Thrifty Tips

This blogger site is a creation of simple yet yummy meals, even on a budget. My good friend, Jalen, has lured me to the dark side of blogging, but I’m excited because it isn’t about “chatting” and finding your old squeeze. This is a cool place to post those secret recipes that many people can enjoy. I will often throw in money saving tips as I am told I know how to stretch my money. In times like these, we can all benefit from such tips.

Frugal Food tips:

• Shop weekly or bi-weekly, using the ads from your favorite store(s). For the longest time, I would shop at one grocer. Lately I have found that shopping around provides the best deals. One week I’ll get asparagus-YUM- for only $1.99 at Albertsons and then it will go up to $3.99, so I’ll buy it at King Soopers the next trip out. If you don’t already receive a weekly flyer from your favorite store(s) be sure to get your name on that mailing list right away. If you don’t like taking the time to search the ads/coupons, perhaps your hubby/spouse is more up to the task and can use it as bathroom reading material. If you shop when deals are best and keep up every week or two, you never seem to run out of delicious ingredients.

• Always use a list when shopping. Might sound simple, but it’s absolutely helpful. If you are hungry and shop without a list, you buy tons of unnecessary items. So use the ads to figure out your list, and then you can think up all the wonderful meals you'll make that week.

• Stock up with those non-perishable items. Clean out the clutter and find a place for extra shampoo, toothpaste, pasta, canned goods, etc. When there is an awesome sale, go crazy and load up on that item. You are going to need it at some point, right! Sure, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, and Costco have good deals for bulk items. But it’s not only those HUMONGOUS bags of food or 1000 rolls of TP that help you save. Like I said, if you find your favorite toothpaste on sale at Safeway for $1, buy 10 of them.

• When buying fresh foods like veggies or fruits, keep some in the crisper so they don’t all go bad at once. This is true for avocados and apples (from my experience). Also, if something like a bell pepper is going bad, incorporate it into your next meal. When potatoes are going bad, my husband (Rick) and I cook up diced potatoes with bell pepper, onions, parsley, olive oil and other various spices. We make a ton and then freeze about 4-5 bags for future meals.

• Cook a large pot of spaghetti, stew, soup, chili, or whatever can be frozen and served later reheated. If you are an on-the-go person like I am, this helps with easy meals on work days. Spend a Sunday cooking up several meals and then freeze them in disposable containers. People do this when a person is sick or out of commission. Why not save ourselves some time/money by giving up an afternoon to make life that much easier. Plus it keeps you from the temptation of eating out.