It's true...but probably not in the way you all thought when you read the title (and felt a little miffed after reading it probably!)
I have been getting really great at saving money on groceries, I am building my pantry and stretching every cent. When something is on sale I stock up, especially if I have a coupon! While my husband was away on business I was able to buy enough potato chips for him to last three weeks, I was so thrilled ! Three weeks worth of chip money to use towards other groceries and sales, right?! Wrong! Even though my hubby was aware that they were to last three weeks he is only human, they lasted a week and a half....he fell prey to the "I'll bet you can't eat just one" slogan. A lot of wives would say "tough noogies honey" and refuse to buy more...I'm a sucker, what can I say? My hubby works hard and I want him to be happy...yup, I bought more and not nearly for the fabulous price I was able to score before...so like I said, sometimes you have to hide things from your hubby.
In our new apartment I plan to only put one of each thing in the cupboard and hide the rest!! A money saving housewife has to do what a money saving housewife has to do!!
I think that a lot of you can relate to my predicament, whether it be your husband or your kids. Here is my advice, decide how long something should last (of course take into account company or the night you were sick and couldn't make dinner). Put only one of something out , when it's gone it's gone until the time you had predetermined, at that time pull another one out of the stash.
What ways have you all managed to protect your pantries?
THE END OF THE VIRTUAL ROAD
4 hours ago
6 comments:
This is a very good strategy and one that I have employed for years. I do this with my daughter's cereal. I only will buy it when it's on sale, but I buy alot at one time, Then, I just leave enough out for the next week and keep the rest hidden away.
I have hiding places for certain things in the house (sweets that I get out to share on special or really hard days). Otherwise I put dry goods on shelves in our garage. He knows there are things out there, but he doesn't usually care enough to go hunting- so he makes do with what he can find in the kitchen.
Also, where do you get your cupons?
Well, I buy goodies, but then I also buy cake mixes and brownie mixes, and ingredients to make goodies from scratch. I hide the little debbies for a while. The stuff is supposed to last a month, because that is how often we shop for groceries. After all the goodies are gone, (about 2 weeks if I'm lucky) then I have to MAKE stuff like chocolate chip cookies or use the mixes. This way, we at least have some goodies at the end of the month when the stuff is gone.
Same with salty snacks. I buy microwave popcorn. When all the Doritos and chips are gone, then we have to make microwave popcorn (not as popular with my family).
As we are semi-retired now, my husband grocery shops with me (!) and he pretty much decided what we buy. In some ways, this is good (we have more meat in the house, and ice cream which I never used to buy) but other ways bad, as he doesn't understand buying spices or fresh fruits and vegetables or things like that.
I get most of my coupons from the Sunday paper. You can also go online to your favorite brands website and email them requesting coupons, sometimes they will send them to you.
A couple of years ago I got a "pantry" with doors for the garage and I hide all sorts of stuff out there. Mostly the kids cereal or snacks. I will buy them some of the sugar stuff that they want but I make them mix it half and half with the low sugar stuff (like cocoa krispies with rice krispies). They want 10,000 boxes open at once so I keep a few open in the house and hide the rest. They now know that I do this but they also know that we only have as many boxes in the pantry as the space in there will allow and they must finish a box before I'll open a new one. Same with chips and other snacks. I don't want 5 bags open at the same time!
My husband could make 2 M&Ms last 2 months! I'M the one who needs to have the goodies hidden from me.
Unfortunately, since I'm the one who buys it and stores it, I always know where it is.
Can anyone say, "Self-control?"
Post a Comment