For many of us, food eats a much bigger portion of our monthly budget than we even realize. We grab some fast food a few times a week, grab take out a few more times a week, and dine out at expensive restaurants here and there. The thing is, though, that it is very easy to cut down on this expense. Here are a few simple strategies to employ.
Eat out less; prepare more food at home. This is the single biggest key to reducing your spending on food over any period of time. I tend to find that it’s more worthwhile to find simple replacements for fast food and to make stuff at home rather than getting take out than giving up a weekend dinner out with my wife.
If you don’t know how to cook, teach yourself, starting with simpler recipes. There are a lot of books out there that can teach you how to cook (trust me, I’ve read a lot of them). The three that stand out (for me) are How to Cook Everything (probably the best overall for learning), The New Best Recipe (probably the best recipes), and The Joy of Cooking (probably the best reference and easiest to find used). Get one of these three and make a commitment to cook. In fact, if you stick around until February, I’m going to somewhat give into my desire to have a cooking blog and do a four week crash course on learning to cook at home with an eye towards the pocketbook.
Give leftovers a try. I used to think leftovers were the epitome of nasty, but then I figured out a few key secrets about making leftovers better: keep the foods rotating and make sure to spice the leftovers themselves. If you prepare a bit extra at mealtime, leftovers make for extremely cheap dining.
Buy a deep freezer. This allows you to buy some foods in bulk at a very cheap rate. Once you have the freezer, check with a local butcher to see what kind of deal you can get on bulk meat; you’ll be amazed how much of a discount you can get on bulk orders. You can also move to a system of preparing many meals at once and freezing them for later use; it’s a lot easier after a busy day to come home and pop a meal in the oven than it is to stop at the take-out place, especially when you realize how much cheaper the first option is, too.
Organize a series of potluck dinners. If you have a group that regularly dines out together regularly, suggest that you have a rotation of potlucks or backyard barbecues instead. If everyone is on board with this, it can be vastly cheaper and often more fun. Some of my best memories of dining with friends are not from restaurants, but from sitting on back porches watching the moon rise and enjoying a bottle of wine in the gentle warmth of a summer evening.
24.3.09
You give me fever...
I had the unfortunate luck to contract a ferocious food poisoning bug... from tofu curry. I'm not sure how it is possible, but let me tell you... its worse than ferocious. Spent the good portion of four days resting at home or in bed.
So I thought today's post would be about saving money, as always, but not skimping on the things you desperately need in case of emergency illness. Because it is great to save money and preventative maintenance (my term for the decade) is the best way to save money on unnecessary hospital or doctors visits.
In case of ferocious food poisoning (not limited to tofu curry)
*Time to rest- It is better to miss one or two days of work to stay at home and feel better than to have to spend your entire work week recuperating from the illness you let spiral out of control.
*A OTC medicine that reduces fever- Follow the directions on the bottle, no matter how crummy you feel you don't want to cause anymore damage or stress to your body by taking to much. These miracle pills will help keep your fever low and will satiate the need to rip your throbbing brain from your skull. Its graphic, but you'll know when you're there.
*Chicken noodle soup- Being a vegetarian, I didn't get to utilize this aspect of treatment, but it has renown healing properties in the chicken and the broth. It is light enough that it just might stay down but hearty enough that your body can draw enough nutrients to fight back.
*Cold drinks/Hot Drinks- If you're fever is ferocious, you'll know this too, you'll experience hot and cold flashes like your grandma said she was experiencing as she went through the change you'll want some cold drinks for the hot flashes and the hot drinks for your cold sweats. Old wives would tell you to drink clear soda, but studies have shown that the darker ones are better at soothing your rumbling tumblies (my mom's term... think I'll adopt that one too) so drink up. For your hot drinks, stay away from anything dairy including any creamer you might pop into your coffee or tea. And remember LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER. Part of your raging headache is because you're not hydrating enough and your body needs to remain hydrated if you want to spend the least amount of time being ill.
