They say that the cost of food is second in the average household only to the mortgage/rent payment. We put more thought into saving money on single purchases than into the constant expenditures for food and supplies that add up to a startling amount over the course of the year.
We have a tendency to think of this as a constant drain, but the household is really a business. You are buying from shifting suppliers with constantly changing prices and products and transforming those supplies using your time and energy. You are in the business of growing and sustaining people.
If you want a quality “product” at a reasonable cost, the same practices apply to the household as to any business. Where it gets tricky is our “products” have emotional as well as nutritional needs that need to be met. Unlike cattle or widgets, they have opinions! We also may be battling our own emotional needs regarding our attitudes toward food and how that reflects on our lifestyle.
Above in the tabs, you’ll find Twelve Strategies, many adopted from business principles to apply to your household. Click on each to explore easy, helpful ways to use them and you’ll eat better than ever on the least amount of money you’ve ever spent. Adopting even a few will start saving you money and get you started in the right direction.
Whether you are just concerned about keeping cost down, wanting to get out of debt, or are in serious trouble, you’ll find easy strategies to get and keep you on track. There are no gimmicks, no shortcuts, just good common sense and great ideas on how to apply that to your own home. (And a bit – or maybe a lot – of reading – you won’t find everything you need to know condensed into a few clicks – I know, because I looked…)
Click on the menu (top left) to view the 12 Strategies or click on the links below.
Links for The Twelve Strategies:
- Strategy One: Bank Your Foods
- Strategy Three: Control Costs: Maximize “Profits” and Minimize Losses
- Strategy Four: Take Advantage of Cyclic Changes in the Market
- Strategy Five: Be an Investor, not a Gambler
- Strategy Six: Give Back to the Community
- Strategy Seven: Have a Business Plan
- Strategy Eight: Invest in Training
- Strategy Nine: Know the Products you Buy
- Strategy Ten: Know your Suppliers
- Strategy Eleven: Take Advantage of Special Offers & Incentives
- Strategy Twelve: Use Sound Investment Principles
I put it on my facebook page and tweeted it out. It could help a lot of people.
Thanks, Jennifer!
What a wonderful business-style article. It makes sense to think of the household as a business. If more people used this tactic, there would be less financial waste, and less food waste. What a great concept!
Thanks Jennifer! I AM serious about saving money AND living well! I felt it had to be serious to fully cover every aspect – I’m just not always as FUN as I’d like! Did you get this on twitter?
Sometimes you have to be serious to get the point across. Nothing wrong with that!
No, I didn’t get it on Twitter. I was over here looking through your articles.
I think I’ve gotten twitter working finally…I hope…as my kids would say, “…old people!”
FruFrau, I hope you don’t mind, but I Pinned you on my Pinterest board a few weeks ago. I hope it leads people to this, one of my favorite sites. <3 Lolly
Thanks Lolly – I appreciate it – and I started a board, too! And what a nice complement! You’re right, though – I don’t have enough pictures…Please feel free to pin any and all – and let me know if you take any pics, too!
You’ve got a treasure here, Frugal. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with the rest of us. It looks like a lot of work, but well worth it.
Thanks again,
Susan
Thanks, Susan. I just know so many people who are struggling in this economy and have never been taught *how* to shop or cook or manage a household and keep within a budget or stretch the food dollar.
It makes my day if I know even one thing I’ve said might help someone in even a small way, so thanks for your kind comment!
What a great post! I am so bad at budgeting and the fact that I have to test recipes throws our food budget off kilter even more so. I’m definitely going to be using your tips. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Pat. It’s inspiration that usually throws me off! When I see something that looks really good, sometimes I have a hard time waiting to cook it! When I cooked your Beef, Tomato and Green Pepper Stir Fry, I have to admit I didn’t wait for a sale on dow see, the fermented black beans – I just got them the next time I was in the store!
Peppers were on sale, and I had round steak in the freezer (I buy the big ones on sale and slice some for stir fry and some for my Swiss Steak and freeze it in ziplocs) but the dow see made all the difference in the world in the recipe. (Now I’m determined to pick up some Shaoxing Wine for next time.) I do plan on making your Fried Rice this week for my Budget Meal of the Week, so check back!
Here’s the Pat’s recipe for Beef, Tomato and Green Pepper Stir Fry: http://theasiangrandmotherscookbook.wordpress.com/2007/12/11/a-cooking-frenzy/
Glorious weblog!
Thank you to all of you! By all means, pass this information on to anyone you think might be interested.