Saving Money with Smart Lifestyle Habits

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

Did you know that your lifestyle habits can save you money? It’s true! The things we do every day can make a difference in how much money we save over the long haul.

If you are looking for ways to stretch your dollar, here are a few lifestyle habits that can actually help you improve your financial situation, especially if you follow them for years:

Take Care of Your Things

One of the best things you can do is take care of your things. If you take good care of what you have, you won’t need to replace it later. From taking good care of your car, to being careful when you wash your clothes, the way you treat your possessions makes a big difference.

Keep your things in good shape, and do what you can to make them last longer. Keeping your home in good repair and keeping up with maintenance prevent you from needing major repairs later. Taking care of home appliances can help you avoid the cost of replacing them as they break down. The longer your things last, the better off you are — and the more money you save.

Improve Your Health

Among the biggest costs that many of us face is health care. One way to cut your health care costs is to adopt a healthier lifestyle. The way you eat, exercise, and sleep makes a difference in your overall health — and the costs associated with it. Chronic health problems like diabetes and heart disease can be costly in terms of medication and treatment. Practice healthier habits, and you can reduce these problems, as well as avoid more mundane illnesses that can cost money.

Plan Your Meals

One of the things I’ve noticed is that we spend less on food when we plan our meals. Whether we use food from our garden, or make a list for grocery shopping, a plan helps us save money. First of all, a plan can help you avoid impulse shopping while at the grocery store. When you know what you need, and stick to a list, you are more likely to stay within budget. Additionally, meal planning helps us avoid eating out. When we have a plan, we don’t get take out or pre-made meals as often. We save by cooking our meals more regularly.

Find Contentment

Look for ways to development contentment with what you have. When you aren’t happy with what you have, and you are always looking for more, it is easy to justify getting into debt for something that you “need” or that you think will make you happy. Unfortunately, you usually just end up wanting something else. Find contentment in what you have. Family and friends, and (inexpensive) activities that you enjoy can make a big difference. Instead of always spending money to buy the next thing, consider finding ways to be happy with what you have. You’ll spend less money over your lifetime, and there is a good possibility that you’ll be happier in the long run as well.

The Last Drop: How to Use It All

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

In our impatient and busy society, it’s easy to find yourself adopting wasteful practices in the name of convenience and lack of time. In the end these may still win, but it can’t hurt to at least consider some of these interesting and creative ways to save money and make the most of everything — right to the last drop, scrap, and piece of pocket fuzz.

In the kitchen. Scraps and leftovers are easy to waste because they can’t make an entire meal and are perishable. There are countless ways to get creative with leftover food, but here are some commonly wasted items you might not have considered useful.

Condiments. Do you have ketchup, peanut butter, dressing or mayo bottles that will no longer squirt or scrape easily but aren’t quite empty? Consider using these remnants to create your own salad dressing, marinades, and sauces. If the bottle is microwaveable, simply heat it up for a few seconds to make it easier to pour. A drop of apple cider vinegar added to bottles also works well to loosen up contents; use the bottles to mix your ingredients.
Pickle juice. You’ve eaten all the pickles, but still have juice. Consider using it to lightly pickle fresh cucumbers and other vegetables.
Wine. Less than a glass of wine? Add it to the skillet the next time you cook chicken, fish, and other dishes for a hint of great flavor.
Bread, chip, and cookie crumbs. These can be made into homemade stuffing, croutons, meat breading, or bread pudding. Cookie crumbs can accumulate toward making a pie crust if you store them in the fridge or freezer or be added to fruit and yogurt for breakfast, and to ice cream for dessert.

In the bathroom. One of the commonly wasted items in the bathroom is that little sliver of soap. One simple idea is to stick it onto the bottom of a new bar of soap in a continuous meld of the old and the new. If you want to get crafty, save soap scraps and make your own soap. There are numerous online videos that are easy to follow and utilize everyday items. And, if you travel frequently and end up with a lot of hotel soaps, you can use soap-making methods to combine them into larger bars.

In the office. Do you have too much scrap paper accumulating? Consider using it to scrapbook or make cards, gift tags, and other crafty items. Scrap paper is also great for children’s art projects, or stapling together your own notepads. If you have excess shredded paper, use it for pet bedding or donate it to an animal shelter.

