Food wise and toiletry wise, don't be afraid to use coupons, that's what they are there for, if you're on a tight budget, every penny counts. A healthy diet is much more important than fancy new baby clothes. Stretching the Food Dollar Here are some ideas to help cut food costs: Shopping tips: Avoid shopping on an empty stomach. Hungry shoppers buy more than they need. Try bulk food bins. The are often less expensive than packaged foods and you can choose the amount you want. Make a shopping list. Be sure to check what items you have on stock so you’re not tempted to buy extras that you really don’t need. Weigh the cost and value of purchasing convenience foods. For example, you will save ten cents a glass by purchasing orange juice from concentrate and adding your own water instead of paying someone to add the water for you. Store brands and generic products are often less expensive than brand name products with comparable quality. For example, brand name macaroni & cheese costs double the price of the generic product. Be wary of gimmicks. End-of-isle displays are not always specials. Examine the bottom and top of shelves. High-ticket items are often at eye level. Compare prices by the unit to get the best bargain. Avoid buying at convenience stores. You’ll pay for the extra convenience. An apple at the grocery store may cost around 30 cents compared to 75 cents at the convenience store! Buy quantities you can readily use or easily store to prevent spoilage and food waste. Share purchasing large quantities with your roommates. Use coupons only for products that you purchase regularly to prevent buying extras that you don’t really need.

Nutritious Foods Don’t Have To Be Expensive You don’t have to compromise adequate nutrition when finances are tight. Here are some tips to make your food dollar stretch! Grain Products Best Buys: whole grain rice, macaroni, bread, rolled oats, and hot cereals Choose pasta and rice made from whole grain or enriched flour to ensure you are getting their full nutritional value. Plain pasta shapes like macaroni and spaghetti are cheaper than fancy shapes. Buy from bakeries at the end of the day for discounts. Buy whole grain cereals instead of sugary ones. They are more economical and nutritious. Avoid buying rice and pasta mixes. They are ten times the cost of rice and pasta and usually high in fat and salt. Long grain rice is half the cost of minute rice and only takes 15 more minutes to make. Vegetables & Fruit Best Buys: apples, bananas, grapefruit, oranges, rhubarb, frozen juices (especially orange), potatoes, cabbage, carrots, plain frozen veggies, and canned tomatoes.

Buy fresh berries in season and freeze to enjoy at a later date. Buy fresh produce in amounts that you can use before they go bad. Buy 5 carrots or 3 apples if that is all you need. If you buy a bag, split the contents between friends. Buy plain, bagged frozen vegetables instead of vegetables that are boxed and packaged with added sauces. They are half the cost and are usually lower in fat and salt. Eat coleslaw more often. Cabbage is cheaper than lettuce and more nutritious. Pre-cut your own veggies. Keep them sealed in a container or zipper bag to prevent them from drying out. Not all juices are created equally. When choosing a juice ensure that it is a juice, not a drink. Drinks contain a lot of sugar and little nutrition. The best buy is frozen orange juice concentrate. Milk Products Best Buys: Skim milk powder, milk, evaporated milk, processed slices, cheddar cheese, mozzarella, and plain yogurt

Budgeting

Remember, buy only the foods that you use or have space to store: Nutritious Pantry Basics: canned salmon, tuna, chicken canned or dried peas, beans, lentils canned fruit, dried fruit and raisins peanut butter canned tomatoes, corn pasta, rice and other grains skim milk powder salt, pepper and other seasonings bread, buns, bagels or pitas apple, oranges or banana potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage sugar, syrup, jam, oil, vinegar Nutritious Refrigerator Basics: eggs milk, cheese, yogurt margarine Nutritious Freezer Basics: frozen fruit juice concentrates (especially orange juice) frozen vegetables, berries and rhubarb Don't forget that breastfeeding can save money too, one pump( new or second hand), 2 breasts, and willingness to find out as much information as possible to help you succeed don't cost much. Some women can even express by hand. And you can feed baby expressed milk from a little cup or spoon.

How can you save money on your grocery bill? Here are a few tips: Plan a menu. Start with the main items of the meal, often the meat and alternatives, then build the grain products, vegetables and fruit, and milk products around that. Include snacks and special outings on your menu too. Check your fridge – use items that you already have as part of your menu. Make a shopping list. It helps prevent you from forgetting things when you shop. As well, it helps you to buy only the things you need and avoid impulse buys. Post a list on your fridge and make note of things you need as they run out. Before shopping, complete this list by using your menu. Watch those grocery store tricks! Compare costs using unit prices. Shop on a full stomach – if you are hungry, everything looks good! Use the “stoop and rise” method – items at eye level are often more expensive brand names. Resist checkout counter temptations and avoid end–of–the–aisle bargains (they may or may not be bargains). Store food and left–overs properly. Stock up on non–perishable foods. Spoiled food is like money down the drain. referance acknowledgements: http://www.ualberta.ca/HEALTHINFO/eathealthyintro.htm,http://ssw.unc.edu/fcrp/Cspn/vol1_no1/teen_pregnancy_and_parenting.htm