SANDY TECHFANATIC

Are you a member of the 'There's a Hole in My Wallet' club?
And does the hole in your wallet seem to be getting bigger lately? Does shopping for groceries make your palms sweat due to a serious liquidity crunch?

Studies have shown that when money gets tight in the economy, a lot of us cut back on groceries and switch to buying cheaper prepared foods that stimulate our taste buds but are not necessarily good for us. According to most health officials, the economic slump has a devastating impact on the population's diet and health.

A lot of us may actually wind up packing on the pounds by eating so-called 'comfort foods' that are laden with sugar and saturated fats.

Practical tips to prevent wallet-busting

Offered below are a few tips to help you make better choices with a limited budget. So guys, tighten your belts!

Set a budget: Track all food purchases for a few weeks and identify areas where you can cut back.
Use leftovers: Frozen cuts of meat, bags of cut green beans or shelled peas, other essentials that you might have forgotten about -- you will find use for all of them.
Off-season foods are always more expensive: Do you really need to buy out-of-season fresh foods each week, or will frozen veggies do? In-season produce is hands down less expensive. Set a weekly or monthly spending limit.
Make a shopping list, and then stick to it: Keep a running list on the fridge and write down necessities as you think of them. Before you're off to the store, find out what's there in your pantry and fridge and add or remove items as needed.
Buy only what you'll use: Purchase foods that you use regularly. Remember, fruit and vegetables are still fairly cheap and also very filling, so don�t miss out on them.
Do not experiment with new foods: If you happen to dislike a particular food or cuisine, this isn't the time to try it. It will likely end up in the trash.
Don't buy in bulk unnecessarily: Buying in bulk only helps if a food is a staple in your house, like whole wheat flour, eggs, biscuits, fruit or some staple vegetables like potatoes and onions.
Be realistic: If you don't eat too much of a particular food, don't buy a super-sized amount, as you probably will never get through the whole thing.
Know your good, bad and evil comfort foods: Cook more at home -- it's much cheaper. And cut down on buttery baked foods like pastries, pies, puffs, cakes as well as other packaged foods like wafers, cookies, mixtures and fried variants. They're expensive, unnecessary and will make you gain weight. What's wrong with soul-satisfying soups, grilled home-made panini sandwiches, chicken frankies or rolls and savoury veggie omelettes instead? These are just a few substitutes that are not only healthy, but provide you with loads of nutrition.
Now for a little savings game:

Dinner for two at a restaurant involves:
Waiting time of 30 minutes
Cost:
1 portion of salad: Rs 50
4 rotis: Rs 100
1 portion gobi mattar: Rs 90
1 portion dal makhani: Rs 120
2 portions of dessert: Rs 240
Total bill: Rs 600

Dinner for two at home involves:
A few minutes' planning time (this can be done while you're commuting to or from work)
Preparation time of 30 minutes
Cost:
1 portion of salad: Rs 20
4 rotis: Rs 10
1 portion gobi mattar: Rs 25
1 portion dal tadka: Rs 50
2 portions of dessert (sliced fresh fruit): Rs 50
Total bill: Rs 155

Which is the healthier option, in terms of diet and cost? Think about it! Food prepared at home is less expensive, more nutritious and can feed more people.

So put on your recession cap and ensure:

That you balance your budget scale and your meals -- never, never overeat.
That you're smart and turn this into an opportunity to save some money and work your way to a healthier you.
Seal that hole in your wallet, make the moolah go farther and feel good about yourself, knowing you are a step ahead of the game!