Key ideas

1. Plan meals before you write the list. Pick dinners for the week, check what you already have, then buy only what those meals need.
2. Compare the unit price, not the sticker. The shelf tag often shows price per ounce or pound. A bigger package is not always cheaper per unit.
3. Food you throw away costs the most. Freeze leftovers, eat perishables first and learn that "best if used by" dates are about quality, not safety.

Vocabulary

Unit price

The cost of a product per ounce, pound, count or other unit, so you can compare different package sizes fairly.

Work it out

Ana, 27, shops for herself and her partner. Her statements show $700 a month on groceries, plus food that often goes bad before they eat it.

1. Groceries now
2. Meal plan, less waste
3. Store brands for staples
4. Fewer extra trips
5. Unit prices on staples
6. New monthly grocery bill
7. Saved per month ($700 − $540)
8. Months in a year
9. Saved in a year ($160 × 12)

Check yourself

1. A 24-ounce jar costs $4.80 and a 16-ounce jar costs $3.60. Which is cheaper per ounce?

   • A. The 16-ounce jar
   • B. They cost the same per ounce
   • C. The 24-ounce jar
   • D. You can't tell without a coupon

2. What does a "best if used by" date mean on most foods?

   • A. The food is unsafe after that day
   • B. The food is at its best quality until then
   • C. The store must remove it that day
   • D. Federal law requires it on all food

3. Which habit usually saves the most on groceries?

   • A. Planning meals and shopping from a list
   • B. Shopping more often for fresher deals
   • C. Buying the largest size of everything
   • D. Using only name brands

Your turn

Look in your fridge and pantry, then plan five dinners for the next week using what you already have. Write a list for only the missing items and set a weekly grocery number: your monthly budget divided by 4.