In the craft room. Crafty people always end up with scraps of leftover fabric and yarn that usually end up getting wasted. As with scrap paper, these seemingly useless pieces can be utilized in children’s projects. You can also do searches online for ideas on how to utilize scrap pieces for a larger project.

The list could go on and on, through every room of your home. It really is fun to think of ways you can stretch your money a little further by getting creative with scraps and leftovers. So the next time you’re ready to throw a remnant of something away, try to think of a way you could make it last a little longer.

Reverse Mortgages: What You Should Know

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

Most of us have seen the ads on television about reverse mortgages. They suggest that they may be a good idea for senior homeowners, freeing up money to enable them to enjoy their later years without financial worries. Just what are reverse mortgages and whom can they benefit?

The Federal Trade Commission defines a reverse mortgage as, “a product available to individuals 62 years of age or older that allows you to convert part of the equity in your home into cash without having to sell your home or pay additional monthly bills.”

A reverse mortgage is like a traditional loan in that you borrow against the equity in your home and receive monies from your lender. The difference between the two is that, while you retain the title to your home and are allowed to remain living there, a reverse mortgage must be repaid when the last surviving borrower dies, sells the home, or no longer lives in the home. A reverse mortgage usually will not affect your Social Security or Medicare benefits and the advances you receive are not taxable.

While you do receive money from a reverse mortgage, the debt grows as interest accrues on the amount of the outstanding balance, quickly and significantly eating away at the equity you have in your home. In order to retain ownership of the home, the loan must usually be repaid in full, even if the balance is greater than the value of the home at that time.

Three types of reverse mortgages are available:

Single-purpose reverse mortgages are offered by some state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations. These loans must be used for only one purpose, which is specified by the lender. They’re the least expensive type of reverse mortgages and homeowners with low to moderate income can qualify.
Federally-insured reverse mortgages are known as Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) and are backed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). While more expensive than traditional home loans, HECMs are widely available, have no income requirements and can be used for any purpose. In general, these loans provide the borrower the highest advance at the lowest cost.
Proprietary reverse mortgages are private loans that are backed by the companies that develop them. These are also more expensive than traditional home loans and some also require meeting with a counselor.

How much money can you borrow from a reverse mortgage?

The amount you can borrow depends on such factors as:

your age
type of mortgage
appraised value of your home
current interest rates
amount of equity in your home

How can you receive payments?

There are four payment options:

Term – fixed monthly cash advances for a specified time
Tenure – fixed monthly cash advances for as long as you live in your home
Line of credit – draw against the loan proceeds
Combination – monthly payments and line of credit

Be Aware

Reverse mortgages are independent loans, arranged only through one of the three ways mentioned above. Don’t fall for unscrupulous salespeople who try one of these schemes:

wrapping the cost of home repairs into a payment package which includes a reverse mortgage (and its related fees) to pay for them
requiring you to buy other financial products (like long term care insurance)

Before committing to a reverse mortgage, thoroughly research the topic, compare lenders and explore other financing options. So long as it’s understood that there will be less home equity to leave to your heirs, a reverse mortgage can be a legitimate option for a financially easier retirement.

Is a reverse mortgage right for someone you know?

Making Money Online: Jobs that Didn’t Exist 10 Years Ago

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

Many of us want to make more money. Earning a little more money would be rather helpful in many cases. You can use that money to pay down debt, increase your food storage, save up for retirement, or boost your emergency fund. A little increased cash flow can go a long way in the hands of someone committed to living a frugal lifestyle.

Interestingly, there are a number of things you can do from home for additional income. Plus, thanks to the Internet, there are new ways of making money from home, as well as entirely new careers based on developing technology and interconnectedness.

If you are looking for a new job that you might be able to do from home, here are three jobs that didn’t exist 10 years ago:

1. Virtual Assistant

If you are reasonably organized, you can make money as a virtual assistant, performing tasks that business owners and executives don’t have time for. Virtual assistants handle a variety of tasks, from scheduling appointments to submitting blog posts to social media web sites.

It’s possible to be a virtual assistant and draft memos, answer emails, and even answer phones (if you have the right equipment and software) remotely. You don’t have to be on site to be a virtual assistant. You can make between $12 and $30 an hour — or more — depending on the tasks you handle and your level of expertise.

