Be sure to request the visitor bureau’s information kit (they are free, and every city has one these days!). These info kits often include FREE coupons for tourist sites, shopping, restaurants, and more. Another great option is buying a multi-attraction pass: these are almost always less expensive than buying separate passes for each destination.

If you already know the particular sites you’ll be visiting, research any special exhibits/events, hours, and costs & savings they may have. Many attractions have a “free admission day.” For example, in New York City, Wednesdays at the Bronx Zoo are ‘pay as you wish day’—which can mean up to a $52 savings for a family of four! Also see if these attractions offer discounts for any organizations/demographics you belong to—such as AAA, AARP, senior citizens, military personnel, or students.

If you’ll be spending a few days in a particular city, try buying an “Entertainment” book for your visit (www.entertainment.com). These popular coupon books are city-specific, and are filled with tons of deals. Savings include “buy one, get one free” coupons covering eating establishments, car rentals, hotels, and more—plus great savings on museums, galleries, ‘day trips’ and more. One great thing about the Entertainment book is that their price drops throughout the year—so a book that costs $40 in January may cost $20 by the time your summer vacation rolls around! Even better: lots of the venues are national chains, so you can continue saving money once you return home, too!

And while your local car rental agent might be telling you he’s giving you ‘the best deal,’ you can probably save even more! Try car rental search engines like www.sidestep.com, which offer the lowest rates available with national rental car companies, as well as with smaller, regional companies you probably haven’t heard of—which are usually cheaper, to begin with! The truly savvy shopper will combine these savings with the rental company’s site offers, or those that are often listed in the Entertainment book, too!

Lastly, try “Googling” ‘coupon.’ Many coupon websites allow you to enter the zip code of your destination city, to pick up lots of other local deals.

These are just some of the ways you can save on little items to save big on your next trip! Get creative and you’ll soon be coming up with your own ways to save money when traveling.

For 2010, the good news is that our country’s economy has been in a gradual recovery. While our economy rebounds, fashion pros expect to see a return to classic, upbeat traditional looks. Overall, most fashion experts see strong silhouettes, sophisticated glamour, and subdued colors for the coming year. Here, we’ll look at some of this coming season’s hottest looks.

Back to the future

Some elements from the 19th century will be a hit this year. Called the ‘dandy’ look, a trend that began in Great Britain, this look recalls wealth and aristocracy. This look features bow blouses; slim-cut, cropped jackets; high-waisted jodhpurs (riding pants); ruffles; brooches; fob chains, waistcoats and tailored vests. Combined with a balance of sharp tailoring, this look accentuates the traditional women’s hourglass figure—while being completely fashion-forward.

The sheer look

“See-through” clothing will be a popular trend this spring. This cool, sexy look—used with sheen and sheer fabrics—can be used in either soft or feminine looks, edgy or hardcore styles. Sheer fabrics have been showing up lately everywhere from Hollywood red carpets to NYC nightclubs, and will be one of 2010’s hottest trends. This look can be used creatively—in layers, tight pieces or delicate drapes. Expect to see this look make a major appearance in trendy stores near you.

One-shoulder Apparel

Dresses and tops with one shoulder are a big part of the asymmetric shoulder line look that was hot all last year. A single-shouldered top goes well with everything from denim to gowns. For example, a one-shoulder dress with an asymmetrical form-fitting top is a hot look: sexy yet conservative, it is bold without being tacky. This one-shoulder look accentuates a woman’s shoulders, well-toned arms, and collarbones.
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The leather look

Leather, a longtime favorite for coats and jackets, will extend to other clothing types this year. Expect to see leather dresses, shorts, leggings and other types everywhere this year! For example, a tasteful black leather dress with revealing neckline, and matching leather bandeau, is an exotic, yet tasteful look for any evening party.

Capes aren’t just for superheroes!

Expect to see lots of capes, cloaks and cape-lets this year. No matter the variety, this sleeveless outerwear will be a hot trend in the cold weather. This classic look is based upon the “cocoon” look of the 1920s—with a clear eye to the future.

Beyond the Knee: Trends in boots

Over-the-knee boots are now a must-have item for any fashion victim. From tasteful suedes to futuristic sheens, this look is definitely a hot trend. Meanwhile, traditional leather boots in classic brown or black will ‘take it up a notch’ and right over the knee! These boots also look great in everything from maroon or neutral tones, to brighter colors, as well.

