What's on your shopping list?
By HEATHER MCPHERSON The Orlando Sentinel
Making a grocery list tends to be the "Duh!" shopping tip during these tight times.
But savvy shoppers don't simply list ingredients as if it's a wish list.
They think in terms of meals, not items. This keeps the list focused on what you really need.
A secondary list posted near the pantry or inside a cupboard door will also help you avoid unnecessary purchases.
Fill this list with the items you have available. That way one quick look will eliminate frantic rummaging. Ditto for the refrigerator and freezer contents. (A white board is ideal for the
icebox.)
Too much work, you say? Not if it keeps your budget in check.
Management gurus have long identified making and updating lists as key success strategies.
As the head of your household, rethinking the list might be one of your best budget-
stretching tools.
Tips for maximizing your food dollar
From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
• Organize. Arrange your refrigerator and pantry so that purchase and expiration dates are easy to see.
• Plan. Make lists and stick with them. Avoid using coupons on items you wouldn't buy otherwise. Go to the store less frequently; you'll also save on gas.
• Freeze. For bread products, leave out only as much as you'll use within a day or two and freeze the rest. Buy in large size or in bulk whenever possible, but be sure to check the price per ounce; bigger does not always mean cheaper.
• Stretch. Make a 5-ounce hamburger instead of a 6-ounce hamburger. When you've used part of a bottle of salad dressing, add a little vinegar -- the dressing will go further and have fewer calories per serving.
• Buy generic. House brands are cheaper, and the quality is often just as good.
• Buy high . . . and low. Good shelf placement costs companies extra. Items on the upper and lower shelves are frequently a better value.
• Buy less junk. Limiting chips, doughnuts and soft drinks will leave more money for healthier fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
• Buy local. You'll often find good prices, you're keeping money in your local economy, and recently harvested produce often has more nutrients.
• Don't go shopping when you're hungry.
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