money saving ideas

Even in good times, I look forward to my trips to the salvage grocery store. Dented cans and crushed boxes of cereal with intact plastic bags of goodies inside is this frugal mom's idea of fun. And it's for that reason that I caution newcomers to the world of grocery surplus to take a deep breath and control yourself. Remember that the purpose of shopping at the Dent & Bent is not to buy pallets of caviar to taste test just because you can pick them up at a deep discount.

Here's my advice on how to shop for salvage groceries so that you see quick results in the bottom line of your household budget.

1. You will need a place to store the increased amount of groceries. Being organized is crucial when buying in bulk. Have the space where you plan to store your inventory set aside ahead of time.

2. Salvage stores are usually located far off the beaten path which of course takes
more gas to get there.To offset this minor detail, schedule your trips for the morning after your chosen outlet gets a delivery. Give them time to unpack the palett, but it's good to be an early bird shopper.

3. START OUT WITH AN EMPTY CAR - This is not the afternoon stop at the local convenience store. You are going to be buying in bulk. As an example, if you luck up on several cases of your kids' favorite breakfast cereal, you need room to pack it for the trip home.

4. Shop only for items that you use on a regular basis. For instance, if you buy a boatload of high fiber cookies that your kids hate just because they were cheap you are defeating the purpose and missing the benefits of salvage groceries. If you have been dying to try an item on your dinner menu, certainly do it at a discount price. But, don't buy large amounts until it's been established that your family is receptive to the new dish.

5. Don't overlook ingrediants to your favorite recipes. Dented cans of soup are a lifesaver for busy days, but don't forget how many cans of kidney beans you go through during chili season!

6. Food items are not the only items available. Dig for damaged boxes of washing powder and toiletry items for more savings.

Salvage groceries can save you as much as twenty to thirty percent on your household grocery budget. It's like giving yourself a raise for being a savvy, frugal homemaker.

When we were college kids we knew that if we wanted to go surfing next summer that it would be wise to hold onto some cash or if mom refused to spend hundreds of dollars on a pair of designer jeans there might be a need for an after school job if we were going to have the latest in clothes. But the concept of saving so that we can eat and be warm is pretty extreme to most young people.



We are taught the benefits of saving money for a rainy day by our parents or picked up a few money saving ideas, tips and techniques in our high school home economics class. However, the majority of those reading this article grew up in an environment of excess during the most prosperous decades in memory. Our grandparents' lectures on starving children and the Great Depression skimmed right over our heads because that could never happen in these modern times, right?

The truth is that most of us won't starve, but few of us will avoid the inevitable and possibly uncomfortable tightening of our budgetary belts. The purpose of this site is to provide a place to share money saving tips for the times. I don't claim to be an expert, but with some help from my visitors there are a few ideas on squeezing a dollar until it squeaks.

Developing your personal penny pinching style is perhaps the beginning of pinpointing the best money saving ideas for your household's needs as well as the best way of keeping your checkbook balance in the black. Once you get beyond the basic math of figuring out what the basics of keeping your home running and how much money you have to do so, then you can start to voluntarily trim the fat or to apply a tourniquet to stop the bleeding of red ink if things are really bad.

Perhaps your budget is not hemorrhaging with credit card debt but you would like to see more excess at the end of each month to invest in retirement savings or your kids' college fund. Your plan of action may involve little more than cooking more meals at home or traveling less.

However, if you have lost your job or are facing unusual healthcare costs, time is of the essence. Sitting on your hands while the bills swiftly pile up is a bad idea. Get ready to act and act fast to stop the accumulation of unnecessary unpaid bills.

When times get hard, the experts start talking. There are plenty of experts that are being very well paid to share their money saving tips with you on the radio and financial television channels. Some have their own investment products that they sell that give their fans a place to invest their money once they have a surplus on hand.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Dave Ramsey at daveramsey.com
• Suze Orman at suzeorman.com
• Martin Lewis at moneysavingexpert.com

The great thing about Dave Ramsey is that he and his family have lived through tough times and share the money saving techniques that pulled them through it with others that are having problems balancing their budget in real time. Because Dave shares his money saving ideas and financial advice that he shares with actual callers, his information is always timely and deals with problems in today's economic environment.

For those who have lost a job or are going through a health crisis, drastic measures like downsizing your home or eliminating an automobile may be necessary.

Public transportation might be the best money saving tip as fuel prices and insurance premiums have soared to all time highs.

An unexpected pregnancy, no matter how big a blessing, can put a strain on the family's finances. But we have a few tips and money saving ideas for feeding and clothing your newborn on the cheap.

I have one word for you when it comes to tending to a newborn's nutritional needs; breastfeeding. All the experts agree that it's the best way to go healthwise and it doesn't take a genious to figure out that it's cheap! If for any reason you decide not to breastfeed, check to see if there is a WIC program in your area and see if you qualify to participate or start clipping coupons for free baby gear and formula coupons.

You just lost your job and that's bad enough. But what is even worse is when hundreds if not thousands of people are also unemployed and scratching and clawing for every job opportunity making the your chances of landing gainful employment very slim.

So, what do you do when your unemployment is running out and the bank account balance is looking dismal? You take action and tell yourself that you are willing to take work that you might have once thought was beneath you. Yeah, you have a college degree but if the elderly people on your block need help washing the windows, washing their cars, raking leaves and cleaning their gutters and are willing to pay for your assistance, it's time to put your pride on the back burner and get to work! A college degree is something to be proud of, but don't let it prevent you from searching outside your major when looking for work.

When you can't find odd jobs, spend time on the net scouring sites for free contests and giveaways where you can enter to win free baby stuff like diapers, clothes and formula if you have a little one or look for discount coupons on NECESSARY items to help on the weekly grocery bill. The key word here is necessary because this is not the time to visit sites like Groupon to get discounts on spa treatments or fancy restaurants. You need cheap food, not less expensive pedicures!