savings

Financially Struggling Baby Boomers Common

Written by adminAugust 14, 2018

When we talk about debt in the United States, and how total household debt is at its highest level of all time ($13.2 trillion), it’s easy to think, “Those darn kids and their fancy houses and useless degrees!” In reality, a lot of older folks are financially struggling as well.

We’ve constantly written about millennials and their apparent lack of financial understandings that has lead us to this point, but it’s certainly not just the younger generations. Even the oldest generation has a part to play in our current economic epidemic.

Baby boomers 55 years or older have an average of $73,211 worth of debt per household, according to a report from U.S. News.

In reality, this debt isn’t from a lack of financial literacy, but the fact that they were ill-prepared for how the rest of their life turned out. Baby boomers are living longer and are much healthier than their parents and grandparents, thanks to advances in medicine and technology.

As we’ve previously reported, women are particularly at risk, because they are living longer than their husbands and haven’t been the ones to get active about investment or saving money. That role has always belonged to the men, but it’s something that needs to change.

Americans Aren’t Saving Money

According to Bankrate, 2/3 of Americans have no money saved. They wouldn’t be able to scrape together $1,000 if they had an emergency. It’s tough out there for average Americans, who can be bankrupted by a single event, like a car accident that forces them to miss time from work.

For the older generation, the risks are much higher. They’re much more vulnerable during events, like natural disasters, a death (usually their spouse), or a crippling illness. And when these issues crop up, in a much more frequent fashion, they don’t have the time out-earn these problems.

Also: http://financialhelpers.com/you-wont-believe-how-much-debt-has-changed-since-the-great-recession/

This is a major issue that can be passed down to their children when they die. There have been numerous cases where a debtor will come knocking to collect debt owed after a parent passes, especially if they left their house and there’s money still owed.

For seniors in this situation, the solution is the same for every American. Because they are extremely vulnerable financially, they must be prepared for everything that might happen. They need to better budget their income by figuring out how much debt is owed.

Getting Help

Making a single phone call to Financial Helpers can help. We are experts at helping people just like you climb out of their debt and find financial freedom. You can call us at the number below:

Call Now 844-332-2079

Without help to consolidate or refinance your loan, you’re going to have to figure out a way to do it on your own. 1/3 of all Americans don’t even have a budget plan, and it’s hurting them later on. When an emergency happens, they’re worse off financially than they were before. This sinks many good families into bankruptcy.

Seniors have a few other areas of help they may not realize. They are the generation that is least likely to be computer literate. Various apps and programs are designed to make it easier to financially budget

One of those apps is called Tiller, which doesn’t require extreme computer skills to learn. It’s simple to use and can help you get on track with creating and maintaining a budget. There are apps like GoodRx that can save you 90%.

No matter the stage of life you’re in, it’s always a good time to learn financially good habits. You’re not exempt from needing to save, even if you’ve been around awhile and never had any problems before. Times have changed, and so has the way we need to save.

Written by adminJuly 30, 2018

Life Style

When you grow up during a time of turmoil, it can distort your thinking to the point of learning not to trust a certain institution…or you might get bit!

Can we really blame millennials for not trusting the stock market after the big collapse? During the past decade, millennials either struggled through it themselves or watched their parents fight to keep their homes and jobs during the worse economic disaster since the Great Depression.

The thing is, millennials say they’re confident in investing in the various vehicles, like stocks and bonds. 66% of them say they know what to do, but they seem keener on stuffing that money in a jar in the backyard rather than investing it. In fact, 2/3rds of young adults have decided it’s best to keep their money out of the market and in their own hands.

According to Ryan Bailey, the head of Bank of the West, they’re putting their money at risk by doing this.

“Millennials have been stuffing their savings under the mattress instead of putting their income to work through strategic investments. While this may seem safe, they are putting their goals at risk by keeping cash on hand. While they are young, millennials have time on their side and could be missing an opportunity to grow their savings over a lifetime.”

That might be exactly the thing on their minds. They’re still young and have plenty of time to plan for retirement. We’ve written previously about millennials not so focused on retirement just yet. They’re more invested on digging out of extreme student debt or saving to buy a house.

According to a survey, 65% of millennials say the Great Recession has given them pause to invest in the stock market. This is despite an extremely bullish few years that saw stocks rise to their highest levels in its history. It seemed as if a new record was set every other day, making those who dared to invest quite wealthy.

