As you get ready for the end of the year, I hope this 52 week series has helped you find new ways to save money in your life. This week, I am going to talk about ways you can snack smarter and cheaper. But first, if you are following along with the 52 week money challenge, make sure to drop $51 into your 52 week money jar or $6 if you are doing this challenge in reverse. Let’s talk snacks!
52 Money Save Ways: Week 51: Snack Smart
Snacking smart is not just something you do for your health. It can be excellent for your pocketbook as well. Here are some ways to save money on snacking smart.
Cut portions. Many people over eat when they snack. A snack is supposed to be 100-200 calories and just big enough to cut off your appetite or give you a small boost in energy. It is not supposed to be as much as a meal or even a mini meal. Cutting the amount you eat will cut how much you spend on snacking.
Cut times you snack. If you are like me, you tend to graze throughout the day. This is extremely easy to do if you are busy. Plan meal times and stick to them. You are less likely to snack if you know a meal is coming soon.
Don’t buy pre-portioned snacks from the store. Create your own at home or buy things that are easy to portion out on the fly. For instance, did you know baby carrots are simply just regular carrots that are fancy cut by a machine in a factory? Buy carrots yourself and cut them into bite sized pieces, stick them in water in the fridge and take them out as you snack. Carrots bought whole are at least 50% of the price of these fancy baby carrots and just take minutes to cut up.
Make homemade versions of your kids’ store bought favorites. For instance, it is super easy to make granola bars. And, it is so much cheaper! You can also make your own small bean and cheese burritos, “bagel bites”, and even fruit snacks. Not only will you spend less, but they will be without nasty things like chemicals and preservatives.
Did you miss previous weeks? Click the links to save more money!
- Week 50: Eat from your Cupboard
- Week 49: Join the No Poo Movement
- Week 48: Use Codes
- Week 47: Get Freebies
- Week 46: Go Green
- Week 45: Make a Gift Closet
- Week 44:Stop Paying for Shipping
- Week 43: Apply for Help
- Week 42:Repair before replacing
- Week 41: Make Substitutions
- Week 40: Gas Rewards Programs
- Week 39: Freezer Cooking
- Week 38: Re-use Everything
- Week 37: A Sale Does Not Equal a Need
- Week 36: Eat out the Smart Way
- Week 35: Carefully Shop the Dollar Store
- Week 34: Take a Second Look
- Week 33: Use Less
- Week 32: Get Amazon Prime
- Week 31: Consider Renting
- Week 30: Skip Disposable
- Week 29: Reduce Your Meat Budget
- Week 28: Borrow Everything
- Week 27: Store Food Properly
- Week 26: Cloth Diapering
- Week 25: Buy Generic Medication
- Week 24: Shop at Farmer’s Markets
- Week 23: Don’t Call in the Experts
- Week 22: Learn to Rebate
- Week 21: Seal up Those Leaks
- Week 20: Always Compare Prices
- Week 18: Use Vinegar to Clean
- Week 17: Buy the Smaller Package
- Week 16: Teach Your Kids About Money
- Week 15: Splurge When it Matters
- Week 14: Wash Your Car At Home
- Week 13: Meat Free Mondays
- Week 12: Create A Price Book
- Week 11: Avoid Fees
- Week 10: Cut Your Own Hair
- Week 9: Watch Your Electricity
- Week 8: Turn off The TV
- Week 7: Drink More Water
- Week 6: Maintain Your Car
- Week 5: Reap the Rewards
- Week 4: Practice the Waiting Game
- Week 3: Buy Seasonings in Bulk
- Week 2: Buy Your Clothes Used
- Week 1: Make Lists
- 52 Week Money Challenge
- 52 Week Tracker
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