Getting the family involved...

Being frugal is much easier if it is a family affair. Children and spouses can wreck havoc on your budget if they don't realize what it is you are trying to accomplish! Another reason to involve them is that truly, you are setting the standard for your children when it comes to financial dealings. I learned my frugality from my mother... and my kids will learn my habits too. It is a chain which can either be valuable, or detrimental!

So how can you get the family involved?

When my kids were very little, something they found quite amusing was to sit with me at home and look at the grocery store sale brochures and watch me cut coupons. They would point out items they liked, and I would tell them whether it was a good sale or not and we would talk ahead of time about whether we would be picking some of that item up on our shopping trip. This way they already knew what we were going to the store for, and it became more of a fun game rather than a chore.

In each store that we visited, I showed them the sale tags and pointed out what color they were. It was a rule that they were never to ask for anything that wasn't on sale. :) This took me all of two minutes to do, but eliminated a lot of pleading. Sometimes they would point out something with a tag and I would say, "hmmmm... that's not a very good sale", but now and then I would surprise them with a "you know what? That IS a good sale, we can get one of those."

There is nothing more deadly to your budget than buying items that your kids are whining for. It completely defeats the purpose when you end up buying full price, expensive items.

As your kids get older, so does their comprehension of what you are doing. One idea that I heard once was to have the kids help with finding sales and cutting coupons, then after you had done your shopping, you add up your savings and put that money aside for something your family wants. Maybe it is a vacation somewhere! Maybe it is a new game system. Whatever gets them motivated. You can choose whether you put aside the full value of the saved money, or just the value of the coupons... the second option means you are saving on your budget, but also saving for something fun. Most store receipts will give you both totals.

Kids aren't the only ones who can destroy a budget at the drop of a hat. Spouses can be even worse! To get my husband involved and informed, occasionally I would send him to the store with a VERY short list and a couple of coupons so that he could personally see how much it saves to shop wisely.

I also ALWAYS used to show him my receipts from my shopping trips showing the original amount of the groceries, the amount saved, and how much I paid. (Rarely was the amount saved less than the amount paid.) Can I tell you that you will be surprised how excited your husband can become when you are saving your families hard earned money! :)

Spouses pick up very quickly on what is a good sale and there have been many times through our marriage that he has noticed something excellent that I didn't know about.

After sixteen years of marriage, I can honestly say that Mike & I have never once fought over money. We have joked with each other and contemplated that the reason for that might be that we have never had much to argue over, :) but we both know that it is because of our respect for our earnings and a joint desire to live the best we can with what we have. It eliminates a lot of selfishness when you live frugally.

Beginning grocery basics...

If there is one thing that every human being in the world has in common, it is the fact that every one of us has to eat in order to survive. That means countless trips to the grocery store, and LOTS of money.

Hundreds of food items are reduced 25-60% each week by grocery stores to try and get you to come to their store instead of the competitions. There is no need to every pay regular prices for food items. If you do, you are spending at least 2-3 times more on groceries than a savvy shopper.

Lets go over a few good old common sense rules for frugal grocery store shopping:

1. Never put bargains on a credit card. Credit is NEVER a bargain.
2. Don't shop "on the fly". Take a few minutes to look at the sales brochures and plan your menu's for the week around what is on sale BEFORE you leave for the grocery store.
3. Everything that goes on sale will come on sale again within about 8-10 weeks. It is a rotation process, so if you stock up on enough of the item to last that long, you will be able to re-stock at sale prices. Once you get into this you will find that you almost always have everything you use on hand, and you rarely have to pay full price for anything. (This is a great way to start a food storage.)
4. Learn to read the price sticker near each item. It shows the name of the item, the size, the retail price, and cost per unit (by pound, ounce, liter, gallon or quart.) This makes it easier to compare the costs of different size containers. BIGGER IS NOT ALWAYS A BETTER BUY! (In fact, when you are coupon shopping, the smaller item that has been put on special for the week is going to win over the larger bulk size every time.) For example, if a one liter bottle of soda is 60 cents, but a two liter is $1.50, it ends up saving you to buy two one liter bottles.
5. When you are comparing costs, look at the high and low shelves as well as those in the middle. The more expensive brands are often displayed at eye level, with the cheaper or sale items placed where you have to bend or stretch.
6. Be on the look out for end of the isle "bargains" which are anything BUT that! Sometimes a store will pile something that they are over stocked on at the end of an aisle, and put the price in big numbers hoping that you will mistake it for a bargain and buy a few of them.
7. If you have limited space for value pack specials, shop with a relative or a friend and share. I used to shop at Costco with my mom or sister and we would split large packages of vegetables, meat or yeast for example. This would save us DOLLARS over the amount it would have cost us to buy the same items at the grocery store, and we wouldn't end up having so much that it would get wasted.
8. Enjoy the free samples at the store and collect the coupons, but DON'T buy the items until they come on sale.
9. Always, Always, Always check the scanner prices as the cashier scans everything. Often the computer makes an error which can cost you. If you don't think it is worth bringing it up for some cents, think again. Some stores have scanner guarantee's which promise you correct prices or you get an incentive. The little amounts that you let pass can add up to quite a bit in the course of a year. I always have my kids or hubby empty the cart while I watch the scanner so that I can have them correct the price immediately if it comes up wrong. This avoids lengthy waits at the customer service desk.
10. Be flexible. If the price of the vegetable or other item you wanted is up, don't have your heart set on it so badly that you are not ready and willing to choose something else.
11. Don't feel obligated to make every side dish from scratch. SOME convenience foods may actually cost less, and there is no waste. Canned beets, frozen squash, pearl onions and other sauced frozen veggies are examples of this... they have longer shelf life and there is little to no preparation.

Start implementing these beginning habits and you are well on your way to saving money and living more frugally. Feel free to share YOUR grocery basics tips in the comments section of this post!
Next up... helpful information about specific grocery items such as Cereals and Meats. :)

Coupons...

The best way to use coupons is to apply them to sale items. I have said already that hundreds of items are marked down each week up to 60% off the shelf price. When you apply your coupons to those items, you can pay almost nothing for some things. Here are a few pointers:

• Coupons are available in your local Sunday Papers. You can also find coupons on the inside of food labels, inside cereal boxes or online. You can also email companies and request them to send some to you.
• Clip coupons weekly to save time and get a coupon wallet to put them in that has dividers. Put all the coupons for items that you use in there, including brands that you think you can't afford. If that brand comes on sale at half price and you apply a coupon to it, it is more than likely going to be less than even the store bought brand. I have frequently brought home items that the store has ended up paying me to take home because of applying coupons to sale prices.
• Make sure you remove coupons that have expired weekly.
• Some grocery stores double coupons up to a certain amount. Check with your local grocery stores to find out their policies with coupons.
• Make sure you get the RIGHT ITEM in the RIGHT SIZE for the coupon. A good practice is to check the item with the coupon before you put it in the cart.
• Always check that you are paying less than you would for a store brand. If you aren't, put the coupon back in your organizer, put the item back and get the store brand.
• NEVER use coupons for things that your family (or you) won't use unless it is ABSOLUTELY FREE. Otherwise, you are not saving money! (I have to say here that there isn't too much that my family couldn't use. I have slowly but surely taught them not to be so picky. After all, we aren't always gonna LOVE what someone else in our family may like, but we can eat it for one night and not suffer incredibly!)
• Coupons that require multiple purchases are generally not a bargain.

About fruits & veggies...

Do you ever feel like it costs more to eat healthier? I do. Here are a couple of tips on fruits and veggies that might help you save a little:

• If the price on a fresh veggie is high, check it's frozen counterpart.
• If fruit or veggies are priced by the pound, pick smaller pieces to get more servings. If it is priced by the piece, pick larger pieces for more value.
• Buy bulk bags of frozen fruit at club warehouses for much less per pound than frozen fruit in the grocery store. (Especially good if you make a lot of smoothies.)
• Canned fruit (packed in juice, not syrup) can be used for toppings or treats, come on sale frequently, and have good shelf life.

One fruit that freezes surprisingly well is grapes. If you wash them, (I prefer the green ones for this), roll them in a light sprinkling of sugar and put them in the freezer, they are a really yummy treat for a hot day. Make sure to eat them still frozen. (I realize that adding sugar makes them a little less nutritional... but this blog is about saving money, not eating healthy.)

Thoughts on buying Meat...

Here are a couple of tips on buying meat for you to think about.

