Save a Bunch by Cooking at Home
Cheap fast, food isn't always the least expensive option. Truth is, you can save tons of money cooking your own food at home. Sometimes, cooking it at home can be just as quick and convenient also.
Our society puts a lot of emphasis on rushing through a meal, and along with that rushing, one can expect for most to have a disregard for the pricing of this food. For those who are more cost conscious, spending $6 on one waffle or paying $2 for one bowl of cereal may not be feasible. When you have a family, you are probably even more mindful of the expense associated with eating out. Having a small basic meal at McDonald's for a family of 4 could cost you as much as $20. On occasion, that is alright for some. But for many, $20 is enough for that same family of four to eat for several days.
Here are some money saving tips for ways to save money by preparing your own food:
1. Plan your meals well in advance. This will allow you to incorporate more variety in your meals while continuing to monitor the expense of your choices. Planning your meals can be a lot of fun for a family also. It will give you all something to look forward to and can be very exciting.
2. Buy foods when they are on sale and store them properly. That way, after you plan your meals, you will be able to get all of the things that you need at the best prices.
3. Search online for recipes for some of your favorite eateries. Then, buy the ingredients using coupons or by catching items at the best possible prices.
4. Use a farmers market or produce stands for your fresh fruits and vegetables. Often, these smaller operations offer better prices than supermarkets. There are, generally, no transportation costs to be factored in, thus, allowing you to save more as a consumer.
5. Substitute and experiment. Cooking at home can very rewarding, but if you find that items, such as certain cuts of beef, are extremely expense, you may want to try another less expensive cut or another meat alternative. Trying different foods can also be a great way to explore a myriad of flavors. You may actually find a better tasting choice for your recipe.
6. Don't cook too much. Cook just enough so that everyone gets his or her fill. Often when we cook large portions, we end up with leftovers. These leftovers can often get thrown away, forgotten, and wasted.
7. Use coupons, store rebates, and specials whenever possible. Each time you shop, if you use some type of saving tool, you will quickly realize how much you are really saving. Knowing that you paid little or nothing (yes, sometimes, you can get free stuff from the supermarket using coupons), can really cause your money to add up over time.
Cooking at home can be a lot of fun and a very cost-effective alternative for families that want to save money. Planning, portion control, and finding great deals on food make cooking at home a fantastic money saving option for people all over.
By: TheCouponDad
8 Tips on How to Save Money on Diapers
While it is but a brief moment in time, the diapering phase can be a very expensive period in your child's life. From birth through about age 2, there is a great amount of effort, and money involved with keeping those little bottoms comfortable and covered. At an estimated 8 diaper changes per day, over about 2 years, a family can expect to spend thousands of dollars through this diapering period. If you have had the good fortune of being the parent of multiples, then double or triple your expected expenses.
That being said, parents can take heart knowing that them and their wallets can make it through this stage without too much financial drama if they follow these money saving tips:
1. Consider purchasing a store-brand diaper. These diapers sometimes cost as much as 15%-25% less than national brands. They also come in larger per package quantities. With a store brand, you may pay $5.99 for 40 size 3 diapers versus a national brand, which could cost $7.99 for 34 of the same size diaper. It's pretty simple to see how that the savings could add up over the course of the diaper stage.
2. Always use coupons for national brands. Almost all national brands of diapers make money-saving coupons available. You can find them on the diaper packaging itself, on their websites, in the newspaper coupons, or through online coupon clubs. The savings generally range from 50c to $3 or more off of the price. Some children may have allergic reactions to certain brands, so, don't buy a lot of one brand until you have tried them out on your child. It would be very disheartening to have cases and cases of diapers, and then find out that your baby's skin cannot tolerate that brand.
3. Join online and supermarket baby clubs. These clubs allow you to earn credits for baby purchases that can be applied to future purchases, or they will give you club-only coupons and specials. Only join free clubs that have a good reputation, such as those found in your local supermarket or on known family sites.
4. Use the discount codes that you will receive on promotions from the hospital baby bag sponsors. These companies often provide more money saving information on products such as diapers. They may even send samples to your home.
5. Ask for diapers, in abundance, on your baby registry. If this is not your first child, then you probably have most of what you need to effectively care for a new baby. So, instead of adding lots of cutesy dresses or sailor suits to your baby shower registry, load it up with diapers.
6. Use online auctions such as Ebay for diapers or discounted supermarket/baby store gift cards. Often people will auction off cards for stores that they may not normally visit. Take advantage of these great opportunities.
