Frugal (part 5)

Continuing with the idea of spending money, I'd like to share some ideas on buying groceries and meal planning. They are things I learned from my mother, who probably learned them from her mother...

First, you need to set aside an area of your home for food storage. I'm not talking emergency preparedness food storage, I'm talking about (ideally) a grocery store in your home. Your "store" could be a dedicated room, a closet, a pantry, under your bed, etc. In our home we use the laundry room. I have built-in shelves, as well as some of the stand alone, gray metal ones and a small freezer.

You are going to store all the non-perishables, canned goods, etc. that your family uses. Don't let the emergency preparedness mentality limit you. You can store all kinds of things. You can store potato chips, you can store soda, popcorn, soap, toilet paper, hairspray. Remember, you are doing just what the grocery store does, only you're storing it on your shelves, not theirs. They don't buy new jars of salsa every day. They buy a ton of it and that salsa sits there until it is purchased or expires. It's not new salsa you see each time you are at the store. It's salsa they've had on the shelf or in the back for week after week. You're just going to stop paying them to store it for you.

Now, you need to start stocking your store. Stock what your family really uses. The things you eat and use everyday. (If you don't make bread, don't store wheat - this isn't "emergency" storage, remember?) It doesn't have to be a big expense. Just buy two of what you were going to buy, instead of one. Or buy three, four or a whole case, whatever you can afford. The extra you buy goes into your "store". Buying shampoo? Buy two. One goes into the shower, the other goes into the store. Buying tomato soup? Buy two. One gets used for dinner that night, the other goes into the "store". Got it? Now, start buying several extra when the item goes on sale, even if you don't plan on using it that week.

How this really works - in the end you buy only what is on sale (plus a few perishables, like milk and eggs) when you go shopping. You stock up on what's on sale. The next week you stock up on what's on sale that week. And so on. You buy lots of laundry detergent when it is on sale for a fabulous price, put it in your storage and when you need more you go to your "store". You beat the grocery stores at their own game. They offer great sale prices in order to get you into the store. They are counting on you buying everything else you need while you're there. Hah! You don't have to. You bought it and stocked up six weeks ago when it was on sale!

The great thing is how this works with meal planning. Because you've stored the things your family actually uses, you have it on hand when you need it. Making tacos? No problem. Most of what you need is in your store. You bought hamburger, divided it into meal-sized portions and have it in the freezer. Spices or spice packet? Check. Taco shells? Yup, in your store. Canned tomatoes? Cheese? (You can grate whole blocks and keep it in the freezer, just remember to grate first, cheese blocks come out crumbly if frozen.) Rice? Check. Onions? Check. All you need is lettuce, sour cream, fresh tomatoes... so... you make tacos when the perishable items go on sale. You plan your meals around the perishable items on sale each week. Your meals can be made with entirely sale priced items!

So... number five: don't pay the grocery store to be your food storage.