Spend Smart. Eat Smart. » tips http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings Ideas, resources, and recipes to help you eat healthy for less Wed, 19 Jun 2013 18:58:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Can I Go Too? http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/2012/02/27/can-i-go-too/ http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/2012/02/27/can-i-go-too/#comments Mon, 27 Feb 2012 13:03:45 +0000 peggym http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/?p=4259 As I was reading the blog Peggy wrote about tracking expenses last week, one line stood out to me more than any other, “I really need to follow my own advice.”  After my most recent trip to the grocery store, I was thinking the same thing.

Usually, my son and I go to the grocery store every Friday morning.  I like to shop at that time because it is quiet and I can get in and out quickly.  I do not have to worry about taking my son to the grocery store; he just sits back and enjoys the ride in the cart.

The problem came this past Friday when my husband had the day off of work.  Even though I knew better, I invited him to join us for our weekly shopping trip.  Many people have trouble with their children asking for treats or sneaking extra food into the cart.  Not me.  My husband is the one who does that.  I spent $15 more than usual!

If I spent an extra $15 each week at the grocery store, that would be $780 per year.  What could your family do with an extra $780 per year?  I can think of a few things that we could do.  So, I have learned my lesson this time, I need to follow my own advice and let my husband sleep in on his day off while my son and I go to the grocery store.

 

 

 

 


For other tips while at the grocery store, check out:
10 Tips for Saving at the Grocery Store

Justine Hoover, MS, RD, LD

]]> http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/2012/02/27/can-i-go-too/feed/ 4 4 tips for healthy eating on a budget http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/2010/10/18/4-tips-for-healthy-eating-on-a-budget/ http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/2010/10/18/4-tips-for-healthy-eating-on-a-budget/#comments Mon, 18 Oct 2010 21:01:46 +0000 peggym http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/?p=1584
  • Eat breakfast. This is the most important meal of the day and the most common one to skip. It’s also typically the fastest and the cheapest to make. Think oatmeal, toast, eggs, pancakes, fruit, low-fat milk.  Just eating breakfast helps charge your brain and body.
  • Buy staples. Beans, pasta, and oats are really inexpensive and filling. Canned fish or frozen vegetables don’t go bad before you can use them. Eggs are a very inexpensive protein as are beans and peanut butter.
  • Plan ahead. When you are hungry and rushed, it is hard to think of budget foods. Make a slow-cooker recipe that will last several meals. Divide the food into several containers to make it easier to reheat. Or, keep the ingredients for an inexpensive meal on a shelf so you don’t have to think what to make when you are tired. A nutritious meal includes something from each food group: grain, meat, fruit, vegetable, and milk.
  • Watch what you drink. Coffee, soda, energy drinks, and alcohol can be dehydrating and costly. Water and milk are healthy and inexpensive. Refillable water bottles pay for themselves within days.

    • -pointers from Peggy

    ]]>     http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/2010/10/18/4-tips-for-healthy-eating-on-a-budget/feed/ 4     Top 3 Tips to Spend Less Time in the Grocery Store http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/2009/11/23/top-3-tips-to-spend-less-time-in-the-grocery-store/ http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/2009/11/23/top-3-tips-to-spend-less-time-in-the-grocery-store/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:39:49 +0000 peggym http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/?p=909 My objective when going to the grocery store is to spend the least amount of time possible in the store, yet get everything I need, eliminating the need for a special trip later. (Research shows that the more time you spend in the grocery store, the more money you spend.) I usually end up going every week to 10 days, depending on how many meals I am cooking at home. My tips are below:      

    1. Go when it is not crowded. It takes less time and the shelves are usually well stocked. Five o’clock at the end of the week is the worst time. Saturdays are also bad. Early morning and late at night are usually good times. My sister goes after line dancing which gets over at 7:30 p.m. The other sister sends her husband with a list at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.

    2. Shop at the same stores. This way you don’t spend time searching. I regularly shop at two different chain stores. One store is less expensive, but doesn’t have everything I buy. I shop there when my other store doesn’t have many items I want on sale.

    3. Make your list according to the layout of the store. That way you just go down the list in order and don’t have to crisscross the store (taking more time, more chance to forget something, and more temptation  to buy things you don’t need). I make my list on an envelope and stick any coupons I want to use inside. I write both the item and the price on the list.  If it is on sale, I write S. If I have a coupon, I write C. Sometimes I don’t buy the brand on sale or use the coupon because I check the other brands and compare prices on the spot, looking at my list with the price.
      coupons

    If you have tips that work for you, I would love to hear about them. Just hit the comment section and send a note.

    -pointers by Peggy

    ]]>     http://blogs.extension.iastate.edu/foodsavings/2009/11/23/top-3-tips-to-spend-less-time-in-the-grocery-store/feed/ 13