Inexpensive and Healthy foods ~ Tips and Tricks

I am on a tight budget right now as well, especially right now since I am the only one able to work. My husbands been having tons of healthy issues preventing him from working, the past 4 months. Use coupons and check local grocery adds before shopping, Walmart accepts competitors adds. I buy cheapy $1 store brand boxes of pasta, I buy frozen veggies instead of fresh or canned, usually for about a $1 as well. I buy store brand everything, unless the national brand is cheaper the time. I save leftovers and pack it for work the next day so I don't have to buy my lunch.

Buy beans, nuts, and grains from the bulk bins. Many stores have organic in bulk bins, and it's cheaper by the pound than the non-organic packaged product.

I would suggest looking around for a local farmer's market. We have been able to find veggies and fruits with as much as a 50% savings at our local farmer's market, and much better quality than the grocery stores in the area. Today we purchased four huge green peppers, four large cucumbers, four zucchini, and a huge head of cabbage for less than $7. In our local store, all of this would have cost me at least 25-50% more, and it would have been sitting there for a while, not as large, and not as good of quality (a lot more beaten and bruised). This produce was fresh from the garden!

I also agree with someone else - beans are a great protein and they are cheap. Meal planning is a great idea to save money because you can plan around a budget and still buy things you know you will like and eat. Great suggestions here!