With the current economic crisis and mass lay-offs happening all over the Bay Area, many are really strapping down their finances to make sure they can support themselves in case they find themselves unemployed. I have always been very frugal and my frugality has helped me and my family save nicely. We have an emergency fund but most importantly, we live comfortably. I would like to share some of these tips and hopefully help others save a little cash. It may not seem much now as you cut small costs here and there, but believe me, it really adds up.
Pack lunch for work everyday
We used to buy lunches at work every day. That’s approximately $7 per person per day. With 5 workdays every week, that’s $70 of lunches for the two of us. That adds up to $3,360 a year! That’s a lot of money when I can easily pack my own lunch, and most of the time, it’s better and healthier than what I normally purchase at the fast food joints. Keep in mind that this figure is only for two people. If there are more people in the family, the figure spent on lunches alone would be much higher.
Buy nonperishable items in bulk
Costco has become my second home as I shop there very often. I stock up on Costco’s Kirkland brands since they are lot cheaper. However, there are a few items that I prefer not get the Kirkland brand and rather pay a little bit more for brands of higher quality. Regardless, I’m still saving at Costco.
Buy perishable items in bulk and split them among multiple households
For example, I can buy a much larger quantity of asparagus at Costco for the same price as Safeway’s asparagus. However, my family doesn’t normally finish it all so we would split the item among multiple households. I may not save, but it doesn’t cost me any more to help others to save.
Run multiple errands in the same vicinity
If I’m already at Costco, I might as well pull up and get some gas at their stations. If there’s a Safeway nearby, I might as well get what I need there that I couldn’t get at Costco. Not only do I save money on gas, but I get things done in a more efficient and timely manner.
Think of creative ways to use up every scrap of food
No food goes to waste in our family. We use every piece of grocery purchased whenever possible. That nice store-bought rotisserie chicken? Well, don’t throw away the carcass when you are done with it. Put it in a pot to simmer. Let it set and scrap off the fat that floats to the top and you got yourself some great homemade stock! Vegetables such as celery and carrots losing its firmness? Throw those aromatics into the stock pot as well for a richer flavor.
Discover the wonders of freezing
I freeze just about everything. Have left over pork roast? Wrap that sucker up and freeze it away for a future dish. Since I buy almost all my canned food in bulk, I always end up freezing the remaining content. The only things that you cannot freeze are your vegetables and fruits because they will lose their firmness when you defrost them. However, if firmness doesn’t matter such as tomatoes for spaghetti sauce, then by all means freeze away! I also have one rule of thumb in my kitchen: no new dishes will be made until all old dishes are completely done. This works out very well when your husband is not a picky eater.
Prep your groceries ahead of time
Time is also money so save time by prepping your groceries ahead of time. When you bring home that honking piece of meat from Costco, cut it up, marinate it and put it into individual bags. You are already marinating a portion of it, why not just add a bit more seasoning and marinate the whole batch for future use? And by putting the pieces into individual bags, you not only preserve the quality of the meat (more surface area, more ice crystals that can penetrate and damage the meat), but defrosting will be quick and easy. Perfect for when you have no time and patience after a long day at work.
Vicky’s Money-Saving Tips to be continued…
Great advices! Just too bad I like to eat out since it taste so good and it’s so much fun! haha
Anonymous
January 22nd, 2009