Eat More Pay Less
Have you ever stopped to think about how much food the average American has in his house without even realizing it. Yes, we all head to the fridge, hand our heads, and moan that there isn’t anything to eat, but what we mean is the fridge doesn’t have what I want to eat right now.
I challenge you to start making a list of what you actually do have in your house to eat though. Believe me, you will be surprised. Most of us have at least 2-3 boxes of pasta in a drawer or pantry, a couple of pieces of meat, some cans of soup, vegetables, beans, maybe a can or two of tuna fish. When you sit down and think about it, there is enough food in the house already to feed your house for probably a month, the key is to use it.
Instead of going grocery shopping when you are hungry or in a hurry and you just throw everything that sounds good or is a quick meal into your cart, take a moment to sit down, write out what you already have in your house, and come up with a meal plan that will use up some of those things that are just sitting around. Not only will this save you money on your grocery bill, these meals will likely be healthier because you are taking the time to plan them out and thus can ensure that you get so many vegetables and fruits per day other than french fries and cinnamon apples.
When you do go to the store, take your list along and only get what you need. Grazing just adds extra expense and calories to your day. You don’t really need that box of popsicles or that bag or cookies. If you want something sweet, get the ingredients and make it yourself or with your kids. This can be a great bonding time and then you also know what your kids are actually eating rather than all those unpronouncable chemicals listed on the back of boxes these days. People don’t have as much money now, but because many are working less, they do have the extra time to spend with their kids cooking and creating shopping lists that ensure they stick to their budget.
Making Food Affordable
Times are hard. We know that. So how can we afford to keep paying our bills but still eat well? When things get tough, usually the first area that sees cuts are eating out and entertainment. However, if you aren’t careful you can still end up spending the same amount of money on food and not even realize it.
For example, you may decide that you want to start eating at home more so you head to the grocery and start throwing things into the cart. Maybe some fresh produce and fruit so you can stick to that New Years Resolution. A little of this and a little of that and before you know it the cart is full.
Two days later you are leaving work starving and dreading the idea of going home and starting to cook. It’s been a long day and all you want to do is sit on the couch, watch some television and not think. But there is nothing cooked in the house. So you decide to take a detour on your way home and pick up some food.
You may have started the week with the best of intentions, but you wandered. In order to ensure that you actually do save money on food costs, plan out your weekly menu before going to the grocery store. This way you only buy what you will need for the week. This prevents impulse purchases which usually pad the grocery bill and pack on the pounds.
Once you have a menu planned, check out your Sunday paper for coupons or a website that offers coupons online that you can print out and take to the store. There are several wabsites that offer coupons. Check out Pillsbury or www.couponmom.com or www.coupons.com.
After you have purchased the stuff for the week, spend a few hours over the weekend when you have the time and energy and prep the recipes. This can mean making an entire recipe so you only have to reheat it when it’s time to eat or perhaps preparing a casserole and then freezing it until you are ready to cook it. By doing this you have no excuse for picking up fast food on the way home. Following these tips will help you have a healthier life and hopefully a fuller wallet.
Alternative ways to pay for Christmas
Many stores are touting their layaway plans this year as well as store credit cards. While these are both ok options, I prefer to stay away from credit cards and thus avoid the temptation to overspend. So this year, instead of throwing Christmas on your credit cards or putting something on layaway, check out these great ways to save or make a few extra bucks that you can put towards the Santa fund.
1. http://www.volition.com/
This site offers information on getting paid to surf the web, freebies from a variety of websites, coupons, and much more. I often use Volition to sign up for mystery shops when I have some free time. While mystery shops will not pay the bills, they are great if you want some extra cash. Many sites make you pay to have access to this information but with Volition you get it all for free. So if you are interested in making some extra money shopping or eating out, don’t pay for the info, check it out here instead.
2. http://riveroffers.com/?cogid=frend&refid=
This site offers everything you can imagine, If you are tired of your current cellphone provider, check this site out. You get the newest phones free from all the name brand providers plus free shipping and accessories as well! My husband and I don’t shop anywhere else when it comes to cellphones because nobody has been able to beat these deals. They also offer over 25 different credit cards sorted by what you want out of your card, ie points, low interest rate, cash back, etc. They also offer web hosting, domain names, high speed internet and much more. The best part, you can become an agent for free and then purchase what you need from yourself for additional discounts. Check it out.
3. www.couponmom.com
While not as exciting as the other two, this website offers a variety of ways to save money on your grocery bill and nights out on the town. Their weekly emails give you the best sales in town and options to print out coupons for additional savings.