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In order to save money on groceries we first took a long look at our shopping habits. We occasionally took advantage of sales, yet had no organization to our menus, food storage, or shopping. We went to the store "between trips" and often ate poorly if both of us were sick at the same time. We wanted a change.
Our first purchase was a food sealer. I had been looking at sealers before, thinking we threw a lot of food away. We often had left overs three days in a row. I thought there had to be a better way without cooking more meals or ordering delivery. The purchase of a food sealer has been very helpful in saving money. We use leftovers when we want and not just the first few days after the meal is cooked. The food can be saved in meal size packages and micro waved or boiled.
Saving money on groceries will in all likelihood mean you need more pantry space. Modern kitchens rarely have enough. We started with a small closet in our kitchen but it was not enough. A wooden storage cabinet left over from a previous job ended up being perfect. Look around your house and find a closet or some other space that is dry and dark.
Our third step in saving was to purchase an additional freezer. Luckily my husband received a one-time bonus at work just after we decided to make a change. We decided to buy a new freezer with this money. We owned a twenty year old freezer and wasn't sure how much longer it would last. After some time researching we bought an upright version with no bells or whistles; just a simple freezer. Some bulk buying of frozen stuff is needed to save as much as possible. How much freezer space do you have? Where can you put a freezer? Shop around and see what specials are available. Most families only need one freezer. Maybe you can share one.
Our goal was to save money, stockpile a certain amount of groceries in case of bad weather or illness, and still eat well. The vacuum sealer, freezer, and additional storage space are three wise choices that help us save money. While these steps worked best for us, adapt our suggestions to your situation. Not everyone can or should start with these ideas first.
About The Author: L. C. Peterson is a writer and web marketing
consultant. Need or Want to Save Money on Your Food Bill!
Save 30%-50% weekly. Need something? Go to the pantry.
No more "extra" trips. More info and free tips at-
http://www.grocerystoresavings.com
By
09/08/2004
Here's a link that shows the differences between British, American and Australian crackers/biscuits:
http://www.foodsubs.com/Crackers.html
From that site:
Graham crackers Notes: These moderately sweet crackers are made with whole wheat flour. They make great snacks for kids, but cooks often crush them and use the crumbs to make pie crusts. Cinnamon or chocolate flavored graham crackers are also available. Substitutes: digestive biscuit (This is a similar British product.) OR wheatmeal biscuit (This is a similar Australian product.) OR ginger snaps OR chocolate wafers OR vanilla wafers
By
09/08/2004
For Econ O'Miser - I think Graham crackers are like Macvities Digestive biscuits - but not totally sure.
Regards
Jo - Australian/ex Isle of Man!
By
09/08/2004
Welcome to the site! Here is a link to a food saver device. Basically it sucks the air out of a bag and then seals it.
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?pid=00869322000
By
09/08/2004
Please can any non-US member tell me what a food sealer is. I am in the UK and only just joined this site (which looks brilliant!) but don't recognise all the terminology. If anyone from the UK knows the answer, can they advise whether a food sealer is available in this country, and where from? Thanks.
While I'm here, does anyone know whether graham crackers are the same as what we in the UK call cream crackers?
By
09/08/2004
I agree eating "fresh food" is great. However, it is important to have your own supply of food on hand all the time. Otherwise, it puts you at the mercy of the stores, the trucking system, other distribution, etc when it comes to feeding your family. By having my own supply of food in the freezer, pantry, and garden, I have a buffer of protection from a job loss, natural disaster, man-made disaster, or a food distribution problem.
By
09/07/2004
Hello! I really can't afford an extra freezer. I try not to have leftovers much because we really don't want them again the next day, and things tend to freezer burn. The food sealers are expensive too. I don't know how much the refill bags are for them. They would be a good investment if you have the x-tra money. I shop the sales and go to a lower priced grocery store a couple times a month to stock up. I do have a closet pantry and think it's great. :) Lisa
By
09/07/2004
When you have a retail store, you look at your space and what is stored there as cost of capital - meaning, if it's not on the sales floor being sold, it's money you've already spent but not earning anything from. The same goes with food you are going to eat this week and food you are storing for two months down the road.
We have looked at the cost of owning, running, and filling a freezer compared to the cost of actual fresh food. We have found that we only spend about $300 a month for a family of four buying and cooking fresh foods. We are two adults and two teenagers.
A freezer and all its foods and running costs were far more in the end - too much cost of capital for us. When we lived in Alaska, an extra freezer was a great idea because going to the store was a hassle and you needed to stock up for a season at a time. Also the freezer never turned on about 6 months of the year, saving electricity costs.
We now live in Arizona so it's not so feasible. Folks need to really look at the costs and they also need to decide whether they really want to eat a lot of old food or eat fresh food.
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