As you begin to clean out last year’s closet, try considering any of these hot trends to give your wardrobe a fresh, updated look.

First, get your local supermarket’s current sales flyer and plan out a weekly menu, based around their sale items.  Then, write out your shopping list based on this menu.  When you do this, not only are you ensuring that you’ll be saving money, you’ll also be making sure that you have enough food to feed your family for the coming week. (There’s more on cutting down visits to the supermarket later.)

Before you ever set foot in a store, create a budget.  Remember that if you don’t know how much you can spend, you’re spending too much!

Whenever you do shop, bring a shopping list.  Going without a list equates to throwing cash away.  As for shopping, keep to the list, and only the list.

Remember to always eat a good meal before you go shopping.  If you go shopping while you’re hungry you’ll be tempted by impulse buys—which are often expensive and unhealthy.

Also, try shopping online.  Tons of items (over 20,000 actually), are available for easy purchase at Amazon.com’s grocery section (that’s right, grocery section.)  The prices are ridiculously low, most items can ship for free, and the products are fresh and high-quality.

We certainly advocate eating as many fresh, nutritious fruits and veggies as possible.  However, frozen vegetables are a healthy and affordable alternative.

While we’re talking veggies, now’s a good time to mention it: cut down on the meat.  Pound for pound, meat is one of the most expensive foods you can buy.  Try having vegetarian meals a few times weekly: pasta, chili, potatoes, and rice dishes are great.  You’ll notice the difference in your budget, and perhaps your waistline, as well.  By cooking vegetarian, you’ll also have the chance to try ethnic meals—like Asian, Indian, or Mexican—and bring some new interesting new flavors to your family’s table.

Furthermore, you can also check your vanity at the supermarket door and try buying store brands.  Today’s store brands are way more than yesteryear’s generic no-label, black-and-white-labeled variety.  In fact, store brands often include the same exact ingredients as the big-name brands, at a steep discount; with the name brands, you’re paying for their advertising.

Perhaps the most important tip we can stress is cutting down on your “one-item” trips…because the truth is, there’s no such thing as a “one-item trip.”  You know the drill: once you get to the store, it’s tough not to pick up that soda you wanted, and then there’s that snack for the kids, and so on.  If you’re consistently going out for errands like these, you’ve probably neglected to place some important items on your weekly shopping list.

Also beware of supermarkets’ tricks.  Usually, you get discounts for buying larger items; however, this is not always the case at the supermarket, particularly with popular items.  For example, $1 for those “100 calorie” snacks that are all the rage now sounds like a deal—until you do the math and realize you’re paying over $10/lb. for junk food.

Speaking of junk food, try to buy as little of it as possible.  Junk food costs a lot relative to other foods, provides zero nutritional value, and could lead to weight gain and health issues.  Along with junk food, avoid frozen dinners and other prepared entrees—they cost too much and are usually not very nutritious.  Lastly, drink more water.  If you’re loading up on sodas or so-called diet or energy drinks you’re burning money.  Drinking water is better for you and cheaper—even if you opt for bottled water.

Now that you’ve read this, the next thing to do is get your local grocer’s flyer and start planning out all the delicious meals you’ll be cooking this week.

First, identify your priorities: do you want your child with lots of other kids, or will a small-class environment be more beneficial for him?  Would you prefer a daycare center that’s closer to your job—or nearer to your home?  Also, time and cost are always issues, so be aware of all possibilities.  As you consider your priorities, be sure to write all of your answers down.  You’ll want to refer to this list as you begin searching.

Start looking!

Friends and family, particularly those with young children, are a great place to start.  Ask your friends, relatives and coworkers: they’ll offer some very good suggestions, and help put the word out for you.  You’ll find that personal references can often produce the best results.

You can always ask the experts for help, as well.  There are several great nonprofit organizations dedicated solely to being a childcare resource.  These include The Child Care Aware organization (www.childcareaware.org) which provides the number of local childcare resource and referral agencies, and even operates their own hotline at 1-800-424-2246.

Daycare centers can be accredited by one of two major organizations.  Both the National Association for the Education of Young Children (www.naeyc.org) and the National Association of Family Child Care (www.nafcc.org) license daycare centers, and have stringent guidelines.  Both organizations have easy-to-use, informative websites, as well.

If you can’t find a practical daycare option through any of these methods, let your fingers do the walking!  Your local yellow pages will have an ample list of daycare centers, home daycares, and even nanny agencies in your area; if you are new to the area, this may be the best option.

