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Coupons
Coupon Swap
Have a coupon swap party. Everyone invited
brings their coupons over and you swap for what
you use and then check your local paper for the
specials and go buy using coupons for that prod-
uct.
anya58
Match with Store Sales
Match up coupons with weekly store sales for
extra savings. When you find a good deal on a
non-perishable item, stock up! Frozen items can
be bought in multiples also and frozen for later.
refundgranny
Always Available
Carry your coupons with you at all times using a
binder and clear cover sheets (such as baseball
card holders). That way, they are always avail-
able and it is easy to see what coupons you have
to use.
jbcapers
Cell Phone Assistance
Everyone's cell phone has an “organizer” and
many have an alarm. It only takes seconds to
type in an item that comes to mind during the
day, and setting the alarm to go off before shop-
ping reminds you to check the list and get your
coupons together.
FJL
PAGE 1 - 1
Generously Rewarded
Get free coupons by calling the 800 number on
the package of items you buy frequently. Or you
can go online to the manufacturer's website.
They like to hear from consumers and will gener-
ously reward you with excellent coupons for their
products.
Discount Diva
Double the Delight
Save your big coupons, (50 cents to $1) and
when double coupons come to your store, go to
the store and stock up on everything with your
coupons. They will double the coupons up to a
dollar and you will see your grocery bill go way,
way down! It's amazing!
pnord
Coupons and Rebates
For coupon and rebate offers, write the amount
of the coupon in a circle on your list and in a
square for a rebate. Later, you'll know to collect
the UPC for a rebate before storing it.
digicamlady

Coupons cont...
More for less
If you have two coupons for the same item, use
them both and buy two smaller sizes to give you
the same amount (or sometimes more) for less.
JaniceH
Keep Coupons with Price List
Inside your coupon binder keep a price list of the
items you buy from the stores you shop. When
you are looking at the sales and coupons you
can truly see which store is going to save you the
most on your overall grocery bill.
Clarissa
Discount to the Max
Use your coupons at stores that double the
amount of the coupon, then use the coupon
when the item is buy one get one.
Terri
Her Coupon Game
I receive the big grocery chain's coupon book.
The coupons in the book can be used with man-
ufacturers coupons. My best total was $87
before coupons and $27 after. It’s become a
game for me.
mommysalami
PAGE 1 - 2
Don’t Forget the Markdown Bin
Organize your coupons in the order that you
shop the store, remember to check the mark-
down bin with your coupons in hand as well.
bigoak
Forgot to Use Your Coupon?
After shopping you realize you have a coupon for
the items you have just purchased, take the
coupons and the receipt back to the store. Most
stores will gladly give you the money for the
coupons.
Clippy Girl
Better Value Check
When using a coupon -- check to see if the
smaller size product will be a better value for
your money.
Diana T

Coupons cont...
Talk Coupons
Ask friends to give you theirs if they don't use
them, and if they do use some, ask them to give
you the remainder. This gives me multiples of
coupons for free items!
blondie29697
The Circle of Coupon
Once done clipping coupons, I put remaining
ones in an envelope and pass it to my neighbor
on my left. She does the same and so does a
third neighbor whose coupons come to me. We
each do it again, so we all can take coupons the
other two have discarded.
AngieS
Coupons and Closeouts
Browse around the store for closeout items,
many will have coupons in your coupon folder.
The closeout price is usually half off, sometimes
more, and with a coupon that may be doubled
depending on your store, you can get many
items almost free.
Patty B
PAGE 1 - 3
Recycled Coupons
If an item is on sale and there's a coupon out
making it pennies/free: find a paper recycling bin
on Monday and grab all the inserts you can from
unsold Sunday papers. No need to buy extra
papers or only get a few deals using the neigh-
bor's coupons.
rumrunnergirl
3-Ring Savings
Keep your coupons organized in a 3-ring binder
so that they are easy to find. Go through the
weekly sales ads in your area and match them
up with the coupons you have. Stock-up on
those products and save big!
Shana
Red Letter Highlight
When making out your shopping list and check-
ing the sales with your coupons on the list, write
a C in a different color (I suggest red) next to the
items on the list you have a coupon for so that
you don't forget to use your coupons.
krissy
Prescription Payoff
Fill your prescriptions at stores that offer
coupons toward a future purchase. I then use
that coupon (often $10-$25) to get free merchan-
dise that is on sale. I just got 12 lbs. of chicken
tenders for $3 by using the coupon and the store
buy 1get 1 free deal.
Jill
 PAGE 1 - 4

Coupons cont...

Share Coupons! Handy Bag for Coupons

My mother rarely uses her coupons and always
cuts them out for me. It's great to have extras
when the store has a special and you get items
for free. I always feel so good when the checker
looks at my receipt and is amazed at the sav-
ings!
Mayme
I have found that a small makeup bag with a zip-
per works great to keep my coupons in. I always
have it with me because its always in my purse
and no more torn or ripped coupons.
amac

When a Bargain Isn’t a Bargain

This is simple, but true. A great bargain isn't a

All in a Envelope
bargain if you didn't need it or could do without it.
GLynette
Write your shopping list on the back of a recyled
envelope. Print coupons off the Internet and put
them in the envelope. I save at least $15 to $20
a month using this method.
Know the Expiration Date
Margaret
In-store coupons often don't expire for 2 or 3
weeks but disappear long before that. If it's a
deal I'd like to do several times (like free milk
Armed with an Organized Coupon Book with cereal purchase), I take extra coupons and
save them to use over the next few weeks.
With an organized coupon book, look through BetteB
the grocery ads.You can shuffle through the
pages and circle the items in which you have
coupons. Many times the items can be pur-
chased for pennies or even free.
Dawn

