Simple Savings: Bring that Gas/Electric Bill Down This Winter!

Who doesn't want to see their gas/electric bill go down, especially during the winter months!  So far we've been blessed with a very mild, sometimes warm winter here in Michigan.  Can't tell you how thankful we are for that since we've really been able to keep our bill manageable.  But, of course, we will still be seeing some cold, cold days and need to make the most of what we have.  Here are a few ideas on how to save a little money.  Some ideas you might refuse to try (like giving up my long, hot showers in the morning) and some are obvious but hopefully you'll find some that you might want to give a try!

*Turn Down the Thermostat - That's what sweaters and blankets are for!  Put on your slipper socks, layer up and turn down the thermostat!  My mom watches the girls on occasion when I have to work and she has learned to dress warm at our house!

*Block Drafts - Those drafty windows and doors can really take a toll on your wallet!  Break out the sewing machine (or a friend with a sewing machine) and make draft blockers for your drafty doors and windows!  It is amazingly easy (and cheap) to make!  We also bought energy efficient curtains (from Meijer - grabbed them on a 15% off general merchandise day) for the girls' room.  Not only does it block out the light but it also blocks out the drafts! 
Here's what Reader Tanya did:
Last year I pried up all of our baseboards, bought cans of spray foam, and went all along the bottom of every outside touching wall. I can not tell you enough how much that has helped the draftiness in our house!, I also sprayed around the door frames and windows on the outside. I think it cost me maybe $25.00 total.

*Put Plastic Over the Windows - You can buy plastic that you can put up on the windows and seal with a hair dryer.  The girls' room is the coldest room in our house (besides the basement) so the first year that we lived in our house, we bought some of this plastic and sealed the windows.  It really did help! (Thanks, Kristen!)

*Unplug Everything You Aren't Using - If it's plugged in, it's using energy!  We unplug just about everything we can think of.  Turn off the lights, unplug the tv, head upstairs to bed!

*Charge Things During the Day - Most people charge their cell phones before they go to bed but they don't need 8 hours to charge.  Plug them in when you get home from work or while you're making dinner.  Then, when it's done charging, you can unplug it.  Same goes for computers, iPods........

*Turn Off the Lights - Do I sound like your mother? If you aren't in the room, turn it off.  Use natural light when you can.  Saves you money and it's much more pleasant than the lights!

*Take Short, Warm Showers - Instead of long, hot showers.  I absolutely LOVE my hot showers in the morning.  It's my time and I drag it out as long as possible but it costs money to heat that water.  If you don't want to get rid of the long, hot showers completely, consider taking one every other day or making it a once or twice a week treat. 

*Take a Shower at the Gym - If you have a gym membership, take advantage of the showers!  You can take a long, hot shower and not worry about what it does to your gas/electric bill!

*Skip a Shower or a Bath - Unless you're stinky of course!  The girls usually take a bath every night or every other night in the summer but during the winter months, they don't get as sweaty or dirty so we might skip a night or two between baths.  And, I'll be honest, I usually skip a shower once week as well.

*Upgrade to Energy Star Appliances and CFL Lightbulbs - I'm not saying you should go out and buy all new appliances but as you need to replace them or as you save up the money, switch them out for Energy Star appliances.  Yes, there is a significant cost up front (for the appliances), but you will save in the long run!

*Wash your Clothes in Cold Water and on the Shortest Cycle - If you are just washing your regular clothes, there is no need to wash them on the heavy cycle.  It takes longer and costs more.  And switch from hot or warm wash to cold.  (Thanks, Karen!)

*Line Dry Your Clothes - Or do half and half.  You don't need a clothesline outside to try this.  Hang a clothesline in your basement or in your laundry room.  Or just use a clothes drying rack.  In the past I've given this a try and found my clothes to be a little stiff.  Now I let the clothes lay out to dry and before they dry completely, I throw them in the dryer to finish drying and fluff up a bit. 

