It is possible to save quite a deal of money when preparing food.
Firstly, preparing in bulk is always a money saver. eg I often cook large batches of spaghetti bolognaise sauce and then freeze it in single meal containers. I try and buy the ingredients when they are on special and then by cooking a large amount it is cheaper in regard to the cooking costs. Also it is great to have them stacked in the freezer for a tired day!
Also another way of saving money is to use the cheaper cuts of meat, home brand ingredients etc. How some home brands are just awful but in our house we don't mind the pasta, milk etc. and they are so much cheaper than the alternatives.
Something which I call 'food fillers' is another way of saving money. By putting rice, bran, pasta etc in meals they make meals go further and for little extra cost. e.g. rice in tuna mornay is yummy and makes it go a long way.
Sandwich assembling in bulk is quite a money saver and also time saver. Buy the fillings when on sale and spend an evening make up a pile of them. Then into the freezer.
Obviously a theme I do return to is to shop wisely. Know your prices and buy things on sale. Make sure you use them or else they are a waste of money. Have an organised freezer and make sure you rotate the food in it.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Food Shopping
Food shopping is one of the most expensive items in your budget (next to mortgage payments!). These days you seem to buy less and it costs way more. There are several things that you can do to get save money in this area.
As with anything saving money requires thought and often time. The best way (and I have said this in a previous blog) is to do a menu for the week/fortnight. This way you only buy what you need and the waste is cut down. Also use the junk mail to find the specials.
Supermarkets often have a shelf of food that is near its date. These food stuffs are all still fine and have been reduced to clear. If you are planning to use them straight away, great or otherwise freeze them. $ saved!
Food markets/fruit markets are another great saving. If you are good at remembering prices then these places are great. You often need to be quite early in the mornings to get the best quality and sometimes you need to barter. Remember, it is only a bargain if you needed it in the first place.
Don't go shopping when you are tired or depressed. I used to work shift-work and if after a week of shift I went grocery shopping suddenly the trolley seemed full of junk and chocolate. Be alert, these things seem to jump in. Also, don't let the kids whine and con you into things you don't need. It is always difficult, especially when queued for the check-out - with all those sweets etc. just sitting there. Be strong!
My neighbour and her daughter have a great arrangement going. They buy up in bulk on the specials of the things that they know they are going to use. Because my neighbour has a spare bedroom with a large built-in cupboard she stores the food. (We are talking non-perishable food here). They write on the outside of the food packet the price and store them away. When her daughter wants some of the food, she puts the money in the tin and takes some. This is working well and they are telling me that they have saved hundreds of dollars. For those with storage this is great. I buy up things that I see on sale and store them in my large pantry. You do have to be careful not to 'lose' things and then not get to eat them before their due date.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
As with anything saving money requires thought and often time. The best way (and I have said this in a previous blog) is to do a menu for the week/fortnight. This way you only buy what you need and the waste is cut down. Also use the junk mail to find the specials.
Supermarkets often have a shelf of food that is near its date. These food stuffs are all still fine and have been reduced to clear. If you are planning to use them straight away, great or otherwise freeze them. $ saved!
Food markets/fruit markets are another great saving. If you are good at remembering prices then these places are great. You often need to be quite early in the mornings to get the best quality and sometimes you need to barter. Remember, it is only a bargain if you needed it in the first place.
Don't go shopping when you are tired or depressed. I used to work shift-work and if after a week of shift I went grocery shopping suddenly the trolley seemed full of junk and chocolate. Be alert, these things seem to jump in. Also, don't let the kids whine and con you into things you don't need. It is always difficult, especially when queued for the check-out - with all those sweets etc. just sitting there. Be strong!