Get out there and interview!

There’s nothing better than an in-person visit to give you a sense of what a daycare agency is really like (there’s only so much you can accomplish over the phone or by browsing a website!)  Call ahead and schedule interviews at any and all daycare centers that interest you.  Try to meet both the director, and some of the staff (who will have direct contact with your child).  Don’t be shy…the more questions you ask, the better!  Some issues to definitely ask about are: hours, costs, schedules, and more philosophical issues such as feeding, sleeping, and discipline (of course, that will never be an issue with your little angel!)  Try to obtain a daily schedule, the center’s policies, and a fee schedule.  But most importantly, do a gut-check: often your first reaction is the most telling.

Two key figures to ask about are the caregiver-child ratio, and the number of children per classroom.  Remember that it’s much easier for children to provide one-on-one attention, answer a toddler’s questions, or notice any developmental issues when there are fewer kids per class.  However, always remember that numbers don’t tell the whole story: a great 1:4 caregiver-baby ratio will mean little if those other 3 babies are monsters-in-training—demanding all of their caregiver’s time.

Dig deeper: check references

All the buzz you heard about one particular daycare center is probably for a reason; when a center is good, parents can’t help bragging about it!  Most daycares you’re checking out will have a list of references (run like heck if you come across a center that doesn’t).  Keep in mind that these will undoubtedly be biased—a daycare center won’t refer you to parents whose kids had a bad experience.  However, just hearing from another parent how they rate that center’s care can be very reassuring.

When you do call these parents, be sure to ask specific questions—and ones that can’t generate a simple ‘yes or no’ answer.  (Don’t ask them “Was your child happy at the center?”  Instead, ask, “What did your child like about the center?” This will elicit a more telling response.)

Also, try to find out about the turnover rate for caregivers.  More than anything, our young ones need consistency.  They like to form deep, loving relationships with their caregivers—so you don’t want to enroll your child at a center with a high teacher-turnover rate, or one whose caregivers have a cold, standoffish attitude.

As a last resort call your state’s Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against the center.

The real test: bring your child!

This may be the most important part: once you’ve narrowed down your selections, go for some visits with your child.  See how he interacts with the caregivers—and what his gut reaction is.  Some daycare centers will want him to spend some time “sitting in” on a class, to see how he interacts with the staff and other children.  If your child is old enough to speak for himself, ask him how he feels about the center.  Remember that you’re the parent—and the decision is ultimately yours—but children are rarely afraid to speak the truth, and his feedback can be insightful.

And now the bad news: “We’re all filled up”

So you’ve done your homework, found the ideal daycare, and now…they’re all filled up, and you’re relegated to the dreaded waiting list.  Don’t worry, though: getting on a waiting list almost always means your child will get in (at some point).  Meanwhile, ask the center for recommendations – they may refer you to a similar center with vacancies – and set up interim care: a nanny, relative, etc., until your spot opens up.

A Parting Word

Finding good daycare doesn’t have to be a grind—but just as with everything else—it does help to be organized, do some planning, and start early!

Stepping into the stroller department of the local baby or department store can be overwhelming.  There seems to be an endless variety of strollers: from flimsy umbrella strollers to state-of-the-art machines that probably cost more than your first car.

Finding the right stroller will always be easier if you start by considering your family’s lifestyle.  If you regularly make long expeditions to the mall, supermarket and everywhere in between, you’ll want an easy-to-maneuver, sturdy model.  If you live in the city and are constantly running short errands, the popular lightweight stroller might be best.   Most parents end up having two strollers: one is lightweight, easily-foldable; the second is heavy-duty, with more features.

Before shopping, ask yourself these questions:

1.   How many kids do you plan on having? If it’s more than one, you should consider a multiple-child stroller.  Or, consider investing more money in a high quality stroller that will last through your second (or third, or so on) child.
2.    What kind of lifestyle do you have? If you’re a city-dweller, a lighter, more maneuverable stroller can be a godsend.  If you’re training for the next marathon, and baby will be riding shotgun, consider a jogging stroller.
3.    What type of frame material do you want? Metal strollers (aluminum, steel, etc.) last longer but are heavier.  Lightweight (i.e., plastic) strollers are easier to schlep around, but wear out faster.
4.    Can your child support his head by himself? If not, a fully-reclining seat is a necessity for infants that cannot support their head.  (An adjustable canopy is a bonus that protects your baby from the elements.)

