Financial Journey
(featured column)

Lower Your Food Costs While the Temperature Rises

by Karen Kuebler

During the summer, cooking is not high on my list of activities that I enjoy!  In fact, you might say I like to go for the quickest and most convenient choice when it’s time to figure out what is for dinner.  Knowing that this can lead to options that might sabotage our spending plan, I have discovered a variety of solutions that allow us to stay within our grocery and dining out budget during the hot summer months.  More...

Prepare ahead – During the spring and summer months, I double recipes for meals that will freeze well.  Since there are only two of us, this usually gives me at least two to three meals to freeze.  The convenience of simply defrosting our dinner and heating it in the microwave is most appreciated during the summer than any other time of year (at least by me!)

Freeze extra leftovers – If leftovers start to accumulate in the fridge, I freeze them before they go bad or we get tired of eating them -- whichever comes first.  Sometimes it might be food I’ve prepared, or it could be stuff we have brought home from a restaurant meal or dinner at a friend’s house.  I also keep all of our leftovers on one shelf in the fridge so we don’t forget what is already on hand to eat.

Search the Internet for coupons – Okay, now I’m going to have to admit to one of my favorite fast food restaurants.  We found an Internet site that has been running 2 for 1 coupons for several months for our local Taco Bell restaurant.  I still can maintain a healthy diet by ordering two chicken soft tacos.  We use two coupons and ask for the senior discount -- the meal runs $3.50 or less.  Okay, it might be a little gutsy to ask for the Sr. discount on top of the coupons, but they have always given it to us!  Check the Internet for coupons to your favorite restaurants. 

(Editor's note:  You can start with our own growing list of free coupons!  If you find a restaurant coupon on the Internet that we don't have listed, and that's good at all locations, please contact us so we can add it to the list!)

Check mailers, other local publications, and the Chamber of Commerce – These are other great resources for coupons to local establishments.  In addition to discount coupons for dining, you can also find ideas for free or low cost recreational opportunities for the family since these sources are often geared to people visiting the area.

Consider alternatives to eating out for dinner – If you want to enjoy the dining out experience, choose less expensive alternatives.  Lunch is always cheaper on the menu than the identical item served at dinner.  Many restaurants offer an Early Bird dinner menu or a happy hour menu.  I have found that it isn’t necessary to order a beverage, even when ordering from the happy hour menu. 

In fact, the best way to keep your dining out costs much lower is to skip beverages and dessert.  Pick something up from the store on your way home and enjoy it for much less.  Besides the huge mark-up on these items in restaurants, you also have to pay tax and tip.  These extras can easily double your bill if you aren’t careful.

Talk to a Manager when you experience service problems – If you find that your dining out experience is compromised in any way, you should always speak to a Manager.  Often they will either comp part of your meal, or give you a certificate to come back at another time.  Generally, they do not want to lose your business – if they are astute in business and Customer Service they will probably do something to ensure your satisfaction.

Put your crock pot to work -- I have found my crock pot to be a lifesaver and an easy way to prepare meals during the hot weather.  It’s a great way to make a meal in one pot with only a few minutes in preparation.  It generates so little heat and uses very little energy.  There are countless recipes available on the Internet; or you can pick up a cook book at a thrift shop for $1.00.  I’ve also found it fun and easy to experiment with recipes by combining ingredients I know will go well together.  This is really a year round tool, but helps during the summer when you have little energy to cook.

Develop a repertoire of favorite salads and sandwiches – Easy and quick to fix, I find salads, sandwiches, and fruit very appetizing in hot weather.  When you grill some chicken or London broil, cook extra to slice for salads and sandwiches during the rest of the week. Mix some tuna and egg salad early in the week and you’ll have easy meals for the entire family to fix on their own.  BLT and grilled cheese are a couple of favorites in our house (especially with a little guacamole added to the BLT).  Add some whole grain bread and fruit – you’ll have a well rounded, but simple meal.  If you are growing a garden, this is a great way to enjoy the harvest without heating up the kitchen.

Picnic in your back yard or at a nearby park -- As the evening cools off, enjoy light meals outdoors.  This will help you break away from the cabin fever that sometimes accompanies the hot summer days and enjoy your evenings without a lot of preparation and clean-up involved.  Invite some friends to bring their own food and join you to make it a pleasant time for socializing.  We have a wonderful courthouse square where we can enjoy a picnic along with some entertainment during the summer evenings. 

I hate to admit that I am often counting down the dog days of summer, yearning for cooler weather. By implementing some of these ideas, summer evenings and meal times can become a lot more pleasant than sweating over the stove.  Hope everybody has a great summer and enjoy the warm weather while it’s here!

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Copyright © 2004 by Karen Kuebler

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