Save Money on Food: Lower Those Monthly Food Costs

With food costs soaring, and in many cases no rising standard of living to make these increases bearable, more and more people are seeking ways to save money on their grocery bills. Although saving 50 cents here or $1.00 there seems minimal, remember that all those pennies do add up. If you're on a tight budget, saving everywhere you can may be the difference between having something to sock into a savings account at the end of the month or not.

Try any, or all, of the following suggestions to cut down on food costs without going hungry.

Go Meatless

Even the most diehard carnivore can take advantage of the meat-free concept at least one day per week. My family is full of meat eaters, yet I've been able to make the idea of Meatless Mondays more palatable by getting creative in the kitchen. For many people, meatless equals tofu or some bland, soggy vegetable dish. This never has to be the case! Why not whip up a dish like avocado tacos or vegetable pot pie? Not a piece of tofu in sight -- just healthy foods that won't add animal-based fats into your meal, and we could all use a nutritious diet.

Need more inspiration and ideas? The Meatless Monday site is full of them.

Grow Your Own

Who says you have to be a farmer to grow your own food? You don't need dozens of acres. All you need is commitment and desire. Even a tiny balcony can usually house a few containers. Think first about what you would like to grow, whether it's tomatoes (a popular container food) or bell peppers. It's best to choose food that you'll actually eat; if you end up with a surplus, treat friends and families to your fresh vegetables.

Next, do your research on when you need to plant, germination time, whether you should fertilize, etc. Absolute newbies should look into easy-to-grow varieties such as radishes, cress and zucchini, but once you have a bit of experience under your belt, there's an endless supply of fruits and vegetables you can try to grow. While going into the closest big-box gardening store is one day to buy starter plants, I love other sources like local nurseries and seed catalogs -- Park Seed is a good one to try.

Helpful resources for aspiring urban gardeners:

• Earth First
• Urban Organic Gardener
• Sustainable Urban Gardens

If you have your own backyard, you have even more room to explore your gardening possibilities. More ideas on what you can put into a backyard garden include:

• Carrots
• Peas
• Runner beans
• Greens
• Jalapeno peppers
• Radishes
• Squash
• Cucumbers
• Meyer lemons

I've been growing tomatoes and bell peppers in my yard for years now; every single time I'm able to pluck a tomato off the vine, I appreciate not having to buy one of those mealy fruits from the store that have sat there for who knows how long. I'm also enjoying yields from a peach tree and will soon have lemons. Since I try and adhere to a healthy eating plan, saving money on fruits and vegetables is especially important, as the cost of produce has risen along with everything else.

Preserve Your Own

Now that you know how to grow your own food, make those out-of-season fruits and vegetables last as long as possible by canning them. This tradition is still around for a reason. Make a day or weekend of it, and enlist help from family and friends. Instead of falling into the trap of "everything instant" and "rush rush rush" that pervades much of today's society, use your time preserving as a slow, patient way to connect with earlier times and to celebrate your newfound knowledge. Besides, your own preserved foods will probably taste so much better than what you buy at the store.

Good canning resources include:

• National Center for Home Food Preservation
• Backwoods Home Magazine
• Simply Canning

Shop Farmer's Markets or CSA's

Okay, if you don't have the time, know-how or desire to grow your own food, you can still save money buy shopping local farmer's markets or joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). Prices here are generally lower than those at the grocery store and you'll find locally-grown goods. I fully believe in supporting farmers, so if this is important to you, shopping this way is a win-win for both parties.

With CSAs, you don't always have a choice in everything you purchase -- as the system is usually designed to provide bulk vegetables at a savings -- but in most cases, you're able to substitute one or two items for another. Find a CSA close to you by visiting a site like LocalHarvest or asking around in your area. Not only do you save money, the foods you buy from local sources are often fresher and much tastier than those shipped around the country.

Clip Coupons

You don't have to be an "extreme couponer" to save money this way. Yes, it takes some time out of your busy life, but if you're truly committed to saving on your next grocery bill, clipping coupons is easy and free. Look for them in your weekend newspaper, online and in store circulars. To increase the savings, scope out double coupon days at certain places and be sure to comparison shop. Also, ask if retailers price match -- in many cases, they do, but they may not advertise this fact. Keeping track of coupons takes some organization, but if it results in savings, then it's definitely worth the effort.

Some coupon resources:

• Coupons.com
• The Krazy Coupon Lady
• Coupon Network

Don't forget to look online for your local grocers' coupons, too!