How to Save Money on Snacks

Trying to cut expenses this winter? Here are five easy ways to save money on snacks and other groceries.

1. Don’t buy organic snacks when you don’t need to. Organic produce is usually more expensive, and not always necessary. For example, you don’t need to buy organic bananas, because you don’t eat the skin anyway. However, health experts do recommend buying organic apples and strawberries, because the pesticides on the non-organic varieties are hard to get off, even with a thorough washing. For a complete list on what to buy organic, check out the Consumer Reports article on 1) items you should buy organic, 2) items you should buy organic if money isn’t a factor, and 3) items you never need to buy organic.

2. Make your produce last longer. Are you always wasting money on fruit that rots before you get a chance to eat it? I’m guilty of that with bananas. I buy a bunch, and half of them turn brown before I eat them… and I always intend to use the brown ones to make banana bread, but I never get to it… Luckily, Real Simple gives tons of great tips for making your produce last longer. The magazine explains the best ways to store avocados, tomatoes, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, and more.  In addition, Real Simple has an interesting article about separating certain fruits and vegetables in the fridge. Apparently, certain kinds of produce emit a gas called ethylene that can affect other foods and make them rot faster; you’re not supposed to store ethylene-sensitive and non-ethylene-sensitive foods close to one another. Who knew!

3. Make your own snack bars! One box of Kellogg’s Low-Fat Granola makes 24 granola bars (about 24 grams each), which is cheaper than buying already-made granola bars. A box of granola bars usually contains six bars, so you’d need to buy four boxes to get 24 bars. And the Kellogg’s recipe doesn’t even use the whole box of granola—you’ll still have some left to eat in a bowl with milk. (Bonus: The other items in the recipe are things you probably already have at home.)  I’ve made these bars before, and they’re chewy and delicious (and easy–I’m not the best baker!), though some people may find them a bit too sweet; they have almost an oatmeal-cookie taste. There are plenty of granola-bar recipes online; find one that meets your particular taste and health requirements.

4. Buy in bulk online. Amazon grocery has a sales and special offers section. And right now, they’re having a big 40 percent off sale (while supplies last). It’s often easier to find deals online than in stores, because stores don’t usually organize their aisles by sales (sale items are simply scattered throughout), whereas Web sites usually have links that connect you to all sale items. Also, Amazon has some good shipping options. And paying a small amount for shipping seems worth it if you order pretty regularly (especially if you’re already using Amazon for non-grocery items like books, gifts, etc.). Plus you’re saving money by not using gas to drive to the Costco that’s two towns over…

5. Abandon fancy coffee drinks for homemade coffee. You can save a lot of money if you make coffee at home, versus buying it at a fancy cafe for $3.00 or so a day. But that doesn’t mean you have to start your day with a mug of flavorless sludge. Try making naturally-flavored, zesty coffee by adding powdered cinnamon or cardamom right with the grinds. The spice will give your coffee an amazing flavor, and make your daily treat feel a little more special! Plus, cinnamon is loaded with health benefits. (Note: The part about adding the spices with the grinds is important. If you put powdered spice in hot coffee, it will just clump up at the bottom and not blend in.)

Do you have any additional money-saving tips to share when it comes to buying snacks for yourself or your family? Write me a comment!

Lauren