I'll be honest with you, I love food. I bet I'm not the only one either though... right?
I've had friends who have told me they could live on cereal, or apples and cheese, and I just think... how boring! I like sampling new foods - be it a pimento cheeseburger or steamed crab legs, which are some of my more recent firsts... and I like having some old favorite comfort foods too, like Chinese take-out, pizza, mom's pot roast, or some home-made apple cobbler a la mode... boy, I'm getting hungry just typing this! That's the problem I have... these taste buds can easily start winning some power over the budget-minded part of my brain.
However, when I stay focused on my "Cents of Purpose," whatever it may be that my goal is at any point in time (yes, my goals change - as I reach certain ones, new goals form), I realize that I just have to plan a little better to fit the foods I love into my budget. Here's some of my thoughts on saving for my "cents of taste":
When it comes to food, two questions come to mind:
- How much do you typically spend eating out?
- How much do you typically spend on groceries?
You eat out 7 days a week? It usually costs $20 each time? How about cutting that down to 4 or 5 times per week, or just $10-15 each time? Set yourself mini-goals for cutting down your budget.
Here are some ways I save when eating out:
- Ordering water to drink instead of paying ~$2 for soda each time - Do that three times per week to save $6 per week... $24 per month... nearly $300 per year! (It is also better for your health to drink water instead of carbonated sugar and/or caffeine.)
- Sharing meals with someone else - that can cut your typical bill in half! (It can also help you control your portion size, and therefore body weight too!)
- Using gift cards. Use them soon after receiving them, or have a safe place where you know you will remember to find them when you want to use them.
- Using coupons. Coupon booklets like Entertainment, or those sold locally by school and organization fund raisers, are a great source of mass coupons! You may not be familiar with all the restaurants, but find the best coupons and try out a few new ones - you just might find a new favorite! Websites with printable coupons can be a great source of savings - just look up your favorite restaurants and see if they have links for either coupons or an email club. Here are some that I like...
>> RESTAURANT WEBSITE & EMAIL DEALS - Backyard Burger - Join the Backyard Burger eClub and get a coupon for a free burger.
- Bob Evans - Get a free kid's meal with the purchase of any $5.99+ Bob-B-Q from their Facebook page or the above link to their website.
- Boston Market - regularly has coupons available, usually $1 off an individual meal, $2 off a $10 purchase, and/or $4 off a $20 purchase. They also have a catering coupon code good through December 31, 2010: Get $25 off a $100 catering purchase by entering CATERINGDAY10 at checkout.
- Buffalo Wild Wings - Sign up for email club "Buffalo Circle" (under "Be Here") to receive regular specials and coupons.
- Dairy Queen - Join the "Blizzard Fan Club" to receive up to six BOGO blizzard coupons every year, including one when you join.
- Denny's - Join Denny's Rewards for special offers and promotions. Also remember that Kids Eat Free at participating locations on certain nights (I've found this on Tuesday nights at several locations). Up to two children can eat free for every paid adult meal!
- IHOP - Sign up for the "IHOP Pancake Revolution" email club. Receive a free meal upon sign up, and more special deals on your birthday and on your sign-up anniversary.
- Old Country Buffet / Ryan's / Fire Mountain - Join the eClub and receive a Buy One, Get One Free buffet coupon, along with updates and promotions throughout the year.
- Quizno's - Invite friends to join the Q-Club and receive a coupon for a free sub (with the purchase of a sub at regular price and a fountain drink).
- Ruby Tuesday - Click on "So Connected" to sign up for email club and receive a Buy One, Get One entree for free (true as of June 2010), with various offers arriving in your email down the line.
- Souper Salad - Sign up for "Souper Fresh" email club to receive regular promotions, discounts, and birthday specials.
- T.G.I. Friday's - Sign up for Give Me More Stripes Club and get a free appetizer or dessert just for joining. Plus get a freebie on your birthday.
NEW! Get a coupon for 25% off your entire food purchase! (Expires October 23, 2010)
You've spent $400 on groceries in a month? How about cutting that down to $350? Or $300? Eventually, maybe you can even cut that amount in half. Here are a few tips I've collected:
- Shop sales. Adopt the "if it ain't on sale, it ain't goin' in the basket" rule. Don't base your groceries on your meal plans... base your meal plans on the groceries you can get on sale.
- Use coupons. Find them in most Sunday papers... don't throw those inserts away! Would you throw a $10 bill? How about a $5 one? A single dollar? Coupons are either money in your wallet or money in a landfill... where is your money going?
- Here's the real zinger: Match Coupons with Sales. Or truly maximize your savings by matching coupons with sales at stores during time periods when they double or triple your coupons!
Is this the way you think? Ever hear of something called the Internet? Well, if you're reading this blog, you're clearly already using it... and the Internet can help you find all kinds of great deals out there. Some people actually match store sales and bargains for a hobby (my American Idols!) They share their knowledge, and I'll share some of mine too! Here's some sites to check for starters...
>> GROCERY DEAL LINKS
- Coupon Mom - This is a very comprehensive website with loads of resources. Find the FAQ link at the bottom of the page to help you get started.
- Hot Coupon World - This site includes forums and hooks you up with coupons and deals at particular stores.
- Southern Savers - Jenny, the author of this blog, matches up grocery deals with available coupons every week! She covers many southern grocery chains, such as Publix, Bi-Lo, Harris Teeter, Kroger, etc. She also posts deals on products at national chains like Target, Walgreens, and CVS.
More tips and deals will be continually posted, so please check back regularly.
