September 2008 Weddings
PBJ63010
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HELP PLEASE
We just found out what Jeff will be making with his new position and it is quite a pay cut. (Which we expected - just didn't expect this much - though he has the potential to make quite a bit more quickly)
So I need help - best money saving tips you have ladies. Couponing tips, meal planning tips to save money at the grocery store, anything you have hit me with it!
ALSO I would like to get in on the daily fitness/weightloss emails if possible. I'm not going to be dieting and working out until I quit BFing but I want to watch what I eat better and be held accountable for what I eat every day.
TIA to both.
Re: HELP PLEASE
This is a Cincinnati based site but here 10 steps to saving site has lots of good info:
http://www.cincysavers.com/blog/story/20110104/ten-steps-to-savings/
Couponing can be overwhelming at first but its is worth it in the end!
Oh no!
First start googling stores in your area with something like "coupon blog" (ex, "Ga Publix coupon blog") I am sure there are several in your area. I like to watch these, mostly b/c they know when sales are and will match up coupons to sale items for you. After a while, you won't need these sites. I still watch them b/c I miss them or they alert me to online coupons I don't know about. Plus a lot of stores accept online coupons with your shoppers card, so visit the store website too.
Go to products websites and sign up. Ex. Kashi, they send out coupons and free samples a lot! Same with Cascadian Farms (another organic company)
Check and see if your stores accept competitors coupons. If they do you can use a store coupon + a manufacture coupon. Also, did you know Target has coupons? They do, and a lot of times they are not just food, but for clothes and household items too. (My publix will accept Target coupons plus manuf coupons!)
Most things that are sale items, rotate every 6 weeks.Its kind of like a game for me to watch the ads and see what goes on sale and stock up. Meat is a big item that sales rotate for and I watch to stock up on, but since you have a cow in your freezer, I don't think you need any of this! For example, I save coupons for poptarts & frosted mini-wheat's (the only truly processed food that dh eats) every 6 weeks they go on sale b1g1 and I have coupons so a lot of times I pay less than $1.There are a lot that I get free now, toothpaste, shampoos, pasta, cookies, etc. If its a free item, I stock up for as many coupons as I have. Oh, laundry detergent, never pay full price for this, there are always coupons out there.
Also, check with your store. My store will double a coupon up to .50, I've seen some stores double up to $1, or have one day a month where they do promotions like triple coupons, etc. Like I said this has kind of become a game for me. I don't leave the house without my coupons, and I won't pay full price for anything anymore.
The first thing I would suggest is to write down all of your expenses. Basically, make a budget. Once you write it all down, you might see areas you can cut or you might see that is won't be so bad. You just have to be disciplined enough to stick to it.
We save money at the grocery store by using the envelope system. That way, we never go over out budgeted amount. We also use this for dining out. We also have set "fun money" limits that pay for anything that is a discretional expense (haricuts, clothes, lunches out, entertainment, etc.). I think this helps from having a bunch of little things that just add up at the end of the month.
I don't really coupon. If I see a coupon for something I use, I will clip it, but otherwise I don't feel like it is worth my time. If there were more coupons for fresh foods I would probably try it.
Good luck!
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I'm just going to list some things; I don't know how much of this is "common knowledge" but here it is...
I'm getting back to couponing (I got really good when I was in grad school FT!) since I had a huge paycut when they couldn't keep me FT (I am working half the hours but only making 20% of what I made this time last year and we switched to a more expensive daycare - thus the job search).
I don't know how much I can help, as my skills were honed before internet coupons existed, but my biggest piece of advice is get to know your local stores. I found that stores ran cycles of sales (so, for example, I knew that Store A put all Brand X of frozen veggies on sale every 6 weeks). I took my coupons and planned to stock up during those sale times. Also learn the rules of coupons; for example, our one store offers double coupons on $0.99 or lower, and they accept internet coupons. We get circulars in the mail and I spend about 20 minutes a week going through with a sharpie, my coupons, and then I make a list. An example, last week one store had a brand of fruit snacks we like for P for 1.49/box on sale, and I had a 75c coupon on the purchase of two boxes; so I paid 2.98 - 1.50 (coupon was doubled) = 2 boxes for 1.48 (normally 2.19 each). I know that seems small, but it adds up.
I have a little notebook that I keep to compare regular and typical sale prices. For example, for that snack for P, I know how much the different grocery stores, Target, etc etc charge.
We bought an upright freezer for the basement and buy all meat in bulk and freeze it. We also make large batches of some food and freeze that, too.
Oh, if you don't already, compare using unit prices - how much per pound or ounce,etc. The convention is that the larger bottles of stuff cost less per unit, but sometimes they'll put the smaller one on sale and that's a better deal. This is also useful for store brand vs. name brand.
