No one likes to waste money when it comes time to buying vegetables. We asked four money-saving bloggers to help you get your money’s worth when it’s time to purchase vegetables at the grocery store. These ladies are professional money-saving moms and they’ve mastered the art of feeding their families on a budget! Here’s part one of our three-part series of tips to help you pinch pennies at the grocery store.
THE BLOGGERS
Sarah Barrand: A Thrifty Mom
- Sarah, a stay-at-home mother of three, helps families locate thrifty finds, cheap meals and easy ways to use coupons to save money.
Amanda Carlisle: A Few Shortcuts
- Amanda, a stay-at-home mother of three, teaches families to learn to save with shortcuts and a little planning: coupons, recipes, menu planning, stockpiling and more.
Tara Kuczykowski: Deal Seeking Mom
- Tara, a stay-at-home mother of five, offers printable coupons, freebies, deals and more to help shoppers stretch their budgets.
Jessica Williams: Utah Deal Diva
- Jessica, a stay-at-home mother of three, helps Utah families live on less by helping them plan shopping trips and use coupons.
TIP #1: SHOP ACCORDING TO THE SEASON
There’s nothing like a summer peach or a freshly picked ear of sweet corn. “Seasonal produce tastes better, and it’s much less expensive when it’s in abundance,” Jessica says. But when it’s not peak harvest season, Tara suggests, purchase frozen or canned instead of fresh. “Surprisingly, canned and frozen choices may actually be fresher than what’s in the fresh-produce section,” she says. Sarah agrees: “If you want corn in the spring, canned or frozen is most likely going to be your better choice.”
Tara says to shop for what’s growing at the moment: apples in fall, blueberries and strawberries in late spring, etc. “You'll find bigger sales on fresh produce when items are in season.” Amanda suggests concocting recipes from in-season produce, or freezing or canning them to make the most of them. “When crops are in season, supply is high and the price is at its lowest,” she says.
Jessica advocates stocking up on fresh vegetables when you spot a deal. “Fresh vegetables can be frozen after you blanch them,” she says. “I’ve stocked up on fresh broccoli and cauliflower many times when it’s really inexpensive, then blanched and frozen them for use later on.” Sarah uses this tactic as well: she watches the promos for canned and frozen fruits or vegetables, and when they are at their lowest price, she picks up a few extras for her pantry.
What other ways have you found to save money when shopping for fruits and vegetables?