Comparison Shopping - Size Does Matter

When choosing between frozen and shelf-stable items you use on a regular basis, opt for the larger size. It will cost more now, but save you money in the long run. One cup of peas from a small 9 ounce box of frozen peas from a nationally recognized brand costs $1.76, from the larger 16 ounce brand it's $0.96. Those are savings that can really add up.

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