Do you find yourself needing to tighten your budget during the COVID-19 pandemic?  Do you wonder how to determine the best purchase for your money?  Are you looking for different meal and snack ideas to use?

A number of good websites have information posted for our use:

Using coupons and looking for the best price are great ways to save money at the grocery store. Knowing how to find them is the first step to cutting costs on food. Use the MyPlate coupon tips to stretch your budget. For information to stretch your food dollars, print the “Save More at the Grocery Store” tip sheet.

Need to eat better on a tighter budget? Before you go to the grocery store, Plan! Plan! Plan!  Get the most for your budget! There are many ways to save money on the foods that you eat. The three main
steps are planning before you shop, purchasing the items at the best price, and preparing meals that stretch your food dollars. For information to stretch your food dollars, print the “Eating Better on a Budget” tip sheet.

In the coming weeks, you are probably spending more time at home preparing meals and trying to stay creative and cost effective with what you prepare. It’s time to “Spend Smart, Eat Smart” for your meals. For ideas on different food prep ideas, visit the “Meals and Snacks from the Pantry” courtesy of the University of Iowa, Extension and Outreach website.  For comparative cost information about food, visit the “Unit Pricing” section of the University of Iowa, Extension and Outreach website.