1. Never buy step savers. Prices can double or even triple! Marinate the meat yourself. After all, how much time and effort does it really take to threw a bottle of marinade or salad dressing in a bag with the meat in the morning?
2. Boneless is often a better buy averaging 4 servings to the pound. With bone -in, you get only an average of 2 servings to the pound. Take that in to consideration when you are figuring the cost.
3. Boneless chicken is my families favorite. You can do so many different things with it and it comes on sale every couple of weeks. Stock your freezer up when it is on sale, and you will never have to fuss with bone-in chicken again!

My favorite (quick) chicken recipe: (Warning... I dont' really write down recipes, so often I estimate... you may have to adjust to taste.)

• One to one and a half pounds of boneless chicken breast cut into bite size pieces.
• Lemon-Pepper seasoning
• Two large heaped spoonfuls of frozen orange juice concentrate.
• Half to three fourths a cup of sugar (you can adjust this to taste.)
• One to two tablespoons of butter (or marg)

Just spray down your saute pan with oil, and toss in the chicken with some lemon pepper seasoning. Cook till browned... just a few minutes. Spoon in your orange juice concentrate and sugar and stir. Allow the chicken to cook through in the sauce, then stir in the butter just at the end.
Serve over rice with the following toppings available for the family to choose from: manderin oranges, chunked pineapple, coconut, la choy chow mein noodles (the cooked light and crunchy kind that you can serve over salads).
You could also use lettuce, tomatoes, anything you like... be creative. It is all good. Serve with a side of peas, and I'll be in heaven!

Preparing for shopping...

You wouldn't go on a date without spending a little time to get ready. Grocery shopping deserves no less! Everyone needs to come up with their own shopping preparation plan that fits in with their lifestyle, but here are some suggestions to get you started:

• Don't just go blindly to the store. Always look through the ads first to see which stores have the best sales that week.
• When looking at ads and trying to decide what to buy, consider what you will be eating for the week and try and plan your meals around what is on sale and what you have in your storage. (This means that coming up with a menu BEFORE going to the store would be a very good idea!)
• Look through the ads and write down the items that are on good sale so you don't forget.
• Check your pantry and food storage before you leave to see what items you are short on to minimize trips to the store. (This saves on time and gas!)
• Go through your coupons and pull the coupons for any items that are on sale. Place these together in the front pocket of your coupon organizer.
• Pick a night each week that you will cut coupons and get rid of the expired ones. (I usually do this while watching my favorite TV show, that way I feel less guilty about watching TV :) )
• Budget each week to buy multiples of at least one item that is on INCREDIBLE sale... (most grocery stores have at least one item that they reduce drastically to get you to come to their store... this is how you can build your food storage).
• Some items are just cheaper regular price at one store than they are at sale price at another. Super Walmart is a good example of this. There are many basic items that I pick up here because they generally don't go on sale (or at least they don't go on sale for less than Walmart charges for them.)

Quick Tips

Click HERE to see all the Quick Tip Posts from this blog. :)

Thank You & Goodnight...

Over the next week I will be moving the informational posts and money saving tips from this blog here on to the front page as I have made the decision to retire from Frugalityville.  Over the past 2 years I have posted just about every money saving tip I can think of.  Lately I have found myself mainly posting coupons for you guys and while I am sure there are a couple of people out there that may have used them, there are so many coupon sites out there that I don't feel there is a need for this one too. :) 

I have a personal blog... Donuts2Crumpets at which I am thinking of doing a "Frugal Friday" post each week where I can share any tips & coupons I get/find with you, so if you are interested, come on over and follow me there.

I will be leaving all the informational posts up here in hopes that people who need it will still find it and learn from it.  I thank everyone for your visits and kind comments and hope that you learned something new from the information posted here.

Thank you and Goodnight! :)

TGI 25% Off Coupon...

Click HERE for a coupon worth 25% off your entire food purchase at TGI Friday's.  Coupon expires Oct 23, 2010.  Enjoy. :)

Kohl's 3 Day Shopping Pass... An Extra 15% Off...

Click HERE for your 15% off Shopping Pass which gives you an extra 15% off regular, sale and even clearance priced merchandise at Kohl's.  Coupon is good October 15th-17th, 2010.  Enjoy :)

Michael's Coupons...

