Groceries are one of the more costly expenses a family has, and it seems like an essential expense which is difficult to cut down from the pricy $25-$30 per bag. 

But there are actually a few ways you can reduce the expense of food cost without depriving your little ones of their nutritional needs!

Fewer visits to the grocery store

The more time you spend at the grocery store – The more you will spend!  Try planning the family menu for a week in advance so you only have to go once a week.  You may think you are just going to get one thing you need, but you will usually find yourself spending more than you expected.  Make a careful list in advance, and then make your way to one of the bigger stores which will save quite a bit.

Shopping with kids – a bad idea

In most cases you don't have much of a choice except to take your kids with you and just pray that everything will be OK.  But if you can, try to leave them at home and keep your sanity. 

Kids in the store will make you stressed: they wonder around, they get impatient, they push things into the shopping cart, they sometimes make a scene when you try to take them away from the sweets aisle while everybody else looks at you and your screaming baby in amazement (don't let them fool you, they have probably been through the same thing…).  The result of this questionable experience is a wrecked mom and rushed shopping.  You miss out on good deals, you push in things you don't really need – all in the attempt to race out as quickly as possible. 

Fresh food

Fresh food is healthier and cheaper than the prepared stuff you can get.  It takes more time, but you can prepare bigger portions so you have leftovers for a couple of days, or something to stick in the freezer for next week.  If your baby is still in the pureed period, make the effort to mash the vegetables yourself. Pure health and saving money!