Posts tagged ‘savings’

December 18th, 2012

Healthy on a Budget: The Roundup

by Tiff

Since last week’s Healthy on a Budget post focused primarily on what not to do, I want to end the series on a more positive note.  I’ve thrown together a little roundup to wind down the series.

Before getting to the links, I want to share a couple of yesterday’s meals.  Dinner was affordable, healthy, and super tasty.  I was cooking for one, so I just threw together some things I had in the house.

pasta

Pasta (a pantry staple), frozen spinach (a freezer staple), pasta sauce (a fridge staple), and leftover sliced pepper and onion I had in the fridge.  I added some 99% lean ground turkey, which was on sale at the grocery store for $4.99/lb this week.  So easy!

lunch

It was a bit crazy at the office yesterday, so the company provided lunch from Panera - moderately healthy, incredibly good, and ridiculously cheap (at least for the employees).

My Healthy on a Budget Links:

Excellent Free Workout Links:

Helpful Budget Recipe Links:

Random Extras for Frugal Fitnessistas:

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Got any good links to add?

Posted in Link Love | 13 Comments »

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December 11th, 2012

Healthy on a Budget: What to avoid

by Tiff

This might be the last Healthy on a Budget series post. I hope not since this focuses on what not to do, and I like to sandwich a negative between two positives. Actually, I like to sandwich just about anything, but that’s beside the point.

budgetIn case you missed the other posts…

1. Don’t dine out. Why is something so simple also so hard? It’s true though. I can order an unhealthy lasagna dish at a restaurant for $17 before tax and tip, or I can cook my healthier veggie lasagna recipe for $2.16 per serving. That’s based on 6 servings, so if we hold serving size constant, it’s $3.24 for 4 servings. That’s seems huge, but try multiplying it by 2 for date night with a couple drinks. Yowzah!

lasagna

2. Don’t be fooled by fancy packaging. There are lots of healthy foods out there with very pretty packaging, but that doesn’t mean they’re any better than Plain-Jane goods. For instance, fancy potato chips can be pricey, especially on a per-oz basis. It’s not hard to roast your own potato slices or cubes though. Sweet potato “fries” anyone? If you’re a sucker for overpriced 100-calorie packs of treats, I bet you can create better tasting ones yourself. If you like portion control, make things that can be frozen and reheated for PMS week desperate times.

3. Don’t overdo the booze. I’m a total Negative Nelly today, aren’t I? Booze adds up though, especially if you’re not drinking at home. Restaurants commonly mark up alcohol prices by about 200%. Wine Enthusiast Magazine explains the reason behind the markups, but no matter where you drink, you’ll save money if you drink less – end of story.

da vinci

4. Don’t stick to the recipe. Sometimes I have a recipe in-mind, but I later find the grocery store to have one ingredient priced waaaay too high. I just substitute frozen goods or a vegan alternative, or I try a new veggie. Scallops not on sale? Buy shrimp. Organic beef a little pricey? Try Morningstar Farms veggie crumbles. Leftover wine that might not still taste good in your glass can still add unexpected umph to an entree.

5. Don’t go ga-ga for organic. Organic goods benefit more than your body, so if I had the willpower and the means to buy everything organic, I would. However, that’s just not in the cards for me, and I bet a lot of you are in the same boat. If you’re going to make a few organic splurges, don’t spend a bunch of money on organic junk foods. I think Kate Geagan, MS, RD says it best:

Just because it’s organic doesn’t mean it’s healthy! Organic soda, ice cream and potato chips, for instance, are still high calorie splurges that can pack on the pounds and pad your grocery bill.

6. Don’t be a meathead. I’m not vegetarian, but I don’t eat a lot of meat. Sometimes Kevin and I will split a chicken breast in a stir fry or other one-pot meal. We still get all the protein we need from the veggies, grains, and/or any added beans or cheese. This is much better for the grocery bill!

salami

Of course, “growing” boys still deserve extra meat if they really want it…

  • Are you a sucker for any of these, or do you have more to add to the list?