Still, millennials aren’t too concerned with their future. And it’s just not their age group. 21% of all Americans have no retirement plan or savings at all. Either they can’t afford to save or they aren’t too concerned. That seems to be a major habit of a lot of Americans as the economy gets better…live for today and they’ll worry about tomorrow when it comes.

Due to this fear, the Trump administration wants to make it easier for all Americans to prepare for retirement, either by saving or helping to incentivize employers to provide plans to their employees, with the second round of tax cuts.

Written by adminMay 25, 2018

Saving

The secret to saving money is knowing how to spend it wisely. If you want to have a few extra bucks saved in your account for rainy days, for that family vacation you deserve, or for anything else you might need, then you have to be practical about how you spend.

Here are 5 easy ways to save money throughout the year.

1) Pay your bills early and on time.

I get it. You hate to pay bills. It’s a part of being an adult we all loathe. But, if we want things, then we need to pay for them. If you want cable and high-speed internet, it’s going to cost you a good chunk of change. The phone bill for you and the family will require a blood sacrifice and your first born.

We’re not saying you should get rid of that stuff, but if you’re going to have it, then make sure the bill is paid on time every month. Most of these accounts require commitments and if you miss a payment, you’ll be racked with late charges, penalties, and your credit score can take a hit. The last thing you need to do is shell out even more money for services.

2) Have an emergency fund.

You might think this is a waste of time and money. A lot of people don’t bother to save, either because they don’t think they can afford it, or they don’t anticipate something happening. In realty, that’s not a smart choice to make. Things WILL go wrong at some point in your life.

A recent survey said that a majority of Americans don’t even have access to $400 if something were to happen. If you got into an accident tomorrow, and you couldn’t work for a while, how tough of a situation would you be? If you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck and have nothing saved in the bank, you’d really be hurting.

The best advice is to have about 6-9 months saved up in the bank, which is the average time it takes to find a new job or get back on your feet after an accident.

3) Learn how to say no to impulse desires.

One of the biggest financial blunders Americans make is taking on more debt when they can’t even afford the debt they have. They see something they want, really can’t afford it, but mindlessly swipe the credit card and magically believe it will take care of itself later.

Monthly payments will eventually catch up to you, you’ll get late, have fees and penalties added on, it will wreck your credit score, and before you know it, you’re drowning. It happens to millions of Americans every year.

As I stated in the previous point, things happen all the time. It’s better to not have that shiny new toy and put the money in the bank for a rainy day, then to barely eek out every month. Do yourself a favor and just say no.

4) Refinance your student loans and get help paying them off.

We’ve covered this topic a lot on this blog. Student loans are a burden on so many people. They are preventing former students from getting a house and even from being able to work their dream job…the whole reason why they went to college in the first place. A lot of states will revoke your license to work if you have unpaid student loans.

If this is you, there is help out there! Government programs, refinancing loans into one payment so you’re working with a smaller interest rate, and so much more is available to you. To learn more, feel free to give us a call!

5) Don’t borrow from your retirement.

One misstep plenty of people take is borrowing from their retirement whenever they need a few bucks, but that approach is like robbing your future self of the retirement you deserve. Not only is it a risky move, you can be charged extra for pulling money out early. The big question remains: what will you do in retirement if you can’t replenish the fund?

Getting involved in this vicious cycle of poor money habits won’t offer you an ounce of financial freedom. It might make you feel good for a few days being able to buy what you want, but after some time, that joy becomes stale as you (and millions of others) regret the decision. Be smart, learn to say no, and save as much as you can. You’ll be happier for it.

Written by adminMay 23, 2018

Saving

Right now, you might be thinking it’s a precarious time to buy a vehicle, but it’s time for an upgrade. What should you do?

With auto loan rates rising, it can scare a lot of people from shopping as they sit back and wait for things to settle a bit.

That doesn’t mean you still can’t get a great deal on a car or truck that both fits your needs and is at a price you can afford. To do that though, you should do your shopping in the used car lot.

“If you really had to have a certain make and model, look at a used car. It can help with affordability, and you get a lot of the same benefits,” says Joe Pendergast, VP of lending at Navy Federal Credit Union.

It’s all about supply and demand. Over the past few years, people choosing to lease vehicles has reached an all-time high. That means when the leases are up, there’s always a flood of ‘gently used’ cars that make their way to the dealership. That bodes well for anyone hoping to get a good deal.

Vehicle prices have already seen a drop. According to the U.S. Labor Department, the cost has already started to drop, falling nearly 2% in April. Analysts expect that number will only go down as we enter the summer months.

