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When finances get tight, luxuries are the easiest and most obvious things to cut.
Not always so obvious is how to cut spending on the essentials, such as food. But with the price of what we eat predicted to soar at near historic levels this year, it's well worth looking for ways to cut spending.
This year the overall cost of food is expected to rise between 3 and 4 percent, which is on top of a 4 percent hike last year, the highest jump since 1990, according to federal data. Average years see increases of just 212 percent.
This year's increase could translate into hundreds of dollars for many families. The typical family of four spends more than $8,500 a year on food, according to 2006 data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Sharp increases in fuel and commodity prices take most of the blame, says Ephraim Leibtag, an economist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. And some products are being hit harder than others.
Cereals and baked goods prices, for example, are expected to rise by as much as 6 percent, while fats and oils could go up by 612 percent. The latter is due in part to high soy prices, says Leibtag.
But there are many things a family can do to cut food costs that involve more planning than sacrifice.
"The first one is start paying attention to what you throw away," says Beverly Mills, one of the authors of the cookbook, "Cheap. Fast. Good!" "The most expensive food you buy is the food you don't eat."
One good trick for cutting down waste is to pay attention to portion sizes. Mills says she saves food by noticing how much her family eats, then preparing only that much.
Forcing yourself to use what you have is another good approach. Many people don't realize how much food is sitting in their pantries and cupboards. Forcing yourself to use those items before buying more can save plenty, Mills says.
And don't be afraid to ask for help. The nation's cooperative extension services are staffed by experts eager to help families make food affordable. The following frugal food tips were collected from various extension services.
Before you shop
* Create a budget by tracking your food expenses (everything, including your morning coffee at the gas station) for a week. It's much easier to save money once you know where it goes.
* Use your budget to find spending areas that could be painlessly cut. Coffee on the road, for example.
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