more $$$ saving tips

buy the less convienient option -- boneless chicken breasts cost a lot more than chicken thighs with bones, but both are perfect for quick easy chicken dishes, same goes for preprepared or precut foods

buy in bulk -- if you buy a whole turkey pound for pound you'll spend less than if you buy just the breast, and you'll have a lot more food

as dave letterman might say, know you're cuts of meat -- and buy the cheaper kind

it's really difficult to ruin an egg -- eggs are an easy filler for leftovers, think quiche

the power of powder -- for baking consider powdered milk

just add rice -- rice makes a great side dish and the grains are substantial enough to fill up any tummy

beans are a bargain -- you can get a whole lot of dried peans for less than $1 a pound, plus they're packed with nutrients, think chili

buy in season -- look for what's on sale, that's often what's in abundance

get cool with frozen foods -- for out of season fruits and veggies, look to the freezer and can aisles, where prices will be less than fresh

money saving tips

* plan ahead - if you know what you want before you go to the store it will save you on impulse buys
* make a list and stick to it so you get in and out of the store unscathed.
* shop the sales and stock up on items you know you'll need again
* buy in bulk and then divide and freeze
* buy smaller quantities to avoid throwing food away
* try eating out less
* cook larger quantities and freeze for another time
* ask the butchers, they'll be able to tell you of a nice cut for a smaller price
* buy frozen, you'll throw less away and be able to portion better
* check the price per unit, the largest may not be the cheapest
* try packing your luch
* plant a garden - plants are a wonderful renewable resource
* eat vegetarian

real meal deals

here are a few tried and true ways to cut back on grocery expenses.
- double up the recipe, there's no to plan a new meal every night, instead double the serving size of your meals and create leftovers. it takes the stress out of thinking up another dinner and saves money.
- shop for staples not convenience, say no to easy items like chips and cookies, instead think healthy items you can make and pack.
- don't focus on the sales, buying foods that aren't on your list will add to the bill, you might end up spending more.