While it is true that couponing takes time, effort and fair amount of work, to be a successful couponer, does not mean you have to devote every waking moment to it. If you haven’t read the first part of this post click here: Successful #Couponing: Part 1

Planning Ahead

1. Plan out your couponing shopping trip – to the penny if you can. Use coupon matching sites to help you know what the best deals are. The more you plan it out, the smoother it will go in the store, so be as detailed as you can listing product name (and variety if necessary), size/ct., retail price, sale price, coupon value, and price you expect to pay.
2. Look at your calendar and shop accordingly. After major holidays you can find items that might have holiday specific packaging, which will be marked down with the rest of the holiday items.
3. Understand the coupons and sale prices usually coincide for free or near free pricing only twice a year. So if you CAN, buy enough to last your household six months.

Opportunity Awareness

1. Never go into a store that accepts coupons without your coupon binder. You never know when a store may be putting an item on sale – due to overstock, or package damage – that was not advertised.
2. When you have time, walk the outer perimeter of the store instead of the inside aisles. These endcaps often have items marked at clearance pricing.
3. Expand your store horizons – shop for cleaning products at home improvement stores, or hair products at a pharmacy.

Niceties

1. While you are a customer – like everyone else – your transaction may be a little more involved than others. So be polite and patient to both the other people in line and the cashier.
2. Never take more than a few coupons that are available in a store – peelies, tear pads, hangtags, booklets, recipe cards, etc. It is rude and will ultimately result in stores not putting them out as frequently or requiring you to ask for them at customer service.
3. Be the coupon fairy sometimes – if you have more coupons for an item than you plan to use or they are expiring soon, place them on the shelf next to the product. It’s a nice way to share the wealth, and make sure that a coupon doesn’t go to waste.

Stockpile Management

1. Rotate your products regularly. If you have a large amount of something, write the expiration date on the part of the label that will be visible while stacked on the shelf with a big marker, this will make it easier to see which to use first.
2. Do not get a large amount of an item that your family would never ever use – even if it’s free – unless you truly and honestly plan to donate it. For example – don’t get 30 bags of cat treats, just because they are free, if you don’t have a cat! Also consider the life of a product. If you have worked out a deal to get 20 pounds of strawberries for free or close to it, you need to be sure you have a means to use them all or freeze them.
3. Store items properly – cool dry place for most items, and freeze all of the freezable items.

There are some movies that just never go out of style. Amazon has a great deal going on right now for the Back to the Future trilogy on Blu-ray. This normally sells for $79.98 but it’s currently on sale for only $19.99. That’s a steal at 75% off.

This would make a great gift or Valentine’s Day treat but you’ll have to move fast. Amazon prices change quickly.

Amazon has an amazing deal on a Kodak mini video camera. My 8 year old son has almost this exact same camera and he has had so much fun with it. He creates his own movies using his Lego’s and other toys and documents some of the more random family events. I suspect that we’ll have loads of fun in a few years, looking back and watching some of the videos he’s created.

This Kodak mini video camera normally sells for $99.00 but it’s currently on sale for 60% off at $39.95. This is a great deal if you have a budding videographer or if you just want something small to fit in your purse.

Successful couponing is not about having 90 tubes of toothpaste or 80 bags of dog food. Successful couponing is about having an adequate supply of the items your family uses on a regular basis, so that you will not run out and have to pay full retail for that product. It is also about stretching your budget, and being able to buy high quality items for less than the price of generic. Here are some more tips on how to be a successful couponer.

Clipping and Collecting

1. You can either clip each coupon and put them into a filing system or you can save whole pages/inserts, it is a preference issue, as well as a storage system.
2. You need to decide how many papers you want to get based on what you expect each to have in them.
3. When shopping you should always scan the shelves for coupon booklets, blinkies, peelies, hangtags, recipe cards and tear pads. You can usually find useful coupons all over the store if you keep your eyes open. If you have small children with you, give the task to look for coupons on the shelf – it will keep them busy and engaged.

Organization

1. Choose a binder with clear “baseball card organizer sheets” or an accordion filer.
2. Divide your coupons into categories. Choose categories that are right for you, as well as make sense to you. Suggested categories: Frozen Foods, Fresh Meats, Beverages, Cooking/Baking, Cereal, Snacks, Perishables, Non-Perishables, Medications, Personal Care (can be broken up into Dental, His and Hers), Cleaning Products, Paper Goods, Non-food Misc., Pet Food
3. You must attend to your coupons weekly, at the very least. You also want to purge your coupons at least twice a month – checking for expiration dates, as well as to ensure that use a coupon before it expires. But keep in mind that you do not have to use a coupon just because, it just means you look for a deal on that item.

