Going to the supermarket can be such a drag! Unless you want to subsist on HoHos and potatoes, you may find that you need to spend more than expected to buy healthy food. Unfortunately, as worldwide crop demand increases and as farmers dedicate more land to the lucrative biodiesel market, you may find that food prices will go even higher. That said, there are some things you can do reduce your food expenditures.
Start a Garden
Starting your own garden has an enormous number of benefits. In particular, if you want to eat healthy, organic produce, this is one way to ensure that you won’t be exposed to the many chemicals used in commercial farms. In addition to saving money, you’ll also be eating some of the best organic foods available. You may even want to purchase some canning jars and learn to preserve certain foods so that you’ll have access to cheap, healthy produce year-round.
Do Your Own Cooking
Regardless of how busy your schedule is, you can take a few hours to cook healthy foods for the rest of the week. For example, you can cook a roast and slice it up for sandwiches that you can take to work for several days. You may also want to try making soups, breads, and other items that freeze well and can be prepared ahead of time. Best of all, you don’t even need to go and buy a cook book in order to find easy, tasty recipes – just search online for recipes, and you’ll have access to a wealth of feedback left by individuals that have already tried each recipe.
Meat Protein Swapping
There’s no question that the cost of meat is outrageous. Even if you only want one or two pieces of meat a week – or some meat each day – you may find that you just can’t afford it. At the same time, eating cheap tuna fish or other mercury-filled seafood products is simply not an option.
That said, some studies indicate that beef is the only meat that contains all of the proteins you need in your diet. In addition, if you do your research, you can find nuts, beans, and other items that contain the majority of these proteins that will supplement your beef intake. From there, you may find that you can easily cut your meat consumption down to one serving of beef per week, and still get all of the proteins that you need to stay healthy.
Sales and Discounts
While many people tout the money-saving benefits of coupons, they won’t help you save on the fresh fruits and vegetables you need. In addition, it’s important to remember that these items have a limited shelf life, so you’ll need to plan your purchases carefully. For example, bananas will only last a few days after they ripen. Consequently, many supermarkets offer produce at deeply discounted prices either at the end of the day or at the beginning. If you watch the employees in the produce department carefully, you may be able to find some good deals when they put these items out for quick sale.
Even though the price of food is likely to go higher, you don’t need to go hungry or force yourself to eat foods that are filled with starch, preservatives, and agricultural chemicals. In many cases, if you a little extra research and follow some simple guidelines, you should be able to cut your food bill by a significant amount. Chances are, you’ll find this gives you a much healthier diet, as well as a more affordable one.
Regardless of where you decide to travel on your budget vacation, you’re going to need to find some type of shelter – whether it’s a hotel, a condo or a tiki hut on the beach. Aside from the cost of actually reaching your destination, the cost of lodging is probably going to be the most expensive part of your vacation. However, if you’re willing to put in a bit of careful planning and research, you’ll be able to find lodging that meats your needs without blowing your budget.
Choose Your Location and Timing
As soon as you know where you want to vacation, check out the hotels in the area. Look in online city guides and business telephone directories, and you’ll undoubtedly find many hotels to choose from. While you are going through the list, see if any of the hotels listed have websites. Many hotel websites offer special discounts or prices that you may be able to take advantage of. You’ll also be able to find out where the hotel is located. As a general rule, look for hotels located just outside of a central resort area – they’ll be a little less crowded and a lot cheaper!
It’s also important to take note of any time periods or seasons when the rates are lower. If you’re able to vacation during the off-season, you can easily save several hundred dollars. You can also use some of the major budget travel websites – like Travelocity.com or Hotwire.com – to find the best deals. Many of these sites offer “fare-watcher” programs that will let you know when rates to your preferred destination drop.
Check out Lodging at Tourist Attractions
Depending on the area that you’re visiting, some tourist attractions may also have room and board on the premises. In some cases, these locations may be less expensive than surrounding hotels. You might also find that these facilities are better kept and cleaner than regular budget motels. In some cases, if you decide to stay at the hotel, they may also give you a discount on any tours or other attractions that are available.
Look For Efficiencies and Weekly Rentals
In most cases, you can expect to spend at least 100.00 per day in a regular hotel. On the other hand, you may be able to find a rental apartment or condo for as low as 150.00 for an entire week. Besides the price, the other great advantage of these units is that most of them come with fully stocked kitchens – you’ll save even more money by preparing some of your meals at home instead of eating out all the time.
In a perfect world, we’d all stay in the four star resorts with private balconies and breathtaking vistas. But being on a budget doesn’t have to mean compromising on the vacation of your dreams. You can save money by booking well ahead of time or taking your vacation during the off-season when there aren’t as many tourists. You can save even more with a self-service rooms or condo unit available for weekly rental. With a little legwork, you can save money and vacation in style at the same time.