Shopping as a Battle Against EVIL!

Going to the right store helps you save money grocery shopping.  So does the method of shopping.

Grocery stores, every one of them, hire experts to trick you into buying what sounds good, instead of what you actually want.  Have you ever gone to the store to just get some milk and found you had to walk across the whole store just to get the one item?  Thank the consumer experts.  They tell the grocery stores to put the milk in the most inconvenient place possible so that people have to pass by all the other items to get the milk.  This way, they are likely to see another item they might want and pick that up as well.  Why is produce often put next to the entrance or the bakery?  To give the store a fresh smell just as you walk in.  Yeah, these guys are sneaky.

What is really sneaky is how some items like soda and junk food are placed at the end of aisles with inexpensive prices. It makes those empty calories seem so attractive and easy to pick up.  I have seen people on food stamps buy tons of junk food, when really they couldn't afford it.  If we buy junk food when we have little money, we are throwing money away.  But I'll tell you the truth, sometimes when you are stressed or tired or hungry, it is hard not to buy the food that would comfort you, or keep your kids quiet.

Here are some tips that I keep in mind when shopping and it saves me a lot of money:

1. Don't shop with kids or keep rehearsing this short phrase: "no"
I love my kids and I like to take them shopping.  But if they are going to keep asking me for stuff, I just won't take them.  I don't often tell them "no", rather the phrase they most hear is: "We can't afford that."  My eighteen year old is so trained in this that he won't ask for anything, even if he needs it, because he assumes we couldn't get it anyway.

2. Make a list and stick to it
Only buy what you actually need.  Don't impulse buy.  If you buy on impulse, you are more than likely going to buy what the store wants you to buy.  Sometimes I don't buy from a list, but I have learned not to see large portions of a store.  I ignore the deli, only buy the cheapest cheese, and most of the meat department.

3. Buy a minimum of meat
I am not a vegetarian.  I like hamburgers.  However, it is often cheaper to get a dollar hamburger at Wendy's than to cook one yourself at home. (More about that in a fast food post).  Rather than getting Hamburger Helper, think about dishes where you can take a small amount of meat and spread it out rather than having a chunk.  A little bit of meat in spaghetti sauce or potatoes or a casserole tastes just as good (almost) and saves a bunch of money rather than hamburgers or steak or fried chicken.

4. Make a list of stuff you won't buy
I don't buy soda.  My wife used to buy soda, but she'd get it herself with her own money.  Soda is one of the leading contributer to childhood obesity, so I just won't buy it.  I might get it for free, or as a treat, but never in my regular grocery shopping.  If I'm going to buy junk, I've already decided to buy it before I get to the store.  I won't allow a sale or "special" convince me to buy junk I'm not going to buy.  For me, shopping is a battle between what my family needs and what the store wants me to buy.

5. Inexpensive healthy options
I know it may seem like a lot, and it fills your fridge, but five dozen eggs is probably the cheapest complete protein you can get.  Buy pasta and rice in bulk.  And don't ever buy bread.  You can probably get bread for free from a local food bank or church.  Look around. 

Save Money Grocery Shopping!

A lot of folks are focusing on couponing right now. Some people claim that they save from 50-90 percent of their shopping bill just by using coupons.  This might be true, but we need to recognize the limitations of this approach.  First of all, you need time, possibly a lot of it.  Secondly, you need an excellent memory and organization skills.  This is why I don't coupon myself.  I get the coupons and, if by some miracle, I take them to the store, then when I'm at the cashier I forget about them.  

If you'd like to look at a moderate approach to couponing, I recommend this blog series: Extreme Couponing

For me, though, the number one secret of saving money on food isn't coupons or specials.  It’s where you shop.  Sure, you might be able to save some money spending all your time collecting coupons and checking out the ads.  But you can save the most money, right off the bat, by shopping at a discount grocery.  It doesn't require you to drive around town, and it requires a minimum of organization.  Every major town has them: Winco, Food4Less, Canned Food Outlet are some that are familiar to us in the West U.S.    Wall Mart saves money on many items, but isn’t a great place to get food.

