- 1). Check your cupboards to see what you can incorporate into your meals for the week. Make a list for the store and estimate how much each item costs.
- 2). Search newspapers and coupon websites for coupons you can use for the food items on your grocery list.
- 3). Compare supermarkets and big-box retailers to find the store with the lowest prices on food. Although the store around the corner may be the most convenient, driving a reasonable distance may help you stay in your $20 budget.
- 4). Eat cheap protein choices. Beans, lentils, canned fish and canned chicken fulfill your protein requirements and can be used to make stir-fries and sandwiches.
- 5). Purchase generic and store-brand foods whenever possible. Brand-name items are marked up to cover advertising costs.
- 6). Buy fresh fruits and vegetables from a local farmer's market. Vendors typically need to get rid of the excess produce and can sell you enough vegetables and fruit to last for the week for mere dollars.
- 7). Pick up day-old bread for your meals. Grocery stores and bakeries sell day-old bread at discounts of 50 percent or more. Freeze the bread and reheat later in the oven.
- 8). Prepare your own snack bags. Pre-packaged snack packs are notoriously overpriced. Instead, buy a large bag of pretzels, popcorn, raisins or crackers and separate the food into sealable sandwich bags.
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