Here’s a great new money saving post from Lorraine! Enjoy!
The following is one way that we stretch our holiday gift budget:
We make up a list that includes people that we plan to give gifts to right after the Christmas holiday. While we’re out and about, during the months of January, February and early March, we shop the clothing sales and purchase anything that will be appropriate for the people on our list.
During the rest of the year, we keep an eye open for deals such as jewellery, household items for our young up-starters, and specialty teas/coffees when they are on sale.
We also do the rounds right after Christmas to purchase supplies for the next season; ex. gift wrap, greeting cards, chocolate, candy canes, decorations (only if we need new additions). Last year, I bought over $100 worth of merchandise (gifts, wrapping paper, bows and Christmas cards) for approximately $17.00! As a result of that amazing haul, I will not have to spend a penny on these items this year or next!
Thanks, Lorraine! I love that you look for specific items during certain months of the year. It’s important to know when particular items are at their lowest price point so you can get the most bang for your buck! Check out this post: The Best Time of Year to Buy Anything in Canada.
So, you want to learn how to save money on transportation. Well, when it comes to saving money on the cost of transportation, sometimes public transit is the way to go. Especially when you take in the expense of running and owning a vehicle. Its maintenance, the cost of gas, insurance, and other things that mean money is coming out of your pocket in order to get you where you want to go.
If your city offers a monthly pass at a reduced rate and you are a frequent traveler, then it would be more cost effective to purchase a transit on a monthly basis. If you don’t travel too often by public transit, it would make more sense to buy your public transportation tickets as needed.
Here are some other ideas to help you save:
Carpool
Another great way to save on transportation costs is to carpool. Check out eRideShare.com or Car-Pool.ca to find someone to carpool with. Or if you work and live in close proximity to a friend or family member, consider carpooling with them. They could drive one week and you could drive the next. Of course finding a coworker that lives in your vicinity would also work!
Bike
When the weather is warm enough, jump on a bicycle and ride to work during the summer months. Get some exercise and avoid those traffic jams! This could be a great way to save on your transportation costs, if you don’t live to far away from your workplace, of course. Make sure that you follow the laws in regards to riding a bike in your city and/or province. This means to wear the proper safety gear and adhere to the laws of the roads.
Walk
Another way to save on transportation costs is to walk to where you need to go when the weather allows. There’s no need to purchase gas for the car, or even buy public transit tickets. Just liking biking, you will also get some fresh air, and some exercise.
Combine Activities
If you’ve got an appointment one day, consider doing your grocery shopping and other errands while you’re already out and about so that you’re making less trips home and back into town again. Also, if you’ve only got a short distance to travel, think about walking or biking instead of taking the car.
Following the tips above will surely help you to save some money on the cost of transportation!
How do you save on transportation costs? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!
When it comes to purchasing clothing for the family, it can become rather expensive quickly, especially if you have small children! Since they grow so quickly, it may feel as though you're throwing money away often to keep them dressed. In order to save money on kids clothing and clothing for the rest of the family, follow these tips and suggestions to learn how to save.
Think about colour and size
Consider buying shirts that are dark in color. This way, stains will not show as much and the clothing will last longer. You'll also be able to sell the clothing at a higher price because it still appears to be in great condition. As for pants, buy them a little longer in length. Sew the pant hem under without cutting the material. This way the seam can be taken out when your child has a growth spurt. Or simply roll the pants up!
Hand me downs
Another way to save money on clothes is to pass down clothing. Items that you have bought for your older children can be passed down to a younger sibling. Give old clothing a brand new look by using embellishments. This way your younger child feels as though the clothes have a special touch just for them when pieces of fabric, rhinestones, or other embellishments have been added. Also, I tend to always accept any clothes from friends and relatives that their children have outgrown.
Shop second hand
You will save yourself a bundle if you check out local consignment shops or thrift stores. You'll find a vast array of clothing for your whole family at greatly reduced prices. More often than not, the clothing is in great shape simply because someone might have outgrown it quickly, or decided that they did not like the style anymore. I've also had great success with buying bags of clothing off our local Facebook buy & sell page.
Shop the end of season sales
I don't like to pay full price for clothing, ever. It's actually quite rare that there isn't some sort of sale going on somewhere. But, be sure to make plans to purchase items during the end of season sales. This is when retailers offer big discounts in order to clear their shelves for new stock. Many times the item is offered at a discount of 50% or more. You will definitely save a bundle of cash when you purchase clothing items this way.
Use coupons
Much like buying groceries, using coupons on clothing purchases can help you save money. Make sure to sign up for the free newsletters that your favourite retailers offer. They often send printable coupons for in-store shopping or coupon codes for online shopping!
Knowing where and when to buy clothing for your family will help you to save money. The above tips might help you learn how to save even more!
Do you have any secrets to saving big on clothes for the family?
Produce can eat a big chunk of your grocery bill. So,when it comes to buying produce, knowing a few tricks will help you to save. Knowing when, and how to buy fresh produce will cut down on the cost of these items on your grocery bill. Here are some simple tips that will help you to learn how to save on produce:
Buy in Season
When you buy fresh produce for your family, always buy the produce that is in season. You'll see significant savings this way! Find more information about buying in season here.
