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5 Ways to Waste Less Food

By U.S. News & World Report

If you truly want to save money on food, one of the best ways you can do so is by actually eating the groceries you purchase. Unfortunately, many of us waste a significant portion of the food that we buy. Doing so means you not only waste food and money, but you’re also harming the environment. It doesn’t have to be this way. Here are five ways to guard against food waste.

1. Reevaluate your bulk shopping purchases.

Warehouse clubs were originally meant for business owners. While today they offer discounts to regular people who sign up for membership, buying high volume without wasting fashion takes effort and planning.

If you can’t realistically eat the amount of food you purchased before it goes bad, it may not be a great savings plan after all. If you end up throwing the food away, you are actually losing money. Monitor the amount of perishable items you buy. If you can’t eat carton loads of strawberries, a boatload of bananas or a large package of plums before they spoil, don’t bother buying them.

2. Check up on how long food lasts.

Obviously, if a piece of fruit or bread has gotten a bit fuzzy, then it’s time to ditch it. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to know whether or not something is still good. There aren’t any obvious signs like limp celery or spoiled chicken. Some items may even still smell good.

Some produce might expire quickly while beef and pork may just need to hit the freezer after three days of sitting in the fridge. You’d be surprised to find out that certain items may last longer than you think. Take the guesswork out of the equation. The FDA offers a printable refrigerator and freezer storage chart on its website. Keep it in the kitchen to easily reference when necessary.

3. Plan out when to use ingredients.

No matter where you end up shopping or what you end up buying, it pays to plan out when you’re going to eat what you picked up. Let the date of purchase dictate what you eat first. Fresher items should be eaten sooner and reserve frozen items or food with a longer shelf life for later in the week.

You’ll soon get a rhythm and pacing down when you become more conscious of what you put in your cart and actively plan when to use it. You can even write a list down when you get home from the store of the items you purchased. Be sure to include the date, too. If you’re putting something in the freezer, you might also want to write down the date that you do so on the packaging.

4. Write out your meal plan on your to-do list.

In addition to taking a daily peek in the fridge and pruning any older items so you can more easily use what remains, you might also want to write down your planned meals on a list. That way, you won’t forget about ingredients that you already purchased.

5. Smoothies can come to the rescue.

Fruit like strawberries need to be used fairly quickly. Otherwise, they’ll spoil a few days after you purchase them and can quickly end up in the garbage can. If you tend to buy fresh fruit on a regular basis, have simple recipes on hand so you can make use of them before they go bad. Plan to make them a few days or so after buying them so they don’t get tossed.

Along with fruit, other everyday items that you normally purchase such as yogurt, bananas, honey and milk can be used in smoothies. If you want to actively make smoothies that serve a specific purpose while still being efficient with your groceries, check out sites like Prevention.com and Health.com. This way, you can clean out the fridge while cleansing your system. Author Kimberly Snyder of KimberlySnyder.com shows the many perks of drinking your fruits and veggies. Her site focuses on the beauty benefits of gulping down your produce. The right combination of ingredients can enhance how you look and feel.

With a little effort and planning, you can reduce the amount of food you throw away. Be aware of expiration dates and plan ahead to eat all of your food.

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5 Ways to Waste Less Food originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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