2. Social Media Consultant

There are small businesses cropping up all over the place, looking for people who can help them improve social media presence and performance. Social media is a big part of brand-building today, as well as drawing traffic to business web sites. If you are savvy with social media, you might be able to sell your consulting services.

A social media consultant helps businesses and brands craft consistent and engaging social media profiles. Additionally, a social media consultant can help you craft status updates and tweets, as well as coordinate contests meant to draw in customers and build a fan base. If you understand what makes social media tick, from YouTube to blogging to Twitter to Facebook, you can hire out as a consultant and help businesses and brands build successful social media campaigns.

3. Community Manager

The growth of the Internet has led to consumers being more aware — and more interested in interacting with brands. If you know how to interact with people, and you know how to keep the conversation moving in a positive direction, you could be a community manager. Community managers help start discussions, as well as help direct the message online, and invite customers to become members of a community.

A community manager might send out emails and social media messages. Additionally, it is often up to the community manager to policy blog comments, reviews, and message boards to take down trolls. While a community manager shouldn’t remove constructive criticism and useful negative feedback, he or she should be on the alert for obscene and insulting comments that don’t advance the conversation.

It’s all about creating a place where customers feel as though they are connecting to a brand or business, improving loyalty and encouraging return visits.

Can you think of any other jobs that didn’t exist 10 years ago?

Drought and Food Prices: How to Minimize the Effect

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

When I began researching this article about the effects of this year’s drought, I expected to discover a disheartening amount of information and statistics about decimated crops and corresponding soaring grocery prices. What I found instead was that, while indeed there is a drought in the midwest U.S., we need not expect grocery prices to rise, much, at least. Whew, that’s good news.

I did learn some interesting things about the drought that I’ll pass on. The fact is, the corn that was affected by the drought was not the sweet corn that we enjoy on the cob but rather feed corn grown for animals. As a result, rather than higher corn prices, we’re likely to encounter higher prices for meat due to the farmers’ higher costs for feed. In a lucky break for consumers, the Department of Agriculture reports that farmers who can’t afford to feed their livestock at these higher prices are sending them to auction early. That will result in an abundance of meat on the market which will in turn mean lower beef prices for consumers by November and December. Unfortunately, because farmers are selling off the meat now, their herds will be smaller and meat prices will as a result spike again by early next year.

The bottom line is, while it’s creating some degree of pressure on farmers, the drought isn’t causing as much concern as it would if it were affecting human-consumed crops directly. Corn prices have gone up slightly but will only marginally affect food prices overall, even taking into consideration corn byproducts and corn used in packaged foods. Grocery prices are expected to rise between 3% and 4% next year, which is only slightly higher than normal.

With all that explained, this seems an opportune time to briefly discuss things you can do to survive temporarily higher prices on groceries. Incorporate these behaviors into your buying habits:

Stock up when items are on sale – Purchase extra pasta, cereals and canned goods, for instance, when they’re on sale. Their shelf life is fairly long and it’s always convenient to have some extra staples in the pantry. Employ this philosophy with meats and frozen foods if you have enough freezer space available to store them long-term. It’s wise to keep a plentiful supply of foods on hand that you’ve purchased at low prices.
Keep apprised of the food market news – When you hear in the news that coffee prices, for example, will be rising, that’s your cue to take advantage sales and redeem coupons before prices skyrocket. Coffee a good example of a food item that will store for a long time on your shelf to get you through a spike in prices.
Voluntarily cut back on your purchase and consumption of the high-price items – I rarely purchase anything unless the price is right. I wait for the lowest prices to enjoy even my favorite foods. When seafood prices are high, I plan meals with different proteins or mix it with more affordable foods until prices come down again. When meat prices are high in general, I plan occasional meatless meals,
Find more affordable substitutes – When it’s not springtime and asparagus is expensive, I choose other, more affordable green vegetables, like broccoli. We’re fortunate to have such abundance, keep an open mind in the store to find other, more affordable foods when your preferred groceries are too pricey.

Price fluctuations are a fact of nature, sending ripples through our economy. You don’t have to be a victim of higher prices – take charge and purchase wisely!

How do you survive temporarily higher prices?