My neighbour and her daughter have a great arrangement going. They buy up in bulk on the specials of the things that they know they are going to use. Because my neighbour has a spare bedroom with a large built-in cupboard she stores the food. (We are talking non-perishable food here). They write on the outside of the food packet the price and store them away. When her daughter wants some of the food, she puts the money in the tin and takes some. This is working well and they are telling me that they have saved hundreds of dollars. For those with storage this is great. I buy up things that I see on sale and store them in my large pantry. You do have to be careful not to 'lose' things and then not get to eat them before their due date.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Junk Mail saves Money
Some people view junk mail (catalogues) as a curse. I enjoy reading my junk mail and save quite a deal of money. In fact, I make a cup of tea and sit and have a good read.
When doing my food shopping I plan out my menu (see future blog for 'food shopping money saving') and then use the junk mail to find the bargains. Basically my supermarket shopping does not vary all that much from week to week, so I do know what I am going to buy. Some people go to the trouble of listing the specials at more than one supermarket and will do their shopping at 2 or even 3 supermarkets. Frankly I don't have this much time but I am sure (provided they were close by and you didn't spent all your savings on fuel) that you would save quite a bit. However, most people would need to balance this with saving their own time. So I recommend just checking which major supermarket chain that week has the most specials that are suitable to you.
Junk mail also comes from department stores etc. and this is the more fun shopping. It is always great to stock up on birthday presents and little gifts for the kids. I bought my bedroom suite (bed, side tables, tallboy, 3 wardrobes) after falling in love with it at a major department store and not being able to afford it. Several months later, in the junk mail the suite was on sale and I saved $700. Again, remember it is only a bargain if you really need it.
Electrical goods are great to find in the junk mail. You can compare prices at different stores and it cuts down on running around trying to find prices. Often one store will drop their prices to match another stores prices. So it definitely pays to take the catalogues with you when shopping around.
If you have a problem with the environmental concerns of having that much junk paper, then perhaps arrange to read your neighbour's junk mail instead.
Seriously, just keep an eye on the catalogues and you can make huge savings. Rarely do you need to pay full price for things anymore. Just wait a few weeks and somewhere it will go on sale.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
When doing my food shopping I plan out my menu (see future blog for 'food shopping money saving') and then use the junk mail to find the bargains. Basically my supermarket shopping does not vary all that much from week to week, so I do know what I am going to buy. Some people go to the trouble of listing the specials at more than one supermarket and will do their shopping at 2 or even 3 supermarkets. Frankly I don't have this much time but I am sure (provided they were close by and you didn't spent all your savings on fuel) that you would save quite a bit. However, most people would need to balance this with saving their own time. So I recommend just checking which major supermarket chain that week has the most specials that are suitable to you.
Junk mail also comes from department stores etc. and this is the more fun shopping. It is always great to stock up on birthday presents and little gifts for the kids. I bought my bedroom suite (bed, side tables, tallboy, 3 wardrobes) after falling in love with it at a major department store and not being able to afford it. Several months later, in the junk mail the suite was on sale and I saved $700. Again, remember it is only a bargain if you really need it.
Electrical goods are great to find in the junk mail. You can compare prices at different stores and it cuts down on running around trying to find prices. Often one store will drop their prices to match another stores prices. So it definitely pays to take the catalogues with you when shopping around.
If you have a problem with the environmental concerns of having that much junk paper, then perhaps arrange to read your neighbour's junk mail instead.
Seriously, just keep an eye on the catalogues and you can make huge savings. Rarely do you need to pay full price for things anymore. Just wait a few weeks and somewhere it will go on sale.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Holidays
Holidays are a definite must but can blow the budget. There are ways to save money in this particular area. Whether or not the suggestions are useful will of course depend on how much you have allowed in your budget for this item and personal choice.
Caravaning/camping holidays. These are relatively low budget, if you don't have to set up from scratch. They can also be great family times (or disasters - too much family in close quarters!). For years we had great friends who let us borrow their caravan, so all Mum had to do was to pack. Camping may be more your thing. Again, low budget. Very low budget if you go 'out-bush' - with no amenities.
Holidays homes/cabins etc. can also be great fun. These tend to get busy (and therefore more expensive) during the summer months but if more than one family goes the cost is quite low.
Frequent flyer points can be used to pay for airfares/accommodation/car hire and this can certainly keep your holiday expenses low.
