====== Saving money on food ======


===== basic approaches =====

  * cooking instead of eating out.  Having access to boiling water is a big step up.   See If you have power (jackery?) you can [[food:cooking:excess_power#ac_inverter|cook in a $5 thrift store crockpot]]
  * paying attention to loss-leader sales and deals in store apps ($5 off $25 or whatever)
  * being aware of unit pricing.  For example, buy pasta at $1/lb or less or whatever your cutoff is.  
  * have substitutes in mind:  if this thing is unusually pricey swap it for something else:  fresh milk, evaporated, powdered, etc
  * watching for "manager's specials" discounts on items about to go out of date
  * clearance racks
  * etc




===== frugal meal planning =====

  * [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXsD_ap_LoLfVFUMYMFwyJQ|MIGUEL BARCLAY: one pound meals]] (youtube)
  * [[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX98sAmndWt00CsyKGlZZ-eHmuV1ntWyy|Struggle Meals]] (youtube playlist)

===== grocery tax =====

Some states tax groceries; you may want to stock up before entering them:

> States that tax groceries (rate if not fully taxed): Alabama, Arkansas (3%), Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois (1%), Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri (1.225%), Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee (5.5%), Utah (1.75%), Virginia (1.5% + 1% local option tax), and West Virginia (5%)((https://taxfoundation.org/which-states-tax-groceries))