October 25, 2011
Many individuals may have noticed that their grocery bills have been going up this year, as fuel prices and other factors have forced the price of food to rise. However, there are plenty of ways to save money on groceries.Source for this article: Tips for saving money on groceries when food prices rise
Costlier grub due to our economy
Economic conditions in The United States are still dismal. Unemployment continues to grow and the housing industry continues to decline. To add insult to injury, the price of goods is increasing. Reuters claims that in one year, July of 2010 to July of 2011, whole costs were up 7.2%, even higher than most forecasters forecasted. The Dept of Labor measures producer costs before products get to the consumers, called the Producer Price Index. This increase was noted in this index, according to USA Today. The PPI does not consist of the cost of energy or food. Nevertheless, the increasing price of food should be noted. Food costs rose by 0.6 percent over the month of July, the largest increase this year. 0.6% may not sound like a lot, however when the price of food continues to increase, it effects customers. For example, the Wall Street Journal reported that one restaurant conglomerate, AFC Enterprises, just because of increased food costs, lost 19% of its profits in one quarter.
Try turkey hotdogs?
According to Daily Finance, the price of beef is more expensive than ever before. Increased costs for fuel, grain and corn-partially brought on by a drought in Texas, is attributed to the increased price of beef, which rose over 13% in just one year (March 2010 to March 2011). There are ways to conserve money on food, in spite of increasing costs of everything. Below are money-saving ideas:
Have a cow
The Daily Finance post on beef has advice from an industry insider: Purchase beef in bulk. Separate individual cuts, and immediately freeze whatever you are not using right away. Your local butcher may have reduced priced cuts of beef. You just have to ask. The more you freeze, the more you've for later.
Try something different
You are able to buy canned beans or instant rice and conserve a lot of money, however, you can save even more if you buy and cook dried beans and regular grained rice. However, both are less costly by weight when buying larger bags of dried rice or beans. The more beans and rice your family eats, the larger quantities you are able to purchase and use. Do not forget to leave enough time for cooking the dried beans and rice. Dried beans should be soaked overnight before cooking.
Other possibilities
Try to find a dollar store near you. There are lots of surprising buys at a dollar store. There are often frozen foods, eggs, milk, and canned products. $1 for a bag of pasta at the dollar store is better than $1.49 at the grocery store.
Coupon clipping
The practice of "extreme couponing" may not be for every person, but coupons are a way to conserve some significant cash. If clipping coupons saves more than the cost of the newspaper they came in, it's worth it.
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Better back-to-school lunches
Making sure kids get balanced and nutritious school lunches and after-school snacks doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, it can be fun. Parents can ensure kids get a lunch that’s good for them and that they’ll eat by making it themselves with products they trust. All Boar’s Head Brand® deli meats and cheeses are gluten free, and there are dozens of lower sodium and heart-healthy options to choose from, as well.
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