Shop any aisle…of any supermarket. As you know, food costs are rising. If that’s not bad enough, try buying organic! Any food with the name organic on it, automatically puts it into a higher cost. There was a time in America, where the barter system was used for the essentials of life. If you made something, or if you had unnecessary children, they could be traded for what you could really use. Those days are gone, so now, in order to save money at the grocery, it takes a little more planning. Especially, if you are wanting to buy organic, on a budget.

Watch for food sales. Buy as much as you can, when there is an over abundance of fruits and vegetables at the market. These are what farmers are trying to sell, before the first freeze and before the foods go bad in the field. It doesn’t take a great deal of special skill in the kitchen to clean, cook, freeze or can many of these items. Whenever you want vegetables over the winter, hit your own freezer for quick meals and sides, rather than the supermarket. Plan and put together your own meals of soups, stews, pasta sauces, and sauces in general. They keep just fine in your freezer. They are much less expensive and much healthier than what you buy in the store.

Another way to save a lot–don’t serve meat as the centerpiece of every meal. I’m not talking about becoming full blown vegetarian (not that there is anything wrong with that). But, in many cultures around the world, meats are used more to accent the total flavor of a dish, rather than assuming the dominance of a meal. This will stretch your food budget, tremendously.

If you are cooking meals fresh for that day, reconsider your portion sizes. If it has the potential to go bad in the fridge, before you will use it again, don’t make so much. Another outstanding source of nutrients comes from dried grains and beans. They are inexpensive and keep forever. Just remember to soak your grains and legumes, before use, to re-hydrate them for the best texture.

Another way to save money is to try and reuse anything. Don’t throw away the shrimp shells you peeled, or the turkey or chicken bones, after you’ve stripped it down like vultures. Put it into a baggie and into the freezer. These can be used as bases for soup. Just about everything you throw away in the kitchen can be reused in some way. Egg shells, apple and potato peels, you name it, it can be used to stretch out that last bit of flavor.

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