I went food shopping today! For most people, that's a pretty boring task. But for me, it's always an adventure, even more so since I started on my $35/week budget. Delicious-looking food seems to jump off the shelves, trying to force their way into my basket, and I have to fend off the onslaught.
I've found that the best way to spend as little money as possible in the supermarket is to know my supermarket's secrets - the ins and outs of their pricing and specials, to take full and legal advantage of what they have to offer.
Of course, the most famous example of taking large-scale legal advantage of supermarkets is from the TV show Extreme Couponing. This works very well in many US states, but not so well where I live. Coupons really don't exist to the same extent, and are only offered on brand name products, and the savings are often small.
Instead I use two tricks which have served me well in both the UK and back in Canada: reduced for sale items and multibuy offers.
Reduced for sale
These items are reaching their best-before or sell-by dates, and stores need to clear them out quickly. They may be placed in a separate section, or have identifying stickers stating the percentage reduction or the new price. In England, these stickers seemed to be universally yellow, but in the supermarket nearest to me now, they're giant and pink (often covering up the product name or description!)
When buying reduced for sale items, check the best before date. This could be a few days away, but the product will still be edible even after this date. If the product has a use-by date, make sure you will consume the entire product before that date.
Any item which is reduced for sale and which can be frozen (such as meat or bread) is an even better bargain! Put the meat into a freezer bag (in portions, if it's chicken breasts or thighs, or ground meat) and stick it in the freezer until you will use it. Then, fully defrost when desired and cook it immediately. Bread will last at least a few days after defrosting.
Sometimes these reductions take place at specific times during the day or week. A few hours before closing is often a good time - as the store tries to get everything sold as fast as possible.
Today I got lucky and found some reduced for sale yoghurt (best before the 7th) and orange juice (best before the 6th), both reduced by 50%. In fact, since the orange juice's reduction didn't go through at the check-out, I got a 100% reduction from customer services!
Multibuy offers
These can be useful, but also dangerous. Investigate the available multibuys before you get to the supermarket, either online or through the store's weekly flyer. Multibuy offers can lure you into the exhilarating feeling of getting a bargain, even when you don't need the item, and planning ahead will help you avoid these temptations.
Multibuys on pantry essentials are especially good. Stock up when the items are cheap. If there are multibuys for fresh produce, use it as an excuse to eat more fruit and vegetables or try new things. But make sure you use them! A multibuy offer is no good if the food goes to waste.
I'm having particular fun with multibuy offers in Canada, because the laws here seem to require multibuy pricing to extend to the individual items. So, for example, a 2 for $5 deal means that each item must be individually priced at $2.50 each. So my box of cereal, normally $5.58, currently on offer at 2 for $6, cost me only $3, even though I only bought one! Fantastic!
These are just two examples of ways to get the most out of your supermarket, which are well used in both Canada and the UK. Are there any tricks that you use?
Showing posts with label wasteful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wasteful. Show all posts
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Monday, 21 January 2013
Tip #19 - Cold-fighting on a budget
It's that time of year. I've got a cold. It's not the worst cold I've ever had. It's not a full-frontal assault, but more of a long, drawn out feeling of unwellness, slowly sapping my strength.
I used to run out to the drug store for expensive medication as soon as I felt the first sign of a stuffy nose. But I just can't afford those at the moment. So what to do?
Get lots of sleep
Sleep is absolutely, hands-down the best cure for a cold. Your body needs time to fight the viruses attacking it, and can't do that when it's over-tired.
Last night, I managed to sleep for 11 3/4 hours. I feel SO MUCH BETTER this morning.
I understand, however, that it's not always possible to sleep as much as that. You may have work or child commitments, for example. If this applies to you, make sure you get as much sleep as physically possible. Take naps during the day when you can. Miss out on that drink with your friends. Take a rain-cheque on that sports game.
If you keep forcing yourself to continue as if you weren't sick, your cold will drag on longer.
Oh, and work-time aside, sleep is completely, 100% free.
Drink lots of fluids
This sounds really obvious. But it has to be stated.
Fluids do NOT include: alcohol, coffee, sugary soft drinks (one exception, see below), sugary fruit juices, and it's best to avoid milk.
Fluids DO include: pure fruit juices, water, uncaffeinated herbal tea, water, and mixes like hot lemon and honey, hot lemon and ginger, and cranberry juice and gingerale, and more water.