The Power of Positive Feedback

I write to the website listed on the items I buy and

tell them how much I enjoy their product and
they send me coupons for the entire value of the
item or a dollar off or something close to that.
Cindy

Menu Planning
Plan Menu with Grocery Flyers in Hand
I always plan my weekly menu around the week-
ly grocery flyers. I am fortunate that three major
grocery store chains are within blocks of my
house and I will shop at all and stock up where
the best prices are.
Susan A.
Enjoy Meatless Meals
I always incorporate two meatless meals into
my meal plan each week. This saves a signifi-
cant amount of money since meat is fairly
expensive. Bean dishes or even homemade
pizza are great fillers instead of a meatloaf or
baked chicken breasts.
Jodi
Cheap Ingredients, Cheap Meals
I try to make menus with a lot of cheap foods,
like rice, wheat, eggs, lentils, beans, and any-
thing that costs less than $1 a pound. If the
ingredients are cheap, the meal is cheap. Since
I don't eat meat as a mainstay of my diet, this is
easy.
mmgarren
Plan Well In Advance
I make a food menu for 2 - 4 weeks’ worth of
meals. After the menu is complete, then I break
the meals down into ingredients, check my
pantry for what I may already have and com-
pile my grocery list from there.
vje
PAGE 2 - 1
Try Something New
Choose an new recipe every week for one month
and buy all necessary ingredients. Before you
know it, you have a well stocked pantry and a
new repertoire of recipes!
Chattymom
Just One Hour Per Week
Take an hour a week and plan your menu for the
week. I try to plan my menu according what is
on sale that week in my local grocery store.
Investing just one hour a week to plan
ahead will save you the hassle of wonder-
ing what to make for dinner.
Shannon
Recipes by Category
Besides using my cookbooks, I copy
recipes from all kinds of website sources
and put them on discs according to cate-
gories, such as salads, fish, poultry,
Asian, etc. I plan and rotate menus
around foods that are on sale.
Ralston
Same Ingredients But Different Meal
Plan weekly meals that use a lot of the
same ingredients. That way you can pur-
chase those items in bulk and only need
a few other items.
Jenee
 PAGE 3 - 1

Leftover Lowdown

Save Those Crusts Baked Good Renewal

Save your bread crusts in a bag in the freezer;
then use them as needed to make stratas, toast
points for welsh rabit, croutons or bread cubes
for poultry stuffing, and breadcrumbs.
Gail
Before getting rid of baked goods that seem
stale, try microwaving them for 20 seconds.
Often, they'll soften and be just fine to eat.
Cyn

Make Soup

Freeze leftovers in a tub or baggie. When you Cheap and Easy Veggie Soup
have frozen a week’s worth of leftovers, throw it
all in a crockpot and make soup! Add salad and Instead of throwing away leftover veggies (corn,
bread for a complete meal! green beans, carrots, etc.), toss them all into a
kitkat large container that you leave in your freezer.
When the container is full, add tomato juice and
simmer on the stove for a cheap and easy veg-
Have a Smorgasborg etable soup!
Andrea
That strange single serving that is leftover after
the meal. Combine it in a resealable bag and put
it in the freezer. Then when you don't have ener-
gy or time to cook pull out those single servings
and it’s a smorgasborg for dinner.
PWilliams

Leftover Lowdown cont...
Who Needs Fast Food?
Keep departmentilized freezer meal contain-
ers on hand. After each meal, divide leftover
and make yourself meals to freeze. Save tons
of money on fast food lunches! And the con-
tainers are reusable!
Debi
Leftovers at a Glance
Throwing away food that has gone bad is like
throwing money away. I made a list of the main
ingredients of our favorite recipes and color
coded them. Now at a glance I can see how to
use the leftover ingredients in my fridge.
Michelle
PAGE 3 - 2
Healthy Snacking
When I get down to the last little bit of cereals,
small crackers and raisins, I mix it all together
for a simple, easy "trail mix" for my kids. They
love it and are snacking healthy.
tds
Creative Leftovers
Use up the food that you buy. We have a Tour
de la Frigo (French??) night whenever the
fridge is full of leftover containers. Use the
good China.
MomofThree
 PAGE 4 - 1

Making a List

Shop Your Pantry

Before you run out to the grocery store, shop

your own pantry first! With a little
creativity, most can eat for at
least a week with food from their
own kitchens. If you need inspira-
tion, go to Allrecipes and use their
ingredient search.
SuzieHomemaker

Sort by Aisle

I made an Excel list of all the things I normally

buy and their aisle location. Before shopping I
mark what I need and sort by aisle. The printed
list tells me where to go, allowing me to skip sev-
eral aisles and a lot of impulse purchases.
lilosmom

Stick to a List!

6 Lunches and 6 Dinners
When I make my shopping list, I write down what
I need to make 6 lunches and 6 dinners (ingredi-
ents). I then "shop" through my cabinents and
cross off what I already have leaving me only
with what needs to be purchased.
Joy
Make a list and stick to it. Don't be swayed by in-
store ads or specials if it is not on your list,
unless it is something you definitely will use.
Leave your children at home (with a responsible
adult)!
Ruth

List at a Glance
I compiled a list of items that we buy on a regu-
lar basis.Instead of "writing" a list each month, I
print it off on our home computer and post it on
the fridge. I highlight what I need. Saves time
since I can see at a glance what I need to buy.
Anna
Running List
I keep a running list of what is in my pantry,
fridge, and freezer; marking things off as I use
them, so I know when to buy more. This way
when I see an item for a good sale price, I can
check my list and; if I'm getting low, I can stock
up and save.
Moffdj
 PAGE 4 - 2

Making a List cont...

