Join me as I partner with University of Georgia FCS agent Becca Stackhouse to bring you a new food budgeting series. Learn ways to save money on food as you plan, shop, prepare, and entertain!

Made at Home: Taste Buds on a Budget Series! Part 2: Cheap Tricks

by Katie Cullum

Who loves to grocery shop?! Maybe you’ve been doing the pick-up thing since this pandemic. Either way, keep reading (and watch the video) to learn some shopping tricks to save money!

Ask for advice – ask friends and family where they shop and how they find good bargains. It could be a place you’ve never tried.
Eat before you go – never shop hungry! That’s a sure-fire way to spend more on impulse buys because they ALL look good when you’re hungry.
Check the flyers – look at the sale flyers. Most are online or you can check the store’s entrance. You may find good deals to stock up on.
Use coupons – Just remember that you don’t save money if you buy something you don’t really need! Check store loyalty programs, look for coupons on receipts or products.
Look up and down – things at eye-level tend to be more expensive. So look up and down to find better deals.
Check store brands – sometimes the store brand is cheaper than the name brand, even with a coupon! I like some store brands better than the name brand.
“But eating healthy is SO expensive!” – You don’t have to buy only fresh, organic produce. Check the freezer aisles and the canned goods to compare.
- I like frozen vegetables because I can use just what I need. Look for plain vegetables (no sauces) for the best value. Also check for low-sodium and no-salt-added on the labels.
- For fruits, look for no-sugar-added or in-100%-juice labels.
- 10 Tips for Affordable Fruits & Vegetables
Budget-friendly protein – most Americans get plenty of protein.
- Choose smaller portions.
- Beef up small portions with beans and peas.
- Choose plant protein foods more often (beans, peas, soy products, nuts, seeds) – Meatless Monday!
Savvy Swaps – save money with these tips (and you’ll be healthier too)!
- Choose water or milk instead of soft drinks or special coffees or teas. Tap water is free!
- Instead of sweetened cereals, choose generic hot or cold cereals. This time of year, I love hot oatmeal in the mornings! Don’t buy the packaged kind though – choose the canister and make your own!
- Instead of cakes, cookies, chips, and snacks in individual portions, choose fruit and vegetables in any form. Bananas & apples have their own “packaging.” But grapes, baby carrots, and many others are very portable and filling. You could even make your own chips
- Buy whole foods. Some foods are cheaper in less processed forms. For example, cheese blocks tend to be cheaper than shredded cheese.
- Dry beans are an inexpensive source of protein. Swap beans for all or part of the meat in the recipe.