Stretching the Family Dollar
Before You Shop
- Develop a food budget for your family
- Plan meals for the week
- Try simple one-dish meals
- Check to see what foods you have on hand
- Read the ads and check for sales
- Make a shopping list
- Review food safety tips to help save food costs
- Never shop when you are hungry
- If you have several errands, plan to make the food shopping your last stop
- Compare prices - brand names vs. generic?
- Check the "Unit Price"
- Read labels
- Check ingredients
- Buy non-perishable foods first. Shop for frozen and refrigerated items last
- Buy fresh fruits and vegetables in season
- Stick to your list and choose what's on the list
- Use coupons on items you ordinarily buy
- Place meat, poultry, and seafood in plastic bags and separate from other foods in your cart
- Do not purchase food in dented cans
- Do not buy food past "Sell-By," "Use-By," or other expiration dates
- Return home directly and put food away promptly. Do not make additional stops or run errands on the way home
- Always refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours (1 hour when the temperature is above 90 °F)
- Separate meat, poultry, and seafood from other foods in your refrigerator
- Store canned goods in a cool, clean, dry place. Avoid extreme temperatures
- Use canned goods within one year; use canned fruit juices within 9 months
- Rotate canned foods so that the oldest is used first
