Save Money on Grocery Shopping -Tips for a Tight Budget

grocery
It is easy to overspend when grocery shopping. It’s probably the place where we do the most impulse shopping. So we tend to buy things we don’t really need and there goes the budget. If you would like to be a more frugal shopper, here are some things that will help guide you when buying groceries.

Make A List

Most People have certain things they eat regularly. So making a basic menu plan should be fairly simple. You know you have to eat dinner 7 times this week. So write down 7 dinners. Think about what you need to make those things. Make a list. Look in your pantry and fridge to see what basics you are out of. It helps to keep an ongoing list inside your cupboard of things as you run out of them. Making a list will help make sure that you get everything in one trip. Statistics show that you spend more the more trips you make to the store. When you go in for one item that you are out of, and you come out with a whole lot of other things. Plan to go grocery shopping two to three times a month. Sometimes it will be necessary to shop in between trips to the grocery store. If you have a problem with impulse buying, then maybe try getting your milk and bread at a convenience store where there is less to tempt you.

Should You Buy Already Prepared Food

It is usually better to cook from scratch when you have a large family. When I cook for my family it is generally cheaper to not use prepared foods. A big pot of stew is very inexpensive to make, but to buy cans of stew can run into money. However, if the choice is between going out to eat or prepared foods, then definitely prepared is better.

When it was just me and my husband, it was probably cheaper to buy prepared foods rather than buy all the different ingredients that we would need for a smaller batch. The food almost always went bad before we could use it, because there just wasn’t enough people to eat it. You can only have spaghetti for so many nights in a row.

Buy Basic Food Products

It is healthier and more cost effective to buy more basic things when shopping for groceries. Buying a bag of rice will save you money compared to a box of flavored rice. The prepared foods usually contain preservatives that are not good for your body. If you prepare the food yourself, then you can control exactly what is in it. Oatmeal is allot less expensive than instant oatmeal and it is better for you. Processing takes allot of nutrients out of food and it is quite a bit more expensive. Although, if you are not willing to take the extra time it takes to cook these foods, then this tip will not be helpful for you.

Check Adds Before You Go

Check your adds regularly. This will help you to know what is a good deal and what is not. Some stores are better to buy certain items at than others. I have a particular store that always has eggs on sale for a good price. That’s the only place I will buy eggs. Grocery stores adds start on the same day every week for the most part. Planning your menus around these specials can help you save as you shop. Generally the front page of the ad has the best deals. They’re designed to get your attention and make you want to come to that store. Just because an item is in the add does not mean it’s a good deal, that is why you need to check them regularly. Buying produce in season will also help you save money. If it is something you can freeze, then do so. Out of season fruits and vegetables are expensive and not good quality.

Store Discount Cards and Coupons

Many grocery stores have cards that give you a discount on certain items, especially items that are advertised in their ads at a sale price. If you don’t have a card, you’ll be charged a higher price, which is listed in the ad in tiny print beside the item’s picture. The cards are useful to shoppers. Many stores have registers that print out coupons for future purchases of items that you have bought that day if you are using the store card. The cards are easy to get; you have to fill out a sheet with some basic information at the register or customer service desk, and then just remember to use the card when you check out.

If you get the Sunday newspapers, it often includes coupons for dollars off on groceries. Most coupons are for processed foods and new products, but you can find them for many different items. You can use a coupon while an item is on sale, so you can double your savings. It does take a little organization though. If you’re on a budget, however, you could save quite a lot of money if you buy several items on sale with coupons.

Take A Calculator

How many times have you been shocked by the price at the register and wondered what did I buy? Well taking a calculator with you to shop could help you if you’re on a budget, especially if you’re an impulse buyer or have small children who distract you while you shop. If you’re good at math, you can try to keep a running total. But if your like me, a calculator would be great. As you add an item to your basket, punch the price in the calculator. Using a calculator will help you to make wiser choices; if you see that your total is rising rapidly, you can put something back and choose a lower priced item. Using the calculator will prevent any shock at the register.