Safety Features Are Critical

With babies, safety always comes first.  Never buy an unstable stroller!  (A good trick: see if the stroller will stay upright with a diaper bag hanging on its handles.)  Closely examine the harness, too.  A 5-point harness is ideal—particularly for younger babies.  However, for occasional trips, or older toddlers, a 3-point harness will suffice.  Consider your baby’s comfort, too: look for sharp corners, or other spots that can pinch him.  Buckles must be easy enough for you to unlatch, yet comfortable for him.  Belts should fit snugly (not tightly) around your baby’s waist.  The stroller should also include crotch straps that fit into the waist belt, which will prevent him from slipping out.

Wheels and Handles Matter!

Be sure to test-walk a stroller through the store: are the handle heights comfortable?  Tall parents need adjustable handles so they won’t have to continually stoop over.  Always pick a stroller that navigates corners smoothly.  Also, try walking at a quick pace to be sure your feet don’t hit the wheels.  (Foam-covered handles are great additions.)  Lastly, be sure to pick a stroller that has brakes that truly lock the wheels in place.

Convenience Features (for Mom & Dad)

Strollers can come ‘tricked-out’ these days; it’s up to you to decide how much you need.  They can include parents’ organization trays, toy bars, snack/cup holders, rain hoods and more.  However, most of these items are also sold separately—so don’t let one (or two) missing features deter you from buying a stroller you otherwise adore.

More practical considerations include: how the stroller folds, and how much trunk space it will take up.  Washable fabric that can be easily removed and cleaned is a big plus and extends a stroller’s life.  Storage areas are important: an underbody storage area is a must on a long trip.  Lastly, make sure your stroller has an easy open & close mechanism.  There will be many times that you’ll need a stroller that can fold with just one hand or foot, so you can keep hold of your child.

Types of Strollers

Lightweight Strollers
Generally considered those less than 20 pounds, these can range from umbrella strollers to those with reclining seats, storage baskets and sunshades.  Lightweight strollers are great for short trips, errands, and as an economical backup stroller.  Just remember that those without a reclining seat cannot be used by infants who can’t yet sit up on their own.

Standard Strollers
Standard strollers are bigger and heavier than their lightweight cousins.  They have bigger seats, smoother-rolling wheels, and increased storage space.  Many offer extras, like built in music systems, ergonomic handles, and drink holders.  The average standard stroller performs well in the vast majority of conditions, so parents generally love them.  They do fold (and often with one hand), so they are OK to travel.  Be wary, though, that they do take up more trunk space, and are heavier than lightweight strollers.  Lastly, some of today’s high-end large, standard strollers may be awkward to navigate through crowded city sidewalks.

Jogging Strollers
Active parents often love the jogging stroller as a backup, or an everyday option.  They feature large, sturdy tires (think small bicycle), aerodynamic frames, handgrip brakes, and even full-blown suspension systems.  These strollers glide effortlessly over most surfaces, but won’t fold flat easily (not so good for traveling).  Additionally, these strollers are not suitable for infants under 6 months.

Travel-System Strollers
These all-in-one systems offer loads of convenience.  They start with a standard stroller, but also include an infant car seat that snaps onto the stroller, allowing busy parents to quickly move baby from car to stroller (and vice versa).  Most systems include a car seat base, which remains permanently in the car, so the car seat can just be snapped in (no time-sapping buckling and unbuckling!)  Once your infant outgrows the car seat, the system will function as a regular standard stroller.

Multiple-child Strollers
If you have more than one little one, multiple-child strollers are great.  Always consider your childrens’ ages: some have the space for a child to stand, but not room enough to catch a nap.  Others have seats for both riders; younger infants will need a seat that reclines.  Also, consider if you want the seats behind each other, or side by side: the latter can be unwieldy in busier areas.

Whatever you do, plan now!

As a parent, a stroller can be a good friend—or a nightmare.  However, taking time NOW to find the appropriate stroller will make your time spent out & about with baby that much easier.

Those dark circles under your eyes tell the entire story: you’re a new parent.  While your “friends” may brag that their own precious one has been sleeping through the night from day one—that’s not the case with most babies.  Multiple studies show that over one-third of all babies have some type of sleep problem.  Listed below are several great tips that you can start using tonight to help your baby sleep through the night (and so you can get rid of those dark circles).

