Gift cards can be frugal

The popularity of gift cards in recent years means most of us have at least one in our wallet at any given time. At least in BC, since November 2008 (pdf details), any balances on those cards don't expire and can't be eroded -- with some notable exceptions:

• cards that fall outside BC jurisdiction, e.g. telephone companies, iTunes cards
• cards issued by a mall which can be used in multiple stores, e.g. Mayfair Mall
• cards issued for a specific good or service, e.g. haircuts 

(Ontario and Manitoba have similar laws). And there's another "gotcha" on the iTunes cards, too. In Canada, the gift cards cannot be used to buy apps for the iPhone or iPod Touch -- you must sign up for iTunes with a credit card.
So how exactly can gift cards be frugal? Here's some thoughts:

1. Use them to save up for a big purchase -- we collected a bunch of cards from Future Shop (and asked family members to make that the gift of choice) until we had enough to buy a new television. Extra bonus? This allowed us to wait until the model we wanted went on sale.
2. Buy and sell cards at CardSwap.ca -- there's a modest seller's fee (minimum $4.50) so it's not much use low-value cards but it is a great option if you've been given a card you will never use (e.g. a card for a store that isn't on the Island). On the other side of the equation, it's a good way to pick up cards at a discount -- most are 10% to 20% off the face value and are guaranteed by CardSwap.
3. You can always re-gift unwanted cards but it may be just as valuable to use the card to buy gifts for other people; use the money you save on yourself (as a replacement for the gift card) or be really frugal and bank it.

Save on your Food Budget

Weather, fuel costs, and other issues are finally catching up this year and economists are warning of steep increases in food prices. What can you do to insulate yourself from the rising costs?

1. Grow your own food. If you have any space at all -- even a balcony -- you can grow food. Plant items that will grow in your region, that your family will eat, and that offer a good yield for your effort. Best bets include: herbs, lettuce and mixed greens, radishes, bush zucchini, cherry tomatoes, peas, bush beans, carrots and potatoes.
2. Learn the art of "gleaning" In Victoria, we are lucky to have the LifeCycles Fruit Tree Project -- where volunteers get to keep a portion of the fruit picked -- but you can also talk to your neighbours who may not be signed up and either encourage them to sign up or to let you glean from their trees in exchange for some preserves!
3. Check the flyers. Go to groceryalerts.ca to check out what is on sale this week and check for coupons on items your family regularly buys. Unless there is a super bargain, it's better to cost-average your savings at one store than make trips to three or four stores -- unless you can do them by bike or foot!
4. Buy in Bulk. Bulk often means savings -- but not always! Be sure to check the per-unit price (take a calculator if you need to). Whether you decide to buy dry goods from the bulk bins, buy warehouse size servings for your family, or share with another family, just remember: if you buy it, plan to use it.
5. Plan your meals. Once you know what is in season, what's in your garden or pantry, and what is on sale, you can better plan the week ahead. Meal planning saves you time, stress, and money.
6. Use what you have. If you've got a freezer full of leftover meals, or a crisper drawer full of wilting vegetables, work with them not against them. Check the web for how to combine ingredients, cook from the pantry, or find creative ways to use leftovers.
7. Go meatless. There are thousands of fantastic, healthy family-friendly recipes that don't require meat and can save you plenty if you just cut meat out for one meal or more a week. Try sloppy-lentils, a hearty potato-leek soup, or a tofu stir-fry.
8. Consider co-ops. Both for buying and for meal-prep, co-ops are a great way to meet people and share food costs. Buy through a big box discount store or just stock up when there are case-lot sales. Split the cost and the food so you don't have to try and go through 24 cans of tomato soup on your own. This works very well for single friends!
   For meal prep, you'll need to find someone with a large kitchen or rent a commercial kitchen (check community centres and church halls too!). The group then splits up menu tasks with each person taking responsibility for one meal but making enough for everyone. Kinda like an office Christmas Cookie exchange but with meal-portions!

see also:

• Save at the Supermarket
• Frugal Lunchbox
• Growing your own Grub