*Shower, shower, shower- As soon as you feel your body temperature rising, hop in the shower for a few minutes to attempt to keep yourself cool. Before you go to bed for the evening, hop in the shower in anticipation of another fever while you sleep. When you wake up in the morning, shower if you feel sweaty because well sanitation is also something we should keep in mind when we're sick... or not.
Keep in mind that you might also be contagious, in case it isn't the ferocious food poisioning, and take precautions to not spread it to your family.
Other types of emergencies that we need not skimp over may involve having a useful first-aid kit in your house. Stock it once, frown at the price, and move on. Keep it well stocked and know what to use when (most come with an instruction booklet) and rest in the knowledge that it would have cost you about $50.00 an item at the ER.
Include the following in each of your first-aid kits:
* first-aid manual
* sterile gauze
* adhesive tape
* adhesive bandages in several sizes
* elastic bandage
* antiseptic wipes
* soap
* antibiotic cream (triple-antibiotic ointment)
* antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
* hydrocortisone cream (1%)
* acetaminophen and ibuprofen
* extra prescription medications (if the family is going on vacation)
* tweezers
* sharp scissors
* safety pins
* disposable instant cold packs
* calamine lotion
* alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
* thermometer
* plastic gloves (at least 2 pairs)
* flashlight and extra batteries
* mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Cross)
* your list of emergency phone numbers
* blanket (stored nearby)
Visit youtube.com to learn how to perfrom CPR or the Heimlich maneuver.
AND STAY HEALTHY!!! :)
So I thought today's post would be about saving money, as always, but not skimping on the things you desperately need in case of emergency illness. Because it is great to save money and preventative maintenance (my term for the decade) is the best way to save money on unnecessary hospital or doctors visits.
In case of ferocious food poisoning (not limited to tofu curry)
*Time to rest- It is better to miss one or two days of work to stay at home and feel better than to have to spend your entire work week recuperating from the illness you let spiral out of control.
*A OTC medicine that reduces fever- Follow the directions on the bottle, no matter how crummy you feel you don't want to cause anymore damage or stress to your body by taking to much. These miracle pills will help keep your fever low and will satiate the need to rip your throbbing brain from your skull. Its graphic, but you'll know when you're there.
*Chicken noodle soup- Being a vegetarian, I didn't get to utilize this aspect of treatment, but it has renown healing properties in the chicken and the broth. It is light enough that it just might stay down but hearty enough that your body can draw enough nutrients to fight back.
*Cold drinks/Hot Drinks- If you're fever is ferocious, you'll know this too, you'll experience hot and cold flashes like your grandma said she was experiencing as she went through the change you'll want some cold drinks for the hot flashes and the hot drinks for your cold sweats. Old wives would tell you to drink clear soda, but studies have shown that the darker ones are better at soothing your rumbling tumblies (my mom's term... think I'll adopt that one too) so drink up. For your hot drinks, stay away from anything dairy including any creamer you might pop into your coffee or tea. And remember LOTS AND LOTS OF WATER. Part of your raging headache is because you're not hydrating enough and your body needs to remain hydrated if you want to spend the least amount of time being ill.
*Shower, shower, shower- As soon as you feel your body temperature rising, hop in the shower for a few minutes to attempt to keep yourself cool. Before you go to bed for the evening, hop in the shower in anticipation of another fever while you sleep. When you wake up in the morning, shower if you feel sweaty because well sanitation is also something we should keep in mind when we're sick... or not.
Keep in mind that you might also be contagious, in case it isn't the ferocious food poisioning, and take precautions to not spread it to your family.
Other types of emergencies that we need not skimp over may involve having a useful first-aid kit in your house. Stock it once, frown at the price, and move on. Keep it well stocked and know what to use when (most come with an instruction booklet) and rest in the knowledge that it would have cost you about $50.00 an item at the ER.
