Holiday Food Savings

It's hard to think about anything coming up after the holidays before they are over. But with some thoughtfulness and planning, you can take advantage of fabulous grocery store deals on food now that will save you money for months to come.

For example, I usually don't cook a turkey for Thanksgiving because someone else in my family does. That doesn't mean I can't take advantage of cheap turkey meat. I bought a 12 lb. frozen turkey for $4.80. That's only $0.40 a pound!!! We'll probably cook it in January once all of the holiday celebrations are over so that we don't get turkey fatigue. From that, we can make a variety of dishes, prepare fresh turkey stock, and freeze cooked meat for use many more months after that.

Also, check out your local grocer's deals on typical holiday items. They usually discount baking supplies, canned fruits and vegetables, and some fresh produce (sweet potatoes for $0.19 a pound!) in order to entice you to do all of your holiday shopping there. Stock up now and use coupons to maximize your savings.

As always, don't shop without a written budget and don't buy food that you know will not be used just because it is on sale.