Guest post from Chrissy of Littles and Laundry
I am a frugal mama. Don't get me wrong, shopping is one of my favorite things to do – I be shoppin'. But most of the time… I be window shoppin'. 
Since becoming a stay-at-home mom, I have spent a lot of time researching how to cut down on our grocery bill while still eating (mostly) healthy, whole food.
Are you looking for some ideas to shrink your grocery bill? In my experience, here are the things that have helped us most:
1. Limit meat.
Especially when you buy the organic, free-range stuff. We eat meat but it's definitely something we cut down on to cut costs.
Consider using it as a condiment instead of centerpiece to your meals. Foods like beans and lentils, quinoa and the like are great sources of protein at a fraction of meat's price.
2. Make friends with potatoes.
Baking potatoes, sweet potatoes, whichever kind you like. Potatoes and delicious and oh SO cheap!
We like to use them in a variety of ways: Baked (maybe with vegan chili on top), chopped and as a side dish, or homemade potato soup. French fries, anyone?
3. Have a Fiesta!
I find when I'm cutting down on costs we eat a lot of Mexican-style dishes. It's just very affordable to make meals like enchiladas, tacos, etc. When in doubt, make it a Taco Tuesday!
4. Shop at Aldi or Walmart.
Aldi and Walmart meet our week to week needs best and at a great price. I usually check Aldi for everything on my list first, and whatever they don't have I get at Walmart.
5. Meal plan, meal plan, meal plan.
I used to make a meal plan and then I wouldn't even follow it. Not the best use of my time right? However, now I refer back to my meal plan often to remember what I'm supposed to be making for dinner that night.
It really helps me to not use ingredients I purchased for one meal accidentally on another. It also gives me the option to prepare dinner in the morning since my plan has already been thought out for me. No more 4:30pm “uh-oh-what's-for-dinner” freak outs!
6. Grocery shop once a week.
This one can be tough (and I don't always stick to it) but it really does help keep costs down.
If you run out of something, consider substituting a couple of ingredients for clever alternatives. There are great cheat sheets on Pinterest in subbing one ingredient for another.
One of my favorites? If you don't have 1 cup buttermilk, sub 1 cup almond milk or the like with 1 TBSP of apple cider vinegar! Now you can go make buttermilk pancakes. You're welcome.
7. Eat oatmeal for breakfast.
Oatmeal is cheap and healthy, it fills you up and did I mention that it's cheap?! I like to add almond milk, cinnamon, blueberries, and ground flax to mine. Delish!
So there are some ideas to shrink your grocery bill. I hope they help!
Happy grocery shopping!
Chrissy is a Jesus loving wife, boy mom and coffee lover. She blogs over at Littles and Laundry. Her heart is to encourage women to bloom in motherhood and homemaking.
photo source