Click HERE to print a coupon worth 40% off one regular priced item at Michaels.  Coupons are good through Oct 23, 2010.  (You can use one coupon per customer per day.)  Check coupons for complete details. :)

Roberts $10 Off $40 Coupon...

Click HERE to print a coupon good for an additional $10 off your purchase of $40 or more.  These coupons are the best when paired with sale items. :)  Coupon expires October 16th, 2010.  Enjoy!

Baja Fresh Coupons...

Click HERE for $2 off a $7 purchase or $5 off a $15 purchase at Baja Fresh Mexican Grill.  Coupons expire October 16, 2010.  Enjoy! :)

Big Lots 20% Off Entire Purchase...

Click HERE for a coupon good for 20% off your ENTIRE purchase at Big Lots today and tomorrow.  Coupon expires Oct 9, 2010.  Enjoy. :)

Kohls Extra 15% or 20% Off Shopping Pass...

Click HERE to get this weeks shopping pass that gives you an extra 15% off the already low sale prices at Kohl's if you spend under $100 and 20% off if you spend $100 or more! This means it is worth doing one big transaction rather than a few separate transactions to get the extra 5%! The coupon is good for every purchase you make between October 8th & October 11th.  Enjoy! :)

Quiznos Coupon...

Get a free chips and regular fountain drink when you buy any reg sub, large sub, or reg chopped salad at Quiznos.  Click HERE for the coupon!  Coupon expires Oct 17, 2010.  Enjoy. :)

Roberts $10 Off $40 Coupon...

Click HERE to see the super scrapbooking sale they are having at Roberts this weekend and to print a coupon good for an additional $10 off your purchase of $40 or more.  These coupons are the best when paired with sale items. :)  Coupon expires October 9th, 2010.  Enjoy!

Roberts $5 Coupon

Click HERE to get a coupon for Roberts worth $5 off any $25 purchase.  This can be used on sale items and there are no product exclusions, so enjoy! :)  Coupon expires Oct 9, 2010.

Pier1 Imports $5 Off $15 Coupon...

Click HERE to get a coupon for $5 off a $15 purchase at Pier1 Imports.  This coupon is good through Oct 11, 2010.  Enjoy :)

TGI $5 Off $15 Coupon...

Click HERE for a coupon worth $5 off a $15 purchase at TGI Friday's.  Coupon expires Oct 9, 2010.  Enjoy. :)

Aeropostale $10 Off $50...

For three days you can get $10 off every time you spend $50 or more with THIS coupon at Aeropostale.  Coupon can be used over and over again from Oct 1st to Oct 3rd 2010 (So make sure you break down your purchases to $50 each to get maximum money off!)  Enjoy. :)

Ladies Nights Out...

Roberts is hosting Ladies Night Out this weekend.  Tomorrow, Oct 2nd, for one hour only (5-6pm) you will get 40% off your entire regular priced purchase with no product exclusions and no coupon necessary.  Click HERE for more details. :)  There is also a coupon HERE for 50% off one item at any time today or tomorrow.

Michael's is also hosting their Friends & Family event and are offering 20% off your entire purchase today and tomorrow with THIS COUPON.

Finally, Tai Pan Trading is also hosting Ladies Night Out.  Today and tomorrow only you can get 25% off your entire Fashion purchase and 25% off your entire Halloween purchase with THESE COUPONS.

See coupons for details and enjoy! :)

9th Annual World's Largest Ice-Cream Social...

Every year Cold Stone Creamery joins up with the Make-A-Wish foundation to bring us the Annual World's Largest Ice-Cream Social.  Be a part of Kate's Wish tomorrow, Sept 30th from 5pm-8pm at your local Cold Stone Creamery!  You can get a FREE 3oz sample of her creation, (carmel apple ice cream, chocolate shavings, graham cracker pie crust and apple pie filling), but I highly encourage you to open your hearts and donate to the Make-A-Wish foundation by at the very least purchasing a Make-A-Wish paper star for $1 while you are there. (You can donate more if you would like... every little bit helps.)

Make-A-Wish granted a wish to one of my close childhood friends son, and they do this for so many wonderful children.  Please, please please give to this wonderful foundation tomorrow.

Pillsbury $1 Off Coupons...