7. Try using cloth diapers. Cloth diapers used to be a very messy and cumbersome ordeal. Now, with the advent of velcro flaps and washing machines, using cloth diapers has never been easier. It also is a very environmentally conscious option.
The diaper-changing phase is such a short (albeit costly) time in the grand scheme of things; but there are many ways that your family can save through this stage of your child's life. So, save and enjoy all of the great things you and your family will be able to do with that extra cash!
By: TheCouponDad
How to Save Money on your Groceries
Supermarkets stock thousands of products, yet, according to Michael McBurney at the Kellogg Company, customers typically make 50 percent or more of their purchases from a list of about 150 products.
"Their other purchases often are impulse buys that can add to the grocery bill unnecessarily," said Mary Meck Higgins, Kansas State University Research and Extension nutrition specialist. "Impulse purchases also can increase when shoppers are hungry or shop without a list."
People usually can trim grocery bills and still eat well, said Higgins, who offered these shopping and cost-saving tips:
· Study the layout of the supermarket. The basics - fresh produce, dairy products, meats, and bakery items usually are arranged on the perimeter (outer wall) of the store. More costly processed foods, such as snack foods, cereals and mixes, usually are on interior aisles. Frozen food cases are grouped, often in center aisles.
"Organize the shopping list to match the layout of the store to minimize time needed to retrace steps and to decrease impulse purchases," she said.
· Observe product placement. More expensive products usually are placed on middle shelves, within easy reach. Less expensive foods (store brands, for example) are placed high and low, where they are not so easily reached.
"The old saying, 'look high or low to save dough' still fits," Higgins said.
· Check prices on product displays. Store displays, including those at the end of the aisles, do not always feature sale products. Use a grocery receipt to make a note of prices paid for frequently-used items on a master shopping or price list. Take the list of prices and the grocery list when you shop, or note price and brand on a computer- generated list that can be printed and used as the basis for weekly shopping lists. Use it to verify bargain prices.
· Keep a running grocery list at home to avoid return trips for forgotten items.
Reducing the number of trips saves time and money because shoppers rarely limit their purchases to one item. It's time-consuming and not always profitable to 'store hop' for only the specials. A warehouse or discount store is unlikely to have the lowest price on all products, however. Higgins advised shoppers to consider time, money and convenience.
· Check prices and products in supermarket advertisements, inserts or fliers. Shop the specials and use coupons only if you will save money by doing so. Limit purchases to products that can realistically be stored or used. Prices on multiple sales, such as 10 cans for $10, may be pro-rated per can.
Other marketing strategies may or may not produce a cost savings, Higgins said.
"Buy one, get one free" sounds good, but often the "one" is being marketed at an increased price. A loss leader is a product -- a name brand cereal, for example -- that a store is willing to sell at cost or less to attract customers who will buy other products while in the store.
Brand name items usually cost more than store brands, but are not always better quality.
· Use cost-savings to your advantage. Buy a larger quantity - 10 pounds of ground beef, for example - and re-package the meat in family-sized packages before storing or freezing.
· Eat seasonal foods that cost less because of large supplies, such as fresh lettuce, spinach or strawberries in late spring and early summer or apples, squash or sweet potatoes in the fall.
· Can't make up your mind about which product to buy? Higgins advised reading labels and checking unit prices or cost per serving or use: A one-pound boneless roast will yield four servings; a bone-in roast with the same weight and cost will only yield three servings.
· To save the most money, shop alone, at a time when a store will be stocked, but not crowded, perhaps early in the morning or during the week.
"While it's true that each additional person can add expense, there is value in encouraging a child to choose a fruit or vegetable to try or to learn more about where food comes from," said Higgins, who prefers to shop with a partner, either one of her children or her husband.
"Inviting a family member to accompany you provides one-on-one time that can be educational. Family members can sometimes spot bargains that I might miss," Higgins said.
· Look ahead to the week for which you are buying groceries as you make a list.
"If the family is attending a school or community event at 6:30 p.m., but not everyone will arrive home before 5:45 p.m, plan a meal around leftovers that can be reheated quickly or buy food to make sandwiches. Reserve recipes that require more preparation for days when time is available," said Higgins, who encourages cooking once and eating twice.
"Doubling a recipe or cooking a larger quantity can save time and money. Wrap, label, date and freeze leftovers - I prefer to call them 'planned overs' - for a future meal," she said.
