Any savvy home economist will relate how hard it is to get the most bang for the food bill buck. One way to stretch that meal dollar is to think "outside the supermarket," and look for alternative sources of comestibles. Some of these sources are even free! Here are some ideas.
Sharing Food
When their trees start dropping fruit, or their zucchini gets out of hand, many people look for ways to avoid wasting all that produce. Casually make it clear that you'll be more than happy to take it off of their hands.
- Offer to do the picking.
- When there's enough to preserve, give them back a can or bag of their dried produce.
- If the neighbor with the full-to-bursting apple tree is elderly, as is so often the case, do some basic yard work for him while the kids are picking.
- Be sure to reciprocate when the backyard produces its own bumper crop.
Sharing is an efficient, feel-good way to use resources and build relationships.
Grow Your Own Vegetables
Some would protest that this isn't free, but consider that for the price of seeds and a few tools, most grocery gardens save enough money on the food itself, some trips to the grocery store, and even on gifts to others, that in the end, the produce is free, or even a money-maker.
- Keep expenses down by composting and saving seeds year after year to increase your "wage."
- The better nutrition and exercise saves on medical expenses down the line: Priceless.
Wild Food
Those dandelions growing in the lawn make good, nutritious salad greens. Wild onions, acorns, miner's lettuce and other delicacies abound. Two caveats:
- Make sure the foods, especially those aforementioned dandelions, haven't been exposed to pesticides.
- Don't eat anything you're not sure about, like mushrooms. The Library of Congress lists many books on wild food; find one suitable to your region.
Barter for Food
A healthy imagination is helpful here. Is there a local grocery store, restaurant, bakery or other likely candidate that has to toss their aging merchandise at regular intervals? It never hurts to check in with the manager and make some kind of deal.
- Perhaps they need their front sidewalk swept and clean?
- They don't want the hassle of transporting leftovers to the local food pantry, which you'll happily do, for a cut?
- Are you willing to hand out restaurant fliers to parents at the local school?
Watch the establishment for a day or two to figure out what would benefit them, and then make a suggestion, in exchange for their leftovers. Try local "mom and pop" places first; many corporate entities have strict policies that prevent managers from engaging in this kind of creative thinking.
These are all reliable ways to obtain free food. Families can't avoid eating, so any food savings helps.
"Free Food" That Really Isn't
- Super-duper coupon deals. Once in a blue moon, when circumstances like "triple coupon days" at the grocery store intersect with other offers, it's possible to score one thing or two actually for free. However, most of the time, coupons are more trouble than they're worth. Seldom is the coupon for something actually nutritious. To find these great deals usually requires hours of work doing the research and clipping; time better spend earning money at a job.
- "Free groceries" website deals. Several sites promise to send you a big fat gift card to use at the supermarket if you'll just supply a wee bit of personal information and agree to their terms and conditions. And guess what? The terms and conditions require you to spend ultimately even more money.
- Charity. This is for the truly needy. Don't take advantage of the largesse of others. If obtaining free food involves deception, it's essentially stealing.
Frugality is an adventure. Use thrifty creativity to make the most of food bill savings!
Elise Cooke - Elise Cooke writes, teaches and speaks on ways to Live Large on Less. Her first book, Strategic Eating, The Econovore's Essential Guide is ...
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