You have likely heard of the latte factor. The idea that the coffees that you buy every day and the lunches you eat out add up to a very heavy impact on your finances. Specialty coffees can cost as high as seven dollars or more. Suppose you made your coffee at home or the work place and made your own lunches. You would save at least $20 dollars a day. We all buy convenience prepackaged food. Often these foods have extra salt or sugar to make up for the lack of fat. Many people believe that processed foods are concocted in such a way that they become almost addictive.
We are all very busy but consider if every month you cooked up a large batch of some of your families favorite foods and froze them in meal sized portions. This would save money. Many health foods that fit in with most diet plans can be cooked and frozen ahead of time. This will save you a considerable amount of money especially if you plan your menus around sale items. Slow cookers are another way to have convenient homemade meals. If you have a support group or friends who like to cook together this can become a social activity. Not only does this produce lower cost food it would save on other types of entertainment and possibly babysitting.
Meatless meals can also save money. Substitute beans, lentils, or split peas for meat in tacos. Use bulgur in chili. This will not only save money it will cut your fat and cholesterol. There are many meatless recipes out there. Try our links to Health Canada and US. There is some great information there. Portion control is an important part of dieting. This alone will reduce your food expenses.
The rise of various flavored drinks that advertise themselves as “healthy” have likely contributed to the rise in obesity. Ice tea, energy drinks and flavored water all cost extra money. Fruit juices are high in sugar and expensive. Soft drinks or soda pop are lethal. Many diet experts believe that diet soft drinks cause insulin levels to rise. All of these drinks cost money and have little or no health benefits. Turn to water, put in your own flavorings if necessary. Make your own ice teas, drink water and count the savings.
Take inventory of the things you spend money on that are not diet friendly. Gradually replace expensive food items with healthy cheaper alternatives. If you have children, try putting your savings in a jar so they can actually see what you save each meal. If you want to get the kids on side, try putting some of this money toward something on their wish list.
How will this make you rich? Determine how much money you are saving. Depending upon your current financial health, you could use this money to pay down your debt or to save for long or short term goals. When your savings add up you can start looking at ways to invest this money.