No More Last Minute Dash Grocery List Goes High Tech

Make a grocery list and stick to it. I make my list
as I plan the meals for the week. It saves time
and money, by not dashing to the store at the
last minute because you need a white onion for
the chili.
Cattwmn
I keep a perpetual grocery list on my computer at
work in Excel. What I need at the store is kept on
one Excel tab in store order. The second tab has
my price list. I take the list with me and buy only
what is on the list, controlling what I spend.
Betty

Matching Coupons to List

Necessary Aisles Only Please
I keep a grocery list which is organized by cate-
gory (breakfast, canned goods, snacks, etc) with
Make a master list using aisle name as a column
space under to write what is needed. I keep my
heading and the products beneath it. Check off
coupon book with the same categories and
what you need. Shop directly in necessary aisles
order. This really helps match the coupons to the
and zoom in on items checked. No impulse buy-
listed items.
ing! Frugal use of time and saved money!
Judy
Theresia
Running Grocery List

I keep a running grocery list on the fridge door.

Empty Stomach
Never make out your shopping list or do your
shopping on an empty stomach. You always end
up with stuff you don't really need because it
looks good.
Russell
As I notice the supply of something getting low, I
write it on the list, so that I can watch for a sale
price, a coupon, or both, before I run out of the
item.
lmlh

Go Online!

Before you go shopping, go online!

Look at your stores' online ad
and create a weekly menu plan
based on what is on sale. This
allows you to make a more
focused grocery list so that you
buy only what you need.
Angie

Grocery Store Alternatives
Shop Ethnic Grocery Stores
You can get produce, condiments, and staples
at ethnic grocery stores, sometimes up to four
times cheaper. The savings add up, even if you
don't use ethnic recipes.
saebel
Buy Beef from Local Farmers
Buy a half of beef at a time and freeze it.
Premium cut steaks, lean hamburger, etc. are all
less than $2/lb. We usually buy from local farm-
ers with a cost of $1.50/lb cut and wrapped. A
$500-$600 investment saves double that
amount per year.
Leona
Angel Food Ministries
Order a box from Angel Food Minisries. Add
fruits/veggies from a no frills grocery like Aldi.
Stretching the Food Budget
Dollar Store Cleaning Products
Purchase all your cleaning products at your local
dollar store. The savings add up quickly. Keeps
more of your grocery dollar for actual food.
Granny S
Dollar Store First
Do your grocery shopping first at the dollar store,
where you may find items on your list cheapest,
before going to the grocery store proper.
Tamara
PAGE 5 - 1
Pinching Pennies at Big Lots
Great savings can be found on non-perishable
foods at Big Lots and Dollar Store. It's a great
way to pinch pennies!
bargainbetty
Join a Food Co-Op
I save more than 50 percent getting groceries
through the Food Share program.
Lisa
Shop Salvage
I shop at salvage grocery stores and then plan
our meals around the foods I bought there plus
what I have in my pantry. Salvage groceries vary
from week to week so you never know what
you'll find, but it will be cheap!
frugalmae
Don’t Just Stick to Grocery Store
Don't just stick to the grocery store for food
items! I've found on occasion that stores like
Target sometimes beat the supermarket when it
comes to prices of items that are both on and not
on sale.
mkwriter
Bread Outlet Stores
Buy bread at the outlet stores. I am able to buy
name brand healthy bread, bagels, muffins, etc.
for a third of the price it sells for in the grocery
stores.
Becky

Eating Healthy
Homemade Dry Mixes
Make your dry mixes. Buy yeast, flour in bulk;
measure items for several batches. I make
mixes for bread, pizza dough, muffins and cook-
ies. Saves money and trips to the store.
Nancy P.
Back to the Basics
I've made it my goal for this year to focus my gro-
cery shopping on the basics: milk, eggs, whole-
grain bread, and in-season produce, and then
buy the least processed and healthiest foods I
can to round things out.
Anniesgram
Homemade Bread Savings
For the bread bakers out there, shop your local
warehouse store for your supplies. I recently
spent just under $3.50 for two pounds of yeast.
That's versus over $4 for a 4-oz. jar at my local
supercenter market!
Chronister
PAGE 6 - 1
Buy in Bulk
Buy foods in bulk at your natural foods store in
the bulk bins section. Oatmeal, beans, seeds,
nuts, and grains such as rice and flour are much
cheaper that way and you help save the planet
by using less packaging.
Serenity
Healthful Plant Foods
Eat more beans, tofu, and meat and dairy substi-
tutes such as soy milk or rice or almond milk, soy
yogurt, soy or rice cheese. Not only is it better for
your health as plant foods contain no choles-
terol, but lots of fiber and nutrients.
Serenity
Visit Farmer’s Market Near You
Buy fresh produce at your local farmer's market.
Earthsinger

Eating Healthy cont...
Avoid Conveniece Foods
Avoid convenience foods when possible. Not
only are they more expensive, but they are often
high in sodium, fat and sugar. You are paying for
that convenience. For example, instead of buy-
ing preseasoned rice, buy regular rice and add
your own seasonings.
j6256
Put Up Food All Year Long
Canning, freezing and drying are not a summer
only activity. Loss leaders can provide a great
source of produce for putting up any time of the
year.
Karen
PAGE 6 - 2
Pick a Baking Day
Pick a day each week and designate it as your
baking day. On baking day, spend a couple
hours making snacks (gummies, granola, popsi-
cles, etc.), hotdog/hamburger buns, and bread.
Then you can avoid the snack stuff and the
bread aisle at the store.
Angie
Stick to the Outer Edges
I buy real food found on the outer edge of the
grocery store. This is produce, meat, dairy,
bread, dried beans, grains, nuts, and other
unprocessed foods. They are much cheaper
than processed foods, and I use them to make
healthy meals for my family.
caffeine
Make Your Money Grow...
When summer is here, try growing your own
fresh vegetables and herbs. I always have an
abundance to share. It is amazing how many
vegetables you can get from an investment in
just a few plants. A little money "grows" a long
way!
Rhea

