Shopping at specialty stores

If you have a favorite authentic Chinese or Mexican dish, consider making a shopping trip to a specialty Chinese or Mexican market. The cost of specific ingredients used only in the authentic recipes are usually less than the grocery store.

Also, consider buying produce and meat at a natural food stores. In Colorado we have Sproutz, Sunflower, and Vitamin Cottage. Watch the ads for meat, cheese and produce. The meat and cheese go on sale occasionally cheaper than the grocery store. The stores seem to always have some produce that is significantly less than the grocery store and it is beautiful, delicious produce.

Always consider the amount of food you are buying verses time, gas, etc...before you go. These stores will have higher prices for other goods (milk, bread, cereal, etc...,) so plan on just shopping the ads if you go.

My family has loved the produce we got from Sproutz this last week. I may be making a monthly trip there to stock up on produce. Of course I will have to weigh in the gas and time factor, but it is something to consider.