Released May 9, 2008

MALVERN, Ark. - The rising cost of food and gas are obvious drains on a budget, but Cheryl Maxwell, Hot Spring County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, says there's a sneaky - but equally draining - way to kill a budget: impulse purchases.

Research has indicated that two-thirds of buying decisions are made in the store, while 53 percent of those buys are done on impulse. Point of purchase buys were valued at $20.8 billion in 2006 and a report from InfoTrend Inc. indicates point of purchase buys will increase to more than $28.8 billion in 2011.

"It's easy to fall to the temptations of impulse purchasing," she said. "However, it's almost as easy to prevent wasted money: Make a list and stick to it."

The first step is to plan the family's meals and necessities for the week.

Plan meals around store specials and sales. Save grocery ads from the paper, and use featured foods as the basics for your weekly meal plan.

"Look for coupons only for items you plan to buy," Maxwell said. "Take only these coupons with you, to avoid impulse buying."

From the menus that have been planned, check the kitchen to see which ingredients are on hand and add to the shopping list of needed.

"Another cost saving tip - make it yourself," she said. "We pay dearly for the convenience of having someone else mix the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt together. Making food from scratch is a real plus for the food budget."

The freezer can be a big money saver too, Maxwell said.

"If you have freezer space, consider making foods in large amounts and storing the rest in freezer containers or freezer storage bags," she said. "Cook these foods when you have time, maybe on weekends.

"This works especially well for soups, spaghetti sauce, beans, or bread dough," Maxwell said. "Freeze immediately after cooking. Do this not just for food safety, but to also remove the temptation to eat a second helping" of what would be next week's dinner!"

Sound like too much work? Look for recipes that use only five to seven ingredients. These are quick and easy. You can find menu planning tips and tasty, economical recipes at http://www.fns.usda.gov/eatsmartplayhardhealthylifestyle

To learn more about menu planning, contact the County Extension Office in your county. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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http://www.uaex.edu/news/may2008/0509impulse.htm

Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187, ljames@uaex.edu