I am still not back on track. There is so much I want to tell about our pre Holiday vacation at Widus, our simple Holiday (and stress free!) feast.. and a lot more about the year that was and this year that is quickly unfolding!
But before everything, I juts have to share this article because this what we all need right now! So sit back and do some reading before you start computing how much money you still got.
Food With a View — Saving Money on Meals By Planning Ahead
Expensive as they are fun, the Christmas and New Year celebrations may already seem like a distant memory as 2015 is already under way. That’s until you receive your credit card invoice or arrive at the grocery store cash register and are reminded of all the money that you’ve spent or about to part with!
The good news is that there’s plenty of time between now and when the festive season rolls around again. The better news is that there’s time to save money in between on your grocery shopping. You just have to plan ahead.
Take an inventory
Don’t just dash off down to the grocery story with a shopping bag and a fistful of dollars! Take a good look at what you’ve got stored away in your cupboards and fridge freezer before you buy any groceries. Then you can make a list of what you need and avoid buying stuff that you already have in and, ultimately, keep more of those hard-earned dollars for next week’s shop.
Plan your meals for the week
Thinking ahead about what you and the family are going to eat will leave you with more money in your pocket. Look for recipes that use the same ingredients, which will make it less necessary to buy as much of them, or of extra ingredients, so that the foods you already have in last longer. It’s also a chance to save money by buying larger packs of food for certain meals, rather than separately. We all know buying in bulk saves money, right!
Remember to freeze!
blanched veggies ready for freezing
Buying fresh food all the time can really ratchet up your shopping bill. Before foods go out of date, store them away in a Hotpoint fridge freezer. You can defrost them for use later.
Manage your money and show willpower
Credit cards are a double-edged sword when it comes to shopping — it’s so gloriously convenient and easy to just place things on the card, which includes stuff that you don’t really need (but feel you must have!). Of course, you’ll have to pay charges for using the card too, and that adds to the expense. Instead, estimate how much your shop should come to and draw out the cash to cover it. Then, when you start shopping, stick to paying in cash and you’ll find that you’re more careful with the money. This remarkable feat of restraint will save you dollars!
It really does pay, almost literally, to plan your meals ahead and what you’ll buy. Don’t forget, saving as you go can leave you with more money at the end of the year for the next big Christmas shop! You wouldn’t want to be without that turkey at Christmas time!
Image by Mike Schmid, used under Creative Commons license
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