Why, with an equal level of income, some people have to spend the lion's share of funds on food, while others manage not only to eat quite diverse, but also to put it off for a rainy day? Yes, just these same others know as save on foodwithout depriving yourself and your family members.
Plan your budget
According to psychologists, about 10% of money people spend only by inertia, without receiving any benefit or pleasure. A considerable amount of our budget pulls and advertising.
In order not to succumb to advertising gimmicks, decide in advance on the amount you plan to spend on food every month. Be sure to make a list of major purchases. To avoid unnecessary expenses and accustom yourself to discipline, you should write down any, even small expenses. Stored checks and writing even small purchases will help you see for yourself how much money you spend on unnecessary trivia. It is best to use a computer or mobile application for these purposes, designed to account for the family budget.
Make up a menu
This old and proven savings recipe really works. Spread the money weekly in envelopes. Analyze prices in various stores and markets, gradually deciding on the best place to buy. Make an approximate weekly menu in advance, and get everything you need on weekends. In order not to feel hurt, allocate a small amount to buy unnecessary "goodies", but do not spend this money in one day.
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Do not go to the store hungry
Remember that on an empty stomach all thoughts of saving immediately evaporate. Never buy food for dinner after work. It is established that a tired person dreams of sweet, and the angry and disgruntled will get a lot of useless food. Do not take extra money with you: make a list of necessary purchases in advance and estimate their cost.
Wholesale purchases
By purchasing products such as cereals, noodles, sugar, fresh fish in bulk, you can significantly save. In any suburban farm, you can also buy cheap poultry, carcass or half carcass of fresh veal or pork. If your family is small, you should cooperate with your neighbors or friends. Significant discounts on meat products can be obtained on the wholesale market at the end of the working day: since renting refrigerators is expensive for farmers, it is much easier for them to sell the remaining goods at reduced prices. Although this concerns not every Russian town.
Discounts and sales. Do not give in to provocations
Most supermarkets occasionally offer groceries with substantial discounts. But be careful: during the sales there will probably be enough intrusive advertising that can make you buy something that you don’t need. In order not to fall for the tricks of experienced marketers, do not linger in supermarkets for too long.
Down with harmful products
Exclude from your budget spending on carbonated drinks, crackers, chips and other harmful food, which contains dyes, stabilizers, thickeners, flavor enhancers. So you will not only save your family budget, but also your own health. Be warned: for some, to refuse such food is the hardest.
Seasonal products. Frost
In order not to overpay a significant amount for frozen vegetables and fruits, it is worth preparing them in advance in season. If your household likes pickles and pickled vegetables, please their homemade preparations. And you can also buy dryer for vegetables and fruits - dry gifts of nature are also very useful and tasty.
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Semi-finished and packaged products
Cutlets, dumplings, dumplings and other convenience foods purchased in the store will cost you much more. Prepare them at the weekend yourself, and warm up before dinner. Meat tenderloin baked in the oven will be an excellent alternative to unhealthy sausages. Of course, the hardest thing for this advice is to follow busy people.
Never buy chicken fillet, breast or legs separately. Get the whole chicken and cut it, leaving the bones for broth: it will cost you much less.
When purchasing cereals, sugar and confectionery by weight, you do not have to overpay for packaging. Hard cheese is better to buy not in plastic, but by weight. It is a pity that lately it is becoming more and more difficult to buy such products.
Replace expensive cereal milk porridge with the addition of fresh or frozen fruit. Dried fruits, cottage cheese or homemade yogurt with jam or berries will be an excellent source of vitamins in the winter.
Do not cook too much
Fewer missing products are a better family budget. Teach yourself to cook little by little so that you do not have to throw away the missing food.
If you are an extrovert
There are people who are not able to deal with momentary desires. If you are one of them, ask your soul mate or one of the household members to keep your family budget.
Each housewife certainly has their own saving recipes. Choose the ones that fit your lifestyle. By setting priorities correctly, you will once and for all get rid of ill-considered impulse purchases and strengthen your family budget.