With the rising cost of groceries it might seem impossible to cut your food bill. Here are 13 tips that will help stretch your food dollar while feeding your family healthy meals.
1) Plan your meals around the sales. Stores routinely rotate sales items every 6 weeks so plan accordingly and stock up. Are the big packs of chicken breast on sale this week? Instead of buying one pack purchase several packs, separate into family size portions and freeze. If you were to purchase extra of the items that are on sale each week you will have a well stocked freezer and pantry in no time.
Try to avoid buying anything in a box. Most boxed foods are full of preservatives and trans fats so it is best to avoid them. Do you like the convenience of boxed foods? There are several good cookbooks and recipes online for making homemade mixes to keep on hand. Everything from homemade cookie mix to macaroni and cheese and more. Put these mixes in a pretty jar with the directions to prepare and it also makes a nice frugal gift!
3) Use coupons wisely. How many times have you found yourself spending more than you planned after using coupons? The key to saving with coupons is to only purchase the items you would normally use anyway. You will also find that the store brand may still be the better bargain. An even better idea is to hold onto that coupon and wait for the item you want to go on sale.
4) Do a coupon exchange. Check with family and friends who get the Sunday paper and exchange coupons for ones you can use. This is a good strategy for stocking up when you use coupons for items on sale.
5) Buy produce in season. It will taste much better and you will usually pay less. Also in the warmer months be sure to take advantage of farmers markets for low prices on produce. Buy items like peppers and onions when on sale, chop them and freeze them for quick recipes during the week. Zucchini freezes well once it is shredded. You can use it for anything from bread to mock crab cakes.
6) Make your grocery list and stick to it. Beware of those impulse buys! The only exception is when the store might be having an unadvertised sale on products that you currently use.
7) Shop after dinner. you wont be tempted to pick up fast food because you are too tired and hungry to cook dinner. If it isn't possible to shop after dinner then be sure to have a snack before you go to curb your appetite.
8) Shop alone. Nothing blows a budget quicker than when your kids are with you! You will also get out of the store much quicker which will actually save you money.
Think of creative ways you can use meat and poultry for more than one meal. Meat sauce is just as satisfying with half the amount of ground beef. Slice cheaper cuts of meats thin and use for stir fries. Leftover chicken and beef is also great on top of a salad.
10) Don't be loyal to just one store. Most grocery stores have certain items priced really low to get your business. If you have several grocery stores in your area try and take advantage of what deals each store has to offer. Of course with the high price of gas it helps to plan these trips when you are in the area, such as stopping at stores that are on your way home from work.
11) Have breakfast for dinner once in a while. French toast with fruit and milk is quick and economical and the kids will love it for dinner.
12) Think leftovers! When planning your meals think ahead of creative ways you could use the leftovers. Did you roast a whole chicken? Shred the leftovers for a quick chicken casserole the next day.
13) Invest in a freezer. To really stock up on sale items then you will find that purchasing a freezer will pay for itself in no time. Watch for sales in your local paper. We found the best deal at our local warehouse club.
These are just a few simple tips to help you stretch your budget. Even if you use just a few of these tips you will find them useful for saving money!
Coupon Tips and Policies and for Mid-michigan & Lansing Area Stores
If you use coupons, and live in the Mid-Michigan or Lansing area, this list will help you. It outlines the local area's coupon policies. You'll also find tips for using coupons at these stores and saving even more money.
Target takes manufacturer's coupons as well as their own Target coupon. You can use a manufacturer coupon and a Target coupon on the same item. Find Target coupons on their website at www.Target.com. Also look for them in home-mailers, and the newspaper.
Meijer takes manufacturer coupons and occasionally you will find a Meijer store coupon in their stores. Most Meijers double coupons up to $.50, but with a limit of two like coupons doubled. However, politely ask the cashier if you can do multiple orders so that all of your coupons will be doubled. Or you may want to use the U-scan.
Kroger also take manufacturer and Kroger coupons. The Kroger stores in Lansing double coupons up to $.50 all the time, with no limit. A few Kroger stores near Owosso and Flint double coupons to a dollar, with a limit of three like coupons doubled. Occasionally, the Lansing Kroger stores will have a special weekend where they, too, will double coupons to a dollar. One of the best things about Kroger is that you can get money off gasoline the more you spend at Kroger, and it's calculated from you pre-coupon total.
