1. Spices 2. Houseware 3. Batteries 4. Pre-cut produce 5. Bottled water 6. Diapers 7. Baking mixes 8. Gift cards 9. Pet food 10. Items that aren’t on your shopping list
Dried beans and rice too. I cook big batches of beans and store them in my freezer in pint-sized mason jars. I just defrost one when I need a "can" of beans.
They also routinely fire people for unionizing and make them scapegoats through smear campaigns that make them the face of all union activity. There is plenty of resources that show tons of examples of amazon being immoral and abusing their workers, even firing people for showing signs of exaustion after setting unrealistic expectations. The convenience isnt worth the abuse of the working class, and amazon isn't even a cheaper options, please consider using other sources.
@@slaughterbean5318 why don't you mention the other sources if you dislike Amazon so much? A lot of large companies do these sort of things. Of course it is awful but a lot of people don't see alternatives in their price range that aren't an Amazon or Walmart
Buying price per ounce or buying in bulk is only a good option if you're going to use the item on a day to day basis and if you'll realistically need the item again once you run out. I don't think I'd ever use 25oz of garlic powder in my lifetime. One small shaker will last me about a year, so paying more for a larger quantity, even if I'm paying less per ounce is a bad investment.
For me, I never have the money to buy in bulk. Yeah, in the long run I'm saving money but if I need garlic powder now, I don't have $20 to spend JUST on spices. That $20 might be my entire week's worth of shopping. This is always the case for me and it's why, though I have a discount for Costco with my job, I don't get the membership. I'd love to, but I just don't have the money for bulk shopping. Not just spices, for anything.
Does your store have a minimum purchase quantity on bulk items? I've never heard of that before in my state but I might not disbelieve that it happens.. You can usually bring your own containerc if environmentally conscious (like me) and get an automatic scale weight from the counter at checkout, then fill it with how ever much you need and they can subtract the weight of the container you brought. You can also use the containers they provide for an easier time if you are fine with wasting plastics. A great part of buying in bulk is it's cheaper, but also you have the option to buy only what you need or want. Even though it's a little more time consuming to go grab your tea or spices, oil,flour, honey, potato flakes, ect. by scooping it and writing the bin number down it's well worth it financially and in space saving. BUT that being said, paying for convenience is very profitable for big companies. In a world so busy as well as synthetically busy... it's hard not to fall prey to consumer marketing as it's well planned out like that purposefully. It's not something you can really avoid systematically speaking and it's up to the individual what is worth it or not, and what aligns with their own values. But yeah if it's a spice or bulk item you are really only going to use a small bit of once and not day to day, I would say if possible still buy from the bulk section. Just only but what you need, which is something far harder to get or get exactly buying a prepackaged spice with higher markup for example. Again though, up to you and what you want to do. And that's okay.
**If you have a disability that prevents you from chopping produce but still want to eat fruits and veggies please do not feel bad about buying pre-cut options**
The pre-cut is bad for the environment and really not necessary for about 95% of the population is not 'from privilige' - if you can avoid it you absolutely should. I personally think they should have a cutting service at the supermarket. There is also someone working at the deli discounter etc. Do it for a cost or free for disabled. If you have to pack lunches for kids there are plenty of quick cutter options for apples, mango, pinapples or small portion fruit like grapes and berries. You also make and cut a sandwich don't you? Do the fruits in bulk in the evening or something but buying precut is wasteful if you don't actually need it due to a disability. Sometimes it is convenient yes but don't use an excuse to at least challenge yourself to buy more whole fruits.
Quick tip regarding the shopping list one: make a huge master list of food items you regularly use, food items you only use occasionally, and anything that needs regular restocking (toilet paper, kitchen paper, etc) in your house. Separate the list into subheadings (fruit and veg, meat, household, baking, etc). Put this list somewhere really accessible and memorable. Maybe even laminate it to avoid ruining the paper. Then, whenever you need to make a grocery list, go through your master list to make sure you don't forget anything. It's really handy if you eat a very wide range if foods, or if you're a member of a large family and need to restock most things regularly, but have some other products that go unnoticed as empty until they're desperately needed
Excellent ideas Tasha. Grocery stores are so good at those impulse buys and placing things strategically so you walk by them and buy the things you really don't even need on the way out. We've actually started buying our milk, eggs and bread at the dollar store on the way home. The dollar stores are using these must-have, every day items to bring people into the store and it's usually at a huge discount to what we find even at Walmart. Of course, the trick is to get in and out without buying everything else in the store.
Consumer Reports says that dollar stores are more expensive for a lot of food because you actually get less for a $1. Like 4 oz. of something is $2 at regular store but 1 oz. is $1 at dollar store. That's a 100% mark-up! I still go there, a lot. Where you save money is in plastic items. Kitchen supplies are CHEAP!
Emily Stark that’s what I was thinking! I literally spend about $4 a year on spices. And I buy that shit at the grocery store because I’m not about to spend my time trying to acquire elsewhere 😂
Emily Stark shoot bought a sams club size of my favorite spice a year ago for 8.00 and still working on it and I think that was the last spice I bought 😂 I think in the past 5 years I might have spent 100 on spices lmao but not 100 a year and I spice everything lol
I cook a lot and try a lot of recipes: Chinese, Thai, Indian, Mexican, so I buy a lot of spices at a local Asian grocery. 6-8 oz bags run around $3. I put it in a pint mason jar at home.
I would add Don't buy that lottery ticket. Even though I was buying merely $1 at a time twice a week from the convenient vending machine at the grocery store, I'm flittering away $96 a year. That's far more than a Costco membership or even a yearly contribution to PBS. Long ago I heard someone say the lottery is the poor people's tax, and I believe it's true.
I pay attention to the price ‘per unit’ which means, for example, when buying laundry detergent, I divide the price by how many loads a bottle is. I do this all the time with toilet paper bc different brands will be on “sale” so I calculate based on single rolls. Sometimes what’s on sale isn’t better than another brand’s price.
So do I! But I like to use the little label they put on shelves telling you how much each item is "per ounce." As my eyesight gets worse I look like a little old lady leaning in trying to see the numbers! Still worth it so much.
@@SaikoKujo Lol, yes it sure is worth it. I checked some labels, but I think some have been removed. I was surprised to see Tide didn't have the label include per ounce and the specific bottle I always get was now doubled in price.
@@dccd673 Toilet paper is the WORST thing to try to compare! The size and thickness are different for every brand AND within the brands! Consumer Reports put out a chart trying to show the "best deals" but even that didn't make sense. They basically said find one you LIKE, then try to buy it on sale. Big help! I buy the 30pk at Costco. The rolls are so big they barely fit the roller, in diameter AND width. But @50¢ a roll it seems a good deal.
Love this channel, but I'm often surprised how things differ between Europe and USA. Here all those items You should buy in grocery store cause they would be cheapest xd
Don't forget your local Indian or international markets. They tend to have cheaper prices for a larger amount, plus you get to support a local business vs. the bigger stores or Amazon.
A question for the whole TFD team. When you're aware Amazon's low prices come from exploiting labour, how do you align saving yourself money with knowing that the workers providing you the items don't have enough money to live? Not accusatory, just curious
most of the everyday things ppl buy come from low cost labour, so unless you actually source everything you buy it doesn't really matter. everything has a cost.
i obviously can't speak for tfd but i personally find the more i look into it none of the brick and mortar stores in my area really have better practices. probably (hopefully) this isn't the case in every town in America but in some areas it really is all the same.
I mention Amazon twice as an easy example but suggest ordering online generally. There are other online retailers that you can purchase from if you object to Amazon.--Tasha
I would suggest going to farmer markets or local ethnic stores. There is also thrive market which I belive is just for food and an alternative to Amazon.
The baking mix math is really bad here. Cake mixes are quite often cheaper (or comparable) than the component ingredients, as are brownie mixes. Some people will never make more than one or two baked goods a year, so buying huge bags of flour and sugar doesn't make sense when mixes are only a dollar or two.
Along with, if you're a terrible baker or chef, you may wind up throwing batches away because they turned out poorly, thus you wasted money.. A mix, pretty much idiot proof.. I enjoy baking from scratch and even I've made mistakes from time to time [not paying attention and adding twice as much of an ingredient needed].
We use a Zero Water filter to avoid bottled water, and I'll fill reusable water bottles at home and stick them in the fridge for easy grab-and-go. We also try to buy meat in bulk and freeze it to get cost per pound down. My hubs was just talking about how it was like $3 for a thing of ground pepper at the grocery store. We'll buy that in bulk/online instead. Thanks, Tasha, for the tips!
About bottled water. I recently bought me a pitcher water filter. Honestly I didn’t know they existed until I found out about them through a friend. They are GREAT! I haven’t bought any bottled water which is great because I live alone now. All of it is filtered is tastes great. Seriously, invest in a pitcher filter!!
I try to shop at local ethnic groceries, legit farmers markets and Costco, where possible. Particularly for things like spices, fruits and veggies, and meats. The quality is often higher than supermarkets. I wash, prep and cut up the fruits and veggies, then freeze them to use quickly as needed during the week. Same goes for breaking down builk packs of meats. Works out partiularly well if you are only cooking for one or two people.
