Ah, home sweet home. One more day in the rat race is over. It is now time to relax or not. Here comes the never ending question what’s for supper? Pizza sure, why not grab the phone and call your favourite place? Here’s why not. Depending on the size of your family and where you decide to order from that quick meal that is delivered right to your door, can end up costing you $30 or more. Do that once a week and you already are hitting one $120. That is $780 in a year and that is just one meal once a week.
Don’t panic I am not saying to cut out restaurant meals and take out entirely. I am suggesting that you cut way back on them.
We all know that cooking at home is better for you and is less expensive than eating out.
Cooking at home requires going to the grocery store. You can also destroy a carefully planned budget by stopping at the store on your way home every couple of days. Even if you are only going in for a couple of items you will come out with at least one extra item usually a lot more. Often a half a cart full of stuff that looks good when you are in the store. Only to discover when you get home you have four bags of popcorn already.
To take control of your grocery budget and have a more enjoyable dining experience at home, you need to get organized.
First off, make a menu; I usually do this in fifteen day increments. If that seems overwhelming start off with just one week. Here is a good tip to use while you are planning the weeks menu, have your grocery flyers in front of you.
If there is a great deal on chicken that week make sure to include it in your meals and if possible pick up extra a freeze it.
That brings us to how do you know if it is a great deal or not. What you do is keep a little note pad with you. Now while you are going through those flyers and when at the store make a note of the price.
Make sure you take note of how much product you get for that price as well.
The best way is to write down the price per pound, kilogram, ounce or millilitre whatever. This way, when the deal is two for one, but they put the price per gram up you will know it is not a great bargain and not get caught.
Next in the menu plan is to list the ingredients you need.
Then do a pantry hunt. Remove from your list all the items you already have. What is left on the list is all you need for a week’s worth of meals. You are now good to go.
Next column, tips to help get you in and out of store, hopefully with money left in your wallet.
Sandra Nolan is a freelance writer from Rocky Mountain House. Her column will appear every other week in LIFE. Contact her at slnolan@xplornet.com