June 17, 2008 08:20 am
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With many food prices rising significantly, what can consumers do to stretch their grocery dollars a little farther each time they go to the supermarket? Kroger and The Village Store shoppers offer their suggestions.
Kathy Salyer, Lookout, says, “I don’t buy stuff unless it’s on sale .... (and) when things are on sale, I buy extra .... I don’t buy instant stuff. I don’t even go down that aisle.”
Kathy Lemen, Batesville, indicates she is using more coupons. Kerrie Schneider, Sunman, reveals that “some of the fruit considered in season is too expensive” so she will “wait until it is available locally” before she buys any.
Adam Thomas, Batesville, notes that he is “buying off brands rather than the name brands .... because they all taste the same.”
Christina Chakkor, New Point, says, “We go to the slaughterhouse for meats because it’s a lot cheaper, and I planted a garden for the vegetables.” She also admits, “We hardly ever go out to eat anymore.”
Some customers say they are baking more noodles and bread, and others maintain they are not dining out as much as they did before. Many report that they are buying the cheaper toiletries to make up for the food costs.
Kathy Kerker, Oldenburg, who runs the Batesville Casket Co. cafeteria, reports that her vendor has increased prices by 15 percent. In addition, “Sam’s Club prices have really went up .... paper products and just everything.
“I can see there’s a big change. People aren’t buying as much as they used to .... It’s sad to see. You know people are in a bind.” She has also noticed “a lot of people bringing their lunch over at the factory.”
Expert advice
Holly Murray, Franklin County consumer and family sciences extension educator, offers tips to help with the rising cost of food and groceries:
• Plan meals: Don’t wait until everyone is so hungry that fast food seems like the only alternative.
• Use a grocery list when you shop and stick to it.
• Buy in bulk if you can safely store the quantity and will use it. However, it is better to buy a smaller quantity at a higher price if you use it all than to buy more at a lower per unit cost and end up throwing a bunch away because it spoils.
• Use coupons for items you’d buy anyway, but think twice before using coupons for items that might be a quality or quantity upgrade.
• Sometimes it makes sense to shop at more than one store, but if you do that it is also important to consider the cost of gas to get there and the cost of time.
• Consider the time/cost trade-off: When can you do more from scratch, which usually costs less, and when does convenience matter more than cost? An example is shredded cheese. A block of cheese costs less than shredded cheese, and you can shred just what you need.
• Reconsider portion sizes: For example, what sized meat portions do you typically eat? Can you make them smaller and still feel satisfied? It saves both money and calories to do this.
• After the meal, store leftovers safely, and make a plan to use them in future meals.
• Buy what is in season: Consider farmers’ markets, farm stands or U-pick farms.
• Grow your own produce: Tomatoes, peppers, squash or strawberries can be grown in a container garden.
For more information, persons may contact Murray at 765-647-3511.
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