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Cookies... 12
bakery cookies for $2.99, or more? You've got to be kidding! We
all know better! You can freeze most cookie dough's and bake a dozen
any time you want, for a fraction of the cost. And not only will
home baked cookies be healthier (and cheaper) for you and your
family, they'll taste better too! If you absolutely have to buy
cookies, don't buy your favorite; buy a type that you like, but
don't love - they're guaranteed to last a lot longer!
Cakes... Save
purchasing those expensive decorated cakes for large parties or when
you (absolutely) won't have time to make one yourself. A homemade
birthday cake costs at least $10 less than a bakery cake and will
taste just as good! Same goes for all the other non-decorated
cakes! you will save a fortune making your own at home!
Pies... Everyone
loves presenting a delicious pie for dessert and with the added time
and trouble of making homemade crust, you may feel it's just easier
to pick one up from the bakery. (And they're surely hard to resist
when they go on sale!) But even then you can usually save money by
making your own. And besides, bakeries usually overcook the pie
crust!
Muffins... This one's easy! Not only are bakery muffins VERY
expensive, do you know how many fat grams are in those huge things?
Trust me, you don't want to know! Make your own muffins at home and
your wallet will thank you, as well as your waistline!
Doughnuts...mmmm,
the forbidden food! You can make these
and other gooey treats yourself and save a ton! For even bigger
savings, stay away from the bakery department all together!
Hot Dog Buns... Breads can vary in price dramatically. While the
store-brand of hot dog buns make cost 99ยข, a more popular name-brand
may be $1.99 or more. Now, why would we do that!! I know they
taste better, but is it worth $51.48? That's how much money you'll
save each year if you purchase the store brand every week instead of
the more expensive one. If you're going to spend more money, buy
higher quality hot dogs!
Bread... Now sandwich bread and hamburger buns are a little
different. We know it's important for our good health to eat whole
grain breads every day, and not the cheaper fluffy white stuff we
may have grown up on as a child. This is where it's good to spend a
little extra money. The more grains in the bread the better!
Of course you can always make your own! Investing in a bread machine
can save hundreds of dollars in the long run!
Breakfast... It's
often cheaper to buy the smaller boxes of cereal, whether on sale
and/or with a coupon or not. The cereal companies know we like to
buy in bulk so the bigger boxes can sometimes be priced at a higher
amount per ounce!
*Bacon, Sausage and other
breakfast meats can be purchased in bulk when on sale and stored in
the freezer!
*Try cutting bacon strips in
half (before cooking) so everyone will eat less - while feeling like
they're eating more.
*DON'T waste your money on those little 'quick and easy' packages
of oatmeal and cream of wheat, just make the real stuff yourself.
Put a cup of oatmeal in a plastic baggies, and a little brown sugar
and raisins and presto! Not only will you save money, but the real stuff tastes soooooo much
better!
Produce...Produce is often cheaper (and better!) at local vegetable stands
or farmers markets, than the grocery stores... except when they're
on sale. Check your papers each week to make the best shopping
choice. When buying produce by the pound, make sure it's dry!
If it's just been sprayed with water it will weigh more, and cost
more!
*Buy 1/Get 1 Free" produce isn't
always a great deal, be sure you can use that much or it will just
spoil, essentially costing you more money. (Or, consider
sharing the free item with a neighbor!)
*Before buying large bags of
apples, oranges, potatoes, onions or anything else, check the
produce carefully to make sure they aren't bruised or spoiled.
*If you need to buy the larger
bag (instead of individual produce items), and all of the bags
contain one bruised or spoiled item, be sure to remove the damaged
produce as soon as you get home. One spoiled item can affect
the rest of the bag if it's not removed soon.
*Prepackaged produce is not
always equal in weight, check the scales for the biggest packages.
*To get the best value, store
produce properly after your purchase. (Do not put tomatoes in
the fridge!) If fruit is a little under-ripe, place in a paper
bag for one or two days, it will ripen very quickly. If it's
over-ripe, put it on the menu for today or tomorrow and either
freeze any extra or share with the neighbors if you have more
than your family can eat.
*Buy fruits and vegetables when in season, here's a brief list for
the Southern U.S. (This list will vary depending on where you live.)