*Fill Up Your Freezer - Apparently freezers are more efficient when they are full.  If you don't have the food to fill it up, fill up some jugs or bottles of water and add them to your freezer. 

*Move Frozen Jugs to the Refrigerator - Put jugs of water in the freezer overnight and transfer them into the refrigerator.  As they thaw, it makes the refrigerator run more efficiently.  Not sure where I read this but I think I might have to give it a try.

*Use a Crockpot - This is also a great trick for the summer.  The oven gives off so much heat and uses much more energy.  Try the crockpot instead!  (Thanks, Lisa!)

*Close Off Rooms - If there are rooms in the house that you don't use often, close them up.  Don't pay to heat rooms that you aren't using! 

What do you do in your house to keep your gas/electric bill down during the winter months?

Want to Get the Most of Your Toothpaste?

You squeeze and squeeze and you cannot get another little drop of toothpaste on your toothbrush but you know there is still some in there!  Just cut off the end!  You'll be able to get a few more brushes out of it.  Might not be a lot when you think of just one tube but if you do this from here on out, it adds up! 

Diapers, Diapers, Diapers!!

For those of us with kiddos in diapers, the cost of diapers can be pretty hefty!!  When I teach a coupon class, one of the most asked questions is about to save money on diapers!!  So here are a few ways that I have saved money when buying diapers!!

*Don't Be Anxious to Move to the Next Size: Size 1 Diapers cost the same as Size 2 Diapers but there are more diapers in the Size 1 package.  Don't be so eager to move your kiddo to the next size - you'll save some money!

*Be Open to Other Brands: When Cailynn was born, we were brand loyal to Pampers.  No reason for it.  We just started buying Pampers and stuck with it.  As she got older (and I was introduced to the world of couponing), we started using other brands - Target, Luvs, Huggies, Walgreens.  They all did the job!  Of course, some children have sensitive skin and must use a specific brand but in general, that's not the case.

*Combine Coupons and Sales: Of course......that seems to be my motto on this site.  Combine, combine, stack, stack, stack!   Wait until you have coupons AND a sale before you buy.  Add in a gift card promotion and it gets even better!  A great way to get high value coupons is to sign up on the manufacturer's website (Huggies, Pampers, and Luvs).

*Take Advantage of Drugstore Diaper Deals: Not sure about the deals at CVS (since I don't have one near by) but both Rite Aid and Walgreens have had some amazing diaper deals in the past!  After various coupons and promotions, you can get a package of diapers for $2.50 (or less)!!  Sarah, over at Sarah Spends Less, has done an amazing job getting great deals on diapers at Rite Aid!!  When a great deal comes along, take advantage of it!  Buy more than one package!

*Buy Diapers Online: Amazon has some amazing diaper deals, especially lately!  Between the codes that have been in various parenting magazines and the Amazon gift cards many of us have been earning through Swagbucks, you can get diapers for FREE or close to FREE!!

*Consider Using Cloth Diapers: This is definitely not my area of expertise.  We considered going the cloth diaper route with Ellie but decided against it since we weren't sure where we would be living.  But, from what I've read, although it is a large chunk of money up front, it saves most people money in the long run!

Do you have any other tips on how to save on diapers?

My Little Discovery........

Dairy Markdowns at my local grocery store......Hardings!  A few weeks ago, I ran into Hardings to get some eggs and noticed some mark downs in the dairy section.  In my store it was located in the corner of the dairy cooler.  In the last few weeks I've picked up milk, cottage cheese, yogurt.......all for $1 or less! 

Of course, clearance varies by store but the next time you head to the store, take a look around.  Get to know where your store puts its clearance items and check it each time you're in the store!

Shopping with Your Kiddos 101 - At the Store

Now that you're organized for your shopping trip, it's time to head to the store with kiddos in tow!

*Don't Just Shop at Any Time:  Choose carefully!  Know the days of the week and times of day that your grocery store is slowest - usually weekdays in the mornings are the best!  And avoid naptimes and mealtimes.  A cranky, hungry child is not a fun shopping companion!