Of course, most people want something brand new, as it offers the best of everything, from top-notch warranties to the latest technology to hit the market. Used vehicles aren’t that far off from buying brand new, but at a steep discount.

Most used vehicles are only a few years older, low mileage, and with the same great technology you’ll find in a new model. In short: you’re pretty much buying the same vehicle at a huge discount.

Trucks and SUVs often top the list as the most popular vehicles in the country to buy right now. Experts don’t believe that higher gas prices this summer will dent SUV sales too much. Navy Federal Credit Union says that the F-150 is the most popular vehicle their members get.

These types of vehicles are often higher in price, making it not uncommon to see buyers taking out 6-year loans. It’s always suggested that buyers stay on top of what they can afford and know their credit score before investing.

“Whether you’re buying new or used, don’t take the first deal you see. Be able to know that you can afford your car payment, as well as gas and maintenance,” said Pendergrast.

Written by adminMay 23, 2018

Saving

Early last week, the United Way released a staggering report about the condition of the average American family. In it, it was revealed that 51 million households in the United States, about 43%, still can’t afford to take care of their basic needs.

These basic needs include food, health insurance, rent, transportation, and a cell phone.

The same study declares that 16.1 million households in the U.S. are living below the poverty line and 34.7 million who are considered limited income families, making less than what is required to pay the bills.

Several states have it worse than others. California, Hawaii, and New Mexico, for example, have half of their populations struggling to make ends meet. It’s difficult to imagine.

66% of workers make less than $20/hour, which means the large majority of people have very little, if anything, in their savings. If something bad were to happen, most Americans don’t even have access to $400 if they needed it.

If we break it down to the country level, then we start to see the discrepancy. Many counties in the U.S. are simply too expensive to live in. Not too long ago, a map of the country came out showing how much you had to make in each state just to cover the basics. A lot of the states were between $50,000-$80,000!

To make it in Seattle’s King County, you’d have to make over $40/hour to live there. If you weren’t bringing home $85,000 per year, you were living in poverty.

The homeless problem is so bad in Seattle, the city council just implemented a controversial tax on companies like Amazon to help get the homeless off the streets. Life is so expensive in San Francisco that the homeless line the streets for miles. There are literally apps that show you were to avoid human feces on the sidewalk due to the homeless situation in their city.

The economy is getting better and jobless numbers are going down, but it’s not enough. It doesn’t matter much if someone has a job if they aren’t making the money they need to even feed themselves.

There’s a reason why debt has reached all-time highs. People are borrowing more than ever just to catch up, but can’t afford to pay it back.

Written by adminMay 23, 2018

Saving

After the brutally cold and snow winter, the days are finally getting longer and the warm weather is making its gradual return. As Memorial Day creeps up on us, so does the first day of summer.

Prom season is upon us and graduation is around the corner. This time of year is a busy, but exciting time all around. Families mostly look forward to summer for the numerous recreation opportunities that abound.

The problem is, a lot of families still won’t be able to afford a vacation. According to a new survey, 1-in-4 Americans can’t afford to go on a vacation, even if they have paid vacation days. The situation is so frustrating, that only 36% of people said they don’t even plan on using all their days this year. 13% said they won’t use any days at all.

It’s not all about being unable to afford a trip, either. In a lot of cases, the economy is booming and businesses are experiencing a labor shortage. If there’s not enough help, then workers may decide to take advantage of the need and work through their vacation time to earn more money. Some strongly feel falling behind at work will cost them in the end.

But not taking a vacation is as good as leaving money on the table. While a lot of Americans seem reluctant to take vacations, they’re very important for a variety of reasons. If you get paid to take days off, then you should do it!

Vacations, even long weekends, are great for your health, will prevent burnout, and can increase your productivity. The problem is, these benefits only work if you actually take a break from your work.

61% of people claimed to do work while they were on vacation and reported all sorts of ill effects, such as higher levels of exhaustion and burnout, compared to people who took a real break they considered “highly recuperative”, even to the point of feeling more satisfied with their lives.

Whiling taking a vacation is highly suggested, if you’re the 1-in-4 who simply can’t afford a vacation, here are a few ways you can save throughout the year to ensure you get some necessary time off:

1) Don’t Choose Heavily Populated Areas

Sometimes, the best places to get away to are off the beaten path. Going on a long weekend camping trip up the road might be best. It gets you out of the office and communing with nature while allowing for family time.

You might consider theme parks or areas where a lot of other people go, but those types of places tend to be expensive to visit. Choosing the right location can save your bundle and have the same desired effect.

