HOW TO STRETCH YOUR FOOD DOLLAR

Your paycheck is smaller; your budget is getting harder to meet.  The dollar is continuing to lose value and everything you buy is going up in price.  This isn't going to get better so take steps now.  You can do more than you think.  Hill Spirit still encourages you to plant a garden, even if it is just two potted tomatoes.  Learn how to preserve food, it's not that hard to learn how to can or freeze.  Here are six more ways to stretch your food dollars. 

Combat Food Inflation with These Six Tips

Be Aware. Package sizes are shrinking; knowing this empowers you to make buying choices. Too often you probably go to the store and grab what looks good but stop for a moment and observe the sizes and prices of your purchases. Picking items on brand name loyalty alone can cost you.  One option is to avoid conventional supermarkets and buy in larger quantities through such retail outlets as BJs or Sam's Club. Plan. Take 30 quick minutes and decide what you're going to eat each week. Write it down, or put it in your phone. Then purchase just those items. You'll be amazed at how much you save by not buying impulse items. To save even more, use the flier from your local market and plan your meals around their sales. Stock Up. Make a list of 5-7 favorite meals and write down the ingredients. Keep that list in your phone, or on a piece of paper in your wallet. Then stock up on those items. Create Extra Cash. When something you regularly use is on sale, buy an extra one. Refer to the list you made above. Use the money you save from not buying impulse items to pay for these extras. Or forgo that grande latte from Starbucks every day and get one just twice a week. The $10-$20 you save can be used to buy extra soup, chicken, or even shampoo. Stock up on sale items and store them in your pantry. Meats, cheese, and even milk will keep well in your freezer.  Many grocery items are on a three month sale rotation, some are every six weeks.   Rotate. Use the first items you buy before later purchases. It's easy to keep track if you use a permanent marker to write the month and year on everything. Stock up on razors, toilet paper, and other staple products that keep forever. You can always use these items so buying them now while they are cheaper is a smart forward strategy in an inflationary environment. By buying a few extra items, you'll be ahead of the game as food prices rise. You can continue to save money by buying most everything on sale because you'll already have a pantry with food you use. Click HERE for complete article