Worried about Inflation? Here are a few easy ways to minimize the impact of soaring prices.
Buy Generic – Yes, we all have our favorite products, but quite often the store brand, or generic, items come from the same manufacturer. No, I don’t like rough toilet paper, but last year I believe anyone would have taken a less than stellar roll of toilet paper. Also, when baking, do you think anyone will ever notice that you’re using ShurFine or Great Value cream cheese? Probably not!
Create Supply Alternatives – Did you run out of sponges, why not use a dish rag you already have? Run out of a fancy cleaning spray? Consider using dish liquid and water to clean. Run out of Kleenex, maybe considering using toilet paper. Simply said, next time you run out of something; simply consider things you already have around the house.
Cook at Home – This is likely very difficult for most people, and I’m preaching to myself, but cooking at home is a huge money saver. Making sure you have a food plan for the week helps to reduce the desire to swing by a drive through or, even worse, order food in. Not that ordering pizza on a super busy day is bad, but it will save you money in the long run if you plan to make a quick and enjoyable meal at home.
Intermittent Fasting – This tip packs a double punch! Not only will intermittent fasting help you lose weight, but it will also help your pocketbook. Making your window of eating from 10 am to 6 pm for example is a great way to combat inflation.
Cut Down on Prepackaged Snacks and prepackaged fruit juices– This is a tip for those with children. Prepackaged juice cups and snack are very convenient, but is it worth paying almost triple the price? Easy suggestion is just to pack your own juice in to go cups and pack your own snacks in a tiny plastic cup or sandwich bag.
Create meals from leftovers – This is something we should ALL be doing, but as time passes, I’m appalled at the amount of people that don’t eat leftovers. I say, don’t just eat leftovers, but rather, create a new dish with the food you have. Roasted chicken on day one, soup on day two and chicken pot pie on day three. Takes a little creativity, but it makes leftovers more desirable.
Cut your own fruit and vegetables – Picking up precut fruits and vegetables is easy, but it can also be an expensive habit. I know it saves time, but it’s simply not that hard to cut a cantaloupe or pineapple and trim off broccoli florets off a stalk.
Visit local fruit stands and farmers markets – Buying from local farmers markets and fruit stands, are a great way to save money, and thankfully we have several options just a few minutes away. Fresh Pickins, Southside Produce, the Red Stick Farmers Market are just a few spots you can shop to put a little back into your wallet.
Clean with soap and bleach – I never realized HOW many cleaning products I kept on hand, when in all honestly, they aren’t needed. Most things can be cleaned with soap and water. Some people use vinegar and water, but I honestly can’t tolerate the smell. In certain situations, bleach and water are great. I also use OdoBan on literally every surface in my home. This 3.79-liter jug is available at various retailers for around $10.00 and will make up to 32 gallons of disinfectant/antiviral antifungal solution. Oh! And the eucalyptus scent smells great!
Shop sale items – Shopping only sale items or getting frequently used items while they are on sale is an easy way to put a few dollars back in your pocket. For example, leg quarters are often on sale, but people don’t get them, because they don’t “like dark meat” or don’t want to have to take the skin off the chicken or separate the leg from the thigh. Make the effort and do the work if you want to save some money.
So, when people ask you if you’re concerned about rising inflation, you can say no, because you’re already in the habit of being smart with your money. I hope you might consider implementing a few of these ideas to help reduce the impact of rising prices.
Wishing you a blessed and joyous Thanksgiving and holiday season!
Xoxo,
Sweet Eyes