I like the bulk sections of stores to save money too. Those tiny pretty glass jars are nutso expensive. Huge fan of the water bottle tip! Great job Tasha and TFD!
I love you manage to get in a green perspective and combining it with money saving advice. For me sustainability is super important so I love how it is highlighted here and there, thanks TLF!
As an aside, get your rechargeable batteries from ikea. They are super high quality, last way longer without recharging and are basically the last batteries you will ever have to buy.
For spices it’s a better deal at the grocery store here. I can get 3.4oz for 89 cents of the basic ones I use. Onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, season salt, cumin, chili powder, and a handful of others I don’t remember. The Italian season is the only mix, but I can get the others to make my own mixes.
How can so many people be so ignorant when it comes to Amazon? Have you never seen a documentary about Amazon? (If not, do it!) This company is really not something you want to support and I'm normally not the SJW kind of person. The salary the pay, the harm it does to the environment to ship everything etc (the list goes on and on). Stop supporting companies like Amazon just because they are cheap and think about why they are that cheap :) Thanks for listening and sorry for any potential spelling mistakes, english is not my mother tongue.
I mention Amazon twice as an easy example but suggest ordering online generally. There are other online retailers that you can purchase from if you object to Amazon.--Tasha
Find me a company where you can be financially frugal, that doesn't have exploitative practices in order to keep costs down. Also, there are stores and brands on Amazon that are their own companies. I buy fair-trade or organic. Those are the employees I'm focused on supporting, bc they're in far worse conditions than American workers here. Also, many of those who work for low wage at Amazon would be unemployable elsewhere or not find as much growth experience with as much benefits. Clearly nobody is putting a gun to their head, these are willing hires. In fact, you only need to research former and current hire rebuttals about the misleading mischaracterization of Amazon. Anybody at any warehouse or desk job at any company is going to give the same story about burnout, humans weren't meant for this kind of work. The problem isn't necessarily these corporations, bc you can't blame them for trying to optimize and take advantage of the laws that allow them to get too big at our expense. We need to change the system and vote politicians who will remove the tax cuts and provide checks & balances. We can also boycott at the consumer level, but you're going to have a hard time finding ethical companies, and save money simultaneously. Yes, Amazon can afford to increase their pay and yes, their shipping is harmful to the environment, but so are most box store companies. We're hyperfocused on Amazons negatives, but Amazon actually has a higher approval rating on Glassdoor than the avg company. I have a much harder time justifying brands like Walmart or The Gap, or Victoria Secret who exploit overseas workers. The workers here at an American-based company at Amazon have it so much better than they do. Unlike us, these foreigners have no choice. Amazon employees are no different than ppl who willingly apply to work at Wall Street, they know it's cut throat, but they're willing to do it for the pay & benefits they get even if it means burnout. Read opposing views about this, before you let one documentary sway you.
I often compare prices online to products in supermarkets. If I can get it for way cheaper online, I’m not gonna buy it. I always see people buying bottled water, but I bought a water pitcher with a filter, like in this video. I already do almost everything said to do in this video, makes me feel kind of good. There is always great advice on this channel (:
Just another tip is to check the prices at different stores! You don't have to do this everytime or even that often, but it has saved my dad a lot of money. He knows that one product will be $.10 cheaper at the other store ect. If you're new to the area, depends on where you live, consider checking out the stores near you and seeing their prices. Some stores will be generally pricier than another, and that can save you a lot!! Just something I found from my Dad's experience haha!
Where I live in Hawaii, water come from the rain. We've got a huge 10k gal water catchment tank in the backyard that collects the rain water from the sky and gutters. It's then filtered when it goes through the water pump with a 1 micron filter to catch all the debri and bugs. Then I take that water from the tap and filter it again through a zero water filter that holds about 2 gallons of water. That's our drinking water. The cost of buying bottled water is far more expensive than filtering the water yourself. I don't know what's going on in Flint, but in Hawaii we've got rat lung disease and if my filters can get rid of that nasty stuff, it can get rid of whatever is in your water too. I will never buy bottled water again.
Definitely sticking to the list, I have worked at a couple of stores where people say, "I came in for 2 items," and then they spend $50+ dollars. Also make sure you read sale signs, I have sent many people back into the store since they 1 grabbed a buy 1 get 1 free item. Batteries, keep an eye open for sales since, at least with my company buy 1 get 1 free happens, especially around Christmas.
Thanks for the spice tip, I'm currently moving out and I typically use A LOT of spice in my food, and I was going to skip on buying spice containers to save money and just get the pre-packaged ones since they basically come in their own containers, but I just checked the prices and wow i could save a lot.
I really think it depends on your usage, though. As a college student who usually eats in the Cafeteria on weekdays, prepackaged one are cheaper for me (except for salt) , because I will use one Container in of cinnamon in one or two years.. and splitten Sounds usually great, but then you need extra containers... Same with some precut veggies. 200g of mixen Salat is probably more expansive than making it yourself per gram, but I could never consume a whole kilogram before it gets bad 😅
Loved some of these tips! With regards to the pre cut veggies - lots of people buy these because they’re more likely to use it before it goes bad so they don’t waste money, cutting the produce causes a lot of people stress as opposed to de-stressing, just my opinion though. 😊
It might not seem like a lot of savings going the wholesale route but multiply that by all the different spices you might have. It can add up really quick.
Also, you don’t need eggs to bake most sweets. Even before my husband and I went vegan, we didn’t eat eggs on the regular. We do love sweets, though. Which made it a chore to finish off that carton of eggs once the birthday cake was baked. There are so many alternatives! My favorite is chia seeds and water, though flax will work just as well. They add less flavor as compared to another popular alternative, a mashed banana.
I agree with all you said! Besides, pet food from grocery stores is usually quite bad quality, at least where I live. Also if you have a traditional market with a spice stall near your place, I suggest you buy there those spices you use on a regular basis. It may not seem very cheap, but it does in the long run if you buy 100 g or more. Plus the quality is incredibly better! I buy my oregano and paprika there, and the seasoning they give is glorious!
Pre-cut fruits and veggies are for the disabled, the elderly, those with limited prep space, and those who choose to spend a little more money to opt-out of long food prep times. No one is fooled thinking pre-cut items are the same price as regular produce. If you live in a household where one or both parents work two, three jobs....sorry, putting on some tunes and "enjoying" cutting fruit isn't happening. I bristle at videos that perpetuate the idea that convenience is a moral issue, and that saving money by spending your limited time is inherently a better way to spend your life. There is real value in shrinking food prep time to gain moments for other things, and the idea that people choose to spend that extra money to be lazy is condescending and rude.
I think she's just trying to motivate people who want to cut back on spending, but are also not used to certain things such as cutting their own vegetables. She's not shaming people who buy them, but if you're in a situation where you need to put frugality over time, it's a good swap. This is a list of suggestions you can pick and choose depending on your needs and wants, not a set of moral commandments.
One drawback to pre-cut fruits and vegetables is the rash of e. coli contamination going around recently. Don't really know what the problem is with the processing plants, but it is a serious issue and something to consider. I stopped buying the baby lettuce mixes in the plastic "boxes" because of the possible e. coli contamination.
Hi Tasha, great first (series) video on the channel! A lot of good things in your list, but some things worth mentioning. 5. Unfortunately, it's not really accurate to assume everyone in the US has access to good tap water. I buy bottled water (gallon jugs only, not individual serving sizes) because my town's water source - which I have to be on - comes from the Potomac River, the dirtiest river in the US, and a multitude of issues from source to my door make it a bad idea. We use it for bathing, washing clothes and dishes, but I have to use the bottled water to cook rice and pasta. Also, this is an extreme example, but Flint, MI still doesn't have clean water either. A whole house / prepper style filter would be great but it's not something all of us can afford. 1, 3, 6.. a lot of these actually: There's a few downsides to the buying online thing. Yeah, it seems like there are a lot of great deals on there, enough to make you stop and scratch your head going "HOW can they make it so cheap?" A lot of it is the local chain stores inflating prices to rip you off, but a lot of it is has negative repercussions. When something is shipped just to you, rather than a distribution center like a grocery or warehouse store, there's a bigger footprint. Depending what you order and where it's from, and what subscriptions you have to Amazon or whatever, there might be shipping charges that diminish the discounts, and if their aren't, you should stop and research how the distributors are managing to save you those costs (is it by inhumane labor in some other part of the world?). Also, there is damage to your local economy when too much stuff is being bought online at Amazon and Walmart. The stores close, so you don't have local options, people lose jobs, and if it gets bad enough you end up in a "food desert" they end up jacking the prices for people ordering from/to your area (remind you of how Walmart spread in the first place?). There's also a big loss in sales tax revenue for your state. My state right now is trying to pass, or recently passed, some change to the tax code where next year our form is going to ask "Did you buy anything online," ask you to estimate (I really hope they don't try to make you itemize it), and then calculate from that the sales tax you owe them now. They're viewing online purchases as a sort of circumvention. I think some evidence was presented that a lot of online prices were, in some places, suspiciously close to "the price you'd pay if you didn't have to pay sales tax." Soooo... yeah. Food for thought. Still a great list though I adhere to almost everything on it, just swiping out things like going to the Asian Grocery store for my cheap bulk spices, avoiding battery powered objects (I have no kids, woo), going to the actual Petco/Pet Smart, and just giving people cash instead of gift cards because I'm literally a Jewish Uncle. Welcome again! Looking forward to more of your videos. :)
I agree about the online businesses hurting local one's. There will be no stores left, and when there are no stores left those discounted prices will stop along with the free shipping. Also you'll have to be very deliberate in how you shop because you can't get anything last minute not without paying an exorborant shipping fee. And it''s hard to have a shopping experience with friends in front of a computer. Or special moments like when I was a child and was taken to Toy's R Us to pick out a toy because it was my birthday or I had been so good. It wasn't very large or expensive, my mother was a single parent, but it was special to me and I remember the whole experience. Now there are very few toy stores left and trecking through Walmart or again sitting in front of a computer just isn't the same.