The options below include everything from letting your baby cry (tough on those sensitive moms) to co-sleeping (something we don’t recommend).  Consider each one to see which best suits your family; any tactic here may be implemented from age one month.  The most important thing is to be consistent; while these approaches may be effective, none will work effectively without some effort.

Sleep Strategies

Swaddling: This applies to newborns in particular.  For the past nine months, your little one has been in a very confined, comfortable place (even if it wasn’t always so comfortable for you.)  One way to replicate this feeling is to swaddle him, by wrapping him snuggly in a warm blanket, or other wrap.  This will help him feel comforted, in turn promoting healthy sleeping patterns.

Help set your baby’s body clock: Eating is one of your baby’s biggest routines.  Help establish his innate, inner body clock by differentiating between mealtimes.  If you can make daytime meals happy, lively and social events he’ll associate daytime with wakefulness.  By making nighttime feedings as quiet and nonsocial as possible, you’ll go a long way to helping him learn the difference between night and day.

Background noise:  Noises that can drive the most patient of us insane—a crowd’s chatter, vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, radio station that isn’t quite tuned in, or even dad trying to sing—can help baby fall asleep.  While we advise against running any of these objects through the night (particularly Dad) you can make tapes/CDs of these noises and play them overnight.  Or buy a readymade CD with these noises, or the even more popular “womb sounds.”

Let him fall asleep on his own:  Original idea, right?  But this is always harder than it sounds.  Pediatricians advise that from about six weeks on, you can put him down while he’s sleepy, but still awake.  If you can get away with this—you are making your life infinitely easy later on.  Rocking, breastfeeding, etc. your baby to sleep can all become crutches that he will come to depend upon later on.

Create a bedtime routine:  Short and sweet is key.  It’s important to teach your young baby that his bedroom is a great place.  Creating a nice routine helps: bath, pajamas, and a short story should suffice.   He’ll soon associate this routine with the rhythm of slowing down and falling to sleep.

Create a “security” object: Most babies (at some point) take to a security object.  Whether it’s a blanket or stuffed toy, you can make it a “security” object by keeping it near you for awhile, so it picks up your scent.  Babies have incredible senses of smell: so when he awakes at night to your scent, he’ll be more likely to fall back to sleep (without waking you).

The Ferber Method (or “crying it out”):  Named for Richard Ferber, M.D. (Director, Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children’s Hospital, Boston) this method is particularly popular.  It’s based upon the fact that babies, just as they do with everything they learn, make associations with falling asleep.  Rock your baby to sleep every night, and he’ll come to rely on that rocking motion.  Ferber’s trick is to teach your baby to associate being left in his crib each night with falling asleep on his own.  Once he learns this, his overnight waking will generally take care of itself.  To implement the Ferber Method, try the following:

•    Place him in his crib while he is awake, but drowsy.  Say goodnight and leave his room.  If he starts to cry, just let him, but only for 5 minutes; you can then enter the room.  Comfort him briefly—and this is critical—without picking him up.  If he cries again, wait 10 minutes before reentering (then 15 minutes, and so on).  This works for both parties: you reassure baby that you still love him, and reassure yourself that he’ll be OK.

•    Repeat this routine each time he wakes at night, with the same time intervals used at bedtime.

•    Add 5 minutes each night to the first interval: In our example, begin by waiting 10 minutes for the second night; 15 minutes for the first time you enter on the third night, and so on.

It rarely takes more than a week for a baby to learn the Ferber Method.  Another benefit is that your baby learns that crying won’t automatically get you to pick him up (yes, your sweet baby will soon be a toddler throwing tantrums).

Co-sleeping: More and more parents now allow their baby to share their bed.  While this may be convenient (you get more sleep), we have to discourage this method.  Even in the largest of beds, a soft mattress, fluffy pillow, large comforter—or a parent rolling over on a child—can suffocate a baby.  This last scenario is particularly common, sadly, when either parent is taking a medication, consuming alcohol, or is particularly sleepy that night.  Even without the safety issue, at some point he is going to have to learn to sleep alone—and this means that he’ll (most likely) have to adopt one of the above methods.

Get into your baby’s head: No, not literally – but try to be more attuned to what makes him tick.  If he’s waking up at unusual times, for example, is something bothering him?  Are his clothes wet?  Does his room have a draft?  Are his clothes too uncomfortable?  Try to find what those little things are that affect his world—they may make a world of difference in his sleeping patterns.