Include the following in each of your first-aid kits:
* first-aid manual
* sterile gauze
* adhesive tape
* adhesive bandages in several sizes
* elastic bandage
* antiseptic wipes
* soap
* antibiotic cream (triple-antibiotic ointment)
* antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
* hydrocortisone cream (1%)
* acetaminophen and ibuprofen
* extra prescription medications (if the family is going on vacation)
* tweezers
* sharp scissors
* safety pins
* disposable instant cold packs
* calamine lotion
* alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
* thermometer
* plastic gloves (at least 2 pairs)
* flashlight and extra batteries
* mouthpiece for administering CPR (can be obtained from your local Red Cross)
* your list of emergency phone numbers
* blanket (stored nearby)
Visit youtube.com to learn how to perfrom CPR or the Heimlich maneuver.
AND STAY HEALTHY!!! :)
19.3.09
Swap it!
I had mentioned before the different items you could swap online instead of tossing them or attempting to sell. But this topic deserves its own post in entirety as the swapping business is deep and infinite! :)
Books
Book Mooch
BookMooch lets you give away books you no longer need in exchange for books you really want. Every time you give someone a book, you earn a point and can get any book you want from anyone else at BookMooch. Once you've read a book, you can keep it forever or put it back into BookMooch for someone else, as you wish. No cost: there is no cost to join or use this web site: your only cost is mailing your books to others.
Bookswap
Mail a book. Get a book. Any book you request is yours to keep, share or trade. No late fees. No processing charges. No hidden charges. Every time you mail a book to another member, you can request one for yourself from over 3 Million.
Movies
SwapADVD
A member decides which DVDs he or she has and is willing to swap (DVDs do have to be in cases with the original artwork), then registers a free account with SwapaDVD. The UPC codes on the DVD cases allow the member to list the DVDs quickly (with full descriptions and cover art supplied by the SwapaDVD database) on a virtual DVD Tower as "available" for other members to select. When a member sends out a requested DVD and it is received, DVD credit (1 credit per disc) is deposited into the sender's account. Then the member can order DVDs for himself or herself. Mail a DVD -- Get a DVD! The DVDs can be kept, or swapped again after watching them.
Music
Swap A CD
When another member selects one of my CDs that I have posted, I mail it to them. Yes, I pay about 79 cents postage, but then I get another CD credit and I can select any CD that I want from their huge collection. So another Club Member returns the favor and mails me one of his or her CDs postage-paid. Where else can you trade in an old CD, add a 49 cent processing fee, and then choose another from over 160,000 CDs?
And when someone requests one of your CDs, all you have to do is print a piece of regular paper from your printer which includes the mailing address and the recommended postage. Apply the postage, and drop it in the mail. They even offer the option to print the postage on your wrapper, so you don't even have to leave home to mail it!
Flower Seeds
Swap Flower Seeds
This is one of my favorite ideas. The possibilities are really endless. You could end up with a garden of flowers from all over the world! Do your research before hand and then head over to Thrifty Fun!
Recipes
The Myspace of Food Lovers
BakeSpace is all about preserving and reinventing this tradition in cyberspace. We're a grassroots online community where people from around the world gather to share recipes, build new friendships, learn from one another and express their passion for all things food-related As a BakeSpace member you can post, search and swap recipes in real-time, and our unique recipe swap feature ensures that you'll always know what your friends are cooking. You can also build and customize your own "online kitchen," raid the "virtual pantry" (forums), upload videos, create blogs, get inspired, share your passion and learn from other members by tapping into our first-of-its-kind mentor program.
Crafts/Penpals/Fun
Swap-Bot
Do you like sending and receiving snail mail? Do you like writing letters, making crafts, or putting together fun packages? You should try swapping! Swap-bot is a online service that organizes group swaps and a community of creative individuals. Swap-bot takes the hassle out of participating in group swaps by organizing all of the participant information and doing all of the partner assignments. On Swap-bot, you can host swaps, join swaps, and chat with other swappers from all over the world. Give it a try!
