A new strategy on saving money at the supermarket: buy only the stores own brand of each brand name Item I buy

[Retrograde]

46. Don't be "Penny wise, pound foolish"

It doesn't matter how much cheaper something is if you can't use it. I'm a Costco member, and shop there every other month or so. There are some things that look like a bargain - like large cuts of meat or packages of vegetables - but if you have a small household you may not be able to use it all before it starts to go bad. It's great for canned goods, cooking oils, vinegar, condiments, dried items, etc., though, if you have the space to store them. There are two other drawbacks to Costco: it seems that every time I find something I like they discontinue it. And their stock can vary by store. I'm equidistant between two Costco stores: one, in a neighborhood with a large Mexican population, is a good place for canned refried beans and chiles. Another, in a neighborhood with a lot of Chinese immigrants, carries more East Asian foods. (A friend in an area with a large Indian population says the Costco near her carries a lot of Indian foods and spices)

Learn to use as much of what you buy that you can - especially meats. Bones and small scraps can be used to make stocks and soups (I second the recommendation above to find an InstantPot or slow cooker). Small pieces of meat can be used in tacos, pasta sauces, soup, ramen, omelets, stir-fries.