Money Management

Want to save on groceries? Read on to see what this writer does to lower her food costs, and how it might help you as well. 

Feeding my family of five is hardly an inexpensive endeavor these days. As of March, food costs were up 8.4% compared to a year prior, as per that month’s Consumer Price Index. And that means my credit card bills have been a lot bigger this year, even though I make a point to try to spend carefully.

Food is one of those things I pretty much refuse to skimp on. I’d rather cut back on things like entertainment than stop buying the fruits and vegetables I really want my family to be eating.

But there’s one step I take weekly to help cut down my food-related spending. And it’s a step I suggest you take, too.

A little research can go a long way

I do the bulk of my food shopping at two stores — my local Costco, and a nearby ShopRite supermarket. Now, Costco does run sales, but usually, they release deals on a monthly basis. ShopRite, like many traditional grocery stores, puts out a weekly circular with sale items. And I make a point to review that circular at the start of the week to get a sense of what’s on sale and what bargains I can capitalize on.

Now to be clear, one thing I don’t do is buy sale items just because they’re discounted. Rather, what I do is look out for the items my family specifically needs or uses, and scoop them up when they’re marked down.

My kids eat a lot of pasta, for example (go figure). These days, I generally pay $1.29 a box (sometimes more). So when ShopRite has pasta on sale for $0.99, I try to load up on eight or more boxes (I’d buy even more if it weren’t for the limited storage space in my pantry). In doing so, I may only be saving myself $2.40 or so. But that’s just one item I’m saving on. And besides, that’s $2.40 I don’t have to remove from my bank account, so I’ll take it.

Additionally, what I’ll sometimes do is plan my meals for the week based on what my supermarket has on sale. Salmon, for example, is often $11.99 or $12.99 a pound. Even though my family likes it, that’s a pretty steep price. But when ShopRite has salmon on sale for $8.99 a pound, I’ll buy it and use it as the main course for a couple of dinners.

It pays to put in the time

All told, reviewing my supermarket circular every week and updating my grocery list accordingly takes around five minutes. But often, it will result in $5, $10, or even $20 of savings.

If you don’t get a circular from your local supermarket in the mail, you can almost always access that information online. In fact, some supermarkets might only publish that information online. Kroger, for example, recently announced that it will no longer include weekly circulars in newspapers, so if you want to see what it has on sale, you may need to go online to do so.

It’s also a good idea to maintain a loyalty card with your local supermarket, as some of the weekly deals you’ll see will only be available to loyalty program members who swipe their store cards at checkout. Some supermarkets, like Trader Joe’s, don’t have a loyalty program — they simply offer every customer the same great low prices. But if your local supermarket works differently, then it pays to sign up for and use your loyalty card to benefit from deals as they become available.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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In March, almost half of the homes for sale in North Port, Florida, dropped in price. Find out where to start your search for an affordable home. 

Right now, buyers are snatching up houses. Despite relatively high mortgage rates, there just aren’t enough pieces of the pie to go around. Low housing supply leads to high demand. Potential home buyers are acting fast to scoop up what few homes are still for sale.

But where to look? Recent Redfin data might have the answer. In March, 15% of homes for sale had a price drop. Here are the 10 cities with the biggest share of home price drops this year:

North Port, FloridaTampa, FloridaCape Coral, FloridaIndianapolis, IndianaSan Antonio, TexasDenver, ColoradoPhoenix, ArizonaSalt Lake City, UtahBoise, IdahoAustin, Texas

Here’s a little more color. For brevity’s sake, we’ll only examine the top five cities.

1. North Port, Florida (42%)

As of March, almost half of the homes in North Port got cheaper. Coastal homes exploded in price during the pandemic, so the price drops are likely a financial hiccup. Even so, the median sale price of a single-family home is barely cheaper than last year. Demand is high again, and the market in North Port, especially, is super competitive right now. The typical single-family home here sells for $375,000.

2. Tampa, Florida (41%)

Tampa is another coastal city where prices spiked once the pandemic began. Though many homes dropped prices in March, prices are still up 5.5% compared to last year. Houses are cheaper than their June 2022 peak, but if Redfin trends continue, Tampa prices might creep past their highs sooner rather than later. The typical Tampa home sells for $416,500.

3. Cape Coral, Florida (41%)

The Cape Coral housing market is somewhat competitive, but not competitive enough to lift month-to-month home prices. Redfin trends indicate that single-family home prices remain stable. Home prices here peaked at about $450,000, dipped in April 2022, and have hovered at around $400,000 since — good news for prospective buyers.

4. Indianapolis, Indiana (41%)

The Indianapolis housing market is on fire right now. The market is very competitive, with the average home selling in around 21 days — and that’s despite only a few buyers in general. Last year, the average home sold in six days, so this is actually slow for Indianapolis. Despite widespread price drops, the median selling price ($235,000) remains flat compared to February.

5. San Antonio, Texas (39%)

San Antonio houses are looking cheaper than they were last year, but they’ve been trending up since January. According to Redfin, the market here is less competitive than that of its Floridian peers. The typical San Antonio single-family home sells for around $280,000.

Mortgage rates are high compared to last year

The Federal Reserve rate hikes have led to predictably high mortgage rates, averaging around 6.5%, up from 2%-3% in 2021. Home buyers broadly recognize that loans are expensive right now. Many are waiting out the market, and sellers are pausing their selling plans.