Understanding Policies and Procedures

1. Carry a printed copy of your most commonly frequented stores’ policies in your binder. And check to see if things have changed at least once every few months.
2. If a checker performs the transaction in a way that conflicts with the written policy, refer to it. Be polite and ask for clarification, from a manager if necessary. While each store might have their own practices, they should at least honor the corporate policy.
3. Do your best to read fine print – on both manufacturer’s and store coupons. Some coupons list specific limitations on using multiple coupons in a singular transaction, others have limitations on scents/flavors or sizes.

Come back next Friday for part two with more tips on how to be a Successful couponer.

Last month as my kids watched their favorite television programs, they were bombarded with a ton of commercials for toys and other things that they wanted or thought they wanted. My kids wanted just about everything they saw. My kids also love to go search out the toy aisles every time they go shopping with the family. They find a ton of things they want and then we hear the crying when they do not get what they want, or think they want. I thought this would be a really great time to start teaching them about how to save and spend money. Here are some tips to get your child learning about his/her money.

Be an Example

You are the best example for your child. They watch what you do and want to be like you. While I do not think kids need to be involved in the total family finances, I do think they can benefit from seeing parents save money. You can take kids with you as you go to the bank. Use that opportunity to talk to them about how you have an account at the bank to save money. You can even just collect coins in a jar to pay for a family goal like a summer vacation. Kids will start to get the idea of how important saving money really is to get some things on their want list just by seeing how important it is to you.

Give Kids Money

If kids are going to learn about money, then you have to give them some money. You can do this several ways. One popular way to give kids money is by giving them an allowance. As the parent, you will need to let you child know what kind of jobs you want them to do and then you can set an amount of money that they will be given. Some experts recommend $1 per age. So for my 12 year old, I give him $12. This can be weekly or monthly whatever your income allows. Another way to help your child earn money is to give them certain jobs and then pay them when the job is completed. Whatever you decide, giving your child money will give them a chance to practice spending and saving money.

Make It Fun

Kids enjoy doing things that are fun, so try incorporating that into teaching them about money. If you want your child to learn to save, then you could offer rewards when they reach certain goals. Another popular thing some parents do is to match kid’s money they save. This will encourage the kids to save since they will be getting twice the money as they save. Another fun activity is to have a special jar that you can save money in for a specific goal. Kids enjoy watching the money grow in the jar as they save the money for a wanted item. You can also make a wish list with your kids. Have them pick an item they want to save for and find a picture of the item. Place that picture on the jar, in the kid’s room, or anywhere else to remind the kid what they are saving to buy.

I’m a big fan of buying gifts ahead of time so I can get a lower price on them. We always have a stash of toys available to take care of last minute birthday party invitations and to plan for upcoming birthdays and holidays. Hasbro’s Annual Fun & Game Event is going on right now and they have some killer deals on toys and games that are well worth stocking up on.

Today’s deal is a buy one get one free on Bey Blade Tornado Battlers. Bey Blades are one of my boys’ favorite things so I’m going to have to grab of few of these for birthdays throughout the year (and bribes, because I fully admit that I’m not above that either). All the deals even include free shipping. You can’t beat that.

Kids (ages 6-13) can join in on the fun too by playing a quick online game for a chance to win some of their favorite toys and games. I’d recommend adult supervision with this, as I would anytime you allow your kids online.

During the first few months of the year, my schedule gets really busy. I have one child who plays basketball for his school and two other kids who are on a dance team that performs during halftime for these and other games. So, by the time my kids get home from school and get ready to go to the games my family is left with little time to prepare a healthy, home cooked meal. Instead we are forced to buy junk at the concession stand or eat out at a fast food restaurant. This is not very healthy for my family nor is it very good on our budget. My secret weapon to surviving these nights has been my Crock Pot. My Crock Pot saves me time by having dinner pretty much ready to go and also saves me from spending more money than I would have on a regular home cooked meal. Here are a few ideas to let your Crock Pot be your secret weapon for saving time and money on busy family nights.

Buy Budget Cut Meats

Using the Crock Pot allows me to use budget cuts of meat. For example, I can buy a cheaper cut of steak that would probably be tough if cooked on the stove or grill, and it comes out tender in the Crock Pot. I can then use this steak in steak fajitas and not have much more work to do to prepare dinner. I can also buy bulk chicken that usually is a cheaper cut and also gets tough when cooking on the stove. This chicken taste great prepared in meals in my Crock Pot like Chicken Taco Soup. Buying these budget cuts and using your Crock Pot will save you money on quick, easy, and healthy meals for your family on busy nights.

Use Crock Pot Websites

One thing that is really important to having success with the Crock Pot is to find the right recipes. If you go browsing the web, you will find a large number of sites and blogs with information and recipes on using your Crock Pot. Many of these have tested the recipe, so you know they were edible for other families. This will prevent you from wasting money on trying a new recipe and ending up throwing it in the garbage. Here are a few of my favorite Crock Pot websites that I use to find new ideas and recipes.