Walgreens takes manufacturer coupons and their own coupons. You can use one of each on one item. You will find their coupons in the stores and in their weekly circular. They also have a rebate system that is easy to use if you submit online.
Rite Aid takes manufacturer coupons and also has an easy online rebate system.
CVS takes manufacturer coupons and their own store coupons, and you can use one of each on the same item. They will also take competitor's store coupons. With the Extra Care Bucks promotions, you can get great deals. You must have their store card to get the deals.
Aldis does not take coupons, but is by far the cheapest place to get most of your groceries.
Walmart takes manufacturers coupons. They will also match another store's advertised sales if you bring in the ad. They will not match percent off, buy one get one free deals, or any advertisement that does not clearly state the sale price.
Dollar General takes manufacturer coupons and their own coupons that you can sometimes find in the stores.
Family Dollar takes manufacturer coupons and their own coupons. They occasionally have rebate promotions, too.
Dollar Tree does not take coupons.
L&L takes manufacturer coupons and doubles them to $.50 all the time.
How to Save on Printer Ink
Worrying about the high cost of printer ink cartridges need never be part of your to-do list again—not when you can use a printer ink coupon and save up to 80% off the cost of retail OEM ink. No kidding! Using a printer ink coupon on compatible or remanufactured ink can save you a bundle on ink, and sometimes you can even get free shipping! This adds to the savings because it means you do not even have to burn gas to drive to the store. If the cost of ink cartridges gets your goat, fight back with a Printer Ink Coupon and high quality compatible ink.
Ink prices really are through the roof. On some models of printers, in fact, the sales slogan could be "free printer with every ink cartridge." What gives? It is, after all, just ink, not plutonium or crude oil. And if the truth be told, that high-priced OEM ink is no better than compatible or remanufactured inks. The generic ink is made to the same standards, prints just as well, and has just as long a print life as the expensive stuff—and you can go online, get a printer ink coupon and pay even less!
There are those out there who would have you believe that generic ink will mess up your printer, negate the warranty, and generally create chaos and destruction. Completely untrue! In fact, when you choose remanufactured or compatible inks, you are using something every bit as safe as OEM. And with remanufactured ink, which is distributed in recycled and reprocessed ink cartridges, you get the satisfaction of knowing you are doing a little something for the environment. You could use your printer ink coupon on OEM, but now that you know the truth, why would you?
So go ahead, put aside your doubts, and use that Printer Ink Coupon to get maximum savings on quality ink! Never again should you have to pay retail for a little plastic chunk filled with ink while someone at Lexmark or Brother is saying, "Sucker!" Fight back with a printer ink coupon and quality generic ink.
E-Centives Internet Coupon Strategy
E-Centives is an Internet coupon company that specializes in offering a proprietary Internet coupon system. It capitalizes on the appeal that coupons have for consumers and the real shopper savings that are to be enjoyed by the discriminating coupon user. E-Centives Internet Coupon system directly appeals to Internet retailers to take advantage of coupons as an advertising and marketing tool to bring customers in for the first time and to keep them returning, but safely.
E-Centives Internet Coupon may represent the wave of the future in Internet coupons. Not only does this concern recognise the potential harm associated with coupon fraud, it has designed ways to combat it. Online retailers are offered coupons that once issued by E-Centives Internet Coupon system can be tracked and monitored for alteration. However this is not the most important aspect of this feature. With the coupon associated tracking ability the coupon becomes a powerful marketing tool since it allows statistics to be gathered on the coupon user. Items like how was the coupon used, which retailer was it redeemed, how much was the amount of the purchase, the type of item purchased and more demographics can be obtained through the tracking offered by E-Centives. E-Centives and companies like them assure potential clients that their distribution methods are targeted and selective and aimed at a desirable type of consumer. Bulk mailings and general online website distribution are not allowed.
