Thursday, June 18, 2009

Stick to Fresh Food to Avoid Grocery Ad Tricks [Groceries] . Every weekend, grocery stores push out their sales, deals, and volume bargains to customers in colorful flyers—but sometimes, as sharp-eyed frugalists may notice, they're not actually deals. One blogger suggests sticking to perishables to avoid non-sales. Photo by jbcurio. Author Trent of The Simple Dollar blog kept track of his local grocery chains' flyers for a few weeks, and noted a few areas where advertised sales aren't really sales—namely, name-brand items and odd quantity offerings. His suggestion is to stick to things like meats and produce for actual sales: The items that are fresh - fresh produce and fresh meats - are rarely branded at all. These items tend to be the real sales in the flyer (but not always - you should always have a good grasp on what the real prices are). Hit up Trent's post for his full lowdown on flyer tactics, and share a few of your own in the comments. The Truth About Grocery Store Flyers [The Simple Dollar] [Lifehacker] 2:04:20 PM     How to Strategically Cut Your Healthcare Bill [Saving Money] . Millions of Americans go without healthcare because of the associated expenses. But the dismal economic climate has also made it increasingly difficult for even the insured to pay up. Fortunately, you may be able to reduce your bill without sacrificing quality. Photo by ghindo. Rather than paying for an all-inclusive healthcare plan, CNN Money says that now might be a good time to ditch the vision and dental options. The article suggests running a quick calculation to determine if this method would benefit your situation. Add up the amount you spend on contacts, glasses, and optometrist visits each year. Then calculate how much you'd save with the plan's benefits. Some people find that the coverage costs about the same, or sometimes more, than they save. Concerning your dental plan, third-party sites tend to offer between 20-30 percent off discounts on visits and cost about $150 a year. Depending on your current coverage costs—and especially if you'll probably only need your basic twice yearly check-ups—this option may be more economical. (Granted, you're not really insured against a dental or optometric emergency, so it's still a bit of a gamble.) As another alternative, the article says you can look to FSAs and HSAs to help cover your visual and dental costs (read the full article or our FSA calculator post for explanations of each). If and when you do visit your doctor, remember to get the most out of the check-up by setting the agenda and taking notes. Hit up the full post for other tips for cutting down on your healthcare bill—including maxing out the aforementioned HSA—then let us know about your own healthcare plan. Are you fully covered? Not at all? Share your situation in the comments. Beat The Rising Cost of Healthcare [CNN Money] [Lifehacker] 9:46:42 AM     Cook Carrots Whole for More Nutrients and Flavor [Food] . You don't have to eat carrots raw to absorb their healthier aspects, but a British study finds that keeping your orange tubes whole while cooking locks in up to 25 percent more nutrients and cancer-fighting compounds—and taste. Photo by Tracy O. The part of the carrot that your long-term health might consider, falcarinol, has been shown to raise cancer resistance in rats, and it's more concentrated in carrots kept whole while cooking (presumably in a bigger pot than you'd normally use). The part of your carrot that your mouth wants to actually eat, however, benefits from the same reduction of surface area: Eight of ten people favoured the whole vegetables over those that were pre-chopped. This is because the naturally occurring sugars which are responsible for giving the carrot its distinctively sweet flavour were also found in higher concentrations in the carrot that had been cooked whole. Good to know, and worth keeping in mind when you're planning your mandatory vegetables for next week's dinner. Cancer boost from whole carrots [BBC News via Lifehacker Australia] [Lifehacker] 9:46:01 AM

© Copyright 2009 Jocelyn Shaw. Last update: 7/7/2009; 3:37:34 PM. Photo curtesy of Marjorie O'Brien