Compare Brands

Many grocery stores have their own brand name products, and these products are usually made by well-known manufacturers. Store brand products are almost always less expensive than name brand products, and if you look at the ingredients, they are probably identical. Buy one of the store brand products, taste it, and if you like it you can save money next time you need that item. You can save by buying store brands on food, over-the-counter medicines, cleaners, and other household products. It is common for stores to put all of their store brand products on sale at one time.

Larger Quantity

If a grocery store puts a nonperishable item on sale at a very low price, buy extras. Basic foods like flour, sugar, beans, rice, canned and frozen goods will last quite a while if you use them regularly. If you buy enough, then you won’t have to buy it when it’s not on sale.

Buy your snack items in bulk instead of putting money in a vending machine regularly. Joining a wholesale club means you must purchase a member’s card, but a few trips to the club can save you lots of money if you buy items you use frequently in quantity. The clubs offer samples of certain items frequently, so you are able to try something before you buy it. This is great, because you don’t want to buy a ton of something you might not like.

On Sale

Just because it is on sale, doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. If it is not something you usually eat, then it may not be a great sale for you. When Kellogg’s goes on sale, it still may not be as cheap as the private label brand that you usually buy. You can save by buying items on sale, but it won’t be a savings if you don’t like the product. Only buy food that you know you or your family will eat or you will have wasted your money. Be careful that you don’t buy large quantities of perishable items. If half of it gets waisted before you eat it, you won’t have saved any money. Always check the date on sale items. It is very common for stores to put product on sale when they are close to going out of date.

Don’t Go To The Store Hungry

Make sure you have already eaten when you go to the store. Everything looks good when your hungry and your grocery bill will show it. It’s easier to resist junk food when your tummy is full.

When you have a plan, you are one step closer to sticking to your budget.

By: angela martinez

About the Author:

She is the mother of 5 children ranging from 18 yrs. down to 14 months. She is also the author of a variety of articles about family life with children. From babies to teens, she enjoys sharing ideas about what works for her.
http://babybottomsandbuttonnoses.blogspot.com/
http://abusymother5.blogspot.com/
http://abusymother5.blogspot.com/
http://barebottomsandbuttonnoses.blogspot.com/

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November 10th, 2009 in food and drink |

Ancient poets, emperors, and purple clay teapots

by J. Jia

It should come as no surprise that many eminent people throughout Chinese history have loved . What is peculiar, however, is that some of the most famous, cultured individuals China has ever seen also fell in love with a particular kind of , made out of a material called .

Ancient poet Su Dongpo (1037 – 1101) and his original

Easily one of them most famous writers in Chinese history is Su Dongpo. He lived 1,000 years ago during the Song dynasty (960-1279), but his work is still popular and resonates with the life of modern-day Chinese.

At the same time, this remarkable writer was an enthusiast about and teapots. He even devised a novel, classic called a “Dongpo Cross Beam Pot,” which modern potters still try to mimic tirelessly.

Su would work day and night on his poetry and other work, so he would frequently rely on to keep him awake. He was irritated by the tiny pots of the day, which were much too small to hold a whole night’s worth of .

Therefore he intended to make a big by himself. He bought some , and started to shape and work with it. But several months passed, and he still failed to complete a decent pot. Can you imagine how anxious he was?

Then finally, as the poor poet was still worrying about the pot, a boy attendant came over and invited Su to enjoy a small meal with him. Su’s face lit up as soon as he took notice of a lantern in the boy’s hand. “Great! I will make a large based on this lantern!” he thought.

After just a few tries, Su perfected the lantern-shaped . But there was a problem: it was heavy and slick, so no one could hold it. Even attaching the standard handle was not enough. After thinking for some time, Su crafted a long, U-shaped handle that hung over the pot and attached to both the front and back. This handle was easy to carry, and gave great leverage when pouring out of the large belly of the pot.

After that, Su was constantly using his special big while intently creating his poems. Some say he had even spent more time with the pot than with his own son. At present, there are still a number of master potters trying to emulate Su’s original design. They give their imitations a name Dongpo Cross Beam Pot, according to Su’s name and the characteristics of his famous pot.

Here’s a photo of one such pot, taken in Su’s old home:

A famous emperor and teapots

Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) was on the throne for 60 years. He lived to be 89 years old and was the oldest emperor in Chinese imperial history.