I just bought a stainless steel distiller online a couple months ago and it's AMAZING, only cost me $90 and I never have to buy filters or cleaning supplies. The distiller can be cleaned with white vinegar very cheaply. Some clean it once per month--but bc I make 2 gallons of water per day, I clean it once per week. I get very clean water (even cleaner than filtered water) for just pennies. The savings are a buttload and it's less plastic, so better for the environment!
+Carmen Alderton I meant that the "generally" itself wasn't really accurate. There are a lot more exceptions than the news stations would let on, and even on places that aren't clearly contaminated to the point that it looks brown, there's a lot of shady crap that comes from water departments. Mine in particular releases a letter roughly every three months that goes like, "Well we failed our test to x the past three months but are required by law to tell you after the third failure. The water is still safe to drink but we're not doctors and if you have any concerns consult your physician." Other areas have problems and don't even tell you that much. The world is very dirty because of us and clean water is just going to get harder and harder to come by.
Great tips. I have something to add, regarding pre-cut produce. If there’s just one or two of you, shopping pre-cuts at the salad bar is actually not wasteful. Buying a whole lot of produce and only using about a fifth of it is. So I will sheet for four bucks for a stir fry meal for two and buy the veggies at the salad bar. And I understand not practical for larger families
@@yippehanako Well, I do have about 40 different spices and herbs in my pantry, lemon pepper or any seasoning salt is not one of them. So apparently not "everyone". I have to ask my friends - now I'm curious who has that stuff in the house :-)
Actually, it's not necessarily true that buying online is worse for the environment than shopping in person. And in fact, in this video I recommend subscribe and save, where you aggregate your purchases into one big delivery a month. Check out this article for more info on what's better for the environment: www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ask-mr-green/whats-better-for-environment-shopping-store-or-online --Tasha
Either the truck delivers your food at your door or you drive to the grocery store and drive back. It's the same, except you waste time going to the store.
@@neiya8862 recycling doesnt have anything to do with sourcing since someone has to travel to get that food in the first place for you to be able to recycle the packaging. Recycling is still an energy-intensive process with the recycled goods needing to be transported. A lot of stuff you recycle gets thrown away anyway since the standards for those who buy recylced materials (like China) are getting more stringent. Recycling isnt a free pass for someone to say their consumption doesnt matter.
Dollar stores are great for cooking utensils, they are often the same or better quality that is at the grocery store, and most will be a dollar. I used to work in high end kitchens and this is what most cooks will tell you, and we have whole tool kits full of this stuff.
One way to save more money instead of just buying cloth diapers is to get your child who is just turning one directly onto the potty. My nephew was pulling out the changing mat and grabbing the wipes himself and then laying down and we decided, yeah he's probably ready to use the 🚽. He was just turning one. It can be done.
talking about giftcards: you can also get creative and write one yourself per hand or create one on your computer. take it to the next level and give a whole shopping trip where you pay for one special thing (which is the gift card part) the beloved person can choose and afterwards you can have a cup of coffee/lunch together. a present and quality time together :)
On 4: There are disabled people (eg: people with arthritic hands, joint issues, et al) who need their stuff pre-cut and may not live with someone who can chop things for them.
Check out if your favorite store has a loyalty program. Sometimes the rewards from such programs can save you money on groceries, gas , etc. Also, some stores offer programs where the store will send you digital coupons which can save you money. And don't forget to consider buying the store brands as they are often made by the same companies that make the name brand products and are just as good and a lot cheaper.
The Badia brand of spices are usually over half the price of the stuff in the baking/spices aisle and are just as good. They’re usually near the Mexican food instead.
dont buy garlic powder - save 4 dollars. Dont have a kid, save $250k(im sure this number differs greatly depending on source, the point is that they're expensive af). Wow, better head over to amazon to get some spices ASAP.
pet food is so true. A can of medium quality soft food is 0.66 at the store, and the same brand is 0.34(!) when buying online in bulk. The online shop also carries high quality brands that the typical mall would never have in stock
Americans obsession with baking mixes is something I never really understood. Baking isn't hard you just have to follow the recipe, and buying every ingredient separately is generally cheaper too.
But with separate ingredients you do the same - mesure them with a glass or spoon, stir them in a bowl and put in the oven. You just don't pay for the recipe every time.
@@SaikoKujo why are they sitting for years? All of the ingredients that you would use for a cake or cookies are also used in other dishes. A baking mixing is single purpose only
While I completely support these ideas to save money, quite a few of these suggestions aren’t feasible for a household who gets Snap benefits. Most online retailers don’t accept EBT.
This is a good point. In response to the statements before mine, I think it's unfair to assume that someone receiving benefits isn't concerned about saving. Saving money on food will allow the money you're receiving to last longer, so you will in fact be saving...
Rosemary Elmore while I understand what you’re saying. Your beliefs are based on biases and the over magnified few who are abusing the system. Meanwhile in all actuality only 3-8% (depending on the state) of recipients of public assistance are on it for a short time. Most states have caps in a persons lifetime. For example in NJ it’s 5 years. If a person is on public assistance fore longer times there are underlying issues (anything from mental, physical or environmental barriers preventing the individual from getting beyond the poverty line) Another thing, to note is that the majority of the population on public assistance are working. They’re merely underpaid or underemployed. The groups you associate as the moochers, are shown as such because of the institutional stereotypes perpetuated by the media you choose to consume or support.
Rosemary Elmore as someone who works for the supermarket, I would assume that if you were a single parent of 2 or more children, you yourself would be able to apply and receive the supplemental assistance (supplemental because it doesn’t require you be homeless or even poorer than you are now). People are buying the cheap junk food because the goal for them is to be full. Would you choose between a food item that has more quantity at pennies on the dollar per serving? Or would you pay the $1.50/lb on fuckin Bell peppers? Especially when you have multiple mouths to feed? Yes there are ways to make better choices... but how can you vilify a population that has been essentially forced into their corners? Who has taught them any different? How has the “system” not failed them? What they need less of is assholes who don’t know or understand judging them and education. They need to be educated on how much better nutrition can impact their lives. They can be taught how to make better decisions in the aisles of the supermarkets
Breana yes! Budgets to stretch what you get would be so helpful. But retailers that provide the savings don’t accept the EBT. I’ve read some retailers will shift in “food deserts” but in more metro areas, the more concentrated areas of EBT households don’t even have access to store that’s have nutritionois food and if they have them nearby, you’re hard pressed to find one that doesnt overprice said nutritious food
The gift cards one is true sometimes but not necessarily. Kroger affiliates offer fuel points on what you spend in store, gift cards have anywhere from double points to quadruple points and saving 30c a gallon reduces the price of the gift card more than raise.com. Just another option.
And it's cheaper than the same amount of flour and baking powder? I stopped buying pasta sauces when I read ingerents list and learned most of them are just some tomato puree with herbs and you have to add meat, fruits, vegetables... it's like that story about the nail soup.
@@nordette It's actually stone soup. A hobo wanders into a village, asking for a bite to eat. Everyone claims to have nothing to give, so the hobo pitches camp at the edge of town and puts a big kettle of water on to boil. A curious villager asks what he's making and he says "stone soup", as he plops a stone into the pot. " It's very good but there is only enough for me. If you'd like to try it you have to put something in the pot." The villager goes home and returns with a few potatoes he adds to the pot. This continues with other people adding meat and vegetables, etc. When the soup is done they all enjoy the "stone soup" thanks to the ingenuity of the hobo.
The problem with not buying bottled water is that it's important for emergencies like hurricanes and blizzards. If my tap water is contaminated or frozen and my electricity is out, I am definitely going to be glad I bought some bottled water. Also on baking mixes, muffin mix (like blueberry or apple cinnamon) can make a great pancake batter with very little effort and is really cheap compared to buying produce (especially expensive blueberries) and fiddling with the balance myself.
I buy my spices at a local spice store because that way I can get just what I need. I don’t need to buy an entire container of clove when I only use it twice a year to make spice cake in the Fall, and one of the greatest ways to blow your budget is to buy something and not use it. I get just the 5 tbsp or whatever I need and it costs like $0.50 and I don’t need to take up too much space I’m my kitchen cupboards, keeping them clean and organized. Kudos for the reusable battery suggestion! I got mine at Costco and have only needed to buy 10V batteries (for the smoke detector) since.
