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| Financial Focus |
| Cutting Food Costs: Saving Time vs. Money By: Rachel Paxton |
| Ideas to help you save money By: Chaele McMillan |
We all know that we need to eat better but isn't it
frustrating that the healthier you try to eat the
more money you seem to spend? It doesn't have
to be that way. Here are just a few tips to help
you feed your family nutritious meals without
breaking your budget.
1) Plan your meals around the sales. Stores
routinely rotate sales items every 6 weeks so plan
accordingly and stock up. Is chicken breast on
sale this week? Instead of buying 1 pack
purchase several packs, separate into family size
portions and freeze. If you routinely purchased
only what was on sale (besides the perishables
you need each week) you will soon have a well
stocked freezer and pantry as well as a smaller
grocery bill.
2) Avoid purchasing boxed foods. Most boxed
foods are full of preservatives and trans fats so it
is best to avoid them. Do you like the
convenience of boxed foods? There are several
good cookbooks and recipes online for making
homemade mixes to keep on hand. Everything
from homemade cookie mix to macaroni and
cheese and more. Put these mixes in a pretty jar
with the directions to prepare and it also makes a
nice frugal gift!
3) Use coupons wisely. How many times have you
gone to the store with a fist full of coupons only to
come home spending more than you planned?
The key to saving with coupons is to only
purchase the items you would normally use
anyway. You will also find that the store brand
may still be the better bargain. If your coupons
are used at the same time an item is on sale you
may also end up getting it for next to nothing, if
not free!
4) Do a coupon exchange. Check with family and
friends who get the Sunday paper and exchange
coupons for ones you can use. That way you can
really stock up when your favorite items are on
sale and you have coupons.
5) Buy produce in season. It will taste much better
and you will usually pay less. Also in the warmer
months be sure to take advantage of farmers
markets for low prices on produce. Buy items like
peppers and onions when on sale, chop them
and freeze them for quick recipes during the
week. Zucchini can be shredded and frozen for
zucchini bread and other recipes.
6) Make your grocery list and stick to it. Beware
of those impulse buys!
7) Shop after dinner. You wont be tempted to pick
up take out because you are too tired and hungry
to cook when you get home.
8) Shop alone whenever possible. Nothing blows
a budget quicker than when your kids are with
you! You will also get out of the store much
quicker which will actually save you money.
9) When buying meat think of recipes where you
can get more than one meal out of it. Meat sauce
is still satisfying with half the amount of ground
beef. Slice up other cuts of meat for stir fries or to
put on top of a nice salad and you have a quick
healthy meal.
10) Don't be loyal to just one store. Most grocery
stores have certain items priced really low to get
your business. If you have several grocery stores
in your area try and take advantage of what deals
each store has to offer.
11) Have breakfast for dinner once in a while. An
omelette, toast and fresh fruit is very economical
and very quick to cook on a busy night.
These are just a few tips to help you save money
while eating better. I hope that you find some or
all of them useful for your family!
Judy Turner is owner of
www.eatingonabudget.com which offers frugal
recipes and homemade mixes, money saving tips
and more. Contests and free offers are posted
often and your own recipes are always welcome!
frustrating that the healthier you try to eat the
more money you seem to spend? It doesn't have
to be that way. Here are just a few tips to help
you feed your family nutritious meals without
breaking your budget.
1) Plan your meals around the sales. Stores
routinely rotate sales items every 6 weeks so plan
accordingly and stock up. Is chicken breast on
sale this week? Instead of buying 1 pack
purchase several packs, separate into family size
portions and freeze. If you routinely purchased
only what was on sale (besides the perishables
you need each week) you will soon have a well
stocked freezer and pantry as well as a smaller
grocery bill.
2) Avoid purchasing boxed foods. Most boxed
foods are full of preservatives and trans fats so it
is best to avoid them. Do you like the
convenience of boxed foods? There are several
good cookbooks and recipes online for making
homemade mixes to keep on hand. Everything
from homemade cookie mix to macaroni and
cheese and more. Put these mixes in a pretty jar
with the directions to prepare and it also makes a
nice frugal gift!
3) Use coupons wisely. How many times have you
gone to the store with a fist full of coupons only to
come home spending more than you planned?
The key to saving with coupons is to only
purchase the items you would normally use
anyway. You will also find that the store brand
may still be the better bargain. If your coupons
are used at the same time an item is on sale you
may also end up getting it for next to nothing, if
not free!
4) Do a coupon exchange. Check with family and
friends who get the Sunday paper and exchange
coupons for ones you can use. That way you can
really stock up when your favorite items are on
sale and you have coupons.