2) Plan Your Vacation Well Ahead of Time

Don’t be that person who waits until it’s almost summer to start planning that vacation. If you can plan well ahead of time, it gives you a better chance to save more money knowing what to expect. Also, you can book tickets cheaper the further out you go.

3) Use Cash

It might be tempting to put everyone on credit, but that will make the vacation much more expensive than you might realize. Not only will you have to pay the interest, a lot of credit cards have extra fees for using your card away from home. This is especially true if you leave the country. Cash is best so you can budget exactly what you need and not break the bank.

4) It’s Great for Your Health

Again, a lot of people fear taking vacations for a variety of reasons, but usually at a cost of lost production and increased burnout. Scientists discuss the benefits of getting that much needed break and they include better heart health, higher production when you return, better quality of life, and an overall reduction of stress.

Taking a vacation is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Most people who end up skipping it, even if they don’t think they can afford it, often regret it. Even if you can’t afford to leave on a trip, do yourself a favor and find time to relax. You won’t be sorry.

Written by adminMay 15, 2018

Saving

It’s spring! When spring hits, it tends to bring about a renewed interest in pet ownership. New kittens and puppies are being born, and who doesn’t like baby animals? Raising a pet can be a great experience, but not everything about it is snuggles and warm fuzzies.

There’s a lot of responsibility and money that goes into owning a pet, which a lot of people don’t realize when they adopt their new furry friend. That’s why thousands of critters get taken back to shelters each year, often at the cost of their lives. Most of these pets rarely make it out the shelter alive.

Not to mention, bringing home a pet only to take it back home because it was tougher than you thought isn’t fair to the animal. That’s why it’s super important to do your research before deciding on pet ownership and not just reacting on impulse.

Yes, that puppy is cute, but if you’re struggle to keep your own head above the water, then you’re not going to be ready for the financial burden that having a pet can place on you.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the expected costs, some of which you might not realize are there until it’s too late.

Adoption Fees:

Unless you have a friend who is looking to get rid of a litter of kittens, you’re going to have to pay an adoption fee. Shelters and pet stores definitely want to make a profit and don’t give away pets for free. The adoption fee can vary, depending on the animal you want to adopt.

Kittens don’t usually get more expensive than $100, but dogs are a different story altogether. If you go with a breeder, it can set you back thousands. According to The Dog Digest, the most expensive breed of dogs is called “Löwchens” and can cost as much as $10,000!

These prices are only the beginning of your pet owning journey!

Spay/Neuter Costs

If you do decide to with the free options and take a pet from a litter that was birthed under your friend’s porch, then you’ll have to spay and neuter them (or risk more litters of critters being born under your porch). If you go with a shelter, then the odds are likely they’ve already taken care of this for you (and it can often reflect in the price).

Vaccinations are also a part of this process. All of this can cost you between $150-$200. Dogs can cost more at around $300. Sometimes, various cities and towns have opportunities for pet owners to bring their furry friends in for free to take care of this issue in an effort to keep the stray population as low as possible. Bob Barker would be proud!

General Upkeep

Outside of one-time costs, you’ll have to pay for general upkeep. A lot of these will be recurring, like feeding your pet. That can be a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly expense, depending on the animal. That’s $20-$40 right there.

Grooming supplies, flea care and prevention, litter, and toys are all recurring costs and it can vary from month to month. You’ll need water and food bowls, leashes, new collars about every year, and a crate. If you add in regular vet visits, these can all total to hundreds of dollars per year.

Other Hidden Costs

In the back of your mind, you often think pet ownership will be easy. All you have to do is water, feed, and pet your animal. How hard can that be! But the financial toll of having a pet can be a lot more than people realize.

For example, if you live in an apartment, they’ll want a pet deposit, somewhere around $250. If your pet wrecks your place, there will be the cost of repairs. Kittens and puppies especially do not know their place and will chew and claw up whatever they can get their hands on.

Some cities require a yearly tax or license fee if you own a dog.

Do you plan on training your animals? That can set you back hundreds.

What if you want to go on vacation? Do you have someone who owes you a favor and can cat-sit/dog-sit for you? If not, a kennel is expensive. Dog walking services cost daily.

Then, there’s the health of your pet to consider. Do you have a few hundred dollars saved if your pet needs an emergency trip to the vet? What if it turns out they have food allergies and can’t eat the regular, bargain pet foods that exist?