Great video! 1 correction..the reverse osmosis system you mentioned as an alternative...I’m not sure that helps save the environment. Sure, you’ll be avoiding plastic bottles...but most at home systems output 2 gallons of discarded water (used to wash the toxins out of the system) for every gallon of fresh water. It can be incredibly wasteful. I’m not sure if there are systems that don’t waste so much. I just remember reading that a on a few devices when I looked into buying one a few months ago.
I do my food shopping at Costco, ny bf and I started this in August and it has helped dramatically. We used to spend around 300$ a month at the grocery store on regular food. Now at Costco we spend under 200$ and our food last all month. (We buy Costco because we eat very healthy and DO NOT eat out.) so in this case it makes sense for us to buy bulk because we literally take our coffee, our breakfast, and our lunch from home. For dinner I come home and cook or he does. We barely have the urge to buy food off the street and now it’s hard for me to buy food outside when I know I can make it at home. Once u cut some things out u won’t go back just try it out. Now for normal ppl I wouldn’t say to shop at Costco because they might go out for lunch or whatever
In the UK the main supermarket chains have smaller "convenience store" formats which are basically the same thing as grocery stores - convenient, but usually only sell a limited range of products (few "economy" or bulk options) at a markup... And yes, I do try to avoid them!
Pre-grated cheese. You get twice as much if you buy a block and shred it yourself. I have rheumatoid arthritis & grate all my cheese in the food processor & put in freezer bags. You can use it straight from the bag when cooking and if you need to for tacos or whatever it thaws in no time.
I loved the video! You made a lot of really good points and really stuck true to the overarching themes that TFD always tries to make: Be more deliberate in your purchases, and Be proactive in your routines. So glad both of these wonderful channels are teaming up! Great work to the both of your channels =D I just found out that my fiance and I are expecting and we are going to put a lot of these tips to the test when the baby comes, thanks!
Glad you mentioned cloth diapers. I loved using them for my babies. Speaking of baking mixes, have you seen the price of gluten free flours? Makes me so angry that companies take advantage of people on medical diets.
What I learned from my mom is that I buy most of my spices fresh (parsley, basil, garlic, ginger etc) in larger quantities when they are sold at a reduced price, then chop them at home and freeze them. This way I always have lovely fresh spices that smell and taste awesome, at a really good price, and it lasts me a very long time.
Also look at the different sections of the store or take a good look at the spice section. Where I live there's the expensive McCormick and Spice Islands, then all those organic brand spices, then there's other cheaper brands as well as these little baggies of spices if you don't need a lot for only $1 and they can have just as much as the little short McCormick plastic jars. There's only a few spices I really recommend buying the better brand. The majority of common ones are not that serious just buy whatever. Especially salt. There's nothing special about that salt, it's all made of sodium chloride, it's cheap. Unless it's some kind of gourmet smoked salt or something. Even that Himalayan pink salt can be found cheap depending where you are.
Can I share something I heard about re-usable diapers? The ones with gel in them? If you harvest the gel from used diapers (eeeuw!) you can mix it into your pot plant soul - you don't need to water them so often - useful for vacations!
Cloth diapers are a good frugal option to disposable, if you're willing to have laundry instead of trash. They'll last through several babies if you buy good ones and take care of them and you can always buy used
If you don't live somewhere with safe drinking water, it's better to do the refillable 5-gallon jugs than buying a case of 500ml disposable bottles. My cousins who have well water in their house use these for drinking and cooking, It's not cheap, so if you have safe water at home that's always better, but not everyone does, and there are alternatives to individual bottles.
true. i had filter added to sink. no more hauling water. it only cost 25.00 on amazon. spices-look for spice wholesale. i had to walk behind a few close builders and went threw a side door but spices super cheap.
I never knew this about grocery store spices. It seemed ridiculous at first, but I price checked the spices in my pantry and at my grocery store and Amazon online is about 1$ on average cheaper per spice.
Amazon prime is where you would get stuff from the wearhouse but there are sellers on Amazon too that work for themselves that can maybe use some support.
My husband works at a distribution centre for electrical goods, so batteries are basically free due to staff discount. That monet saved is used on pre diced foods since I have a disability and chopping veggies is very difficult for me. Hubby can't even boil water, so asking him to cook is pointless.
Be mindful of what you need and where you buy your crap from. Also-pre chopped veggies vs chopping your own-yes it's okay to buy pre chopped veggies. Time is as valuable as money. To save money buy produce and take the time to chop them, but at the same time if it's the end of a long day, you need to get home and cook dinner it's okay to cheat spend the extra $$ for pre chopped veggies/bag of salad mix to save 10-15 minutes.
How about shopping at the commissary? I feel like even when I try to look for bulk purchases options. The commissaries prices are either the same per unit or less per unit then the bulk prices. Could you do an episode about financial recommendations for military families and saving? Being a former service member and possibly having a bit of insight. Like maybe an episode on PCSing and the financial decisions that come with that "Are we going to pay to have our second car shipped?"
Pro tip for saving money, sanity, and your health in general:Don't have kids! No 3rd or 4th degree tearing, or post partum bleeding for me, thanks! I like not peeing when I sneeze! 😂 (Which saves money by not having to buy Depends, too!)
This episode of Making it Work will teach you how to shop for healthy foods without spending a ton: ruclips.net/video/C9XRVBBNzTo/видео.html.
1. Spices
2. Houseware
3. Batteries
4. Pre-cut produce
5. Bottled water
6. Diapers
7. Baking mixes
8. Gift cards
9. Pet food
10. Items that aren’t on your shopping list
Another alternative to buying spices at grocery stores is to check out ethnic food stores. Ridiculously cheaper in my experience
Very true! And I haven't found a difference in quality.--Tasha
I second this - I go to a local Indian store which has all my basics for much less than I would have paid elsewhere.
Yup. Also canned goods are almost always cheaper in the Asian stores too.
Nice
Dried beans and rice too. I cook big batches of beans and store them in my freezer in pint-sized mason jars. I just defrost one when I need a "can" of beans.
Great list! Just wish amazon wasnt recommended as the online alternative.
Why ??
Love amazon. (:
They also routinely fire people for unionizing and make them scapegoats through smear campaigns that make them the face of all union activity. There is plenty of resources that show tons of examples of amazon being immoral and abusing their workers, even firing people for showing signs of exaustion after setting unrealistic expectations.
The convenience isnt worth the abuse of the working class, and amazon isn't even a cheaper options, please consider using other sources.
@@slaughterbean5318 why don't you mention the other sources if you dislike Amazon so much? A lot of large companies do these sort of things. Of course it is awful but a lot of people don't see alternatives in their price range that aren't an Amazon or Walmart
STOP PROMOTING AMAZON THEY ARE HORRIBLE TO THEIR WORKERS FOR CONDITIONS AND PAY RATES!!!!
Buying price per ounce or buying in bulk is only a good option if you're going to use the item on a day to day basis and if you'll realistically need the item again once you run out. I don't think I'd ever use 25oz of garlic powder in my lifetime. One small shaker will last me about a year, so paying more for a larger quantity, even if I'm paying less per ounce is a bad investment.
For me, I never have the money to buy in bulk. Yeah, in the long run I'm saving money but if I need garlic powder now, I don't have $20 to spend JUST on spices. That $20 might be my entire week's worth of shopping. This is always the case for me and it's why, though I have a discount for Costco with my job, I don't get the membership. I'd love to, but I just don't have the money for bulk shopping. Not just spices, for anything.
That's where you'd want to split the cost with a friend.--Tasha
I am that person that is using that much garlic powder haha.
Agree with this sentiment. also with buying bulk, that assumes you have space. i hardly have room in my apartment for the tiny bag of cat food!
Does your store have a minimum purchase quantity on bulk items? I've never heard of that before in my state but I might not disbelieve that it happens..
You can usually bring your own containerc if environmentally conscious (like me) and get an automatic scale weight from the counter at checkout, then fill it with how ever much you need and they can subtract the weight of the container you brought. You can also use the containers they provide for an easier time if you are fine with wasting plastics.
A great part of buying in bulk is it's cheaper, but also you have the option to buy only what you need or want. Even though it's a little more time consuming to go grab your tea or spices, oil,flour, honey, potato flakes, ect. by scooping it and writing the bin number down it's well worth it financially and in space saving.
BUT that being said, paying for convenience is very profitable for big companies. In a world so busy as well as synthetically busy... it's hard not to fall prey to consumer marketing as it's well planned out like that purposefully. It's not something you can really avoid systematically speaking and it's up to the individual what is worth it or not, and what aligns with their own values.
But yeah if it's a spice or bulk item you are really only going to use a small bit of once and not day to day, I would say if possible still buy from the bulk section. Just only but what you need, which is something far harder to get or get exactly buying a prepackaged spice with higher markup for example.
Again though, up to you and what you want to do. And that's okay.
**If you have a disability that prevents you from chopping produce but still want to eat fruits and veggies please do not feel bad about buying pre-cut options**
A Cote or if your just plain clutzie like me! 😆 I'm a Hazzard with knives, rather keep my fingers and enjoy my pineapple and watermelon.
