You’ve made it! After reading the conclusion of this four-part article (here are parts ONE, TWO and THREE), you will know exactly what to do with your grocery store haul. Moreover, you’ll be armed with some great ideas for growing your own food, even if you live in the city.

• Bring a snack and bottle of water when you go out – Cut back on the temptation to grab a soda and fries at the drive through. Basic snacks from home like fruit, nuts, granola or even carrot sticks are cheap and healthy, as is water
• Grow your own produce – Home gardening is a great way to save on food. Recent studies indicate that 90 percent or more of those who do this view their food garden as something akin to a savings account. If you tend to it during growing seasons, you’ll have food when you need it. And if you don’t have enough space to grow your own produce, have you considered a square foot garden? Pots on the patio can also work

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• Freeze, can, dehydrate – This can preserve foods you aren’t going to eat right away. Many foods will last a long while in the freezer; here are some tips from the United States Department of Agriculture. Canning is also useful, as is dehydrating
• Use a crock pot or convection oven – They are more energy-efficient (cheaper) than your standard range or microwave oven. Furthermore, they don’t alter the molecular structure of food the way a microwave does. Crock pots are even safe to leave on during the day, so long as they’re set to low. By the time you get home from work, your dinner can be done after a day in the pot

Thanks for reading about ways to survive the recession. Now that your grocery shopping budget and eating habits are (hopefully) in order, stay with us for future installments of “Surviving the Recession,” where I’ll talk about ways to save on gasoline and automobile expenses!

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OK, so last time we talked about how to be a smart shopper at the grocery store. It’s vitally important to spend our money wisely, particularly during an economic recession. However, our food consumption habits are equally important in the quest to save money. Here are just a few helpful hints for making the food you buy count – and last.

• Eat less meat - Not only because meat is more expensive than grains, vegetables and fruits, but because eating less meat is a positive move for the environment. The United Nations encourages this because the greenhouse gases emitted by large cattle populations is 23 times more responsible in global warming than carbon dioxide
• Become a vegetarian – Hey, I’m a carnivore like most of you, but even I can see that a vegetarian diet is less expensive than a meat habit. Don’t let $1 double cheeseburgers fool you; on average, the price per pound that you’d pay for vegetarian staples is much less than what you’d pay for ground beef, chicken and more. For instance, a recent MSN Money article shows that ground round averages around $3 per pound and boneless chicken breasts around $3.40 per pound. Dried beans and lentils, on the other hand, go for less than $1 per pound while rice is well below that price point. The prices of fruits and nuts vary widely by season, but so long as you aren’t dependent upon buying organic (which is great if you have the money), you can shop for less
• Eat leftovers – The Department of Agriculture says you should eat refrigerated leftovers within four days, which should give you many opportunities to play the leftovers card. Not only will you save money on food and gas, but you’ll save time. To spice things up, add in a new, complimentary ingredient if possible on leftover nights

CLICK HERE to continue on your path to being a smart food consumer!

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Payday loans help, but they aren’t the only way to grab emergency cash…

Tough economic times has all of us counting our pennies. You know you do it. Why should excess money sit around in mason jars instead of filling your wallet on a trip to the grocery store?

Speaking of grocery stores, I have some good financial news for you. Ever seen one of those Coinstar machines at the front of the store? Dump your coinage into the tray, the machine counts it and prints you a voucher with the total (minus a small service fee). You redeem the voucher at any register or the store’s customer service desk for more convenient paper money. It’s like emergency cash.

They’re in the money

Apparently, these machines have become increasingly popular with cash conscious consumers. As the Associated Press reports, Coinstar expects a first-quarter 2009 profit after a 2008 Q4 profit of $4.2 million. Shares in the company are expected to up anywhere from four to 10 cents per share on revenue of $260 to $270 million. Their Q4 profit translated to an extra 15 cents per share, based upon not only the success of its coin-counting machines, but Redbox DVD and money transfer products.

On the strength of the past two quarters’ revenue, Coinstar upped its 2009 projection to $1.3 billion. Analysts expect their annual revenue to be $1.09 billion. This blows away the previous year, when they lost $37.2 million.