Posted in Food | 15 Comments »

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November 20th, 2012

Healthy on a Budget: Saving in the Grocery Store

by Tiff

I assume the most useful Healthy on a Budget theme this week would be navigating the grocery store.  If you’re hosting a big holiday meal or two this year, you may be spending a little extra in the supermarket.  Goodness knows I’ve made waaaaay too many trips in the past week or two!

  • If you missed last week’s Healthy on a Budget, check out my Pantry Staples.

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1. Check out weekly circulars first.  If you only go to 1 store, this doesn’t take long.  If you alternate between multiple stores, it takes a little longer to see which is your best bet.  Do this before making a store list so you can plan meals around what’s on sale.

flyer

2. Don’t drive yourself crazy.  When you look at multiple circulars, it can be tempting to hit up multiple stores.  Making a few stops can be worth it, but driving around usually defeats the purpose.  You may save $1.50 on cereal, but you’ll spend that same amount on gas, not to mention your time.  This also increases your chances for impulse buys.

3. Look beyond the label. Healthy items aren’t always the ones labeled “organic” or featured on Dr. Oz.  Generic items are often all you need.  Simple is a good thing!  I can‘t afford special steel cut oats with flax and organic dried berries.  However, I can buy basic old fashioned oats, bulk-bin flax, and frozen berries to throw together myself.

4. Coupon with care. I like coupons.  Really.  But I don’t love coupons.  I often find that I can work the regular sales and generic brands better than I can work the Sunday paper.  The problem is often having to buy 4 boxes, 3 cans, or whatever else.  Plus, coupons are often for things I shouldn‘t buy.  Pop Tarts, I love you, but don’t tempt me from the comfort of my own home… even if you are only $1.00/box.

coupon

5.Math is your friend. Luckily, most stores do the math for you by listing the cost per ounce (or whatever unit of measure) near the price.  If it’s not there, figure it out!  Numerous times I’ve seen smaller items on sale for less than their bulk-size counterparts.

6. List, list, list.  I mentioned my weekly list before, but it is sooooo important for me.  I bet you aren’t as awful as I am, but here’s my shameful scenario:  If I don’t make a list, I won’t buy enough food.  This leaves me either (A) going out to a restaurant or (B) running back to the store mid-week.  When I go back mid-week for items; I’m probably going to buy 1 thing I need, 10 things I don’t, and forget that other thing I came for.

list

7. Look beyond the obvious. The best deals aren’t usually staring you in the face.  The cheaper goods are often placed well above or below chest level.  Stores put the pricier items at eye level, or should I say, at grab-n’-go level.

8. Don’t shop hungry!  Does this get anyone else?  Just me?  I can’t shop hungry.  It’s a recipe for disaster.

  • Got any tips for a grocery shopper on a budget?

Posted in Fitness | 18 Comments »

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November 13th, 2012

Healthy on a Budget: Pantry Staples

by Tiff

I’m glad to hear you all are interested in the Healthy on a Budget series. I plan to throw something together every Tuesday until I run out of ideas, get tired of it, or win the lottery.

Wish me luck…

budget

This week’s topic – Pantry Staples. We all seem to have a few things that are always stocked in our pantry. I’ve had the same half-used jar of Nutella since I made those Nutella-Oreo cheesecake bars in August. (I don’t know how it has survived that long either.) Yet, that’s clearly neither “budget’ nor “healthy.” Better examples include:

1. Beans! In my house, some are canned; some aren’t. Some are organic; some aren’t. It really depends on what I”m making, what’s on sale, and what additives are in the non-organic cans.

budgetbeans

Your basic black, kidney, pinto, etc. beans aren’t on the “dirty dozen” list, but they’re often canned with preservatives that don’t sound so appetizing. However, I sometimes pretend I can wash off the preservatives when I rinse & drain them. This pretending generally occurs when beans are on sale…

2. Canned soup. I know canned soup isn’t always the healthiest option due to the sodium content, but a hot bowl of soup can be quite satiating. If you’ve got nothing else at home, and the delivery pizza menu is staring you in the face, be glad you’ve got that soup!

