Tips on saving money on groceries
If you’ve been to a grocery store lately, you know that meat, dairy products, cereal, coffee and soda have all seen double-digit price increases in the past 12 to 18 months. Even worse, there are more hikes predicted.
This year’s wild weather and roller-coaster oil prices are partly to blame. And unless things stabilize, shoppers are looking at food prices being 3 to 4 percent higher next year, said Michael Swanson, an agricultural economist at Wells Fargo.
When prices climb too high, thrifty consumers can always find alternatives, said Bea Krinke, a registered dietitian in St. Paul, Minn. But quitting a favorite food is rarely easy, even if you treat yourself once a month as Krinke suggests.
If deprivation isn’t on your menu, Twin Cities supermarket gurus — Carrie Rocha of Pocketyourdollars.com, Karen Gunter of Creativecouponing.com and super shopper Kim Crumb of Bloomington, Minn. — suggest how to save on five budget-busting foods. Their best tip? Keep track of prices on 10 to 15 of the staples you regularly buy so you can recognize a good deal when you see one.
If you’d rather beat the price hikes instead of waiting for a sale, now is the time to buy peanut butter and popcorn. Both are expected to rise by 25 to 30 percent in the near future. Luckily, both have a long shelf life.
Bacon
Why so high?
With the price of feed rising, the hog industry has cut back on production to prevent losses. Not as many pigs, not as much bacon.
How to save:
— Choose other pork products that are on sale, such as pork loin, or skip it all together.
— Buy on sale at stores with double coupons.
— Stock up when it’s on sale, typically before Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, and then freeze excess.
Substitutes:
— Buy sausage or breakfast links, which are cheaper than bacon, a premium pork product.
— Try turkey bacon, Bacon Bits or soy-based bacon pieces.
Beef
Why so high?
“The export market is on fire in China, Korea and Mexico,” said Swanson.
Less inventory here means higher prices.
How to save:
— Look for items with a “reduced for quick sale” sticker. Ask the meat department when reduced items are put out. Freeze or cook immediately.
— Embrace smaller portions. It’s an easy way to reduce beef consumption and eat more healthfully, said Krinke.
— Buy better cuts of meat for less at Costco or sign up for your grocer’s weekly e-mail for savings and a coupon.
Substitutes:
— Chicken, pork and turkey are often cheaper. Stock up on turkey at Thanksgiving and freeze.
— Tenderize cheaper cuts of meat with acidic marinades, such as Italian dressing, or chop meat into small pieces and put in a slow cooker.
— Get protein from whole grains such as quinoa or soy and dairy products.
Cereal
Why so high?
A large portion of corn supplies is now being diverted to ethanol. Oats and wheat prices are higher.
How to save:
— Clip cereal coupons that are featured in the circulars, or print coupons from Smartsource.com, Coupons.com, Bettycrocker.com, Pillsbury.com or other company websites.
— Buy in bulk at warehouse clubs or co-ops.
Substitutes:
— Experiment with store brands, especially corn flakes or other standard fare.
— Mix cheaper store brands with brand-name cereal.
Mllk
Why so high?
Exports are at an all-time high, said Swanson, due to an expanding middle class in countries such as Mexico, Philippines and Egypt.
How to save:
— Try neighborhood gas stations, convenience stores and pharmacies that use milk as a loss leader.
— Freeze milk for use in cooking. (Most people don’t like drinking milk after it’s been frozen.)
Substitutes:
— Check the price on powdered milk. It’s cheaper, and it’s fine for use in recipes.
— Gradually train yourself and your kids to drink a mixture of powdered and regular milk.
Cheese
Why so high?
Prices have doubled in the past year and coupons are scarce.
How to save:
— Buy in larger quantities at warehouse clubs.
— Shred and freeze cheese when on sale. Shredded cheese tends to freeze better than blocks.
— Shop for cheese in the dairy case, not the deli or the specialty cheese case, where prices are higher.
Substitutes:
— Experiment with reducing the amount of cheese on a pizza, for example, to what’s palatable for you, said Krinke.
Soda pop
Why so high?
It’s the higher cost of corn syrup, aluminum, plastic and transportation.
How to save:
— Watch for Pepsi coupons. Now that Coke is winning the soda wars, Pepsi is fighting back with discounts.
— Stock up around holidays, when discounters and supermarkets sell 12-packs for less than $3 and 24-packs are about $6.
— Mix cheaper generic colas in 2-liter bottles with brand-name stuff.
Substitutes:
— Make your own at home with the do-it-yourself kits from SodaStream at Amazon or Bed, Bath & Beyond.
— Mix sparkling water with flavorings or apple, lime, orange or grape juice.
Same Price for Less Food?: The Secrets the Food Companies are Keeping from You
The current state of the economy is difficult enough, but paying more and getting less doesn’t help, especially when it comes to putting food on the table. Lately, the amount of food consumers are getting for the price they are paying just isn’t adding up.
Chip companies are sending out bags with about 20 percent less product than what was packaged in 2009. (The spokesperson for the company said that the extra 20 percent was just a “limited time offer.”) This trend can also be seen walking down the pasta aisle. This quick and easy dinner option used to be sold at 16 ounces per box and is now weighing in at 13.25 ounces per box. The same can be said for canned vegetables which also used to weigh in at 16 ounces a can and can now be found weighing as low as 13 ounces. This list goes on and on and ranges from canned tuna to sugar.
But how are companies getting away with charging the same prices for less food?
According to The New York Times and John T. Gourville, a marketing professor at the Harvard Business School, it’s all about the packaging.
“Consumers are generally more sensitive to changes in prices than to changes in quantity. Companies try to do it in such a way that you don’t notice, maybe keeping the height and width the same, but changing the depth so the silhouette of the package on the shelf looks the same. Or sometimes they add more air to the chips bag or a scoop in the bottom of the peanut butter jar so it looks the same size,” said Gourville.