By any means necessary, some companies find a way to fill the void during a recession. Coinstar has filled a need for consumers, just as payday loans have.

Related articles

• Market braces for ‘terrible,’ ‘awful’ news (money.cnn.com)
• A Tale of Two Companies (jeffnolan.com)

Payday loans are sometimes necessary. An unexpected financial event can take place, leaving you strapped for extra cash. Instead of applying for payday loans to pay off the unforeseen expense, a lot of people end up paying more on overdraft fees and other penalty charges.

Payday loans are short-term, designed as a last resort for those who are in financial dire straits. Although payday loans are a great option when you are short on money, time and resources, there are ways to prepare for any unexpected events that may occur in the future. Difficult times are moving people towards payday loans and on the search for ways to make and save more money.

Preventative Measures to Make

Amidst the current economic crisis, we can’t afford to waste any money. The economy is still at its worst and there appears to be no sign of things getting better any time soon. However, we should not allow ourselves to shrink back and avert from the horizon. There are essential steps to make in order to secure your current and future financial stability.

Overspending is one of the biggest mistakes people make. Before you venture out into the world of market, plan out a budget and create a shopping list that fits well within that budget. This will help you avoid making purchases on impulse. Stick to what you need. Of course it can be hard to pass up a great deal, especially with all these crazy close-out sales going on. But learning to calm your urges as soon as they ascend will instill a lasting sense of financial freedom no discount sale can offer. Stick with simplicity.

Spending Enough to Buy Starbucks

Another huge expense is coffee. Yes you caffeine junkies, I said coffee. Starbucks is one of the most popular coffee companies in the nation. Despite the declining economic conditions, the company still manages to scrape in some hundreds of millions of dollars in net earnings. Even with a deteriorating economy, consumers are still willing to pay $4 for a latte. But that $4 you spend on a daily basis can accumulate to an enormous amount of money that could be going into your savings fund. What should you do you ask? It’s actually quite simple. Invest in a coffee maker and make your own coffee at home.

Having Dignity in Saving

There is no shame to apply for payday loans or even by clipping coupons. Times like these, finding ways to create an extra money flow is absolutely important. Comparing prices of products in different grocery stores, buying store brands, and buying in bulk are some of the best ways you can save money. Create homemade meals around staples such as beans, rice, and pasta. You can put together a delicious feast the family will enjoy and still have extra cash in your pocket.

Get Back on Track With a Payday Loan

There are many things you can do to save money. By practicing these money saving techniques, your chances of needing payday loans in the future will be slim to none. However, there may be times when life’s surprising affairs will cause you to stumble and fall short on your finances; applying for payday loans may be your best option.

Buying groceries in bulk and shopping only once a month can pay big dividends.

When it comes to your personal finances, identifying where you can cut costs on your monthly bills can save you a lot of extra money as well as keep you from having to borrow a payday loans at the end of the month for the lack thereof.

Besides your home mortgage, there are few monthly expenses that will exceed that of the average family’s grocery bill. Their are a few strategies you can implement here to help you save the extra money which we know you can find a use for elsewhere.

Shopping For Savings

Shopping for savings is easy but requires a little effort and time for preparation but will pay big dividends for those who chose to do so. Here is a quick list of tips to get you started saving money on your grocery bill today.

Buying In Bulk

Buying in bulk is a common strategy used for saving extra cash in just about every category of consumer goods. Rarely however, do we implement the same strategy with our grocery bill. Most families pay a visit to the grocery store at least twice a week finding it easier to just shop for a few days at a time.

By sitting down and planning out meals a month in advance, you can go to your local wholesale depot and buy everything you need for the entire month with the exception of milk, on one grocery bill.

Planning ahead allows you to purchase larger containers and quantities of product which provides you savings benefits when shopping at many wholesale grocery suppliers.

When buying in bulk and shopping once a month, you also have the added benefit of saving the extra money on the gas and time it takes to go back and forth to and from the store each week.

When Buying in bulk make sure you have adequate cold storage space.

Finding Extra Food Storage

Buying in bulk may have it’s difficulties when it comes to food storage but believe it or not, you will find it much easier, more cost effective and well worth your while to clear out and designate an extra closet for pantry space if you have to.

