Wow, I written about how expensive food has become.  Well Liz Weston has published her findings here (with help from 3 coupon sites) about the increases in food prices.  What she found was amazing.  5 staples of people’s budgets were way up.

Flour – up 37%

Eggs – up 34.8%

Sweet Peppers – up 29.2%

Milk – up 23.1%

Dried Beans – up 21.6%

Wow.  Flour up so much is why bread is up so much.  The rest of the article had great tips for how to stretch your food budget with a garden, stockpiling and REDUCING WASTE.

Sure it’s great to get a good deal, but try to not “overbuy” food. That’s the most important.  A lot of wasted food you thought you’d eat but never got around to.  I am guilty of this as well, it happens with a couple.  Sometimes it’s hard to buy a bulk pack of meat and then make multiple different meals from it.  By the end of the week you are tired of it.  Hence why I end up freezing and thawing portions for just the two of us.

Also for some coupons can be very useful.  Depending on where you live and if they double or triple coupons. It could make items very cheap.  Where I live the coupons are not very good and not doubled.  So it’s very useful for cleaning supplies, household goods, and toiletries.  These are easily stockpiled as well.

Finally your own garden?  Well not going to happen where I live, but I do have a couple of potted plants of basil and peppers.  Small things, easy to grow.  But if I had a yard I would totally grow some veggies.  They are fun to care for and easy to do.