Eating Healthy cont...
Cook From Scratch
Flour with a little baking soda and baking powder
is cheaper and healthier than Bisquick.
Tomatoes, garlic, and spices are cheaper and
healthier than Prego.
Amanda
Learn to Cook
Learn to cook from scratch. Buy flour, sugar,
baking supplies while on sale and freeze them
for freshness. Plan a menu for even desserts
and stick to it. Use these baked goods instead of
expensive packaged foods for snacks.
frugalwoman
PAGE 6 - 3
Get Pre-1960s Cookbook
Be sure to get a couple of old cookbooks (pre-
1960). These cookbooks will have a lot of
"scratch" recipes in them and will help you elim-
inate processed foods, which are much more
expensive than the basic ingredients.
Cindy in NY
Cooperative Cooking
Get together with three or more of your neigh-
bors to form a “cooking cooperative.” One neigh-
bor cooks in “bulk” for the others one night a
week. This means you can bulk shop for gro-
ceries, save more, get free nights and eat nice
food not cooked by you!
Suzuki
Control the Salt
Instead of buying "packets" of taco mix, gravy ,
etc. Look online for a simple recipe. This is usu-
ally healthier (you control the salt) and much
cheaper. Buy the staples in bulk to make these
mixes.
Tami

Pricebook: Shopping like a pro
No Time? That’s Okay.
I never had time to make a price book. I keep a
list of prices of the common items I buy at the
Super Wal-Mart (the usually cheapest place near
me), and if another store beats that price, I know
it's a deal.
Kathleen
Know a Good Price When You See One
Make and carry a price book. Track the best
prices on products you purchase regularly. This
can be done in on paper or in a spreadsheet.
This way you'll know a good price when you see
it. Stock up when the price is at its lowest.
Val in Chesapeake
Don’t Forget Sale Cycles
Make a price book of items you typically buy.
Then track the store, regular price, quantity and
unit price of each item. Also
note date and price of any
sales. This tells
you the best price
and how often
you’ll need to
stock up.
Smurfyjane
PAGE 7 - 1
One Page Per Store Please
Make and use a Price Book. Make a page for
each grocery store you shop. Write the most fre-
quently purchased items and the lowest price
you've paid. That way you'll know when the item
goes on sale for the lowest cost. It's time to stock
up.
heavenbound
Is It Really a Bargain?
Keep track of the best prices of foods you buy
regularly in a notebook, so you know when a
"sale" is really a bargain or not. Stores have dif-
ferent "sale" prices on the same food every
week. Stock up when the price is lowest!
Frosty
Make a Spreadsheet
Use a spreadsheet with stores as columns and
rows for prices per store. Fill in prices based on
store fliers. The bottom row has sums
showing which store is cheapest.
I get low prices on the day that
last week's coupons expire and
next week's begin!
newyorktransplant
 PAGE 8 - 1

Shopping Strategies

Don’t Be Tempted by “Come-ons” Know Store Sale Rotations

Always shop the grocery store starting at the far
aisle and ending up on the first isle. This way,
you will buy first what you need and won't be
tempted by those early "come-ons."
TUCKY
Grocery stores rotate their sales. Stock up on
enough sale priced non-perishable items to last
until the next sale. My store rotates every eight
weeks. Combine the sales with coupons for an
even better deal!
Rach

Look High, Look Low

When in the grocery aisles, look high and look
low. The most profitable (most expensive) items
are at eye level. The budget brands and econo-
my sizes are on the top and bottom shelves.
Val in Chesapeake
Compare Cost Per Ounce
Where’s the Damaged Goods?
Find out what your grocer does with damaged or
"must sell now" items! My grocer offers bargains
culled from the previous night's shift: produce,
dented cans, boxes with ripped cardboard but
ingredients still unscathed--all at bargain prices.
Martha

A calculator will help you compare the cost per Wait a Week
ounce on all sizes of the same product. Often the
largest box isn't the cheapest. Stores You can wait a week for anything! Shop
may list the cost per ounce on small like your grandparents did by visiting the
tags; often they make these tags con- grocery once a week with a
fusing so you cannot compare prices! list and a cash budget. If
Susan B you run out of an item,
make do until shop-
ping day.
It’s How Much? Lucynda

Use the price accuracy

guarantees offered by
many stores. If an item
rings up higher than the shelf
price these
stores give
you the
item
for
free.
Lori
 PAGE 8 - 2

Shopping Strategies cont...

Keeping Your Eye on the Map More Sale Strategy

Our grocery offers a map of the store. I keep this
on the refrigerator, right by the grocery list.
When an item is put on the list, I make sure to
put the aisle number next to it. When I go to the
store, I only go down those aisles I need to.
Jen B.
Stores usually run better sales in the middle of
the month due to many people getting their
checks on the first to the third of the month. The
brand name items usually have a better sale in
mid month and saving the coupons and using
them then saves a bunch.
Donna

Buy Loss Leaders in Bulk

Buy the loss leaders in bulk for each area store.
Kroger often has shredded cheese for $1 a bag.
Buy 10-20 bags at a time to last until the next
sale. Use your freezer.You might have some ini-
tial expense, but will experience savings in the
long run.
Heidi
You Don’t Have to Buy Two
Track Prices on Calender
Items hit their lowest price every eight weeks to
three months.Track on calender or spreadsheet.
Order multiple coupons from the coupon clippers
and stock up. No storage? There's always under
the bed!
Maxine

Buy one, get one free deals imply that you

have to purchase two or more items to get the
discount. But, you can purchase only one and
it should ring up 1/2 off. This will keep
you from overbuying when you
really only want/need one item.
naomi

“Big” Shopping

During the last week of the month,

grocery stores have their best buys. Why?
Because most people
run out of money.
Wait to do your
"big" shop-
ping.
Pat
 PAGE 8 - 3

Shopping Strategies cont...

