EMPTY THE CALORIES...NOT THE WALLET

Some have described it as a champagne appetite on a beer budget. You know, that moment when you want to prepare an elegant meal but have only a few dollars to work with.

Getting started to control spending on groceries first requires cash.

Yes, those oft not used greenbacks, with pictures of Presidents and numbers embossed on them. Put away the credit card, hide the checkbook and go to the ATM for cash. With technology, “cash” can also be a pre-paid card with a set amount of money on it.

Cash is limiting. It has restrictions. When you run out, there is no more. Financing food with a checkbook or a credit card is open access to money. It is easy to let it get out of control. But cash will force you, the shopper, not to exceed your budget and will help you to develop into a more thoughtful shopper.

If you need immediate savings in a hurry, consider dumping all those empty calories from the grocery cart. Junk food. Items we consume of little to no nutritional value. Need to eliminate $10 from the grocery bill? Skip the 12-packs of soda. Have you seen the price of packaged, name brand cookies these days? Two packs are almost $10 in price. Those carb crunchy bags of potato or corn chips? They cost over $4 per 10 oz bag. These items will tip your weight and wallet over the edge.

Try cash for a week. Target a set amount of cash to spend on groceries and adhere to it. If you are in serious need of shaving dollars off your spending costs, using cash is a great way to start.

SOUND THE BUGLE! Today’s tip: Coupons are cash gifts from manufacturers. Used wisely during sales and combined with store coupons, they will reduce the item to a fraction of its original cost.

                           HARRIS TEETER TRIPLE COUPON SALE IN NC SEVERAL MONTHS AGO