3. Spices. My spice cabinet may not be stocked with the fancy-pantsy stuff, but I use these babies alllllll the time. I have a lot of favorites, but my budget-friendly favorites include chili powder, cumin, curry powder, and cinnamon.

If an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure, you’re saving money in the long run here. Many spices have anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidants, and anti-grumpy, feel-good properties. Who can be grumpy while eating warm cinnamon raisin bread or piping hot chili? That’s gotta’ be worth something.

spices

4. Grains, grains, and more grains. I keep quinoa and/or millet since they cook faster, brown rice because it’s versatile, and wheat berries & oats because…. uh… because they’re just my favorite, really. I usually buy these from my grocery store’s bulk bins, but sometimes I find great deals (especially on quinoa) on Amazon.

grains

5. Onions/Potatoes/Squash. One bag of yellow onions, white potatoes, or sweet potatoes usually hides somewhere in my pantry. You may also find a squash or two if you’re lucky.

I used to buy onions as-needed, but I go through sooooo many of these! Plus, you can buy an entire bag of potatoes for the same price of two lose ones. Just sayin’. Don’t fear white potatoes; they have a ton of potassium… perhaps to balance out all that sodium in your canned beans n’ soup.

budget

  • What are some of your pantry staples?

Posted in Food | 35 Comments »

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September 25th, 2012

Save Green While Eating Lean

by Tiff

I’m a girl on a budget.  Sorta.  I’m lucky in that I don’t have a set limit for groceries, but I still save when I can.  Here are a few guidelines that I follow that may or may not help you save money while eating healthy.

green

First up, enough with the coupons.  Coupons save a lot of people a lot of money… but not me.  I find that most coupons out there are for name brands; I typically save money by regularly purchasing store brands instead.  I’ve also noticed that coupons aren’t usually for the healthiest options.  (I don’t care if you save $100 on 5 bags of Ruffles potato chips.  You’ll save money and calories by not keeping them in your house anyway.)  I’m not saying all coupons are worthless, just use them wisely.

Next, utilize bulk bins.  If your grocery store has them, don’t let them intimidate you.  I’ve tried new (affordable) grains this way, such as wheat berries and millet.  My husband had the fabulous idea of re-using old jars for my bulk purchases.  Sure, you can buy cute matching mason jars, but you’d have to save a lot of money on bulk items to pay them off via savings.

burriladas 006

Pack your lunch.  And snack.  And breakfast.  I know it’s a lot, but who cares if people judge the size of your lunchbox?  I pack my lunch for work 99% of the time, and I also pack my breakfasts since I go straight from the gym to the office.  PB & fruit sandwiches, overnight oats, protein oats, and protein shakes are all great on-the-to breakfasts.  For lunch, I’m a huge fan of big, one-pot meals, which often incorporate grains from bulk bins.

Frozen, canned, and fresh, oh my!  I love frozen veggies.  Some are better than others, but who can turned down cheap, pre-washed, pre-cut, and storable?  I also use a lot of canned veggies, especially tomatoes and green beans.  Those are staples in my home.  Fresh is good too, but when buying fresh produce, be sure to check your store’s flyer for what’s in sale and/or what’s in season.  Eating seasonally is a great way to save money and vary your fruits and veggies.

Nobody puts baby in a corner – bring side dishes to center stage!  Lots of recipes focus on main courses, but sometimes I just like to whip up sides as my main meal.  These are often cheaper, easier, and healthier – depending on the side, of course.  For example, here was yesterday’s lunch.  It’s braised cabbage and apple with apple cider vinegar and spices.  I could have easily upped the protein by throwing in walnuts, diced sausage, or just bits of chicken.

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What are your favorite ways to save money without putting your health on the back burner?

Posted in Food | 25 Comments »

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