How Any Family Can Save $50 per Week

March 7, 2009 - PRLog -- Groceries are the new “high ticket items” of our current economy, according to Randall Putala, author of a new book, “Better Groceries for Less Cash- 101 Tested & Proven Ways to Save on Food.”  The author claims that the mindset you carry into the grocery store determines the amount you will pay for your food. “Many shoppers are addicted to paying full retail for groceries,” according to Putala.  “Change your mindset, and you'll lower your food costs,” he claims in the book.

With grocery costs rising every day, consumers must work harder just to stay even, the author states.  Five of his professed “101 ways” to save on food include:

1.   Avoid pre-mixed / precooked items.  Build a list of simple recipes that use core ingredients and are quick & easy to cook.
2.   Clip coupons for every item you might conceivably buy – regardless of coupon value or name brand.  Sort them into envelopes using a simple organizing system.
3.   Review the ad flyers found in your Sunday paper. Match your coupons to the sale items and “BOGO” (buy-one-get-one free) items listed. By using a coupon AND the BOGO pricing, you can get these items for very little cost.
4.   Stretch your meals.  If you normally buy $50 worth of sushi, try buying $15 worth of Sushi and add side dishes such as rice with vegetables, or celery sections filled with tuna salad.
5.   Buy better cookware.  A pressure cooker can cut your cooking time by 2/3 and allow you to make delicious stews, and soups using close-out meats and vegetables.

The author advises all shoppers to follow three simple steps to saving money:
1.   Start small, and take ‘baby steps’ to organize your shopping visits and coupon usage.
2.   Master some simple recipes that use core ingredients and value-based items.
3.   Be the cart.  Review every item before you place it in your shopping cart. Are there alternative brands or recipes to consider? Is this item a necessity? Can I find a simple recipe on the web to make this item from scratch?

Believing in your ability to change and being flexible are the two largest obstacles to saving money, according to the author. “You have to believe that you actually can pay less for your groceries,” he said. “If you're currently paying $200 per week, visualize yourself paying $100. Change is all about visualization at the early stage,” he said.

Finally, shoppers must be flexible in order to save, the author states.  “Once you can visualize the change you want, you've got to be prepared to try new things. You don't have to eat foods you don't like, but you've got to at least try new things once in a while,” he said.  With the proper combination of planning your shopping trips in advance, matching your coupons to the sale items, changing your shopping mindset, and discovering new recipes and cooking methods, any family can easily save $50 or more per week, according to Putala.

More information can be found at www.Save50perweek.com.

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Randall Putala is a career advertising executive that has worked for some of America's largest agencies including BBDO, FKB Group plc, Strategic Direct Marketing, Inc. and MailGuys.com. His clients have included many of the nation's largest manufacturers, retailers and financial institutions. Putala is also founding director of World Hunger Team, a non-profit foundation dedicated to solving the world hunger crisis, www.worldhungerteam.com