Money Saving Wednesday…yes, food again
I hesitate to talk about food one more week but I received a note this week from someone thanking me for “nagging” (my word not their’s) about food storage. I think she actually said encouraging her but I feel like a nag. Then I headed out early this morning and after an appointment went to the grocery store. As you know I buy eggs and milk but everything else I only buy when it is on sale.I usually make a quick trip through the isles just to make sure I’m not missing an in-store sale. I was shocked. Just one week ago I stocked up on mayonnaise for $2.59. I knew that was a steal and bought three months worth. Today that same mayo was $5.19! Yikes! So..a few thoughts.
The consumer price index for food increased 0.7 percent in August and is now 7.5 percent above last August. Other foods have also increased over the last year: Beef 7% , Pork 3.4%, Poultry prices 4.2%, Eggs 6.9%, and Dairy 6.4%. Those are the small increases. Look at these!! During the last year: Cheese prices up 12.6%, Apple prices are up this year 18.9%, banana prices up 22.3%, vegetable prices are up 14.2%, tomatoes up 16.0%, potatoes up 29.4%, Cereals and bakery product prices are up 11.7% Of course this means my stored veggies have earned me 14.2% this year. Bet most of your investments didn’t make you that much.
So once again I challenge you to save money on food and then spend the savings on food. How?
1. Survey your friends and family or that preparedness group you have formed, and compile a list of foods you can purchase in bulk and then do it. If you have someone who has a resale number you can purchase bulk from a restaurant supplier. You can also buy in bulk at many stores open to the public that also service bakeries and restaurants. Seek them out and buy and divide the spoils. If you have food manufacturers in your area contact them and ask them about seconds. Many will sell seconds but only once or twice a year. It’s worth a call.
2. Leave the credit and debit cards home and shop with cash. You will have to examine what you are purchasing much more critically if you know your funds are limited. If you should end up leaving the store with money left over, go home and place it in a bottle to be used only on food storage and only when you can stock up on sale. As you get closer to your three month supply of the foods you eat as discussed in Mother Hubbard ,you will come home with more and more change. At that point begin putting some aside to have as cash on hand in case of an emergency.
3. Do not purchase any nonfood items at the grocery store. That means no gum, toothpaste, DVDs, nothing. All of those items can be found at better prices at pharmacy super stores.
4. Look at your breakfast habits. Cold cereals are very expensive per serving compared to the cost of oatmeal or pancakes. Really look critically at what you are spending on breakfast. This should be the least expensive meal of the day. If you purchase instant cereal substitue quick oats instead. Add a little sugar or fruits to quick oats, pour boiling water over the top and let stand. TaDaah… instant oatmeal at a fraction of the cost.
We may not have much control over many of our monthly expenses but we can control the cost of feeding our families. I do not have a crystal ball. I don’t know what will happen after the election. I don’t know what will happen if there is a pandemic, except that there will be no food in the stores. I do know if the worst happens my family will be able to continue eating well. If things turn around and the economy rebounds, I will have extra cash to spend, because my cupboards will be full, and it is much more fun to take a trip to visit family than to spend money at the grocery store.
As a farmer the prices we receive for our production is not high and the people between us and you make the money.People need to buy bulk and prepare their own food at home and not buy prepared food or dine out so much
Farmer in Australia struggling with drought!!!
No kidding! You have just said what I have been trying to say for months. This is a world wide problem and it is not that our farmers and ranchers are getting rich or political factors alone in a particular country. You have drought and high fuel prices. We have hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding that destroyed crops this year, in addition to fuel prices. But…we are still in control of our own fate in that we control where and how we spend our food budget. Thanks so much for sharing.
This year we made two changes that reduced our grocery bill by almost 60%. We planted a veggie garden using Mittleider methods and we ate out of it almost every single day. 2nd we patronized our local farmers market or road side stalls for fruit etc..Buying fresh produce from them eliminated middle men and reduces cost(just don’t be tempted by all the other goodies at the farmers markets)