I used to love grocery shopping. Pushing the cart along the lanes of colorful packages and produce – all yelling “Buy me!” or “Don’t buy me I have too many calories!” It was fun and challenging.

But all that has changed. Now I dread my trips to the store because prices get higher every week. Did you know that the U.S. Department of Labor estimates that the average American family of four spends $8,513 per year on groceries. That’s about $709 per month for mathematically-challenged people like me.

I’m told food prices went up by 4 percent in the United States last year and are expected to climb as much again this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

So, how do we keep money in our pocket even as we have to keep feeding ourselves? The good people at Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension had some really good tips: Continue reading →