Spend Smart. Eat Smart.

In late July, we asked people signed up for our blog to complete a survey. We then raffled 3-$25 gift cards from the survey participants. Below are some comments from our winners.

Our Perry, Florida winner wrote:

What a nice way to start the day with news of winning a gift card! I have used so many ideas from your web site. Most recently the “Snack Boxes” – what a great idea! I shared this information with parents at one of the Pre-schools I visit and they loved it! Breaking down the cost per serving was a real eye opener for some moms. With a little planning, snacking can be fun and nutritious. Thanks for all your recipes and great ideas…  

Notes from our Pella, Iowa winner:

Thank you for the gift card. I greatly appreciate it! I love the “Spend Smart, Save Smart” e-mails because it informs me of timely information just when I need it i.e., canning and freezing information etc. I feel that the information is very practical and I feel comfortable putting the information to use because it is from a reliable source. I have been surprised by some of the information that I would not have sought on my own – for instance, cost of pickled beets – not always a savings. I would not have taken the time to figure this out so was glad someone else did it for me. I work full time; therefore, I appreciate the efficiency of finding this reliable information on your web site. I was very pleased when I matched my grocery lists to the one on the web site to find out I already am being very economical in my shopping, but it was reassuring to me that it was confirmed… 

Please continue to pass the word along to your friends and relatives about the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. site!

-pointers by Peggy

food cost, food preparation, resources blog, comments, grocery list, pickled beets, snack boxes, survey, winners

We all know it is much easier to shop without kids along, but sometimes it can’t be avoided.

Recently, Ruby, an Extension staff member, shared how she dealt with this issue as a single parent. Together, she and her pre-school daughter planned their meals and snacks, wrote their grocery list and then went to the store. When the four-year old saw something she wanted, they’d check the list. If it wasn’t on the list, they didn’t buy it.

The list was specific. If they needed cereal, the brand was included. No more ‘middle of the cereal aisle’ arguments as to whether to buy plain Cheerios® or a pre-sweetened cereal with a favorite character on the package front. Yes, the four-year-old sometimes said “we need to put that cereal on the list next time,” but generally forgot about it when time came for the next planning session.

Snacks were part of the planned list, too. It is much easier to guide a child’s snack choices at home where healthy snacks can be planned for, than in front of the tempting candy or chip section at the store.

What about toys, books, and other trinkets? Since they didn’t eat them, they weren’t on the list!

Looking back, Ruby realizes this strategy has lots of benefits. They stayed within their limited food budget, ate healthier food choices, her daughter learned discipline at an early age and they shared a pleasant time together.

What do you do to make shopping with kids a little easier?

For additional shopping tips check out when to shop on the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. site.

-contributed by Joyce Greving

food cost, resources budget, discipline, grocery list, kids, planning, shopping, snacks

I was browsing the Internet this morning and came across an idea from Minnesota Extension on grocery lists. They developed a form you print right on an envelope for your grocery list.  You can put any coupons you have inside the envelope to keep everything all together. If you can’t print on an envelope, there is another version you can use to fold and staple/tape your paper together to make an envelope. Check it out at:

Print on an envelope
Make your own envelopes

-pointers by Peggy

resources coupons, envelope, grocery list, shopping