Ideas on how to save money on your food bill.
I come from a long line of cheap women who needed to be cheap or, in other words, frugal.
It’s not a word you hear very often. But it’s a word that came to mind when the last trip to the grocery store about killed me.
Most single moms have difficulty with finances; here is an article that may help you if your finances are very challenging. It’s a place to start.
How to save money on food, Single Mom Out West
We need to learn strategies that help us become frugal.
Most of the women in my family had large families and came from farming communities. Frugality wasn’t a choice; it was a way of life.
They sewed their clothes, canned their gardens’ food, and rarely spent money. Food items that they did buy were things that their farms did not produce.
I’ve thought about this for the last few years, especially as my grocery bill has risen. Watching hard-earned money slip through my fingers to purchase overpriced food is painful.
It’s time to relearn lessons in frugality.
America may be the land of plenty, but the “plenty” is breaking the bank. And it’s time to rethink how to decrease the amount we spend on food.
Evaluate what you are buying.
Carefully consider what you are spending money on. There may be a few things you don’t need, and there may be some things you can use a cheaper or generic brand for.
There may be an online option that is less expensive.
Buying in bulk is also an option.
Review your grocery and food bills; you may be surprised at how many items you can change or eliminate.
Consider ways that you can further decrease the food bill.
Most of us have access to options, including hunting, fishing, gardening, foraging, and raising a few chickens.
Extensive gardens were common, and people did not depend on grocery stores for everything. This article can help you get started.
Simple steps to starting a garden (singlemomoutwest.com)
Being skilled in canning and freezing was how frugal women in the past survived and thrived!
Choosing one or several of these options decreases your food bill dramatically.
And it’s a great idea to learn these skills anyway, in case of a food shortage or supply chain delays.
Growing up, it was commonplace for the women in my family to gather berries for jam.
We also hunted and cut up deer meat to place in the freezer. Fishing also meant that there were fish in the freezer.
Learning these skills and passing them on to our children makes us more independent.
Going to the store may be easier, but we are paying for convenience. Thinking outside the box can help us save money on food.
It is healthier, and we get to explore God’s creation outside!
Save going out to eat for special occasions.
As previously mentioned, I err on the cheap side. Spending a considerable amount of money on food is painful for me, but there are times when a special treat is excellent for everyone!
My kids know that we only go out to eat as a special treat. And I think that’s the way it should be. It’s healthier to cook at home. And the budget thanks me as well.
This doesn’t mean you can’t pack a few sandwiches for a special picnic! My folks would grab a loaf of bread and a pack of salami and create a radiator picnic!
This book makes you reevaluate almost everything you spend money on. Not just groceries. It deserves a place on your bookshelf!
