Got a sweet tooth, but don’t want to pay “sweet” money to satisfy it? Well, during this economy crisis, by just following a few simple tips, you could have your goodies without breaking the bank:

Make baking a family thing. Processed cookies, cakes, and other goodies can cost a lot of money. So, while an economy crisis is engulfing much of the world, you could enjoy a world of tasty treats by baking at home with your family. Start by researching or creating some frugal recipes. These frugal recipes will most likely call for basic ingredients that you can buy for cheap in bulk. If you buy right, you could end up saving, cost cutting, and still make out better than purchasing the processed stuff for lots of dough in the stores. Plus, your family will have a ball making their frugal recipes come to life!

Don’t miss the deals! Most grocers have store sales every week. Whether it’s a “buy one, get one” deal, a “crushed box” special, or an in-store mark-down for items that are reaching their “sell by” date, there is always a way to save. Some of these goodies that you will catch on special can be frozen for use at a later date. It’s what the stores do in their own bakeries!

Use coupons. Many companies offer coupons for their baking mixes or pre-packaged baked goods. With these coupons, you may get items free! Often, a company will offer a coupon worth up to 50c and your local grocer will double the coupon. But, the big savings comes in when you are able to catch a “buy one, get one free” special in addition to using your doubled coupon. With cake mix costing, on average, about $1.50 per box, you can only imagine how quickly the savings will mount when you are able to get the mix or icing absolutely free. To be quite honest, this is exactly what manufacturers want you to do with their coupons. They want you to use them and they want you to fall in love with their products. While the falling in love part is optional, for your family’s sake, you should definitely make an effort to take full advantage of these deals when they present themselves.

Shop at your local bakery thrift store. Some companies that sell baked goods have their own “thrift stores” where they sell off products that are their close to their “sale by” date or are simply overstocks. If you are in a metropolitan area, chances are, you will most likely have a thrift store within driving distance. These stores are absolutely fabulous for supplying baked goods for large gatherings. They generally offer discounts of up to 70% off of the regular retail price. So, for large events, you could provide lots of goodies without paying lots of money. However, unless the store is close to you, consider the cost of gas before making any long trips to try to save on just a few items. That, also, is an important financial factor.

The good news is that you can have your cake and eat it too without costing your family too much financial hardship, if you plan and take advantage of saving opportunities. So, do the math and catch the deals to ensure that you and your family can continue to enjoy the sweet life!