Practical ways of saving $$ on groceries

I’m making a mid-life career change & need to lose weight, & with me I save more from what I don’t buy. This is what I’ve been doing for about a year:

1. I don’t purchase alcohol, smokes, soda, chips or sweets. I’m saving a bundle not buying junkfood alone. Everyone can live better with less of this stuff in their lives, & I don’t buy ANY.

2. I’m making all my own food…breakfast is toast & oats, dinner is rice, beans & salad or pasta, dessert is whole fruit….very economical & healthy & I save on gas not eating out. They survived on a whole lot less on “Survivor”!

3. I don’t eat meat every day, more like every 3rd day. (I substitute with lots of beans for meat in recipes).

4. I take vitamins & wash my hands before I eat so I don’t spend much on OTC meds. (I haven’t been sick at all since I started making all my own food, too…yikes).

5. I do utilize coupons & grocery specials ONLY if it’s something I’ll use for sure & it’s healthy, otherwise for me it’s $$ wasted.

I know this sounds like stupid common sense but I swear my grocery bills are less than half of what they used to be…power to frugality!!!! :D/