A Parting Word

While your dark circles under your eyes give you away as the new parent—they may also point to more serious underlying problems.  If your baby is constantly waking, or having a hard time falling to sleep, it can disrupt your sleep patterns—making it harder for you to function in your daily/work life.  Additionally, women with babies whose sleep is disrupted are more prone to succumbing to depression.  Lastly, it is important to deal with any sleep issues as early as possible; they can create tensions between you and your child—or you and your spouse.

Remember that for every gloating mom with the little “perfect sleeper,” there are a dozen whose babies rarely sleep through the night.  However, with these tips in hand, you’ll have a much better chance at getting your baby’s sleep straightened out.  Just don’t brag too much once you do; nobody likes a braggart!

Eating healthy while saving money can be a challenge.  The cheapest foods are often the unhealthiest: they are overly-processed, and contain gobs of fats, sugars, and high fructose corn syrup.

While money is important, our health is everything.  Many studies show that bad eating habits and obesity cause increased rates of diabetes, cancer, heart disease and many other ailments.  So, then, the question we must ask is not, ‘how can I afford to eat healthy on a budget?’  The real question is ‘how can I afford NOT to eat healthy?’

If you have ever asked yourself this question, this article is for you.  We have lots of great tips on eating healthy—on a budget—broken down into convenient sections.  So put down your chips, pay attention, and get ready to start eating better (without breaking the bank).

Plan Ahead

Create a weekly shopping list: Doing so ensures you will buy only the essentials, stick to your plan, and help prevent “impulse buys” on questionable items.  (Ever wonder why the chips and candy bars are stationed right at the checkout aisle?)  Check out your supermarket’s flyer, and take advantage of sales.  Bonus tip: Never shop on an empty stomach—and you’ll be less likely to succumb to those impulse buys!

Try to eat foods that don’t have labels (or “whole foods”): Whole foods occur in nature, and are healthier, and (usually) cheaper than prepackaged foods.  These include fruits, vegetables, fish, meats, nuts, and beans.  Prepackaged foods are overly processed, higher in sodium and fat, and are generally much more expensive.

Try one protein-free meal per week.  Proteins are usually the most expensive part of your grocery bill (check out the price of salmon lately?), and skipping them every so often doesn’t hurt.  Instead, try pasta with marinara sauce, vegetable stir fry, or vegetable burritos.  If you absolutely must have your meat, stretch the bang of your protein buck and add in beans, grains or legumes to your dish.

Beware your Supermarket

Not really…but your local grocery has several traps that will hurt your bottom line.  Don’t be fooled by sales or product sizes when pricing items.  Pay attention to unit pricing: an 8 oz box of pasta at $2 is 33% more expensive than a 16 oz box at $3.

Once you get the hang of unit pricing, buy in bulk.  Once you get home, repackage them into smaller portions (only if you’re sure you’ll finish them before the item spoils).  Remember, your freezer is your friend: meats last up to 4 months, eggs well over a month, and dried grains, legumes, and beans last up to a year in the deep freeze.

Stick to the store perimeter (beware those inner aisle, with their overpriced, unhealthy, processed foods/canned goods!)  Keep to the produce section, deli, dairy case, and bakery.  These sections contain many “whole foods” that are healthier, and affordable.

Check your vanity at the door and try generic products.  Although you’ll have to look high and low—really, generics are often hidden from the (pricier) name brands—it’s worth it.  Truth is, most times you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference anyway.

On the Road Again

When going out, pack some healthy snacks or fruits.  Drive-thru’s, takeouts, and fast food joints are budget-killers.  Making your own trail mix (nuts, seeds, dried fruits, even some chocolate pieces) or whole grain crackers with/without cheese, are just two ways to prevent hunger pangs—and a run to the golden arches.

Food Choices

The following foods are easy to cook, healthy and affordable.

Beans are great for soups or salads, or as accompaniment to fresh veggies and rice, fish, or pasta.  Brown rice is a bit more expensive than white rice—but it’s healthier (it’s a complex carb) and way cheaper than ordering in yet again.  And who doesn’t like pasta?  Quick, easy, and it goes great with just about everything: including meat, salads, fish, or fresh veggies.

Soups are unparalleled when it comes to nutrition, and convenience.  Go wild using canned/packaged soups as your base—and adding ingredients to your heart’s content.  And do we even have to mention fresh vegetables and fruit?  Buy them weekly, in season: that’s cheaper, and ensures the best taste, and nutritional value.  Fruits are great snacks, and let’s face it: veggies go with everything.

