Simple Planning Tips, Leftover Recipes and Frugal Ideas can Save You Hundreds of Dollars per Month

tom — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:16:01 +0000

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Combine a little planning with some flexibility, leftover recipes, and new technology, and you could save hundreds on your monthly food bill — without compromising quality. This article discusses many budgeting tips, meal planning ideas, leftover recipes, and frugal shopping to maximize your savings. With the state of the economy today, we need to save everywhere we can!

Plan weekly menus with leftovers in mind

Plan at least four to five dinners for the week, based on what’s on sale in your store circular (most are available online). If possible, double those recipes and freeze the second for a complete leftover meal. If not, maybe plan some 2-meals-in-one dinners, doubling up on the key meal ingredient only. Use that leftover chicken, beef, turkey, or whatever it may be to follow up the next day with a meal using some of our leftover chicken recipes, leftover beef recipes, leftover turkey recipes, or other leftover recipes that you already have. This “planning” for leftovers can go a long way when trying to save money and time.

Be brand flexible

Use your store’s loyalty card religiously, and be willing to buy different brands in order to maximize the money saved.

Track prices and save

While your store circular obviously tells you what’s on sale, it doesn’t reveal whether the price is a true bargain. Use a price-tracking website to assist you with this one. The two largest are http://www.thecouponmom.com, which is free but requires registration; and http://www.thegrocerygame.com, which charges a fee of $10 every eight weeks for a list of deals from one store ($5 for each additional store).

These sites track thousands of items for months at a time, and publish weekly lists by state and store showing the best deals. They also let you know if a coupon is available for a particular item by listing the circular name — such as “Smart Source” — and its date.

Coupons equal money

To maximize your discount, subscribe to the your local Sunday paper, pull out the coupon circulars each week, write the date on them and save them in a drawer or a flexible file. Throughout the week keep track of the items you need to add to your grocery list. When you’re ready to shop, go to the grocery website, click next to the items you want, print the list, grab your dated circular from your file, clip the relevant coupon and go.

For those coupon-resistant types, the only time you have to cut out a coupon is when you actually save a bunch of money with it. Quite often your loyalty card will account for the coupon anyway.

If you’re a coupon queen or king and you really want those savings to add up, definitely visit coupon sites such as http://www.thecouponclippers.com, http://www.coolsavings.com or http://www.coupons.com.

More ideas to save money

The key to saving money is buy big items first, on sale (kind of an extension to “Plan weekly meals with leftovers in mind” from above). Once or twice a month stock up on meat or poultry on sale and freeze it. Then plan four or five days worth of meals from seasonal recipes or “2-meals-in-one” leftover recipes, using vegetables and fruits from nearby farmers’ markets. (You can search for a farmers’ market in your area on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.) Better yet, grow your own produce.

There is a dramatic price difference between the farmers’ market and the grocery store, where people buy stuff in packages. For example, a bag of chopped lettuce might cost $3 to $4 a package at the grocery store, as opposed to 50 cents a head at farmer’s market.

Instead of buying deli meat at $6.99 a pound, cook a whole chicken for less than a quarter of the price, and use it for sandwiches or other “leftover” meals throughout the week.

Also stock up on grains and beans in the bulk bins for as little as 99 cents a pound. To save money, stay away from processed foods and go for the rice and beans.

Budgeting Tips and Tricks

tom — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:14:57 +0000

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Ask any financial planner and you will be told that household budgeting is of prime importance for establishing any modicum of financial security.

Here are a few budgeting tips that have been developed by financial experts in order to help people establish a better sense of financial security.

Changing the way you think about budgeting is the single most effective of all budgeting tips you are likely to learn. Think of your budget as a kind of spending plan. Most people think that budgets are just another term for restraining your expenditures. However, if you make a spending plan it helps you focus more on better ways of spending your money and creating a proper balance between your wants and your needs.
Another budgeting tip, which is really common-sense, is that if you really intend saving money, you have to make sure that your expenditure is far less than then your income. This is the basis of establishing any kind of financial security. In order to make a smart spending plan it is essential that you know how what your total income is as well as your total outgoings.
Creating a solid financial plan plays a big role in helping you save money and in achieving all your long-term financial goals. If your goal is to maintain a monthly savings of at least $300, but the excess cash you have adds up to only $200 per month, you will have to compromise on either your financial goals or your expenditure. This forces you to take a good look at your priorities.
Take care of your priorities first. Whatever budgeting approach you may wish to take, it is absolutely vital that you first pay off all essential bills before spending on non-essential luxuries.
Many people have no clue as to what they spend their money on. If your goal is to save money, you need to know what your money is being spent on. Start keeping financial records and writing down all your big, as well as your small expenses for a couple of months. This will give you an indication of where you are spending money unnecessarily and will also help you identify the areas where you could save.
Start by making temporary financial plans. Long-term financial goals are just that- long-term and you could easily get disheartened and give up. Achieving short-term goals and then moving them upwards would give you a sense of accomplishment and keep you motivated.
Get your housing and car loan as well as your mortgages deducted automatically every month from any checking account that you have. This way you know it is being paid and you cannot be tempted to spend it on other non-essentials.
Take a look at your spending plan periodically and see if you have been able to meet your goals so far. You may need to modify or make revisions in your spending plans if there has been any change in circumstances.

Getting professional advice from expert financial planners will help you manage your finances even better.