Streeeeetch It!!!

 Happy Tuesday to all.  Yesterday was the last full day of winter - and we had the coldest temps in 30 days and snow flurries!  Geesh.  Today is supposed to get a little warmer but be windy.  Our nights are pretty darn cold for a few days. 

So, today (at some point) it will be officially Spring!!!!! Happy spring to all.  I know everyone is not feeling it yet, still lots of cold and snow to be had in some areas.  IT IS COMING!!!!!

Today I want to talk a little bit about stretching out our shopping visits.  Many of us here, don't shop every week or even every other week at times.  Some go all month without shopping.  But you gals (or guys) that are new to this - need to try a few things to stretch the shop times out and try new ways of using it up - and you can shop less often as well!  Seriously!  A bonus is that it saves money too.

I talk a lot about using all your leftovers.  You can use them as lunch the day after (instead of going out), you can even use little bits of food as a snack.  Re-invent the food into new things.  Leftover veggies and meat can go in soup or stir fry or fried rice, etc.  Getting creative really helps the budget.

Remember the old saying - Waste not, want not!!!!   VERY TRUE

Now here is another idea.

I know some people go to the store every day - STOP THAT!  If you do that, you have to stop - you are so very much overspending.  Buy enough for a week - use it all, before you go back.

Many shop every week.  For the sake of keeping things easy - let's say every 7 days.  If this is how you shop - you go to the store basically 52 times a year.  Now here is the challenge.  Stretch that to every 10 days!  Doesn't sound like much - but that is only 36 1/2 trips a year!  Saving you 16 visits!!!!!

For the sake of ease again, let us say you spend $100 each visit - that is $1,600 saved.

Now once you get the hang of that - stretch it to every 14 days.  That is only 26 visits.  That is saving $2,600 a year.

You see where this is going?  Learning ways to shop less often and to use every bit of food cooked and being creative - can save you not only time - but money!

This money can be used to pay off other debt - pay ahead - save.  You could also use some of this to add to your stockpile of food, which allows you to stay out of stores even more.  Add an extra $10 or $20 a week for the extra to stockpile.  Buy the clearance, the sales, the digital coupons, all the DEALS and BARGAINS you can find.  This is food SECURITY!  That is a huge thing as inflation continues and life in general can change at a moment's notice.

Learn to freeze things or dehydrate or can if necessary.  If your fresh goods are coming close to time they need to be used - find an alternate way to keep them.  Ask - people here can help and you can Google these things and learn.  Watch videos and learn from blogs that have been around for a long time.  Ask your older family, neighbors and friends.

REMEMBER - Buy what you like/use and use what you buy.

If you make something and overdo an ingredient and it doesn't taste right - there are ways to fix it!  Don't throw it away and waste good ingredients.  This chart really does help and they are ways to SAVE a recipe!

Keep it in your mind - waste is NOT an option!

Cook from home, shop less, use everything you have, use it ALL up!  These are huge for all of us, especially beginners of the frugal journey.

Read, watch and learn.  There is always something new to learn - always!

Get creative and learn new recipes or try new things.  You may make the best meal you ever had - by just getting a little creative.

I hope this helps someone shop a little less, use up a little more, and save a little money.

We are here to help.  You have a question - just ask!

Have a wonderful first day of SPRING!