Michaels 40% off Coupon...

Click HERE to get a coupon for 40% off any regular priced item at Michaels.  (Some restrictions apply so see coupon for details.)  Remember, you can use one coupon per person per day.  This coupon is good today through Sat May 8th, 2010, just in time for Mother's Day! :)

Kohls 2-Day Shopping Pass...

Click HERE to get your 2-day shopping pass good for 15% off all your purchases at Kohl's.  (20% if you spend over $100!)  This coupon is good for today and tomorrow only so don't delay!  Enjoy :)

Tai Pan Trading Coupons...

Tai Pan is having a pre-Mothers Day sale!  Click HERE to get coupons for 20% off any single item, 25% off your entire purchase of picture frames and buy one jewelry item, get one free!  Coupons are good through Sat, May 8th, 2010. :)

Roberts 50% Off Coupon...

Click HERE for a coupon good for 50% off one regular priced item at Roberts.  (They allow one coupon per customer per day!)  Coupon expires Sat, May 1st 2010!

Kohls EXTRA 15% off coupon... Good through April 29th!!!

If you don't have it already, click HERE to get your extra 15% off coupon for Kohls good through Thursday April 29, 2010.  You can use this on all your purchases of regular or sale priced merchandise! :)

Joanne Fabrics Coupons...

Click HERE for a coupon good for 50% off any one regular priced fabric.  (Good through Sat, May 1st, 2010). 

Review Week... Meat, Fruit & Veggies...

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!

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 has 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 ;)

Review Week... Shopping Preparation...

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.)

Bath & Body Works $10 Coupon...

Get $10 off a $30 purchase now through May 9th, 2010 at Bath & Body Works. Just click HERE to print the coupon and take it to your local store! (See coupon for additional information.) Enjoy. :)

Review Week Continues... 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.

Women's Expo In Orem, Utah... Free Tickets!!!

Food Storage Made Easy

The lovely ladies at Food Storage Made Easy have coupons for FREE entrance to the Women's Expo at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah this weekend.  (April 23rd & 24th, 2010.)  Tickets are normally $5, but for their readers you can print out a coupon HERE that will get you in for FREE!!!  Make sure to go by and see them at the Expo, and if you haven't visited their site, you are in for a treat. :)  Thanks Jodi & Julie! :)

Kohls EXTRA 15% off coupon... April 21st-29th!!!

I LOVE these Kohl's coupons! I always feel like I am getting an awesome deal when I take the ADDITIONAL 15% off the sale prices! This one is good for an entire week!!!!  Click HERE to get a shopping pass that will give you an extra 15% off everything you purchase April 21st-29th at Kohl's... Additionally, you get $10 in Kohl's Cash for every $50 you spend on purchases now through April 26th!  That's a great deal!  Enjoy :)

Roberts Coupons... $50 off $300 or 50% off One Reg Priced Item...

Roberts has a special coupon to celebrate their "50's Days" this week good for $50 off when you spend $300 or more.  This coupon is good until April 24th, 2010.  There are no product exclusions and the discount is good off regular or sale priced items.  Click HERE to get this special offer. 

Of course, if you just want the Roberts 50% off one regular priced item coupon, you can click HERE to get it.  It is good through Saturday April 24th, 2010 also!

If you haven't already, be sure to check out all the sale items this week.  There are lots of 50% off items listed HERE on the Ad.  Enjoy :)

$15 Coupon For Aveeno Anti-Aging System...

Click HERE to learn about and print a coupon for $15 off AVEENO® AGELESS VITALITY™ Elasticity Recharging System.  Enjoy! :)

Using Coupons... A Review...

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.

A Review of Beginning Grocery Basics...

It has been about a year and a half since I started this site.  Over the next week or so I am going to be reviewing some of the basics of being Frugal.  Even if you have read these before, it never hurts to remind yourself.  You'll be surprised of the little things you forget over the course of time.  Today, I want to review the grocery basics for beginners!

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:

• Never put bargains on a credit card. Credit is NEVER a bargain.
• 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.
• 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.)
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Enjoy the free samples at the store and collect the coupons, but DON'T buy the items until they come on sale.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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!

Free Summer Bowling For Kids...

Thanks to Kristen in Florida for sharing this link!  Kids Bowl Free are offering 2 free games a day for kids 15 and under, (you are responsible for shoe rental only), during the summer!  Click HERE to see how the program works.  Then go HERE to see which bowling alley's in your state are participating and click on the the one you want to register with!  You can also purchase a family pass for the adults in your family for just $25 which will cover your lane fees for the summer for up to 4 adults!  It's a great deal.  Thanks Kristen! :)

If you know of a great deal that should be shared with everyone, please feel free to email it to me at frugalityville {at} gmail {dot} com.

Joanne Fabrics 50% off coupon... 2 Days Only...

Joanne's has 50% off any one regular priced item this weekend too!  Just click HERE to print the coupon! (Valid through April 17th, 2010), Some restrictions apply, so see coupons for details.

Roberts 50% Off Coupon... 2 Days Only!

Roberts has a coupon for 50% off one regular priced item good this weekend only (Expires April 17th, 2010)! They allow one coupon, per day, per customer so take in the fam to get more items!  Click HERE to print it! :)

Barnes & Noble 10% off one item...