Of course the ultimate objective for E-Centives Internet Coupon system is to create a base of loyal customers that represent return sales for the online retailer. The coupons are viewed as promotional offers that promote growth of the business. The coupons that are ordered by the retailed and specific to his business therefore can be designed to attract customers specifically to that area of items. For instance and high end company that offers items for babies has just added a line of car seats to its inventory. The internet coupons this retailer offers will allow a percentage off purchase of only the car seats, However, the customer will probably also browse at least a portion of the catalo while searching for this item. The tracking demographics collected will allow the merchant to see which items are popular and which items require an incentive to sell. He can then order coupons to these items. The ability to track the in store online purchases, allows the retailer to better know his clientele and to better create an inventory that reflects their tastes and requirements. The merchant can also spot trends and try to place orders soon enough to satisfy these shopping needs. Most of all, the online retailer can use E-Centives Internet Coupon system to identify and reward return customers by issuing special coupons to them, such as a percent off coupon on his regular order.
E-Centives Internet Coupon System is one of several new internet companies that take into account both the potential abuse that coupon use represents and also the enormous popularity of coupons for consumers. It melds these factors together with state of the art systems that provide security and demographics gathering. They truly represent the pulse of the Internet shopping public.
Create Habitual Customers With Coupons
Ask any small-to-medium sized business owner what his biggest marketing challenge is and he'll tell you that it's getting customers to his door for the first time. After he's done that, he'll tell you that his second biggest challenge is getting them to come back over and over again when there are other companies out there that sell the same products he does in his own marketing area. What makes the buyer repeatedly choose him over the competition?
Typically it's PRICE! Everything else being equal – ease of location, friendly and knowledgeable sales staff and quality of product – then the incentive is price. Why do people drive past one Brand Name grocery store to buy the same Campbell's soup or Kellogg's cereal at a 'no frills' outlet? Price!
You can blow your advertising budget sky-high, but if they can buy the exact same thing for less just down the road, you've spent your advertising dollars and lost.
But how do you control knocking your price down and protect your margins without becoming a discount house?
As today's economy slows down and consumers need to make their dollar go farther, coupons are once again becoming the local advertiser's best 'bang for his buck'.
Internet companies like www.SavingUmoney.ca specialize in offering an Internet coupon site to local small and medium businesses. It capitalizes on the appeal that coupons have for consumers and the real savings that are to be enjoyed by both first-time and experienced coupon users.
www.SavingUmoney.ca coupons appeal to retailers and service-related businesses to take advantage of coupons as an advertising and marketing tool to bring customers in for the first time and to keep them returning in numbers the advertiser can control.
Here's why online coupons have become a favourable choice to the printed coupon.
1. It's cheaper than the cost of printing coupons.
2. It's cheaper than distributing coupons through the post office, newspapers or through envelopes packed with many coupons.
3. And don't forget the 'green' cause. No trees being felled and no need for recycling bins.
4. When the homeowner get that famous envelope with all of the coupons in it, roughly 1% of the coupons get used…that means 99% get tossed out. When a consumer goes online and actively searches for what he wants and then prints the coupon he chooses, well, you know that he isn't printing it just to throw it out – he's going to redeem it.
Most e-coupon companies have developed ways to help the advertiser track his results. In the case of SavingUmoney, every time a consumer views a coupon, that 'view' is counted. If the coupon is printed, that 'print' is counted. What that means is, if a coupon is getting a lot of readership but very few are being printed, that tells the advertiser that his offer isn't working. Maybe he's offering a discount on exterior paint in January, or maybe the competition is offering a better price.
If the advertiser had put that offer in print, he's wasted his money. By promoting it online, he simply changes the offer and nothing's wasted!
Another advantage for the advertiser is that a professionally created coupon will draw more attention than trying to create their own. Image is everything in business and if your ad looks like it was made up by an amateur, that's how your potential customer will think of you.
Of course the ultimate objective for the business owner is to create a base of loyal customers that represent return sales. Coupons are viewed as promotional offers that promote growth of the business. The coupons that are ordered by the advertiser and specific to his business therefore can be designed to attract customers specifically to that area of items.
For example…an auto service centre might put a special on a lube, oil and filter for $15.95. He's not making any money on this item, but what he really wants is to get the customer's car up on the hoist and show the customer that the brakes or muffler needs replacing. Suddenly, that break-even coupon became a real money maker!
Or a crafts shop puts a special on skeins of wool and then profits on the sales of patterns, knitting needles and all the supplies the customer needs to complete the project.