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March - early June: Asparagus,
Broccoli, Lettuce, Peas, Onions, Mushrooms, Strawberries
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June: Apples, Broccoli, Cabbage,
Peas, Peppers, Garlic, New Potatoes, Onions, Radishes,
Raspberries, Strawberries, Tomatoes
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July: Acorn Squash, Apples,
Apricots, Beets, Black Eyed Peas, Blackberries, Blueberries,
Cabbage, Cantaloupes, Carrots, Cherries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant,
Garlic, Green Beans, Lima Beans, New Potatoes, Onions, Peaches,
Peppers, Plums, Radishes, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Watermelons
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August: Acorn Squash, Apples,
Apricots, Beets, Berries, Cantaloupes, Carrots, Cherries,
Blackberries, Blueberries, Cabbage, Cucumber, Eggplant, Garlic,
Green Beans, Lima Beans, New Potatoes, Okra, Onions, Parsnips,
Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Radishes, Seeds and
Nuts, Tomatoes, Watermelons, Yams
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September: Apples, Blueberries,
Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cantaloupes, Carrots,
Cauliflower, Collards, Green Beans, Kale, Mushrooms, Mustard
Greens, Okra, Parsnips, Peaches, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes,
Pumpkins, Raspberries, Seeds and Nuts, Summer Squash, Tomatoes,
Turnips, Yams
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October: Broccoli, Brussels
Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Kale, Mushrooms, Mustard
Greens, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Raspberries, Soybeans,
Spinach, Tomatoes, Turnips
Sandwiches...Don't buy anything from the deli unless it's on sale, or you're
desperate for special deli foods, they are definitely more
expensive! Ask the deli attendant to slice meats and cheeses really thin,
this will make them go a lot further! The deli section will often have fresh baked bread on sale, this
IS a good buy! They probably put it on sale to lure us in for the
more expensive items!! Don't bite (no pun intended), just grab the
bread and run!
Canned Foods...My
number one tip for canned goods... buy the store brands and stock up
when they're on sale! Prices for name brand canned goods have
gotten really high over the last 10 years, don't buy them unless
they're on sale or if a store brand is unavailable. Many canned items are also available frozen, keep an eye on sales
and pack that freezer full when you find a good one! ( Use frozen
produce within 3-6 months for the best flavor.)
Soups... Wow, soups have really gotten expensive! So, buy them
only when on sale, and save even more by making your own at home,
most soups freeze well.
Juice...Again, Sale-Sale-Sale! This is one item that our kids can't seem
to do without, and it makes my day when the juice is on sale. With
the juice aisles being so huge these days, there is always something
on sale! Try to stay away from heavily sugared and colored items.
*Compare prices with the juice mixes, including the ones in your
freezer section. They are not always cheaper!
*Stretch your juice by watering it down with 1/3 - 1/2 water. This not only saves money, but saves
the amount of grams of sugar going into your children, and on their
teeth!
Meat...The best way to save money on a high priced protein product is to
not eat a lot of it. (Smaller portions are also healthier.)
Even better, give up meat all together.
*Even when it's not on sale, you
can usually purchase the larger packages of ground beef, chuck or
round, and save money. Avoid purchasing the pre-made hamburger
patties unless they are on a really good sale (also available in the
frozen food section). And don't waste your money on ground
beef that has a fat content of 30% or more... yuck! (Ground
chuck, or ground round is usually the best buy. When ground
turkey goes on sale it may be even better, though it's often priced
higher at many stores.)
*The very best time to buy ham
is before or after the holidays, they are always on sale!
After preparing the ham for one meal, simply divide the leftovers
into family size portions and freeze.
*One of the most economical ways
to buy pork is to buy the quarter, half or whole pork loins when
they go on sale. Have the butcher cut them into chops at the
store or do it at home later that day. We like to cut half of
the loin into chops and save the other half, or just a third of the
loin, for a Sunday pork roast. (They're terrific glazed with
Teriyaki sauce!)
*Can I just say again, SALE -
SALE - SALE! Chicken breasts alone can cost DOUBLE when not on
sale, who's paying these ridiculous prices anyways? Not us!
Whole cut-up chickens are another good buy, as well as whole
chickens and turkeys around the holidays. They always
over-stock and will need to
Fish...Here's a good example... Orange Roughy is our favorite fish
(a mild flavored white fish), and unfortunately it's also one of the
most expensive. So instead of buying it weekly (even monthly), we
opt to only purchase it when on sale. Another option is to select
other fish varieties you might not normally eat, such as catfish and
salmon. Both are often on sale and are also very tasty.
Pasta...In
general, pasta dishes are filling and inexpensive, prepare them for
your family at least once a week!
*Buy the larger packages of pastas (spaghetti, macaroni, rigatoni,
penne, shells, etc...) and use only what you need for your recipe.
Store remaining pasta in airtight containers, they're really pretty
in decorative glass jars on the counter!
*Stock up during sales, pasta can go on sale REALLY CHEAP! (And it
stores really well.)
*Buy store brand pastas when using with heavy sauces or a lot of
ingredients. You can use them all the time, but some of the other
brands are better.
*Make your own pasta sauce at home. Make a double batch each time
and freeze half to use later in the month. Spaghetti Sauce... ditto! And just like
soups, make a
large pot of sauce and divide it into airtight freezer storage
containers. If your budget is really tight just use a little sauce
with each meal so the batch will last longer... example: instead of
dividing a batch of homemade sauce into two portions, divide it into
four!
Other Stuff...This is a great area to use coupons for. There is always one
brand or another trying to win your business with more coupons!
Don't forget you can make your own cleaning supplies, and other
household item, as well as perfumes, pet food and just and just
everything in between! It's safer, cheaper and more fun.
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