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Grocery Shopping
Coupons
Shopping Lists
Saving Time
Spending Less
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Saving Money
Grocery Shopping - Spending Less
General Tips
Saving Money on Breads, Grains & Cereals
Saving Money on Condiments
Saving Money on Eggs & Dairy
Saving Money on Fruit & Vegetables
Saving Money on Meat and Poultry
Saving Money on Misc. Items
General Tips
Coupons can save you a substantial amount of money. Your savings may seem small on a weekly basis, but over a year can add up.
Stock up on your favorite non-perishable items when they go on sale. Then when you get down to a two-week supply begin looking for it in sale flyers. This will leave you enough time to find it on sale again ensuring you never pay the full price.
Remember that you pay for convenience. The more steps you are willing to do at home the less your grocery bill. For example shredded cheese/block cheese. Frozen pancakes / Dry batter / making your own from scratch.
Impulsive purchases can raise your weekly bill. To minimize impulsive purchases try to shop alone. Children and spouses sometimes like to add to your list. Never shop when you are hungry. You will end up with a lot of stuff you might not normally buy. i.e. junk food.
Take a list. If you wonder around the store unsure of exactly what to get you are more likely to make expensive impulse purchases.
Keeping track of every day prices on every day items can help you from getting sucked in on smart advertising. Use a small address book to list the items alphabetically in which you buy consistently.
It is also a good idea to keep a database of sales on items you frequently use. Quite often you will discover that stores have a sale cycle and will place the same items on sale every three or four weeks.
If you are shopping in the bulk section be sure to check the prices. Sometimes if an item is on sale or if you have a coupon the bulk section may not be cheaper.
Even when buying pre packaged items you should check the price per ounce/pound or piece. The bigger box or quantity is not always the cheaper one.
When you make a nice meal for your family, make twice as much and freeze the second half. The next time you have a busy day and are tempted by Fast food Voila!
You have saved time, money and indigestion.
By shopping in the morning you can save yourself time and money by taking advantage of day old bakery items and meat.
Saving Money on Breads, Grains & Cereals
Flavored Oatmeal
I have four children who love the expensive flavored oatmeal. I buy regular oatmeal and mix a couple of packets of the flavored with it. The children still love it and it stretches the dollar further. This trick works with cereal as well, by mixing a box of the sugar with a box of non-sugar.
Day Old Bread
Shop first thing in the morning to have first pick of the day old bread and bakery items.
Saving Money on Condiments
Condiments
You can save money and be healthier by making your own condiments. There are many great recipes to be found for free on the internet. My favourite source for condiments is Recipe Goldmine. They even have a nice ketchup and mayonnaise recipe. Visit Recipe Goldmine.
Spices
Save your spice bottles. Buying spices in bags Vs bottles at your local grocery store can save you up to 75%. You can also buy spices at your local health food store in bulk. This allows you to buy as much or little as you would use before they lose their freshness. Then when you get home put your spices in your clean jars. You can also freshen old spices by putting them in your food processor for a few seconds.
Saving Money on Eggs & Dairy
Whipping Cream
In a cold glass bowl whip one can of cold canned milk, 1 tsp of lemon juice and a drop of vanilla. Sweeten to taste as usual for a cheaper whipped cream.
Milk
At home empty half of your usual milk into another container. Add enough powdered milk, according to package directions, and water to re-fill the container. Shake to mix and refrigerate as normal.
Eggs
You can make a four egg omelet with only two eggs by substituting the equivalent of two eggs with ice cold water. Note it is essential that the water is ICE COLD. This will also give you fluffier eggs.
Saving Money on Fruit & Vegetables
Fridge Balls
Produce lets of gases that actually cause them to spoil faster. Fridge balls contain potassium that actually absorbs these gasses and prolongs the life of your produce by up to 3 times. This allows you to buy your produce more frequently, take advantage of sales and eliminate waste.Shop for ***Fridge Balls***
Saving Money on Meat & Poultry
Turkey
You get more meat per pound when you buy a turkey weighing 12 pounds or more. A 15 pound turkey for example, will feed 18 to 20 people, while a 10 ponder will feed only 6 to 8. You will be saving about a dollar per serving by buying a larger bird.
Bacon
Rinse your bacon in cold water before you fry it to prevent it from curling. You will save the amount of bacon you actually use on sandwiches and burgers if it is not curled.
Roasts
You can tenderize a lesser expensive roast by using canned pineapple. Pineapple has a natural enzymes that will act as a tenderizer for both pork and beef. Simply lace one slice in roasting pan per 5lbs. of roast.
Take advantage of Specials
Buy LARGE quantities of meat when it is on special. Take home, portion according to family size and freeze. Buy a couple of months worth or at least enough to last to next special if you are aware of the special cycle in your favorite supermarket.
Using the Supermarket's Butcher
Cut meat often costs more. Buy the larger cheaper uncut piece and then ask the butcher to cut for you. They don’t charge you to cut it for you when asked.
Saving Money on Misc. Items
Baby Wipes
Instead of buying the cheap baby wipes, which are really thin, buy the good ones and cut them in half. Then if your babe merely has a wet diaper you only have to use half. If they have a poopee diaper you can use two.
Dish Soap
Empty half on your usual dish detergent into another container. Add an equal amount of white vinegar to each container and shake. You have just added a natural disinfectant and saved money.
If you would like to add, request or suggest some tips or topics please e-mail me at savingmoney@housewifextreme.com.
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Tip of the Week
You can place sugar cubes in the container with your cheese to help keep the cheese mold free.
***Food Guide***
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