Saving Solutions
Saving Solutions – for foods
Plan a menu for the month
- Consider planning the menu around the sales circular.
- Be prepared to be flexible.
- Plan around fixed activities – i.e. game nights, church events, school programs.
Benefits:
- Purchases can be made when items are on sale.
- Time is saved because a plan is in place.
At the grocery:
Meats – usually are on sale once a month
- Set a goal to not pay more than $2.00– $2.50/pound for pork or beef or variety meats such as bacon, sausage, lunch meats, etc. Buy enough for a month when it’s on sale and freeze it. Be sure to date it by purchase date. Most meats freeze well for three to six months.
- Fish and boneless chicken will cost more, even on sale, but set a goal to pay $1.00 per serving. Most of these items tell how many servings are in a bag/container and it’s really easy to divide and determine individual serving cost. Again buy enough for the month when these items are on sale.
- Sirloins are good, low fat buys. When these are on sale, usually at $1.99/lb., they are often large cuts. Most butchers will cut them into the sizes you want at no additional charge.
- Pork sirloins can be cut into two or three family sized roasts – or boneless pork chops which taste so much better with a minimum of fat.
- Large beef sirloins, which often weigh about 20 pounds, can be sliced into steaks or roasts, or ground into lean hamburger. Or you can request a combination of all three. Your butcher will tell you which ends are best for which cuts – at least mine does and he’s always given us good meat.
- Remember that hams and turkeys are often on sale during the holidays. Consider buying an extra one or two for a non-holiday dinner too. An larger cut of meat is often nice to have on hand for unexpected company.
- When ham, turkey, pork or beef are on sale, the prices are lower than lunch meat. Theses meats also contain less salt and no additives.
Vegetables – fresh, frozen, canned
- Fresh vegetables are usually cheaper in season. However, if fresh, uncooked vegetables satisfy an appetite better than canned or frozen ones, these might be a better choice, so consider who is eating your food as well as their preferences.
- Frozen vegetables are a good second best choice to fresh. The freezing process is so healthy that few nutrients are lost.
- Compare store brand vegetables to name brands. Name brands sometimes have more water – and sugar – something most of us don’t need more of – especially in our vegetables. So, read the labels. Store brands may be a better buy in more way than one.
- 10/$10 sales are often good buys, but not always. Know your prices. Usually these sales are best when purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables.
Dry goods
- 10/$10 sales are sometimes good when purchasing dry goods. Check normal prices first.
Buying in quantity
- Usually considered a better deal, but do the math. Sometimes, smaller quantities are a better buy. The key here is to know prices — and to carry a calculator.
- Sam’s is not always cheaper than Wal-Mart. Again, know your prices.
