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August 2008

Lisa Leete, owner of ThriftyKitchen.com  

Q: "What are your top ways to save at the grocery store?  I have seen your site and saw you on your TV spot.  Our family desperately could use some extra savings, and you seem to have it down to a science."

~ Tara H.

A: The biggest part of saving money is preparing.  Before I go to the store, I research the store circulars and plan our meals around what meats and produce are currently on sale.  Each dinner is planned out for the coming week and I make a list of all the necessary ingredients. That way, I have what I need on hand each evening, and we avoid the desperation dinners at the local take-out!  At least 2-3 meals each week are ”low-meat“ meals, meaning that meat is used as a flavoring rather than a main ingredient, which makes these meals low in cost and more healthful too.  Side dishes are often fresh seasonal produce prepared in simple ways. 

Also, I know what non-perishable staples are on sale each week, and I really stock up on those so that I’m always paying the lowest price for these items.  My family knows that if they run out of their favorite cereal, they simply have to wait until it’s available at a reasonable price (and then I buy 10 or more boxes of it!)  Far from leaving us feeling deprived though, our pantry is usually overflowing with the bargains picked up each week.   

Sound like a lot of work?  It can be, which is why I try to make it really simple on my website – www.thriftykitchen.com .  All the above research and preparation is done for you – you just purchase the fresh ingredients and follow the recipes for each day’s meals.  We help with coupons and finding grocery bargains as well.

Lisa Leete

Founder of ThriftyKitchen.com   

Phone: 858.679.7275

Email: lisa@thriftykitchen.com

Thrifty Kitchen: A great savings resource, which offers quick & easy dinner recipes based on weekly grocery sale items.  Save time, save money, eat well!