5) Buy produce in season. It will taste much better
and you will usually pay less. Also in the warmer
months be sure to take advantage of farmers
markets for low prices on produce. Buy items like
peppers and onions when on sale, chop them
and freeze them for quick recipes during the
week. Zucchini can be shredded and frozen for
zucchini bread and other recipes.
6) Make your grocery list and stick to it. Beware
of those impulse buys!
7) Shop after dinner. You wont be tempted to pick
up take out because you are too tired and hungry
to cook when you get home.
8) Shop alone whenever possible. Nothing blows
a budget quicker than when your kids are with
you! You will also get out of the store much
quicker which will actually save you money.
9) When buying meat think of recipes where you
can get more than one meal out of it. Meat sauce
is still satisfying with half the amount of ground
beef. Slice up other cuts of meat for stir fries or to
put on top of a nice salad and you have a quick
healthy meal.
10) Don't be loyal to just one store. Most grocery
stores have certain items priced really low to get
your business. If you have several grocery stores
in your area try and take advantage of what deals
each store has to offer.
11) Have breakfast for dinner once in a while. An
omelette, toast and fresh fruit is very economical
and very quick to cook on a busy night.
These are just a few tips to help you save money
while eating better. I hope that you find some or
all of them useful for your family!
Judy Turner is owner of
www.eatingonabudget.com which offers frugal
recipes and homemade mixes, money saving tips
and more. Contests and free offers are posted
often and your own recipes are always welcome!
Make a distinction between what you need and
want. Get ready to save money:
1) Before buying those pair of shoes. Ask yourself
do you really need them? How many times are
you really going to wear them?
2) Before making a purchase over $50 wait five
days. If you still want the item go buy it, but most
of them time you will find that you really did not
need it.
3) Know where your money goes. You will be
surprised to see how much we spend money on
eating out, going to the movies. Chart where your
money is going.
4) If you get a huge tax refund or a rich Aunt dies,
don't spend all the money. It is great to save.
5) Don't use credit cards. If you do use a credit
card where you have to pay it off that month.
6) When you go shopping pay with cash. I do this
every time I go on a shopping trip. I normally
come back spending less and it is nice to have
money left in may wallet.
7) Don't have subscription to magazines. Go to
the library and read.
8) Shop around. The Internet is a great tool to
shop around. I love to use www.bizrate.com.
9) Take your lunch to work with you. Only allow
yourself to eat out once a month.
10) Clip coupons. If you save $10 a week on
groceries. That is $520 at the end of the year.
11) If you have kids, you go through the batteries.
Buy rechargable batteries and recharge them
when the toy dies.
12) Write a letter instead of calling and spending
money on long distance.
13) Buy clothing that will last. Cheaper isn't
always best.
14) Shop around for insurance. Shopping around
can save you some money.
15) Think twice before buying a new car.
Remember 5 years can be a long time to make
payments. Try to save money by buying last
year's model. Also look at demo's.
Keep in mind you can make cuts and if you find
you want it back you can put it back in your
budget. Don't live beyond your means.
Chaele McMillan is a mom of three, and owns
www.momstateuniversity.com
want. Get ready to save money:
1) Before buying those pair of shoes. Ask yourself
do you really need them? How many times are
you really going to wear them?
2) Before making a purchase over $50 wait five
days. If you still want the item go buy it, but most
of them time you will find that you really did not
need it.
3) Know where your money goes. You will be
surprised to see how much we spend money on
eating out, going to the movies. Chart where your
money is going.
4) If you get a huge tax refund or a rich Aunt dies,
don't spend all the money. It is great to save.
5) Don't use credit cards. If you do use a credit
card where you have to pay it off that month.
6) When you go shopping pay with cash. I do this
every time I go on a shopping trip. I normally
come back spending less and it is nice to have
money left in may wallet.
7) Don't have subscription to magazines. Go to
the library and read.
8) Shop around. The Internet is a great tool to
shop around. I love to use www.bizrate.com.
9) Take your lunch to work with you. Only allow
yourself to eat out once a month.
10) Clip coupons. If you save $10 a week on
groceries. That is $520 at the end of the year.
11) If you have kids, you go through the batteries.
Buy rechargable batteries and recharge them
when the toy dies.
12) Write a letter instead of calling and spending
money on long distance.
13) Buy clothing that will last. Cheaper isn't
always best.
14) Shop around for insurance. Shopping around
can save you some money.
15) Think twice before buying a new car.
Remember 5 years can be a long time to make
payments. Try to save money by buying last
year's model. Also look at demo's.
Keep in mind you can make cuts and if you find
you want it back you can put it back in your
budget. Don't live beyond your means.
Chaele McMillan is a mom of three, and owns
www.momstateuniversity.com
