Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Cutting your bill and waistline by saving money on food

When it comes to saving cash, it’s not hard to become overwhelmed, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Many consumers are trapped within the idea that saving money on food, household supplies or quite possibly vacations demands strenuous effort and sacrifice. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have to be that way, particularly for those who start off small and slow with a few small changes at home.

Saving money on food

Let’s keep it simple and focus on relatively easy ways to conserve, such as saving money on food purchases. Though the cost of food is increasing, you are able to keep away from the need for payday advances by learning a few simple tricks on how to really save money on food. Every little thing adds up, and you also will notice a drastic change in your spending lifestyle, as well as your health, if you work on developing good eating and spending habits.

Consider purchasing store brands

One easy, painless way to cut the grocery bill is to buy store brand food. As budgets get tighter and food prices run high, increasingly more consumers are turning to store brands — including higher income families. Store brand offerings that are just as good as or better than name brand products can be found almost anywhere you go. Many supermarket chains are offering more store brand products of better quality, and sticking close to store brand purchases can cut the bill down by 50 percent or more.

The benefit of getting in bulk

Another great way to conserve cash on food and prevent the need for payday loans is to purchase in bulk. Search for the items that cost probably the most and find out whether getting in bulk will save you more money in the end. You may want to stay from purchasing highly perishable items like fresh fruits and vegetables in bulk, but things like rice, potatoes, beans and pasta could be stored for a long period of time. Be careful, though, because getting in bulk can also work against you if you overstock and throw things away. You’ll basically be throwing hard-earned money down the drain.

Put a stop to impulse buying

Always write a list before making your way to the supermarket. Focus that list on necessary things you need each month and try not to confuse your wants with your needs. Any budget could be damaged by impulse buying, so it’s essential that you plan ahead and stick within your boundaries. Write a separate list for things you need for no real good reason other than to boost your morale and put it aside for a later time. As you start to see your money grow, you can go back to your “want” list and budget for one item at a time. It’s important that you reward yourself every once in a while for your efforts to conserve money.

Quick tip: The best time to plan a small shopping trip is during the busiest time of the day. With your purchasing list handy, you are able to easily go in and out and avoid the urge to look around and ignite temptation.

Make meals at home

If you have a busy day-to-day schedule, this could be a bit tricky. But keep in mind that you are able to save some significant bucks just by making meals at home. Furthermore, eating processed food and eating out can have a negative effect on your weight and overall health, also as your spending budget. For those of you who run busy lifestyles, preparing ahead of time will help a great deal. And here is where the crock pot handily comes in. Put all the ingredients in the slow cooker the night before, and on your way out the door the next morning, it will take almost no time to pull it out of the fridge and have it cook all day while you are away. It is almost as easy as applying for online pay day loan. When your day is over and it is time to come home, you are able to return to a home-cooked delicious meal everybody will enjoy.



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