Image by Jason Webb, on SchuminWeb, licensed by Creative Commons on 21 January 2005

     The cost of consuming is climbing. Purchasing medical insurance seems unattainable. Spending grocery funds wisely can save money. How can grocery funds be spent wisely? By not paying full price. Coupons can reduce grocery spending. Taking inventory of the food in stock at home can save money. Planning a weekly menu with simple fare and cooking aids is also easier on the checkbook. Saving money for medical insurance is the mark of a financially-responsible adult. Many adults are able to meet the day-to-day spending needs, but medical insurance requires the ability to pool savings.
    A traditional way to pool savings is to shop when grocery items are on sale. Coupons can reduce grocery bills. Coupons reduce grocery spending if they are limited to nearby stores. It does no good to save twenty cents on a grocery item, when it cost three dollars in gas to drive to that store sale. Take the advertised coupon to the local store. See if the store will match the sale. If a store advertises a coupon match, but does not honor their policy, write a letter or consult someone. Legal information on grocer coupon matching guidelines can be found by contacting a lawyer at this site http://www.swlaw.com. Try to purchase one item on the sale list. Store sales that advertise ten items for ten dollars may also apply that same sale to one item. Search for coupons that compliment home cooking. Often home-cooked meals can be stretched to two meals versus a one-time frozen dinner. Couponing for home-cooked meals is more cost-effective than purchasing frozen dinners, because it requires the consumer to consume items that are already in stock.
    Taking inventory of food items in stock in the home cupboard can reduce grocery spending. Make a weekly grocery list, then go to the store only once a week. Are there leftovers than can be eaten over the weekend, instead of pizza and soda? Only go to the store, once a week, when the inventory is depleted. If the inventory is well-chosen, perhaps grocery shopping can be stretched to every other week. Set a weekly grocery budget that does not accede fifty dollars. Gift cards can be helpful in this regard. Adding the budgeted amount to the gift card or charge card limits overspending. Bring fun and expectations to family meals. Prepare simple, home-cooked meals on specific days of the week. Mondays can be blueberry-lemon pancakes days with lemons from the decorative lemon-fruit tree in the backyard. Turning decorative food items and shelf warmers into delicious meals can save money for that medical insurance plan.
   Cooking at home is mystifying to many families without some practical aid. Investing in cooking aids can save grocery money. Invest in a Julia Child’s cookbook for tastier fare or look online for free recipes. Recipes that include beef substitutes’ fish or ground turkey are healthier and cheaper. Purchase a breadmaker. Baking bread with the ingredients that have been shelf-warmers up to now can save money spent on sandwich bread. Start a vegetable and herb garden, using natural pesticides. Vegetable and fruit co-ops are another good alternative. Investing in cooking aids is a resourceful way to cook on a budget.
    Limiting grocery spending can actually add enjoyment to meal preparation. Before there was no major medical insurance. Now there is a way to achieve medical coverage and the taste of fresh vegetables. Make grocery budgeting a priority.