You must be a member to print these, so if you don't have a Pillsbury account, create one for free.  Click HERE for the coupons while supplies last! :)

Free Kobari Beef Single Serving At Panda... Today Only!

Today only you can get a single serving of Panda Express Kobari Beef with no purchase necessary.  Just click HERE to get your coupon and Enjoy :)

Buy One Jamba Juice, Get One Free...

Click HERE to get your coupon, but hurry... it expires 9/29/10!

Campbell's Printable Coupons...

Get up to $10 in printable coupons HERE from Campbell's Kitchen!  (If you live in Utah, check out the super deal on Campbell's Chunky and Select Harvest Soups this week at Smiths... 10/$10.  Add these coupons and you can be bringing some home for next to nothing!)

Free 5x7 Print at Walmart HP Kiosk...

Buy one 5x7 print and get one free just for trying out the new HP Kiosk at Walmart.  Click HERE for details and to print out your coupon.  Coupon expires Oct 31st, 2010.  Enjoy. :)

$5 Off $25 Purchase at Petsmart.com

Just use code SEPPERK2 for $5 off a $25 purchase at petsmart.com.  Enjoy. :)

$10 Off Tinkerbell Blu-ray Combo Pack...

I LOVE Disney DVD coupons!  Click HERE to get a $10 off coupon for TinkerBell And The Great Fairy Rescue Blue-ray combo pack which has the Blu-ray AND DVD in it! Coupon expires 10/3/10 so get it now and save it for Christmas!  Enjoy. :)

Marie Callenders Restaurant Coupons...

Looking for somewhere to dine out this weekend with a coupon?  Marie Callender's has three coupons you can choose from.  Choose 20% off your bill, buy one entree get one half, or $4 off two Sunday Brunches.  Click HERE to print your coupons.  Coupons expire October 14th, 2010.

$50 Gift Certificate To Furniture Warehouse...

Do you live near Taylorsville, Utah?  If so you might be interested in a free $50 gift certificate for Furniture Warehouse from Valpak.com.  It is not valid on electronics or appliances, but there is NO minimum purchase required!  Coupon expires October 1, 2010.  Click HERE to print it.

Thanks to Cari J for sharing this! :)

Roberts 25% Off Coupon...

Click HERE for a coupon worth 25% off your entire regular priced purchase good through Sept 18, 2010 only at Roberts!  There are no product exclusions. Enjoy :)

Roberts $10 off $30...

Click HERE for a coupon worth an additional $10 off a $30 purchase good through Sept 18th, 2010 only at Roberts!  There are no product exclusions and coupon is good off sale prices as well as regular prices.  Enjoy :)

$5 Off Champion Fitness Shoes At Payless...

All you have to do is "like" payless on Facebook and you will get your own $5 off coupon!  Click HERE to participate.  Enjoy. :)

Free Shipping At Snapfish...

Snapfish is giving free shipping on your order today and tomorrow only.  Just coupon code FREELDSHIP for free shipping on your order, now through September 11th.  Enjoy :)

TGI Friday's Buy One, Get One for $5...

TGI has a great coupon good now through September 15th, 2010.  Just buy one entree and you get the 2nd one for just $5.  Click HERE to print the coupon.  Enjoy :)

$8 Off Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time...

My teenage son loves this movie, so an $8 coupon is well appreciated. :)  Click HERE to print your coupon from Disney Rewards for the Blu-ray combo pack which includes the Blu-ray, the DVD AND a digital copy!  You may have to sign up to be a member of Disney Rewards, , but membership is free and they send out coupons like this all the time.  The movie comes out Sept 14th and the coupon is good through September 28th, 2010.  Enjoy :)

$8 Off Two Mickey Mouse Clubhouse DVD's...

Disney is giving away coupons for $8 off your purchase of the new "Road Rally" Clubhouse DVD with any other Clubhouse DVD.  Just click HERE for information and to print the coupon.  You can also get free fun activity sheets to print off for the kids!  Enjoy :)

Roberts $10 Off $50 Coupon...

Click HERE for a coupon worth $10 off a $50 purchase good through Sept 11, 2010 only at Roberts!  There are no product exclusions and coupon is good off sale prices as well as regular prices.  Enjoy :)

Kohl Extra 15% Off Shopping Pass...

