way to add something filling to your meal without spending a lot of money.

I always like to have a few jars of pasta sauce in my pantry. Peanut butter is an absolute staple in our home. Again, buy the store-brand or use coupons for the more expensive stuff. Canned tomatoes are definitely an important pantry staple. I use them the most often for recipes like Taco Soup.

Nothing like a bowl of cereal when you need a quick meal, am I right? And it beats ramen noodles in my opinion! Not all cereal is cheap of course, but if you look for the store-brand you can always find some varieties that are very inexpensive.

Store-brand pretzels are relatively cheap sometimes just a dollar for a bag and make a great snack option, especially if you have kids. A well-stocked pantry should always include some basic baking goods like:.

Make those inexpensive chicken thighs taste extra good by using some basic, inexpensive spices like chili powder, garlic powder, etc. And a hanging spice rack like this is great for storing them! Now what? You may also be interested in: How to Meal Plan on a Tight Budget.

Note: Grocery prices are constantly changing, so some of the prices in the articles below have already changed. However, all of these meal plans are very frugal, even with rising prices. Want to get better at meal planning regularly? Check out my Meal Planner and Recipe Binder. What are some of your favorite cheap foods to buy on a budget?

They also stay fresh for a long time. According to Aquilino, herb purées, such as basil and cilantro, can even stay fresh for weeks at a time. So don't be afraid to open up that tube.

Aquilino also suggests stocking up on tomato paste. There are numerous ways to cook with tomato paste including topping fish and making barbeque sauce.

While you can easily find canned tomato paste at most supermarkets, Aquilino prefers the kind available in a tube. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising.

Create profiles to personalise content. Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources. Develop and improve services.

Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors.