Buying loss-leaders and other discounted items at the supermarket can really help the food budget. Every fall, when frozen turkeys drop below $.50 a pound we buy several. Short-dated meat and cheese sells for half-price and freezes just fine. Half-gallon cartons of orange juice can be had for $.88 several times a year. We leave them outside to freeze, then stash them in the freezer. In the summer we use them like ice cubes to chill the water when we are blanching beans and then continue thawing them in the refrigerator where they help keep the compressor from cycling so frequently. Buy lemons when they are inexpensive and store them in the freezer. Simply put them whole in a plastic bag. When needed, take one out and allow to thaw or microwave briefly. Not only does the freezing help to release the juice, but the rind protects it from picking up off-flavors. Once-a-year pasta goes on sale at 4/$1.00. We buy twenty-four packages. Sometimes it is 3/$1.00 and if we are low we buy six to eight packages.
We lost compassion for the supermarket chains in our area when they laid off most of their full-time employees to cut the cost of benefits like health insurance--an incredibly unethical corporate decision. If anyone needs help with health insurance costs its the dedicated, full-time employee making minimum wage. Ever since they did that to our neighbors we have taken to what we call "shopping with a vengeance". Assume the store is out to part you with as much of your money as it can and shop accordingly. Buy only the loss-leaders; play their game since they are making the rules, try to get as much as you can for the least amount of money. Treat the employees with total respect, be free with compliments to the management whenever possible, and if you have complaints about the store give them to the guys (most often they are guys) in the suits, they have good wages and benefits--make them earn their privilege.