Grocery Budgeting - Save Money on Groceries - Make Meat Stretch Farther

Meat is one of the priciest items on your weekly grocery shopping list. So, make it stretch farther by using smaller amounts of it - or having at least a few meals a week without meat at all! You can substitute lentils or beans instead, which are a healthy source of protein without saturated fats.

To stretch your meat further, try these options:

• Buy one piece of meat, and cut it into small pieces for use in casserole, stir fries or other dishes
• Have smaller portions of meat, and make sure to fill your plate up with healthy veggies and whole grains such as whole grain pastas or brown rice
• Ground meats such as chicken or beef are excellent in soups, stews, casseroles and other main dishes.
• Add substance to a smaller amount of ground meat by adding cooked lentils. They're really tasty, and when added to beef they just seem 'meaty'!

Grocery Budgeting - Paying with Cash

When you're sticking to a grocery budget, paying with cash REALLY helps. Why? When you hand over your hard earned physical money, it just feels more painful! (LOL It really does, though!) It makes you more aware of what you're really spending, as opposed to just grabbing one of many debit or credit cards.

Every week, take out your allotted grocery money in cash, and put it in a grocery money jar just for that use. Put receipts in as your money is depleted, and keep careful track of where the money is going. Once the cash is gone, you need to get creative to use the groceries you already have in new, fun ways!