Things
Swap Thing
wapThing is a new and exciting community-driven swapping site that enables you to get the things you want and part with the things you don?t want ? at no cost to you!. You simply list the items/skills/services you are offering, as well as the items/skills/services you are seeking. Search through the items, skills and services offered by other swappers and propose a swap. SwapThing never charges a transaction fee, whether you swap one item or a bundle of items. Any cash transactions, including shipping, are negotiated between swappers, and easily allocated through your PayPal account. If you only want to swap with your friends or a limited number of swappers, then create a SwapCircle community. SwapThing maintains satisfaction information on all transactions to help maintain a safe and secure swapping environment where you can develop trusting relationships with other swappers.
Books
Book Mooch
BookMooch lets you give away books you no longer need in exchange for books you really want. Every time you give someone a book, you earn a point and can get any book you want from anyone else at BookMooch. Once you've read a book, you can keep it forever or put it back into BookMooch for someone else, as you wish. No cost: there is no cost to join or use this web site: your only cost is mailing your books to others.
Bookswap
Mail a book. Get a book. Any book you request is yours to keep, share or trade. No late fees. No processing charges. No hidden charges. Every time you mail a book to another member, you can request one for yourself from over 3 Million.
Movies
SwapADVD
A member decides which DVDs he or she has and is willing to swap (DVDs do have to be in cases with the original artwork), then registers a free account with SwapaDVD. The UPC codes on the DVD cases allow the member to list the DVDs quickly (with full descriptions and cover art supplied by the SwapaDVD database) on a virtual DVD Tower as "available" for other members to select. When a member sends out a requested DVD and it is received, DVD credit (1 credit per disc) is deposited into the sender's account. Then the member can order DVDs for himself or herself. Mail a DVD -- Get a DVD! The DVDs can be kept, or swapped again after watching them.
Music
Swap A CD
When another member selects one of my CDs that I have posted, I mail it to them. Yes, I pay about 79 cents postage, but then I get another CD credit and I can select any CD that I want from their huge collection. So another Club Member returns the favor and mails me one of his or her CDs postage-paid. Where else can you trade in an old CD, add a 49 cent processing fee, and then choose another from over 160,000 CDs?
And when someone requests one of your CDs, all you have to do is print a piece of regular paper from your printer which includes the mailing address and the recommended postage. Apply the postage, and drop it in the mail. They even offer the option to print the postage on your wrapper, so you don't even have to leave home to mail it!
Flower Seeds
Swap Flower Seeds
This is one of my favorite ideas. The possibilities are really endless. You could end up with a garden of flowers from all over the world! Do your research before hand and then head over to Thrifty Fun!
Recipes
The Myspace of Food Lovers
BakeSpace is all about preserving and reinventing this tradition in cyberspace. We're a grassroots online community where people from around the world gather to share recipes, build new friendships, learn from one another and express their passion for all things food-related As a BakeSpace member you can post, search and swap recipes in real-time, and our unique recipe swap feature ensures that you'll always know what your friends are cooking. You can also build and customize your own "online kitchen," raid the "virtual pantry" (forums), upload videos, create blogs, get inspired, share your passion and learn from other members by tapping into our first-of-its-kind mentor program.
Crafts/Penpals/Fun
Swap-Bot
Do you like sending and receiving snail mail? Do you like writing letters, making crafts, or putting together fun packages? You should try swapping! Swap-bot is a online service that organizes group swaps and a community of creative individuals. Swap-bot takes the hassle out of participating in group swaps by organizing all of the participant information and doing all of the partner assignments. On Swap-bot, you can host swaps, join swaps, and chat with other swappers from all over the world. Give it a try!
Things
Swap Thing
wapThing is a new and exciting community-driven swapping site that enables you to get the things you want and part with the things you don?t want ? at no cost to you!. You simply list the items/skills/services you are offering, as well as the items/skills/services you are seeking. Search through the items, skills and services offered by other swappers and propose a swap. SwapThing never charges a transaction fee, whether you swap one item or a bundle of items. Any cash transactions, including shipping, are negotiated between swappers, and easily allocated through your PayPal account. If you only want to swap with your friends or a limited number of swappers, then create a SwapCircle community. SwapThing maintains satisfaction information on all transactions to help maintain a safe and secure swapping environment where you can develop trusting relationships with other swappers.
