Food
the Discount Diva
Food
Subscribe & Save (& Get More Sleep)
We all have those special things that we just can't live without. In some circles they're called "staples." For me, it's coffee filters and energy bars; for my husband it's paper towels (not napkins) and cereal cups. The funny thing about "staples" though, is you always seem to forget to buy more before you run out. Which can lead to painful 2 a.m. runs to Wal-mart to buy coffee filters and cereal cups so you can have your morning java fix and he can have his breakfast....
Amazon.com's Subscribe & Save program is poised to end all of that nonsense. When you place an order through Subscribe & Save, you'll automatically receive a new shipment of the item in the intervals you select (every month, every other month, etc.) at a discounted rate. Not to mention, all subscription orders ship free and your credit card is only charged when the next order is sent out. Plus, you can cancel anytime. But my favorite part? It's one more thing I can check off my list and not have to worry about.
I'll Take Half
It's just a start, but here are some tactics (that work) that I've been using to eat less and save money on food in the process:
-I split my entrée at restaurants and either share it with my friends or immediately doggie-bag the second portion. Hey, that's dinner for tomorrow!
-My husband eats beef (I'm trying to cut it out of my diet all together). But, whenever a recipe calls for a pound of beef, I put in half a pound -- a casserole really doesn't need that much meat.
-I plate my food on the smallest dishes in the cupboard. Even if I go back for seconds it's like eating one meal.
Shop Around...At Home!
It's the biggest mystery of them all -- my Grandfather always manages to "stumble" upon the BEST grocery store bargains in town. We're talking lamb chops for half-off; we're talking bulk toilet paper for buy one get THREE free; we're talking six pound watermelons for $1! It's almost unbelievable the kinds of discounts he finds.
But, I think I've become hip to his script. My grandfather is retired and has all day to drive from store to store in search of the best deals. My grocery shopping, on the other hand, is reserved for the weekends and I typically just want to get it done and over with as quickly as possible. In my haste, I know I'm missing all of those great deals and savings. Not to mention I'm buying items that I don't need -- "Chocopops are on sale today? Greeeaaat, I'll take 'em...and the 400 calories that comes with them!"
Lucky for me (and my waistline), I've discovered My Grocery Deals, a free online service that allows me to go online, make a grocery list based on advertised grocery flyer specials and look at nutritional information, too.
To get started, you register at the site, then pick the stores in your neighborhood. The sales will pop up and you check the items you want. The site instantly creates a shopping list (arranged by store), along with subtotals for each and a grand total. When you print it out, you'll see the regular price, the price you'll pay at checkout and the amount you'll save.
You Say "Late Lunch," I Say "Early Dinner"
To save on pricey dinners, try grubbing at restaurants around 2pm or 3pm, when many eateries are still taking lunch orders.
I did this last weekend when I went out to eat with a girlfriend. I ordered a pasta dish for $8 (the same dish was $12 on the dinner menu), while my friend ordered a seafood dish for $10 (the same dish was $14 on the dinner menu).
We saved even more money (and calories), by sipping lemon-spiked water with our dinner...er, lunch.
After our meal, my friend was so ecstatic at how much money we pocketed that she picked up the check!
Is He a Meat and Potatoes Kind of Guy?
Too bad my dad likes fish and shrimp instead. Because today Omaha Steaks is offering an AMAZING Father's Day Grill Pack of four filet mignons, eight top sirloins and six Omaha Steaks burgers for $49.99 (regularly $174)!
about the blogger
Ayren
Ayren Jackson-Cannady has yet to find a bargain or sale she didn’t like. It’s a good relationship for her wallet, but not so much for the dwindling closet space in the apartment that she shares with her husband, John and her cat, Shiny in Brooklyn, NY.
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