SHOPPING ON A BUDGET

Tips for shopping on a budget

Here are five tips to consider when grocery shopping on a budget. Of course, use what work best for you and if you have a tip to share, please do so by emailing [email protected]!

5 TIPS FOR SHOPPING ON A BUDGET

CHECK THE SALES RACK

Ask yourself a couple of questions. Is it on the list? Does it fit the budget? Is it nutritious? If most of the answers are yes – buy from the sales rack!

PLAN AHEAD

Think about the meals you want to prepare for that week (see examples below). Try to use ingredients you already have so you can buy less. This will also save you time when going through the grocery store and keep you from buying extra things.

MAKE A BUDGET

If you don’t have a budget planned ahead of time you might just end up buying everything!

BUY IN BULK WHEN POSSIBLE

Ingredients that can be used in many ways can be bought in bulk to save money. A couple examples include rice, dried beans, or potatoes.

LOOK FOR “UGLY” DISCOUNTS

Slightly damaged or “ugly” fruits and vegetables can be on sale and they are often sold in bulk to get rid of them faster. If you are planning on cooking them in the next 48 hours they will still taste great and save you money.

A FEW MORE HINTS

Shop the Perimeters

Healthy and whole-food choices, such as fresh meats, fruits, vegetables and dairy, are usually found around the perimeters of a grocery store. You can avoid the temptation of processed foods by staying out of the aisles unless you are looking for a specific item.

Dedicate Time to Prepare Meals in Advance

For example, cooking 3 chicken breasts and 3 baked potatoes on Sunday night will provide you quick and nutritious meals. This will be convenient when you’re short on time later in the week. Quickly warm up your own pre-made meals for dinners and lunches. This also works great with large batches of soup, which are easy to freeze and use at a later time.

Choose Low-Sodium Products

Several processed food items have large amounts of added salt (or sodium), which can increase blood pressure and is not recommended for many health conditions. You can reduce the sodium in canned goods, such as beans and vegetables, by rinsing these foods before you cook with them.

Plan Your Meals for the Week

Planning ahead takes time! Here are a few ways to help organize yourself:

Make a habit of completing a weekly meal planning template, such as this one provide by the Kitchn.
Need some meal ideas? Check out these seasonal meal plans put together by a Montana State University Dietetic Intern (thanks Kasey!)

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