Make Substitutions
If the produce you want is not in season, consider purchasing the frozen or canned version. An example would be mushrooms. When the price of fresh mushrooms rise, and you are making spaghetti, use canned mushrooms instead, or omit them altogether.
Check the Clearance Bin
Most grocery stores will have a cart, or an area, that has produce on it which are considered past their prime. This does not mean the food is rotten; it may only have some blemishes on it. An example of this would be a bunch of bananas that are neither green nor yellow, but may have some black spots throughout the peel. Normally grocery stores gather a bunch of the same products together and offer them for reduced prices. I often find Bananas, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, eggplant, cauliflower and other fruit and vegetables sold this way when they have blemishes that can easily be removed with a knife.
Plant a garden
Planting a garden is a great way to save on produce. Not only will you have plenty of fresh produce to last all summer, you'll most likely have a ton of produce to freeze or can to last all winter!
U-Pick
Find a few local orchards or farms that offer U-Pick. Picking your own produce directly from a local farm ensures you'll be saving a bundle. It also creates some fun memories if you involve the family!
Weigh Pre-Packaged Produce
When a potato sack says it's 5 pounds worth, it may actually be 5.5 pounds and a different bag may weigh 5.9lbs. So believe it or not, not all pre-packaged produce weighs the same amount. So be sure to weigh those bags and take the one that weighs the most!
Remembering these tips when you're shopping is a great way for you to save money on your grocery bill.
How do you save on fruits and veggies? I’d love to learn from you!
Earlier this week I talked about ways you can save on Dairy and Meat purchases. Lorraine wanted to share how her family saves on meat with this tip and a recipe!
One way we save on meat is by eating stir frys. The recipe below is one that we enjoy immensely and is also very healthy.
Chicken/Quinoa Vegetable Stir Fry
Cut up a variety of vegetables such as: carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, yellow beans, red cabbage, onion or leek or shallot, red pepper and garlic and sautée these in organic coconut oil until al dente. Then add leftover chicken pieces and Bragg all purpose soy sauce. While you are preparing the vegetables, cook 1/2 cup of quinoa in 1 cup of water. Bring the quinoa to a boil, simmer for ten minutes, fluff it with a fork and let stand for an additional five minutes. If the quinoa is not pre-rinsed, make sure to rinse it well before cooking. Once the quinoa is cooked, incorporate it into the remaining ingredients and simmer approximately two to three additional minutes.
Note: I try to follow the rainbow diet; therefore, I use red, purple, yellow, orange and green coloured vegetables when preparing a meal. This will help to ensure that you are getting as many nutrients as possible during the day. I use very little chicken in this casserole and this really helps to stretch the food budget. It is also a gluten free meal that our whole family really enjoys and it is also a great way to use up vegetables that need to be used up before the next grocery order.
That sounds delicious and quick! Thanks Lorraine!
She also wanted to add that quinoa is a complete protein; therefore, it can be served instead of meat or poultry or it can be used as an additional ingredient to boost the nutrient value of the meal.
I hope that this recipe helps your readers stretch their food budget while ensuring a healthy lifestyle.
Meat is one of the biggest expenses in the grocery budget. However, there are ways that you can save money on your meat purchases without having to cross it off your list if you make use of the following tips!
How to Save on Meat Purchases:
Buy in Bulk
You can save money on your meat purchases if you buy meat in bulk packages or family size packs. The smaller/single portions are offered at a higher cost per kilogram than the larger portions (or family packages). It is more budget friendly to buy your meat in bulk and then divide it into smaller portions when you get home.
Choose Cheaper Cuts of Meat
Invest in a slow cooker to make less tender cuts of meat tender. Stew beef, rump roasts, and other cuts of meat can be placed in your slow cooker with a can of tomatoes, broth, or any other liquid that you fancy. Cooking it slow all day will really tenderize the meat and it will be melt in your mouth delicious!
Serve Smaller Portions
Another way to save money on meat purchases is to include less meat in your meals. By using recipes where meat isn’t the main focus, you’ll be saving a bundle. Vegetables and grains can be just as delicious without an abundance of meat. A meal of macaroni and cheese, tossed with vegetables and ground meat will feed a family of four for two days. Casseroles, pasta dishes, and even rice dishes can be made in a variety of ways with different types of meat to really make your meat stretch.
Watch for Sales
Keep a close eye on your flyers. Grocery stores rotate their sales and there will be sales on different types of meat every week. One week they might have a special on chicken, and the next week it might be pork loin roasts or even beef. I always stock up enough to last me to the next sale.
Buying it Whole
Buying the whole animal and dividing it up at home will save you money. Instead of only buying chicken pieces (thighs, breasts), for example, buy the whole chicken, divide it up yourself to freeze, or cook it whole and enjoy leftovers. Save the bones for soup!
Invest in a Freezer
Investing in a freezer to store meat that you have purchased on sale is a great way to make sure that you have enough on hand when it comes to preparing a meal. Meat can be frozen for six months to a year, if it has been wrapped in the proper freezer bags.
The above tips should help you save on the cost of your meat purchases at the grocery store.