By making several offers and testing the market, businesses can find out which coupons are being redeemed the most and which ones he's making the best margins on. Getting to know what your clients want is what will make them most successful.
Give the customers what they want at the price they're willing to pay and you could be the next Walmart.
If you have any questions about coupons or advertising in general, I'd be glad to help. If you want to exchange links to our website, email me at brucew@savingumoney.ca with your site's URL and I'll contact you.
Shop for Savings on Apparel and Clothing
When you are shopping for clothing, you might be surprised at some of the price tags attached to these items. There are several ways you can find the best deals on apparel and clothing items. There are also many different shopping venues you can use as well.
Consider these tips when you are shopping for apparel and clothing items:
1. Shop online- Many of the major clothing stores will offer lower prices to online shoppers or even special online sales events. You can save a lot of money just by staying at home. There are also several coupon websites where you can find coupons for reduced or free shipping from some stores. You can also sign up for store newsletters and receiving money saving offers as well.
2. Look at auction sites- Several of the major auction sites, such as EBay or yahoo auctions, have thousands of clothing and apparel items listed each day. Many of these auctions are for products that are new, with the tags still attached. Once again, use a online coupon website to find great coupons towards your purchase price or shipping costs.
3. Shop Seasonally- You can usually find great deals as a new season gets closer. Many of the clothing items that don't seem to go out of style can be found on seasonal clearance racks. You can often find t-shirts, shorts, flip flips, and etc that can be purchased at ridiculously low prices for the next year's use.
4. Check out the clearance racks- When you are looking for discounted apparel and clothing items, head to the back of the store. Many stores will display their clearance racks in an area that is not viewable from the front of the store. You can find clearance racks that contain many terrific items. If you can find coupons that are good for any item, even clearance items, the savings can be extensive.
5. Shop at wholesale stores- There are many wholesale shops available that buy apparel and clothing items in bulk and pass some of the savings along to their customers. Many of the outlet stores offer items with small imperfections too. While you need to examine each item carefully, the savings can be extensive.
6. Watch the advertisements- If you are looking for a special clothing item, be sure to watch the newspaper insert ads. You may find one store offering the item at a terrific price, but if you have a coupon for a specific store, you may find it cheaper to purchase it there.
7. Shop after the holidays- Consider shopping after a major holiday, such as Christmas. You can find many specialty clothing items that are offered at a tremendous discount. If you hit the stores the day after a holiday, most stores will have aisles and aisles of sales items.
Shopping for apparel and clothing does not need to be a hassle or cause you financial strain. Plan your visits to the store, know what you are looking for, think ahead, and use coupons to maximize your savings.
Save Money on Grocery Shopping -Tips for a Tight Budget
It is easy to overspend when grocery shopping. It's probably the place where we do the most impulse shopping. So we tend to buy things we don't really need and there goes the budget. If you would like to be a more frugal shopper, here are some things that will help guide you when buying groceries.
Make A List
Most People have certain things they eat regularly. So making a basic menu plan should be fairly simple. You know you have to eat dinner 7 times this week. So write down 7 dinners. Think about what you need to make those things. Make a list. Look in your pantry and fridge to see what basics you are out of. It helps to keep an ongoing list inside your cupboard of things as you run out of them. Making a list will help make sure that you get everything in one trip. Statistics show that you spend more the more trips you make to the store. When you go in for one item that you are out of, and you come out with a whole lot of other things. Plan to go grocery shopping two to three times a month. Sometimes it will be necessary to shop in between trips to the grocery store. If you have a problem with impulse buying, then maybe try getting your milk and bread at a convenience store where there is less to tempt you.
Should You Buy Already Prepared Food
It is usually better to cook from scratch when you have a large family. When I cook for my family it is generally cheaper to not use prepared foods. A big pot of stew is very inexpensive to make, but to buy cans of stew can run into money. However, if the choice is between going out to eat or prepared foods, then definitely prepared is better.
When it was just me and my husband, it was probably cheaper to buy prepared foods rather than buy all the different ingredients that we would need for a smaller batch. The food almost always went bad before we could use it, because there just wasn't enough people to eat it. You can only have spaghetti for so many nights in a row.