Is It “On” or Just “For” Sale? Watch at Ring Up

Understand how to read a "sales flyer." The first
rule is, if there isn't a "regular price" listed, the
price you are looking at is the regular price; it's
not on sale. It's just for sale. Exclusions are per-
centage off and BOGOs.
Val in Chesapeake
Always check items as they're scanned for
price/quantity. Many don't ring at the sale price or
are scanned twice. Watch the cashier scan
coupons, some get skipped or not doubled.
Know the store policy on BOGO, some stores let
you buy one at half off.
ksodek

The Early Bird Shopper

Shop early in the morning. My grocery marks
down meat at least 25% off and sometimes
more. Most of the time, the sell by date is today
or tomorrow's date. You need to use it the day
you buy it or freeze it.
nana04
You Don’t Have to Buy Two
Don't fall for the "sale" tag that advertises 2/$3,
thinking you have to buy the two to get the price!
You don't most of the time. You can buy the one
for $1.50.
CatPeople

Shop Off Peak Hours The Beauty of Clearance and Coupons

Shop grocery stores open 24 hours at off peak Always search the clearance items in the gro-
hours, such as before 8am and after 8pm. cery store. If it is on clearance and
Not only are the lines shorter, but often you use a coupon, the item could be
times, you can find great mark downs in close to free or entirely
the deli case, produce, meat, and free.Toothpaste was
dairy aisle. on sale for $1 and I
Dawn had $1 coupon.
Sher87

Shop Alone

Don't shop with your hus-

band or kids. They will be
drawn into all the foods that are being
marketed at them,
and your grocery
bill will sky-
rocket!
Suzy
 PAGE 8 - 4

Shopping Strategies cont...

Control the Impulse Day Old Bakery

Avoid the impulse buys that are near the cash
register. The closer an item is to the checkout,
the higher the profit the store receives.
Joyce
Check to see if your store has a day old bakery
markdown rack. We buy breads and rolls, break-
fast items and sometimes dessert items for 30-
50% off.
JaniceH

The Soda Aisle

In the same soda aisle as the name brands are
the generic brands sold by most grocery stores.
They’re galf the cost with practically the same
taste.
Tamara
Eat First, Then Shop
Never ever go to the grocery store hungry.
Always eat a good meal before going and you
will not "accidently" buy junk food or impulsive
buys.
Shawna

Don’t Leave Home Without a Calculator

Take Advantage of the Little “Extras”
Never shop without a calculator. You can easily
compare unit prices to be certain you're getting Always be on the lookout for any “extras.” Check
the best deal. Coupons can generally be used on the cans or jars toward the back of the
smaller sizes and might give you the best deal shelf. Sometimes you can see
per ounce or pound or whatever unit you're products that offer 20% more
comparing. free or have an
Andrea instant coupon
or rebate form
attatched.
Compare the “Cost Per” midgett1

Compare the "cost per" for each

item. When buying tissues, com-
pare the "cost per 100" to find
the best deal. When buying
cheese, check the "cost per oz." to see
if what's on sale is
really the best deal.
heavenbound
Gr
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Get Friendly with Your Freezer
Buy Beef Seasonally and Freeze
I buy steaks in the winter and roasts in the sum-
mer and freeze to use in opposite seasons. I cut
the roasts into steaks to use in summer and save
some for potroast and for stew. In the winter,
steak is cheaper than roasts and I use it to make
my own stew meat.
Norma Jean
Chicken Broth from the Freezer
Roast chicken and eat it. Cover carcass in water
with celery, carrot, onion and some seasoning
and boil. Strain out broth. Cool and skim fat.
Freeze in two-cup portions in freezer bag. Thaw
as needed for chicken broth in recipes.
Dawn
Break Down Family Packages
Buy packaged meats in the larger family sizes at
much reduced prices. Then use plastic freezer
bags when you get home to divide up the meat
and freeze. Find out on what day and time the
store reduces the meats and shop during that
time.
Arla
Milk Freezes Great!
Milk freezes great! Stock up when it's on sale,
pour some off into another container (I use a
two-quart jug) and freeze what's left. This has
saved us a lot of money.
frugal logic
PAGE 10 - 1
From Soup to Nuts...
Use that freezer! You can freeze almost any-
thing. On sale or marked down meat, cheese
and after-holiday treats all freeze well. Use that
freezer and save!
Brenda M.
Banana Bread Ready
When over-ripe bananas are available cheap at
the store, buy in quantity. Peel them and place in
ziplock baggies, then freeze for later use in
bread, muffins, smoothies, etc. I put three in
each bag, because that is what my bread recipe
calls for.
Bamagrama
Stock Up on Marked Down Meat
Find out when meat is usually marked down.
Then shop early. I find meat marked $1 to $1.50
per pound. Steaks to ground meat are all marked
down before they expire. I buy all I want and take
it home and re-package for freezing. This saves
a bundle.
luvsabargain
Busy Weeknight Time Saver
Buy the larger packs of ground beef when on
sale, then when you get home cook it all and
freeze in two-cup packages. This saves space in
the freezer and time on a busy weeknight!
Anah

