14 Tips to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half

Families eat out more often than ever before which is both unhealthy and expensive. While everyone knows they should be eating home cooked meals and consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables it's not always easy to do. Check out the following ideas to both save money and eat healthier starting today.

1. Clip Coupons

Between in-store, newspaper and online coupons there is no reason every shopper should not be saving hundreds of dollars per year on groceries.

2. Prep It Yourself

Paying someone to cut up your fruits and vegetables is like paying someone to tie your shoes it's both a waste of time and money and easy enough to do yourself.

3. Eat Less Meat

Due to increases in corn prices, meat has become prohibitively expensive in the last 5 to 10 years. Consider eating less red meat and more poultry and fish. When you do buy meat try these tips to save money.

4. Don't Buy Organic

Certain organic items may have beneficial properties but generally speaking the increased costs is not worth it for most consumers.

5. Use Lists

Only go grocery shopping with a list in hand to prevent impulse buying resulting in wasteful spending. Lists ideally will be based off ingredients needed when planning menus.

6. Grow Your Own

Nothing is more satisfying than eating fruits and vegetables grown in your own garden. Not only can this save significant money but it is also healthier since there will be no added pesticides.

7. Visit Farmers Markets

If you don't have your own garden then do the next best thing by visiting a local farmers market to purchase your produce. It helps support your local community while saving you money.

8. Buy Generic

In-store and generic brands are often as good as comparable brand-name products but often cost significantly less. When it comes to milk, eggs, flour and other staples save your money and buy generic.

9. Stick To Food

Much like how bedrooms should be for sleeping, grocery shopping should be for food. Generally speaking, only purchase food based items and avoid everything else.

10. Shop More Often

It might sound counterintuitive but the more often you shop the more opportunities you have to buy various items during weekly specials and purchase more fresh fruits and vegetables.

11. Buy On Sale

Many grocery stores will have weekly sales on many popular items such as milk, produce and meat. If you find something you need for a recipe and it is not on sale try using a coupon.

12. Price Match

In order to stay competitive, many national grocery chains will often price match competitors. Walking into your favorite grocery store with two or three weekly flyers can be a great way to consolidate shopping by saving time and money.

13. Ban Soft Drinks

Soft drinks are the devil's beverage with zero nutritional value and are a fundamental part of the nationwide obesity epidemic. If you can't switch solely to water at least stick to natural juices and tea which is often less expensive.

14. Cook More

After purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at a farmers market and buying meat and poultry on sale for your preplanned dinner menu make dishes with large portions. Not only does this drive down the cost per serving but it also means more meals with less cooking through the week.