How to Organize Your Grocery Coupons and Save Big

 

I am always curious to see how others shop for groceries. I pick up tricks and tips from people of all kinds.

 

I have found the more prepared and organized I am, the more I save.  To start, I go through all the grocery advertisements.  I circle any items I want to buy that are on sale. I try to make special note of any items that are on sale for which I also have coupons--double savings! I decide which items are worth "stockpiling" based on how well it will store and the price. I usually will not stockpile an item unless it is at least 50% off the regular price.

 

By stockpiling, you will eventually have a cupboard full of items which you bought all on sale. As you incorporate these items into your menu's, combined with current sale items, you will find your grocery budget shrinking. It took me 3-4 months before I really began to see a large savings. Don't get discouraged! You will probably actually spend a little more in the beginning as you build up your savings inventory.

 

To begin, you must have a very organized coupon system. I use a plastic shoebox I purchased at Wal-Mart for around $2.  I made my own dividers   and keep my coupons separated by category (about 20 categories). I choose the shoebox because it was cheap, is big enough to hold a lot of coupons  and is easy to flip through as  I shop. Plus, it fits in the seat of the cart. I call it my coupon baby.

 

As I take out a coupon to use, I just throw it under the box but on top of the lid. It makes for easy coupon storage until check-out. I'm sure cashiers hate crumpled, wadded up coupons pulled from someones pocket and dumped in a heap on the conveyor belt.

 

I see some women at the store who have invested in huge coupon organizers which are really just baseball card holders.  They separate out their coupons and put them in the see-through plastic slots. They seem bulky and it appears hard to pull out the coupons. I see others with envelopes or cardboard holders--I call them amateurs. Really it doesn't matter what system you use as long as it works for you. You can't use a coupon if you can't find it and it gets frustrating to dig through hundreds of coupons to find that special one.

 

 

Before I go to the grocery store, I check a couple of different websites to see if I have missed any spectacular savings. I usually use moneysavingmom.com, frugalfritzie.com and/or kansascitymamas.com. These websites match up coupons to sales. The work is already done for you. I also often check the store's website to see if I want to load any coupons to the store's loyalty card or if they have unadvertised specials or "deals of the day".  Be careful about loading coupons to your store card, they do not double. Paper coupons which double are usually the best savings.

 

I try to never go to the store without a plan. First, I make my week's menu, trying to incorporate as many sale items as possible. I estimate how much each item on my list will cost. As I go through the store, I write down the actual price of the item. My goal is to never go to the check-out without knowing how much I am spending.

 

Right before check-out, I add up the items, subtract off my coupons and include the sales tax. If over my budget, I decide what I can live without and put it back. This is called "budgeting" people. I never cease to be amazed at people who spend what they want, then pay what bills they can with what little is left over.

 

 

Let's take today's shopping trip as an example. I needed bread, celery and cottage cheese. I also had a few coupons for sale items at Dillon's that I wanted to use. If I have time, I try to pull out the coupons I plan on using before going to the store but I take my whole box because I don't know what other great deals may be available.

 

I knew Wold Chili was on sale for $1 and after the 40 cent coupon was doubled, I could get the chili for 20 cents a can. I also knew Campbell's Chunky soup was on sale for $1.25. After the $1 off four can coupon, it cost $1 a can. These items generally cost around $2.25 a can. Sometimes when I just don't feel like cooking, I open a can of Campbell's soup and pour it over Rice or Noodles. It's a cheap, easy meal. My husband calls it "ER" soup--because we usually eat it in an emergency.

 

I also try to always check the clearance rack. Today, there were five Arm & Hammer deodorants marked down to 50 cents each and several packages of tampons for $2. I had a $2 off coupon for the tampons making them free. I spent less than $9 for all of the above items. (I also wanted to mention you can get really great croissants at Dillons for 2 for $1.) I saved 59% off the total bill.

 

 

The best part was the coupons which printed at register. A free package of carrots, $5 off future order of $50 or more and $2 off when spending at least in frozen items.

 

There are always great deals out there. I think the key is just being organized and paying attention.

How to Make Easy Moist Banana Bread

I love fall. It's that time of the year you finally start feel like baking again. There is nothing more homey than the smell of something baking in the oven when you walk through the door on a crisp day.  I like those days where there is a chill in the air but it's still a little too warm to turn on the furnace for the first time...perfect baking weather!

