Savings? It's in the bag for these folks
RINSE, REUSE | Buy food in bulk, then rebag for lunch
Terri Rivera is taking recycling seriously now that gasoline prices are squeezing the family budget.
Rivera, director of development for the Community Nurse Health Association in LaGrange, started washing and reusing the sandwich bags for her and her husbands' lunches.
(Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)
"I just rinse them out," she said.
Each Sunday, Rivera packs lunches for the entire week for herself and husband Eddie. She recently stopped splurging on buying lunch because of rising gasoline and other prices.
Her secret is to buy food in bulk and rebag it in lunch-size quantities.
"I buy whatever is on sale and bag it myself," Rivera said. Her weekly ritual is to bag a week's worth of lunches each Sunday at her Brookfield home.
Rivera recently discovered that she can save money by buying food at a dollar store.
"The snacks were brand name, but much cheaper," she said. "Right next door was a Hostess outlet which had bread at much cheaper prices."
The Riveras search for free activities at the library and in the community to entertain their sons, 4-year-old Quinn and Tanner, turns 1 on July 1.
"We are very relieved that the little guy can go to whole milk in the next few weeks, rather than (the more expensive) formula," Terri said.
What are you doing to make ends meet? Write to psmith@suntimes.com