Here's my trick
Go to the old meat that is a day from being expired
Some stores have an area where they put this
Then buy the discounted meat way cheaper then the full price & take it put it in a Ziploc freezer bag
As for freezer burned meat
DON'T TOSS IT OUT   
Take it & boil it & you won't believe that you tossed all that meat away that you could have used by just boiling it (cut up & use for stews)
Boiled meats (chicken/beef) stay juicy when boiled & you can't over cook them in boiling water
The slow cookers are great for lots of dishes you can have plenty of  leftover to freeze & eat later on 
Go to a local farmers market if there is one close to you & get just fresher fruits & veggies then what you do in the store & cheaper
I got it easy when it comes to cooking cause I'm single & no one else lives with me
So it's no biggie to throw a quick meal together that's healthy
Make your own ice cream from scratch & with an ice cream machine
Cheapest way is with the old crank type that you had to add ice & salt rock too then turn the crank until it got real thick,but you could make it your way & healthier then the store bought stuff
Lots of old ways that can help you save $$ now days just like they did way back
Grow your own indoor veggies & strawberries & blueberries
I had the indoor strawberries & blueberries & grew them year round in a sunny room
Neat to go in & grab some fresh right off the vine strawberries or blueberries to eat

penny pinching used to be a way of life for some...now its a way of life for most of us. I try to look at it as  lets see how much I can save on the things we need and still keep my household functioning.

These kind of articles make me crazy.  The average American spends 10% of his income on food, less than any industrialized nation.  You'd save more money per month by not eating out, buying a smaller car, living in a smaller house.  Give up cigarettes and alcohol, that'll save you more money than any coupons.  And if you're really so poor that groceries are too expensive, then quit buying the processed foods and learn to cook stuff from scratch. 

I am a stay-at-home mom so we have a family of 5 on a single income.  I spend about $300 a month on groceries for my entire family (that is 3 meals a day for all 5 of us).  We eat healthy home cooked meals and we all sit at the table together EVERY NIGHT. It is not that difficult.  I use coupons. I plan my meals around what is on sale at the grocery store.  I make a list of everything that I will need for each dinner for the week and I stick to the list. I make a lot of stuff from scratch which is cheaper and easier than you may think. Two of my kids are in school and I pack them a lunch nearly every day.  My husband comes home for lunch and has the leftovers from the previous night's dinner.  It can be done and it can be done in a healthy way too.  

I always hear food prices go up because gas prices have gone up. But then gas prices goes down, and food prices stay up. Gas goes up again, food goes up even higher, it never ends, and people are seriously not getting enough food now.

 

Please stop saying fast food is cheaper than fresh vegetables and fruit. My family of 4 would be hungry 2 hours after a $30 burger and fries meal - but I can spend less on chicken, broccoli and rice, make an awesome stir fry and have frozen yogurt with fresh fruit! All while we sit in peace together. A banana at Trader Joe's is 19 cents, that is cheaper than a candy bar, more food and healthier. 

Yes, before thinking that you have to go grocery shopping yet again, try to use up your leftovers in the freezer, fridge, and pantry.  It's fun thinking up new combinations, and thrifty, too!

We just had homemade chicken pot pie last night. There is enough left over for tonights dinner. I used 3 chicken breast from a frozen package, one can of cream of chicken, 2 cans of mixed vegetables, then made a homemade pie crust for the bottom and top shell. I got a basic recipe from Cooks.com and added all the seasoning then our meal was ready in no time. We had our bread, meat and veggies all in one meal. We had homemade peanut butter cookies for dessert. Tonight we'll have Jello and homemade banana nut bread. I was having a problem trying to decide what to do with the mixed vegetables until the pot pie can to mind.

It's amazing how much food we have wasted over the years but since the economy went bad

we have really watched our spending at the grocery store. I am using coupons more often and

make a grocery list before I go and try hard to stay with that list. We are making it a point to eat the left overs and to clean out the pantry using up the old stuff before it goes bad. A roast can make two to three meals for 2 people. I make roast, potatoes and carrots one day, Beef over big noodles the next and if left over I throw more potatoes  vegetables and a can of beef broth and there is a stew.

I actually am thankful that we have learned something valuable due to the recession. I look back and think "why haven't we done this all of our lives?"