Buy Basic Food Products
It is healthier and more cost effective to buy more basic things when shopping for groceries. Buying a bag of rice will save you money compared to a box of flavored rice. The prepared foods usually contain preservatives that are not good for your body. If you prepare the food yourself, then you can control exactly what is in it. Oatmeal is allot less expensive than instant oatmeal and it is better for you. Processing takes allot of nutrients out of food and it is quite a bit more expensive. Although, if you are not willing to take the extra time it takes to cook these foods, then this tip will not be helpful for you.
Check Adds Before You Go
Check your adds regularly. This will help you to know what is a good deal and what is not. Some stores are better to buy certain items at than others. I have a particular store that always has eggs on sale for a good price. That's the only place I will buy eggs. Grocery stores adds start on the same day every week for the most part. Planning your menus around these specials can help you save as you shop. Generally the front page of the ad has the best deals. They’re designed to get your attention and make you want to come to that store. Just because an item is in the add does not mean it's a good deal, that is why you need to check them regularly. Buying produce in season will also help you save money. If it is something you can freeze, then do so. Out of season fruits and vegetables are expensive and not good quality.
Store Discount Cards and Coupons
Many grocery stores have cards that give you a discount on certain items, especially items that are advertised in their ads at a sale price. If you don’t have a card, you’ll be charged a higher price, which is listed in the ad in tiny print beside the item’s picture. The cards are useful to shoppers. Many stores have registers that print out coupons for future purchases of items that you have bought that day if you are using the store card. The cards are easy to get; you have to fill out a sheet with some basic information at the register or customer service desk, and then just remember to use the card when you check out.
If you get the Sunday newspapers, it often includes coupons for dollars off on groceries. Most coupons are for processed foods and new products, but you can find them for many different items. You can use a coupon while an item is on sale, so you can double your savings. It does take a little organization though. If you’re on a budget, however, you could save quite a lot of money if you buy several items on sale with coupons.
Take A Calculator
How many times have you been shocked by the price at the register and wondered what did I buy? Well taking a calculator with you to shop could help you if you’re on a budget, especially if you’re an impulse buyer or have small children who distract you while you shop. If you’re good at math, you can try to keep a running total. But if your like me, a calculator would be great. As you add an item to your basket, punch the price in the calculator. Using a calculator will help you to make wiser choices; if you see that your total is rising rapidly, you can put something back and choose a lower priced item. Using the calculator will prevent any shock at the register.
Compare Brands
Many grocery stores have their own brand name products, and these products are usually made by well-known manufacturers. Store brand products are almost always less expensive than name brand products, and if you look at the ingredients, they are probably identical. Buy one of the store brand products, taste it, and if you like it you can save money next time you need that item. You can save by buying store brands on food, over-the-counter medicines, cleaners, and other household products. It is common for stores to put all of their store brand products on sale at one time.
Larger Quantity
If a grocery store puts a nonperishable item on sale at a very low price, buy extras. Basic foods like flour, sugar, beans, rice, canned and frozen goods will last quite a while if you use them regularly. If you buy enough, then you won't have to buy it when it's not on sale.
Buy your snack items in bulk instead of putting money in a vending machine regularly. Joining a wholesale club means you must purchase a member’s card, but a few trips to the club can save you lots of money if you buy items you use frequently in quantity. The clubs offer samples of certain items frequently, so you are able to try something before you buy it. This is great, because you don't want to buy a ton of something you might not like.
On Sale
Just because it is on sale, doesn't mean it's a good deal. If it is not something you usually eat, then it may not be a great sale for you. When Kellogg's goes on sale, it still may not be as cheap as the private label brand that you usually buy. You can save by buying items on sale, but it won’t be a savings if you don’t like the product. Only buy food that you know you or your family will eat or you will have wasted your money. Be careful that you don't buy large quantities of perishable items. If half of it gets waisted before you eat it, you won't have saved any money. Always check the date on sale items. It is very common for stores to put product on sale when they are close to going out of date.
Don't Go To The Store Hungry
Make sure you have already eaten when you go to the store. Everything looks good when your hungry and your grocery bill will show it. It's easier to resist junk food when your tummy is full.
When you have a plan, you are one step closer to sticking to your budget.
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