Don’t forget condiments.  With a selection of herbs, spices, curry powder, oils and vinegars, marinades, and stock cubes—you’re never far away from creating an exciting new dish…miso soup to curried chicken; cinnamon oatmeal to pasta with vegetables, oil, and herbs.

Conclusion

The greatest benefit to eating healthy is that money spent now will be saved in reduced health bills later.  When you consider how much we spend on drugs and doctors—and how much our quality of life suffers as a result—we can no longer fail to eat well.  And as this article shows, with a little planning, creativity and moxie, you can make a big dent in your monthly expenses by shopping smart (and healthy).

Eating healthy isn’t easy on a budget.  And combined with a still-bleak economy and rising food prices, it’s near impossible to make a decent meal on a meager living.  But near impossible isn’t impossible.

The recipe for stretching your wallet instead of your waistline consists of two ingredients: a heaping helping of resourcefulness and a dash of effort.  When combined, not only will you get the goods your mind and body need to weather the financial crisis, you’ll have the means to save more money in boom times and bad.

To get you started on the road to financial and physical recovery, here are a few tips that every cash-conscious consumer should live by:

1.    Scour your local supermarket circulars for the best deals on produce, lean meats and seafood. Not every supermarket is created equal, and you’ll be surprised at how drastically prices vary from place to place. If your money is worth the paper it’s printed on, you’ll take the time to compare prices to ensure that you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

2.    Sign up for grocery store club cards. They’re designed for loyal customers to receive exclusive discounts on selected grocery items – and best of all, they’re free. You’ll be amazed by how much you can save with one simple swipe.

3.    Avoid frozen and processed foods. You know they’re not good for you, and while they seem inexpensive, the price-per-ounce ratio far exceeds that of healthier, more satisfying foods.

4.    Buy in bulk when you spot a good deal, but don’t go overboard. Many fruits and vegetables can be frozen, so, for example, if you love fresh strawberries and they’re half price, buy two packages. You can enjoy one package now and freeze the other to enjoy later.

5.    Clip coupons! Coupons save you loads of dough on tons of things you already buy. But beware. Just because you have a coupon, doesn’t mean you have to use it. Be democratic when making decisions in the supermarket. Do you really need that item? Will you eat it? Is it good for you? These are all things to consider.

6.    Eat in. The biggest contributing factor to our expanding midsections and dwindling slush funds is eating out. The food you buy on the go is far inferior to whatever you’d make at home – and it’s a lot more expensive. Think of it this way – for the price of one dinner at a moderately priced restaurant, you could have filled your cabinets with a week’s worth of healthy food. Still hungry for that $14 hamburger? Didn’t think so.

7.    There’s no reason mealtime should be boring, so get creative in the kitchen. Download new recipes from the Internet, cook along with your favorite food-show host, or throw a themed dinner party with a good-for-you menu. You’ll have more fun than you expected, and you’ll feel good about it too. To preserve you own stash, host a potluck and invite friends to bring body-boosting side dishes and desserts.

8.    Don’t discard leftovers or seemingly spoiled produce. Think of ways to make uneaten food go the extra mile. Baked chicken with a side salad on Monday can turn into chicken and avocado lettuce wraps on Tuesday. Pack last night’s dinner for lunch. Turn overripe fruits into smoothies or heart-healthy muffins. Throwing out perfectly good food is sort of like throwing your paycheck into a fire pit. Translation: It’s just plain stupid.

These eight ideas are just the beginning of a long laundry list of ways to save money and stay fit. Eating right doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, in many ways, buying healthy foods and preparing your own meals is more cost-effective than taking the easy way out. Yes, you’ll have to spend more time in the kitchen and at the supermarket, but the pros far outweigh the cons here. As they say time is money – which would you rather spend more of?

Eating well is simple, right? Seek out lots of vegetables in as many colors as possible, eat as much fruit as you can, pepper your diet with nuts, go for whole grains, stick to low-fat meats, avoid oils high in saturated fat—the list goes on, and we know it well. Though diet trends—low fat, low carb, low calorie—come and go, the basics never change.

So why is it so hard? One theory is that we spend much more time beating ourselves up about our eating habits and our weight than we do reflecting and planning—two things that are critical to success in every area of our lives. (And that includes eating!)