Click HERE to print a coupon for 10% off an item at Barnes & Noble.  This coupon is good through April 25th, 2010.  Some restrictions apply, see coupon for full details.  Enjoy :)

Michaels 40% off Coupon...

Click HERE to get your 40% off one regular priced item coupon that is good now through April 24th, 2010.  You can use one of these coupons daily and it is one per customer so if you have an older child like me or can get hubby to tag along, you can give them some cash and have them get you an item too!  Enjoy :)

Staples $10 off $50...

Click HERE to print a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase at Staples that is good through April 17th, 2010.  Some restrictions apply so check coupon for complete details!  Enjoy :)

Target Coupons...

Target has just started posting coupons for extra savings in their store. There are lots to chose from, ($170.99 worth), and you can just print them right from your computer. Just click HERE to take a look at what they have this week! Enjoy. :)

Joanne's has 50% off any one regular priced item HERE, (valid through April 15th, 2010), Some restrictions apply, so see coupons for details.

This Week At Smiths...

Some nicely priced items I will be picking up at Smith's this week:

• Beef Cross Rib or Rump Roast $1.99/pound
• Pork Loin or Rib Chops, Center Cut, Bone in $1.59/pound
• Kroger Cheese 8oz bars or shredded, all varieties $1.25 each
• Tombstone Pizza's $2.99/each
• 24 count case of Kroger cream of chicken, mushroom, or broccoli soup $13.92 (Just $0.58/each)
• 12 count case Hunts Pasta Sauce $8.99 ($0.75/each)
• 12 count case Betty Crockers Fudge Brownie Mix $12.00 ($1/each)
• Kroger Orange Juice Gallon $2/each
• Kellogg's Nutragrain Bars 8ct box $1.99/each

Prices good through Tuesday, April 13th!

(*Disclaimer: I am not responsible for any misprints by the grocery store chains OR by me. Check your mailers to confirm prices, or go here to the Smiths website to look at your local AD's for yourself.)

Kohls EXTRA 15% off coupon... 3 days only...

I LOVE these Kohl's coupons! I always feel like I am getting an awesome deal when I take the ADDITIONAL 15% off the sale prices! Click HERE to get a three day shopping pass that will give you an extra 15% off everything you purchase April 9th-11th at Kohl's... Enjoy :)

Staples $10 off $50...

Click HERE to get a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase at Staples. Some restrictions apply, so be sure to read the fine print! Enjoy. :)

Free Ream of Paper From Staples...

For three days only you can get a free ream of Staples paper. Just click HERE for a coupon for the cashier to scan when you purchase it. This will print you out an easy rebate form at the register which you can just fill out online for your rebate! Wow, that was easy! :) (Paper must be purchased between 4-7-10 and 4-10-10).

Roberts 50% off Coupon...

Roberts has a coupon for 50% off one regular priced item this week too! They allow one coupon, per day, per customer. (I always take my daughter in with me to buy an item too.) Click HERE to print off as many coupons as you like for this week (good through April 10th, 2010). The Roberts at Jordan Landing almost always has coupons in the store too on a display up front too. :)

Joanne Fabrics Coupons For This Week...

Gotta love the Craft Store Coupons. Are you getting your 40% or 50% off items each week? Joanne's has 40% off any one regular priced item HERE, (good through April 10th, 2010), and 50% off any one regular priced fabric HERE, (good through April 17th, 2010). Some restrictions apply, so see coupons for details.

Dell Additional 5% Off Coupon...

Buying a Dell computer? Click HERE for a coupon for an additional 5% off your purchase for a limited time! :)

Roberts Crafts Ladies Night Out Coupons...

I guess that because of the Priesthood Session of Conference this weekend, many stores are having a "ladies night out" sale. Roberts has a 30% off regular prices of your entire purchase coupon that is good for today and tomorrow. Click HERE to print it. Note that unlike many of their coupons, this one has NO product exclusions so if you have been wanting a Cricut, this might be a good time to buy it!

They also have a 40% off one item coupon that is good through Sat April 3rd. Click HERE to print it. This one has a whole list of exclusions though. :)

Additionally their ad has a 50% off one item coupon for Friday and Saturday. Click HERE to see it. At Jordan Landing they usually have their ad coupons stacked at the front of the store, but you could print this just in case!

All of these coupons are good April 2nd and 3rd! Enjoy. :)

Michaels Coupons...

Michael's wants you in on the savings this weekend too with a 30% off your entire regular price purchase coupon. Click HERE to print. This coupon is only good Sat, April 3rd. However, if you scroll below that coupon you will see your weekly 50% off one regular price item coupon good for all next week. See coupons for further information. :)

Tai Pan Trading Ladies Night Out...

For all you Tai Pan Trading fans out there, this weekend, (April 2nd & 3rd), they are hosting Ladies Night Out! Click HERE to get a coupon for 25% off jewelry and handbags as well as a coupon for a free cute bangle watch with a $50 purchase. See coupons for details. :)

Kohls EXTRA 15% or 20% off coupon... 3 days only...

Click HERE to get this weeks 3-day shopping pass for Kohls 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 April 1st and April 3rd. Enjoy! :)