Keeping a low overhead, vol. 2

Let’s face it. We’ve all got to eat, no exceptions…but there’s no reason we should have to shell out top dollar to do it.

No matter if it’s pizza, sandwiches or chinese, we all love a good meal. It’s good for the body, mind and soul. Some people get so excited over a great deal on good eats that they begin to spontaneously beatbox out of sheer gratitude.

But we all know that sustaining one’s self isn’t all just restaurants and eating out. When it comes to filling the fridge, there’s no excuse to not save money. Small, independent grocers and farmer’s markets can be an excellent way to not only get your hands on some of the greatest tasting and cheapest produce you’ve ever seen, but it also supports your local economy by stimulating local business.

You may even have a local butcher or meat market in your area (it’s more common that you think) that offers “Freezer Plans” - bulk cuts of various meats (usually of quality that far exceeds anything found in the meat-packing sections of your area’s SuperStore) that are pre-packaged into meal-size portions and are available for lots less than you’d pay for a comparable selection of meats elsewhere. Just remember to take out tomorrow’s dinner tonight so it has time to defrost.

Wholesale warehouses can also be a valuable asset, offering bulk odds-and-ends at prices to fill in the gaps, discounted to the Nth degree, normally inexpensive enough that the nominal sign-up fees are practically deferred by savings within two trips, easily…the only drawback being the fact that items in these stores tend to be available in serious bulk - so splitting the cost of membership with a family member and “shop-pooling” together might be a viable alternative to filling your cabinets with seven 16-ounce tubs of ketchup at a time.

This does require a major change from what most of us our used to, where regular food shopping becomes an art of making the rounds instead of picking up all of our groceries at one place at one time, but there is a drastic upside - several sets of sales to choose from each week. By keeping a watchful eye on what discounts and coupons are offered by each establishment, we can maximize our savings and get the absolute most for out grocery dollar.

By using these methods not only will you save money on food, you’ll see that you’ll have to out shopping less often and the quality of the food you and your family eat will improve drastically, thus adding to the improvement of overall health and happiness.

Remember: good food can lead to beatboxing. Don’t say we didn’t try to warn you!