Where to Find Back to School Savings

by Jessica Sommerfield · 1 comment

Back to school shopping can get expensive between school supplies and other essentials as well as more discretionary shopping such as new clothes. Since this is a predictable yearly event for families with school-aged children, it’s a good idea to start a year-round fund and set aside ‘extra’ money so you don’t feel the budget crunch at the end of the summer when vacation and travel expenses have drained your savings. Your method can be as simple as a piggy bank or jar labeled ‘Back to School’, or you can make it official and start up a high-interest bearing savings or money-market account.

In addition to budgeting money for school shopping, consider shopping for supplies a year ahead of time so you can take advantage of the after-event clearance sales and markdowns. Universal items such as pens, pencils, notebooks, and folders are the best items to shop for a year ahead since they don’t change drastically, unlike your kids’ clothing sizes and style preferences.

You can still save a ton of money by shopping the back to school sales and specials designed to lure in customers during August and September. But, before you head out, here are some additional websites and smartphone apps that will help you maximize your savings whether you choose to shop online or hit the mall.

Get the best deal by comparing store ads online. Sites like Spoofee.com or SundaySaver.com allow you to view and print weekly circular ads from all your favorite stores. This can be especially helpful if you don’t receive a paper copy in the mail. Many stores also honor other stores’ sales ads to keep in competition, so it’s a good idea to take your ads with you as you shop.
Take advantage of emails with savings codes and coupons. Nearly every chain store will now ask if you want to receive promotional emails. Although these can clutter your inbox, choosing carefully which stores you subscribe to and checking them before you hit the stores can mean huge savings.
Plan your shopping days. Some states feature no-tax shopping days in the month of August, so find out if your state participates by checking taxadmin.org/fta/rate for state sales tax holidays in the current calendar year. At 6% or higher, taxes can add a lot to your bill, so it’s worth trying to coordinate your shopping trip with these tax holidays. Look for other large back to school shopping events featuring sales in your favorite stores, and you can save even more.
Smartphone discounts for “checking in.” Many store chains participate in smartphone apps such as ShopKick, Foursquare, and Yelp. ShopKick allows you to earn ‘kicks’ for simply checking into participating retail locations and scanning products or making purchases. These points can be applied toward prizes such as gift card purchases, music downloads, and more. You can save even more if you link your credit or debit card to your account so your purchases can count toward more points, coupons, and offers.

There are so many ways to save on back to school shopping. Find what works for your lifestyle and preferences, and utilize all of these great resources to make your school shopping less stressful and more fun.

Flood Insurance – Is it Worth the Expense for You?

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

One of the most potentially devastating disasters that can happen to your home and belongings is a flood. Even worse, most insurance policies DON’T automatically cover flood damage. This fact comes as a surprise to many people. Thankfully, flood insurance can be purchased separately, to prevent you from being left, “high and not-so dry.”

Not all areas of the U.S. run the same risk of flooding, which is probably a major reason that it’s not included under most homeowners’ policies. In certain areas of the country with a high risk of flooding, however, flood insurance is mandatory. According to FloodSmart.gov, the official website of the National Flood Insurance Program, administered under FEMA:

“Homes and buildings in high-risk flood areas with mortgages from federally regulated or insured lenders are required to have flood insurance. These areas have a 1% or greater chance of flooding in any given year, which is equivalent to a 26% chance of flooding during a 30-year mortgage.”

Flood Smart goes on to explain, “In moderate-to-low risk areas, the risk of being flooded is reduced but not completely removed. These areas submit over 20% of NFIP claims and receive one-third of disaster assistance for flooding. Flood insurance isn’t federally required in moderate-to-low areas, but it is recommended for all property owners and renters.”

While it may not be required for you, flood insurance may be purchased if you so desire. You’re eligible to purchase flood insurance as long as your community participates in the National Flood Insurance Program. Flood Smart provides a tool into which you which you enter your address to have your home’s particular flood risk assessed. Following your assessment you’ll find a listing of local insurance agents from whom you can gather quotes, comparing rates and coverage before purchasing flood insurance.

Flood insurance is available to you whether you own or rent a home or condominium. Costs vary depending on how much insurance is purchased, what it covers and the property’s flood risk.

Consider these coverage limits:

one to four family structure – $250,000
one to four family home contents – $100,000
other residential structures $250,000
renter contents $100,000

Be aware that it takes 30 days after purchase for a policy to take effect, so it’s important to buy insurance before the floodwaters start to rise.

