Saturday, October 31, 2009

Scam - free sources of coupons and samples

There are so many coupon and freebie scams out there, how do you know where to find legitimate sources of coupons and samples?

You can try going to coupon and internet forums and groups for ideas (more coming about this in November) to find user-reviewed websites although you should still use some caution there.  You can also go to trusted websites such as walmart.com's in store's now page, sample and information super-site vocalpoint.com and free sample giant startsampling.com  or check out your favorite product's website for savings ideas and free samples.  (Some product websites will require you to join a mailing list).

For online printable coupons, my favorite sites are www.coupons.com, www.smartsource.com, http://www.cellfire.com/ and http://www.redplum.com/.  You can also request coupons from the manufacturer, find them in store coupon displays or locate coupons in store advertisements, local newspaper inserts or mailbox coupon inserts.


Friday, October 30, 2009

Who is the coupon mom?

Coupon mom Stephanie Nelson has caused quite a stir among media outlets in recent times.  She is a brilliant money-savvy mother who basically started (at least in my opinion) the current couponing craze. 

If you haven't yet heard of the. coupon mom, you can find her website at http://www.couponmom.com/.  The website is definitely worth exploring as it contains a unique coupon database which matches up sales nation-wide with coupons.  Nelson even gives away three free e-books which detail her secrets about how to combine coupons and sales to save money and hosts a free blog that allows members to share savings secrets.  Nelson even claims that you can cut your grocery bill in half as is evidenced by these and other features on her website.

To learn more about the coupon mom, you can simply visit her official media site at media.couponmom.com/.








What is couponing?

Couponing is a relatively new phenomenon for many people.  A simple definition that I personally use is the effective use of coupons to save money, particularly on items you buy often such as groceries. 

So how would coupon use not be effective in saving hard earned money?  Well, it's simple really if you think carefully about it.  Here is an example.  Let's say you plan to buy milk for your household.  Your local food market offers name-brand milk for $3.99 and store brand milk (which you don't know is made by the same manufacturer) for $3.29.  If you have a 50 cent coupon that says "do not double or triple" at the top for the name brand milk, that would bring its price down to $3.49, still 20 cents higher than the store brand milk.  Now twenty cents may not seem like a lot of money when you consider just one item, but over the course of time 20 cents here and 20 cents there can add up.

Let's say you saved just 20 cents per day through smart grocery shopping.  If you multiply that by 365 days in one year, that totals $73.  With the cost of gas constantly going up I can definitely use that much extra cash.  With some creative couponing, strategic sale shopping, and buying generic store brands when you can't save more on name brands with coupons and sales you can even save much, much more than 20 cents per day.








Thursday, October 29, 2009

Just Ask

Does your grocery store's competitor offer a better price on a product you want to buy?  If so, will your store match or beat the competition's price? 

Do you live in an area with a competitive grocery market?  If so, how can you use that to your advantage?

Does one of your bank debit or credit cards offer cash back on groceries during certain months of the year?  If so, that may be a good time to stock up on non-perishable food if the sales prices and coupons also make it worth your while.

Does your local food market have a particular day that they honor double or triple coupons?

Does your store offer an item for free if it is incorrect on your receipt?

Do they honor competitors' coupons or have a store loyalty program?

Do they offer special promotions through their website or a mailing list?

Are there any other ways to save money on products you buy regularly?

All of these are good and valid questions.  If you don't know the answers, ask a manager or store employee.  It may save you alot of mone, especially over the long run

Just ask.



Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Creative recipes for Leftovers

Cheepcooking.com is an amazing idea source for leftover food inspiration.  The website has several creative ideas for leftover food on their website http://www.cheapcooking.com/articles/more-ways-with-leftovers.htm

Although that is a great place to get started and has taught me a great deal, I would like to add a few ideas of my own:

Leftover spaghetti noodles and Sauce:   You can cook these together for a great freeze ahead meal of baked spaghetti or use them separately.  If you don't want to freeze your leftovers the noodles can make a lovely pasta salad or be used as stir fry noodles which are both great ideas for lunch or supper.  The sauce can also be used as a pizza sauce or re-flavored to serve as sloppy joe or taco sauce. 

Leftover sandwich bread: I love to use leftover bread as a pizza crust, in grilled cheese sandwiches, in freeze ahead or ready to eat french toast or in homemade croutons.  You can find these and other recipes on the web by doing a quick google search.



Friday, October 16, 2009

Home Cooking Economics 101 - Be Prepared

Good meal planning can save you time and money.

Here are some tips to help you get started.

1) A well-stocked pantry can minimize unnecessary trips to the grocery store. Pantry stock should center around the types of cuisine your family enjoys and eats regularly as well as your family's nutritional needs.

2) Basic ingredients such as eggs, sugar, flour, sandwich bread, bacon, potatoes, cheese and tortillas are both economical and versatile. They can be used in many combinations alone and/or with other ingredients for breakfast, snacks, lunch and supper. Try to think in a multi-purpose mindset when purchasing ingredients such as these, particularly if the ingredients are perishable.

3) A well thought out meal plan is centered around your family's nutritional needs and what they like. Having a plan can reduce meal cooking stress in addition to saving you money. Favorite meals can be rotated weekly, biweekly or monthly.

4) Plan your meals around sales at the grocery store. Use coupons or buy store brand products during sales to save even more money. Pay attention to prices of items you buy regularly so you will know when your local store is offering the best price on that product. Be aware of price differences between brands. A sale and/or coupon for a name brand product may or may not give you the best value when compared with the store's generic brand and other available options.

5) Bigger isn't always better. Stores know that economy and family size containers give shoppers the perception of value. They usually are a better value, but not always. Larger containers may cost more per unit. They might also contain excess food that will not be consumed prior to spoilage.

6) Leftovers from one night can be re-incorporated into the following day's lunch or supper the following night if they are fresh enough. For example, extra spaghetti noodles and mixed vegetables can be converted into stir fry by adding stir fry sauce and your favorite stir fry friendly meat such as leftover chicken breast or steak. Leftover meats also make great pizza toppings if your family is not fond of oriental food.

7) Pre-cooked, packaged or frozen meal starters from companies such as Bird's Eye, Shake and Bake, McCormick and more can give you the extra push you need to get going during busy days when your cooking time is limited. You can make freeze-ahead meal starters yourself when you have time or find them on sale at your local stores. This hybrid form of cooking allows you to save time and money by doing some but not all of the work yourself.

8) Healthy foods are available in many different forms. Most diets are lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables. These foods are hard to stock in many kitchens for two main reasons: lack of convenience and spoilage. Fruits and vegetables do, however, come in other forms as well. Both healthy foods also come in dried, canned, frozen and juice forms that may help you supplement your family's fresh fruit and vegetable diet with fruits and vegetables containing a longer shelf life.