Pet ownership is not something you should take lightly. These costs are just basic necessities for cats and dogs. Things tend to get much more expensive the more exotic your pet gets. Parents often love to get rabbits for their kids around Easter time, but most end up dead within a year because a cute idea turns into major work and expenses they weren’t prepared for.

It’s important to take your time, crunch your numbers, and do good research before buying a pet.

Written by adminApril 27, 2018

Saving

Amazon surprised investors on Thursday by announcing that they’ve more than doubled their first quarter profits compared to what they pulled in the first quarter of 2017.

The experts expected Amazon to lose a bit of their momentum going into this year, which is why the announcement came as a shock.

In the first three months of 2018, the mega online retailer raked in $1.6 billion. This profit is on top of several expensive investments made into original programming for their streaming service and the building of more fulfillment centers across the country.

This isn’t the first major milestone Amazon has hit this year. It has also touted a record number of paying subscribers, the amount of cloud computing sales, and advertising sales, all of which helped spur on the $1.6 billion first-quarter profit.

Because of these breakthroughs, Amazon’s stock has been soaring, putting that iconic Amazon smile on the faces of every investor.

Price of Prime to Rise 20%

Despite the absurd profits made in the last quarter, Amazon also announced via letter that they will be raising the price of Prime, their extremely popular subscription service, from $99 to $119 per year, a 20% increase.

Their justification for the increase again has to do with the increased cost of making more original content and continuously adding more “digital benefits”.

With over 100 million Prime subscribers, Amazon felt the price needed to go up, and will continue to go up as they offer more benefits to their customers. Amazon remains on the front lines of innovation, offering shipping perks, and believes it can compete with the likes of Netflix and Hulu with their streaming services.

Amazon CFO Brian Olsavsky said in a conference call on Thursday, “We continue to increase the value of Prime by adding digital benefits.”

With this news, the price of Amazon’s stocks jumped 7%. While investors are happy, one can’t help but wonder what the subscribers think of the price change. The company has record-high profits, but feels the need to increase the price of Prime by 20%?

There will be a breaking point for subscribers. If they keep raising the cost, it can become too costly and not worth the price to the average consumer.

Time will tell if this price increase will impact the number of subscribers Prime receives (or loses) in the future.

Written by adminApril 19, 2018

Saving

Spring often feels like the beginning of a whole new year. After a cold, long winter of being stuck inside with nothing to do, we begin to emerge like bears waking from a several-month hibernation.

Spring is also the start of the active season. From now until Christmas, busyness will consume you. Life will be full of activities, repairs, vacations, weekend trips, decorating, and so much more.

Are you prepared?

Most people go into the summer season unready for the expenses sure to come. It’s not just the summer busy season that can be expensive. A lot of hidden costs can be lurking that will cost you more in the long run because you weren’t ready for them.

Let’s take a look at several ways you can Spring Clean your budget today to keep it looking healthy for the rest of the year.

1) Check Annual Expenses and Create a Plan

Memory can be a fickle thing. You might have some vague idea in the back of your mind of stuff you want to do or fixes you need to make, but by not planning for it and putting it down on paper, it can turn into an unexpected problem later.

Sit down and carefully write a list. If you want to repaint the deck, add it to the list. Planning a vacation to Fiji? Great! Add it to the list.

Walk around the house and do a little inspection. Better yet, hire someone to come out and see how your home/property is holding up. If there’s a problem that needs addressing, like the roof needs to be replaced, add it to the list.

Once you can see all the different things you need to do, spend time thoroughly researching every point. Take a lot of notes if necessary. For example, that trip to Fiji. What are the costs? Hidden costs? Will you have to put down a deposit ahead of time? What time should you buy the tickets for the best deal?

When you see it, all laid out for you, you will get a bigger picture of what you can afford and what you should probably save until next year.

2) Don’t Forget to Keep an Eye on Your Debt

If you made the resolution at the beginning of the year to pay off your debts and improve your credit score, then you need to take that into consideration before spending tons of money on vacations or other big purchases.

If you’ve been steadily paying down what you owe, then your credit score is improving. Instead of taking that family trip to Fiji, maybe decide to take it easy this year and put the extra money into your debts. Then, if you’re out of debt next summer, you can afford to do a lot more without jeopardizing your credit score and/or adding to your debt.

Also, maybe it’s time to check out other options you might have at conquering your debt once and for all. We can help! Give us a call today at We’d love to hear from you!

3) Remove the Clutter

It’s a good idea to periodically look over your books. The best idea is to be a stickler for keeping the books clean, but it can be time consuming and a lot of people just wing it.