He was a huge fan of , and some say this addiction was what helped him live such a long life. He would go from place to place, sampling the across his vast kingdom.

To go with his fanaticism over , Qianlong was also serious about his teaware. He thought teapots were the finest in the world. Almost every time he had a cup of , he demanded that it be brewed from a . He thought these teapots brought the best out of his .

Emperor Qianlong appointed specialists to select the best teapots from , or to design the most appealing styles. Favored by emperors like Qianlong, teapots earned a great reputation soon. Nowadays, people are proud of owning good teapots. Although we have no chance to being an emperor for even one day, we can pick a and experience the pleasure that emperors used to have.

About the Author:
Author J. Jia has studied Chinese culture, calligraphy, and arts & crafts such as Yixing purple clay for 20+ years. From time to time, he endorses skilled Chinese craftsmen. View some fine tea sets from China here.

May 29th, 2009 in food and drink |

Historical stories on purple clay teapots

by J. Jia

Given the apparent love affair most Chinese people have with , you shouldn’t be shocked to learn that certain people have also found a deep connection with their teapots and other teaware. And these may not be the kind of people you’re thinking of: everyone from emperors to artists, writers to laymen have found joy in a special kind of pot: those crafted out of .

Ancient poet Su Dongpo (1037 – 1101) and his original

Su Dongpo was the most eminent writer of the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279). His works feature an unconstrained and enthusiastic style. Chinese people are so lucky that Su has left some 4,000 ancient poems to them. Besides, he was also a very famous calligrapher and painter.

At the same time, this remarkable writer was an enthusiast about and teapots. He even devised a novel, classic called a “Dongpo Cross Beam Pot,” which modern potters still try to mimic tirelessly.

For a period of time, Su used to live at , the only place that has natural . He would savor the joy of while doing his work. However, the teapots at that time were all so small that he had to keep drinking one pot after another after another. This caused much trouble for him, as his creative inspiration had to be interrupted time after time.

To solve this problem, Su decided to make a large with his own hands. He purchased some local earthenware clay — , and got his plan under way. However, after a few months’ effort, not a single satisfactory pot showed up. It became a secret trouble to him.

One night, a boy attendant carrying a lantern came and asked Su to have a snack. All of a sudden, a good idea came to Su’s mind: Why not make a pot in the shape of this lantern?

He bought some clay and this time, a lantern-shaped was finished, but the creation turned out to be so sleek that he could not hold it. So he made a clay rope and fixed its two ends on the both sides of the pot. After firing, the clay rope that served as a lifting handle and looked like a cross beam.

After that, Su was constantly using his special big while intently creating his poems. Some say he had even spent more time with the pot than with his own son. At present, there are still a number of master potters trying to emulate Su’s original design. They give their imitations a name Dongpo Cross Beam Pot, according to Su’s name and the characteristics of his famous pot.

Take a look at the photo of a real Dongpo Cross Beam Pot. It was taken at San Su Temple, the former residence of Su Dongpo, in the southwestern part of Sichuan province.

One of China’s finest emperors loved , too

The Qianlong emperor of the Qing dynasty was one of the oldest emperors in history and ruled for one of the longest periods of time.

He was a huge fan of , and some say this addiction was what helped him live such a long life. He would go from place to place, sampling the across his vast kingdom.

As a connoisseur, Qianlong also called for teapots to match his . So he amassed a large collection of first-rank teapots, as he thought it was very clear that a good could bring out the original color, scent, and taste of his . He boasted their superior quality and functions. He called teapots ‘The best ware on earth.’

Qianlong loved teapots so much, there are pots with his personal seals and calligraphy printed on them in museums across China. His appreciation for these pots spurred business in , as of course everyone wanted to copy the emperor. As a result, a huge number of pots were made and large strides in the development of teaware occurred under his rule.

About the Author:
Specialist J. Jia has studied Chinese , paintings, and other art such as purple clay teapots for 20+ years. From time to time, he endorses the work of certain potters. See samples of fine tea sets from China here.

May 28th, 2009 in food and drink |