The Crockin’ Girls

A Year of Slow Cooking

Get Crocked

Use Crock Pot Cookbooks

I have found some really great recipes by using recipe books that are filled with great Crock Pot recipes. Many of these types of recipe books are available at your local library, if the library does not have them then ask them about ordering them. This will save you money on buying the cookbook and then if you really like it you can spend the money on buying the book. Here are a few of my favorite Crock Pot cookbooks.

Fix-It and Forget-It Big Cookbook: 1400 Best Slow Cooker Recipes

The $7 a Meal Slow Cooker Cookbook: 301 Delicious, Nutritious Recipes the Whole Family Will Love!

Make It Fast, Make It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking

Fix-it And Forget-it 5-ingredient Favorites

Fix-It and Forget-It Lightly: 600 Healthy Low-Fat Recipes for Your Slow Cooker

We have several Timbuk2 bags around here and you seriously can not kill these things. We have one bag that’s several years old and it looks brand new. Amazon has a killer deal going on right now for 76% off a Timbuk2 Proof bag that can hold a laptop with up to a 17 inch screen.

This bag normally sells for $100.00 but it’s currently on sale for only $24.38. This is a great deal if you’re in need of a new laptop bag!

Amazon has had some really great Kindle freebies lately. I’m stocking up so I’ll have plenty of reading material ready and waiting for when I finally find some time to read. Today Amazon has a great free Kindle book available. Absolutely Organize Your Family has some really great reviews and sounds like a great reading choice for busy moms.

One of the top New Year’s Resolutions made by people is to lose weight and/ or eat healthier. Many people give up after the first day of working on this goal. There are so many excuses people give as to why they cannot eat healthier, but one I hear a lot is that it cost too much money to eat healthy. There are a lot of ways you can spend less at the grocery store and still eat healthy. Being a good example of eating healthy will help encourage your children to eat healthier too. Here are a few ideas to help you save money while still buying healthier foods at the grocery.

Plan Meals and Snacks

If you want to succeed at eating healthier, it will be easier if you have a plan to follow. Make a weekly meal plan of what you and your family will eat. Include all meals and snacks you will eat for the week. There are a ton of great websites to help you find healthier recipes. A few of my favorite are Spark People, Weight Watchers, Skinny Taste, Eating Well, Cooking Light, and Skinny Crockpot. Once you have a plan make a grocery list and stick to it.

Buy Fruits and Vegetables in Season

Fruits and Vegetables are really important in the diet if you are trying to eat healthier, but fruits and vegetables can cost more and be a little scary to add to your list. Look for fruits and vegetables that are in season, you will find that these cost less. If you find a really good deal on them buy more and freeze for later use when they are more expensive. I have done this with strawberries, blueberries, and green peppers to name a few. A few fruits and vegetables that are in season in January include broccoli, cabbage, grapefruit, oranges, and lemons.

Buying fresh is best but also check prices for frozen and canned. These can often be better deals when they are not in season. Buying from farmers markets and cooperatives can also save you money. Also consider planting a garden. This will not only save you money on fruits and vegetables, but can also help you get more activity in your day. You can also preserve garden food by canning or freezing to use when they are not in season. Visit the Ball Canning and Preserving website for more information on canning and freezing.

Buy Generic Brands

Generic brand foods have come a long way, so don’t be afraid to add those to your buggy to save money. Many generic brands taste really good, have the same nutrition, and are usually significantly cheaper. Make sure to check the nutrition label on the product to compare nutrition facts between the brand and generic. Recently I was buying low fat cheese singles and decided one day to look at the generic brand to compare. Not only was it the same in fat and calories, but it was also at least $1.00 cheaper and included more slices per package. So don’t be afraid to include generic brand foods in your healthy eating plan.

Shop at Convenience Stores/Pharmacies

Most convenient stores, like gas stations, and pharmacies sell food at a much higher price. However you will find some deals there too. Many of these types of stores will have items they sell for cheaper to get customers in the store to buy other higher priced items. One item you will find this true for is milk. Some of these stores will have milk for the cheapest around as well as other items. So don’t leave these stores out because you think they are more expensive. There can be at least a few good deals in these stores.

Shop Outlet Stores

Outlet stores are a great way to save money at the grocery. My biggest piece of advice when shopping at these types of stores is to look for dates on products. Some of these stores will sell items with really bad sell by dates that might not make it a great deal after all. One of my favorite outlet stores is bread outlets. They have lots of bread choices that are healthy, including whole wheat, which you can often get for as little as one dollar per loaf. Just be sure to stay away from junk food in the bread outlets. There are several outlet stores across the country. The one I have closest to me is United Grocery Outlet.