Keep at look-out on the internet, TV, newspapers and magazines for specials. Some websites show last minute accommodation/packages and greatly reduced prices. So if you are a last minute booker this would be great for you. On TV in my home town there are holidays auctions where you can ring and bid for a holiday and the top 50 bidders win that particular offer. These can also be great value.
Sharing costs with a group is probably the best way of having a holiday - keeping accommodation, food and maybe even travel expenses down.
On this blog I have placed an ad for cheap Carribean holidays. I found this after searching through the internet and it looks great. This is the sort of thing that can really save you money.
Good luck looking for a bargain and have a great holiday!
PS If the budget is completely blown and your holiday is at home instead, don't despair! Try doing some wacky things like having a picnic on the lounge floor, complete with picnic rug, food, drink and potted plant. My 4 year old thought it was a hoot. Just needs imagination and hopefully next time the holiday can be a bit more upmarket.
Caravaning/camping holidays. These are relatively low budget, if you don't have to set up from scratch. They can also be great family times (or disasters - too much family in close quarters!). For years we had great friends who let us borrow their caravan, so all Mum had to do was to pack. Camping may be more your thing. Again, low budget. Very low budget if you go 'out-bush' - with no amenities.
Holidays homes/cabins etc. can also be great fun. These tend to get busy (and therefore more expensive) during the summer months but if more than one family goes the cost is quite low.
Frequent flyer points can be used to pay for airfares/accommodation/car hire and this can certainly keep your holiday expenses low.
Keep at look-out on the internet, TV, newspapers and magazines for specials. Some websites show last minute accommodation/packages and greatly reduced prices. So if you are a last minute booker this would be great for you. On TV in my home town there are holidays auctions where you can ring and bid for a holiday and the top 50 bidders win that particular offer. These can also be great value.
Sharing costs with a group is probably the best way of having a holiday - keeping accommodation, food and maybe even travel expenses down.
On this blog I have placed an ad for cheap Carribean holidays. I found this after searching through the internet and it looks great. This is the sort of thing that can really save you money.
Good luck looking for a bargain and have a great holiday!
PS If the budget is completely blown and your holiday is at home instead, don't despair! Try doing some wacky things like having a picnic on the lounge floor, complete with picnic rug, food, drink and potted plant. My 4 year old thought it was a hoot. Just needs imagination and hopefully next time the holiday can be a bit more upmarket.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Credit Cards vs Cash
Credit cards are viewed by some as the scourge of society. There are ways you can save money with credit cards.
Firstly, get rid of them! I mean it. Some people have difficulty controlling their impulsive buying and just get themselves into trouble. It is definitely more difficult to stay within a set budget when putting things on credit cards. If this is you, then please just chop it up and pay cash.
Another way is the most obvious. Pay the amount owing in full each month. This is my method. I put everything on my card and pay it off. I don't have an automatic payment from my savings account set up to do this but I know that this is very easy to organise with your Bank. Why should any of us make the banks richer than they already are by paying them one cent of interest? We already have to pay card fees/account fees etc each your just to have your card, so don't pay them anymore.
That brings me onto another issue about cards. They do come with a cost (and I am not talking about the huge interest) but about those card keeping fees. Shop around and look for the lowest fees. Don't get sucked into the frequent flyer schemes that go with the cards. As far as I am concerned they are an added bonus but certainly shouldn't influence your decision. Find the cheapest running one. Try to get one that has at least 55 days interest free. That way at least the money stays in your bank account during those 55 days and if you have a daily interest mortgage you will be paying less interest on your mortgage for that time.
If you have the dreaded uncontrolled card that has a huge debt, the first thing that I would do is to chop up the card. Then sit down and work out how to curb the spending and how to pay back as quick as possible that debt. Remember, you are paying a HUGE amount of interest. You may need to speak to a finance professional about re-financing options. For those whose debt is large but not gigantic you are probably better off biting the bullet, having a few lean months and putting all you can into the card debt. Then work out how you can live within your limits with/without cards. Some people just can't cope with cards and are better off without them.
