How to Shop and Eat Frugally

 How to Shop and Eat Frugally

How to Shop and Eat Frugally

How to Shop and Eat Frugally

Raising a family can be tough. Especially during these trying economic times, being frugal is key to keeping the wolf away from the door. There are a few key things to consider when budgeting to provide for you and your children. Make your dollar stretch as much as you can, go green by recycling, reusing, and reinventing uses for items around the house, and stop any leaks to your income! Follow these tips and you’ll be set for frugal living!

 

Buy In  Bulk
 Buying items in bulk (that can be kept in storage for long periods of time without spoiling) is a big help. Yes, upfront cost may seem like a lot at first, but if you portion out staples such as rice, beans, and cereals, your daily costs per head goes down significantly. Look for items that are on sale. Frozen vegetables are good choices, as they are typically flash frozen. Make sure you have durable storage containers that won’t let air in to create food spoilage, and a working freezer. Spices and sauces are a must have, in order to dress up meals, to keep them flavorful and interesting.

 

Farmer & Markets
Farmer’s markets, flea markets, or swap-o-ramas are great places to score items for the kitchen, home, and the wardrobe! Make a game out of salvaging unique items at flea markets or thrift stores with your kids, and don’t forget to haggle. Teach your kids the value of investing in items such as wooden furniture that can be repainted, decorated, and last a longer time than prefabricated furniture made overseas for cheap at discount stores. Vendors at markets are apt to give a deal to a customer, especially the last day of selling, to get rid of merchandise. Farmer’s markets can be great places to find cheap organic vegetables, spices, and other items to fill your cupboard.

 

 

Avoid Fast Food
As tempting as it is, avoid fast food. Fast food can lead to getting you and your children hooked on addictive sugary drinks, fatty food, and eventually expensive doctor bills later in life, due to obesity, tooth decay, and other detrimental health problems. Try to buy more vegetables, and keep portion sizes small, but full of various colorful vegetables and spices. Pair with rice or noodles to make a filling meal. Drink lots of water throughout the day, as sugary drinks and fruit juices are more expensive, and leech nutrients from the body, weakening the immune system. If you can, make a mini garden with your kids, in order to grow some of your own food, teach your family about respect for nature, and lower your food bill costs.

 

 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce consumption by reusing glass containers to grow sprouts, organize buttons, make your own candle holders, or other uses. Old clothes can be turned into dust rags, quilts, pillows, or rugs. Turn off lights when they are not in use in the house. Wash dishes by hand instead of using a dishwasher. Cancel your cable subscription and avoid TV as much as you can. Save coupons and use them for higher priced items that you want. Keep clutter in the house to a minimum and only purchase what you need, and have a yard sale or donate unused items. Remember to be creative with decorating, meals, and spend time together with your family. Being frugal can be a learning experience to live more simply and naturally, and not getting caught up in blindly consuming short-lived items.

 

 

 

Tyra Tierra likes to write about recycling, traveling , and   visiting  Homeequityloan.net.

Speak Your Mind

*