As the prices go up, we are coming up with inventive ways to save here and there.
“Add water to ketchup and to the salad dressing so that they last longer,” sounds like a piece of advice by a penny-pinching neighbor, who thanks to tricks like that managed to survive the Great Depression and today has no remorse stashing uneaten bread from the restaurant’s table basket into her purse. Alas, it is one of the tips by the New York Consumer Protection Board (CPB) that recently launched “Stretch the Dollar,” a campaign aimed at consumers who find it hard to make ends meet and are struggling with the falling value of the dollar and racing inflation.
“The campaign’s goal is to help New Yorkers make the most out of what they have,” said Jorge Montalvo, a representative of CPB, which based its list of tips on practical pieces of advice submitted by consumers.
Money-saving tips include economical ways of preparing meals at home, shopping and saving energy and gas. Some of the most useful advice: cook spaghetti sauce in bulk and freeze smaller portions for later; do not throw out ripened fruit – use it to make marmalade for home baking; make use of coupons and apply for discount cards at the supermarkets where you shop most often; buy merchandise that’s on sale; never go shopping hungry, because then you are apt to buy more than you need; unplug electrical devices when they are not in use; do not use your washing machine for one or two items of clothing – wait until you collect a full load; and finally, make your coffee at home instead of buying it at cafes and delis – this alone may save you up to $1,500 a year.
According to a poll conducted by Siena Research Institute, consumer confidence decreased by 3.1 points last month, reaching a record low of 52.6 points. Seventy-four percent of the respondents say that their budgets are most affected by rising prices of gas, and 72 percent complained about food becoming more and more expensive.
“We have measured consumer’ confidence for 10 years,” said Prof. Douglas Lonnstrom from the Siena Institute. “Never before have consumers been so negative about the economic situation in the country.”
Poles living in the New York area, as it turns out, are also concerned with the economic situation and how it is affecting their home budgets. For a while now they have relied on common-sense ways of saving tiny sums.
“I can tell you a handful of ways of saving a penny or two,” says Kasia from Maspeth. “First of all, you need to set a limit to your expenses, say 100 bucks a week on food for the whole family, and stick to it. Second, buy in large quantities. I know people who shop at BJ’s and save quite a sum each month, for example by getting three chickens for the price of two. Others cut out coupons from newspapers and buy staples at lower prices.”
Agnieszka, from Greenpoint, also believes in bulk shopping. “Whenever I can, I buy food in big bags. I do that with butter, rice and couscous. In this way I get discounts,” she says.
More often now, instead of shopping for groceries in Polish stores, Poles supply their fridges from American supermarkets. “Some Polish products have simply become too expensive,” says Marcin, from Greenpoint. “Besides, at the big supermarket they always have stuff on sale.”
“I like to use a discount card, so it pays to shop at a supermarket since Polish stores rarely offer them,” says Miroslaw, who has lived in the States for 12 years.
Others give up some luxuries. “For me there is only one solution,” says Grazyna, from Ridgewood. “I cook for myself and do not eat out. With current prices of food it is a waste of money to go to restaurants.” Besides, she recommends going shopping with a list of groceries one needs and buying only what the list says, “That is the best way to fight whims and cravings.”
Many Poles keep to their old Polish ways and walk from store to store comparing prices and buying products wherever an item is cheaper. “I save a couple of hundred dollars this way,” admits another shopper from Ridgewood.