If you’re wondering if flood insurance is something you should consider, here are some facts culled from Flood Smart to help you determine whether it’s a wise investment to protect your home and personal property:

A flood is defined as “a general and temporary condition where two or more acres of normally dry land or two or more properties are inundated by water or mudflow.”
Hurricanes, winter storms and snow melt are common (but often overlooked) causes of flooding.
New land development can increase flood risk, especially if the construction changes natural runoff paths.
Just a few inches of water from a flood can cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage. Over the past 5 years, the average paid flood insurance claim was nearly $34,000.
Over 5.5 million people currently hold flood insurance policies in more than 21,000 communities across the U.S.
Federal disaster assistance is usually a loan that must be paid back with interest. For a $50,000 loan at 4% interest, your monthly payment would be around $240 a month ($2,880 a year) for 30 years. Compare that to a $100,000 flood insurance premium, which is about $400 a year ($33 a month).

It’s a fact that unwanted water can and does wreak havoc with homes and possessions. This information will help you decide whether flood insurance is a wise expense for your circumstances.

Have you purchased voluntary flood insurance? Have you had occasion to file a claim?

Save Money on Back to School With Sales Tax Holidays

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

Now that summer is mostly over, it’s time to start thinking about shopping for back to school. One of the ways to save money is to shop for school supplies when there is a sales tax holiday.

Many states offer sales tax holidays on school supplies. Depending on the sales tax rate in the state, and how much you spend on school supplies, you could see big savings.

Check to see whether your state offers a sales tax holiday. If your state doesn’t offer a sales tax holiday, check with the surrounding states to find out whether or not there are other sales tax holidays. Even if you can’t buy something in your home state, you might be able to cross state lines and save money that way.

Here are two things to keep in mind as you shop for school supplies during a sales tax holiday:

Only certain supplies might be included. You may be able to receive a break on clothing, but not on accessories. Look at which items, from computers to books, are included in the sales tax holiday.
There might be limits on how much of the cost of an item is exempt. Many sales tax holidays come with a per-item exemption. On clothing and other “regular” school supplies, the limit is often $100 per item. So, for maximum impact, you want to make sure that each item you get is less than $100. More expensive items, like computers, might have a higher limit. You pay sales tax on any amount above the limit. So if the per-item limit is $100, and the item costs $120, you will pay sales tax on $20 of that item.

You might find other restrictions. The Federation of Tax Administrators has a list of sales tax holidays around the country, as well as their dates and links to each state’s terms.

Tips for Better Back to School Shopping During Sales Tax Holidays

You can improve your success, and save more money overall, by following a few tips when it comes to shopping during sales tax holidays. Here are some strategies to employ:

Make a list: First, make a list of the supplies that you need. Go through your home, and note items that can be used again. Many times, you already have some of the supplies that you need.
Pay attention to other sales: In many cases, stores offer back to school sales during the sales tax holiday. That way, you can get more bang for your buck. Identify stores that are holding sales, and maybe offer coupons.
Plan your route: Figure out a route that makes sense for you, and plan out your shopping trip in a way that will maximize your savings — and not cost you too much in gas.
Stick to your plan: Make sure you stick to your plan. Avoid impulse spending, and stay with what you had on your list. One of the ways that people waste money is through impulse spending. Buy only what you need, and try to make sure that you are exempt on as many things as possible.

Save Money on Your Move to Have More After You Move

by Jessica Sommerfield · 0 comments

Moving from one home to another, whether across town or across the state, is a tedious and often expensive endeavor that simply can’t be avoided. The most common reasons for moving are:

A new job
Purchasing a house
To be closer to family
To save money
To have better accommodations

As you can see, the reasons for moving to move to a new home and/or location are often tied in very closely with your finances. If your move is for the purpose of saving money, whether by living in an area with a lower cost of living, down-sizing to a less expensive home, or investing in a home of your own as opposed to renting, keep in mind that the process of your move may itself be extremely expensive. Whatever your reason for moving, consider how it will impact your finances.

You might be thinking that even with moving expenses the change will ultimately save you money, so why worry about a one-time-thing? The simple answer is that every little bit you save will be able to help you get further ahead faster in your new home.

Now that you are aware of the importance of saving money on your move, here are some tips to help you do so.

