Archive for the ‘Consumer Skills’ Category:
Cutting Your Largest Non-Fixed Expense – Saving on Food & Groceries
Grocery shopping – you’ve got to do it, right? Going out to eat – you don’t have to, but sometimes it just turns out that way. Believe it or not, the average family of four spends more than $500 on groceries and food each month.
You can easily add another $50 or $100 to your monthly savings by making simple changes:
START by shopping smart at the grocery store:
•Shop with a list and coupons when purchasing groceries. If you purchase certain items regularly, stock up on them when they are on sale for additional savings. One consumer expert says grocery items go on sale about every three months, so buy enough to get you to the next sale cycle.
•Buy in-season produce. Not only is the produce more fresh, but also is substantially cheaper. Consider other options such as the Farmer’s Market or local farmers for fresh vegetables and fruits.
•Avoid convenience food. Pre-cooked, pre-sliced or pre-packaged food is more expensive. Buy a head of lettuce rather than a bag of salad, and create your own “100 calorie” snack packs.
SUBSTITUTE and ANTICIPATE for further savings:
•Eat less meat. Meals with smaller portions of meat, or none at all, are often cheaper and lower in fat than their high-meat counterparts. Consider substituting beans for meat or enjoy pasta with summer vegetables for a few dinners each week to add to your savings.
•Don’t just pack your lunch; bring snacks and beverages with you as well. A $2 snack or water bottle adds up over time. If you’re going to be away from home, be prepared- and save.
AVOID restaurants, but if you must:
•If you’re going to go out to eat, go at noon rather than at night for less-expensive options. Before you go, check the newspaper for advertised specials or coupons. If your favorite restaurant does not offer coupons, consider ordering a salad or an appetizer rather than an entree or sharing a meal with your dining companion.
Make sure to bank your savings! Track your progress towards a savings goal by joining America Saves, and using the America Saves My Savings Tracker for free to record deposits and monitor your progress.
Source: America Saves “Kick Start Your Savings” campaign
“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.
Subscribe to the comments for this postBeware of calories in the 3 B’s
Americans are notorious for underestimating the amount of calories we consume in our food choices. The three B’s featured below are especially problematic– loaded with calories and packaged in a way that makes consumers think they’re eating one serving, but large enough to be much more. Read on for the details!
Many times, sugary drinks are sold in bottles that look like one serving but are really more. And these are bought “on the go” so they are likely to be consumed all at once – you are not going to put half a bottle of soda in your purse, car, or desk for tomorrow. Additionally, most bottles look rather small when compared to fast food beverage cups.
The lesson: compare one standard measuring cup, one soda bottle, one fast food cup and see the differences in size. The Big Gulp and other fast food cups have desensitized everyone as to the real serving size of soda or other sugared drinks (one 8-oz cup).
How many extra calories per day and per week come from sugared beverages? What are the savings to switch to water and not worry about it?
1) 1 bottle chai tea = 640 calories
2) 1 bottle cola = 200 calories
3) 1 bottle water = 0 calories
Bars
This temptation lurks every time you check out at the grocery store. It is tempting to throw in a candy bar for the hard work of the shopper, right? Well, a quick glance at the back of the wrapper of a big candy bar shows 200 calories. But you have to read the fine print to see that the package contains 3 servings– so it brings in 600 calories!!
Lesson: Candy bars are always really high in calories for their size. Compare chocolate to fruit:
1) chocolate bar, 4 ounces = 600 calories
2) package of 6 chocolate bars = 1380 calories
3) 1 banana = 105
Bags
A crinkly plastic bag is usually a sure sign that something calorie-dense is inside! Think about chips, cookies, crackers, candy and other bagged snack foods.
Lesson – limit the number of bags in your cart before you get to the bagging area!
1) Chocolate chip cookies = 160 calories per ounce or 2080 for the whole bag
2) Chips = 150 calories per ounce or 1500 per bag
3) 1 apple, 4 ounces = 94 calories
Reading calories and portion sizes on the three B’s– bottles, bars and bags– and other packaged/processed foods is important for the realization that they are high in calories and should not fill the whole grocery cart.
Source: Food and Health Communications
“Knowledge for Life” provided by the Finney County Extension Office and K-State Research and Extension.
Top 10 Frugal Foods: Spend Less, Get More
Think it’s too expensive to eat a healthy diet? Think again! K-State Research and Extension presents our “top 10” list of frugal foods that combine great taste with a nutritious punch, all for a minimum cost. All of the frugal foods on our list are versatile — try them for breakfast, lunch, supper and snacks.
- Apples and Bananas. A perfect on-the-go snack, both apples and bananas are naturally portable. Eat these satisfying and sweet nutritional powerhouses raw or baked, or add them to salads, desserts and baked goods.
- Beans. Full of antioxidants, dietary fiber and protein, canned beans cost about 23 cents per serving. Dry varieties that you cook yourself cost even less. Keep them on hand to pack into brownbag lunches and to make quick suppers.
- Brown Rice. With a slightly nutty taste, brown rice is a whole grain. It is more nutritious than white rice. Serve as a side dish, at breakfast or as a snack with cinnamon and milk, or add to casseroles and soups.
- Canned Tomatoes. Canned tomatoes make a great base for countless main dishes, dips, sauces, soups, stews and chili. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C and lycopene. Buy them without added salt if possible.
