13 Practical Grocery Tips to Save Money: Meal Planning, Shopping Strategies, and a Budget-Friendly Shepherd's Pie Recipe!

Welcome back to my blog, today we will look at ways to save money because who couldn't use more money right? As you have seen in my blog we have a garden that saves us some money throughout the year. We grow enough tomatoes to make pasta sauce for the entire year. We use Flipp and try to only buy what is on sale. Having a deep freezer really helps with this so we can stock up on meat and use it up until we find more sales. We do the same with our nonperishable items too. Being mindful of how much fresh items you buy is really important too. If its on sale its not a savings if it ends up in the garbage. For this reason meal planning really helps so you only buy what you will use that week. 

Today I wanted to include a recipe that cost under 20.00 to make. With all the added vegetables it completes the meal and stretches it out to feed 6 people. You can always serve with a side salad if desired.

I make my Shepherd's pie right in my dutch oven, then I just put the potatoes on top and fire it right into the open.

Shepherd's Pie

Budget Friendly Meal

Shepherd's Pie:

Meat Filling:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 cup finely chopped onion

1 lb lean ground beef

1 tsp rosemary

1 tsp thyme

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

2 crushed garlic cloves

2 tbsp all purpose flour

1 cup beef broth 

1 cup mixed vegetables or vegetables of choice, canned or frozen

1 cup grated carrots

salt and pepper to taste. Be careful with salt if your broth is salty you may not need it.

Topping:

2 lbs of russet potatoes, I use whatever type of potatoes I have on hand.

8 tbsp butter or margerine 

1/3 cups of milk or cream

salt and pepper to taste.

optional- sprinkle with paprika or parsley 

Instructions:

Add oil to large skillet or dutch oven. On medium-high head add onions. Cook until translucent.

Add ground beef, rosemary and thyme. Stirring until beef is browned.

Add Worcestershire sauce, carrots and garlic

Add flour and stir until incorporated well.

Add broth and mixed vegetables.

Bring ingredients to a gentle boil and then simmer until carrots have become soft. 

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Peel and cut potatoes into small cubes

place potatoes in a large pot and cover with water

bring to a boil and cook until soft

drain potatoes, add butter, milk, salt, and pepper.

Mash potatoes and stir to combine 

Pour meat mixture into 7 x 11" casserole dish or leave in dutch oven.

Spoon mashed potatoes on top, carefully spreading over the meat mixture.

Sprinkle with paprika or parsley

Bake at 350 for approximately 30 min or until golden brown

Cool for 15 min before serving.

In summary, a list of things to help cut back on grocery spending:

1. Make a weekly menu

2. Buy items on sale picking up extra for freezer or cupboard, sometimes buying in bulk can save you money if it is an item you use often.

3. Only buy the vegetables you will eat this week that are on your menu.

4. Grow a garden if possible. We grow vegetables and herbs that we are able to use throughout the year.

5. Make a grocery list using your flyers.

6. Take an inventory of what you have at home.

7. Shop alone if possible, kids can fill up a cart quickly.

8. Cook at home as often as possible.

9. Don't shop hungry- this leads to impulse shopping.

10. Clip coupons and use grocery reward cards.

11. Buy generic brand when possible. 

12. Many cities have produce boxes that are cheaper as the items aren't always as cosmetically appealing but are perfectly good still.

Have a look at Oddbunch.ca they deliver the boxes right to your door.

13. Incorporate your leftovers. Maybe you had 3 cobs of corn that didn't get eaten. Take a knife and remove the corn from the cob and throw it right into your shepherd's pie, soup, or stew.

I hope that you found today's blog helpful. Please comment any money saving ideas you have so we can share them around.

I look forward to hearing from you.