b e t t e r FAM ILY M O N EY
D
is
/ordollar bill
Unless you’re traveling, leave the plastic at home and carry cash, says Cate
W illiam s, vice president of financial literacy at Money Management
International, a nonprofit credit counseling agency. “I f you have a budget
of $120 a week for groceries,” she says, “bring $120 in cash. Put things
back if you go over” T h is is a powerfully effective tactic.
Grocers knowthat the longeryou
linger in their stores, the more likely
you are to make unplanned buys,
especially of higher-margin nonfood items. So it's
always agood idea to shop with a budget and
shoppinglist> Make that list with any coupons
you have on hand and with weekly store sales in
mind. Find coupons in the Sunday paper and at
sites such as
Redplum.com
and
SmartSource
.com.
Match manufacturer coupons with store
coupons to save even more. ► Try to stick to
buyingfood atthegrocery store. You can usually
do better picking up beauty items, health
products, paper goods, and cleaningsupplies in
bulk at big-box discount stores. ► C ru ise the
peri meter aisles for fresh vegetables and fruits in
season, dairy, and proteins. Supplement with
canned or frozen vegetables. ► You’ll save a little
money each week if you center one or two meals
a week around beans, eggs, and tofu instead of
more expensive meat,fish, and poultry.
► Rememberthatyou pay more for conve-
nience. The more willingyou are to sliceyour own
celery sticks, cut your own stew meat, and
prepareyour own meals instead of buying
ready-made ones, the more you’ll save.
E is
foresting
out
The average family spends $2,668 in restaurants per year; this is a place to
cut without completely eliminating the pleasure. ► Get discount coupons
at
Restaurarrt.com
or the Entertainment Book (now also online at
Entertainment.com).
► Dine out at lunchtime or take advantage of
early-bird dinners. ► See if any restaurants in your town have kids-free
nights. Split entrees or go out just for appetizers. ► Make a date for coffee
and dessert. ► Take-out saves you a little money by avoiding the drinks
and a tip. ► Drink water instead of wine or cocktails.
i s
f o
r
JU S
If you live in a big city, it can be difficult to know which stations
in town have the cheapest gas. That’s where
Gasbuddy.com
comes in, a site that’s like having an all-knowing dad or
neighbor. ► When you find a good price for the week, top off
using the lowest octane called for in your owner’s manual, and
combine the chore with other errands. ► Keep your car well-
maintained and tires properly inflated to squeeze the most
mileage out of those precious gallons.
H is ^household products
Your grandma probably mixed her own cleansers to pinch
pennies. You can too, while keeping harmful chemicals out
of the environment. A little vinegar and water in a spray
bottle works nicely as a kitchen cleanser. For a cheap and
effective tub scrub, says Jennifer Sander, co-author of
573
W ays to S a v e M o n ey
, mix Borax and baking soda in equal
amounts, then add a little dishwashing liquid to form a
paste. For more tips, see BHG.com/features/living-green.
2 2 8
AUGUST 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
PHOTOS: (BOY IN SHOPPING CART) JUPITER IMAGES; (GAS CAN) VEER