*Bring a Bag of Goodies:  Don't forget to bring those snacks, books or whatever else you packed to keep your kiddos busy.  Even coupons work!  Clip a few coupons that you don't plan to use and let your kiddos hold onto them for you (or crinkle them up like Ellie does)!

*Involve Your Kiddos:  I don't know about your kiddos, but mine love to be "helpers."  Give them a coupon for a product in your current aisle and have them find it.  Tell them the aisle number you need and have them help you find it.  Let them be in charge of the grocery list and cross off the items.

*Establish a Routine:  Most kids, especially young kids, thrive on routine.  My kiddos know exactly what to expect from the time we walk through the grocery store doors to the time we leave.  From snacks and fishies to unloading the groceries and Sandy the pony.  Yes, things do change but for the most part, they know what to expect.

*Be Flexible:  If your kiddos are getting antsy, tired or hungry, it's time to go.  Grab the things that you must have for the week and get out of there as soon as you can.  You may not be able to get everything on your list but if you planned ahead, you'll know which items are most important!

*Have Fun with Your Kiddos:  Laugh, smile, enjoy the time you have with your kiddos!

What you are your tips for shopping with your children?
Photo Credit: Halbrook.net

Shopping with Your Kiddos 101 - Preparation

One question I am guaranteed to get at every coupon class that I teach......do you shop with your children?  And when I say yes......more questions!

Before we became a family of four, I did most of my shopping on the weekends or in the evenings while Cailynn stayed home with Daddy.  Once Ellie came along and I was home full time, I began taking the girls shopping with me.  Although it obviously does not go smoothly every time we shop, most trips do not end in a complete meltdown.

One thing that I have found to be extremely helpful is to be prepared!!

*Have an Organized Plan:  Plan, plan, plan!!  This one is huge.  Take an extra 30 minutes, make a list, and pull your coupons.  Before I head to the store, I look through the matchups, make a detailed list of what I plan to buy, and pull the coupons I will need.  The list and the coupons go into an envelope and into my purse.  The coupons are placed behind my list in the envelope and as I grab items from my list, the corresponding coupon is placed in front of my list in the envelope.  And this is what works for me.  Figure out an organization system that works best for you.

*Decide on Your Priorities:  Take a minute to prioritize your list before you leave.  What items are a must and what items can be passed on if your kiddos just aren't going to be able to handle of long trip.  There are always items on my list that are a must for the week or great deals that we use regularly.  And then there are deals that I plan on checking out or that would be something we might try.  These are the deals that I pass on if my kiddos are ready to go!  Start with your must haves and then move on to your maybes!

*Prepare for the Kiddos: Bring food, books, or something else that will keep them entertained (even for just a few minutes).  Right when we walk into Meijer, my kiddos are asking for their snack.  And it may not entertain them for the entire trip (or even half of it), it does keep them busy for a bit!  If your kids like books, bring some books or small toys of some sort.  Something that will entertain them but not be difficult to deal with.  Again, figure out what works for your kiddos.

Stay tuned for ideas on how to keep your kiddos happy while you're shopping!!

Eek...It's Not on Sale!!

Once I became a couponer/bargain shopper, buying things that were not on sale became rare.  I'm not saying that it doesn't happen but I do try to avoid it whenever possible!  So, what can you do to avoid making a full price purchase?

*Find an Alternative: Is it an ingredient you need?  Check online to see if there is something else that can replace it without changing the recipe drastically.  If it can't be replaced, purchase the store brand.  Or maybe new furniture or something for the house?  Look around - is there anything you can repurpose or maybe you can find something that costs less.

*Borrow from a Friend:  Need a bathing suit for your kiddo at the last minute (this would be us), check with a friend.  We are headed to an indoor water park and I didn't want to get caught paying full price because of the urgency so we are borrowing one from a friend.  Now I have time to look for a good deal! 

