5 Tips to Stretch Your Dollars Further When Meal Planning

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Are you sick of wasting food and overspending on groceries? Meal planning can save you time and money and reduce food waste. Try these tips to save even more. [[{“value”:”

After a long day at work, you may be tempted to order takeout, even if your fridge is filled with food. But a $15 meal can quickly turn into an expense of $25 or more after you pay delivery and service fees and leave a tip.

Meal planning can help you eat better and provide economic benefits. Spending half a day prepping meals for the week can save you money. Here are a few tips to help you keep more money in your checking account as you meal plan:

1. Use mobile apps to plan your meals and shopping list

If you want to save money on food, it’s best to have a plan. Having a solid list of ingredients for your recipes for the week can be helpful so you know what to pick up at the grocery store. Here are some apps that can help you plan your meals more effectively.

Cooklist: The Cooklist app can help you reduce your food waste. It lets you document what’s in your fridge and remembers expiration dates. Cooklist also displays recipes based on what’s in your fridge, freezer, and pantry to save you time.Flipp: This app finds and helps you organize your digital coupons while comparing the prices of various products at different stores within the app. The app also shows you sales fliers for nearby stores. When you’re ready to shop, this tool can help you find the best deals faster.Cash back apps: Using cash back apps is a great way to save money when you shop for groceries. One example is Ibotta, which rewards you with cash back when you buy eligible items at participating retailers.

2. Use everyday ingredients that you can mix and match

To avoid wasted food and get more use from the food you buy, focus on buying ingredients that are easy to mix and match. For example, potatoes can be used in many recipes, and rice is an excellent side dish. Another great way to do this is to add leftovers to your meal, whether the protein from dinner the night before or extra ingredients you didn’t use in the original recipe.

3. Shop generic brands

We all have our favorite brands. Generic Oreos don’t taste the same as the original, and buying the original is OK if you prefer one brand over another. However, mixing generic brand ingredients into your dish is a great way to save a few dollars when meal planning. Canned goods and pasta are good staples to buy — they’re cheap and have a long shelf life.

4. Buy in bulk

Consider buying in bulk for a better price if you have the storage space. Rice, pasta, and canned goods are great choices. When you buy in bulk, you shop less often, meaning you waste less time and have fewer chances of impulse buying. But ensure you can afford the annual membership fee before joining a warehouse club like Costco.

5. Pay with a cash back card to earn rewards

Why not get rewarded when spending money on meal prep essentials? Many shoppers like to use cash back credit cards to earn rewards when buying groceries and other household goods. While you won’t get a direct discount on your grocery bill, you can get value from the rewards you earn.

Keep your finances top of mind

As you plan your meals, don’t ignore your personal finances. Look for ways to keep your spending in check when shopping for food for the week. Use what’s already in your fridge to prevent waste, and buy generic brands and bulk items when possible. If you struggle to stay on budget when you shop, using one of the best budgeting apps can be helpful.

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The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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