Click HERE for your 15% off Shopping Pass which gives you an extra 15% off regular, sale and even clearance priced merchandise at Kohl's.  Coupon is good Sept 3rd through Sept 6th 2010.  Enjoy :)

Beauty & The Beast Blu-ray Combo Pack Offer...

Do you own a VHS or DVD version of Beauty & The Beast but want to upgrade to the Diamond Edition Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack? If so, Disney is offering a printable $10 coupon for upgraders. All you have to do is provide the UPC code from off the back of your already owned copy. Just click HERE for details. The new edition of the movie comes out Oct 5th.  Enjoy :)

Price Matching At Walmart Trial Run...

So I have price matched at Walmart before, but I have never done fruit and vegetables.  Last week there were some terrific sales at other stores on fruits and vegetables and so I thought I would give it a try.  I decided to start small.  I only used 2 ads and picked a couple of items from each ad to price match. 

Ranchos market had unbelievable deals on produce, so I from that Ad I chose the pineapple for $1.39/each, the strawberries for $0.99/carton and the tomatillos for 3lbs/$1.00.

From Macey's I price matched tomatoes on the vine for $0.89/pound and red peppers for $0.69 each.

The pineapples at Walmart were $2.99 so I saved over half on that.  The strawberries were $1.49 so I bought 2 of those and saved a third on each.  The tomatillos were $2.09/pound at Walmart compared to $0.33/pound at Ranchos market so that was an incredible savings.  Tomatoes were $1.99/pound for the vine ripe, so I saved over 50% on those and the red peppers were $1.99 each so I picked out two huge ones for less than half each.

The girl that checked me out, Alec, was awesome.  She appreciated that I had separated the produce from the other items that I was buying and put the items from each ad together so that I could show her the prices quickly.  (I separated the items in my cart before getting in line so that I could be as quick as possible.)  I was maybe 2 minutes longer than usual checking out and all in all it was a huge success!  Alec did tell me that the cashiers always appreciate organization when it comes to price matching and it's best to look for someone that is smiling to check you out.  I will be looking for her every time I go from now on. :)

A couple of things that I would suggest:

• Circle the things you want to price match in the ad with a black permanent marker so that you can find them easily. 
• Separate the items by ad BEFORE you get in line. 
• Put the price match items at the end of your groceries, slightly separated, and let the cashier know ahead that you will be price matching those items.
• Be ready to show them the ads quickly and know what you are looking for!

Remember, price matching can save you time traveling to lots of different stores to get good prices on groceries as well as money on gas! :)  Also, if you don't have a good cashier the first time, don't give up.  Try someone new next time until you find someone that is easy to work with.  Then stick with them when possible.

Bath & Body Works Free Signature Collection Body Care Item...

Click HERE to print a coupon for a free Signature Collection Body Care Item, (up to $12 value), with any $10 purchase.  Coupon good through September 26, 2010.  Enjoy :)

Dove Ice Cream $1 coupon...

Click HERE to print a coupon for $1 off Dove Ice Cream.  Ever tasted the miniatures?  They are divine!!! :)

Pillsbury Coupons...

Click HERE for 4 printable $1 off pillsbury coupons.  Quantities are limited and you have to create a Pillsbury account but everything is free!  Enjoy :)

50 4x6 prints for $5, that includes shipping!

For today and tomorrow only you can get 50 4x6 prints from Snapfish for only $5, and that INCLUDES shipping.  That makes the prints just 10c each!  Click HERE for details and don't forget to put in the code when you order! :)

All Coupons Worth $1 At Smiths...

For seven whole days, all your coupons under $1 are worth $1 at Smiths. Got a 25 cent coupon? It's worth a dollar! 35 cents? It's worth a dollar! Coupons over a dollar are still face value, but anything under $1 you will get extra money off from today through August 31st, so cut them out and head on over to Smiths. For the best savings, apply your coupons to items that are already on sale! :)

Want to see what is on sale this week?  Go here to the Smiths website to look at your local Ad's for yourself!

Quick Tip: Keep Non-perishable Snacks in the Car...

You are running errands and the kids are screaming they are hungry.  You are tempted to pull in to a drive through to grab them a quick snack but you know you will pay out the nose for that quick fix.  The solution?  Keep crackers, granola bars or other non-perishable snacks in the car with packs of capri sun or water.  Next time the kids are hungry, you will have something to hold them over until you get home, saving your cash and your sanity! :)

Quick Tip: Pay Attention at the Register...