Water, natural fruit juices which contain vitamin C, and ginger are all helpful to kick your immune system into action.
No-sugar added cranberry juice mixed ginger ale is a remedy I learned from a Chinese woman who owned a corner store near where I used to live in university. She saw me come in, still in my pyjamas, with a runny red nose, panic-buying throat lozenges and kleenex. Bad look. Simply mix the cranberry juice and ginger ale at a 1-1 ratio. The ginger and vitamin C both help fight your cold, and the bubbles help break up mucus. The science may be questionable, but it works.
Currently, I'm too cheap even for cranberry juice and ginger ale. So I'm drinking LOADS of water, with slices of lemon cut into it. The lemon slices help me get my vitamin C, and the citric acid helps my throat (at least, it seems to!)
Change humidity levels
If you're congested, I've always found the best way to ease some of the pressure is to change the humidity of the air around you. This can be with the help of a humidifier, but you could also use a kettle or a hot mug of tea, take a hot shower or bath, or go for a walk. The humidity levels between inside and outside will be very different, and will help you out in the short term.
Chicken soup for your soul
Chicken soup actually does have medicinal benefits when it comes to colds and flu. Yummy and good!
Gargle with salt water
If you have a sore throat as part of your cold fun, gargle with warm water mixed with a table spoon of salt. It tastes disgusting, but it works by sterilizing your throat and helping to kill some of the bacteria.
I also find that other salty food have the same result. Dill pickles and pot noodles are my two favourites. Just be careful if you are on a low-sodium diet.
Make sure you eat
Being sick can cause you to lose your appetite. But you absolutely need to eat. Your body needs calories and vitamins. So anything you can take in will help. Potatoes, lentils, red meat, green vegetables, and fruits are all full of lots of vitamins which your body needs. Last night for example I had a baked potato with spaghetti Bolognese sauce and cheese. It was just the right size, and very medicinal.
If you're on a diet, it may have to go out the window for the worst part of the cold. I'm not saying you should eat processed food. But most celebrity fad diets barely contain the number of calories required to get through a day normally, let along while sick. So eat up!
If all else fails...
If your cold is like the raging fire of hell, and you can't go on without some over-the-counter intervention, try to stick with store brands. The contents will be the same, the result will be the same, but your wallet will thank you.
Are there any home remedies that I've missed? Let me know!
I used to run out to the drug store for expensive medication as soon as I felt the first sign of a stuffy nose. But I just can't afford those at the moment. So what to do?
Get lots of sleep
Sleep is absolutely, hands-down the best cure for a cold. Your body needs time to fight the viruses attacking it, and can't do that when it's over-tired.
Last night, I managed to sleep for 11 3/4 hours. I feel SO MUCH BETTER this morning.
I understand, however, that it's not always possible to sleep as much as that. You may have work or child commitments, for example. If this applies to you, make sure you get as much sleep as physically possible. Take naps during the day when you can. Miss out on that drink with your friends. Take a rain-cheque on that sports game.
If you keep forcing yourself to continue as if you weren't sick, your cold will drag on longer.
Oh, and work-time aside, sleep is completely, 100% free.
Drink lots of fluids
This sounds really obvious. But it has to be stated.
Fluids do NOT include: alcohol, coffee, sugary soft drinks (one exception, see below), sugary fruit juices, and it's best to avoid milk.
Fluids DO include: pure fruit juices, water, uncaffeinated herbal tea, water, and mixes like hot lemon and honey, hot lemon and ginger, and cranberry juice and gingerale, and more water.
Water, natural fruit juices which contain vitamin C, and ginger are all helpful to kick your immune system into action.
No-sugar added cranberry juice mixed ginger ale is a remedy I learned from a Chinese woman who owned a corner store near where I used to live in university. She saw me come in, still in my pyjamas, with a runny red nose, panic-buying throat lozenges and kleenex. Bad look. Simply mix the cranberry juice and ginger ale at a 1-1 ratio. The ginger and vitamin C both help fight your cold, and the bubbles help break up mucus. The science may be questionable, but it works.
Currently, I'm too cheap even for cranberry juice and ginger ale. So I'm drinking LOADS of water, with slices of lemon cut into it. The lemon slices help me get my vitamin C, and the citric acid helps my throat (at least, it seems to!)
