@@PRINT: Need help with grocery shopping?@@
Learning to plan meals and grocery shopping can seem like a daunting task, but it can be fairly easy.
First, set a budget of how much you can afford to spend, then start to plan meals. Look at recipes that can be found online, in magazines, and books.
Consider shortcuts like combining fresh and frozen/canned foods to cook faster. Pick meals that could last multiple nights, not one. Look ahead for extra-busy days and plan something quick and simple. When grocery shopping, buy meal staples like bread, pasta, rice, tortillas, beans, cheese, flour, sugar, etc.
Use coupons. Organize coupons by categories or expiration date. Use local newspapers and online sources such as Cool Savings, Smart Source, and Value Page to find coupons. Go to particular brand name websites as well because they’ll have addition coupons.
Make a list of meals, including ingredients, for a week, two weeks or even a month. After making the list, go through the refrigerator/pantry and look at what you already have and adjust your list. Then go grocery shopping, spending only the amount budgeted, using coupons, and buying only what is on your list.
 
How Long Foods Lasts
Produce:
Fruits: 3-5 days, except apples, oranges and grapefruits, which can last a month.
Vegetables: 1-2 weeks.
 
Frozen Food:
Chicken/Steaks/Roasts: 6-12 months
Hamburger: 3-4 months
Ham/Bacon: 1-2 months
Fish/Shellfish: 3-6 months
Fruits: 6-12 months
Vegetables: 6-12 months
Breads/Baked Goods: 3 months
Soups/Stews: 2-3 months
 
Canned Food:
Canned foods last 12-18 months.
 
Fresh Meat:
Poultry: 1-3 days
Red Meats: 3-5 days
Ground beef/chicken/turkey: 1-2 days
Ham/Bacon: 3-7 days
Hot Dogs: 1 week opened, 2 weeks unopened
Fish/Shellfish: 1-2 days