Freezer cont...
Fresher Baked Goods
For a small family, when you buy buy a loaf of
bread or bagels or a cake, put a serving or two
in a small sandwich bag and freeze it for later
use. That way, you can enjoy the freshness of all
the product and not waste money by it going
stale or moldy.
Kathi
When In Season
Stock up on items when they are in season and
on sale. Freeze or can perishable items for later
use.
Daja
Cook and Freeze
When you find a great deal on meat, cook it up
and freeze it already cooked. Fry ground beef
with onions and garlic and it's ready for spaghet-
ti, tacos, sloppy joes, etc. This works for chicken
and other meats as well!
ginarenae
Cooking Once a Month
I cook a month's worth of dinners in one day and
freeze all the meals. It saves money because I
am able to purchase in bulk and make many dif-
ferent meals. For more information, look for once
a month cooking books at a bookstore.
Jerilyn
PAGE 10 - 2
Monthly Meals
Learn how to do once a month cooking. Get free
books at the library to learn how to do it efficient-
ly. We saved over 75% of our annual grocery bill
by cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner one
month at a time, and it's fun!
OAM Cooker
Instead of Freezer Bags...
Don't buy freezer bags. Instead, save and use
the inside wrappers from your cereal boxes.
They are heavy duty, sturdy and work great for
freezing items!
Debi
“Eat Down” Your Freezer
When money is really tight, "eat down" the freez-
er or from your food supply. It's amazing what
you find in the freezer that you forgot you had!
It's fun to come up with some very interesting
meals.
ladyclare
Soups On!
Make single size servings of soup and freeze in
resealable bags. This is one of the best money
savers I know when I run out of something or am
just too lazy to make dinner.
Suzuki
 PAGE 11 - 1

The Produce Section

Buy Bigger Homemade Veggie Stock

When your grocery store offers produce such as
bell peppers or cauliflower at a price per each
rather than per pound, buy the biggest pepper or
head of cauliflower you can find!
Diana
When cleaning produce, save the leaves, stems
and other parts of the veggies that you would
normally throw away. Make vegetable stock with
those parts, plus an onion and some garlic. Tasty
for homemade soups!
Jan in Kansas

Fresher Longer
Find the Heaviest
I find that putting vegetables in a green plastic
bag keeps them fresher longer When buying bagged produce, such as apples,
J onions or potatoes, always weigh several bags
to find the heaviest. The contents of each bag
can vary by several ounces.
Julie
Veggie Ready

I buy multi-colored bell peppers on sale. Then, I

wash, cut them into strips, and freeze. I buy sale
onions, freeze the whole bag, and thaw an hour
before chopping (no tears). I add onions to the
pretty bags of peppers and am ready for fajitas,
stir-fries, etc.
Debbie

Fresh vs. Frozen

Frozen vegetables are often on sale for $1/lb or

Banana Strategy less. When fresh cost more than $1/lb, buy
frozen because they are just as healthy.
To keep bananas from getting overripe, put them Pam
in the fridge in a plastic bag. They won't turn
dark, and will keep for a week.
Cmele
 PAGE 12 - 1

Dairy Deals

What They Don’t Know... Where You Buy Counts

When my gallon of milk gets about half full, I add
about two cups of water and shake it to mix. My
family can't tell the difference. I also do this with
dish soap and shampoos, only use less water
and fill to about 3/4 full.
Angelmom
When buying milk look for it at your local phar-
macy (CVS) or gas station. I buy about five gal-
lons a week and save close to $1 per gallon
compared to the grocery store.
Beth

Cracked Egg Savings

All the Vitamins, Half the Fat and Cheap! If you find a cracked egg in a carton, ask the
dairy peson to repackage the eggs for
Turn one gallon of whole milk into two gallons of you. They have different cartons they
2%. Pour whole milk into two containers, add use for that and the eggs
correct amount of water to powdered milk for one are at a greatly
gallon. Add to the whole milks, shake well and reduced price. I got
chill. All the vitamins, half the fat and each gallon $1.09 jumbo egss for
is less than $2. 89 cents.
Hoofhearted Martha

Shred Your Own Cheese

I purchase chunk cheese when it is a good price

and shred it at home. I use a large bowl for it and
add some cornstartch to it. Mix well and freeze.
The cornstartch prevents it from freezing togeth-
er. You can simply take out how much you need.
Dixie
 PAGE 12 - 2

Dairy Deals cont...

Cream Cheese By the Brick Stretched Milk

My family eats a lot of bagels with cream cheese.
Instead of buying the little plastic tubs of cream
cheese, I buy it in 8-ounce bricks and put it in my
own reusable plastic container at home. Saves
money and it's environmentally nice!
genesisgirl
Stretch your milk budget by buying whole milk
instead and adding half again water. Be sure to
refrigerate overnight to prevent a watery taste.
SoDak

Cook with Powdered Milk

Use powdered milk in place of real milk in your

Cheese Ends cooking recipes.
Voni
Ask your grocer at the deli counter if he has
"cheese ends," which are the leftover ends that
they normally couldn't sell. They're usually at
least 25% less. Enjoy! Evaporated Milk Substitute
Cindy in NY
Powdered milk is less expensive than bottled or
evaporated milk. To make a substitute for evap-
orated milk, just 1/2 the amount of water.
Elise

