9 Ways to Save Money and Not Waste Food

3) Meal Plan Before Shopping

Here’s where strategic planning comes in. If you think about your meals in their entirety, you can avoid buying unnecessary items. First make a list of recipes you’d like to cook for the week (if you shop on a weekly basis). Then take in look in your pantry and fridge and see what you have in stock that you can use in those recipes. From there, make a list of the ingredients you will need to buy. You can also check the weekly sales circular and build your recipes from on what’s on sale for even more savings. With a little creative planning, you’ll see a big difference in your total expense when you check out at the register. This will avoid confusion and over-spending when you’re shopping on the aisles, which are full of temptation for those without a plan.