Re-financing as I have said is always an option. Beware! Some unscrupulous people will encourage you to pay off your credit card debt by extending your home loan mortgage. You are now effectively paying off $X over the life of your mortgage (and that could be 25 years)!! You would probably be better off with a personal loan which has a slightly higher rate of interest than a home loan but runs for probably only 2-3 years. Anyway, food for thought. It really depends on how huge that debt has got.
Paying by cash also has some benefits. People will often give you discount if you pay by cash. I was watching a program the other night where a man always asks for discount (even at outlet shops) and says he gets it about 70% of the time. I'm a bit shy to do that but wish I wasn't. I guess they can only say 'No'.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
Firstly, get rid of them! I mean it. Some people have difficulty controlling their impulsive buying and just get themselves into trouble. It is definitely more difficult to stay within a set budget when putting things on credit cards. If this is you, then please just chop it up and pay cash.
Another way is the most obvious. Pay the amount owing in full each month. This is my method. I put everything on my card and pay it off. I don't have an automatic payment from my savings account set up to do this but I know that this is very easy to organise with your Bank. Why should any of us make the banks richer than they already are by paying them one cent of interest? We already have to pay card fees/account fees etc each your just to have your card, so don't pay them anymore.
That brings me onto another issue about cards. They do come with a cost (and I am not talking about the huge interest) but about those card keeping fees. Shop around and look for the lowest fees. Don't get sucked into the frequent flyer schemes that go with the cards. As far as I am concerned they are an added bonus but certainly shouldn't influence your decision. Find the cheapest running one. Try to get one that has at least 55 days interest free. That way at least the money stays in your bank account during those 55 days and if you have a daily interest mortgage you will be paying less interest on your mortgage for that time.
If you have the dreaded uncontrolled card that has a huge debt, the first thing that I would do is to chop up the card. Then sit down and work out how to curb the spending and how to pay back as quick as possible that debt. Remember, you are paying a HUGE amount of interest. You may need to speak to a finance professional about re-financing options. For those whose debt is large but not gigantic you are probably better off biting the bullet, having a few lean months and putting all you can into the card debt. Then work out how you can live within your limits with/without cards. Some people just can't cope with cards and are better off without them.
Re-financing as I have said is always an option. Beware! Some unscrupulous people will encourage you to pay off your credit card debt by extending your home loan mortgage. You are now effectively paying off $X over the life of your mortgage (and that could be 25 years)!! You would probably be better off with a personal loan which has a slightly higher rate of interest than a home loan but runs for probably only 2-3 years. Anyway, food for thought. It really depends on how huge that debt has got.
Paying by cash also has some benefits. People will often give you discount if you pay by cash. I was watching a program the other night where a man always asks for discount (even at outlet shops) and says he gets it about 70% of the time. I'm a bit shy to do that but wish I wasn't. I guess they can only say 'No'.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Family Entertainment
There are certainly ways of saving money at home when considering your family entertainment.
Basically family entertainment involves food/drink and/or venue and a combination of these.
Movies are always great fun but for a family can run into a bit of money. Remember in my first blog about budgeting, make sure you set aside money for entertainment. Having said that, try to be wise. One of the latest release movies every now and then is OK. Some people go to just about every one. Also, those of you will know with kids, it is the popcorn, chips, drinks etc. that cost an absolute fortune. First of all, make sure you take your own food with you. Exit straight away and herd children straight past popcorn stand. I know it is really mean when they make it smell so nice. If you do go to a movie and it is really stretching your budget (and you have kids) make sure they realise that this is a big deal and a special treat.
Another cheaper alternative is to wait for the DVD to come out. It doesn't seem very long anymore. Hire it, invite another family over, pool the cost of munchies and have a great night.
Going on family walks along walking trails costs nothing, keeps you fit and brings you closer as a family. Parks are another good one. Kicking/throwing a ball around, playing on the playground etc. is great fun and free. Take plenty of water to drink instead of fizzy - much better for everyone. Healthy snacks are also better and more filling than the junk we seem to take on picnics.
