10+Plus Easy Tips to Help Stretch Your Food Dollar

  • Go through your pantry and keep it organized so you know what you have.
  • Make a list and stick to it.
  • Check the newspaper for sale items then make a plan where to shop.
  • Check Arizona Farm Bureau's "Stretch Your Food Dollar" menus to help you plan your week's menu on food items that have been down in price.
  • Use grocery store club cards and then compare prices to store brands.
  • Buy fresh items, instead of processed items.
  • Consider buying frozen vegetables, they are picked fresh, flash frozen immediately and are less expensive and will keep longer.
  • When planning your menu think of ways to maximize the use of the “Stretch Your Food Dollar” menu as a springboard to create your own menu. Create meals around the items down in price. If you feel you can’t build a menu using an item that is down in price such as orange juice …use citrus slices instead.  
  • Buy in bulk, but don’t buy more than you can eat.
  • Clip and use coupons. Put a ‘C’ next to items on your list that you have a coupon for, it will help you remember to use it at the checkout stand.
  • Shop the edges of the store avoiding the items at the ends of the aisles.
  • When shopping meat sales items, consider stocking your freezer.