Saving On That Munchie Break

Sometimes, you just want something sweet to eat, but, it seems like the prices for baked goods are constantly increasing. In a family, goodies can be both a want and a necessity. Have you ever noticed how well a toddler behaves when he can bet on receiving a cookie as a reward? That being said, satisfying a sweet tooth is not as pleasing when it feels like it’s a major purchase. So, what is a family to do to curtail the cost without cutting out the cookies and cakes? Try these few tips for ways that you may be able to save while still enjoying the sweet stuff:

Bake your own treats. Buying a cake from a grocer or baker can cost upwards of $20 and a box of overly processed cookies, while still enjoyable, could run you close to $5 per package. You can bake those same items at home at a much lower overall cost with just a little planning. First off, anyone that is going to endeavor to bake goodies for their household on a regular basis should buy basic items in larger quantities. The price of buying a 5-pound bag of sugar can cost almost $3, while a 10-pound bag of sugar will most likely max out at $4.50; and of course, you will need plenty of sugar. Also, buy eggs in larger quantities also as most cake mixes or recipes will call for a number of eggs. So, how do you save when you have to purchase more of these items? Well, to bake a large batch of sugar cookies, you may need a couple of cups of sugar, a few cups of flour, and some eggs, along with the other bits such as a tablespoon of flavoring and such. But, you may only use $1 worth of ingredients and you may be able to make 2 or 3 times as many cookies as you would have received in a package. Also, baking allows for more family time, as it can be a really interactive activity and that’s priceless.

Catch the sales. If you absolutely must have the store bought goodies, then, try to buy them when they are on sale. Often, stores will mark cakes, cookies, and other baked goods down when they are quickly approaching the “sale by” date. The items are still fresh, but they must sell them or else they will have to discard them. So, to ensure that they make a little profit off of them, they may offer incredible savings for their customers if they will take these almost “due” items off their shelves. Most stores do this on a daily basis, and buying large quantities when they are on sale can be very good on your overall budget. Some of the items that you purchase may be able to be frozen and used at a later date, such as pies and certain cakes. Actually, most of the long decorative cakes that the stores make on-site are actually stored frozen until they are ready to present them to the public. You could do the same thing at home and save at the same time!

Clip coupons. Those little pieces of paper can be quite precious for people that are interested in saving, cost-comparing, and keeping their expenses under control. Just by snipping those free money-saving coupons from your Sunday local paper, you can make buying your favorite snacks a non-issue with regard to price. In fact, with so many stores offering double or even triple coupon deals, along with “buy one, get one” specials, consumers can save gobs of cash on sweets for their sweets!

Check out the bakery goods thrift shops. Snack foods companies, specifically baked goods manufacturers, often have a “thrift shop” that sells nothing but their products, where consumers can buy stuff that is either close to the “sell by” date or is an overstocked product. During an economy crisis like this, it may be worthwhile for a family to take a little trip or to coordinate a visit to one of these shops at some point. But, do keep in mind that if you are spending a ton in gas to get the shop, then it’s not worth it. This saving alternative may only work for those that have a shop in close proximity. Remember, the whole point is to save!

Just think…you can realize a saving, cost-cut, and still those scrumptious sweets by simply making these saving strategies work for you and your family! Life doesn’t get much better than that!