*Make Your Own Sale: 
   -A lot of stores have total purchase coupons or % off coupons available.  I was able to use a coupon and store promotion at Office Depot to get resume paper for a great deal!  Use these coupons to make your own sale. 
   -If you are a drugstore shopper, use the Up Rewards/Register Rewards/Extra Care Bucks that you have earned to buy something that you need!  I use my Up Rewards to get milk for close to FREE each week!
   -Shop Amazon.com!  I know a lot of you have been earning Amazon gift cards through Swagbucks.  Use those gift cards to get yourself something you need!  We were in desperate need of batteries (aka pulling the batteries from the remote to use in the camera and then pulling them out of the camera to use in the remote and back to the camera.......) so I found the best deal that I could on Amazon (using the Subscribe and Save option) and ordered batteries.  Ended up being FREE since I had gift cards!

*Reconsider: Ask yourself if you really need it.  Or if you need it right now.  Can you wait a few weeks and see if it goes on sale?  If the answer is yes, take the time to shop around.  See what you can find.  After shopping around, you might discover that you don't need it at all!

Sometimes you just have to buy something that isn't on sale and it's ok (it is, really!!) but if I can do a little work and find a better deal, why not, right!

Do you have any other tips to add to this?  Would love your input on this as well!!

Have Baby/Toddler Wipe Containers Lying Around?

Use them to organize your kid's puzzles!  I don't know about you but the puzzle boxes get torn to shreds in our house!  And when the boxes get torn, the puzzles end up everywhere!  So, I grabbed some toddler wipes containers, cut off the picture on the side of the puzzle boxes and taped it to the top so that Cailynn can easily see which puzzle she's grabbing without opening it!

Do you keep your baby/toddler wipes containers?  There are SO many things you can use them for.  In our house, they hold crayons, silly bands, scraps of paper........What do you have in your containers?

Guest Post: 6 Ways to Help Your Favorite Blogger (Even if it isn't me!)

I was reading some of my favorite blogs the other night and came across this post from Shelly, author of the blog, Coupon Teacher.  Since I receive many emails and comments about this, I thought it would be appropriate to share.  I know that many of you read several blogs a day.  I hope that this will give you a few ideas on how you can help support those blogs (and this one too if you are a frequent visitor)!

The following was written by Shelly with my comments in italics following each idea!

1. Comment and Interact! I have been blogging for over a year, and I still love to see the emails with all the comment from you all! It helps a blogger get to know who is reading, so that the blog stays relevant to you.  I am with Shelly on this one!!  Even if it is simply to let me know that you took advantage of a deal, printed a coupon, or requested a freebie! 
    
2. Subscribe. Most bloggers offer several subscription options. I have daily emails that you can subscribe to on my sidebar, Twitter, Facebook, and Google Friend. It helps bloggers get advertising and giveaways when they have a substantial amount of followers and visitors.  These are also listed on my sidebar!  All except for Twitter - I recently joined but have not started updating.  I will let you know when I fully jump on the bandwagon!!
    
3. Share Posts You Like. At the bottom of all my posts and on many other blogs, there is a share feature. You can print, share to Twitter, post on Facebook, and many other options!  Another thing on my to-do list but very relevant for many bloggers!!
    
4. Print Coupons. Most frugal bloggers earn a small amount from Red Plum and Coupons.com when you print a coupon. It is a small amount, but it adds up when lots of readers print. (For example, right now, I am averaging a whopping $2 per day!) If I find a great deal on a blog, I try to print my coupons for that deal at that blog to show my appreciation. You guys are great about this!  Thank you!! 
    
5. Sign Up and Click On Ads That Interest You. If you aren’t interested, DON’T click. BUT if you think you might be interested, bloggers do earn when you sign up with companies or make purchases. What happens a lot is that I visit a site and see a suggestion, but don’t do anything about it right then. When I look a company up later, that blogger doesn’t get credit for suggesting it to me. SO, I try to click on relevant ads when I can.
6. Email Deals and Coupons. This one only applies to deal blogs, so I put it at the end. Did you find a great printable coupon or unadvertised deal? Email your favorite blogger, so that it can be shared! I love to share deals, but between teaching and blogging, I rarely have time to blog about little deals I find. I will, however, be sharing more on Facebook, so please email!! I love getting deals from my readers!  I take note of a lot of things while shopping but I miss a lot of deals too!  When you see a great deal, please share!!