If possible, avoid moving during the summer months. If you have any choice at all, choose to move during the non-peak season (summer). Summer is the most convenient and accommodating time to move, so naturally most people choose it. Avoiding the peak season will save you considerably on moving company rates and allow you more choices.
If you use a moving company, shop around and negotiate. Calling around to at least three moving companies will give you a better idea of what you can expect to pay, and will also give you leverage for negotiating with the business you prefer if they aren’t the cheapest. Ask in detail about what exactly is included in the service, and if there are any extra fees for special circumstances to avoid being surprised at the last second.
Travel light. Shipping and moving expense are greater the more stuff you have and the heavier it is, so if you have time, get rid of unneeded items in a rummage sale (extra cash), or make a tax-deductible refund to a good will organization.
Use up your perishable food. It can be tempting to rely on the convenience of take-out when you’re busy packing for your move, but you can save money and avoid waste by taking stock of what’s in your fridge and trying to use up fresh and frozen foods that can be hard or impossible to transport.
Move yourself. If it’s at all feasible, consider moving yourself. Compare the moving company rates with what it would cost you to rent and buy fuel for a moving van, or rely on the kindness and resources of friends and family to help. Chances are, you will save a lot by doing it yourself.
Let the IRS know. It might seem unimportant at the moment, but if you don’t file a change of address with the IRS and it’s around tax time, you could miss your tax refund check in the mail. If you’re moving because you got a new job or your job required you to move, you may also be able to deduct your moving expenses when you file.

By planning ahead and shopping around, it’s possible to save a lot while you move so you can save even more after your move. Don’t be afraid to get creative and find even more ways to make your transition as smooth and inexpensive as possible.

Become a Better and Less Wasteful Grocery Shopper

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

The average American family of four throws away $1600 per year in food that’s been purchased and been allowed to spoil. I don’t know about you but $133 per month represents a healthy chunk of my monthly grocery budget which I’d certainly rather eat than throw away with nothing to show for it.

In the interest of striving to become better grocery shoppers, who not only purchase wisely but in turn use those groceries with the least amount of waste, let’s discuss how to maximize our grocery dollars, getting the most from what we spend as possible.

Being a good grocery shopper doesn’t begin – or end – at the store

Keep tabs on grocery consumption and waste – I keep a list for my own reference of foods that have gone to waste in my kitchen. Why did this happen? Did I buy too much? Do I use less than I think I do? Did I plan meals poorly? Did it have a short expiration date that I failed to notice? Did I forget I bought it? Did I forget to eat it? My awareness that I, for example, routinely throw away a couple cups of milk after the expiration date teaches me a couple things: I should either buy less milk or use more milk. As the expiration date approaches, if I find I have a still have lot of milk, I could plan on making pudding, cheese sauce or a creamed gravy to help use it up before I need to throw it away.

Store items thoughtfully – As soon as I return from the grocery store, I put away items with care while they’re fresh – and fresh in my mind. Throwing items haphazardly into the refrigerator is a sure way to lose track of them.

Out with the old, in with the new – I use the existing produce in my refrigerator when I purchase new. I take the opportunity to use a few carrots, onions, potatoes and stalks of celery as the basis of a vegetable soup or stew. Those vegetables are still perfectly suitable for use and I know that the produce that is currently in my fridge is always the freshest.

Plan meals immediately after shopping – I call this step “après shopping.” Upon returning from the grocery store, I sit down with my computer and my receipt. From my receipt, I list the perishable items in a spreadsheet – one column each for produce, meats and breads I’ve purchased. Referring to the spreadsheet,I plan upcoming meals using the items. If I don’t plan to use something within a week (or before its expiration date) I freeze it for longer-term storage. Once an item is chosen for use in a meal or frozen for later, it’s removed from the list. Once the list is empty, I know that everything I purchased will get used.

Plan to use leftovers, too – When we don’t eat all the food prepared for one meal, I make a plan then and there for the leftovers. Whether it’s enough for another dinner for two or a single serving, I put it on the meal calendar as a “dinner redux” or a lunch for one of us. That way, we enjoy the food again, rather than finding a smelly, moldy surprise in the back of the refrigerator in the future.

The better a grocery shopper you are, the more you’ll get for your money, the more meals you’ll actually prepare and enjoy from the groceries you purchase and the less food you’ll waste. Most waste can be prevented with some thoughtful planning.

How do you prevent wasted groceries?

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