Change humidity levels
If you're congested, I've always found the best way to ease some of the pressure is to change the humidity of the air around you. This can be with the help of a humidifier, but you could also use a kettle or a hot mug of tea, take a hot shower or bath, or go for a walk. The humidity levels between inside and outside will be very different, and will help you out in the short term.
Chicken soup for your soul
Chicken soup actually does have medicinal benefits when it comes to colds and flu. Yummy and good!
Gargle with salt water
If you have a sore throat as part of your cold fun, gargle with warm water mixed with a table spoon of salt. It tastes disgusting, but it works by sterilizing your throat and helping to kill some of the bacteria.
I also find that other salty food have the same result. Dill pickles and pot noodles are my two favourites. Just be careful if you are on a low-sodium diet.
Make sure you eat
Being sick can cause you to lose your appetite. But you absolutely need to eat. Your body needs calories and vitamins. So anything you can take in will help. Potatoes, lentils, red meat, green vegetables, and fruits are all full of lots of vitamins which your body needs. Last night for example I had a baked potato with spaghetti Bolognese sauce and cheese. It was just the right size, and very medicinal.
If you're on a diet, it may have to go out the window for the worst part of the cold. I'm not saying you should eat processed food. But most celebrity fad diets barely contain the number of calories required to get through a day normally, let along while sick. So eat up!
If all else fails...
If your cold is like the raging fire of hell, and you can't go on without some over-the-counter intervention, try to stick with store brands. The contents will be the same, the result will be the same, but your wallet will thank you.
Are there any home remedies that I've missed? Let me know!
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Name and Shame: Gatwick Airport South Terminal
I moved back home to Canada yesterday! Moving is a taxing experience, and if your move involves a flight, that's even harder.
Yesterday, I flew from London Gatwick airport's south terminal. I fly a lot. I have a routine in airports. I empty my water bottle as I go through security, then fill it up on the other side either from a water fountain or the taps in the bathroom. I've used this routine in Gatwick many times to great effect.
Yesterday was different, however. The South Terminal is under renovation, and, to my absolute HORROR the genius architect decided to remove the water fountain. To add to my misery, the bathroom taps only provided hot water. Grumble grumble.
Needless to say, I filled out a comment form, declaring that they were violating my human rights by refusing me access to drinking water, and also called them out on their eco-friendliness... or lack thereof.
I can accept not allowing drink through security - I get it, liquid bomber, blah blah blah (I actually flew three days after that event, and trust me security now is a breeze compared to that!). But to not allow access to free, clean, cold drinking water on the other side? To force weary travellers to purchase a wasteful bottle of water when they don't need one? That's both rediculous and incredibly greedy.
So, Gatwick South Terminal, I name and shame you.
PUT THE WATER FOUNTAIN BACK IN
Update:
I just received this email response to my complaint card.
Yesterday, I flew from London Gatwick airport's south terminal. I fly a lot. I have a routine in airports. I empty my water bottle as I go through security, then fill it up on the other side either from a water fountain or the taps in the bathroom. I've used this routine in Gatwick many times to great effect.
Yesterday was different, however. The South Terminal is under renovation, and, to my absolute HORROR the genius architect decided to remove the water fountain. To add to my misery, the bathroom taps only provided hot water. Grumble grumble.
Needless to say, I filled out a comment form, declaring that they were violating my human rights by refusing me access to drinking water, and also called them out on their eco-friendliness... or lack thereof.
I can accept not allowing drink through security - I get it, liquid bomber, blah blah blah (I actually flew three days after that event, and trust me security now is a breeze compared to that!). But to not allow access to free, clean, cold drinking water on the other side? To force weary travellers to purchase a wasteful bottle of water when they don't need one? That's both rediculous and incredibly greedy.
So, Gatwick South Terminal, I name and shame you.
PUT THE WATER FOUNTAIN BACK IN
Update:
I just received this email response to my complaint card.
Dear Planet F
Your feedback is really important to us, so we'd like to start by thanking you for taking the time to contact us.
Our
aim is to give your comments the attention they deserve, so we'll now
undertake a full investigation. This may mean us contacting several
departments
and airport partners within Gatwick Airport.
We'd be really grateful for your patience over the coming days while we gather all the information we need.
Please
rest assured, however, that we'll contact you as soon as possible. In
fact, our aim is to have completed our investigation and contact you
within
14 days.
Thanks once again for sending us your e-mail and we'll be in touch again as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
Person from Gatwick
Well, it's a start! We'll see what this "investigation" leads to.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)