Here's a household budgeting tip: Stock up on food basics when they're on sale, find out how long they can be frozen for, place them in freezer bags and mark their "remove from freezer" date on the bags before popping in the freezer.

Different foods can be kept in the freezer for different lengths of time, for example:

- Milk or cream: Freeze for three to four months.

- Salted Butter: Freeze for up to nine months.

- Hamburger and other ground meats: Freeze for up to four months.

- Eggs: Make "egg cubes" by beating individual eggs and pouring each one into an ice cube tray. When frozen, pop them out and store them in a freezer bag, taking out just what you need for baking or other needs.

Remember to defrost foods overnight in the fridge, not out on the kitchen counter. If milk or cream separates, simply shake it after it has defrosted and before using.

From The Virani Team May 2016 Newsletter - Courtesy of Market Connections Inc.