Money Sense Tips

It seems like we’re all looking to get the most out of our family budgets, and to stretch our dollars as far as they’ll go. When we search for areas where we can cut back, our food budgets aren’t always the first thing that comes to mind. But there are a number of easy steps that you can take to “pinch pennies” and get the most out of your food dollar.

1. Make a List and Stick to It

Avoid going to the grocery store without a written list of what you’re there to buy. If you don’t have a plan, then it’s easy to fall prey to impulse shopping and add unnecessary items (cookies, chips, and sodas are common culprits) to your cart. An important way to make sure you stick to your list is never to go to the grocery store while you’re hungry.

2. Plan Your List with Store Ads

When you’re preparing your shopping list, it’s often a good idea to check your grocery store’s newspaper flyers. This way you can plan your meals based on what meats, fruits, vegetables and other items are on sale that week. If you don’t read the newspaper, don’t worry – most chain grocery stores also publish these flyers on their websites.

3. Compare “Per Unit” Prices

We all know that we should be comparing prices, to make sure that we don’t pay too much when we have choices between brands. But we also need to compare the “per unit” prices – so that if there are two different package sizes of the same item, we can make sure we’re getting the best deal.

The price tags on the shelf will usually (in smaller print) give the “per ounce” price (or the “per unit” price if it’s sandwich bags or something that isn’t sold by weight or volume). This makes it easier to compare the price of two different-sized packages, so that you can see how much you’d save buy buying the larger package. Make sure you’ll use everything you buy, though – if you end up throwing away half of the larger package because it goes bad, then you’re probably not saving!

4. Store Shopping Card

If you haven’t done so already, sign up for your store’s shopping card or loyalty card program. Doing so generally only takes a few minutes, and it makes it extremely easy to save more on your grocery bill. Just present your card when you’re at the checkout and you’ll automatically save.

5. Don’t Forget about Coupons

Of course, there’s always that old money-saving standby – coupons. Many magazines, and probably your local newspaper, still publish them. Chain grocery stores and food companies also let you print out coupons from their websites. And don’t forget that many stores still have days where they double the value of the coupons you use.

By using one or two of these tips you’ll save a noticeable amount on your weekly grocery bill. If you use them all, you can help your family’s budget even more!

Summer is here and picnics are on the agenda. Yet many picnics can get crazy when it comes to expense. They can also be incredibly unhealthy – ribs anyone? Here is a list of recipes and summer picnic ideas so you and your wallet can stay healthy.

#1 Roasted chicken. A whole chicken is incredibly inexpensive and it’s also much healthier than a burger or ribs. You can find whole roasted chickens already cooked at your market or you can cook it at home and take it to your picnic to eat warm or cold.

#2 Fill your basket with fruits and veggies. When you buy foods that are in season they’re much less expensive. Summer is a great time for finding tasty fruits and veggies in season. This means you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg filling your picnic basket. And because fruits and veggies are rich in fiber, you’ll fill up quickly. For even more savings, visit your local farmer’s market to buy your fruits and vegetables.

#3 Tuna, chicken or egg salad. Tuna salad, egg salad and chicken salad are all delicious and they’re inexpensive. And if you use light mayonnaise or yogurt as your dressing base, they’re healthy too. Add carrots, celery and other chopped veggies for a good crunch and more nutrition.

#4 Beverages. Skip soda and beer; it’s expensive and not so healthy. Instead bring water, tea or lemonade to drink. If it’s just not a picnic without beer, limit yourself to one and consider light beer for fewer calories.

#5 Make kebabs. Kebabs are great on the grill and they’re easy to make. Chop chicken, beef or lamb into cubes. Cut vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, onions, and squash into cubes. Skewer, marinate in an Italian dressing for an hour and then pop on the grill. They’re healthy and fairly inexpensive to make.

#7 Have fruit for dessert. If fresh fruit just isn’t enough dessert, consider making fruit popsicles.

Here’s a great recipe to try:

2 c. plain yogurt
1 c. bananas, strawberries, blueberries, etc.
1/2 c. orange or apple juice
Blend all ingredients together and pour into small paper cups or popsicle molds. If you’re using paper cups you’ll need to insert popsicle sticks. Place in freezer, remove when frozen and enjoy!  

There are many ways to make summertime picnics fun, inexpensive and healthy too. Step outside of the traditional foods like ribs, burgers, brownies and chips and embrace a healthier and more frugal lifestyle. Enjoy!