Seven Simple Money Savers

As you may recall, I recently tried a Power Savings Month in which I aimed at buying only the bare necessities to get by and bank away the savings.  While an occasional month of sacrifice can really help you alter your spending habits, small changes can have a huge impact as well.

Here are seven items you may buy regularly but you could effortlessly cut out of your shopping list and save some money:

1. Cooking spray. This one used to be a staple for me, but one day we ran out and I just didn’t want to spend the money to buy more.  I thought back to my childhood days, watching my mother bake.  She used a paper towel to spread some shortening on a cookie sheet or would pour a little olive oil into a pan.  Simple and cheap.  Nowadays, they even have reusable appliances to create the same “Pam” effect.  For example, the Misto (thanks, Meg!).  You pour your choice of oil into the Misto and, ta-da!, a low cost cooking spray.
2. Coffee. I know, this one is rough.  With today’s economy, you often hear about switching from Starbucks to home-brewed coffee, but why not take it one step further?  You do not need coffee and when you add up how much you spend on a daily home-brewed cup (or two), you quickly realize this vice may not be worth the cost.  If you really want to push your budget to the thinnest, try giving up your morning brew.
3. Onions. I buy onions regularly.  I love the flavor in many dishes, but when I run out and make a dish sans the onion, I barely miss it.  Onions offer little in the way of nutrients and your body would not suffer from omitting them.  If you are an avid onion user, try only tossing them in one dish a week or every other week.  You may save yourself a couple dollars or more a month.
4. Pricey, enriched carbs. Whole grains are a must in anyone’s diet, but that does not mean you have to spend a lot.  Enriched breads and pastas just mean fake ingredients that your body does not completely absorb.  As long as you are eating a complete diet, they are often unnecessary.  I purchase Walmart brand 100% whole wheat bread and 100% whole wheat pasta.  In my area, the bread is $1.50 a loaf and the pasta (which literally contains one ingredient, durum whole wheat) is only $1.00 a box.  Obviously prices change based on location, but try to find the cheapest, simplest whole wheat products in your area and save dozens of dollars a week.
5. Chips and pretzels. These are nothing but empty, expensive calories.  Switch to a bag of popcorn kernels that you can pop yourself on the stove top.  It’s a lower calorie, whole grain that has endless flavor possibilities from salty, to buttery, to sugary.
6. Specialty spices. Rather than buying steak rubs or salad seasonings, try making your own.  Buy a variety of standard spices in bulk (oregano, garlic, basil, cinnamon, ginger, etc.) and mix up your own creations.  Play around and invite variety.  You will save money by purchasing simple spices in bulk and you’ll jazz up your menu since you won’t be stuck with the same combinations straight from a pre-mixed bottle.
7. Jelly. The occasional peanut butter and jelly sandwich can be quite a treat from our past, but I know many people who regularly purchase jelly just because they always have.  Enjoy some new sandwich creations such as peanut butter and bananas or peanut butter and honey.  You probably won’t miss jelly at all.

Sometimes the best ways to save money and encourage menu variety is to stop buying what you always buy.  Many times we wind up in a shopping list rut.  Go ahead and shake it up a bit.  Omit something you think you just cannot live without and you may be surprised with your own creativity.

What items could you effortlessly chop from your shopping list?

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