Do you buy produce?  Then check out local farmer’s markets.  A while ago, that was an expensive option.  But now you can buy the best, freshest produce cheaper than any supermarket there.  This is important because produce is an important part of eating healthy.  If we only thought about eating cheaply and not healthy, we would only be eating Little Debbie’s!   You need to eat both cheaply and well.  Especially if you have children.

Camping in the Winter

Some of us are in such dire straits that we must live in a tent through the winter. Here are a few suggestions on how to make this happen.

Stay hidden. When picking a campsite for the winter, be sure no one can see you. Last thing you need is a group of teens or officers deciding that decide your camp is something to be trashed.

Use natural protection. Trees or brush can offer protection from the wind. Know which direction the wind usually comes from and get on the other side of it. Also, face your tent downhill, as an opening facing uphill will let the wind in.

Get a good sleeping bag. Without holes and a zipper that works (a bag without a zipper is simply a comforter). If you can, make it a winter bag. If you are purchasing it, look at the degrees on the bag-- that will be the temperature the bag will keep you warm up to. If the temperature outside is below the one in the bag, it won't keep you warm enough. Supplement your bag, if necessary, with blankets that fit within the bag or a hand warmer at night that can be placed at the foot of the bag.

Keep dry. Get rain gear, if you can, or a good waterproof coat. Thickness isn't as important as dryness, you can always layer clothes under the coat, if necessary. Also, get waterproof gloves and a hat. Change your socks as frequently as you can, putting on a dry pair.

Tenting. A good tent is important, but it isn't enough. You will need a windscreen or a tarp to prevent harsher winds or other items from breaking through the tent or making holes. Two tarps plus your tent is ideal-- one to place over the tent to protect it and insulate it and one to put under it to keep the tent dry from the wet ground.

Put an extra blanket under you. The ground is possibly colder than the air. Give yourself some insulation from the ground.

Eat well. You will need to eat protein, if you can get it. Cheese, nuts, or granola bars are good. Also, drink water (even if you drink beer).

Have a good flashlight. It gets dark early. Keep extra batteries if you can.

Look at our suggestions to keep warm. Keeping Warm

Get out of the tent sometimes and get warm. If your tent is in a safe place, then go to a public place to get warm and dry out. Don't coop yourself up, although you may feel lazy and just want to bundle up.

Keeping Warm Without A Heater

Wikihow has a helpful article about how to stay warm in a house or apartment when you don't have much money for heat. The full article is at this link:

Wikihow's How To Stay Warm

Here's a few suggestions from the article:

Drink warm beverages. (Duh!)

Go to a public place with heat. This also works in the summer when it's really hot. Read at the public library, window shop at a mall or store, go to church.

Layer. Wear a number of layers of clothes. If you can, get thermal wear for the bottom layer, then apply thin layers on top-- tights and pants for legs and t-shirts, long sleeve shirts and a coat for the top.

Exercise. If indoors, it might be a good time to clean, vacuum or pick up stuff. If outdoors, just keep walking.

Snuggle. Find a loved one-- whether human or animal and spend some quality time together. It's a command in the Bible (Ecclesiastes 4:11)!

Reduce stress. This isn't possible for everyone, but stress makes extreme weather feel more extreme. Try to get enough sleep and rest, and give yourself a break from stressful people.

Cook. If you are inside, it might be a good time to bake that bread you've been hankering for! Or chocolate chip cookies (if you bake these, invite me!) Or, if you don't know how to bake, it's a good time to learn. If you don't have an oven, just cook something in the microwave and put it in the middle of the room... well, maybe not. If you live in a tent, just plug the appliance into your tree...

Light a candle. Candles provide a fair amount of heat. If you're in a tent, make sure the candle has a solid base-- you don't want it falling over!

Turn on a fan. When my family was spending in a winter in a room next to a garage, our only warmth was a fan. We turned the blowing part of the fan away from us overnight and the heat from the motor provided just a little bit of warmth to keep the edge of the cold out at night.

Move anything that blocks sunlight. If you have anything obstructing the sun from your windows or location, move them out of the way. The more sun, the more warmth.

Get hand warmers. If you put a hand warmer in a sleeping bag or under your blankets, or even in your coat pocket, it will keep you warm for many hours-- almost all day or all night! You can get them for just a dollar or two at most department stores (like Target).