Trading Up Downtown

As you probably know, coupons and in-store sales are a grear way to save money at the grocery store while you shop,  but you can even save more with some smart shopping strategies. Here are some tips to help you make budget-friendly choices in the bread aisle!

1. Check out the day-old shelf: Most grocery stores have a day-old shelf or rack where you can find day-old bread at a deeply discounted price. If you don’t know where yours is located, ask the bakery counter. Day-old bread is perfect for making your own bread crumbs or French toast.
2. Take advantage of buy one, get one deals: Don’t need two loaves of bread? Buy one and freeze one for later!
3. Get creative: Is your bread at home about to expire? Crumble it into burgers or meatloaf. You’ll use less meat without skipping out on flavor, which means you’ll save some money in the end!
4. Make your own snacks: Instead of buying expensive bags of chips, make your own at home using corn or flour tortillas. Crisp up the tortillas in the oven (or toaster oven) and sprinkle with sea salt or garlic powder.

Trading Up Downtown Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who entered this week’s giveaway! Here’s you winner: 75!

Congrats, Daria! Please email me at thaupert@nuval.com with you full name and mailing address to claim your prize.

Have you ever heard of an oil mister? Is a great little kitchen tool that you fill with olive oil and use to “mist” your food or a cooking dish– sort of like nonstick cooking spray, but a lot more nutritious for you and, of course, less chemically. It’s also a great way to save calories and fat (if you’re watching your weight) as well as your hard-earned money!

I recently received a fancy bottle of expensive truffle oil for Christmas, so I put it in my oil mister to help me use less of it so it lasts longer. Instead of pouring the truffle oil, I light spritz it on my meals/food.

Trading Up Downtown Giveaway

Thanks to everyone who entered this week’s giveaway! Here’s your winner: 20!

Congrats, Lindsay! Please email me at thaupert@nuval.com with your full name and mailing address to claim your prize.

Gah! Christmas is just a day away! Have you finished your holiday shopping or did you leave it until the last-minute? As you probably know, if you started your shopping weeks ago, you’d be able to shop around and find the best deals. However, if you waited until now to do it, you don’t have that luxury. You still need to buy presents for your loved ones, so what’s the best way to do it without spending an arm and leg?

Here are three tips for saving money on your last-minute holiday shopping!

1. Shop at a mall or plaza. There isn’t much time to shop for everyone on your list, so instead of driving all over town, head to your local mall or a shopping plaza with tons of stores. This way, you can buy lots of gifts in a short amount of time, and if you want to do some price comparisons, you don’t have far to go if you find a similar item at a cheaper price.
2. Pay cash. One of the best ways to avoid overspending is to leave your credit cards at home. You can’t spend what you don’t have! Once you withdraw cash at the start of your gift-shopping trip, you’ll need to stick to your budget to make sure you buy presents for everyone on your list. If you feel uneasy about carrying a lot of cash, try using a prepaid debit card, which are available from most banks.
3. Purchase gift cards. When all else fails, gift cards are the way to go. The person who you are buying for can pick out whatever they want and you get to determine how much you want to spend, so you won’t go over-budget.

What’s are your tips for saving money on last-minute gifts?

Trading Up Downtown Giveaway

Congrats! Please email me at thaupert@nuval.com with your full name and mailing address to claim your prize.