A couple of weeks ago HyVee had bananas on sale for 29 cents a pound.  I bought a few too many so decided it was the perfect time to make a little banana bread. Banana bread can either be the most moist wonderful concoction in the world or the devil's dry dust. It's an art. I have spent most of my life working on finding the perfect banana bread recipe.

Here's a basic recipe I have played with over the years.  This recipe makes two loaves. To begin, cream 2 sticks butter (softened) with 2 cups sugar. Do not be fooled by this picture of my giant 4 cup measuring cup. It really is two cups sugar and 2 sticks butter or what I like to call a perfect start.



 

Now add four eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Blend together.

Here's the secret to really good banana bread: ripe bananas. I mean pungent "black" bananas. Some people might consider throwing these bananas away just when they have achieved the perfect state of ripeness for banana bread. My Grandpa would only eat a banana once it was about the consistency of mush.

But what if you have over ripe bananas and aren't in the mood to bake?  That's easy. Just peel the bananas and place in a plastic bag. Freeze. Take out another day, thaw and bake away. You will not be able to tell a difference.

 

Add 4-6 bananas and blend.

 

 

Most recipes tell you to mix all your dry ingredients together and then gradually mix into cream mixture. I'll be honest, I usually just throw in a half teaspoon salt and 2 teaspoons baking soda. Then I gradually add 3 cups of flour, about a cup at a time until blended. But hey, if you want to do it right, mix all three dry ingredients first, then add flour mixture slowly, though I have a feeling it won't make a lot of difference.

 

The second secret to great banana bread is to not over work the batter. Mixing too long will make the bread "tough".

Just mix until all ingredients are combined. It will be about the consistency of pudding.

 

 

Preheat your oven. I usually bake my banana bread at about 325 degrees. Be sure and grease your loaf pans.

 

 

The real challenge is how long to bake the bread. Many recipes will say 35-45 minutes. Who are they kidding? Mine usually takes at least an hour and often longer. I think every batch is different. The consistency of the bananas will likely change the baking time. So set your timer for about 50 minutes and start checking every 10 minutes after that. Of course, it is done when a knife stuck into the bread comes out smoothly. Anything else you add to this batter, such as nuts, will also likely affect the cooking time. Now is not the time to indulge your ADHD tendencies. You have to focus and check the bread. Don't go off and forget it.

 



 

If you stay focused, you should be rewarded with a perfect loaf of banana bread. Wait a few minutes for it to cool before slicing.

 

 

The best thing about making your own banana bread is you can make the slices as large as you want. As demonstrated in this picture, my husband seems to think a third of a loaf is a good portion size. Yummers!

How to Organize Recipes

Recently, my grandmother gave me a cardboard box full of recipes. Some were torn out of magazines, others were cut from newspapers, many were handwritten on the backs of envelopes or checks with notes such as, "LaVene's--GOOD!"

There are a disproportionate amount of recipes for pickles and beets and zucchini dishes and jello salads. I will likely pass on Bernice N.'s "Red Hot Jello Salad" which combines red hots, applesauce, sour cream and red jello. I also hope Maxine Mile's never learns I didn't make her "Ribbon Salad", containing lime and cherry jello and one cup mayonnaise along with various other ingredients. I feel a little guilty about this one because it did receive the designation "real pretty and good salad".

However I am looking forward to "Dora's Fudge" (real good) and "Better Than Sex Cake," frustrated author unknown.  I remember my Grandma making this cake when I was a child and really liking it. I wasn't allowed to call it, "Better Than Sex Cake" but told to just call it, "Really Good Cake".   

The recipes that intrigued me the most were the family recipes. Recipes handwritten by my great-grandmothers who I never met. I consider the box a true treasure trove.

While I have looked through the box, I have not yet attempted to organize any of the recipes. This is more of a winter project. Along with a family cookbook I have longed to put together.

Recipe Treasure Trove

Most of us do not have a lifetime of recipes to organize but it is easy to quickly accumulate lots of recipes printed from the Internet or torn out of magazines at the doctor's office. What to do?

Recipes on the Loose

Here's what I do. I buy photo albums. I re-purpose the photo albums into recipe albums.