The Meat Counter
Visit Discount Meat Section
Go to the discount meat section and choose
meat from there, go to discounted shelve items
and get items there. A lot of times, items on my
list are in those two areas and along with
coupons with those already discounted items, it
is a great way to save!
misskittym
Make a Beeline for Savings
Every time I shop, I make a beeline for the cor-
ner of the meat freezer. There I have found
meats that had reached their "sell by" date and
been frozen, marked down up to 50%. I have
gotten ground pork for .39/lb. and roasts for
.89/lb.
PJ
First in Line
Find out when your meat counter does its mark-
downs, so you can be first in line.
Serena
PAGE 13 - 1
Make the Cut
If a recipe calls for 1 pound of chicken or ground
beef, I use 3/4 pound. In our area, we pay close
to $6 per pound for most meats. I save approxi-
mately $6 a week/$300 a year without sacrificing
any taste.
Kimberley
Chicken Quarter Know-How
Buy a 10-poiund bag of chicken leg quarters
when priced $3. Cut the leg from thigh fry/bake
legs, boil the thighs pull the meat off bones to
make chicken noodle casserole and chicken
enchiladas. With stock, make chicken noodle
soup.
Mom of lots
Ground Pork Instead of Ground Beef
Use ground pork instead of ground beef. It tastes
just as good, has less fat and saves up to 50
cents per pound. (It is not mushy like ground
turkey!)
Wendie

The Meat Counter cont...
Substitutions Welcome
Substitute ground turkey or chicken for recipes
that call for ground beef. Season with chili pow-
der to create a more "beef-like" flavor. I have
been able to purchase the one-pound rolls of
turkey for 79 cents each.
CharityAngel
Supper Made Quick and Easy
I buy meat that has been marked down for quick
sale. I then cook it when I get home and freeze
it in meal-size portions. It not only saves money,
but also it makes supper quick and easy when I
rush in from work.
Mandy
D-I-Y Stew Meat
When stew meat prices are sky-high (in cold
weather), I buy roasts on special and cut the
meat myself.
lmlh
PAGE 13 - 2
You Can Still Eat Steak
You can save money and still eat some nice
steaks. When Porterhouse steak is on sale,
stock up. The Porterhouse looks like a T Bone
,and if you cut the bone away, the longer side is
a New York or Kansas City Strip and the smaller
side is a slice of Filet Mignon.
Roanwolf
Hamburger Patties
Purchase large packages of ground beef. Patty
into hamburgers and then place into a plastic
sandwich bag. Put them all into a larger bag,
date it and freeze. Cook only the amount need-
ed. They defrost faster, and there is no waste.
MGP Mom
Turkey Is Cheapest in Fall
Buy cheap turkeys in the fall. Roast for supper,
freeze the leftover meat for soups and
casseroles, and cook off the bones for broth. We
easily get at least six meals out of one turkey!
Jan in Kansas

The Meat Counter cont...
Two Meals, One Chicken
Cook a whole chicken and make two meals from
it. The first night I cook the chicken in my crock-
pot with salt, pepper, and onions. After this meal,
I pull all the chicken off the bone, strain the broth
and make chicken corn soup for another
evening.
Kristin
When Purchasing Whole Chickens...
When purchasing a whole chicken, buy the
largest one you can find. You get more meat
because the bone structure is essentially the
same as a smaller bird.
Glo
Monday Morning Shoppers
I buy meat at our local warehouse club on
Mondays. The meat that is left over from the
weekend shoppers is usually marked down.
Therefore, I can get good deals. It's perfectly
good meat for less money.
momof3
PAGE 13 - 3
Chicken Leg Quarters in Bulk
Buy 10 lb. bags of chicken leg quarters and cook
them in a stock pot. Pick the chicken off the
bones and freeze for casseroles, soups, and
tacos. For less than $5, you get about a gallon of
chicken stock, too.
Tightwad Tips
Grind Your Own Beef
Buy tip roast, chuck roast, etc. when it's on sale
and make your own ground beef to suit your
taste using your food processor. Read your man-
ufacturer's booklet for instructions.
Willow
When Do They Clean the Butcher Counter?
My grocery has a butcher counter. Between 7
pm and 8 pm, they clean the case for the night.
I have gotten 93% lean ground beef for 99 cents
per pound by shopping late. I buy it in bulk and
freeze it to use in spaghetti and meatsauce or
casseroles later.
Pam

The Meat Counter cont...
Portion Control and Cheaper, Too!
Use a food scale to weigh two or four ounces of
ground beef, and then shape with a round cook-
ie cutter, separate with wax paper, and freeze for
future use. This is much more economical than
buying pre-made patties, and you have portion
control.
Hoofhearted
Tender, Cheap Cut of Meat
Buy rump roast when it's buy one get one free.
Place both in pans, add one can of gingerale
each, and cover with foil. Bake it at 190 degrees
for eight hours. The tough piece of meat comes
out tender. I then use one and freeze one.
mommy1
Let Your Butcher Save You Money
Your butcher can help you save money. At no
extra charge, they will cut meats to your liking.
They’ll grind roast into hamburger and make
bone-in chicken into boneless skinless chicken.
Just go during nonbusy times.
Keri
PAGE 13 - 4
Tenderize the Tougher Cuts
To tenderize the tougher cuts of meats without
having to cook it for hours, add 1/4 cup of vine-
gar for every three pounds of meat, soak for at
least half of a day, rinse it and add whatever sea-
soning you like.
Mico
48 Hours to Save
Look for those 48 hour deals and buy in bulk! I
got 75 lbs. of bonless/skinless chicken breast at
98 cents per lb.! They even packaged it in 5-lb
packs for me.
money2save
Don’t Buy Deli Meat
Deli meat is on the average approximently $4 to
$8 per pound. Instead of buying deli meat, roast
your own ham, roast beef, and turkey for sand-
wiches rather than purchasing deli meat.
Diane
 PAGE 14 - 1

Spice It Up!

