2022 Fall Home and Garden

Page 12 2022 Fall Home & Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS Sept. 23, 2022 DO shop with coupons but DON’T buy something just because you have a coupon Many coupons are ‘two for’ deals or cents off when you buy multiples. If it is a product that you use a lot of and you often buy multiples then DO take advantage of those opportunities. If it is not a product you use, then again, you are not saving more, you are spending more. Sometimes you need to SPEND money to MAKE money. Take a look at your current food storage capacity. Do you have a freezer or do you rely on the freezer space in your refrigerator? If the latter is true, how much space do you actually have for long term food storage? Probably not a lot. You might want to consider investing in a deep freezer so you can save money at the grocery store. How does that work? Multiple ways. A favorite idea is to take advantage of some of the local food fundraisers, such as the annual meat sale at Zion Lutheran School. You can place orders for locally sourced pork products and the prices are less than you will pay at the grocery store. Well packaged, pork will keep in the freezer for up to a year. In November, you will see sales on turkey and in December on ham. Take advantage of those sales to stock up for the winter and save on the grocery bill during a time of year when you are paying heating costs. Preserve vegetables from your garden or the items your family and friends share with you. Many veggies are good straight from the freezer. Green beans, lima beans, peppers, summer squash, broccoli, and cauliflower are fine examples of this. The advantages are that you can stock up for six months to a year and save money during the winter months. You can also preserve leftovers in the freezer. A favorite is make a big pot of chili and freeze single-meal-sized containers for later use. You save dollars with less food waste, and have a quick thaw and fix on days you don’t have time to cook. Finally, know that not every suggestion is going to work for you and your family. Trial and error is the best way to decide which tips saving you money. And the bottom line is whatever you do, do so conscientiously. Don’t buy without thinking, planning, and budgeting and always make a list before heading out to the grocery. Happy shopping! [Nila Smith]