I am not only a blogger, but an avid blog reader. I hope this information doesn’t offend you. I really like to know how to help my favorite bloggers, and I wanted you to know too!



I have amazing readers and without you, Spectacular Savings wouldn't exist!  Thank you so much for your support!!

Shelly is the writer behind Coupon Teacher. She is a Christian, wife, teacher, and avid bargain hunter!

Classico and Barilla Pasta Sauce Jars = Ball Mason Jars!

Did you know that?  Sarah, over at Give Me Neither, mentioned it a few weeks ago when we met for dinner!  I am hoping to do some canning next year so I plan to start saving my jars!!  We'll see how many I can get between now and next year!

Have you noticed any other brands of pasta sauce with this type of jar?
Do you use already use these for canning?
Don't do canning?  What do you use these jars for?

Do You Have a Junk Email Account?

If not, you may want to consider getting one!  I love, love, love requesting freebies!  What I don't love is the junk email that comes along with it so I created a separate "junk email" account so that my regular account wasn't slammed with spam!  This email is used when I sign up for freebies, email newsletters, coupons, online stores, daily deal sites.........I do skim through this account every day to see if there is anything worth checking but for the most part, its just junk.

I also keep a separate account for my survey companies.  It's nice to be able to log into that account and just find my available surveys. 

Homemade Bubble Fun!

Beautiful day.....perfect for bubbles!  The only problem.....we didn't have any.  I don't know about you but I'm not a big fan of loading the kids in and out of the car more than I have to so I got on Swagbucks and searched for a homemade recipe, hoping it would include ingredients that we had in our house!  I was in luck!  All I needed was dish soap, water and sugar!

And both girls had a blast!

Here's the recipe:

Add 1/2 cup dish soap into a bowl. 

Add 1.5 cups of water. 

Add 2 teaspoons of sugar.

Stir gently!

That's it and they were worked great!

Saving is Saving.....Every Little Bit Helps!

While reading stopping at a few blogs, I ran across this great article on For the Mommas: Keeping Up with the Frugal Joneses. Great read, be sure to check it out.

Shannon discusses the idea that as people get into couponing, they often start comparing themselves to others. And getting discouraged that they cannot get the same deals or save the same amount.

I hope that my posts about my shopping trips and giving are not making people feel discouraged. The intent of these posts is to encourage and I hope that comes across. Remember, we are all in different places. And we all have different reasons for wanting to save.

Saving is saving. Be proud of every dollar you save. Its a dollar you wouldn't have and every little bit adds up!

Headed on Vacation? Don't Forget the Medicine!

One thing we learned on our last vacation......bring your entire medicine cabinet.  On our way down to Tennessee, Cailynn got sick and I didn't have the medicine I needed with me.  We had to stop at Rite Aid and grab what we needed for FULL PRICE!!  It hurt......but we didn't have a choice.

So this time, we came prepared!  We brought everything we could find in our cabinets for the girls and for us.  Obviously, we want it to be a waste of space in our luggage but we are prepared just in case.  It is not fun to pay full price for something that you know is sitting in your medicine cabinet at home!!

What do you think is a MUST to bring even though it may not be needed?

Guest Post: How Brand Loyalty is Making You Poor

Guest Post by Brittany of The Prudent Patron

Most of us have brands we love. We always buy the same deodorant or that special conditioner that has the commercial with the girl stroking her impossibly glossy hair. There are two types of brand loyalty, conscious and subconscious. In the conscious loyalty, we are well aware that we love a certain name brand product. We might have tried several deodorants 10 years ago and decided brand “x” worked best. From then on, we have bought brand “x” repeatedly. Even when we had to pay more for it-- this is conscious brand loyalty. In subconscious brand loyalty, we aren’t really aware that we are choosing a certain brand over all others. Take for example batteries. Since childhood I have been inundated with commercials from the two major battery companies. There have been long lasting bunnies marching across my television for as long as I can remember. However, I had no idea I was a battery snob! Those commercials seeped into my subconscious to the point that I believed there were only two batteries worth buying, and all the rest were just generic garbage.

