a few savings ideas

So here we are a month into the new year - how has everyone been doing with their New Year's resolutions?  I have probably been keeping up with half of mine, half the time...which I am actually pretty happy about.  I'll do a post update next week.

I am assuming whether it was a resolution for you or not, most people would like to save more money. (Me, me, me!!!!)  But the trick to doing so WITHOUT sacrificing quality of life or the things you like to buy and it takes some learning.

I went on a savings quest 2 years ago.  Since that time, I really have just learned how to coupon.  This has been wonderful at helping me still get what I want (organic milk for instance, most of the time), but I pay less money.  I consistently save more than I spend (spending $65 for instance but saving $75).  My favorite part of couponing is getting most of our toiletries for free (shampoo, lotion, toothpaste/brushes, etc) so that I free up "real food" money.  I am still learning, though.  I don't like how I do some months - this past one I spent $497 on groceries and household needs - so all drugstore (not Bailey's Rx) and grocery trips.  Now, when I started this journey I spent upwards of $150/wk, so spending $500 a month would have been good!  This past month I had to rebound from not couponing at all through December, so we went through some of our stockpile - esp meat and I had to replenish.  This next month, my goal is to spend $400 - all of the things we need and to continue to build my stockpile.

Anyway, here are a few things I just implemented this year to save more at the store.

*No more lunchmeat at the deli counter.  Even at $4.99/lb which is a SALE price for Boar's Head turkey, that is just too much!  I was spending at least $10/wk on Kevin's lunchmeat.  So now I am cooking up an extra serving or two of whatever meat I am making that week - chicken breast for instance, or london broil, and I slice it thin for his sandwiches.  I also have been making egg/tuna/chicken salad a few times, and he gets pb&j at least once a week.   I have 2 turkeys in the freezer that I got for .39/lb at Thanksgiving time that I look forward to cooking soon and saving some of that meat for his sammies.

*Speaking of meat, I have been stretching it with more veggies and sides.  I have been making soup once a week also, which helps too - soup is a frugal meal.

*I stay on top of what's in the fridge.  I used to waste too much!  I'd have high hopes of my kids eating blueberries let's say, and maybe we'd make it through one pint not two.  For shame!  Now I flash freeze the berries (and any other fruit/veg that can freeze) after a few days to insure it won't go to waste.  Our fave way to eat fruits that are in the freezer are in smoothies and waffles, and for veggies - soup.

*Buy big, and separate.  This new year, I have switched most of the girls yogurt to organic.  When they were babies/toddlers they ate organic, but I got away from it in favor of Gogurts for school - so easy to pack!  Well, I'll still buy go-gurts once in awhile but they eat yogurt every day, so now they are getting organic and I buy the quart size and separate it into reusable containers for their lunches and freeze the night before so it stays cool until lunch.  Sometimes it is cheaper to buy small and use a coupon (ie - if a coupon says $1 off, any size - use 4 coupons and get 4 of the smaller one that's on sale for $2, than buying the bigger one that's $8.  So you spend $4 for the same amount of product, than buying the bigger one and spending $7.  See?) but in instances such as the yogurt, it's cheaper to buy big.  (Stonyfield Farms has coupons on their website by the way - you can still coupon with organic!)

*Speaking of couponing organic, look through your circular!!  Last week at ShopRite I scored Gala organic apples (my fave!) and organic cut baby carrots for .99/lb with a coupon that was in the circular.  No limit was on the apples, so I got a huge bag, apples last for a while.

*I made a list of products I like, and am going to be emailing the companies.  I have done this a few times, but want to do more of it.  My favorite coupon I received from emailing the company so far has been Eggland's best - they sent me 4 .50 off coupons.  I waited for a sale - SR then had Eggland's best for $1.77 - the .50 doubled (most grocery stores double coupons, drugstores and supercenters like Target and Walmart don't) so I got the eggs for .77 each.

Do you have any tips?  I'd love to hear them!!

Sale Saturday - cheap vs frugal

Ok so did any of you see that "Extreme Couponing" show on TLC this week?  Garbage!!  TLC has a real opportunity to teach millions of people a way to trim their grocery budgets in these hard economic times and they are instead sensationalizing hoarders.  I didn't like the show at all, and it is not portraying real "couponers" who use their time to save money for their family, store enough to get them through for a few months, and give to others.  In addition, savings like that is not even possible here in NJ - and many other states - as most stores will only let you use 4 "like" coupons (as in, 4 Cheerios coupons) in one transaction - not 50.  Also most stores have a limit on how many like products you can buy in one transaction, or even per week, per family.

What I took from the show, is that I am so thankful I am not like that!!  I have a real interest in couponing and yes, I like knowing I have 20 boxes of tissues in my garage (what - we're a bunch of snotfaces in this house) but I am nothing like those other women who store toilet paper under their kids beds, and I never want to get to that point.  It made me sad in addition to angry, because really I think those people shown have a real problem and need psychological help.  Perhaps they are so scared of being without, perhaps they feel less-than without their shelves crammed with stuff.  Perhaps they went hungry as a child, I don't know.

But with all of these negative opinions I just threw out there - yes, I will be watching again on Wednesday night.  Sure call me a hypocrite, it's ok.

So last week I told you of my pantry challenge for April and to only spend $150 for the month.  WHAT?! was I thinking?!  Between hosting Kevin's birthday party for family this past weekend, buying part of 2 shower gifts for friends and cards for Easter, birthdays, Mothers Day, Easter supplies and items for the Tangled party I'm letting the kids throw with their friends and of course our usual produce, dairy, etc...I spent the whole months budget last week!!!  I did save about $140 between ShopRite, RiteAid and CVS, with $27 left over (in RA rewards and ECB) to spend, but out-of-pocket I spend around $150 exactly.  

Kevin and I took the girls to the beach playground on Saturday and I was upset with myself with how much I spent last week.  I went through my purchases in my mind and tried to see what I could have not bought.  And really, everything I bought we either needed or wanted.  I realized that while it's good to have goals for our spending, I don't want to be cheap.  I WANT to be hospitable and entertain at our house.  I want to give nice gifts and give to others who are in need.

So basically, I am on a journey to a happy medium.  I don't want to be an extreme couponer, but I do want to save money on the items we need and want.  I do want to have goals, but not at the sacrifice of enjoying our lifestyle, which my husband works so hard to maintain.  Really, $150 for the week is what I used to spend on just that week's worth of food and necessities!  I am still in the pantry challenge though...I do need to hit the store for their best sales this week, hoping to spend around $25, but we have enough of everything where I don't have to buy any produce, bread, etc.

Where are you with your couponing journey if you have one?  What were your opinions of the TLC show?