Many family caregivers help their older family members to budget their money and pay bills. For seniors who are on fixed incomes that are lower than their pre-retirement incomes, that can be a little tricky. As a family caregiver, you might be looking for ways to help your aging relative to save money wherever they can. Some bills are set amounts that you can’t change, like rent. One bill that can vary a lot, though, is the grocery bill. Fortunately, it’s also one of the bills caregivers can help to lower using the 5 suggestions listed below.
#1: Shop on Senior Day
If the grocery store in your older family member’s neighborhood offers a discount to seniors on a certain day of the week, take them grocery shopping on that day. The amount of the discount is typically somewhere around 5 to 10 percent, but every dollar can count when you’re trying to stretch them further. You can increase the savings by also using coupons.
#2: Plan a Menu
Caregivers can sit down with older adults once a week to plan a menu. Then, use the menu to shop for only the ingredients needed to make the meals. This can prevent impulse buys and ensure the senior still has everything they need for the week.
#3: Use Everything
Periodically take a look through the senior’s cupboards and freezer and prepare a meal using what’s on hand. This prevents food waste and purchasing food that isn’t needed. Even if the meal isn’t needed for the week, you may be able to freeze it for later use.
#4: Serve Meatless Meals
Meat is often the most expensive item on a grocery list. By serving a meatless meal at least once per meal, you can shave a few dollars off the grocery bill. Plus, it can give caregivers and older adults a chance to try something new. Another way to reduce the amount of money spent on meat is to make meals that use crumbled meats, like casseroles. Use less meat than the recipe calls for so that it adds flavor but isn’t the bulk of the meal. Add more vegetables or beans to bulk out the meal.
#5: Shop the Sales
When you sit down to plan the weekly menu, use the grocery store’s sales flyer to plan around what’s on sale. If chicken is on sale this week, come up with several different ways to prepare it to keep things interesting. Also, stock up on non-perishable staples when they are on sale.
Sources
https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-to-save-money-on-groceries
https://www.wisebread.com/25-ways-to-lower-your-grocery-bill