Deals are great, but if you don't pay attention to how things are ringing up at the register you can be paying more than you think you are!  Prices are changing constantly on grocery items and sometimes bargains slip through the cracks and aren't programmed in to the computer properly.  Have your kids unload the basket and keep an eye on the register while you are checking out and make sure everything rings up as it is supposed to.  :)

Quick Tip: Keeping Stocked Up...

When you have a well stocked refrigerator, freezer and pantry you are less likely to spend money on eating out.  Think about it, how often have you ordered pizza or other take-out because you just can't find anything good to eat?

Pillsbury has a article on it's website right now that gives some good tips on stocking your cupboards, refrigerator and freezer.  Check it out HERE and share your best tips with us below!

Combine a stocked pantry with planning meals in advance and you are well on your way to saving some serious money! :)

75% off All Summer Floral and Decor at Roberts...

This week only!  No coupon required... while supplies last through August 14th! :)

Free E-Books To Add To Your Library...

From the Barnes & Noble Website...

Each week from July 16, 2010 - September 14, 2010, Barnes & Noble will make a limited selection of Barnes & Noble Classics eBooks available at no charge. The titles will change weekly and will be determined in Barnes & Noble's sole discretion. To learn more about which Classics are available, go to www.bn.com/freelibrary each week. In order to take advantage of this offer, customers must have a valid bn.com account and BN eReader enabled device. For those who do not have a bn.com account or BN eReader, please follow the prompts to create an account and download the eReader App for free. This offer is for a limited time only, subject to change or discontinuation without notice.


This week's featured collection-Uncensored...Books That Were Banned.
 
Collection includes books such as The Scarlett Letter & Uncle Tom's Cabin.  Check out the whole list here. 

Free Printable Recipe Cards...

Another fabulous creation from the makers of HP software.  Printable recipe cards that you can add your OWN photos to!  Imagine having recipe cards that have your personal pictures of the finished product on them... Ingenious!  And there are lots of styles and themes to choose from.  Just click HERE to check it out! :)

Got Zucchini???

Word on the street is that Zucchini is an easy to grow vegetable that many people have growing out of their ears!  Need some ideas on what to do with it?  Martha Stewart has put together 58 recipes that use summer squash or zucchini.

Click HERE to find lots of creative ways to use up your supply from your garden!  Ideas include zucchini gratin, bread, lasagna, soup, salad, tart, cake, pie, quiche and much more.  Every recipe has a picture so you can see what you are making before hand and quite frankly, they all look delicious!  Be sure to come back and let us know if you find one that is amazing. :)

Back To School Photo Projects From HP...

I love HP's site for free printable photo projects.  Right now they are featuring their back to school projects!  Just visit their site and click on the age group you want to browse.  There are pages of projects including school days calendars, teacher appreciation cards, back to school frames, happy monster lunchbox notes, color collage locker posters and much, much more.  Click HERE to check it out! :)

Roberts $10 Off $50 Coupon...

Click HERE for a coupon worth $10 off a $50 purchase today and tomorrow only at Roberts!  There are no product exclusions and coupon is good off sale prices as well as regular prices.  Enjoy :)

Kohls Extra 15% or 20% Off Shopping Pass...

Click HERE to get this weeks 3-day shopping pass for Kohl's that gives you an extra 15% off sale, regular and clearance prices at Kohl's if you spend under $100 and 20% off if you spend $100 or more! (This means it is worth doing one big transaction rather than a few separate transactions to get the extra 5%!) The coupon is good for every purchase you make now through August 8th. On top of all that, you will earn $10 KOHL'S CASH for every $50 you spend in your transaction! (Kohl's Cash is yours to spend at their store at a later date.) What are you waiting for?  Get your butt to Kohl's! :)

BABW 20% Off Coupon...

Get Get 20% off any $25 purchase at Bath & Body Works by printing THIS COUPON!  Coupon expires August 8, 2010. Enjoy :)

Close To My Heart Paper Clearance...

Any scrapbookers out there looking for a great deal?  There is a fabulous paper clearance at Close To My Heart right now for just 8 days as they clear out the old inventory to get in the new.  Level 1 paper kits are only $4, Level 2 paper kits are $6 and the Stickease are only $2.  That's over 50% off paper packets and over 70% off the stickease! 