Add a Little Spice to Your Life! Visit Local Ethnic Grocery Stores

If you want to add spice to your life, just buy in We purchase spices at the Indian store where
bulk and store in airtight containers. You can also they sell them for much less than at the grocery
make ginger-garlic paste, onion-tomato paste, store, and they have a huge variety.
etc. These taste great in pasta! And they cost Becky
next to nothing when compared to those grocery
store “spice mixes”!
Suzuki

Buying Spices in Bulk

Shop Ethnic Food Aisle I buy the spices that I often use in bulk at Costco.
I pay what I would pay at the grocery store, but I
Spices sold on the "ethnic foods" aisle of the gro- get about ten times the amount.
cery store are almost always cheaper and fresh- Elizabeth
er than those tiny bottles and cans sold on the
regular spice aisle.
lmlh

Support Local Farmers

Buy spices at your local farmer's market. For

example, poppy seeds are $4.59 at the grocery
store. At my farmer's market, I pay $1.25 for 2
ounces!
Liv-Pup
 PAGE 15 - 1

The Well-S
Stocked Pantry

Shop at Home First Never Pay Full Price Again

Before heading to the store, I "shop" in my pantry
and freezer. I am amazed at how many times I
find just what I planned to purchase or some-
thing that would work just as well.
Margaret
Buy sale items only. With a well-stocked pantry,
you can make many meals from sale items.
Google your main ingredient to get recipes. Try
to substitute an ingredient if possible to keep
from purchasing something you may not use
again.
LoriC

Know What You Have

Take an food inventory of your cabinets, pantry On Sale? Stock Up!

and freezer. You'll know exactly what you have
on hand, you won't buy duplicates and you'll
know what you need to use up before going bad.
You can save substantially! Try it!
frugalit
90 percent of what I buy each week is on sale or
purchased with a coupon. Keep stocking up on
items as they go on sale, and if you do this con-
sistently, you will always have on hand what you
need and your grocery bills will go down.
Debby

Buy for Back-Up

Using What You Have on Hand I buy for my back-up instead of what I need.
When I get the back-up out of the pantry, I know
Utilize what you have in your pantry or freezer I have a few weeks to wait for that item to be on
(or even leftover foods) by using sale.
AllRecipes.com, which lets you type in what memoriesmama
foods you do have and comes up with a "favorite
recipe" of others using ingredients you have on
hand!
nicjen
 PAGE 16 - 1

Kid Saving Solutions

Don’t Shop with Hungry Kids Keeping Sugar at a Minimum

Don't shop with four hungry children. Feed them
before you go, or you'll come out with four differ-
ent boxes of granola bars and nothing to fix for
supper.
Daja
My kids are allowed one "sugar" cereal a week
to be eaten only on Sundays. During the rest of
the week, we have basic cereal or homemade
waffles.
Tami

Cutting Unhealthy, Expensive Habits Teach Kids to Grocery Shop

Make your kids buy their pop, snack foods out They can help with coupon clipping, making a
of their allowance. These high cost and grocery list, and shopping; then pay them
unhealthy foods should be rare in a percentage of money saved. They
your home. Once they see they will learn the basics of frugality.
could be spending their money SutuG
on other things, they are likely to
cut back on their snack and pop
habits. Diaper Wipes for Pennies
MKJ in Seattle
Homeade diaper wipes for pen-
nies! Cut Bounty roll into thirds
and place in round
Homemade Baby Food Rubbermaid container.
Remove cardboard middle
Instead of purchasing jarred baby and first wipe will come up thru
food, use your food processer to the middle. Pour a little Dawn
make fruits, veggies and meats. and water over the top. Decorate
Place food in ice cube trays and the container!
freeze. Once frozen, put cubes in rachelinva
freezer bags.
Chris

Kids Love Noodles!

After-Holiday Savings
Buy holiday candy when it's 75% off after the hol-
iday. Kids don't care what color wrapping paper
is used in their school lunches or in snack cup-
board.
Couponlady
Since kids love the noodles, I add packs of
Oddles of Noodles (without the flavor packets) to
chicken noodle soup. This gives plenty of noo-
dles for cheaper than opening more cans of
soup.
S Hook
 PAGE 17 - 1

Pets, Too!

Cheaper Doggie Treats

Dog treats can get expensive, but our pets are

family, too! Instead of buying treats, they gener-
ally make a moist dog food with individual pack-
ets of the same
"treats" meant as
entire meals. We
buy two boxes a
year for our
two dogs!
Amie

Cat Litter Substitute

Instead of buying cat litter, shred old newspaper

or any type paper that
you are throwing
away. A savings of
$15-$20 per month.
Kathy
 PAGE 18 - 1

At the Check Out

Take a Raincheck

Always get a raincheck if the store runs out of a

sale item. If there's a spectacular sale with a limit
of items per customer, I will visit that store more
than once and purchase the limit each time!
lmlh

Always Check Receipts

Be sure and check your receipt before leav-

ing the store. A lot of prices change so fast the
No More Sticker Shock
store cannot always keep up with them. And the
sale price may not be reflected on your receipt.
Do not rush to the check-out counter. Take a few
Marlene
minutes to review what you have in the cart. Put
back at least a few items and you won't get stick-
er shock at the counter.
Priya

Earth-Friendly Savings
Certain grocery stores will pay you 5 cents per
fabric bag that you bring in to bag groceries in.
This saves the earth by not wasting resources,
and you’ll save 30 to 40 cents a week by doing
something simple.
Bonjour
Use Cash
Take out your grocery budget money in cash.
Keep track of your expenses as you shop by
writing them down as you go and using a calcu-
lator. When you've reached your cash limit,
you're done.
Jen

Just One More Time... Price Matching

Always watch the prices as the clerk rings up the
grocery items. I can usually find a mistake or
two. The prices are many times higher than what
was posted on the shelf. Look at your reciept
one more time for mistakes also.
wens
Wal-Mart matches competitors’ ads. Use your
weekly food ads to determine the best price. List
the price and the store. Take the list with the gro-
cery ads to Wal-Mart and have them price match
all items to the competitor’s lowest price.
WildJaycee