Here are three tips to help you really think about—and really improve–your eating habits:

1)    In the morning, reflect on what you ate the previous day, and why you made the choices you did. If they were good choices, think about what led to them—were you in a good mood, was work slower, did you plan ahead? If they weren’t, why? Were you stressed? Did you skip breakfast? Did you delay lunch? Did you tell yourself “today doesn’t count?” Like anything else, planning helps. Figure out where, when and what you’ll eat ahead of time. Even if you’re ravenous and even if things don’t go exactly according to plan (meetings, deadlines), having thought ahead will help you make good decisions about what to grab for lunch or dinner.  For as much time as we spend beating ourselves up for not eating right or not being thin enough, we seem to spend remarkably little time thinking about how to improve our habits—and why we’re not happy with how we tend to eat.

2)    Realize that every choice you make counts—today’s choice is not one that exists in a diet-or-time vacuum. Every time you make a decision about what to eat, think about how that not only impacts you now, but how it will continue to impact you throughout your day and week. More than that—think about the fact that your choice to go for the chips—and not the salad—is one you will make over and over again unless you stop it now. Tomorrow, there will be another excuse, another reason that this doesn’t count, another reason to put off until another day. Before you know it, this one choice—today’s choice—becomes tomorrow’s and tomorrow’s and tomorrow’s. You must change today’s habit to change tomorrow’s. If a visual image helps, imagine yourself in one of those infinitely-reflecting mirrors. Today’s choice will reverberate—so change it now.

3)    Remember the feeling you get when you eat something bad—not the initial sugar high, not the surge of taste—but the feeling you get afterwards. Next time you eat something that’s bad for you, and you feel that inevitable surge of guilt (and probable stomach ache and lethargy), pause and truly capture that feeling. Write down how you feel if you need to. The next time you’re putting change into the vending machine, eyeing a candy bar, stop and recreate the feeling you had the last time you ate something you didn’t want to. Know that the body is hardwired for fats and sugars, and can trick you into wanting something you don’t truly want.

Don’t just beat yourself up for eating badly—plan, reflect, and think deeply about it, in the moment, and before you make today’s choices. Doing so will set you on a path to better decisions, and a better life.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend a fortune in order to eat healthy. One major advantage of eating healthy is that it keeps your body healthy and it keeps your mind sharp. It also helps you to save money by keeping your medical cost low. Here are 10 tips on how to spend less money on your grocery bill while maintaining a healthy diet.

1.    Reduce your cholesterol intake by replacing the eggs in baked goods with 1 tablespoon of soy flour.  Soy flour last a lot longer than eggs and it only cost around $2 – $3 per bag.

2.    Save money by growing your own healthy foods. Simply start a garden and grow fresh vegetables and fruits. You can also grow your own herbs in a medium sized pot right by your kitchen window.

3.    Avoid foods that are high in saturated fat. If you find time to bake muffins and cakes, reduce the fat grams by substituting oil with sugar-free apple sauce. Now you can enjoy your favorite baked goods with less sugar.

4.    Many inexpensive brands of food are very high in sodium.  You can reduce your sodium intake by purchasing low-sodium or salt-free canned foods.  Many grocery stores offer healthy canned foods at a discount price.  For example, 2 cans of vegetables for $5 or 3 for $6.

5.    Save money by cooking instead of eating out. Besides, cooking your own meals is healthier anyway. Eating out can add up financially – not to mention a few pounds.

6.    The grocery store is not the only place to find healthy bargains.  Take a break from the grocery store and shop at your local produce stand. You can find the best bargains on fruits and vegetables towards the end of day.

7.    Plan your meals in advance so that you’re not making double trips to the grocery store. The next time that you go food shopping, make sure that you bring a list. Make sure that you stock your cupboards and refrigerator with healthy foods.

8.    Instead of making multiple trips to the grocery store, shop in bulk.  Purchasing healthy foods in bulk will help you save a few extra dollars each month.

9.    You can save money by purchasing frozen fruit and frozen vegetables.  Grocery stores often mark down their frozen food products from $1.50 to $3.50 per bag.

10.    If you are a juice mouth, instead of buying sodas and other sugar-filled drinks, purchase a healthy juice mix. Just add water and ice and you’re good to go.

Last but certainly not least, eating healthy can save you money, especially if you have to feed a large family. For more tips on how to eat healthy for less money, search online today!
Tip: The next time you go food shopping, use coupons to help save money on healthy food items.  You can find healthy organic food coupons online, in your Sunday paper and at your local grocery store.