Store brands are usually cheaper, and our stores now have their own store brand in organics for a lot of things. Figure out what is important to you to have name brand, or organic, and make those priorities.
We cut out soda (I never really drank it) and drink water, tea, etc. We drink less juice and more water. We filter water from the tap.
Some of this sounds like a lot of work, but I found that after a few months it got easy as I learned the trends.
Oh, and never, ever let the husbands do the shopping unless you give them a list with specific instructions. B doesn't pay attention to prices and can blow what I save in one trip to the store!
One final thing - we found out our good local Chinese place has 30% off everything on Thursdays, so if we ever want to get take out, we try to do it then. Likewise, our favorite hoagie shop does $3 Italian hoagies one wednesday a month, so we limit that to those nights (that helps with the diet, too, ha ha).
Hope this helps...
edit: looks like a lot of the tips I gave, Crystal already posted. I took too long typing, I guess! But it looks like the sales cycles aren't just a regional thing, so that's good to know.
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to be honest, i do not have time for couponing. I just can't deal with it. I need to be able to go to the store that is convenient at a time that works for me. (so same goes for store flyers, which I see as part of couponing).
I think it is really important to have a good idea of what you pay for things so you KNOW if it is really on sale (eg, if I see hormone free chicken for $3/lb, I buy it.).
The best grocery saving tip I have is don't eat slabs of meat regularly - make meat part of the dish rather than the main attraction (think tacos, stew, etc). To be honest, we have a pretty cushy grocery budget because we like good cheese and buy organic milk and dirty dozen (and lately have fallen off the meal planning wagon, which we need to work on).
I agree with this 100%, especially the bolded parts. I have also reduced the amount of meat I serve. DH doesn't really notice that in my lasagna I only use a half pound of beef instead of a full pound. It helps that meat is not my favorite part of any meal, but cutting it down can substantially reduce your grocery bill.
I also have made small swaps like dried beans for canned. Use your crockpot to cook them and then freeze them in 1 2/3c increments to equal a can. A pound of dried beans costs me about $1, as does a can. But, the bag gives me 4 times the amount of beans once they are cooked. Frozen veggies are also cheaper by volume than canned and (IMO) taste SO much better.
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You have come to the right place my dear!! I can help you out as best as I can (and some of it may be harsh). I am sorry J got a huge pay cut. That blows.
One thing I recommend it as at least for a month track EVERYTHING you spend. This includes the bills, gas, groceries, trips, stuff for vending machines, Starbucks, etc. It is a PITA but it keeps us aware (google docs is your friend) of what we are spending.
Call your phone, cable, tv, etc to see if you can get a discount (say your income has been cut and that you want to stay with them but need a reduced rate) OR call to say you want to cancel and see what they do/say.
Try not to eat out (see my siggy pic). It is hard to eat in for a month and we allowed ourselves 2 cheat days for DH bday, but for the most part it works. I love cooking and baking....which leads me to another point.
cook on the weekends and then divide them into portions for lunches and dinners.
the crockpot is your friend http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/
I have a white board that shows all of our meals for the week. It really helps staying on track with our plan of eating in. Even on the weekends.
See what is your cupboard and fridge and freezer to see what you can make from scratch. Pasta sauce, teriyaki sauce, etc.
coupons, coupons, coupons. Not just the Sunday ad, go to Target online, or coupons.com. Sign up for blogs that have deals and freebies (which they include a coupon).
Make your coffee (or tea) at home.
I think that is it. I will think of more later....
I don't find couponing to be helpful except for cleaning stuff/house things, that is because we don't buy very many processed foods (some just not much and not often)
Shop the circulars and stock up on things you use often when they are at a good price and freeze (like meats) or buy dried beans and use the crockpot to cook them (this will save you BOATLOADS if you buy canned beans)
Feel free to ask if you have specific questions.
And you can also work out while you are BFing you just have to make sure you eat enough.
This. I will buy dried beans, cook them in the crockpot and then put them in freezer bags and thaw out when we need them. I have not bought a can of refried beans in over a year :-)
Um, ditto everyone else! To find a coupon blog that matches coupons with stores in your area, check out the FrugalMap
I read this blog, and she has just started sharing daily money tips.
Definately look into stuff you can cut or cut back on like cable, cell phone plans etc. Call your insurance people and/or other insurances to see if there is a cheaper rate.
Will you 2 now be commuting together? You can save gas money by riding together rather than seperately. Pack a lunch instead of eating out (good for health too!)
Make your own laundry detergent.
Cut out soda or coffee drinks if you drink them.
I'll try to think of more.
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