Photo albums for 4x6 photos

Recipe Albums

Simply insert the recipes into the photo slot. Full pages may need to be folded before inserting. No more shuffling through papers. Just flip through the pages to find your recipe.

It would also be easy to print off family recipes, place in individual albums and give as gifts. You can find much smaller albums than the ones pictured for just such a project.

Andrea's Puppy Chow

Most importantly, you preserve cherished recipes such as the first recipe my oldest daughter ever cared enough to write out and save (circa kindergarten). Precious!

How to Find Out if You Are Eligible to Join a Class Action Lawsuit

 

 

It seems like every time I turn on the television there is some annoying class action commercial blaring.

 

"Did you or a loved one suffer the loss of a limb from an alligator attack while water skiing in the everglades on a Tuesday? If you answered yes, you may be eligible for compensation!"

 

There are hundreds of class action lawsuits filed each year. In some instances you may receive a notice in the mail informing you that you are eligible and requesting you file a claim. But in some cases, it is up to you to learn of and take action to be a class member. Most of these type of cases result in a very small reward, such as a small refund or coupon to the consumer and a much larger paycheck to the attorneys.

 

Out of curiosity, I began monitoring a website, http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/open-lawsuit-settlements, which lists pending actions and provides links to join any actions for which you qualify. This is only one of many such websites.

 

I was quite surprised at the number of lawsuits I was qualified to join.  This is because the requirements to join are often quite broad.

 

For example, the Ziesel v. Diamond Walnut Brand Class action is open to anyone who purchased the company's walnuts between March 22, 2006 and January 30, 2012. Claimants are eligible  for a refund of $3.25 per bag up to 5 bags (without a receipt) or up to 24 bags with proof of purchase.

 

The lawsuit alleges Diamond Foods misbranded its walnut products by making false and misleading statements about the health benefits of eating walnuts. I consider walnuts pretty healthy and eat a lot of them. I will continue to do so. I will also file my claim.

 

I was recently also eligible for the Nutella class action lawsuit. Apparently, Nutella made claims it was a healthy breakfast choice. Now most people are smart enough to know that essentially spreading a candy bar on toast is not healthy. But probably it is delicious. I filed my claim.

 

I was also recently eligible to join the Sketchers Toning Shoe Class action. They may not tone my calves as claimed but they are very comfortable. I filed my claim.

 

Are consumer class action lawsuits merely attorneys trolling for loopholes to enrich themselves? Or does the fear of possible extended, costly litigation act as a watchdog? Likely a little of both.  

 

I'm not an attorney and certainly am not advising anyone as to what class action lawsuits are pending for which they might be eligible. I just thought you might find it interesting and want to do your own research. Or not. As I said before, the rewards are generally small.

 

There have certainly been a lot of frivolous class action lawsuits which have resulted in some states making changes to their laws. In Texas, if an attorney settles a class action for coupons, he must also be paid in coupons.  Now, that's justice.

HyVee Deals Through October 2

There are lots of good HyVee deals this week. Including:

HyVee eggs for 99 cents each
Roberts Orange Juice for 99 cents each
Roberts chocolate milk for $2 each (minus 50 cent coupon doubled)
Dawn detergent for $1.39 each (minus 50 cent coupons doubled)
HyVee cat litter (not pictured, 25 pounds) $4.18
HyVee sugar for $1.88
Ocean Spray Juice $1.88
Wonder bread for 99 cents
Campbell's soup 4 for $3.00 (store coupon for buy four, get one free stacked with manufacturer 40 cent coupon which doubled--final cost 44 cents a can)
Crest for 99 cents (minus 50 cent coupon which doubled - final cost free)
Johnsville Sausage for $1.98 (minus manufacturer coupons doubled)
Bananas for 29 cents a pound ($1.51 for all the bananas pictured)
Cilantro for 69 cents a bunch

$22.32 before tax

Some of these items were only on sale Thursday and Friday (bread, juice and eggs). Also, there are limits on some items though it is unclear whether it is per transaction or customer. The advertisements do not state limits but there are signs in the store by some items stating a limit of 2. To be fair, if there are limits I believe they should state this in the printed advertisement.

In my mind, the best deals were the sausage, soup and bananas. This trip I saved $8.78 in store and manufacturer coupons. By and far, the bigger savings was on the sale items.

