Seven Ways to Slash Your Household Budget
With prices increasing for gasoline, groceries, and other essentials, we are all looking for ways to stretch our dollars. Amy Sewell from Shop with Style shows how just a few simple changes and some careful planning can save big bucks.
- Switch from bottled water to filtered water. A family of four that drinks bottled water at home on a regular basis may spend more than $2,400 on bottled water each year. Save up to $600 per person annually by purifying your own water at home with a simple faucet mount or water filtration pitcher from PUR.
- Shop for and store produce carefully, According to USDA, Americans throw away $250 per person worth of spoiled produce each year. Keep produce fresher longer with "Green Bags" from Bed Bath & Beyond that keep fruits, vegetables, and flowers fresher longer.
- Put on your walking shoes. Save money on gas and improve fitness by leaving the car in the garage and walking more often.
- Get organized! How often do you buy an expensive recipe ingredient or a pair of shoes, only to discover later that you had exactly the same item in the back of the kitchen cabinet or stuffed in the top of the closet? Getting organized, and knowing what you have, can help you avoid making unnecessary purchases of duplicate items.
- Go online to track weekly sales. Check sites for your favorite grocery stores and drugstores, and stock up when staples are on sale.
- "Shop" full price. Before buying anything on sale, ask yourself if you would still want it at full price. If not, don't spend the money, even if it is a great deal.
- Start planning your holiday spending. Begin your shopping list now, and start to put money aside for holiday gifts, travel and entertaining.
Entertain with Style
Summer get-togethers are generally more relaxed and casual than other seasonal gatherings. Amy Sewell from Shop with Style offers a few ideas to help you entertain with style during the hot summer months.
- Fix it and forget it. Select foods you can prepare in advance and serve on a buffet, so you can enjoy the party with your guests.
- Keep a supply of festive, seasonal dinner and beverage napkins on hand. To be eco-friendly, stock up on inexpensive dinner and snack plates, wine glasses, and serving pieces so you can entertain a crowd at a moment's notice.
- Set up an iced coffee bar so your guests can customize their own chilled, refreshing beverages. Cold-brew a supply of Seattle's Best Blend, which is roasted specially for cold-brewing, and serve with a selection of syrups and sweeteners. Guests will appreciate the uncommonly smooth quality of cold-brewed coffee, which is the perfect base for cold beverages because of its lower acidity.
- Use an array of fresh fruit as part of the table decor. It adds a festive touch to the party setting, and offers healthy dining options for your guests.
- An ice cream sundae station provides the perfect way to top off a meal! Set out several flavors of ice cream, along with an assortment of syrups, nuts, fresh fruits, and other toppings.
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