SAVING MONEY IS MORE IMPORTANT NOW
THAN EVER BEFORE!

Tip 2: Saving on Food Costs

Food costs are likely only going to rise in the coming years. Everything from rice to corn to chicken and beef are all rising in cost to record highs. These are the staples of much of the world's diet, so saving money on our grocery bill is more important now than ever before.

First a word of why these costs are going so quickly. We live in a hungry world. Food production is strong, but demand is growing quickly and the costs of transportation only helps to keep prices high. Drought and adverse weather can also cause spikes in cost and can have ripple effects throughout the food supply.

• Clip Coupons. This is an age old practice to save money on all kinds of items we buy. On any given Sunday, newspapers publish over $100 in money saving coupons. Most of these coupons are for name brand items which often fall into the "want" column more than in the "need" column, but saving money is important even on non-essential items. Clip coupons and use them when it is economically to your advantage to do so.

• Compare. Buying a name brand item with a coupon may still be more expensive than buying the house brand of the same item. Grocery stores have been rapidly developing their own "house brand" products over the years, which they can gladly sell at a great discount to the same product from a national brand.
• Many of the House Brands are made by the national brands. The national brand manufacturers often cut deals with the grocery chains to manufacturer their house brands, for which both can offer a great product at a reduced price. This is especially true for cereals, chips and soft drinks.
• Get a Savings Card from your Grocery Store. Almost every grocery chain has a savings card. These cards offer special discounts to customers who hold these cards and the savings can be significant. From Buy one get one free promotions to weekly specials, these cards can save $10 to $50 a week for the average family.
• Eat Economically. Eating in will almost always be less expensive than eating at a restaurant. Eating healthy foods and the right amount of food will often save you money and improve your health. Eating fewer snacks can especially be a great saver. Snacks are often not as healthy as the food we eat at meals and can be very expensive for those who snack often.
  

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