Avoid These Foods

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

16 Apr 2008 10:26 AM

All over the country, people are starting to pay more attention to the food they buy. The price of groceries has climbed to record-breaking heights, forcing people to get creative on budgeting on this very necessary expense. You really have to be a smart shopper to make your food dollar stretch far enough to feed your family. But, let me make it a little easier. If you can cut out or at least reduce the following food items, you can make a significant difference to your grocery bill.

Soda

Soda is basically, water, high fructose corn syrup, caffeine and carbonation. None of it (except the water, perhaps) is any good for you. Avoid buying soda and instead use water for free for most of your beverage consumption.

Gourmet

Gourmet foods are often high-end foods with a high-end price tag. Sure, those portable mushroom ravioli in a delicate wine sauce are quite tasty, but you could probably feed your family for three extra days if you make them yourself with the ingredients, or feed your family for a week by substituting regular raviolis. If there is a gourmet dish that we just have to have, I try duplicating it. Gourmet foods come in many types: cheese, coffee, sweets, fruits, pasta, you name it.

Organic

Now I know this one may be tough for some people. Organic food is believed to be healthier, so how can we compromise the health of our family? If you have a choice between going hungry or eating a non-organic carrot, then the decision may be easier. Find out which produce has the most pesticides and then concentrate your organic dollars on those. You can read this article for guidelines. Would hormone-free milk be okay? It is generally cheaper than organic.

Snack Foods

Product inside a snack food bag is shrinking at the same time the prices are rising. A bag of popcorn (actual kernels not microwave) can give you at least 15 times the snacks as a similar bag of potato chips. Make your own snacks from scratch rather than picking them up at the store. After doing without them for a while, you may not even miss the snacks at all.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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3 Meals that Feed Your Family for $1.50 or Less

How Much Does It Cost to Eat at Home?

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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jonesx6 (1606) 16 Apr 2008 01:50 PM

Since food has went up so much I have curbed buying organic food. I really don't want to but I feel like I have no choice right now. Praying that the economy swings around soon. Laura

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 03 May 2008 04:43 AM

Some foods are generally okay when they are non-organic, such as bananas which don't carry pesticides in the fruit. Check out this article for more information. http://frugal.families.com/blog/buying-organic-know-when-to-spend-and-when-to-save

Valorie Delp (49340) 03 May 2008 09:05 AM

I can't believe you forgot one of our HUGE budget savers: making bread! Tsk. . .tsk MaryAnn. ;-) You're the one that gave me the brilliant idea to use sandwich rolls instead of bread for sandwiches. So often (not always) I make baguettes or rolls from scratch. The kids like it (mostly) and it saves a bundle and then some. . .and I was already getting bread for less than most people.

Mary Ann Romans (26886) 03 May 2008 09:40 AM

That is a tough call. In some areas, the price of flour makes making your own bread cost prohibitive, when compared to cheap discount bread that can be had for 50 cents. I still think that making your own bread is wise for your health and for your pocket book, but I can't say that it will definitely save you money today. it all depends on where you shop.