Saving money on holiday groceries

Christmas can be a time when many people find themselves short of money. The economy has not made the comeback that many had predicted and with money tight, every area of the Christmas holiday may need to be scaled back. Saving money on holiday groceries is easier than many other areas. If you are resourceful, no one will even notice the difference.

Plan ahead

It is more important than ever to plan ahead for Christmas.  Plan the meals and the goodies that you will be making. Don’t forget to get out your cookie recipes and start to check your baking supplies. Write down any ingredients that are non-perishable and check the weekly sales fliers. It will be much easier when Christmas rolls around if you have prepared well in advance. It is always much easier to buy a few things at a time rather than buying everything all at once.

Make it yourself

Another way to save a lot of money on your Christmas groceries is to prepare things yourself instead of buying prepackaged or store-bought items. It may be more convenient and easier but it is more expensive to buy these items. If you are having a gathering where you will serve a cheese and cracker tray, cutting the cheese yourself can save a lot of money.

You can also check with the deli at your local grocer to see if they sell cheese ends. These are the ends of the large pieces that they slice for deli cheese. When they sell these they are usually less than half the price that the cheese normally is. Many also sell meat ends. These ends can be used in many ways to stretch your holiday food budget. The same holds true of veggie and fruit platters.

Check the reduced stand

Many fruits and vegetables show up on the reduced stand that can still be perfect to use if you use them quickly. If you see something that you can use such as sweet potatoes or asparagus, you can take them home, prepare them and put them in the freezer. You can then thaw and add the finishing touches when Christmas rolls around.

Discount stores

Discount stores such as Walmart and Target offer very good prices on many food items. You don’t need to buy in bulk to get great prices. If you have a membership at a club like Sam’s, BJ’s or Costco you may be able to save money. Don’t assume that their prices are always the best and if it means you need to buy more than you need or really want then it is not saving you money, it may, in fact, be costing you money. Talk to your friends, maybe you can share an over-sized package of meat or vegetables.

Use coupons

Lots of coupons are out offered. Don’t just count on the newspaper fliers to find the best coupons. Sign up for some of the great Internet coupon sites. The hardest coupons to find are ones for meat. While you may find one for a ham, a turkey is less likely. One way to get a turkey as cheap as possible is to buy two at Thanksgiving when they are usually at their all-time low for the year. A turkey can stay frozen for the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you do a roast, consider buying a cheaper cut and cooking it a little longer to provide the tenderness you are looking for. Pot roast is a delicious alternative to a prime rib or roast.

When money is tight you need to work a little harder and plan a little longer to be able to give your family the Christmas meals and treats that they are expecting. This is going to be a great Christmas season and with a little effort, you will be able to provide all the usual holiday items with only small modifications.