It's their "$2, $4, $6, for 8... it's you we appreciate" sale.  Quantities are limited to what they have on hand, so the sooner you order the better.

Click HERE to be taken directly to the sale, but be patient... with the popularity of the sale the pages may take longer than usual to load.  Enjoy :)

Taste Test Proves It... Store Brands Can Make The Cut!

Rachael Ray's website put together a panel to taste test lots of ice cream treats from different grocery stores. As I read the results, I was ecstatic to see that a frugal treat that our family has enjoyed quite often actually made the cut.

For Best Cone:

"Great Value Chocolate-Dipped Vanilla Flavored Ice Cream Cones

Tasters marveled at the “supercrispy” chocolate lined sugar cone and the “whipped, frenchvanillalike” ice cream hidden beneath a milk chocolate coating. Chopped peanuts add a salty crunch, and a bargain price sweetens the deal.

($3.97 for eight 4.3-ounce cones; $3.75 for ten 2.25-ounce cones, at Walmart stores)"

Check out the full story here:
Taste Test: The Best Ice Cream Treats - Every Day with Rachael Ray

But even more important, remember... generic brands or store brands can be as good as or sometimes EVEN BETTER than those pricey name brands!  Why not check some out for yourself! :)

Quick Tip: Grocery Store Savings Cards...

It may seem like common sense to most of you, but you would not believe how many people out there do NOT use grocery store savings cards.  The reasons vary from they think their identities are going to be stolen, they can't be bothered to fill out the application, they just don't want the grocery stores knowing what they are buying, they think the store is going to call and hassle them or they think they are filling out a credit card application!

Just so you know, you don't have to hand over your social security numbers or first born children to get a grocery store savings card.  They want very basic information like your address, email address and phone number.  This way they can send you coupons via snail mail and email too! 

Additionally, they most likely DO track what you buy at the grocery store, but this is usually so they can customize coupons that they send to you and see general buying trends in the market.  And really, who cares?  Let them know what I buy!  It's not going to change anything and it's not like anyone is going to send me a letter querying why I bought 100 boxes of cereal with only one gallon of milk.  On top of that, in the YEARS that I have had grocery savings cards, I have never ONCE been called or hassled by a store in any way.

The fact is that the grocery store cards can save you up to 70% on purchases without having to cut a coupon, so get out there and get one for every store you shop at.  Why on earth would you want to pay full price?

Quick Tip: Entertaining At Home...

Entertain at home on a budget by having people over a little later so that you can serve snacks instead of a whole meal!  Even better, ask everyone coming to bring a snack to share.  You will have a wide variety and no-one will feel like they had to break the bank to have a good time. :)

Michaels Back To School Coupons...

Click HERE to print a coupon worth 20% off your entire purchase, EVEN SALE ITEMS!  There is also a coupon for 40% off one regular priced item at Michaels on the same page.  Coupons are good through Aug 7, 2010.  (You can use one coupon per customer per day.)  Check coupons for complete details. :)

National Cheesecake Day...

If you do nothing else today, you should grab a friend and go by The Cheesecake Factory to celebrate National Cheesecake Day with a slice of cheesecake for half price.  (Dine-in only, Click HERE for details.)  Personally, I think I am going to have to try that Reese's Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake ASAP! :)  Maybe date night tonight?

Kohls 15% Off Shopping Pass...

Click HERE for your 15% off Shopping Pass which gives you an extra 15% off regular, sale and even clearance priced merchandise at Kohl's.  Coupon is good through July 31st, 2010.  Enjoy :)

Barnes & Noble Tale Of Three Sales...

Barnes and Noble is having an online sale!  Buy one, get one free on thousands of paperbacks, 50% off Criterion DVD's & Blu-Rays and 500 best selling CD's for under $10.

Just click HERE for details and to browse.  Enjoy :)

Quick Tip: Rechargeable Batteries...

They may end up slightly more expensive at first than regular batteries, but rechargeable batteries can be re-used hundreds of times before they run out of life.  They are especially great for digital camera's etc. as they keep a charge quite a bit longer than regular batteries.  I do suggest getting one with a 15 minute charger, because no-one wants to wait hours if batteries run out.  Also, never mix regular batteries with rechargeables!