I have been ignoring this blog lately. Not because I don't enjoy it, but because life has gotten so busy. Between work and the new addition to our family, this Nana's life has been very full.
This evening as I was experimenting in the kitchen, I was reminded of some small things we can do to make every dollar stretch at the store. Below you will find a small list of things that we have implemented in the last few months to help make our grocery dollar go a little farther
Get an app for grocery deals. These apps often do not save you money on the front end of the grocery trip, but installing an app and looking for the deals (on groceries that you will actually use) will help make the "highway robbery" a little more endurable. I use an app called IBOTTA. IN the last year, I have had enough cash back savings that I was able to use that cash back to purchase needed items for our grandchild including a Bumbo seat and a booster seat. Both of these items were "free" as I used the IBOTTA cash to purchase a gift card (all in the app) and used that gift card at check out.
Make your own baby food. As our Little Man got big enough to start on baby food recently, his Mom has made a choice to start him out on puree foods. Even at his young age, he likes to eat. Baby foods can add up on your grocery list quickly. Buying and cooking the vegetables yourself and then pureeing them in the food processor can be a cost effect way to feed the healthiest, freshest food and ensure that tummy stays full. For our Little Man, one sweet potato makes two to three meals (he gets other foods with that sweet potato) Again, one avacado mashed is a wonderful way to add a good fat and some fiber, and makes several meals.
Fall for the cheese grater on Tik Tok. Go ahead and buy it. It is worth the investment in the long run. I use mine to grate cheese (Bagged grated cheese is more expensive and has added ingredients) I buy the store brand blocks of cheese for $2.00 and grate them myself. This family goes through a lot of cheese and that little bit of savings each grocery trip may not seem like a lot, but in a year I will have saved enough in cheese just to pay for the grater. Not to mention how convenient it is when grating carrots or slicing potatoes for casseroles.
Make your own spreadable cream cheese. A block of store brand cream cheese is $1.86. The same brand 8 oz spreadable cream cheese is $2.12. All you need for making spreadable cream cheese is a block of softened cream cheese and 3 oz of whipping cream. Mix this together with a mixer until smooth and fluffy. Refrigerate and enjoy the savings with every smooth, creamy bite.
Start getting cash out of your bank account to pay for groceries and gas. Then set aside a jar for all the change, including $1 bills. Make a family choice as to what this savings jar will be used for and stick to it. In a year we have set aside half of what we had determined we would use our savings jar for. This keeps you from impulse buying the purchase you want (not need), and also keeps you motivated to keep putting money in the jar. There are 5 small ways to help save some of your hard earned money when having to make the trip to the grocery store. Each one of these by themselves is not a huge change, but when combined together it does add up to a little bit of savings. While you may not achieve millionaire status by implementing these strategies, every little bit helps in these horrific economic times.
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