By looking over your financial statements, bank accounts, and other bills, you can check for added payments, extra fees, or even subscriptions you just don’t need or use anymore.

Maybe you only watch HBO for Game of Thrones. Well, as of this writing, it’s going to be at least another year before the final season hits, so stop paying for it until then.

It’s so easy to get caught up paying for services we barely use, simply because we think we need them. If you want to save good money throughout the year, this is a great way to do it.

Written by adminFebruary 12, 2018

Saving

If you’ve spent any time in college, then you know how to eat on a budget. Most of us can think back to Ramen-fueled study sessions and cold leftover pizza breakfasts. Even if you’ve never been to college, living on a tight budget makes it more difficult to get the proper nutrition we need to stay healthy.

As we get older, eating healthy becomes more important. The problem is, according to a Harvard study, eating green and clean costs about $1.50 more per day than buying garbage food. The food manufacturers love it! They can mass produce low-quality food at a cheap price, and when you’re on a tight budget, you might think that’s all you can afford.

There are ways to overcome this problem and still eat healthy, no matter your budget! With some planning and extra work, you can do it! Let’s dive right in.

1) Understand the Psychology of Food

This is a HUGE problem not many people know about. Food is big business, and like every other big business, they know how to get you to keep buying their product. They produce cheap products that offer little nutritional value. Have you ever sat down and mindlessly eaten a whole bag of chips while watching your favorite show?

These foods are cheap for a reason. Because they offer little nutritious value, they burn up quickly, send your energy levels plummeting, and leave you hungry. So, while it might not cost as much to eat this way, you’ll find yourself buying twice as much of it.

When you eat the right type of foods that nourish your body properly, you won’t be as hungry. You can eat less, spend less, and overall be healthier for it.

2) Follow the Seasons

Farmer’s markets in our local communities are becoming increasingly popular, and for a very good reason. You can get great produce at a cheaper price than you can find in the store. Why is it cheaper? It’s because the foods they sell are locally produced and are in-season. That cuts down on shipping costs and follows the law of supply and demand.

If there’s a certain food in-season right now, that means there’s an abundance of it and you can get it at a great price. On the flip side, it’s going to cost a store more money to ship in fresh strawberries from South America, so the price is going to be higher. Look up the seasonal foods in your area at any given time and enjoy the savings.

3) Have a Plan and a List

One thing stores LOVE to make money on are impulse buyers. These are the people who run in with a few things on their mind, but end up leaving with much more than they intended on buying. It goes back to point #1 about the psychology of food.

The layout of grocery stores is not random. They’re carefully designed following the law of Power of Perimeter. If you haven’t noticed, most of the stuff we need on a regular basis is found along the outside wall of the whole store. If you need a gallon of milk, you’re going to the very back to find it. Meats, breads, etc, are also on the outer perimeter.

With the most common products at the back of the store, it forces you to walk through the Little Debbie aisle and the frozen food section. They count on you seeing that one thing you know you shouldn’t buy and tossing it into your cart. Then, when it’s time to roll up to an aisle, there are plenty of other impulse items there as well.

Don’t fall for it! Don’t go to the store hungry. Take your time and actively plan out your grocery list. Clip coupons. Find great deals. It will take extra time, but you’ll save money in the end.

4) Do Your Own Prep

One of the more expensive aspects of grocery shopping includes buying products that have been already cleaned, cut, and prepared for you. This includes meats, fruits, and veggies. A tiny container of pre-cut fruit, while convenient, is much more expensive than just buying the whole fruit and cutting it yourself.

Instead of hitting the meat section of your store, go to a local butcher. Not only will your food be cleaner and not sprayed with chemicals to help preserve it, you can get more of it at a cheaper price. As part of your grocery regimen (planning/shopping/couponing), take the time after you shop to chop, cut, and prepare the foods yourself. You’ll save a lot of money.

5) Grow Your Own

If you have the space for it, there’s nothing better than growing your own garden. Yes, it takes work, but can be extremely therapeutic. Even if you live in an apartment, you can find a way to grow your own fruits and vegetables. There are a thousand ways you can research online to grow in various types of light, space, and circumstances.

Also, learning how to can is a huge asset. It may seem like a practice from a bygone area, but it has been roaring back to life in the past few years. People actually desire to grow clean, healthy food and to can it themselves and spare the extra preservatives and chemicals food companies add in.

Grocery shopping is one of our biggest expenses, and food isn’t going to get cheaper anytime soon. By learning how to shop properly and by taking these steps, you can improve the quality of the food you eat on any budget.

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