Shopping on a Budget

Just FACS

Shopping on a Budget

BackgroundPeople waste food everyday in

the lunchroom, restaurants, and even at home.

We are only 6% of the world’s population, yet we consume 40% of the world’s resources

This is more than what we need, especially when we have people who are poor and hungry.

Can We Afford It? Food is one of the largest expenditures in

an individuals spending plan. Majority of high school students are

unaware of the amount of money spent on groceries on a weekly basis.

Many individuals both young and old, lack the skills needed to stock a kitchen with economic food items which can be effectively used to create several meals.

The ChallengeDetermining the amount one can

spend on groceries depends on the factors relating to one’s income and overall expenses.

Once a budget is set, the task of staying within a specific dollar amount becomes the goal, and the creation of meals for a period of time becomes the challenge

Convenience Breaks the Pocket

Time and circumstances has an impact on people’s daily lives. In today’s society, people become rushed in daily events and

chooses to find simpler ways to complete the tasks. Meal preparation and management are one of the daily tasks that

people tend to try to make simpler Today’s marketplace has introduced the mighty and popular

convenience foods. However in exchange for time or convenience, consumers may

be sacrificing cost, quality and taste.

What is a convenience food?There are three types of

convenience foodsSemi-convenient (you only have

to add a few items to it)Convenient (you don’t have to

add anything, you just slice and bake)

Ready to eat (previously prepared and require no action on the part of the consumer)

The Cookie ChallengeSelect students are

preparing three types of chocolate chip cookies Made from scratch, semi-

home made, ready to eat On a sheet of paper to be

turned in for a grade, you are to do the following:Describe the taste, look, and

consistency of each cookieCost analysis of each

preparation type (Will be explained by Mrs. Jefferson)

Which cookie in your opinion was the best?

Write these questions on your own paper so that we may move on.When would purchasing an item of

convenience be beneficial?When would making an item from scratch be

beneficial?How hard was it to determine, by sight, which

preparation method was used? Explain.How hard was it to determine, by taste, which

preparation method was used? Explain.

More Questions???????

Store Brand vs. Name Brand When choosing the type of product,

the brand must be taken into consideration

Three brands exist: generic, store brand, and name brand Generic contains black and white

advertising and are cheaper because they are not advertised.

Store brand are produced and marketed by the store. They are usually cheaper than name brand and of similar quality.

Name Brand are mass produced, marketed and distributed nationwide. They are usually more expensive than the other two and are advertised on t.v. regularly.

Which is Which?

Which is Which?

The Taste Test: Name Brand vs. Off Brand

Try each type of colaDescribe the taste of the first cola

sweet, strong, weak, look, etc.Describe the taste of the second cola

This is to be written down on paperSubmit your answer for which is the

brand name and which is the off brand.

Grocery Shopping Tips Clean out the fridge before shopping and do a

basic inventory of existing food. Make meal plans and a grocery list based on the

plans Create a grocery master list.

The list should contain food items commonly purchased and should be arranged in a format. (Sections in the grocery store, types of food, etc.)

Remember to stay disciplined and follow the list and do not impulse shopping. Remember: Do not go to the grocery store

hungry!

Shopping Tips (Cont.) Only use coupons for normally

purchased items Don’t buy it just because you have a

coupon for it. Check comparable brands to make sure

you get the best buy. Buy meat in family packages and freeze

in smaller “meal” size packages. Avoid trips to the corner store. Due to volume discounts, larger stores

are generally cheaper than smaller ones.

More Grocery Shopping Tips Shop alone! Helpers will only add items to your shopping cart Produce, bakery, and meat departments are great resources.

Sometimes you can catch specials on day old items Look at higher and lower shelf items for bargains. Most

expensive brands are always eye level. Buy in season fresh fruits and vegetables. They will be less

expensive and are better quality. Check store entrances, newspaper, and flyers for coupons.

And More Shopping…..Department stores like Wal-Mart and K-mart

can be considerably cheaper for paper products, laundry detergent, and soft drinks.

Do one bulk-shopping trip for a month for staple foods.

Stock up on sale products on the list (canned fruit, veggies, frozen juice, and pasta products)

Shop for bread products at bakery outlets.