How To Save Money In A Recession – And Look Wonderful!
Times are hard. No one in my circle of friends and relatives has not been affected by the economic problems. However, thanks to Cleaver’s tips, tricks and ideas, we have been able to work together to make ends meet and reduce debt. These are the best ways I’ve found to save a lot of money in the kitchen this month.
5. Clip Coupons: You’ve heard it once, if you’ve heard it a thousand times. However, this advice saves a lot of money. On each trip to the supermarket, I save about $20.00. It only takes about 20 minutes every Sunday to flip through the coupons. I decide which ones I can use, cut them out, and keep them in a little photo book that I keep in my bag at all times. Think of it this way, clipping coupons is the equivalent of working a job that pays $60.00 an hour.
4. Shop for price-matching stores. Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Staples will match all of their competitors’ sales prices and coupons (Buy One, Get One is generally not included in matching, but check with each store). Some will even add an extra 10% off the difference to make sure you get the sale. This method is beneficial in saving a ton of gas and time, which is not reflected on a printed receipt.
3. Make a list, double check it, and for God’s sake, STICK TO IT! Loading carts with carbs, high-sugar foods, and convenience foods is not healthy for your families, your wallet, or your waistline! Shop for food on the outer edges of grocery stores. If you’re short on time, like most of us, buy pre-cut foods like celery, carrots, and apples. Buy whole grain foods and you won’t need to buy as many. High fiber foods will fill you up faster and last longer than Little Debbie snacks. Nuts, dried fruit, Go-gurts, and Multigrain Tostitos are perfect budget-friendly snack solutions. Sticking to your list will save you $30.00 or more per shopping trip.
2. Avoid eating out more than once or twice a week. I know, you don’t have time/energy to cook. So do not do it. Buy a slow cooker or Dutch oven and have it cook for you. Store-bought French bread and bagged salads will complete any meal, and the cost per slice is still less than a dollar per person. Here is a small list of what you can cook while you are at work. Recipes are available online through various cooking sites.
a stew
B. spaghetti
C. Whole chicken and vegetables
Minestrone soup
E. Pot roast
1. Make your own “to-go” foods.
A. Instant oatmeal. In a large bowl combine 3 cups instant oats (buy the larger container and save more money), 1/2 cup dried fruit of your choice (optional), 1/2 cup walnuts or almonds (optional) 1/2 cup of dehydrated skim milk, 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 3 tablespoons of cinnamon. Scoop out 1/2 cup servings into zipper bags. Add 1/4 cup of boiling water and stir to serve. Makes 7 servings.
B. Frozen sandwiches. Spread peanut butter, or almond butter for allergy sufferers, on two slices of whole wheat bread. Spread the jelly of your choice just in the center of the bread, about a half-inch from the edges. Use a cookie cutter or purchase a sandwich cutter from Pampered Chef. Freeze four sandwiches at a time on a cookie sheet until completely frozen to avoid breaking the sandwiches. Once fully frozen, wrap with plastic wrap and refreeze. Do not allow it to thaw during the transfer process.
C. When you cook one meal, make two. One to eat the night it’s made and the other to heat up when you’re too exhausted to cook. Other variations on this are to cook an entire 3-pound burger package with taco seasoning or Italian seasoning and after it’s browned, divide it into three parts, one to eat now and the other two parts to freeze in freezer bags. You can cook ahead of time and freeze chicken, ground pork, beef, and venison.
D. Use an air popper to pop several cups of popcorn and season with garlic salt and Parmesan cheese. Divide into small zip-lock bags for lunches instead of high-fat chips.
E. Avoid driving by espresso shops. Sure they’re quick and easy, but the cost of your lightly foamed double latte will cost you an average of $75.00 per month. Buy certified organic and fair trade coffee, like French Roast from Nectar of Life Coffee Company, and brew strong coffee at home. If you need steamed milk, then buy a $10.00 frothing wand at Target, Wal-Mart, or other mass retailers. If you think you’ll have trouble imitating the flavors you like, that’s not a problem either. Vanilla, Hazelnut, and Caramel are available in syrup form at the retailers listed above. You can find them in clear glass containers in the cafe aisle. Making your own drinks and buying organic coffee will save you $60.00 per month alone. It’s worth the work.
Cutting down can seem like a lot of work. These small changes have a big impact if they can be sustained over the long term. However, I have found that both my waistline and wallet are much healthier.