Sunday, March 11, 2012

How to Coupon Effectively

A Beginner's Guide to Couponing

By , About.com Guide

If you're interested in couponing, but aren't sure how to get started, this guide’s for you:

Where to Look for Coupons

There are lots of coupons up for grabs, if you know where to find them. By far, the best places to look are:
  • Newspapers- the Smart Source and Valassis coupon inserts appear on a near-weekly basis. The Procter and Gamble insert appears at the start of each month
  • Magazines- women's publications such as Woman's Day, Red Book, Family Circle and Good Housekeeping frequently carry manufacturer coupons
  • In store- look for coupons on store shelves, on products and on the back of your receipts. Also look for coupons to print out at the register
Additional places to look:
  • Online- look to free grocery coupon sites for loads of printable coupons. Not all stores take them; but if yours does, you’re in luck
  • Junk mail- high-value manufacturer coupons have started to appear in junk mailers, so be sure to look before you toss
  • Direct from the manufacturer- check manufacturer websites for printable coupons or contact companies (by mail, e-mail or phone) to request coupons
  • Store mailings- get a frequent shopper card for the grocery stores that you shop, and you may be rewarded with special coupon mailings
  • On products- look in and on the packaging of the products that you buy for special loyalty coupons

How to Keep Coupons Organized

There are lots of ways to organize coupons; the key is to find the approach that works best for you. Three options to consider:
  • Clipping out all coupons
  • Clipping out just the coupons that you intend to use
  • Leaving the coupon inserts intact, and clipping coupons on an "as-needed" basis
Whichever approach you choose, there are several things that you can do to ensure that your coupons remain neat and accessible:
  1. Develop a filing system. Many couponers organize their coupons by grocery category--dairy, frozen foods, deli, etc. – but it's not the only way to go. Find a filing system that works for you--by aisle, by expiration, etc. – and put it into action.
  2. Find a container to hold your coupons. Use a shoebox, a storage container, a coupon binder, a coupon wallet or a recipe box – it doesn't matter what you choose – but it's important to have a landing spot for all of those coupons.
  3. File coupons the same day you get them. Okay, so you may not always have time to file your coupons right away, but try to file them as soon as you can. This will prevent them from getting lost, and save you the hassle of having to sort through a big mess of coupons all at once.
  4. Purge regularly. Expired coupons won't save you money, so don't let them hog space in your coupon file. Set a schedule for purging expired coupons, and stick to it.


How to Maximize Your Savings:

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Kids Can Stilts

Difficulty: Average

Parental supervision is recommended



Walk tall with this juice can stilt craft that provides hours of fun and physical activity for kids.

What you'll need:


  • 2 large (about 64 ounce) juice cans (unopened)
  • Hand bottle/can opener (with the triangular end)
  • 2 long pieces of rope
  • Heavy-duty scissors (for cutting the rope)
  • Various colors of electrical tape or various colors of paint and paintbrush

How to make it:


  1. Use the bottle/can opener to punch two holes in either side of one can towards the top. (see photo)
  2. Repeat with other juice can.
  3. Let the juice drain out of the cans (save it in a pitcher, container, etc.). Rinse out the cans with water and allow them to air dry.
  4. Cut two pieces of rope long enough to go through the holes in the can and up to your child's hands to hold on to.
  5. Thread each piece of rope through the holes in the cans.
  6. Tie the two ends of each piece of rope together. You should have a loop of rope going through each can that is long enough so your child can hold onto the rope as handles.
  7. Use the scissors to cut the different colors of electrical tape and decorate the cans. You can also use the paint to decorate them.

Tips:


You will need help from an adult or adult to punch the holes in the juice cans and cut the rope.

Source: crafts.kaboose.com

Video: How to Make Bird Feeders From Plastic Bottles | eHow.com

Video: How to Make Bird Feeders From Plastic Bottles | eHow.com

Soda Bottle Coin Purse - YouTube

Soda Bottle Coin Purse - YouTube

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Be Willing to Substitute

Have a recipe that calls for an ingredient that you don't have? Then, see if you can substitute it for an ingredient that you do have. It'll save you money at the store and space in your pantry.

Is Freezer Cooking Really Worth It? :: Money Saving Mom®

Click on the line below to go to the story:

Is Freezer Cooking Really Worth It? :: Money Saving Mom®

Free Meal Planners

By , About.com Guide


Plan your meals in advance, and you'll be less tempted to eat out or to overspend at the grocery store. Here are some printable meal planning worksheets that you can use to get the job done. Choose the one that works best for you:

 Weekly Meal Planner

Weekly Meal Plan Worksheet© Erin Huffstetler
Prefer to grocery shop once a week? Then, the weekly meal planner is for you. It has room to pencil in a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu for each day of the week:
Print in Color | Print in B&W

 Monthly Meal Planner
Monthly Meal Plan Worksheet© Erin Huffstetler
Need to plan out a month's worth of dinners? Then, the monthly meal planner is your go-to worksheet. It includes a large grocery list that you can tear off and take to the store:
Print in Color | Print in B&W

 Monthly Meal Planning Calendar

Monthly Meal Plan Calendar© Erin Huffstetler
Want to plan out a month's worth of meals – breakfast, lunch and dinner? Jot everything down on the monthly meal planning calendar, and post it on your fridge:
Print in Color | Print in B&W

 Tip:

Print out a copy of your favorite meal planner, and laminate it. Then, use a dry erase marker to fill it out, so you can use it again and again.
Want more printables like these? Check out:

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Grocery Stockpile List: Non-perishables

By , About.com Guide

Ready to start stockpiling groceries and other household essentials, but not sure what to include in your stash? Then, refer to this list of non-perishables for help. Just cross out the things that you don't need, and add the things that you do. Let the stockpiling games begin!


Flour
Yeast
Salt
Granulated sugar
Powdered sugar
Brown sugar
Baking powder
Baking soda
Corn meal
Corn starch
Cocoa
Vanilla extract
Cooking oil (canola, olive, etc.)
Spices
Honey
Powdered milk
Sweetened condensed milk
Chocolate chips
Nuts
White vinegar
Apple cider vinegar
______________________
______________________
______________________
______________________
BREAKFAST
Cereal
Oatmeal
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
LUNCH AND DINNER
Canned meats (tuna, samon, chicken, etc.)
Broth: (chicken, beef, etc.)
Rice
Dried pasta
Beans
Peanut butter
Jelly or jam
Tomato-based products (sauce, paste, stewed, crushed, etc.)
Canned fruits and vegetables
Soup
Dried fruits and vegetables
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
SNACKS
Popcorn
Pretzels/Chips
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
CONDIMENTS
Ketchup
Mustard
Mayonnaise
Salad dressing
Barbeque sauce
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
DRINKS
Water
Coffee
Tea
Soda
Juice
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
TOILETRIES
Soap (bar and liquid)
Shampoo
Conditioner
Hair products (gel, mousee, hair spray)
Lotion
Deodorant
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Mouthwash
Razors
Shaving cream or shaving soap
Aftershave
Feminine products
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
MEDICINE
OTC meds (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.)
Prescription meds
CLEANING SUPPLIES
Laundry detergent
Dish liquid
Dishwasher detergent
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
PAPER AND PLASTIC GOODS
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Napkins
Trash bags
Freezer bags
Sandwich bags
Foil
Plastic wrap
Wax paper
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
HOUSEHOLD GOODS
Batteries
Light bulbs
Candles
Matches
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
OTHER
Baby supplies (formula, diapers, wipes, etc.)
Pet supplies (food, litter, etc.)
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________