Dinner parties can be huge and if this is your thing congratulations. They are also expensive. Maybe cut back on the amount of food served (there's always heaps left over!) and don't try to outdo the friends you have over.
I guess really the most important thing with entertainment is to stick to your fortnightly/monthly (whatever you do) budget. That way you can have fun and there will be no need to stress when you realise that you have spent way too much money on entertaining and can't pay some of your other bills.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
Basically family entertainment involves food/drink and/or venue and a combination of these.
Movies are always great fun but for a family can run into a bit of money. Remember in my first blog about budgeting, make sure you set aside money for entertainment. Having said that, try to be wise. One of the latest release movies every now and then is OK. Some people go to just about every one. Also, those of you will know with kids, it is the popcorn, chips, drinks etc. that cost an absolute fortune. First of all, make sure you take your own food with you. Exit straight away and herd children straight past popcorn stand. I know it is really mean when they make it smell so nice. If you do go to a movie and it is really stretching your budget (and you have kids) make sure they realise that this is a big deal and a special treat.
Another cheaper alternative is to wait for the DVD to come out. It doesn't seem very long anymore. Hire it, invite another family over, pool the cost of munchies and have a great night.
Going on family walks along walking trails costs nothing, keeps you fit and brings you closer as a family. Parks are another good one. Kicking/throwing a ball around, playing on the playground etc. is great fun and free. Take plenty of water to drink instead of fizzy - much better for everyone. Healthy snacks are also better and more filling than the junk we seem to take on picnics.
Dinner parties can be huge and if this is your thing congratulations. They are also expensive. Maybe cut back on the amount of food served (there's always heaps left over!) and don't try to outdo the friends you have over.
I guess really the most important thing with entertainment is to stick to your fortnightly/monthly (whatever you do) budget. That way you can have fun and there will be no need to stress when you realise that you have spent way too much money on entertaining and can't pay some of your other bills.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Reading material
Many people can save a great deal of money by being smarter when choosing reading material.
By reading material I am referring to books, magazines and newspapers.
Along with buying your lunch, buying magazinesnewspapers each day/week makes a HUGE dent in the household budget. If you don't believe me just stop and add up how much you spend each year on these reading materials.
I'll admit to being just like most other people and love catching up with gossip or just looking at the latest fashions/household ideas etc. My mind (in its weak moments) has even tried to justify their purchase by saying that I save money by getting ideas so I can do things myself to my house! No.
So how to cope without buying these things. Well, there are several options.
Another suggestion to those who just cannot go without their magazines is to form a 'magazine group' and each person buy one magazine and then swap them around, so you get to read quite a few for the purchase of only one.
I have also noticed that my local library has a huge array of magazines (up-to-date ones) and also the daily newspapers. Even McDonald's has the daily newspaper and some magazines.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
Happy reading (and not much purchasing)!
By reading material I am referring to books, magazines and newspapers.
Along with buying your lunch, buying magazinesnewspapers each day/week makes a HUGE dent in the household budget. If you don't believe me just stop and add up how much you spend each year on these reading materials.
I'll admit to being just like most other people and love catching up with gossip or just looking at the latest fashions/household ideas etc. My mind (in its weak moments) has even tried to justify their purchase by saying that I save money by getting ideas so I can do things myself to my house! No.
So how to cope without buying these things. Well, there are several options.
- Read other peoples!
- Wait until you get to work and often there are newspapers in the staff room.
- Just wean yourself off them completely.
- Sneakily look at the magazines in the supermarket aisles!
- Join a library
Another suggestion to those who just cannot go without their magazines is to form a 'magazine group' and each person buy one magazine and then swap them around, so you get to read quite a few for the purchase of only one.
I have also noticed that my local library has a huge array of magazines (up-to-date ones) and also the daily newspapers. Even McDonald's has the daily newspaper and some magazines.
For an excellent resource I have come across on how to escape debt, live cheaply, saving money etc Click Here!
Happy reading (and not much purchasing)!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)