"20 Ways To Spend Less on
Groceries For Holidays"
From the non-profit Institute of Consumer Financial
Education (ICFE)
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RELEASE: December 2002
CONTACT: Paul Richard, RFC, ICFE Executive Director
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San Diego, CA. About 30 cents of every take-home dollar is spent
on household and grocery items, says the nonprofit Institute of Consumer
Financial Education (ICFE), a San Diego based organization dedicated to
helping consumers of all ages become better spenders, regular savers and
wise users of credit. Holiday entertaining budgets can escalate rapidly, so
here are 20 tips from the nonprofit ICFE to help you spend less on groceries
for the holidays in 2002.
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1 |
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Always use a list and minimize number of
trips to the store.
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2 |
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Design the list based on store layout to
save time and money.
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3 |
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Shop alone and avoid going to the store
just before a meal.
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4 |
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Always check store ads and flyers for on
sale money saving specials.
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5 |
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Take advantage of the always plentiful
coupons and rebates.
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6 |
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Shop stores that double or triple coupons
for greater savings.
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7 |
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Cold cuts cost less per pound at the deli
counter.
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8 |
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Save money on cheese: purchase blocks,
slice and shred at home.
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9 |
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Purchase fresh, unpeeled, unwashed,
unpackaged vegetables.
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10 |
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Purchase fruits and vegetables by the bag
for best value.
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11 |
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Purchase milk by the gallon, versus
quarts, for best value.
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12 |
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Bulk buy whenever practical and save on
cost per ounce or pound.
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13 |
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Avoid using expensive cuts of meats in
stews or casseroles.
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14 |
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Compare prices on fresh/frozen turkeys for
more edible meat per pound.
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15 |
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Pre-packaged foods cost 10 to 20 times
more plain or bulk.
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16 |
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Purchase generic or store brands when
practical and money saving.
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17 |
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Purchase fresh seafood in season to avoid
higher prices.
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18 |
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Avoid the more expensive single servings
and so called snack packs
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19 |
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Purchase fruits and vegetables in season
to avoid higher prices.
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20 |
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Items placed at eye level on shelves are
often more expensive.
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The ICFE has available online at:
http://www.icfe.info a Mending
Spending / Money Helps section.
To get the packet by mail, please send $1 plus a Self
Addressed, Stamped 60 cents Envelope (SASE) to:
ICFE Money Helps
PO Box 34070
San Diego, CA 92163-4070
The "Mending Spending / Money Helps" Packet includes:
(1) "ICFE Spender's
Profile" which helps people identify dangerous spending habits"
(2) "15 steps to improve spending"
(3) "How
to spend smarter for household and grocery items"
(4) "How to
set up and implement a spending-plan";
(plus a budget worksheet) for personal and/or family finances
(5) "Dealing
with creditors"
(6) "Steps
to take to reduce indebtedness" and more
About the ICFE:
The Institute of Consumer Financial Education (ICFE),
founded in 1982 by the late Loren Dunton - creator of the “certified
financial planner” (CFP) designation - is dedicated to helping consumers
of all ages to improve their spending, increase savings and use credit
more wisely. The years between 1984 and 2000, the ICFE was also known as
the National Center for Financial Education (NCFE).
The ICFE is a nonprofit consumer education organization that has helped millions of people through its education programs and resources. Over
one million “Credit
/ Debit Card Warning
Labels” and “Credit
/ Debit Card Sleeves” are in circulation world wide.
The ICFE’s on-line help for consumers who spend too much
was featured in PARADE Magazine (June 9th, 2002) in the Intelligence
Report section. The money helps and tips are from the “Money
Instruction Book,” a course in personal finance, which was completely
revised and updated in 2002 and is positioned to become among the premier
programs in the new bankruptcy and debtor education initiatives.
The ICFE’s “Do-It-Yourself Credit File Correction
Guide,” now in its Twelfth Printing, is in use by thousands of consumer credit and debt
counselors in addition to tens of thousands of consumers. It received a
“buy” rating in July, August and November from nationally syndicated
financial columnist, Humberto Cruz in his column, “The Savings Game".
BottomLine Personal newsletter gave the Guide a “Send For” rating in
September 2001. The ICFE and our do-it-yourself approach to credit file
correction was featured on NBC Nightly News on 04-30-02. The Spanish
edition of the Guide premiered in January 2002. Syndicated columnist,
Robert Heady also gave the ICFE Guide a “buy” rating.
The ICFE Web site at: www.icfe.info helps consumers with
mending spending, learn about the
proper use of credit, budget and expense guidelines, how to set up and implement a
spending-plan and also access financial education courses and videos and how to
teach children about money. Other ICFE services include a
free eNewsletter, and an
on-line resource center of financial education
learning tools, including videos, books and personal finance courses.
Consumers may learn more on the Internet about the "Do-It-Yourself
Credit File Correction Guide" here, or fill out our request
form, indicating your areas of interest.
For more information contact Paul Richard, RFC ICFE Executive Director at 619-239-1401.
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