REDUCE YOUR FOOD BILL

by Jamie Gold
11/25/2008

Before gas prices started decreasing a little while ago, everywhere you used to go, everyone you know was talking about the outrageous gas prices. But you never hear how quickly the cost of food is rising as well. In the year 2008, the price of milk alone has risen 36% from last winter according to the New York Daily News. With food prices rising, how can you cut the cost of food in your household? Listed below are several money saving tips you can use to your advantage when it comes to you local food mart that will cut your costs of food.

Tip #1 on Reducing your food bill -- Newspaper Coupons
Food coupons can be found weekly, if not daily, in your local newspaper. Grocery stores use this media to let you know, as the consumer, which food products they are able to reduce prices on for that week.

Tip #2 on Reducing your food bill -- Internet Coupons
If you have a favorite brand that you are accustomed to, another money saving tip you could employ is the internet. Quite frequently, name brand food manufacturers will post coupons on their website. All you need to do is print the coupon and show it to any food supermarket that sells that brand. The best part about these food manufacturer coupons is that they usually don’t expire until the end of the current year. Some coupon sites to log on to are:
www.couponmountain.com,
www.coupons.com,
www.printgrocerycoupons.com.


Tip #3 on Reducing your food bill -- Avoid Vending Machines
If you know you are going to be some place where food is only available in vending machines, pack a lunch. If you don’t feel like toting a packed lunch with you, keep a small snack like an apple with you to ward off hunger. The amount of money you spend on one candy bar in vending machine equals an entire bag of them if bought at the grocery store.

Tip #4 on Reducing your food bill -- Generic Name Brand
If you are not partial to a certain type of name brand food, exploring alternative brands may cost you less at the check out counter. Nowadays, most food marts contain their own brands which are priced lower than the leading food brand and contain the same ingredients. Employing this money saving tip provides with your favorite food taste at a much lower price.

Tip #5 on Reducing your food bill -- Wholesale Foods
Most cities house large wholesale food warehouses that charge a membership fee annually in order to provide products to you at a lower than standard price. Their service is to provide food products to the consumer at a fraction above the price in which it is purchased. Although there is an annual charge, the savings you get on their food products will save you money at the end of the day.

For more food saving tips, please visit article 13 Tips on saving money on groceries.

Cutting the cost of food in your household can take a little more effort on the part of the consumer; from checking the newspaper and internet for coupons to comparing food ingredients of each name brand available. The effort will be worth it, however, when you notice that your food bill has decreased in just one short grocery store visit.

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