It seems like every time I turn on the television, etc, there is always news regarding ways to save money. People are scrambling, trying to find ways to stretch their dollars. Many families create their grocery shopping list every week, but actually saving money grocery shopping seems to be a thing of the past.


Prices on food, clothing, utilities, home owners insurance, etc is slowing going up and if a family could save just a “Few bucks,” on groceries, it goes a long way. There is still hope for getting more for less, even while grocery shopping.


Below is an article written by Kimberly L. Jackson regarding a simple way to save money. So get out your grocery shopping list and get ready to apply what Kimberly has to say in her article below.


Save money at the supermarket with frozen foods
By Kimberly L. Jackson/The Star-Ledger


Frozen foods are a money-saving option in these times when many home cooks are trying to stretch the budget.
Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert, known as “The Supermarket Guru” and a spokesman for the packaged food giant ConAgra has released some tips that can help food buyers make the better choices at the freezer case.


Read labels: Check the signs next to the fish at the seafood counter. You’ll likely see “previously frozen,” so head to the freezer case and buy fish that was only frozen once. You’ll save big on prime cuts of salmon, tilapia, flounder, sole and shrimp. Be sure to defrost in the refrigerator overnight before preparing.


Judge your juice: Look carefully at the cartons and bottles of juice before you buy. If you see the words, “made from concentrate,” don’t pay more for water. Go for juice concentrates from the freezer aisle and add your own water at home.


You’ll save 30-50 percent, and your shopping bag will be a lot lighter. Check the packaging: Frozen produce will actually taste better and have more nutrients when the variety is out of season. That’s because these fruits and vegetables were packed at the peak of their freshness.


However, if you feel or hear ice crystals, it probably means the contents inside were thawed and refrozen. Avoid them and reach way in the back of the freezer to get a package that is solid as ice. Compare price: In nearly every case, buying frozen food can save time and money.


Just about every fruit and vegetable is available at a fraction of the cost in the frozen food section. To save even more, stock up on frozen foods when they’re on sale. Compare ingredients: If you’re looking for the right ingredients to fit your diet, don’t turn away from the frozen aisle too quickly.


You’d be surprised at all the solutions you can find. Some dinners are now organic, made with whole grains, low-fat, low carbohydrate and low sodium.


Package makes perfect: When buying frozen entrées or dinners, look for those that “steam” in the microwave for the best flavor and texture. Among the options is Healthy Choice Top Chef Inspired Café Steamers.


Steamer packaging, also used by other frozen food brands, separates the sauce from the rest of the entrée so the meal steams in the microwave, resulting in crisp vegetables, tender meats and al dente pastas.


Proper storage: Pick your frozen foods last and make sure as the weather warms that you don’t leave them in a hot car, or allow them to defrost. In addition to risking food spoilage, doing so will affect taste, texture and, potentially, cooking time.


For non-vacuum sealed packages, put unopened foods in a plastic freezer bag to create a barrier to avoid freezer burn and condensation forming in the package. Make sure you mark the date of your purchase on the outside of the bag. Try to avoid putting food on the freezer door because it’s the warmest part of the freezer’s space.


According to the USDA web page on freezing and food safety, “freezing preserves food for extended periods because it prevents the growth of microorganisms that cause both food spoilage and foodborne illness.” But while freezing at 0 degrees of below will inactivate bacteria, yeasts and molds that may be present in food.


These microbes can again become active once food is thawed and can multiply to levels that can lead to foodborne illness. As with fresh food, however, thorough cooking will destroy all microbes. ConAgra is the parent company of numerous packaged food brands including frozen options from Marie Callender’s and Healthy Choice.




See the original article by clicking here. Stretch your grocery shopping list now with frozen foods.


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Grocery Shopping List

This recession is driving millions of families, (especially one-income) to downsize, downgrade…save as much money as they can. Many families with babies are feeling the pinch.

 

So they are turning to cloth diapering in order to save money. The average spending for disposable diapers for a new baby up to two years is about $2,000. This is just the average figure across the United States.

 

In order to make ends meet, many families with young babies are now using prefold cloth diapers which can cost as little as $250 for two years or more. Using cloth diapers are great not only for saving money, but for the environment also.

 

However, it has a serious drawback…the POOP! I don’t think there is any mom who finds pleasure in washing cloth diapers. It’s a daunting task. I don’t know how my mother did it for three of four children. Many of us women have become too lazy to wash diapers.

 

Despite that, you might be one of the new moms that really NEED to save money and you don’t give the washing of cloth diapers a second thought. Some moms purchase used cloth diapers. If you prefer not to go that route, prefold cloth diapers like the Blueberry cloth diapers are really great cloth diapers. So buy your cloth diapers and save even more by using the same cloth diapers with subsequent children.

Okay, so you’re all set…you are now using cloth diapers, but you are sick and tired of having to clean s*@#! all day long, especially if you’re dealing with a newborn.

 

It’s not that you have an issue with getting your hands in your baby’s poop, but it just gets frustrating knowing that you’re only doing this for the sake of saving money.  You are tired of stained,  stinky pocket diapers.

 

Well, don’t despair because I have a really great solution for you. You’re going to love this. Drumroll please…TADA…presenting the Mini-Shower Diaper Sprayer .  This is a must have for “Diaper mom.”

 

The Mini Shower Diaper sprayer is the answer to dealing with baby poop easily.  It’s mess free, and so convenient.  The best part of all is you don’t have to get your hands dirty.


No mess is to small or large for the Mini Shower as it makes rinsing diapers a breeze.  It can even make the diaper-cleaning job a pleasure.  Well, maybe I’m pushing it a bit.

After rinsing off the diaper, there is one additional important step…the detergent. All cloth diaper laundry detergents are not created equal.  Rocking Green cloth diaper laundry detergent is a great choice for getting rid of the stinkies.

 

Oh, by the way, I almost forgot…you wanna know what else makes the Mini Shower really awesome? The sprayer is also perfect for use as a hand-held bidet for feminine and personal hygiene. So when hemorrhoids flair up, no need for Tucks.  Now you just can’t beat that!

 

Cloth Diaper Q & A’s

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Washing cloth diapers

Washing cloth diapers