I was just going to say this . I am disabled and buy per-cut food. I find a lot of these videos are done from a really big place of privilege.
What about food processors?
The pre-cut is bad for the environment and really not necessary for about 95% of the population is not 'from privilige' - if you can avoid it you absolutely should. I personally think they should have a cutting service at the supermarket. There is also someone working at the deli discounter etc. Do it for a cost or free for disabled. If you have to pack lunches for kids there are plenty of quick cutter options for apples, mango, pinapples or small portion fruit like grapes and berries. You also make and cut a sandwich don't you? Do the fruits in bulk in the evening or something but buying precut is wasteful if you don't actually need it due to a disability. Sometimes it is convenient yes but don't use an excuse to at least challenge yourself to buy more whole fruits.
@@lightgivener How is it bad for the environment?
Quick tip regarding the shopping list one: make a huge master list of food items you regularly use, food items you only use occasionally, and anything that needs regular restocking (toilet paper, kitchen paper, etc) in your house. Separate the list into subheadings (fruit and veg, meat, household, baking, etc). Put this list somewhere really accessible and memorable. Maybe even laminate it to avoid ruining the paper. Then, whenever you need to make a grocery list, go through your master list to make sure you don't forget anything. It's really handy if you eat a very wide range if foods, or if you're a member of a large family and need to restock most things regularly, but have some other products that go unnoticed as empty until they're desperately needed
Excellent ideas Tasha. Grocery stores are so good at those impulse buys and placing things strategically so you walk by them and buy the things you really don't even need on the way out. We've actually started buying our milk, eggs and bread at the dollar store on the way home. The dollar stores are using these must-have, every day items to bring people into the store and it's usually at a huge discount to what we find even at Walmart. Of course, the trick is to get in and out without buying everything else in the store.
So true, Joseph. That's why I'm all about the grocery list!--Tasha
Me too! I use dollar tree
Great call on the dollar star for basics! Wow
Consumer Reports says that dollar stores are more expensive for a lot of food because you actually get less for a $1. Like 4 oz. of something is $2 at regular store but 1 oz. is $1 at dollar store. That's a 100% mark-up! I still go there, a lot. Where you save money is in plastic items. Kitchen supplies are CHEAP!
"save $100 on spices a year" what?? who buys that much!!? One container of salt lasts me all year and it's like $1
Emily Stark that’s what I was thinking! I literally spend about $4 a year on spices. And I buy that shit at the grocery store because I’m not about to spend my time trying to acquire elsewhere 😂
Emily Stark shoot bought a sams club size of my favorite spice a year ago for 8.00 and still working on it and I think that was the last spice I bought 😂 I think in the past 5 years I might have spent 100 on spices lmao but not 100 a year and I spice everything lol
I agree! I just realized some curry powder I have expired a year ago, that means I've had it for ages!!!
I cook a lot and try a lot of recipes: Chinese, Thai, Indian, Mexican, so I buy a lot of spices at a local Asian grocery. 6-8 oz bags run around $3. I put it in a pint mason jar at home.
Lots of people cook a variety of meals that require more than just salt and pepper haha
I would add Don't buy that lottery ticket. Even though I was buying merely $1 at a time twice a week from the convenient vending machine at the grocery store, I'm flittering away $96 a year. That's far more than a Costco membership or even a yearly contribution to PBS. Long ago I heard someone say the lottery is the poor people's tax, and I believe it's true.
That's all true!! I work at a gas station & no one wins the lottery! 😂 it's such a scam!
Seattle mez I win a lot I won 100 on a $2 Ticket
@@Just_janee_ but that was a one time thing. Scratch tickets have a higher chance but the winnings are very small $1-10 mostly.
Seattle mez true
@@newyorklights7339 larger sums maybe... but 20-40$ wins are very common....
Also 1-5$ is what usually gets us into buying trouble. Hard to stop 😊
I pay attention to the price ‘per unit’ which means, for example, when buying laundry detergent, I divide the price by how many loads a bottle is. I do this all the time with toilet paper bc different brands will be on “sale” so I calculate based on single rolls. Sometimes what’s on sale isn’t better than another brand’s price.
So do I! But I like to use the little label they put on shelves telling you how much each item is "per ounce." As my eyesight gets worse I look like a little old lady leaning in trying to see the numbers! Still worth it so much.
@@SaikoKujo Lol, yes it sure is worth it. I checked some labels, but I think some have been removed. I was surprised to see Tide didn't have the label include per ounce and the specific bottle I always get was now doubled in price.
@@dccd673
Toilet paper is the WORST thing to try to compare! The size and thickness are different for every brand AND within the brands! Consumer Reports put out a chart trying to show the "best deals" but even that didn't make sense. They basically said find one you LIKE, then try to buy it on sale. Big help! I buy the 30pk at Costco. The rolls are so big they barely fit the roller, in diameter AND width. But @50¢ a roll it seems a good deal.
Love this channel, but I'm often surprised how things differ between Europe and USA. Here all those items You should buy in grocery store cause they would be cheapest xd
I live in the US, and my local stores are cheaper than online. Really depends on your area I suppose haha!!
Spices is such a good one, I buy all mine from wholesale!! thanks!
I need an spice cupboard intervention. I have separation anxiety.
Totally agree!!!
I buy mine in bulk at a health food store. Some I used a lot but some I need once a year. This way I get exactly what I need.
Don't forget your local Indian or international markets. They tend to have cheaper prices for a larger amount, plus you get to support a local business vs. the bigger stores or Amazon.
I get spices 89 cents for 3.4oz at grocery stores here
A question for the whole TFD team. When you're aware Amazon's low prices come from exploiting labour, how do you align saving yourself money with knowing that the workers providing you the items don't have enough money to live? Not accusatory, just curious
most of the everyday things ppl buy come from low cost labour, so unless you actually source everything you buy it doesn't really matter. everything has a cost.
i obviously can't speak for tfd but i personally find the more i look into it none of the brick and mortar stores in my area really have better practices. probably (hopefully) this isn't the case in every town in America but in some areas it really is all the same.
I mention Amazon twice as an easy example but suggest ordering online generally. There are other online retailers that you can purchase from if you object to Amazon.--Tasha
I would suggest going to farmer markets or local ethnic stores. There is also thrive market which I belive is just for food and an alternative to Amazon.
Exploiting labor where?? In the USA? Bc everyone that works in the warehouse is forced to work and its payed a price that they agreed to
The baking mix math is really bad here. Cake mixes are quite often cheaper (or comparable) than the component ingredients, as are brownie mixes. Some people will never make more than one or two baked goods a year, so buying huge bags of flour and sugar doesn't make sense when mixes are only a dollar or two.
Along with, if you're a terrible baker or chef, you may wind up throwing batches away because they turned out poorly, thus you wasted money.. A mix, pretty much idiot proof.. I enjoy baking from scratch and even I've made mistakes from time to time [not paying attention and adding twice as much of an ingredient needed].
You guys are lazy as fuck.
We use a Zero Water filter to avoid bottled water, and I'll fill reusable water bottles at home and stick them in the fridge for easy grab-and-go. We also try to buy meat in bulk and freeze it to get cost per pound down. My hubs was just talking about how it was like $3 for a thing of ground pepper at the grocery store. We'll buy that in bulk/online instead. Thanks, Tasha, for the tips!
About bottled water. I recently bought me a pitcher water filter. Honestly I didn’t know they existed until I found out about them through a friend. They are GREAT! I haven’t bought any bottled water which is great because I live alone now. All of it is filtered is tastes great. Seriously, invest in a pitcher filter!!
I try to shop at local ethnic groceries, legit farmers markets and Costco, where possible. Particularly for things like spices, fruits and veggies, and meats. The quality is often higher than supermarkets. I wash, prep and cut up the fruits and veggies, then freeze them to use quickly as needed during the week. Same goes for breaking down builk packs of meats. Works out partiularly well if you are only cooking for one or two people.
I like the bulk sections of stores to save money too. Those tiny pretty glass jars are nutso expensive. Huge fan of the water bottle tip! Great job Tasha and TFD!
Thanks Budget Girl!--Tasha
I love you manage to get in a green perspective and combining it with money saving advice. For me sustainability is super important so I love how it is highlighted here and there, thanks TLF!
I find being Vegetarian helps me save money! I should start buying Wholesale spices, thanks for the tip!
As an aside, get your rechargeable batteries from ikea. They are super high quality, last way longer without recharging and are basically the last batteries you will ever have to buy.
Hearing those diaper stats makes me never want children omg.
Tasha, you did a great job. I am so excited to see you as a guest.
Thank you so much! I'm the host of The Lifestyle Fix, so I'll be here every Friday from now on.☺--Tasha
You are becoming famous!!!
Tasha, you & TFD are my new 'heroes. ' Thank you for all that you do!
For spices it’s a better deal at the grocery store here. I can get 3.4oz for 89 cents of the basic ones I use. Onion powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, oregano, season salt, cumin, chili powder, and a handful of others I don’t remember. The Italian season is the only mix, but I can get the others to make my own mixes.
Alot of grocery stores have their on label spices or some inexpensive brands for a dollar.
Or go to a dollar store.
I buy spices from a grocery store that sells things in bulk. It also offers wholesale options. This is excellent advice.