More information on food, nutrition and health is available at county K-State Research and Extension offices and also on Extension's Web site:
By SheKnows Editors
Cheap fast, food isn't always the least expensive option. Truth is, you can save tons of money cooking your own food at home. Sometimes, cooking it at home can be just as quick and convenient also.
Our society puts a lot of emphasis on rushing through a meal, and along with that rushing, one can expect for most to have a disregard for the pricing of this food. For those who are more cost conscious, spending $6 on one waffle or paying $2 for one bowl of cereal may not be feasible. When you have a family, you are probably even more mindful of the expense associated with eating out. Having a small basic meal at McDonald's for a family of 4 could cost you as much as $20. On occasion, that is alright for some. But for many, $20 is enough for that same family of four to eat for several days.
Here are some money saving tips for ways to save money by preparing your own food:
1. Plan your meals well in advance. This will allow you to incorporate more variety in your meals while continuing to monitor the expense of your choices. Planning your meals can be a lot of fun for a family also. It will give you all something to look forward to and can be very exciting.
2. Buy foods when they are on sale and store them properly. That way, after you plan your meals, you will be able to get all of the things that you need at the best prices.
3. Search online for recipes for some of your favorite eateries. Then, buy the ingredients using coupons or by catching items at the best possible prices.
4. Use a farmers market or produce stands for your fresh fruits and vegetables. Often, these smaller operations offer better prices than supermarkets. There are, generally, no transportation costs to be factored in, thus, allowing you to save more as a consumer.
5. Substitute and experiment. Cooking at home can very rewarding, but if you find that items, such as certain cuts of beef, are extremely expense, you may want to try another less expensive cut or another meat alternative. Trying different foods can also be a great way to explore a myriad of flavors. You may actually find a better tasting choice for your recipe.
6. Don't cook too much. Cook just enough so that everyone gets his or her fill. Often when we cook large portions, we end up with leftovers. These leftovers can often get thrown away, forgotten, and wasted.
7. Use coupons, store rebates, and specials whenever possible. Each time you shop, if you use some type of saving tool, you will quickly realize how much you are really saving. Knowing that you paid little or nothing (yes, sometimes, you can get free stuff from the supermarket using coupons), can really cause your money to add up over time.
Cooking at home can be a lot of fun and a very cost-effective alternative for families that want to save money. Planning, portion control, and finding great deals on food make cooking at home a fantastic money saving option for people all over.
By: TheCouponDad
8 Tips on How to Save Money on Diapers
While it is but a brief moment in time, the diapering phase can be a very expensive period in your child's life. From birth through about age 2, there is a great amount of effort, and money involved with keeping those little bottoms comfortable and covered. At an estimated 8 diaper changes per day, over about 2 years, a family can expect to spend thousands of dollars through this diapering period. If you have had the good fortune of being the parent of multiples, then double or triple your expected expenses.
That being said, parents can take heart knowing that them and their wallets can make it through this stage without too much financial drama if they follow these money saving tips:
1. Consider purchasing a store-brand diaper. These diapers sometimes cost as much as 15%-25% less than national brands. They also come in larger per package quantities. With a store brand, you may pay $5.99 for 40 size 3 diapers versus a national brand, which could cost $7.99 for 34 of the same size diaper. It's pretty simple to see how that the savings could add up over the course of the diaper stage.
2. Always use coupons for national brands. Almost all national brands of diapers make money-saving coupons available. You can find them on the diaper packaging itself, on their websites, in the newspaper coupons, or through online coupon clubs. The savings generally range from 50c to $3 or more off of the price. Some children may have allergic reactions to certain brands, so, don't buy a lot of one brand until you have tried them out on your child. It would be very disheartening to have cases and cases of diapers, and then find out that your baby's skin cannot tolerate that brand.
3. Join online and supermarket baby clubs. These clubs allow you to earn credits for baby purchases that can be applied to future purchases, or they will give you club-only coupons and specials. Only join free clubs that have a good reputation, such as those found in your local supermarket or on known family sites.
4. Use the discount codes that you will receive on promotions from the hospital baby bag sponsors. These companies often provide more money saving information on products such as diapers. They may even send samples to your home.
5. Ask for diapers, in abundance, on your baby registry. If this is not your first child, then you probably have most of what you need to effectively care for a new baby. So, instead of adding lots of cutesy dresses or sailor suits to your baby shower registry, load it up with diapers.
6. Use online auctions such as Ebay for diapers or discounted supermarket/baby store gift cards. Often people will auction off cards for stores that they may not normally visit. Take advantage of these great opportunities.