So, what does all this brand loyalty mean to your wallet? A few months ago I went from being a casual consumer to full force money saving machine. I’ve always tried to save money where I could. I bought things on sale whenever possible, and I clipped coupons for the products I regularly purchased. I thought of myself as a smart shopper, but I wasn’t. Now I look at brands in a whole new light. When I am clipping coupons on a Sunday night, I look at each product and ask myself “Would I try this brand if it were free or cost me less than $.50?”. The answer is usually “yes.” I am willing to try a different conditioner if I get a bottle of it for free or for a quarter. Why in the world would I pay $3.98 for my favorite deodorant if I can try a different brand for next to nothing? If I don’t like it, I never have to buy it again.

Can clipping coupons for new brands you are willing to try really get you free stuff? Absolutely! In just the last two months I have filled my closet with name brand shampoos, conditioners, deodorants, toothpastes and more. Sometimes I am able to get the brand I have always bought, but often I am trying a different brand. I don’t mean those strange looking brands you see when strolling down the aisle of the dollar store. I mean name brand, high quality products. All of these products I received for free or paid less than a dollar for by matching that previously skipped over coupon with a store sale. My most surprising discovery of all, I actually like some of these products better than the brands I was loyal to all those years! My hair is just as silky, and I smell just as sweet as I did before-- the only difference is I have more money in my wallet.

Now, let’s go back to those batteries I was turning my nose up at unknowingly. Two weeks ago, I came across a $1.00 coupon for a brand of batteries that I previously regarded as cheap. I assumed they were not worth buying since the name brand would probably last twice as long. I have no idea if this is true or not. I have not conducted tests on battery life, but as I was about to skip over this coupon, I asked myself if I would try it if it were free, and of course, the answer was “yes,” so I clipped it. Just yesterday as I walked past the dollar section at my local Target, I spotted those very same batteries! I fished out my $1.00 off coupons and bought several batteries for free. Now I ask you, do I really care if these batteries last as long as the others? They were free! It doesn’t matter if they only have half the battery life, which likely isn’t true anyway. To think just a few months ago I would have skipped that coupon and thrown it away along with my money.

My Thoughts: Absolutely!  There are so many products that I was loyal to because I had always used it.  It wasn't because the product was better than others.  I just never tried anything different.  Since I started couponing, it is amazing the name brand items (especially toiletries) that I can get for FREE.  And I, too, have found that I like some of these new brands even better!  If you are going to get something for FREE or close to FREE, you might as well give it a try.  You may be pleasantly surprised!

Brittany blogs at The Prudet Patron.  She lives in South Florida with her husband and two wonderful children. She's am a former classroom teacher and writes daily to help readers save money and live inexpensively by providing frugal living tips, frugal family fun activities, hot deals, freebies and coupon match-ups.

Do You Use ITunes?

Did you know that you can go through Ebates and get 3% cash back for all of your ITunes purchases?  My husband uses ITunes quite a bit and while 3% isn't much, it does add up! 

If you use Swagbucks, you can also get a $15 ITunes gift card for just 1,850 Swagbucks.  Go through Ebates to get order from ITunes, use your gift card, and you'll actually make a little money!

Headed to the Mall?

Want to know if there are coupons available for some of the stores?  Or maybe you need to do some online shopping and you are hoping for a coupon code.  Whenever I need an online coupon code or a printable coupon for the store, I head to Retail Me Not.com.  So before you order something online or head out to the mall, make sure you have a coupon or coupon code with you!

Guest Post: I Don't Really Meal Plan....