One example of this would be the new “fresh packs” of crackers. Though the box shows stacks of crackers that are broken down and packaged into several groups so they stay fresh for longer, the packs are actually a marketing ploy to give you less food…a whopping 15 percent less!
Another excuse companies use is that they are trying to make their products “greener.” Procter and Gamble is using this method stating that it’s “using at least 15 percent less energy, water or packaging than the standard [size].” What they fail to mention is that if there’s less packaging, there is less product.
No matter what the companies say to try and excuse their products, now is the time to be more observant than ever. Make sure to closely examine the labels on items before sticking them in your cart. Also try to avoid grabbing the newer packages. Though the packaging may state all the qualities that make it better, the standard container is likely to have more product.
Maintaining as a MIlitary Family- Managing a Move
This is a new series of the blog titled “Maintaining as a Military Family”. A little about me…I go by codename Di and have joined the ranks of the fab bloggers for debthelper.com. My goal is to add some insight into what a Military Family does to “get by” and SAVE!!
Military life can be excruciatingly painful on the wallet. My husband joined the Army in the lowly (but highly respectful) rank of Private 14 years ago. We had children young (not uncommon within our Military communities) and therefore money was TIGHT. Relying on one income was almost unbearable. One of the biggest expenses is when there is a Permanent Change of Station (PCS or what normal people call relocating). Most Military Families have traveled and spent time overseas. This was the beginning of our journey, but not before I had to stay behind with our daughter while he went away to “Army school”. We could have rented an apt near his school and collected minimal Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), extra pay based on location, rank and years in service. However, this was never enough to cover all the expenses (utilities, incidentals, etc). So, we did what would save us the most money and I moved in with my mother for 3 months. While this is not ideal…it allowed us to actually earn money (Basic Allowance for Housing is a benefit no matter where you live). The way to manipulate this situation in order for everyone to be happy is pay your Family or friend, with whom you shack up with, a portion of what you receive and stash the rest for your upcoming move (there always an upcoming move in the Military).
Moving is quite expensive and the Military does a pretty good job of covering all the basic expenses…AFTER you get to your new location. Reimbursements are always a killer for young people starting out in their career because it requires you to come out of pocket ahead of time. The best way to tackle this problem is to plan your move. MilitaryOneSource.com has up to the minute info on all things Military…preparation and planning is their purpose. Once a person is aware of the upcoming expenses, the bottom line doesn’t seem as scary. If flying overseas is how you will relocate, there isn’t much to control or decide as far as actual travel. Hotels stays before & after the flight, rental cars and food costs are the main expenses of a move that are controllable. I always use coupons and ask what kind of discounts there are…there’s usually always a coupon online or a discount offer at hotels, just ask.
Here are some sites I use when traveling (during a move or not):
http://www.retailmenot.com
http://www.hotels.com
http://www.destination360.com
http://www.roomsaver.com/
http://www.hotelcoupons.com/
http://www.valpak.com
http://www.savings.com/c-Restaurant-coupons.html
The obvious Orbitz, Travelocity, and Expedia are first choices for airfare, rental cars and hotels, but my personal fave is Hotwire. They have the best prices and package deals, plus they are fair when it comes to disputes and customer service. (I once booked a sport utility vehicle for a week and when I showed up there were only vans, which would have sufficed. I did call Customer Service to ask them about the difference in pricing and they refunded me HALF of my fee for the week.) Asking for a discount makes a big difference sometimes.
Moving also requires you to go through all that “junk” lying around in the garage or attic. One of the benefits for me when it comes to moving is that I am motivated to purge….my old stuff that is. There are several things you can do with that old jewelry box or winter coat…all WHILE earning money.
Have a yard sale without even leaving your home
Rent a booth at a flea market and sell your heiny off (beware of hagglers)
Find your nearest consignment shop and let them sell your stuff (my fave)
Donate to the thrift store or Goodwill (and get a tax deduction)
Someone is bound to love that wicker basket you are sick of.
Overall, my best advice is to begin saving the MINUTE you join the Military (more on that later). Moving is just one of the many expenses you will incur in a lifetime. Don’t even get me started on the surcharge for kids.
We’ll save that for next time…
Saving Food Dollars
Before you go food shopping, here are some things to think about.
* Did you make out a list? Many times, if you are organized you can save money by not throwing items into the cart that you don’t need. Going with a well thought out list will keep you organized and disciplined on your shopping visits.
*Cut and use coupons: Every week in the newspaper there are several sources of valuable coupons. They generally offer discounts, 2-1 items and other types of savings. If you use them on a regular basis the money you save will add up.
*Check the savings in store brands: The “name” brands may look pretty, but the label might be what you’re paying extra for. Check out the store brands. Most of the time you are getting literally the same quality product but you get it for less, because you are not paying more for the packaging. The savings can sometimes be up to 50% of your cost. Some people save considerable money by utilizing store brands.
*If you have young children, make sure they understand that they have to behave in the grocery store and cannot get whatever they want. If they are not ready to go to the store, keep them home! As they get older, you can allow them to be part of the experience. (for example) get them involved in planning the list and then have them look for some items in the store) You can also involve them in the planning of meals and adding the ingredients to your list. At some point, you can also let them get some of the items and pay for them at the register.
*Try to go to the grocery store when you are not going to feel rushed. That way you can compare prices and relax while you are in the store.
*If you have a spouse and/or significant other, you can alternate who goes shopping, you can go together or you can decide who might like to do it more than the other.
Whatever money you save from the store should be added to a savings account. The more you follow the steps above, the more you will be able to plan on saving.
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