How can so many people be so ignorant when it comes to Amazon? Have you never seen a documentary about Amazon? (If not, do it!) This company is really not something you want to support and I'm normally not the SJW kind of person. The salary the pay, the harm it does to the environment to ship everything etc (the list goes on and on). Stop supporting companies like Amazon just because they are cheap and think about why they are that cheap :) Thanks for listening and sorry for any potential spelling mistakes, english is not my mother tongue.
I mention Amazon twice as an easy example but suggest ordering online generally. There are other online retailers that you can purchase from if you object to Amazon.--Tasha
Supermarkets are just as bad. Underpaid workers, long hours, just as much shipping (and more food waste).
Right, but why replace a plague like supermarket with another plague like amazon ? If we are searching alternatives, we must find the right ones !
One Big Happy Life One shouldn‘t even mention Amazon in the first place imo
Find me a company where you can be financially frugal, that doesn't have exploitative practices in order to keep costs down. Also, there are stores and brands on Amazon that are their own companies. I buy fair-trade or organic. Those are the employees I'm focused on supporting, bc they're in far worse conditions than American workers here. Also, many of those who work for low wage at Amazon would be unemployable elsewhere or not find as much growth experience with as much benefits. Clearly nobody is putting a gun to their head, these are willing hires. In fact, you only need to research former and current hire rebuttals about the misleading mischaracterization of Amazon. Anybody at any warehouse or desk job at any company is going to give the same story about burnout, humans weren't meant for this kind of work. The problem isn't necessarily these corporations, bc you can't blame them for trying to optimize and take advantage of the laws that allow them to get too big at our expense. We need to change the system and vote politicians who will remove the tax cuts and provide checks & balances. We can also boycott at the consumer level, but you're going to have a hard time finding ethical companies, and save money simultaneously. Yes, Amazon can afford to increase their pay and yes, their shipping is harmful to the environment, but so are most box store companies. We're hyperfocused on Amazons negatives, but Amazon actually has a higher approval rating on Glassdoor than the avg company. I have a much harder time justifying brands like Walmart or The Gap, or Victoria Secret who exploit overseas workers. The workers here at an American-based company at Amazon have it so much better than they do. Unlike us, these foreigners have no choice. Amazon employees are no different than ppl who willingly apply to work at Wall Street, they know it's cut throat, but they're willing to do it for the pay & benefits they get even if it means burnout. Read opposing views about this, before you let one documentary sway you.
I often compare prices online to products in supermarkets. If I can get it for way cheaper online, I’m not gonna buy it. I always see people buying bottled water, but I bought a water pitcher with a filter, like in this video. I already do almost everything said to do in this video, makes me feel kind of good. There is always great advice on this channel (:
Way to go! And thank you for watching--Tasha
Just another tip is to check the prices at different stores! You don't have to do this everytime or even that often, but it has saved my dad a lot of money. He knows that one product will be $.10 cheaper at the other store ect.
If you're new to the area, depends on where you live, consider checking out the stores near you and seeing their prices. Some stores will be generally pricier than another, and that can save you a lot!! Just something I found from my Dad's experience haha!
You can´t drink from the tap, if you are in Flint, Michigan.
That's unfortunate and completely true, which is why I said "generally."--Tasha
Poor Flint. We've just heard about the leaded water here in the UK. I can't believe the US government is getting away with this.
Or other places in the U S. Not as bad as Flint, but not healthy either. Reverse osmosis is VERY expensive to have installed in your home.
Where I live in Hawaii, water come from the rain. We've got a huge 10k gal water catchment tank in the backyard that collects the rain water from the sky and gutters. It's then filtered when it goes through the water pump with a 1 micron filter to catch all the debri and bugs. Then I take that water from the tap and filter it again through a zero water filter that holds about 2 gallons of water. That's our drinking water. The cost of buying bottled water is far more expensive than filtering the water yourself. I don't know what's going on in Flint, but in Hawaii we've got rat lung disease and if my filters can get rid of that nasty stuff, it can get rid of whatever is in your water too. I will never buy bottled water again.
you cant in NE, PA either.. i dont even allow my dog to drink it... not even my plants!
Definitely sticking to the list, I have worked at a couple of stores where people say, "I came in for 2 items," and then they spend $50+ dollars. Also make sure you read sale signs, I have sent many people back into the store since they 1 grabbed a buy 1 get 1 free item. Batteries, keep an eye open for sales since, at least with my company buy 1 get 1 free happens, especially around Christmas.
Thanks for the spice tip, I'm currently moving out and I typically use A LOT of spice in my food, and I was going to skip on buying spice containers to save money and just get the pre-packaged ones since they basically come in their own containers, but I just checked the prices and wow i could save a lot.
💓spices, but yes, waaaay cheaper to buy them online.--Tasha
I really think it depends on your usage, though. As a college student who usually eats in the Cafeteria on weekdays, prepackaged one are cheaper for me (except for salt) , because I will use one Container in of cinnamon in one or two years.. and splitten Sounds usually great, but then you need extra containers... Same with some precut veggies. 200g of mixen Salat is probably more expansive than making it yourself per gram, but I could never consume a whole kilogram before it gets bad 😅
Loved some of these tips! With regards to the pre cut veggies - lots of people buy these because they’re more likely to use it before it goes bad so they don’t waste money, cutting the produce causes a lot of people stress as opposed to de-stressing, just my opinion though. 😊
It might not seem like a lot of savings going the wholesale route but multiply that by all the different spices you might have. It can add up really quick.
Totally agree. Thanks for watching Dennis!--Tasha
Also, you don’t need eggs to bake most sweets.
Even before my husband and I went vegan, we didn’t eat eggs on the regular. We do love sweets, though. Which made it a chore to finish off that carton of eggs once the birthday cake was baked.
There are so many alternatives! My favorite is chia seeds and water, though flax will work just as well. They add less flavor as compared to another popular alternative, a mashed banana.
Herbs and spices lose their quality quickly. You should never buy in bulk unless you’re a big cook feeding many people.
dried oregano, thyme, rosemany, sage and bay leaves dont lose quality.
You can also buy fresh on bulk from the market when in season or grow yourself and freeze. Great taste and at hand on the winter.
As long as you put them in an ait tired container, they will last you for months.
Don't buy bulk just because it's cheaper/quantity. Only essential items
@Michelle R depends if you have space for it
I agree with all you said!
Besides, pet food from grocery stores is usually quite bad quality, at least where I live.
Also if you have a traditional market with a spice stall near your place, I suggest you buy there those spices you use on a regular basis. It may not seem very cheap, but it does in the long run if you buy 100 g or more. Plus the quality is incredibly better! I buy my oregano and paprika there, and the seasoning they give is glorious!
Pre-cut fruits and veggies are for the disabled, the elderly, those with limited prep space, and those who choose to spend a little more money to opt-out of long food prep times. No one is fooled thinking pre-cut items are the same price as regular produce. If you live in a household where one or both parents work two, three jobs....sorry, putting on some tunes and "enjoying" cutting fruit isn't happening. I bristle at videos that perpetuate the idea that convenience is a moral issue, and that saving money by spending your limited time is inherently a better way to spend your life. There is real value in shrinking food prep time to gain moments for other things, and the idea that people choose to spend that extra money to be lazy is condescending and rude.
PREACH 👏👏👏
I think she's just trying to motivate people who want to cut back on spending, but are also not used to certain things such as cutting their own vegetables. She's not shaming people who buy them, but if you're in a situation where you need to put frugality over time, it's a good swap. This is a list of suggestions you can pick and choose depending on your needs and wants, not a set of moral commandments.
People will take offense to anything these days.
One drawback to pre-cut fruits and vegetables is the rash of e. coli contamination going around recently. Don't really know what the problem is with the processing plants, but it is a serious issue and something to consider. I stopped buying the baby lettuce mixes in the plastic "boxes" because of the possible e. coli contamination.
CF Kazimir +++++
Im so glad she is officially on the team!!
Hi Tasha, great first (series) video on the channel! A lot of good things in your list, but some things worth mentioning.
5. Unfortunately, it's not really accurate to assume everyone in the US has access to good tap water. I buy bottled water (gallon jugs only, not individual serving sizes) because my town's water source - which I have to be on - comes from the Potomac River, the dirtiest river in the US, and a multitude of issues from source to my door make it a bad idea. We use it for bathing, washing clothes and dishes, but I have to use the bottled water to cook rice and pasta. Also, this is an extreme example, but Flint, MI still doesn't have clean water either. A whole house / prepper style filter would be great but it's not something all of us can afford.
1, 3, 6.. a lot of these actually: There's a few downsides to the buying online thing. Yeah, it seems like there are a lot of great deals on there, enough to make you stop and scratch your head going "HOW can they make it so cheap?" A lot of it is the local chain stores inflating prices to rip you off, but a lot of it is has negative repercussions. When something is shipped just to you, rather than a distribution center like a grocery or warehouse store, there's a bigger footprint. Depending what you order and where it's from, and what subscriptions you have to Amazon or whatever, there might be shipping charges that diminish the discounts, and if their aren't, you should stop and research how the distributors are managing to save you those costs (is it by inhumane labor in some other part of the world?).
