Saving money - groceries

We are realy having trouble making ends meet at the moment. i watch every single penny we get, and are very frugal, but I was wondering if anyone else could help getting the grocery/ food bill down.

almost everything I buy is generic or no name brand. We all take homemade lunches to work/ school. Leftovers become lunch the next day so we don't waste food. We have fresh fruit and veg for the first half of the week and frozen veg for the second half, so any food going off is kept to a minimum.

Any other hints or things which minti parents can suggest? realy realy desperate here - any advice or hints please?

We have been having similar problems over the last couple of months. What we have had to do (and I have 2 teenagers who eat more than I do) is as most people have said:

MEAT Buy your meat either in bulk or find a good butcher that deals in bulk meats. You can then get smaller amounts if you want for a cheaper price. Another thing is see if your supermarket marks meat down. I picked up today, 3 packs of diced chicken breast 550g for $4 a pack. I have got all sorts of specials at different times. Just keep an eye out. Or I have a couple of times gone in with a couple of friends and bought a side of cow, or a pig, or a lamb etc. You all get a share of the meat, and it can come out cheaper than a butcher once it is all divvied up. Also use cheaper cuts of meat. It may get repetitive to have mince, sausages, chicken wings/drumsticks etc, but it can save money. Tuna and salmon are also good to have in the cupboard for a change.

F&V I used to have mine home delivered, but the company went out of business. Now I go back to what I used to do: Buy in bulk from the fruit shop and come home and blanch and freeze whatever I can. I get the small ziplock bags and slice things like carrots, beans, onions etc, into 1 meal serving sizes. Then when you are making your meals, you know that you only have to graba 1 packet of each veg for that meal.

GROW YOUR OWN We have a vege garden out the back where we grow some of our own veg. It make take a little while before things start happening if you have the room, but we grow tomatoes, potatoes, cucumber, snow peas, strawberries, various herbs, peas and beans and corn in season, sometimes melons etc. Just depends on the time of year and whatever has gone into the scraps goes into the garden and most times comes up on their own.

PORTION CONTROL Cut down on the amount of food served at each meal or reduce the amount of meat and increase vegies.  You also don't have to have meat every night of the week. (My kids think their throats have been cut sometimes when we have a veg dish, but you can get away with it).

PLAN MENU You would be surprised at how much this saves. By working out your menu for the week before hand, you can work out the types of meals that you are having and those that are costing a lot of money. Steak and vegies is all very well, but if it costs an arm and a leg to serve then you don't want to have it too often. Use meals that don't cost a lot. I feed a family of 5 some nights on approximately $6. It is possible to do. eg Spaghetti Bolognese: Mince 500g (on special) $4, onion 20c, carrot 10c, jar of sauce $1.80, pasta 49c packet, frozen veg {(peas and corn) optional} 50c.

SELECT SHOPPING Only buy the things that you need or that you will use. There is no point in having a number of items sitting in the cupboard, just because you got them when they were on special. This is a waste. Use the menu that you have planned and work out your shopping list from that.

CUT DOWN ON SNACKS If you have older children, cut down on the number of snacks that you buy. I have to admit that because my youngest doesn't eat a great variety of foods, there are certain things he has in the cupboard that he is allowed to take to school. I have had to put a lock on the fridge, freezer, and pantry cupboard to stop the big kids from eating them. It is sad but it was costing me a fortune and they weren't even particularly hungry, they just wanted to eat something through boredom. Now my food lasts longer and therefore my food bill is a little reduced.

FOOD OUTLETS If you have any warehouses or food manufacturing places nearby, keep an eye out for sales or even just go regularly to get cheaper items. I have the Golden Circle Cannery nearby and love going out there when they have their sales on. See what is around.

ORGANISE A BULK BUY WITH FRIENDS If you have a few friends that would like to go in with you, see about getting together and buying things in big bulk. Rice is cheaper if you buy in the 10 or 15kg bag, but unless you have somewhere airtight to store it, it isn't cheap as it will go off. But if you have 3 or 4 other people who want it, then it is a good deal and you can split it up.

CONTROL WASTAGE Again this comes in with portion control, buying items on special etc. If you use 3/4 tomato, don't just throw the other 1/4 away. Use it tomorrow, or just add the extra in. Make sure that your food is being stored in the fridge correctly to avoid spoilage. Same with the cupboard. Don't have so much of an item that something will go off.

COMPARE SUPERMARKETS If you have a choice, find out which is your cheapest local supermarket. I live in the middle of 3 major shopping centes and of course each have 2 or 3 or even 4 supermarkets in them. Find out which one is generally the cheapest with everyday foods that you buy all the time, then continue shopping there. You will save money even if you notice in your catalogues that another shop has something on special, you can just go and get that item rather than do the whole shop there,

RAINCHECKS If an item has been advertised in a catalogue and they have run out, make sure that you get a raincheck ticket from the sercvice desk. You will get it at the advertised price, but you have generally 30 days to use the ticket. I have done this on occassion for things like margarine, or even roast meat. It may be on special for $4.97 a kilo, good price, stock gone, don't really need it this week anyway, but can have it in a fortnight, get the ticket, buy it when you want it and save $$.

Hopefully these few ideas will help you out. Leisa