You already know this, saving money isn't just using coupons. Wow, I wish that was all there was to it.
Using coupons isn't always a healthy choice, even if it's free, it could cost later with poor health or cause problems with your dental health. Sure, we can get a lot of things for cheap, even some of them for free.
It wasn't all that long ago that I was coming home and adding up the dollars, sometimes hundreds of dollars that I had saved. My pantry was overflowing. I no longer use most of the things that I used to bring home. And you know what? I still save a lot of money, because I'm not buying any of those items. An added bonus is I don't have rows of canned goods taking up space on my pantry. I do have rows of "jarred" goods. My pantry has changed so much over the last few years that sometimes I feel like I'm looking at someone elses.
Of course this didn't happen overnight. It was a step by step process, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. .
I remember thinking that I would never buy some of the very products that now sit on my pantry. Little by little I have been changing what I buy and what I cook. Over time I've learned a lot of ways to make it possible to buy healthier foods. In the process, I've also learned a lot of what constitutes a healthy food product. I've bought a few things along the way that I would never touch now if you paid me. There is just no way we wake up one day and know exactly what to buy at what price and which one is a healthier option. I've also learned to make many products myself which helped to save money.
My question is, what one thing have you changed? This week, this month, this year? If you are really serious about trying to save money you have to sometimes make some hard decisions to give up something. If I was to make a list of things I have changed or given up it would fill a lot of space. Some questionable things that I haven't given up though is easier. Sugar is one. I have changed it though. I buy sucanat or organic raw sugar. Sometimes I use molasses, honey, or organic maple syrup for sweetener. Another thing I haven't given up is chocolate. I mostly use cocoa for my baking now, but I do like to buy the chocolate chips at Winco. I'd like to be able to buy certified organic pure cocoa or cocoa nibs or vegan chips. I find them to be way over my budget, and I feel the price doesn't always warrant the product. If it was a food I was eating for my main diet I'd probably be more concerned.
Pick something to give up or change. Giving things up such as television which is a huge cost, giving up using paper towels will add up a little or giving up going to the gym and replacing it with your own exercise program. Each thing has to be weighed out. Or just change something in your life that will improve your health. Make your own pancakes and never buy a mix again, make your own bread, your own cake, your own taco mix.
You know, the list is really endless on what we can change. My most recent change is to not have more than a few oils in my house. It wasn't a conscious thing really. Over time I learned more about different oils, how they are processed, and how they should be used.
The opening picture by the way is one of those things we changed a while back. My son had bought these cookies with filling. They were dyed red, yuck! One of my daughters decided to show that she could make a healthier version.
