| The Feds have a neat way of playing with the | | | | Like many people, I used to have an aversion to |
| statistics to try and convince us that the cost of goods | | | | clipping coupons. However, my attitude about coupon |
| is going up a little bit instead of a lot when they release | | | | clipping changed one day when I watched a woman in |
| their Consumer Price Index figures WITHOUT the cost | | | | front of me purchase a cart full of groceries for about |
| of food and energy! Huh? For all of us living in the real | | | | $17. She was an expert at using coupons to save |
| world, we know just how much prices are going up, | | | | money. If you really want to get serious about saving |
| and unlike the government, we can't just exclude food | | | | money with coupons, you have to be organized and |
| and energy from our budgets. Since we can't eliminate | | | | only clip coupons that you're going to use. With the |
| food costs simply by moving it to another column, it is | | | | advent of the Internet, you can even print a lot of |
| imperative to try and save money on this necessary | | | | coupons online. A couple of sites that allow you to do |
| expense, and this article looks at several easy ways | | | | this are and Many stores also match manufacturers |
| to help reduce our food costs. | | | | coupons, saving you twice as much on an item. While |
| One of the easiest ways to save money on food is | | | | using coupons can save you a great deal of money, |
| by simply being organized. When making up a list of | | | | be aware of the prices of the items you're purchasing |
| items to be purchased, I always go through the ads to | | | | and compare them with the other brands. Although |
| see who has what on sale, and when. You'll be | | | | large name brand manufacturers offer coupon |
| amazed at how much you can save just by spending | | | | discounts more often than local brands, the name |
| a little time looking at the Sunday ads, and seeing who | | | | brand prices can be much higher, negating much of |
| has the best prices on items that you need. After | | | | your savings. Be smart and compare. |
| making your list of stores to visit, set up a route and hit | | | | There are some other things you can do to save |
| all of the stores in an orderly fashion purchasing the | | | | money while in the store. First, avoid impulse buying. |
| items on sale at each store. Don't just look at the food | | | | Stores place certain higher profit items at strategic |
| stores either, but look at places like drug stores who | | | | places in the store, increasing the likelihood of your |
| often discount many food items as 'loss leaders' to | | | | purchasing them. Be aware of this, and keep your |
| draw people into their store. After a while, you'll get a | | | | hands in your pockets. Also, leaving the kids at home |
| good feel for which stores have great deals on certain | | | | while shopping for food will likely decrease your |
| items, and when the items tend to go on sale. Another | | | | impulse purchases since few parents can long resist |
| benefit of hitting several stores at a time is that you'll | | | | the screaming of children wanting everything they see. |
| spend less time running to the stores, and use less gas | | | | Also you'll save a good bit of money by avoiding the |
| in the process, saving you more money. | | | | junk or processed foods. These foods offer the most |
| Another easy way to save lots of money is by | | | | profit for stores and therefore are pushed at |
| belonging to one of the Wholesale clubs like Costco or | | | | advertised overloaded consumers. Avoid the aisles |
| B.J.'s. Don't let the idea of a membership fee keep you | | | | that offer all of these 'goodies' and you'll save lots of |
| from belonging to at least one of these places | | | | money and your waistline. |
| because you'll more than make up for it in savings. The | | | | While there are few absolutes in life, the need for food |
| problem many people have with these type of stores | | | | and the likelihood of this commodity continuing to |
| is the fact that you have to buy everything in such | | | | increase are about as certain as death and taxes. |
| large quantities. While this may be an issue for items | | | | Since none of us live in the make believe world of |
| like meat and other perishable foods, you can definitely | | | | government statistics, it's a good idea to try and save |
| save lots of money by buying non-perishables like | | | | a bit of money on this necessity whenever possible. |
| canned goods, paper items, and many other things that | | | | Try implementing some of the tips mentioned here, and |
| have a long shelf life. If you do a co-op with a family | | | | use your imagination to come up with some of your |
| member or friend, you can even split the purchases | | | | own. |
| and the cost. | | | | |