But now isn’t necessarily “the wrong time” to buy. Financial guru Suze Orman has pointed out that rates are still low by historical standards. Before 2008, rates were even higher. In 2000, they averaged 8%, and in 1990, they averaged about 10%. By that metric, a 6% rate is still cheap.

The point is, you can slice and dice rates all you want. What matters is whether you can afford to finance a house: your house, your money, your future. Rates matter, but only regarding whether you can comfortably meet your housing goals.

Plus, the housing market is a fickle beast. It’s tough to predict month-to-month swings, though year-over-year trends can give us an idea of where the market is heading in specific cities listed on public databases like Zillow and Redfin.

Consider what you can afford to take out as a loan. Higher down payments and compatible mortgage lenders can soften the impact of raised rates. Shop around to choose the best-fit lender for your home-buying needs.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Citigroup is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Cole Tretheway has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Zillow Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Need a Mother’s Day gift in a pinch? Read on to see how Amazon has you covered. 

It’s hardly a secret that Mother’s Day falls out on the second Sunday in May. But if you’ve been procrastinating on your Mother’s Day shopping, then you may be starting to panic.

If you have an Amazon Prime membership, though, you’re in luck. Amazon carries a wide range of gifts that could be perfect for Mother’s Day. And as a Prime member, you won’t have to rack up a higher credit card tab for speedy shipping. Here are a few Amazon items to consider for your mom.

1. The Coastrail Outdoor Zero Gravity Chair Premium Reclining Lounger

If your mom loves sitting out on the patio reading or hitting the beach, then this chair could make for a pretty awesome gift. Not only can your mom adjust it to her specifications, but it features a padded seat, a mesh back, a pillow, a cup holder for her beverage of choice, and a side table to hold a snack, book, or tablet.

2. A Kindle Unlimited subscription

Have a mom who loves to read? If she has a Kindle, why not buy her the gift of content? An Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription costs $9.99 a month, so even if money is tight, you can hook your mom up with access to great books for a few months’ time. And if money isn’t tight, you can bundle a Kindle Unlimited subscription with an actual Kindle for an even more awesome gift.

3. The Kwister Espresso Machine 15 Bar, Espresso and Cappuccino Machine

You could conceivably spend upwards of $500 on a high-end espresso maker to give to your mom. But if you’d rather keep your money in your savings account and buy a more moderately priced espresso maker, this model is worth checking out. It comes with a milk frother and digital touch screen that makes it easy to use. If you have a mom who loves caffeinated beverages, this gift might also spare her multiple trips to Starbucks each week.

4. The DAILYLIFE Heated Blanket Electric Throw

If your mom is always complaining that she’s cold, then she might really appreciate receiving not just a cozy throw blanket, but a heated throw. This blanket is moderately priced and measures 72 by 84 inches. It has 10 adjustable heat settings and comes with a long, flexible cord. It’s also machine washable.

5. The Baggallini Everywhere Bagg

If your mom is constantly on the go, then she might appreciate a purse that’s stylish and practical at the same time. Enter this bag by Baggallini. It features multiple pockets and compartments so your mom can stay organized, and it’s lightweight and water resistant.

The tough thing about Mother’s Day is that there can be a lot of pressure to come up with the perfect gift. But remember, you don’t have to give your mom the best gift anyone has ever thought of. You just need to give her something you think she’ll enjoy and put to good use. And if you pair any of these gifts with a visit, there’s a good chance they’ll be especially well-received.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Maurie Backman has positions in Amazon.com. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon.com and Starbucks. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: short April 2023 $100 calls on Starbucks. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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When I bought my current home, I overlooked one factor that made the house unlivable and caused me to move after a year and a half. Read on for a mistake you can learn from. 

Almost two years ago, my husband and I bought a home. We intended for the property to be a temporary house for us to stay in for a few years while we decided whether to get a mortgage to build or buy a more permanent place.

But, after just over a year, we’ve decided we can’t stay here any longer and must sell and buy a new house as soon as possible. That’s because we made a decision I really regretted when purchasing the place.

Our big mistake when we bought our current home

The biggest mistake that we made when we made our home purchase was that we looked at how far we were from the locations that we wanted to go to — but we did not look in-depth into how long it would actually take to get there.

The result of this was that while we were around eight to 15 miles from places we go often, it ended up taking us 45 minutes (or sometimes more) to get to these locations. And, unlike other places where we have lived where there was traffic only at certain times, like during rush hour, we end up hitting this terrible traffic pretty much every single time we want to go anywhere no matter the time of day.

Since this home is a vacation house, we really wanted to be able to go out and enjoy doing things while we were living in it. But the traffic became such a nightmare that we were reluctant to even go out — and when we did, even if we had a fun time, we had to deal with a miserable commute home that ended the day on a bad note.

We decided that it wasn’t worth living with the stress, so we’re selling our home after less than two years. While we know this isn’t great for our personal finances, we really regret not paying attention to this issue and we want to undo our mistake ASAP.

Be sure to consider all the details about how your house will affect your life

Before purchasing this property, I thought I was a seasoned home buyer who knew what to look for. And I feel like I tried to do the right things by checking how far away the house was from our common destinations.

But, the reality is, if you aren’t familiar with an area, you can’t know what living there will be like unless you really focus on the day-to-day details that will affect your life — like the traffic, level of noise, and interactions with neighbors. We should have visited the area more and driven during high traffic times to our preferred destinations so we could have seen just how bad things were. We’ll be doing that for all future homes.

Ultimately, while this was an annoying lesson to learn, the experience reaffirmed how important it is to do your due diligence before buying a home so you don’t end up with regrets.

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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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