Also, there is damage to your local economy when too much stuff is being bought online at Amazon and Walmart. The stores close, so you don't have local options, people lose jobs, and if it gets bad enough you end up in a "food desert" they end up jacking the prices for people ordering from/to your area (remind you of how Walmart spread in the first place?). There's also a big loss in sales tax revenue for your state. My state right now is trying to pass, or recently passed, some change to the tax code where next year our form is going to ask "Did you buy anything online," ask you to estimate (I really hope they don't try to make you itemize it), and then calculate from that the sales tax you owe them now. They're viewing online purchases as a sort of circumvention. I think some evidence was presented that a lot of online prices were, in some places, suspiciously close to "the price you'd pay if you didn't have to pay sales tax."
Soooo... yeah. Food for thought. Still a great list though I adhere to almost everything on it, just swiping out things like going to the Asian Grocery store for my cheap bulk spices, avoiding battery powered objects (I have no kids, woo), going to the actual Petco/Pet Smart, and just giving people cash instead of gift cards because I'm literally a Jewish Uncle.
Welcome again! Looking forward to more of your videos. :)
I agree about the online businesses hurting local one's. There will be no stores left, and when there are no stores left those discounted prices will stop along with the free shipping. Also you'll have to be very deliberate in how you shop because you can't get anything last minute not without paying an exorborant shipping fee. And it''s hard to have a shopping experience with friends in front of a computer. Or special moments like when I was a child and was taken to Toy's R Us to pick out a toy because it was my birthday or I had been so good. It wasn't very large or expensive, my mother was a single parent, but it was special to me and I remember the whole experience. Now there are very few toy stores left and trecking through Walmart or again sitting in front of a computer just isn't the same.
To your first point, she didn't assume anything. She said "generally". Of course there are exceptions.
I just bought a stainless steel distiller online a couple months ago and it's AMAZING, only cost me $90 and I never have to buy filters or cleaning supplies. The distiller can be cleaned with white vinegar very cheaply. Some clean it once per month--but bc I make 2 gallons of water per day, I clean it once per week. I get very clean water (even cleaner than filtered water) for just pennies. The savings are a buttload and it's less plastic, so better for the environment!
+YourMajest143 Oo, do you have a link to it?
+Carmen Alderton I meant that the "generally" itself wasn't really accurate. There are a lot more exceptions than the news stations would let on, and even on places that aren't clearly contaminated to the point that it looks brown, there's a lot of shady crap that comes from water departments. Mine in particular releases a letter roughly every three months that goes like, "Well we failed our test to x the past three months but are required by law to tell you after the third failure. The water is still safe to drink but we're not doctors and if you have any concerns consult your physician." Other areas have problems and don't even tell you that much.
The world is very dirty because of us and clean water is just going to get harder and harder to come by.
Great tips. I have something to add, regarding pre-cut produce. If there’s just one or two of you, shopping pre-cuts at the salad bar is actually not wasteful. Buying a whole lot of produce and only using about a fifth of it is. So I will sheet for four bucks for a stir fry meal for two and buy the veggies at the salad bar. And I understand not practical for larger families
I currently only have salt, pepper, lemon pepper, and seasoning salt. That part creeped me out.
Yeah, who on earth has lemon pepper and seasoning salt at home?
@@uweschroeder ...everyone?
@@yippehanako Well, I do have about 40 different spices and herbs in my pantry, lemon pepper or any seasoning salt is not one of them. So apparently not "everyone". I have to ask my friends - now I'm curious who has that stuff in the house :-)
Problem with buying everything online is that it isn't good for the environment.
Actually, it's not necessarily true that buying online is worse for the environment than shopping in person. And in fact, in this video I recommend subscribe and save, where you aggregate your purchases into one big delivery a month. Check out this article for more info on what's better for the environment: www.sierraclub.org/sierra/ask-mr-green/whats-better-for-environment-shopping-store-or-online --Tasha
How do the items in the grocery store get there?
Either the truck delivers your food at your door or you drive to the grocery store and drive back. It's the same, except you waste time going to the store.
ReadingRaven019 I recycle so not necessarily
@@neiya8862 recycling doesnt have anything to do with sourcing since someone has to travel to get that food in the first place for you to be able to recycle the packaging. Recycling is still an energy-intensive process with the recycled goods needing to be transported. A lot of stuff you recycle gets thrown away anyway since the standards for those who buy recylced materials (like China) are getting more stringent. Recycling isnt a free pass for someone to say their consumption doesnt matter.
Dollar stores are great for cooking utensils, they are often the same or better quality that is at the grocery store, and most will be a dollar. I used to work in high end kitchens and this is what most cooks will tell you, and we have whole tool kits full of this stuff.
One way to save more money instead of just buying cloth diapers is to get your child who is just turning one directly onto the potty. My nephew was pulling out the changing mat and grabbing the wipes himself and then laying down and we decided, yeah he's probably ready to use the 🚽. He was just turning one. It can be done.
Well said! She has a great attitude and it is easy to relate to her. Great job!
Thanks!--Tasha
talking about giftcards: you can also get creative and write one yourself per hand or create one on your computer. take it to the next level and give a whole shopping trip where you pay for one special thing (which is the gift card part) the beloved person can choose and afterwards you can have a cup of coffee/lunch together. a present and quality time together :)
I’m loving this new series so much
If you are going to buy spices in bulk, I would suggest whole spices so you don’t compromise freshness
On 4: There are disabled people (eg: people with arthritic hands, joint issues, et al) who need their stuff pre-cut and may not live with someone who can chop things for them.
Shelly T. I think that was a suggestion for people who buy pre-cut solely for convenience
Check out if your favorite store has a loyalty program. Sometimes the rewards from such programs can save you money on groceries, gas , etc. Also, some stores offer programs where the store will send you digital coupons which can save you money. And don't forget to consider buying the store brands as they are often made by the same companies that make the name brand products and are just as good and a lot cheaper.
The unicorn with the pink candle are soooo cute!
Hit up the dollar store for spices!
The Badia brand of spices are usually over half the price of the stuff in the baking/spices aisle and are just as good. They’re usually near the Mexican food instead.
Pretty good tips. Too bad there was so much pumping on purchasing on Amazon...
dont buy garlic powder - save 4 dollars. Dont have a kid, save $250k(im sure this number differs greatly depending on source, the point is that they're expensive af). Wow, better head over to amazon to get some spices ASAP.
And don't have pets either, that's expensive too :-)
and staying single 300k
pet food is so true. A can of medium quality soft food is 0.66 at the store, and the same brand is 0.34(!) when buying online in bulk. The online shop also carries high quality brands that the typical mall would never have in stock
Americans obsession with baking mixes is something I never really understood. Baking isn't hard you just have to follow the recipe, and buying every ingredient separately is generally cheaper too.
But with separate ingredients you do the same - mesure them with a glass or spoon, stir them in a bowl and put in the oven. You just don't pay for the recipe every time.
Yeah, but I seem to be a shit baker and the premade mix is always better. Especially cakes. My cakes are bad.
The beauty is you can make your own mixes.
My ingredients sit for years... my box mixes don't.
@@SaikoKujo why are they sitting for years? All of the ingredients that you would use for a cake or cookies are also used in other dishes. A baking mixing is single purpose only
While I completely support these ideas to save money, quite a few of these suggestions aren’t feasible for a household who gets Snap benefits. Most online retailers don’t accept EBT.
If you get something for free, you would obviously not save by buying them..
This is a good point. In response to the statements before mine, I think it's unfair to assume that someone receiving benefits isn't concerned about saving. Saving money on food will allow the money you're receiving to last longer, so you will in fact be saving...
Rosemary Elmore while I understand what you’re saying. Your beliefs are based on biases and the over magnified few who are abusing the system. Meanwhile in all actuality only 3-8% (depending on the state) of recipients of public assistance are on it for a short time. Most states have caps in a persons lifetime. For example in NJ it’s 5 years. If a person is on public assistance fore longer times there are underlying issues (anything from mental, physical or environmental barriers preventing the individual from getting beyond the poverty line) Another thing, to note is that the majority of the population on public assistance are working. They’re merely underpaid or underemployed. The groups you associate as the moochers, are shown as such because of the institutional stereotypes perpetuated by the media you choose to consume or support.
Rosemary Elmore as someone who works for the supermarket, I would assume that if you were a single parent of 2 or more children, you yourself would be able to apply and receive the supplemental assistance (supplemental because it doesn’t require you be homeless or even poorer than you are now).
People are buying the cheap junk food because the goal for them is to be full. Would you choose between a food item that has more quantity at pennies on the dollar per serving? Or would you pay the $1.50/lb on fuckin Bell peppers? Especially when you have multiple mouths to feed?
Yes there are ways to make better choices... but how can you vilify a population that has been essentially forced into their corners? Who has taught them any different? How has the “system” not failed them?
