Grocery Shopping: 5 Great Ways To Slash Your Grocery Bill

With the escalating cost of groceries these days saving a few dollars here and there can really make a difference to your food budget. Following are some great ways Crystal and I have found to slash our grocery bills while maintaining a nutritious stock of flavourful foods.

1. Shop early in the morning within the first hour of the store opening for the best deals.

2. Buy reduced meat. First thing in the morning most grocery stores put out reduced meat, freshly packaged the day before. (A butcher friend told me once that slightly aged red meat is better for the digestive system.) I've found some excellent deals anywhere from 25 to 50% off the original price.

   Check first to see if the meat is free from browning around the edges and smells fresh. Be more cautious were poultry is concerned (harmful salmonella). If packaged meat looks questionable leave it or check with meat manager. Where possible also check as to what time and day of the week you'll find the best deals on meat and what type of cuts you can expect to find reduced. Always freeze immediately and use cooler (in warm weather) to transfer meat home.

3. Buy day old bread, pies, muffins etc. Freeze right away. Often you can find baked goods still have a couple of days before the best before date. I always buy bread, hamburger and hot dog buns this way and keep them frozen until just before I need them. They are as fresh as ever. Buying reduced baked goods saves me at least 50% off the original cost.

   For example my family uses a lot of 'Country Harvest' (multi-grain) bread and since I don’t want to pay the $2 plus price tag per loaf, I buy it from a bakery outlet for 75 cents. I just take out the slices I need directly from the freezer. The slices thaw in minutes or in a few seconds in the microwave.

4. Buy reduced produce (usually found at the back of the produce department or talk to the produce manager). Often produce is packaged up when it becomes very ripe, misshapen, or leftover when fresher produce is put on the shelves. Great for same day or next day meals or for use in soups, stews, casseroles which are made and frozen for use at a later date. Reduced produce like bananas can be peeled and frozen (in Ziploc type bags) for making banana bread or smoothies.

   Rgularly purchase bananas, mushrooms, apples, green peppers and celery this way. Some of my best deals include a mixed bag of 18 red, yellow, orange and green peppers for $1. None of the peppers were over ripe and the ones I didn't use for recipes in the first day or two, lasted for upwards of 2 weeks. I have also frozen both peppers and mushrooms for use in soups, stews and as pizza toppings.

5. Bend down below eye level to find the best deals on non-perishable food items. Don't be brand loyal - be adventurous and save money by trying new brands. Try generic products, you may be pleasantly surprised just how good they can be. Generic brands are often made by the same brand name companies anyway.

   For instance, I purchased a jar of President's Choice (a Canadian Loblaws grocery store brand) moisturizing skin cream during a 1/2 price sale for $1.99 (120 ml ). Once home, I compared it to the Oil of Olay product of the same size purchased for $8.99. I don't know whether both products are made by the same company but each looked, smelled and work the same way. Needless to say, I stocked up.