....I Plan Quick Ways to Make a Meal

Guest Post by Sarah of Sarah's Deals

Okay, I'm going to attempt to better explain the way my family eats. I don't menu plan. Never have. We are also not a casserole family....not often anyway. Several years ago I put a lot of time into researching methods for quick, easy, balanced meals. I utilize my freezer and pantry space to the max to make this work for us. Some families prefer to cook from scratch and I'm sure that there are ways to make that easier too....like an afternoon of preping and freezing every couple weeks.

What I've come up with works well for us, this will not be the case for everyone. Each family is different, but maybe one or two meals a week planned this way will take some of the strain off if you are time crunched and always seem to be behind. I've managed to make this work for us after several years. It didn't happen overnight, but with this as a guide, maybe you can make something work for you.

I do some prep work and have my freezer and pantry set up for 20 minute and under meals. Dinners typically include a meat, a pasta or bread, and one or two veggies. Lunches are usually a meat/cheese, bread/pasta and fruit or veggies. Breakfast is usually cereal/pop tarts/toast and sometimes fruit. Snacks throughout the day are sometimes junk food, often fruits/veggies/pretzels/tortilla chips/granola bars.

You've already seen in this post the end result when I bulk cook hamburger. This hamburger can be quickly added to many things without the time to cook it. Some of my staple hamburger uses:

Hamburger Helper

Spaghetti (meat dumped in sauce to warm up)

Taco Meat

Goulash Sloppy Joes

Added to the few casseroles I do make

Chicken is typically purchased in bulk on sale, then put into bags with the marinade, then placed in the freezer. When we are having chicken for dinner, it comes out of the freezer in the morning, is placed in the fridge to thaw through the day and the meat marinates as it thaws.

I purchase 5# of precooked and pressed ham at Walmart for $7.88. I have the deli thick slice it for me (they do this as a free service), and I take it home and package it for individual meals. I get 8-9 meals worth of meat out of each package. These can thaw in the fridge, or since they are precooked, I can dip them in warm water and have them just thawed enough to pull part for cooking after 2 minutes!

I detailed the meat above because that is the largest amount of my prep/planning time most weeks.

To go along with the meat, we keep on hand:

Canned/frozen/fresh veggies

Canned/fresh fruit

Boxed/fresh potatos

Boxed/bagged pasta

Canned/jar sauces

Frozen/fresh/packaged rolls/bread

Canned soups

For smaller meals and snacks I keep on hand:

Chicken nuggets/fish sticks

Frozen pizza

Frozen fries/potatos

Chips/pretzels

Salsa/dips

Cheese sticks

Hot dogs/balogna/smoked sausage/lunchmeat

Mac and Cheese

and much more!

I take a visual inventory of my pantry every week. When I'm beginning to get low on something, I start watching for it to go on sale again. I often have enough alternatives that we can eat well even if we go without one particular item for a couple weeks. We are often just as happy with plain buttered noodles instead of Pasta Roni.

So, what's for dinner? Whatever we want....and it can usually be prepared in under 20 minutes and many times about 10.

My Thoughts: I do a combination of menu plan and Sarah's plan.  I like to get an idea of what I have for the week and then I decide in the morning what we are having for the evening.  It is so helpful to have meals frozen and ready to go or to have part of the cooking prepared ahead of time.  What do you do in your household?

Sarah helps others save money at Sarah's Deals.  She is a part time working mother of two who likes to share deals, frugal tips, inexpensive crafts and many other ideas. She has been clipping coupons for over eight years and sharing the adventure through blogging for almost two.

Guest Post: Save Money by Extending the Life of Your Razor

Guest Post by Brittany of The Prudent Patron

I am not sure why, but razors come up a lot among my group of girlfriends. All of us are couponers, so we have tried nearly every razor imaginable. If you have couponed for any length of time, then you are probably loaded up on razors. My husband teases me that we should find a way to use Fusion razors as a form of currency!

Although we all regularly get razors for free or very cheap, the biggest complaint among my friends is that the razors don't last! No matter the quality of the razor, they seem to get dull very quickly. I'm certain the razor company enjoys this, but we certainly don't.