What they need less of is assholes who don’t know or understand judging them and education. They need to be educated on how much better nutrition can impact their lives. They can be taught how to make better decisions in the aisles of the supermarkets
Breana yes! Budgets to stretch what you get would be so helpful. But retailers that provide the savings don’t accept the EBT. I’ve read some retailers will shift in “food deserts” but in more metro areas, the more concentrated areas of EBT households don’t even have access to store that’s have nutritionois food and if they have them nearby, you’re hard pressed to find one that doesnt overprice said nutritious food
The gift cards one is true sometimes but not necessarily. Kroger affiliates offer fuel points on what you spend in store, gift cards have anywhere from double points to quadruple points and saving 30c a gallon reduces the price of the gift card more than raise.com. Just another option.
Am I the only one skeptical about the baking mixes? I was at Aldi a few weeks ago and a dark chocolate brownie mix box was like... a dollar.
And it's cheaper than the same amount of flour and baking powder? I stopped buying pasta sauces when I read ingerents list and learned most of them are just some tomato puree with herbs and you have to add meat, fruits, vegetables... it's like that story about the nail soup.
Me too! I found a chocolate cupcake mix box (with cups included) on sale for £0.25 at Tesco.
@@autumnramble what's the nail soup story?
@@nordette It's actually stone soup. A hobo wanders into a village, asking for a bite to eat. Everyone claims to have nothing to give, so the hobo pitches camp at the edge of town and puts a big kettle of water on to boil. A curious villager asks what he's making and he says "stone soup", as he plops a stone into the pot. " It's very good but there is only enough for me. If you'd like to try it you have to put something in the pot." The villager goes home and returns with a few potatoes he adds to the pot. This continues with other people adding meat and vegetables, etc. When the soup is done they all enjoy the "stone soup" thanks to the ingenuity of the hobo.
@@returnofthereasoner3200 lol I love that!!😀 thanks for explaining
The problem with not buying bottled water is that it's important for emergencies like hurricanes and blizzards. If my tap water is contaminated or frozen and my electricity is out, I am definitely going to be glad I bought some bottled water.
Also on baking mixes, muffin mix (like blueberry or apple cinnamon) can make a great pancake batter with very little effort and is really cheap compared to buying produce (especially expensive blueberries) and fiddling with the balance myself.
I buy my spices at a local spice store because that way I can get just what I need. I don’t need to buy an entire container of clove when I only use it twice a year to make spice cake in the Fall, and one of the greatest ways to blow your budget is to buy something and not use it. I get just the 5 tbsp or whatever I need and it costs like $0.50 and I don’t need to take up too much space I’m my kitchen cupboards, keeping them clean and organized. Kudos for the reusable battery suggestion! I got mine at Costco and have only needed to buy 10V batteries (for the smoke detector) since.
Great video! 1 correction..the reverse osmosis system you mentioned as an alternative...I’m not sure that helps save the environment. Sure, you’ll be avoiding plastic bottles...but most at home systems output 2 gallons of discarded water (used to wash the toxins out of the system) for every gallon of fresh water. It can be incredibly wasteful. I’m not sure if there are systems that don’t waste so much. I just remember reading that a on a few devices when I looked into buying one a few months ago.
I do my food shopping at Costco, ny bf and I started this in August and it has helped dramatically. We used to spend around 300$ a month at the grocery store on regular food. Now at Costco we spend under 200$ and our food last all month. (We buy Costco because we eat very healthy and DO NOT eat out.) so in this case it makes sense for us to buy bulk because we literally take our coffee, our breakfast, and our lunch from home. For dinner I come home and cook or he does. We barely have the urge to buy food off the street and now it’s hard for me to buy food outside when I know I can make it at home. Once u cut some things out u won’t go back just try it out. Now for normal ppl I wouldn’t say to shop at Costco because they might go out for lunch or whatever
In the UK the main supermarket chains have smaller "convenience store" formats which are basically the same thing as grocery stores - convenient, but usually only sell a limited range of products (few "economy" or bulk options) at a markup... And yes, I do try to avoid them!
Pre-grated cheese. You get twice as much if you buy a block and shred it yourself. I have rheumatoid arthritis & grate all my cheese in the food processor & put in freezer bags. You can use it straight from the bag when cooking and if you need to for tacos or whatever it thaws in no time.
I loved the video! You made a lot of really good points and really stuck true to the overarching themes that TFD always tries to make: Be more deliberate in your purchases, and Be proactive in your routines. So glad both of these wonderful channels are teaming up! Great work to the both of your channels =D I just found out that my fiance and I are expecting and we are going to put a lot of these tips to the test when the baby comes, thanks!
Congratulations! And so glad you liked the episode!--Tasha
Glad you mentioned cloth diapers. I loved using them for my babies. Speaking of baking mixes, have you seen the price of gluten free flours? Makes me so angry that companies take advantage of people on medical diets.
YASSS peep that TFD book in the background tho. ugh. i love you guys. and i really love tasha as a new host!
Loving these videos from Tasha!
What I learned from my mom is that I buy most of my spices fresh (parsley, basil, garlic, ginger etc) in larger quantities when they are sold at a reduced price, then chop them at home and freeze them. This way I always have lovely fresh spices that smell and taste awesome, at a really good price, and it lasts me a very long time.
Also look at the different sections of the store or take a good look at the spice section. Where I live there's the expensive McCormick and Spice Islands, then all those organic brand spices, then there's other cheaper brands as well as these little baggies of spices if you don't need a lot for only $1 and they can have just as much as the little short McCormick plastic jars.
There's only a few spices I really recommend buying the better brand. The majority of common ones are not that serious just buy whatever. Especially salt. There's nothing special about that salt, it's all made of sodium chloride, it's cheap. Unless it's some kind of gourmet smoked salt or something. Even that Himalayan pink salt can be found cheap depending where you are.
I gladly pay more for stuff if it helps the local businesses.
this is some of the best info ive heard about saving money. why doesnt she have her own youtube channel.
She does with her husband but I can't remember the name.
Can I share something I heard about re-usable diapers? The ones with gel in them? If you harvest the gel from used diapers (eeeuw!) you can mix it into your pot plant soul - you don't need to water them so often - useful for vacations!
Just want to say I always love your videos and you are such a bad ass! Thank you so much for all of your smart and organized ideas!!
Thank you for sharing these great tips and advice
Greetings from South Africa 🇿🇦
Chewy is an amazing website where you can save on dog food and have it delivered!
Cloth diapers are a good frugal option to disposable, if you're willing to have laundry instead of trash. They'll last through several babies if you buy good ones and take care of them and you can always buy used
Use cloth diapers at home and disposable out.
you have such clear speech dnf vocabulary!
If you don't live somewhere with safe drinking water, it's better to do the refillable 5-gallon jugs than buying a case of 500ml disposable bottles. My cousins who have well water in their house use these for drinking and cooking, It's not cheap, so if you have safe water at home that's always better, but not everyone does, and there are alternatives to individual bottles.
true. i had filter added to sink. no more hauling water. it only cost 25.00 on amazon. spices-look for spice wholesale. i had to walk behind a few close builders and went threw a side door but spices super cheap.
I never knew this about grocery store spices. It seemed ridiculous at first, but I price checked the spices in my pantry and at my grocery store and Amazon online is about 1$ on average cheaper per spice.
Great tip on the spices because I'm actually very low on black pepper.
Not shopping at amazon...
That's okay, there are great money-saving options at warehouse clubs like Costco or other online wholesalers.--Tasha
Amazon prime is where you would get stuff from the wearhouse but there are sellers on Amazon too that work for themselves that can maybe use some support.
Buying stuff not on my list is always my worst habit. Although sometimes I needed something I forgot to write down!
My husband works at a distribution centre for electrical goods, so batteries are basically free due to staff discount. That monet saved is used on pre diced foods since I have a disability and chopping veggies is very difficult for me. Hubby can't even boil water, so asking him to cook is pointless.
Be mindful of what you need and where you buy your crap from. Also-pre chopped veggies vs chopping your own-yes it's okay to buy pre chopped veggies. Time is as valuable as money. To save money buy produce and take the time to chop them, but at the same time if it's the end of a long day, you need to get home and cook dinner it's okay to cheat spend the extra $$ for pre chopped veggies/bag of salad mix to save 10-15 minutes.
Loved #10! I have to remind myself every week!
How about shopping at the commissary? I feel like even when I try to look for bulk purchases options. The commissaries prices are either the same per unit or less per unit then the bulk prices.
Could you do an episode about financial recommendations for military families and saving? Being a former service member and possibly having a bit of insight. Like maybe an episode on PCSing and the financial decisions that come with that "Are we going to pay to have our second car shipped?"
I loved this video!! I can't wait to see what else this series brings
Be careful buying diapers in bulk;don't forget that the kid will grow and probably will need a different size diaper before the year is over.
Don't forget to include delivery costs of Amazon vs transportation cost (or gas equivalent) of going to store.
Pro tip for saving money on diapers. Don't have kids 😉
df julesful Amen. Less assholes and less carbon footprint. Plus most people never asked to be born.
WORD
Good one 🙂
Pro tip for saving money, sanity, and your health in general:Don't have kids!
No 3rd or 4th degree tearing, or post partum bleeding for me, thanks! I like not peeing when I sneeze! 😂 (Which saves money by not having to buy Depends, too!)
Amen.
Please make a video on teens overspending and how to fix it !!
Bottled water is a must have for us the water in our state causes all kinds of stomach problems.