For families and those who have space in their homes to buy in large quantity, a warehouse store membership often makes sense — dollars and cents. But for many frugal people, the idea of paying to shop at a store gives them pause. How can you decide if Sam's Club is worth the membership price? To … [Read more...] about Is Sam’s Club membership worth it?
The trend for extreme budget meal planning was popularized by Leanne Brown in her free online book Good and Cheap, developed primarily for those using SNAP (food stamp) benefits. At the time the book was written, the budget was $4 a day. When I heard about the project, I decided to try that budget … [Read more...] about 18 strategies for $4-a-day budget meal planning and grocery shopping
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, it’s likely that you’ll be hitting the grocery stores in the next few days. Although the cost of a Thanksgiving meal is usually a lot higher than your average family meal, that is mainly due to the quantity of food you'll be cooking (especially if you have … [Read more...] about How to save money on Thanksgiving dinner
Food prices are higher than they've been for a while, and that means we're going to be on the hunt for the cheapest turkey prices in an effort to make the annual Thanksgiving celebration as abundant (and delicious) as ever. To help with this, we've compiled some of our best tips for saving … [Read more...] about Where to get the lowest price on Thanksgiving turkey in 2022
Chocolate lovers, rejoice! Recipes for homemade hot cocoa mix and chocolate syrup are so easy and delicious, you won't believe no one told you about them before. Skip the brown squeeze bottle full of preservatives and artificial flavors; it tastes better when you make your own chocolate syrup to … [Read more...] about Make your own chocolate syrup and hot cocoa mix
You may have wondered what the big draw is to ALDI grocery store chain. Some say it’s a strange cult, a mecca for frugal shoppers. The store even has fan clubs with impressive numbers of followers. And I think it might be the only store that has a secret language. Stay with me and I’ll … [Read more...] about How to shop and save at ALDI
Add this to your list of things to be thankful for: Walmart and Aldi have rolled back prices on classic Thanksgiving ingredients to pre-inflationary levels. Here's what you can expect to find at each of the discount grocery retailers. Walmart According to a company press release, shoppers can … [Read more...] about Walmart, Aldi roll back prices on Thanksgiving staples
Many people seem to have a love-it-or-hate-it attitude toward warehouse stores, but I am a proud card-carrying Costco member because it does save me money. Here's how I save money at Costco and avoid the (expensive) pitfall of overspending on bulk goods. With only two in our household, we … [Read more...] about Can Costco membership save you money?
I don't know what I like more about Thanksgiving: the holiday itself or all of the sales grocery stores nationwide usually have on Thanksgiving staple ingredients as soon as Halloween passes. It's the most wonderful time of the year to stock your pantry, cupboards and even your freezer with great … [Read more...] about Best grocery items to buy (and stock up on) during the November sales
When you’re trying to balance work, school and other obligations, coming up with dinner ideas can seem like a thankless task that renews itself each night. And chances are, many of your overscheduled friends feel the same way. Share the dinner burden by hosting a freezer-meal party. You’ll stock up … [Read more...] about Save money with a freezer-meal party
This article is part of a Don't Throw It Out! series on how to preserve fresh foods and avoid food waste. Food waste is estimated at 31% of the average American family's grocery shopping dollars — about $1,800 a year. Fresh fruits and vegetables top the list, because many are wasted in the trash … [Read more...] about How to keep fall fruits and vegetables fresh longer
Are you looking for more time during the week? Maybe spending more time with your family is high on your to-do list or you'd like to take up a new hobby but never seem to find the time. There is a solution to your time dilemma that you may never have considered before: freezer cooking. When … [Read more...] about Freezer cooking 101: Healthy family dinners without the hassle
Groceries for a family of four with young children cost an average of about $1,100 a month in the first half of 2022, not including takeout and restaurant meals, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s a big chunk of change. But there are ways to spend less on food and still … [Read more...] about How to save money on food without using coupons
The new school year is upon us! Kids are back in school, or about to be, and parents and kids alike are having to fall back into the often hectic hustle and bustle of school-day routines. Back to school activities can mean cramming more and more stuff into less and less time. … [Read more...] about Simplify back to school with freezer meal planning
The lights begin to flicker. You hear the regular hum of the refrigerator hiccup, then return. But then it all goes dark. Your power is out. Power outages are common when snow and windstorms take down power lines, or in the summer when power lines can't handle the increased demand. There are … [Read more...] about How to avoid wasting food in a power outage
