Sarah Liz's Tips: Part 1- Dining Out, Savy Grocery Shopping!

Okay, so maybe I'm not capable of three times a week. I was really busy this weekend resting, hanging out with my mom, cleaning, hangin' with my friends and resting. I'm here at work, Dylan's, he's at his friends house though. Anyhow, I was thinking that I want to write some tips I have to help make life easier. So, here goes:

To save money on your bill when you dine out:

*Order ice water w/ lemon, really!
It's free, goes w/ anything you ordered, and we ALL need to drink more water. Why not kill two birds with one stone: drink an extra glass of water AND save up to $2.25 on your total restraunt bill!
*Skip dessert.
Often, we don't finish them anyway, they can cost up to $8.00 a piece and most of us don't need the extra calories. If you really need the dessert, stop at a DQ on the way home and order a single serve ice cream. Or, eat a ripe piece of fruit when get home.
*Not that hungry? Order an appetizer.
Most appetizers now a days are big enough to feed 2-4 people, so, if you're not that hungry, simply order a yummy appetizer. They're still costly, but they'll run you la lot ess than an actual entree'.
*Order only what you really, truly want.
Even though I eat out a lot, I still am very picky about where I'll eat and what I'll have. We work so hard for our money, why spend it on food we don't enjoy?
*Pay attention to the service you receive:
If you have to wait an extra long time for your meal (more than 20 mins) without prior notification, ask to speak to the manager. Often times, they'll have a good a reason for the delay, or might possibly comp your entree. It doesn't hurt to ask.
*Tips are great, but they're EARNED!
Generally, tipping is 15%-25% of your total bill. If you received great service and a stellar meal, tip at least 20%, if the food was good, but the service was bad, make it 10%-15%. If you receive absolutely horrible service AND mediorce food, DO NOT feel obligated to leave a tip. Tipping is out of the generousity and kindness of our hearts, we're not obligated to do so, and while we do have to pay for the meal, not tipping is not against the law. On the contrary, if you got great service and great food, DO NOT stiff the waiter/waitress. That shows no class and lots of rudeness. If it's a place you frequent often, feel free to leave a 15% tip, after all, you'll be back right!


To Save Money at the Grocery Store:

*DO NOT GO TO THE STORE HUNGRY!
We've all heard this, but as my family's designated grocery shopper, I know this to be very true. On average, I spend at least $10-$20 MORE on my groceries if I go when I'm hungry. That's a chunk! Before you go to the grocery store, eat a piece of fruit, drink a glass of water (so you wont' be thirsty while shopping), or have a few handfuls of pretzels or chips. Whatever you have to do to make sure you don't go there hungry.
*SIGN UP FOR STORE CLUBS:
Yes, it's a little unwary knowing everything you purchase in on record, but the savings really do add up! Sign up for the shoppers' club at EVERY store you shop at.
*If it's TWO for ONE, yoy can buy just one and get 1/2 off!
You see a sign that says "2 for $4.00," and think "I have to buy two." Wrong. Buy one, save $2. The store, in most cases, has to let you have one of the item for $2. Unless it's something you really love and regularly buy and eat, the two for one's or three for six is a waste. Now, if it's something you really adore, go ahead, stock up! You're still saving!
*DO SOME RESEARCH: Check out the flyers!
You wouldn't go buy a computer or car w/o researching it, so don't go buy groceries w/o doing some research. Those flyers you receive in the mail are really worth looking over; they'll save you time and money. If you don't recieve teh flyers in the mail, go online to the store's website, most stores offer their weekly flyers on line, so take advantage of that! Take an honest look at your kitchen and decide what you really need (and want) that week. Know what's on sale ahead of time, before you hit the store. If you live near two different stores, go to both to score great deals! If the stores are less than a mile apart, the gas you use to get to the second doesn't cost that much. A
*Start on the permiter of the store:
Load up on fresh fruits and veggies. Buy them when they're on sale, and learn how to properly store (and freeze) them.
*Buy necessary items first, place impulse items in the front of the cart!
We ALL impulse buy. And the people who set up grocery stores know it So, put everything that you absolutely need IN the cart (milk, eggs, bread, cereal, apples, meat, etc.) If you see an item or two that's a great buy and you think you'd like to purchase it, put that item in the purse/child section of the cart, right behind the handle bar. That way, you have to look directly at that impulse item the whole time you're finishing shopping and it's easier to grab and put back (or have the cashier put back) if it's right on top of the pile. If you still want the item by the time you get to the checkout line, go ahead. Limit the purse/cart section (impulse) items to five. More than that is just flyin' money!
*MAKE A LIST: w/ categories & advertised price:
You've got to have a list! None of us is going to remember EVERYTHING we need (and don't need) once we get to the store. Even if you're only going for a few items (say, bread, milk and a potato) write it down! You're much more likely to stick to the list if you have it in front of you. Impulse buys happens when you don't have a list. Also, divide your list into categories such as "Produce," "Meats," "Dairy," "Beverage," "Misc.," "Kids." Put appropiate items under each category. Also, make a column for "MUST HAVE," for instance, in my house, we can't live without olive oil, garlic, coca-cola, popcorn and lettuce. So, any time we're out of those, we must get them the next time we shop. Put those under the "MUST HAVE," if you're totally out of it and just gotta have it. Also, if you're buying something you saw in the grocery flyer you recieved in the mail (or picked up when you walked in the store-they're there, just ask an employee), write the advertised price next to the item on your list. That way, if they overcharge you at the checkout, you can say something!
*If it's on sell, non-perishable and you use it a lot of it-stock up
One of the greatest things my grama E. taught me was the systems of "back ups." Now, she doesn't go buy four bottles of ketchup anymore when they're not on sale, now, she waits for things she needs to go on sale and then loads up. Back ups is a great way to prevent those last minute trips to the store! Have a back up (two) of the following items: mustard, ketchup, mayonaise, PB, Jelly, Water, Olive Oil/Salad Oil, Vinegar, Nuts, Raisins, Soups, Canned Veggies, Flour, Sugar, Hot Sauce, Salad Dressings, Steak Sauces. Anything else you're family uses a lot.
*KEEP A WELL STOCKED PANTRY/KITCHEN:
We all have ingredients and things we use/eat a lot. One of the best ways to save money on your grocery bill is to keep your pantry and your kitchen very well stocked. Below is a list of items that EVERYONE should have in their pantry/kitchen at all times. If you have well-stocked kitchen, there's no need to "run" to the store at the last minute. Plus, those last minute runs is when we usually spend more money than we need to.
*TAKE YOUR TIME IN THE GROCERY STORE:
I know, we're all very busy. But, taking the time to really stop and shop will save you tons of money. Don't go do your entire grocery shopping for the week on your way home from a crazy day at work. You're tired (and usually hungry-see tip #1) and not thinking clearly. Go when you can take the time and do the math and make wise choices! Make grocery shopping a mini-vacation for you. I personally love to go by myself, it's time off from my family (no offense to them), no one is pressuring me to buy (or not buy) certain items and if over-spend the only person I can blame is myself! I take about 2 hours to really shop, but I usually spend only about $80 every two weeks (for a household of three people). Taking the time to shop saves you money and time later on!

To help keep fresh herbs fresher longer, try this: it really works!
Wash and thoroughly dry the herbs right when you get home. Then, take a damp (NOT wet, just damp) paper towel and wrap the herbs in it. (Seperate towel for each herb, otherwise you'll mix the delicate flavors). Store the herbs in the damp paper towel, in a tightly closed zip-loc bag. I like to keep my fresh herbs on the bottom shelf of my fridge, but not in the cripser (which actually has been proven to attract moisture).
To keep cheese fresh:
Take the cheese out of it's original package and tightly wrap it in plastic wrap. Tightly wrap it, then place it in a tightly sealed zip loc bag. Write the cheese's experation date on the bag so you'll know ahed of time when to throw it out.
To keep milk longer:
This is a tough one, there's nothing you can actually do to the milk, except this: keep it very, very cold and don't buy more than you need. In my house, none of us drinks milk, so we only by a quart a week. Recently, I started writing when the milk will go bad on my regular calender. I keep a calender in my kitchen and when I bring home milk, or other perishable items, I write down the item and exp date on the calendar. That way, when I get up in the morning, I can look at the calendar and know what's going to go bad that day or in the next few days. It helps keep me up on things and has prevented the "we don't have any milk," qualm in my house!
Write the item and date you packaged it on freezer bags in the freezer:
The old "what the heck is that!?" can be prevented. When you put something in a freezer bag to store in the freezer, write what's in the bag and the date you put it in there before you put in in the freezer. This sounds stupid, but hoenstly, it's something I don't even think about half the time.

Okay, well, those are my tips for now! Hope they helped!

More later, take care!

Many Blessings,
SL