Much depends on how you plan your meals for the month. You will want to be conscientious when it comes to refrigerated goods as you may be limited on cold storage place for vegetables, fruits, cheese and eggs unless you have an extra fridge in your basement or garage.

Freezer space may also be a factor so investing in a chest freezer may be well worth your while in the long run and will allow you to take advantage of periodic sales on meat and other freezer goods as they arise.

Comparison Shopping With Weekly Circulars

Like payday loans lenders, it pays to shop around for different providers.  Of all the wholesale food suppliers in your area, Costco is usually the most popular but often times you may find better deals elsewhere so be sure to do a little comparison shopping before settling on you place of choice. It may pay to shop at two or three places depending on the deals that you may find in your weekly circulars or sales adds that are delivered to your door on a weekly basis. If don’t get them delivered to your door they will be freely available at your local grocery store. Invest the time to compare prices between the different retail chains and take advantage of the deals that you find before you set out shopping on the big day.

Planning Ahead Saves On Impulse Buying

By planning ahead and creating a list you also save extra cash by avoiding impulse buying. Often time we go to the store hungry or without an idea of what we really need which usually results in buying things we don’t need as well as forgetting the things that we do. Shopping without a plan or without a list results in wasteful spending and extra trips to the store.

The tips above will help get you well on your way to saving money, saving time, and even eating a healthier and more balanced diet depending on the time that you invest into the process.

Stay tuned to the payday loans money blog for part II of Grocery Shopping For Big Savings.

Heath, Adolph and Deborah

Can’t take a hint

The Campbells have called the same grocery store every year to request a “Happy Birthday Adolph Hilter” cake. They’ve also made requests for swastikas to be included on the cake. Each year their request is denied.

Why do they keep calling the same grocery store and making the same request? Are they trying to make a point? I think the grocery store is making the better point: Change your kid’s name. Being denied birthday cake is going to be the easiest thing your child ever has to go through because of his name.

Conflicting stories

With the national spotlight firmly focused on them, the Campbells have defended themselves and their son’s name. The boy’s father, Heath Campbell, says in several articles that he only chose the name because no one else would have it. “They need to accept a name. A name’s a name,” he said to the Associated Press.

Heath says he believes the Nazis were bad people. I find that a little hard to believe. The family’s home is reportedly decorated with swastikas. Adoph’s sisters are named JoyceLynn Aryan Nation and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie.

What’s the catch?

So Heath is apparently smart enough not to reveal his true feelings on Nazis to the nation. His family is already under enough fire (rightfully so, I think) for their son’s name; imagine if Heath admitted to being a white supremacist. So he keeps his mouth shut.

Heath is smart enough to protect himself from the wrath of a nation, but what about poor Adolph?

Bad parenting 101: Setting your child up for a world of pain

Children make fun of perfectly normal names in school. They mercilessly and cruelly tease kids with names that are unusual. Just imagine what this kid will have to go through. And though the emotional scars inflicted in grade school often don’t heal for decades, it will only get worse for this kid.

He didn’t choose his name. But people will take it out on him. I’ll admit flat out, if I met someone named Adolph Hitler I’d certainly think twice before associating with him. Think about what will happen when he applies for jobs, college, installment loans or an apartment. A lot of the people reading those applications will never see his face or get to hear him say, “I didn’t choose this name. I’m not a Nazi.”

Advice for Adolph 15  years from now

My hope is that this kid will at least be educated enough by the time he is 18 to know he can change his own name. It would be better if his parents would wake up to reality and change it for him before then, but this would be a good last resort.

Then again, maybe he WILL grow  up to be a white supremacist. Maybe his parents will brainwash him into thinking that he, too, should defend his name and ask people to accept it. Either way, I sure feel sorry for this kid.

Let the poor kid eat cake

The New Jersey Wal-Mart filled the order for Adolph’s birthday cake, just as it has twice before. I don’t have an opinion about either store’s decision to print or not print the kid’s name on a cake. I think there is only one villain in this story, and it’s the person who announced to the doctor that it would be on a birth certificate.

I’m sure Adolph will be able to secure installment loans without changing his name; it just might go more smoothly if he does.

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