OT IDEAS TO CUT GROCERY BILLS

[Guest guest]

Some fun and

> some very good ideas here! Thanks Shan ;-)

> I recvd this from another group and thought I would share.

>

> Hugs Shan

>

> Readers share ideas for trimming grocery bills

> By Judith Blake

> Times staff reporter

>

> From drying over-ripe bananas to buying milk at gas stations, They do

> freeze well for use in cooking or smoothies.

> Times readers have shared a shopping-bag full of tips on saving money n

> groceries.

>

> In the April 28 food section, The Times published an article on budget

> grocery shopping, featuring tips from experts who analyzed the food-shopping

> habits of three Seattle-area families and offered a variety of cost-cutting

> strategies.

>

> We asked readers to send in their money-saving measures. Among the many

> budget-friendly ideas we received was this one from Margi Pratt from the

> Eatonville area: Buy less-expensive, over-ripe bananas in quantity (you can

> bargain for a low price, she said), slice and use a food drier to turn them

into

> tasty snacks.

>

> Others said they freeze over-ripe fruit to use in smoothies.

>

> Colleen Steelquist of Lynnwood said a vacuum sealer aids in freezing meat,

> fish and other foods, cutting waste and cost. The small appliance removes ar

> from and seals special freezer bags, helping preserve the quality of any

> food that she buys at sale prices and then freezes in meal-size portions.

>

> Several readers suggested buying milk at gas-station convenience stores,

> where it's often notably cheaper than at supermarkets. Basel of North

> Seattle keeps track of food prices on her handheld computer, helping her

> recognize bargains when they occur. She says you could also use a notebook or

> keep receipts.

>

> McGrady, also of North Seattle, noted that grocery stores in her

> area seem to have sales most often on Mondays or Tuesdays. She suggests other

> shoppers watch for regular sale days in their local stores, then shop on

> those days.

>

> Here are some of our readers' other cost-cutting tips:

>

> * Consider canning fruits or vegetables, especially if you're willing to

> pick your own produce at U-pick farms or if you have a garden. (Editor's

note:

> Make sure you know and follow USDA safe-canning procedures to prevent

> spoilage.)

>

> * Et meatless more often.

>

> * Buy day-old bread and other bakery items.

>

> * Instead of buying bread mixes for your bread machine, use

> " from-scratch " ingredients.

>

> * Look for bargains on candy following sweets-infused holidays such as

> Valentine's Day and Easter. Holiday flower arrangements often go on sale

then,

> too.

> This one caught my eye. After all holidays, I stock up on the 75% off

> candies. Then on New Years eve, we all gther together with the kids and

> grandkids, and make " gingerbread " houses with all the funny candies for

decorations.

> Then comes the big judging event, everybody winds first place! It is such a

> fun mamory for the kids and when the dads start helping (haha) their kids, we

> get some real master pieces. The kids always get to eat (yuck) the next

> day, so they have been known to " furnish " these houses with their favorites!

> LOL very fun. Hugs, Marilyn

>

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