In preparation for the release of the audiobook version of Live Well, Grow Wealth, I'll be sharing excerpts each week on this blog.
This excerpt is from Chapter One, Live Within Your Means. I suggest categorizing your expenses as absolutely necessary, necessary but reducible, discretionary but important, and totally unnecessary. This post discusses necessary expenses such as groceries and household services.
Are you paying someone else to perform tasks you could
do yourself? For example, mowing or fertilizing the lawn, cleaning the house,
walking your dog? If so, perhaps you can realize some savings there. And
speaking of a lawn, you can save money on water and fertilizer by letting some
of the manicured green area go natural, planting drought-tolerant ground cover,
or even paving it over.
Groceries, too, may seem like an uncontrollable
expense. What can you do about the price of milk? My mother used to peruse the
grocery ads, circling the best sale prices at each store, and then make the
rounds. She was a housewife living in a small town where distances were not
great between businesses; most people do not have time for this. Compare the
regular prices of the items you purchase most often, and then choose the store
with the best overall prices and service for your main shopping. By frequenting
one establishment, you'll be more in tune to sales and thus be able to take
full advantage when they happen. If your grocery store has a free frequent
shopper program that offers discounts, sign up. But keep an eye on sales
offered by competitors so you can pick up bargains when that store is on or
near your route.
Menu planning and organization are essential to saving
money on groceries. If chicken is on special this week, prepare your family's
favorite chicken dish; why buy hamburger at full price? If you're planning to
cook a perishable item right away, consider a "manager's special"
that has been "reduced for quick sale" because it's nearing its
expiration date. But if you have no immediate plans for that item in your menu,
forgo the bargain, because chances are, it will rot and stink up your
refrigerator.
Work in some meatless meals if you can convince your
family to try vegetarian cuisine. Lower-cost meat substitutes can anchor a
balanced meal.
Avoid purchasing junk food which often consists of
expensive empty calories. And if you have the time and ability to cook from
scratch, stay away from pre-packaged convenience foods as much as possible.
Stock up on items you use regularly when they are on
sale, especially non-perishables like canned goods, dried pasta, and paper
products. With proper timing around specials, you can avoid ever having to pay
full price. Buy fresh fruits and vegetables when they're in season and
incorporate them into your menus. Freeze extra packages of meat, and make note
of the date. Don't waste food by buying more than you can use or store safely,
or by stashing it where you can't find it until it has spoiled. Label leftovers
and serve or recycle them promptly. If your family is averse to eating
leftovers, avoid them by learning to prepare less food at mealtime.
Know what is in your refrigerator and on your shelves
to keep from re-purchasing items you already have, and to ensure everything
gets eaten while still fresh. When you stock up on items you already have,
group them together and store the new behind the old, so you'll use the item
with the oldest date first. Keep a grocery list in a convenient location—and
take it with you when you go shopping—so you don't have to dash out to purchase
a needed staple in order to finish cooking dinner.
Shopping on a full stomach and sticking to your list
will help you avoid the temptation to buy unneeded items, especially those placed
strategically beside the cash register. Accepting a tasty sample and a coupon
from a salesperson does not obligate you to buy the product. If your spouse or
children have a habit of succumbing to temptation, leave them at home when you
shop.
Pay attention to package size to ensure you're
comparing prices accurately. One brand may appear cheaper, but the package may
contain less product. Some store labels include a price per ounce, or per unit,
to help with these decisions. A calculator can be a useful tool if, like me, you
have trouble doing the arithmetic in your head. And try to remember what price
your items were marked when you arrive at the register. Write them down if
necessary. Some stores will give you an item free if it scans incorrectly. That
scenario rarely happens, but you may miss an opportunity if you're not paying
attention.
Coupons play a role in saving money on groceries. Some
stores will even double manufacturer's coupons up to a certain amount. But
before using a coupon, compare the price of competing brands, particularly the
store brand. Sometimes the coupon provides the better deal, especially if it
can be doubled, but often the store brand is still cheaper. If the food tastes
just as good, why not buy the lower-priced item instead? Some store brands have
a satisfaction guarantee; if you buy it and don't like it as well as the name
brand, the store will refund your money or replace it with the name-brand
product. Only use coupons for items you really want to try, or were planning to
buy anyway. Otherwise, you're spending more money instead of saving it. (Why do
you think manufacturers offer coupons in the first place?)
Rebates are another way to save money on groceries, as
well as on other household goods, but sometimes, they are more trouble than
they are worth. With a coupon, you know at the point of sale whether it will be
honored; with a rebate you have to trust there is nothing in the fine print to
disqualify your application after you've jumped through all the hoops, used the
product, cut out or soaked off the UPC label, mailed in the original cash
register receipt, and waited six to eight weeks. Some companies allow you to
submit rebate applications online, which takes pain and guesswork out of the
process.
Another way to save on groceries and other items is to
belong to a discount warehouse store, such as Costco, Sam's, or B.J.'s.
Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to buy everything there in mass
quantities. I remember telling a neighbor we'd joined Costco and he remarked,
"You don't seem like the type to buy fifty pounds of potato chips."
While some products are sold in bulk, or in larger quantities than you'll find
in a grocery store, some can be bought individually—furniture, name-brand
clothing and accessories, jewelry, appliances, electronics, tools, household
goods, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, many grocery items—and the quality is often
quite high.
But don't assume because a product is sold in a
warehouse—or outlet mall, or other "discount" store—that it's the
best deal. Sometimes an item can be purchased at your local grocery store for
less, especially on sale and/or with a coupon. It's always important to compare
prices. Also, warehouse stores charge annual membership fees, so if you join,
make sure you'll shop there enough to offset the cost. Before joining, visit
with a member or ask a store employee if you can come in and have a look
around, to determine whether a membership will really benefit you.
Plan your purchases for items such as clothing, school
supplies, and bedding to take advantage of seasonal sales or sales tax
holidays. Consider shopping online if free shipping is offered. (But don't buy
something you don't need just to bring the total order amount high enough to
qualify for free shipping.)
Dry cleaning is another area where you may be able to
reduce expenses. My mother refused to buy a garment if it wasn't washable. Her
advice is not practical for everyone, but do consider the cost of cleaning and
maintaining your clothing when you purchase it. I bundle my dry cleaning to take
in a couple times a year, and look for coupons that offer a percentage discount
if the total is over a certain amount, or a set price for ten items, thus
lowering the average cost per item. If you wear a uniform or other work-related
garment that must be dry-cleaned regularly, check around for special pricing.
Many dry cleaners offer discounts for military personnel, law enforcement, or
airline staff.
Ask the price when you drop off your items, and let
the dry cleaner know about any coupons you possess or discounts you are
requesting, to ensure they will be honored. I have friends who routinely drop
off their dry-cleaning without asking what it will cost, and then just pay
whatever bill is presented without question. I always ask for a quote up front,
even though some dry cleaners don't like to give it. One place I went to
charged extra for silk, extra for wool, extra for pleats, extra for each color
in a garment. I never did find out what type of fabric would qualify for
standard pricing; everything I ever brought them incurred a surcharge. It's
best to know about those hidden costs before you agree to the cleaning, so you
can negotiate or shop around.
Whether you're dealing with a dry cleaner, a cell
phone company, a cable or internet provider, a grocer, an airline, an insurance
company, you can save money by asking the right questions and insisting on an
accounting of what you're paying for, preferably before you agree to buy. Take
advantage of the fact that there is competition in most of those industries.
Don't be afraid to take your business elsewhere if you're not treated fairly.
To learn more, read Live Well, Grow Wealth by Sharon Marchisello.
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