Food prices continue to rise; tips for saving at the grocery store

The price of food—like the price of everything else—continues to rise. And though there are some things we can live without, food is not one of them.

Did you ever think you’d see the day the price of pot roast at $4 a pound? I realize there are a lot of factors that contribute to the increase in prices. We can’t change that.

But as consumers we can change the ways we approach grocery shopping to get the most value for our money.

I have some tips I would like to share with you that can help you save.

First of all, take the time to get organized. Figure out your weekly meals in advance and make a list of items you will need.

Consult the store’s sale flyer and try to fashion your meals around what’s on special. When you go to the store, stay focused and stick to your list.

Use coupons. They can be found in abundance in your Sunday paper or online on manufacturers’ websites.

Two good websites to try are coupons.com, or www.couponmom.com where you can print only the coupons you are interested in.

You can shop from store to store for the best prices, but ask yourself if it’s cost effective in the long run.

What you save on an item may be less than the cost of the gas to get you there.

Also, figure in your investment in time.

Buy store brands. Most store brands are more affordable then national brands but contain the same ingredients.

Generic brands help you save money because you’re not paying for the advertising. You may even find you like the taste better!

Buy staples such as flour, sugar, cereal, cooking oils, etc. in bulk.

Check the prices before you buy however, as sometimes it’s not the best deal, particularly if the product goes bad before it’s completely used.

Less packaging means more saving. The more packaging a product has, the more it will cost.

Instead of buying a bag of individually portioned chips, buy a family size bag and portion them out yourself for lunches and snacks.

If your mission is to pick up just a few items at the grocery store, use one of those small baskets or simply carry the stuff in your arms.

Do not use a cart. If you use a cart you are more likely to want to fill it.

Purchase items to make meals from scratch. Yes, processed and pre-made items are more convenient, but you pay the price for that convenience.

Plus, with homemade meals, baked goods and snacks, you and your family won’t be consuming nearly the amount of preservatives or other virtually unpronounceable ingredients!

These are just a few ideas to help you save some money. Every bit really does help!

Hospice programs provide family healing before and after loss

Hospice service is an invaluable source of help and healing for those at the end stages of their lives. And as I have discovered, it is a much older concept than I had realized.

The term “hospice” (from the same linguistic root as “hospitality”) can be traced back to medieval times when it referred to a place of shelter and rest for weary or ill travelers on a long journey.

The name was first applied to specialized care for dying patients in 1967 by physician Dame Cicely Saunders, who founded St. Christopher’s Hospice-the first modern hospice-in a residential suburb of London.

Saunders introduced the idea of specialized care for the dying to the United States during a 1963 visit to Yale University.

Her lecture on the concept of holistic hospice care was given to medical students, nurses, social workers and chaplains. Continue reading →

Lung cancer leading cause of cancer death, yet often preventable

Not only was November National Diabetes Month, but it was also Lung Cancer Awareness Month and National Hospice/ Palliative Care Month.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death. It is estimated that smoking is the principle cause of about 90% of lung cancers in men and almost 80% in women.

Smoking also can contribute to cancer of the voice box (larynx), mouth and throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, pancreas, cervix, and stomach, and acute myeloid leukemia.

It is important to remember that not all lung cancers are caused by smoking. Continue reading →

Seven million diabetes sufferers walk around undiagnosed

It’s November again, and you know what that means? Time to “celebrate” National Diabetes Awareness month.

As many of you may already know, I have been a card-carrying Type 1 Diabetic for 29 years.

For approximately 16 of those years I have been using an insulin pump.

Since first being diagnosed, the difference in treatments available and for the potential for a “cure” are truly amazing.

Back then we were still using pork or beef insulin, but now synthetic insulins are available.

Some people were still using urine dipsticks to check for “sugar,” however today we have glucose monitors that use a tiny amount of blood and give results in a matter of seconds. Continue reading →