I’m on the west coast this week spending time with my daughter and grandchildren. You may remember reading this post a year ago but I thought the advice was well worth repeating. Who doesn’t want to save more of their income!
Did you know that according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, on average Americans currently save around 4.2% of their income? There are also some supersavers that manage to put away close to half of their take home pay. I don’t want to be drastic and I’m not willing to give up my hot showers but here are some small steps to take that will help you save more of your hard earned cash.
Reuse plastic sandwich bags. Sandwich bags can be easily rinsed out and dried and used again the next day. As long as the bags didn’t touch raw meat, it’s hygienic—and environmentally friendly. With a pack of 100 bags going for around $3, a family of four can save about $30 a year. I have a wonderful drying rack which is perfect for drying sandwich and other ziploc bags.
Make your own cleaning supplies. Martha Stewart has long recommended vinegar and lemons as kitchen cleaners. To absorb unpleasant smells, leave vinegar in a shallow bowl on a kitchen counter. To deodorize a garbage disposal, squeeze lemon juice down it. You can save up to $10 a month on cleaning supplies. I make my own all purpose cleaner, find the recipe HERE.
Buy in bulk. Often buying a large pack of meat and then breaking it down into smaller portions and freezing it will help save you money. I also buy flour and sugar in large bags and then store it in the pantry to use later.
Stockpile supplies. Cans of beans and tomatoes are cheap, store easily, and make quick, filling meals. In addition to cans of tomatoes and beans, you will also find home canned items in my pantry!
Compare prices. For some items, such as fruit, buying from street vendors turns out to be cheaper than shopping at large grocery stores. Setting up a price book will help you here.
Cook big. You can make lots of soup, chili, and other big dishes that can turn into leftovers or even go into the freezer for a future meal. To spruce up the dishes and make them even bigger, add pasta or rice. One of my favorite meals to freeze is homemade Beef and Beer Chili.
Plan ahead. By loosely deciding in advance which meals to cook on which nights, you can avoid getting home from work—starving—and eating out just because it seems easier. I have a monthly meal calendar I use, I may not follow it exactly but it does help me plan ahead!
These are just a few tips to help you save ore of your hard earned income. What is your favorite way to save?
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Nancy on the Home Front 