7. Try using cloth diapers. Cloth diapers used to be a very messy and cumbersome ordeal. Now, with the advent of velcro flaps and washing machines, using cloth diapers has never been easier. It also is a very environmentally conscious option.
The diaper-changing phase is such a short (albeit costly) time in the grand scheme of things; but there are many ways that your family can save through this stage of your child's life. So, save and enjoy all of the great things you and your family will be able to do with that extra cash!
By: TheCouponDad
How to Save Money on your Groceries
Supermarkets stock thousands of products, yet, according to Michael McBurney at the Kellogg Company, customers typically make 50 percent or more of their purchases from a list of about 150 products.
"Their other purchases often are impulse buys that can add to the grocery bill unnecessarily," said Mary Meck Higgins, Kansas State University Research and Extension nutrition specialist. "Impulse purchases also can increase when shoppers are hungry or shop without a list."
People usually can trim grocery bills and still eat well, said Higgins, who offered these shopping and cost-saving tips:
· Study the layout of the supermarket. The basics - fresh produce, dairy products, meats, and bakery items usually are arranged on the perimeter (outer wall) of the store. More costly processed foods, such as snack foods, cereals and mixes, usually are on interior aisles. Frozen food cases are grouped, often in center aisles.
"Organize the shopping list to match the layout of the store to minimize time needed to retrace steps and to decrease impulse purchases," she said.
· Observe product placement. More expensive products usually are placed on middle shelves, within easy reach. Less expensive foods (store brands, for example) are placed high and low, where they are not so easily reached.
"The old saying, 'look high or low to save dough' still fits," Higgins said.
· Check prices on product displays. Store displays, including those at the end of the aisles, do not always feature sale products. Use a grocery receipt to make a note of prices paid for frequently-used items on a master shopping or price list. Take the list of prices and the grocery list when you shop, or note price and brand on a computer- generated list that can be printed and used as the basis for weekly shopping lists. Use it to verify bargain prices.
· Keep a running grocery list at home to avoid return trips for forgotten items.
Reducing the number of trips saves time and money because shoppers rarely limit their purchases to one item. It's time-consuming and not always profitable to 'store hop' for only the specials. A warehouse or discount store is unlikely to have the lowest price on all products, however. Higgins advised shoppers to consider time, money and convenience.
· Check prices and products in supermarket advertisements, inserts or fliers. Shop the specials and use coupons only if you will save money by doing so. Limit purchases to products that can realistically be stored or used. Prices on multiple sales, such as 10 cans for $10, may be pro-rated per can.
Other marketing strategies may or may not produce a cost savings, Higgins said.
"Buy one, get one free" sounds good, but often the "one" is being marketed at an increased price. A loss leader is a product -- a name brand cereal, for example -- that a store is willing to sell at cost or less to attract customers who will buy other products while in the store.
Brand name items usually cost more than store brands, but are not always better quality.
· Use cost-savings to your advantage. Buy a larger quantity - 10 pounds of ground beef, for example - and re-package the meat in family-sized packages before storing or freezing.
· Eat seasonal foods that cost less because of large supplies, such as fresh lettuce, spinach or strawberries in late spring and early summer or apples, squash or sweet potatoes in the fall.
· Can't make up your mind about which product to buy? Higgins advised reading labels and checking unit prices or cost per serving or use: A one-pound boneless roast will yield four servings; a bone-in roast with the same weight and cost will only yield three servings.
· To save the most money, shop alone, at a time when a store will be stocked, but not crowded, perhaps early in the morning or during the week.
"While it's true that each additional person can add expense, there is value in encouraging a child to choose a fruit or vegetable to try or to learn more about where food comes from," said Higgins, who prefers to shop with a partner, either one of her children or her husband.
"Inviting a family member to accompany you provides one-on-one time that can be educational. Family members can sometimes spot bargains that I might miss," Higgins said.
· Look ahead to the week for which you are buying groceries as you make a list.
"If the family is attending a school or community event at 6:30 p.m., but not everyone will arrive home before 5:45 p.m, plan a meal around leftovers that can be reheated quickly or buy food to make sandwiches. Reserve recipes that require more preparation for days when time is available," said Higgins, who encourages cooking once and eating twice.
"Doubling a recipe or cooking a larger quantity can save time and money. Wrap, label, date and freeze leftovers - I prefer to call them 'planned overs' - for a future meal," she said.
More information on food, nutrition and health is available at county K-State Research and Extension offices and also on Extension's Web site:
By SheKnows Editors