Saving Everyday!
Everyone is trying to cut corners and make money last. One of the biggest expenses in most people’s budget is food, so it’s a great waste of money when food goes bad and has to be tossed out. Many people end up throwing away fortune’s worth of spoiled food and the secret is in the storage.
Quick Tips For Savings:
To make ice cream last take some plastic wrap and press it down on the surface of the ice cream. This will prevent frost bite on the frozen treat.
Fresh vegetables and fruits account for 19% of all thrown away food, which translates into 18 billion pounds a year. The secret to saving most fruits and vegetables is to store them in the correct place in the fridge instead of on the counter.
Also, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, milk, and other perishable goods should never be stored in the refrigerator door and need to be put in the coldest part of the refrigerator.
Bread lasts for quite a long time in the freezer. The secret is to keep it in something that’s moisture-proof.
All foods should be kept in something with a tight seal or have extra coverage.
You should also fill your freezer and kitchen cabinets with stock items. Take advantage of coupons and sales and buy a lot of something that you know you will use when you’re getting a good deal.
Make grocery shopping a game and always try to save at least 20%. Clip coupons for ANY items you might use. Items like toothpaste, shampoo, bread, etc., regardless of the brand — the key to grocery savings is to not be brand loyal. Then wait and watch the grocery store circulars to use the coupon in conjunction with a store sale price or, better yet, buy-one-get-one-free sale.
The Shopping Secrets That Save Money:
A few shopping secrets could mean money in your wallet.
The first shopping secret is to compare national brands. If you see a national brand item on sale for less at one store, you can ask your favorite store to match the price. For example if Bed Bath & Beyond is having a sale on 300 count bed linens for $45.00 you can call a competitor and ask what their price is and ask them to beat the other store.
The next shopping secret is to take advantage of price adjustments. For example, at Bath & Body Works a bottle of lotion sold for $9 last week. Because of a sale, the same bottle of lotion sold for $8 this week. Retailers said that you could bring in your receipt during the sale to get the $1 back.
The third shopping secret is to ask questions. For instance, if a dress was listed for $35.00 ask the store clerk if it was going to be on sale anytime soon. Often times it could be going on sale with in a week and if not, a sale should be run well before the end of the season. But, if you don’t want to lose the dress, buy it for the $35.00 and if it is going on sale within a week bring the receipt to the store and get back the difference. Remember to keep your receipt and that you only have seven days from the original purchase to get a refund.
About the Author
The following blog post is from April Lewis-Parks, the director of education for Consolidated Credit She is a certified credit counselor and a consumer affairs advocate who is dedicated to generating awareness about personal finance issues. She is on the education advisory committee of the JumpStart Coalition, which is dedicated to furthering financial literacy for the youth and she is active in the South Florida chapter of Junior Achievement which promotes entrepreneurship and financial literacy through hands-on programs.