A friend recently told me about HyVee's facebook deal of the day. I now check the deal of the day before every visit to HyVee. Some of the deals have been quite good though I must admit it is sometimes very hard to find the deal of the day on their webpage which is somewhat crowded and unorganized. I looked for today's deal of the day and couldn't find it.

Here is a link to HyVee's Topeka Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/topekahyvee

I believe you then have to tell the cashier you want the deal of the day price. Maddening! I'm sure the point is to get you in the store more often and buy a lot of impulse items while there.

"I'll just run in  HyVee for some .88 half gallon milk", you think.

If the store is smart, they will have strategically placed some oreos or Graham crackers near the milk. You get a couple of .88 cent gallons of milk, some oreos and oh yeah you need dryer sheets and pimple cream. You know dryer sheets and pimple cream are less expensive somewhere else but hey, you're here and who wants to be linty or zitty? And while in line you start reading how you can lose 8 pounds in 10 days which you would really like to do so you throw in the magazine. Don't be surprised if your .88 half gallon of milk ends up costing you $20. Take advantage of deals but don't fall for traps. I'm sure the last thought of many a mouse has been, "Wow! What a great deal on chee....".

Topeka Apple Market Deals Through October 2

Apple Market Purchases

Just a few items to tell you about at Apple Market this week. Apple Market is holding one of its 98 cent sales. Five pound bags ofpotatoes are 98 cents so I purchased two bags or 10 pounds for $1.96. 

Rotel tomatoes are also 98 cents a can. There was a recent coupon in the paper for 50 cents off two cans. When doubled, this makes Rotel tomatoes just 48 cents a can. This is one of those examples where something is cheaper with doubled coupons than the regular price at Wal-Mart with undoubled coupon. Two cans at Wal-Mart would cost  $1.88 - 50 cent coupon = $1.38 (or 69 cents a can). If you buy two cans at Apple Market or Dillon's at 98 cents a can it will cost $1.96 - $1.00 doubled coupon = 96 cents (or 48 cents a can). I buy extra of items I use frequently when they are at least half the normal price.

Lettuce at Apple Market is always $1.29 as opposed to everyone else's $1.88-$2.00 a head. Hard squash is on sale for 69 cents a pound. I bought both Butternut and Acorn Squash (see  http://seekingsimpleinthesuburbs.blogspot.com/2012/07/how-to-make-baked-acorn-squash-with.html). 

I hope to post a recipe for Butternut Squash soup soon which is absouletly delicious. Both Acorn and Butternut Squash store fairly well. Store at 50 degrees. Acorn squash will last for 5-8 weeks s and Butternut will store well for 2-3 months.

I bought hamburger (80% lean) for $3.39 a pound. Suddenly hamburger is for rich people. In many stores I notice hamburger is now selling for over $4 a pound while you can frequently buy chicken on sale for uner $2 a pound.

I messed up and bought toilet tissue for $3.48 a package (after coupon). I had a headache and didn't figure correctly. You can usually find toilet tissue much cheaper.

How to Make a Cute Inexpensive Headboard

I had been wanting a headboard for my guest bedroom for a long time. I had envisioned one of those leather looking headboards but they were quite expensive. I even considered buying plywood, batting and leather looking vinyl to make my own headboard. Even that would have cost more than I wanted to spend.

My Guest Bedroom

So I finally decided to re-purpose a picture I bought from my sister's garage sale. These type of pictures are easy to find and much less expensive than an actual headboard. I simply hung the picture low on the wall where the headboard would normally go. Ta da! Instant beautiful, bright headboard without the work or expense of making one. You see these type of pictures at garage sales, Craigslist and thrift stores quite frequently.



Repurposed Picture



This idea may be to unconventional for some but I really enjoy it. First, it always reminds me of my sister. When she had this picture it hung over a bright red couch in her soft yellow living room next to a wall of large windows with plants. I loved her living room because it was so vibrant and cheery.



My Headboard



I hate the tern "think outside the box" so let's just say "think outside the headboard". Instead of a headboard why not hang a picture? If not a large picture, maybe even a series of three or four smaller pictures. I even considered painting a "headboard" picture on the wall. What neat headboard ideas have you come up with? Please share!