Simple, Healthy Ways to Save Money

I think that no matter how much money you have, you should always use it wisely.  There is an optimal point of which you should or should not do things in terms of saving money and spending it, IMHO.  There was a time when I just bought whatever convenience there was, as I allowed myself to be suckered into thinking that I could not do it.

It turns out that many of the things that other people/companies say you cannot do for yourself, well, you can!  They just want to market that you cannot without their help and convenience.  When, maybe it might take 1-2 more simple steps, rather than the million different steps they think it will take you, with tons of hassle.

One thing, in terms of some of the hardships I've come from financially, it's taught me how to be resourceful with what I do have, or not, and figure out how to have really a rich life with not having a lot financially to work with.

Sometimes what we think is bad happening to us, really isn't in the long run.  The mother of invention is necessity.  Often we are lazy and don't think it necessary, so there is no cause to be creative, to think beyond your comfort zone.  But, when you have no choice, somehow those creative juices start flowing.

I've noticed that the stores that have sales, they rotate every so often their sale items.  Meaning, if chicken breast bone-in is on sale this week, probably 3 weeks from now, it'll have the same sale.  Or, if the sale is super great, that sale may only occur once every 2-3 months, but it does have a cycle.

MONEY SAVING TIPS:

1.  Buy what's on sale & in-season.

2.  For 1-3 months, pay attention to the sale items and things you use.  Either make a mental note or jot down these things.  If you eat simply, this isn't hard.

3.  Eat whole, single ingredient item foods.  This really limits what you buy, and you don't have to look all over the ads for items, or the whole store.  Simplification.

4.  For spices, buy at an ethnic store (like Asian supermarket), or buy in packages, not in the jars.  It costs a fraction of the cost.  You can seal these bags after you open them in sandwich baggies.

5.  Find simple, easy recipes to make not with a lot of ingredients and with common ingredients.

6.  Learn how to use spices, herbs, seasonings in your cooking.  This gives tons of flavor that is healthy.

7.  Get a crockpot & use this.  Even poor or tough cuts of meat can melt in your mouth if seasoned & cooked long enough in the crockpot.

8.  Many "gourmet" foods (yummy sauces, pestos, etc) are really made from basic foods that you can easily do without added colorings or preservatives, which are bad for you.

9.  Reduce eating out.  This wastes gas, tipping, the quality of food is usually less than what you can actually buy and make, and it takes more time overall.

10.  If you stop buying crap food, you'll have the extra money to spend on good, quality ingredients.

11.  Choose typically 1-3 stores that you like their prices and shop there on a regular basis.

12.  Look online for any coupons you could use.  I hate clipping coupons and do not get the paper.

13.  Look online, ask friends, post out there your needs or things you want to get rid of.  Maybe what you don't need someone else can use and vice versa.

14.  Be okay with waiting.

15.  Plan ahead.  Yes, I know those are bad words.

16.  Make enough for a few meals, but not so much that you will end up throwing things away.

17.  Consolidate trips to the store.  Buy once a week or every 10 days.  Going to the store(s) every day or every other day wastes time & gas, and pollutes the enviroment.

18.  If you garden, this would be great to eat from your garden.  However, some of us don't have green thumbs.

19.  Buy from a co-op or something from this effect.  I need to do this, but I still like what I like when I want it.  If there is too much food here, split this with another person or family.

20.  Buy meats on sale and freeze what you don't use.  It keeps for quite awhile.

21.  When buying from a meat counter, have them package meats, poultry, fish, seafood in 1 family serving size.  For example, I always use about 1 lb of fish when making a meal.  I don't allow the butcher to put 2 lbs in pkg, rather just 1 lb, even if he had to make me 10 packages rather than the 3 he would like to do.  It annoys him, but I'm glad I don't have to thaw out 3-4 lbs to use only 1 lb and refreeze the rest, which isn't good.

22.  If you buy in prepackaged bulk, repackage WELL the meats/fish/poultry/seafood in 1 cooking session's worth, write & date the package.

23.  Organize your freezer so you don't overbuy and you know what you have (I'm really bad about this).

24.  Save containers with lids & jars of foods you get.  Wash well.  These can be used later so you don't have to buy extra tupperware, etc.  The glass jars are good, as you have no issues of what you might with plastic.

25.  All those vegetable or fruit scrappings?  Use for compost.  Don't waste.

26.  Just because ANY food is healthy, you can't eat unlimited amounts.