Well, if you have your pantry list ready with your core ingredients (items you always use such as; peanut butter, salt, sugar, flour, etc), you then can start exploring the ads to scope out your items on sale. I like to plan my menu first according to what I want to serve, what my family likes and what is on sale. There are certain items that I will buy only at a certain store because I know they have the best price. For example, since we use a lot of rice, I purchase 2 types of rice (jasmine and calrose) 25 lb bags at Costco. The quality is great and compared to ethnic stores and grocery stores, Costco’s price is the most economical. I have found grocery/drug stores have the best deals on cereal. In last weeks ad, Great Grains cereal sold for $2.25 per box. It usually runs at $5.00 a box. The sale price is less than half. Why not then take advantage of the wonderful savings of $2.75. (I purchased 5 boxes, saved 13.75 just on a cereal). That is significant savings, well worth the time. In this case, I ended up buying as much as my space allows. Last minute purchases can be costly. Why not pay your self (difference in price) instead of the grocery stores. Also look-out for clearance items in grocery stores. Many times they are seasonal or items they no longer will carry. In February, I was so excited that QFC ( my local grocery store) put dates on clearance. I love to cook with them and eat them as a snack. Dates can be a bit spendy, but I bought approximately 20 lbs for $20 dollars. I was in heaven. (I will share some dessert recipes using dates). They are an amazing fruit. What a find! It felt like a treasure hunt, discovering the biggest find.
You don’t have to visit endless amount of stores and waste your time. Get in the habit of scanning the store ads, highlight your needed items, purchase them as much as your space and budget allows. Creating the menu is much easier and simpler when your pantry is stocked. You then don’t end up shopping last-minute, buying your ingredients not on sale and end up paying much much more than necessary. This is where and when the stress comes in. I am all about simplifying and paying as little as possible with-out compromising quality and my time (minimizes trips to the store).
Planning your shopping strategy initially may feel like more work, but that is because it may be new to you. The investment is well worth the payoff. Plan your menu with the ingredients you now have in your kitchen (purchased at the right price). To me, it is a game between my pocket-book and the grocery store. I dictate the price at which I will purchase the item. It is empowering because I make sure I win the game. Like I have said, I have not yet found a staple item NOT on sale. Vegetables are a bit more tricky to fit into this ideology, but same principles apply. Shelf life for fruits and vegetables are short, but if stored properly, they can last longer. Do not keep them in plastic bags, they need air circulation. I keep tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, grapes in open containers in the fridge. Also wash the fruit as you need them, washing and storing also minimizes their shelf life. Fruit stands serve well from the spring to early fall. Vegetable prices are considerably less than from grocery stores. They also tend to have more variety since they usually serve a more diverse population. Trust me, this method is easier, much less stressful and economical.
Thanks to my parents for teaching me a skill ,which to this day has served me quite well. May you begin to enjoy your savings, a less stressful menu planning while having more time to enjoy life.
Life's Cooking 