How to Expand a Shrinking Food Budget

Use Rite Aid Rebate and Savers Programs for Grocery Discounts

Jan 15, 2009

Working within the restraints of your food budget does not mean that you are limited to eating gruel. Use modern money saving techniques to save time and money.

There are many reasons why you may be looking to stretch your food budget. Food prices are up in many parts of the world. Substituting your family staples for different recipes can save you money each week. Try recipes that your family may be open to. Dedicate 10 minutes each day to create a lunch, dinner dish, or hot breakfast from scratch. Keep your kitchen clean. Immediately after eating clean the sink. Having a clean kitchen makes it easier to start preparing food, and discourages ordering take out.

Exchange a few minutes of your time for money. This will not be cash in hand, but you can create cash by thinking on your toes. Become a master of finding specials and ways to truly stretch your dollar. Take advantage of all savings programs that are at your local grocery and drug stores. Read the sales circular or visit the online weekly specials.

Sunday Paper Coupons

Purchase more than one copy of the Sunday paper. File away your Sunday paper coupons, or put them in a nice binder. Many businesses may be willing to sell you the Sunday paper on Monday or Tuesday at a discounted rate.

Rite Aide Rebates

Always look for additional specials on non food items. These specials could be by you applying a coupon to a sale item, or using a rebate savings program. Many of these rebate savings programs will send you a check or gift card every month. For example, Rite aide rebates are sent by check. Be sure to save your receipts each month to send them in by mail, or submit the information off the receipt through their website.

Thoroughly research the stores you shop in. Visit their websites and read the fine print about their savings programs. Check the store customer service desk for saving program brochures. Call the toll free phone number and request to be on their mailing list for the programs you are interested in. Many times you will receive coupons for in store unadvertised specials.

Learn the modern coupon techniques that are helping people save money on non food items, prepackaged foods, and frozen foods. Great techniques are The Grocery Game and Coupon Mom. Speak with the employees at your local grocery and drug stores. Many times they are happy to tell you when items are going to be reduced, or when a special sale is starting and ending. When you find a money saving strategy that works for you stick with it. Study with books and online forums to find support and fresh ideas.

The copyright of the article How to Expand a Shrinking Food Budget in Personal Budgeting/Finance is owned by Renee Haswell. Permission to republish How to Expand a Shrinking Food Budget in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.