HEALTHY LIVING TIPS

The first thing you need to know about consuming on a budget is that it’s not truly about what you eat. It’s more to do with how you plan. You know, each time you go into a grocery shop you are fascinated by things on the racks that don’t fit into your budget. The grocery store has put in a lot of time and money into learning how to position things in their shop so that they’ll be the most tempting for anybody, but not the fixed budget follower! If you’re grocery purchase on a budget, you must schedule ahead so that you don’t trap into one of these promotion tricks; orelse you are almost guaranteed to spend minimum a few dollars more than you anticipated! The first thing you must do is cut your trips to the grocery shop not more than once a week if possible. Things happen, milk does get spilled, or ferment, but for the most part the less times you go by those grocery store doors, the better. This implies that you need to set aside a couple of hours each week for family meal budgeting and forming a comprehensive grocery shopping list. Begin with a list of meals you need to give for your family over the course of the next week. Make titles for each day of the week on a bit of paper and under each day note down what meals you have to provide. This could be as easy as breakfast, lunch, supper every day, or complex to record that one of your kids has a party, or that you’ve been invited to a make-and-take meal, etc. Once you’re glad that you’ve accounted for every meal required throughout the week, then assume what your menu will be. Keep it precise. Synopsis are where things start to go wrong with the budget – grilled chicken breast on rice with servings of red peppers and zucchini is going to indicate you exactly what you will buy: chicken breasts, rice, red peppers and zucchini. Otherwise chicken and vegetables means that you could purchase any kind of chicken, not be confirm on how you’re going to make it until the day of the meal, and then a selection of vegetables which will probably be more than you need as the fantastic way of keeping your grocery purchasing on a budget is to purchase in bulk where possible. If you prearrange your family meals to use a small choice of fruits and vegetables in meals throughout the week, you’ll be able to gain from buy purchasing more quantity of whatever’s in season or on sale at the grocery store. By purchasing fruits and vegetables in excess and on sale, you’ll be proficient to provide your family with nutritious meals on a budget. Work through your week, meal by meal. This might take you a couple of sessions specially the first few times that you’re doing your grocery shopping on a budget with this way. Once you’re through, make a grocery shopping list. Put a mark next to each article as you note down it from the menu to the list, then you make sure that nothing is elapsed. Once your menu products for the coming week are recorded for, check your cupboards for any basic staples such as seasonings, flour, oil, grains, etc that you need for the items on your menu. Add any products that you’re short for on to the grocery shopping list. Lastly, add any vital basics like drinks – such as milk neede for drinking, individual portion drinks for bagged meals plus household goods like detergents, hygiene items, etc. Now you’re ready to go grocery shopping on a budget! As you become more proficient in this you can even know how to work your menu planning in to take advantage of coupons and weekly saver bargains that your grocery store presents. Family meal planning takes time, specially in the beginning, but it pays big dividends for anybody with a tight budget and a family to feed.

By: jamiehanson

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FREE GROCERY SAVINGS

The grocery store is full of delicious items that may all seem tempting to buy however use these tips to keep your costs down and not purchase more than you need.

Before Heading to the Grocery Store

Check to see what you already have so you don’t buy more than you need.

Plan your spending to avoid impulse buys like candy bars at the checkout or unnecessary snacks.

Grow your own fruits, nuts, and veggies or make it yourself to save!

Prepare a menu list of items for the week based on the week’s breakfast, lunch and dinners, around what you already have, and what’s on sale.

If your local area has food co-ops, sign up! A food co-op can greatly reduce your weekly food bill by as much as 50%.

Shop for products before you run out of them. If you run out of an item the price might increase the next time you go to purchase it so buy it when the price is down.

Due to volume discounts, larger stores are generally cheaper than smaller ones so shop there for non-perishable items.

Avoid trips to the convenience store because prices are raised up.

Keep an ongoing grocery list during the week and take it when you go shopping and stick to it!

If you go to the supermarket early in the morning you might have a better chance of getting marked down items like fresh produce.

Shop alone so you get done fast and wont buy any additional items.

Don’t shop for groceries on an empty stomach because you’ll want to buy everything you are craving.

Clean out your refrigerator, so you can easily put your groceries away.

The best sales are on the front and back of your supermarket flyer so be sure to check it out.

While Shopping

Stick to your shopping list.

Ask for help rather than wasting time looking for items or better deals.

Meat is a good source of protein but it’s costly. Cheese, poultry, eggs, peanut butter, dried peas, beans, lentils, and some fish are some great alternatives for less.

Buy whole chickens instead of just the breasts. Buying breasts separate is very expensive.

Buy locally grown foods; they are fresher, and more nutritious.

Shop the sales! Go to different grocery stores to get the best deals.

Most bargains are found on the higher and lower shelves. Look for store brand products not name brand.

Look for unadvertised specials.

Shop for items that you use regularly. Once you run out, you will have to pay whatever the supermarket charges and the price might have changed.

Stock up! If a product you use is on sale, buy as many as you can and store them to last you until the next sale.

Wait until the item goes on sale. If you study your products and stores, you can have enough to last until the item is discounted again.

Take advantage of your freezer and stock it with frozen or dairy items, such as cheese, butter and milk that are on sale.

Buy in bulk when the unit price is less. Packaged items do not always mean lower prices.

Just because an item is marked that it’s on sale doesn’t mean you are getting it for a lower than normal price so be sure to know your prices.

Use store savings cards.

Try generic or store brands. You can usually return it if you aren’t happy.

Buy in season veggies and fruit.

Always check the expiration date on dairy products.

Convenience foods are more expensive. Prepare a meal the day before to save time instead of spending more on prepared foods.

Check the day old bread bin, and the reduced merchandise cart.

Ask for a rain check if an advertised special is out of stock. Look for more coupons for that product until it comes back in, you might save double!

Breads and rolls freeze very well so stock up at bread outlets.

After Shopping

Return any product that is spoiled.

Send out for rebates to get items free, or close to free!

Study the sales cycles of the stores you shop at, so you will know when to expect certain items to go on sale.

No store has the lowest price on all items; it will vary so be sure to investigate.

Watch as the clerk rings up your purchases and be sure to check your receipt. Lastly, make sure you have all your bags before leaving and empty your cart completely, don’t forget underneath the cart if you used it for larger items



By: Kelly Kennedy

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FREE GROCERIES CARD