Last night, a friend of mine said she saw something on the news about drying your razors after using them to make them last longer. I looked it up on Swagbucks and there is anecdotal evidence to support the theory of drying your razors to make the blades last longer! Apparently the oxidation of the blade leads to blade dullness. The information I read said that you should dry your razor after use and not store it in the shower. Simply shake the razor dry or blot it dry with your towel, then store it in a sealed bag or in another room (the bathroom is too moist). Keeping your razor dry prevents the oxidation process from dulling the blade and is said to extend the life of your razor by 122%!

If you'd like to read more about the science behind blade oxidation, read this article in The Chicago Tribune.

My Thoughts: Neat tip!  Thanks Brittany!

Brittany blogs at The Prudent Patron.  She lives in South Florida with her husband and two wonderful children. She's a former classroom teacher and writes daily to help readers save money and live inexpensively by providing frugal living tips, frugal family fun activities, hot deals, freebies and coupon match-ups.

Guest Post: Coupon Policies - What to Ask For.....

Guest Post by Tashena of Staying Lean in Oakland County

To be a smart shopper and use coupons wisely you have to have a good working knowledge of the coupon policies of the stores you frequent. Smart shopping techniques consist of not just using coupons but using coupons on items that are on sale and stocking up when prices are low. A store’s coupon policy can hit on two of those, how much impact your coupon will have on a sale item and whether or not you will be able to stockpile items. Some stores allow you to use as many of the same coupon as you like while others limit the number of coupons that can be used. Some stores double coupons, some do not. Some stores take all verified printable coupons from the Internet, others do not. You may end up using one or two stores for your weekly shopping and another store for specialty or stock up items.

If you shop at a local store you will want to ask for a copy of the coupon policy or speak with the manager to verify what it is.

Here are some questions you may want to ask:

*What is the true value of the coupon? (Are they taken at face value? Does the store double or triple coupons? Is there a limit to how many coupons are doubled? Etc.)

*Does the store have their own store coupons? If so how does one obtain them?

*Are store coupons able to be used with manufacturer coupons? (Can you stack coupons?)

*Does the store accept coupons for free items? (Some stores actually have in their policy that they do not honor coupons for free items!?!)

*Does the store accept any competitor coupons, if so what type?

*Does the store accept any expired coupons? (Believe it or not some do!)

*How does Buy One Get One Free Sale work and how can coupons be used on this type of sale? (For example some stores ring up each as 50%, thus you can chose to buy only one item, and you can use two coupons on each item if you chose to buy two. Other stores ring up as full price on the first and $0 or the second which allows you to only use one coupon.)

*How are Buy One Get One Free Coupons handled? (Some stores believe the coupon is attached to both items and is the only one allowed, others believe the coupon is attached to the free item and another coupon can be used on the coupon you are not getting for free.)

*Does the store accept Internet Printable (IP) coupons?

*One last question you may want to throw in that is not at all coupon related but gives you a small discount and helps the environment: Do you give a credit if a customer brings their own reusable bags?

Knowing the store’s coupon policy will also help you if you have an uneducated or unfriendly cashier that wants to question your transaction. Some stores you may need to keep the coupon policy with you when shopping. Some stores are more coupon friendly than others and it usually just depends on the area you are in.

My Thoughts:  I have found that my confidence builds as I become more comfortable with a store's coupon policy.  When I first started, a cashier would tell me no and I would just accept it because I wasn't sure.  Now, I know the policies of the stores I shop at so I feel confident when questioning a cahsier or manager.  Knowing your coupon policy just makes things go more smoothly!  Great advice Tashena, thanks!!

Tashena Lynette Gonzales is the author of Staying Lean in Oakland County. Her day job is a bilingual specialist in the transporatation industry and she has a Bachelor's degree in Marketing with a minor in Spanish. Living in the tough economic of metro Detroit and her educational background has helped her to research and implement the frugal ways of others and she is now sharing what she has learned on her blog.