- Canned Tuna. A versatile addition to sandwiches, salads and casseroles, tuna is high in protein and vitamin D, and low in calories and fat.
- Eggs. Eggs are high in protein and low in cost. Boiled, fried or scrambled — eggs cook quickly, so they’re perfect for breakfast, lunch or supper. For variety, try French toast, huevos rancheros or egg salad.
- Fat-free Milk. A natural convenience food, skim milk offers a healthy dose of vitamin D, calcium, protein and potassium. Serve skim milk with meals and snacks, and use in soups, smoothies and desserts.
- Kale. At about a dollar a bunch, kale is one of the least costly green vegetables you’ll find. Three quick and easy ways to serve kale are to: Serve it hot after pan-frying with garlic and a small amount of vegetable oil; Steam and add to pasta salads or as a topping on homemade pizza.
- Potatoes. White potatoes and sweet potatoes are satisfying and are high in dietary fiber, vitamin C and potassium. Bake, boil, roast, pan-fry or oven-fry them, or add to casseroles or soups.
- Rolled Oats. At just 14 cents, one cup of cooked oats is a heart-healthy whole grain with 4 grams of dietary fiber. Cook oats with fruit for a breakfast or snack, add them to baked goods or use them to ”stretch” the ground beef in meatballs and meatloaf.
Source: Dining on a Dime newsletter, June 2010, Erin Henry and Mary Meck Higgins, K-State Research and Extension Human Nutrition
Planning funerals in advance makes decisions easier
Americans spend billions of dollars every year to arrange more than 2 million funerals for family members and loved ones. Funerals rank among the most expensive purchases many consumers will ever make. Yet, when a loved one dies, grieving family members are confronted with dozens of decisions about the funeral – all of which must be made quickly and often under great emotional stress.
Funerals are consumer products- yet different
Even if you’re the kind of person who might haggle with a dozen dealers to get the best price on a new car, you’re likely to feel uncomfortable comparing prices or negotiating the best deal for a funeral. Compounding this discomfort is the fact that some people “overspend” on a funeral or burial because they think of it as a reflection of their feelings for the deceased.
Advance planning makes decisions easier
Consumers who make funeral plans in advance can compare prices and services so that the funeral reflects a wise and well-informed purchasing decision, honors the deceased and is meaningful to survivors. Remember, pre-planning does not have to equal pre-paying– even those who are uncomfortable about paying for services in advance can benefit from planning ahead before any dollars ever change hands. Here are some suggestions to consider:
1. Shop around in advance. Compare prices from at least two funeral homes. Choose reputable funeral homes so you know they will still be in business when your need arises.
2. Ask for a price list. By law, funeral homes must give you written price lists for products and services. You can supply your own casket or urn.
3. Resist pressure to buy goods and services you don’t really need.
4. Avoid emotional overspending. You can properly honor a loved one without the fanciest casket or the most elaborate funeral.
5. Recognize your rights. Funeral and burial laws vary from state to state. For information about the Kansas rules and laws, and other helpful resources, go online to the State of Kansas Board of Mortuary Arts at www.kansas.gov/ksbma/.
6. Apply the same smart shopping techniques that you use for other major purchases. Consider your needs and preferences, shop around and ask lots of questions.
7. Plan ahead. It allows you to comparison shop without time constraints, creates an opportunity for family discussion, and lifts some of the burden from your family. If you are planning your own service, and especially if you are paying in advance, you may want to review your arrangements every few years.
For more information-
The Federal Trade Commission offers a consumer guide to funeral planning complete with a price checklist, glossary of terms, description of services, and a list of questions to ask. Get your copy of Funerals, A Consumer Guide and other helpful resources at the FTC website: www.ftc.gov .
To coupon…or not to coupon?
The weekend newspaper is full of them…. they’re COUPONS, and manufacturers try to entice you to purchase their products by using them. Are you a coupon shopper?
Coupons can save money
As for me, I use coupons to stretch my budget. On my latest grocery shopping spree, I saved $26 by using coupons along with store discount prices. I got about $90 worth of products for $64. Besides saving money on my favorite things, coupons also give me the opportunity to try new or different products with less financial risk.
When coupons don’t add up
But, while coupons can help me save, they are not always the smartest choice. Here are a couple of situations when I opt NOT to use my coupons:
- When the national brand with the coupon still costs more than the store brand. I skipped using several coupons on my most recent shopping trip because they didn’t really save me any money. For example, it was not worth the 35-cent coupon savings on name brand sugar when the store brand was $1.00 less. Since sugar is sugar, I opted to pass on the coupon and buy the store brand without a coupon instead.
- When the coupon is for a product we don’t need. Yes, coupons are supposed to encourage me to buy certain products. But they are no savings if I spend money on something I don’t need or wouldn’t regularly buy. For example, there are lots of coupons on high-fat, high-sodium and high-sugar snacks, desserts, cereals and prepared foods that I don’t choose to feed to my family. So, by being a discriminating coupon shopper, I can save money by NOT buying couponed products that don’t fit my family’s needs and preferences.
How about you?
Do you clip and use coupons? Or are they are waste of time? What’s your stand on coupon shopping? Leave a comment– share your opinion about coupons and your best saving strategies when buying groceries and household products. Let’s learn from each other!