When faced with the choice of eating out, or paper bagging it …….think of the cost. If you are not wise in your choices, packing a meal can be just as costly as carryout from your favorite restaurant.
Why? Most people think that it is automatic to save money by taking my lunch to the office. How could it possibly be as costly as grabbing something on the run?
Well we as consumers have fallen victim to convenience, we want what we want, when we want it. We don’t have time to buy a jar of apple sauce and portion it as we need it. We would rather pay almost three times as much, for a smaller amount just because it is prepackaged, and ready to go. In all reality, would it hurt for you to portion the applesauce the night before rather than the morning of?
If I could pay a third of the cost just by using the Tupperware that is in my kitchen collecting dust why wouldn’t I. The money that I spent on that stuff was a waste, not to mention the money that is wasted on prepackaged food. Yet people ask all the time, why am I spending so much money with so little to show for it, because you are shopping for convenience rather than practicality.
Everyone stresses their need for time, and how doing things differently would not allow them time to relax, or time with the kids. However if you took just five or ten minutes extra you may find that you not only have extra time, but extra money to do even more things.
If you have a large family, or even small children that eat like adults, as mine do. You may need to evaluate you shopping habits. As our economy has changed and the price of common staples has increased you may find a deep discount in purchasing in bulk. I have found that purchasing a six pound can of applesauce is cheaper than buying several 32 ounce jars. You may think that can is too large for my family and it will be go to waste. I thought that the first time I considered buying it also, until I got it home. I found that the economy can is not as big as you think and when divided into Tupperware.
If you don’t have Tupperware, and do not have the funds to purchase it, let me tell you what I do. You know those sandwich meat tubs, the ones that you normally throw away. If you look closely at those lids, most say Glad, and are the same containers that you can buy on the paper aisle. Well why buy separate containers if you receive them free with the purchase of the sandwich meat. Simply wash them, and use them to store your lunch, leftovers, or crafts.
I look at it as killing two birds with one stone, plus, I usually pay little or nothing for the sandwich meat due to stacking coupons with circular savings. I virtually receive the food product and the plastic product for little or nothing.
If you are on a budget, or using EBT, purchasing your sandwich meat in the plastic containers will allow for two things. Not only to mark off an item on your shopping list, but aid in storing left overs and packing your lunch. There is always a way to provide your household with all needed things, without paying extra for them.
I generally stock pile sandwich meat, when the savings are beneficial. Sandwich meat can be frozen for later use, take the plastic bag of meat out of the Tupperware, place in the freezer and throw the container in the sink. It is just that simple, stop making grocery shopping so difficult, keep it simple and you will be surprised at just how many new ideas you will have.
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