Based in this video taken by the McClatchy Newspapers and the American News Project, some locals of the eastern Pennsulvanian town were interviewed and how they are coping with present credit and economic crisis.
With the current crisis, prices of commodities most especially food are also rising. Shelter, clothing and food are at the top list of the basic needs of humans. The increase in the cost of transportation generates the increase in food cost and will eventually put a toll in the wallets of the consumers.
What do we need to do about it then...
Here are some steps to keep up with the costs of rising food which I hope will be of use to you.
* Keep away from previously prepared foods. Everyone knows convenience is very much encouraged especially nowadays and the groceries stores are capitalizing on this. We can easily see and buy ready-made meals, but it is more expensive as compared to foods that you prepare yourself. Instead of buying these meals that are utterly convenient, it is better to buy the ingredients and to prepare the meal yourself.
* Avoid Eating Outside. Try to eat at home and enjoy a nutritious meal made at home and it will be cheaper on your part. It is better to avoid eating outside nowadays, including drinking good coffee, as you can do it yourself at home at a most convenient price.
* Before you shop, eat first. There will always be the tendency that you will be able to buy expensive and unnecessary foods if you walk into a mall or building and you are hungry. Try to eat first before you go shopping.
* Buy in huge volume. Buying in bulk will be able to save you considerable amount of money. Bear in mind the prices of the family size package of the products that you will purchase and compare them with the unit cost of a single product if it is much lower. And also be sure that you have a place to store your bulk purchases. Other stores don’t offer any bargains to big boxes so better make sure to compare the prices of the sales. And always check your spending habit as buying in bulk may encourage you to buy more than what you need, thus it will go overboard your budget.
* Arrange your shopping in advance. Make a shopping list on what you will buy before going shopping. If you do impulsive shopping, you will end up filling your cart with everything and anything that catches your eye. Instead of saving money, you will spend more money than what is previously budgeted. It is also advisable to plan your home meals for one week and take note of those you just need to buy to prepare those meals.
* Do not bring the kids with you while shopping. Kids naturally tend to fill up your grocery cart as they grow tired and cranky and hungry while you are shopping. So naturally you tend to give in to their wishes of providing them their preferred snacks in order to keep them quiet while you go on shopping.
* Look Down. This is a good tip which I know not everybody knows. Observe that most stores tend to place their most expensive goods at eye level. You have to look down to look for cheaper products. Also try to look for alternative and cheaper generic products in exchange for the branded products that you always get. Other times, you only pay for the packaging of the product which really counts so that the product price tends to go up.
* Pay Cash. It is better to pay in cash always. Believe me, I’ve been in that kind of predicament. When you use your card, you tend to pay interest on the purchase made if you don’t pay your card in full every month. Try to pay in cash when you go shopping and avoid charging the necessities in your credit cards.
* Check your Bill. Be sure to check always your bill. There will be a tendency of the scanners not being perfect at all. Taking a look at your receipt may help you a lot.
Careful smart shoppers will be able to minimize the amount spent on the purchase of food. All it takes is a little patience, time and effort.
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