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Saving Money on Food: Things you sometimes overlook

Man's basic needs are food, clothing, shelter and air. And of these, a big part of people spend the most on food, as consumption of food gives man energy to work for a living and do what they ought and want to do.

Generally, an average American spends seven dollars per day, and this. This is quite an amount, but some actually spend more than this. And when you look around dining establishments, it's noticeable to see that there are a lot of leftovers on plates. Take some time to take a look at your consumption at home. Do you have food that you have bought but you just overlooked and can't eat anymore? This is actually a part of what you have earned that you put into waste.

During these tough times that people have to make do with the little amount of money that they earn or have in hand. There are a lot of things that a household can do to save money on food, if careful planning and purchase of food items is being done.

To save money on food, a family can practice buying all the food items that are needed by your family at once. Write down the most important food items of the family, and focus in buying these items. Set aside the wants. A once-a-month shopping actually works for many households. The process actually makes you save money on food, and time and energy as well. Once-a-month shopping lessens the urge of impulsive shopping for unnecessary items.

A lot of households have leftovers, stuck somewhere at the insides of their refrigerators. Households should monitor their food items, and cook just the right amount for every meal. Avoiding having leftovers makes you save money on food by significantly lessening the amount of food that may spoil, or just get thrown away because no one wants to eat it anymore. Leftovers can also be made into other dishes the next day.

Going vegetarian and preferring fruits over junk food as snack is not only rich in health benefits but it actually makes you save money on food, particularly if you buy the fruits and vegetables from local farmers that sell their merchandise for a lower price as compared with those sold at the supermarket. Some farmers may give better deals if you decide to buy in bulk. But beware of the possibilities of having leftovers. You may plan ahead to preserve the fruits by freezing or putting it in heavy syrup. Save money on food, but do not compromise nutrition.

The use of discount vouchers and coupons also equips you to save money on food. Do not just dump the coupons and forget to use them before they expire. It's great to use these coupons to buy discounted items, so you'll save more.

Try to use generic brands of products, instead of the really expensive branded ones. Experts say that it's the patent for the brand name that you are mostly paying for when you buy branded items, so if you want to save money on food, buy generic brands.

If it's possible for you to just cook at home to save money on food, do it. Instead of dining out and spending more than what you should, it's a great idea to prepare your own meals. Practice bringing lunch to work, instead of eating out.

Timing your meals can help a lot to save money on food. Take one full meal, instead of eating little amounts in succession. A full meal should cost less than three snacks that will not make you full.

Cents do make sense. Each penny that one works for is very significant. People should maximize the value of their hard- earned money.