16 Foods You Are Wasting Your Money On

Groceries can cost a fortune, and the best way to start saving money is to cut back on your grocery bill. Believe it or not, items at the grocery store can actually cost more than their counterparts. Buy whole, raw foods and store them in unique and creative ways to save money while eating healthy.

Pre Made Sandwiches

While it may seem like those frozen pb&j’s are the key to time saving in the morning, they cost less than making one yourself. Making a sandwich typically does not take more than five minutes. You can always make a lunch the night before if you are always short on time.

Frozen Fruit Bars

These yummy treats can cost up to $2 a bar, which adds up quickly! Next time you make a smoothie, pour some into a small paper cup and create your own frozen fruit treat! Or, use this recipe!

Pre Cut Fruits and Veggies

Avoid pre-cut items at all costs. The fruits or veggies are typically soaked in chemicals and preservatives to keep the food looking fresh. None of which is good for your body! Save money and eat better by cutting up veggies yourself. I Am That Lady recommends soaking the food in lemon juice if browning is a problem.

Individual Bags of Cookies

Instead of spending a fortune of individual bags of cookies, buy a family sized bag and separate the cookies into smaller bags when needed.

Bottled Tea

 Bottled tea can cost up to $3 a bottle, whereas teabags are only pennies! Next time you need a tea fix, brew some and bottle it yourself.

Bottled Water

You’ve been told this thousands of times. Bottled water is bad for your wallet and the environment. Invest in a water pitcher and reusable water bottles. This helps to diminish the impact of humans on landfills everywhere, and could really be a better option for your family.

Multigrain Bread

Reader’s Digest swears that multigrain bread is really a junk food in disguise. If you have to have this, be sure to check the ingredient and be sure that whole wheat is the first ingredient. Or, you could forget the bread all together and eat barley, steel cut oats, and quinoa instead.

Frozen Vegetables

Instead of buying peas and carrots in a “delicious buttered sauce”, Readers Digest recommends buy peas and carrots and freeze them in Ziplock bags. You are really just paying for the packaging, so making your own “buttered sauce” can really go a long way.

Salad Kits

Instead of buying a “salad in a bag”, put one together at home for half the cost! Seriously. It is so much cheaper!

Trail Mix

Store bought is kind of pricey! Make your own with nuts, candy, and dried fruit. Of course, if you don’t like something, don’t add it in! What a great way to control what goes in your trail mix.

Reduced-fat Peanut Butter

Hella Wella states that while you think that this peanut butter is a healthier option, it actually isn’t. When the fat is removed, companies have to add something that makes it taste just as good. Meaning, you could be eating more sugar or salt than you normally would have with normal peanut butter. Plus, the regular variety is generally less expensive!

Blueberry Flavored Items

Believe it or not, blueberry flavored items typically do not have any real blueberries in them. Really, that blueberry flavored granola bar you were eating is a lie. Add blueberries to cereal for a truly healthier option from Readers Digest.

TV Dinners

While it is a great to have a TV dinner as a dinner option when things get hectic, it does come with a price tag. Instead of splurging on TV dinners, set aside one evening of the week that you dedicate to  “food prep.” You’ve heard about it, and now it is time to actually do it! Food prepping has tons of health and money saving benefits.  Bake a few meals to last throughout the week and store in tupperware containers. This would even be a great idea for lunches!

Spice Mixes

Don’t spend money on taco mix! This spice mix can be easily replicated using the spices in your cabinet. Here’s a delicious recipe that features a homemade fajita seasoning.

Brown Sugar

This sweetening staple can be made using molasses and regular white sugar. Don’t every worry about running out again!

Bottled Juice

I Am That Lady recommends buying canned juice and reconstituting it yourself. It’s less expensive, and the same thing as bottled juice.