Is it saving money or adding clutter?

I've been looking at all the big coupon websites about saving money and going around to all the grocery stores and using your coupons and blah, blah,blah. I must say this probably works for the people who it's geared for. The young or those whose memory hasn't left them yet. I did this when I was just starting out driving to 4 different grocery stores to say myself a couple of bucks. Heck back then gas was cheap. Now at $3 a gallon I think it's time to revisit the whole coupon merry go round. For the stores that I pass on the way to work, I check the ads and the sunday papers coupons. I found out that 6 bottles of hair spray just gets lost in my clutter. NOW if your a very organized person this won't be a problem.but for me I just found I have 2 copies of the same cd. Some things you cannot buy in bulk no matter what unless of course your feeding a family of 4 teenage boys who consume the contents of your fridge in one sitting. Fortunely I only have one 20 year and a very active 12 year old. Common sense has to prevail. I can't say enough how much I love my membership to Costco. BUT you have to use restraint.
you know if you aren't going to use it right away you'll have to store it and then it becomes clutter if you have too much.
One of the interesting things I read on the forums for one of these grocery coupon websites. The ladies were talking about spending $500 on a shopping trip. I went WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. The other ladies encouraged her by saving that's what can happen when you start out because you start a stockpile. Stockpiling for what WW3. After seeing this I canceled my membership deleted the favorite link. that's just what I need to be in the pour house but I'd be well groomed and well fed.
USE COMMON CENTS
Mary

Common Cents Grocery Buys

One thing I learned about cooking from my mother was buying my meat in bulk. I'm not talking about 1/2 a cow (how many of us have THAT kind of money laying around). No ,I'm talking about meat at your favorite grocery store, when ground beef is at a decent price I buy about 10 lbs. Then when I get it home I separate it our into 1 pound packages and freeze it. Same goes for chicken breasts. Buying in the stores bulk pack saves you money. But you have to remember to separate it and freeze it when you get home. I just bought one of those cool devices from Reynolds


IT works great for sucking all the air out.
If I'm feeling really energetic I separate a couple pounds out and make them into patties and then put a piece of wax paper in between to keep them from sticking together. These then go into their own big bag to freeze and use later.
Here's hope your saving money.
Mary

Lifesaving kitchen device

After having spent quite a few hours in the dark last week with the power outage caused by the snow, I can tell you the one device that makes a difference to have in your kitchen. A good manual can opener. I use the one from OXO. As long as I can remember I have hated electric can openers. They never work right and they get all gunked up if your not Mr. Clean. Plus how are you going to use it when the power goes out. Manual can openers have a big advantage over electric. You can throw them in the dishwater while washing your dishes. This keeps them clean. Make sure to dry it off and put it away. This simple device is an excellent time saver.
Mary

Do you shop at Harris Teeter

If you do, make sure you take your coupons and prepare to go shopping. NOW. They just finished a complete store reset and at my local HT there are carts full of Discontinued Merchandise. And if you use a coupon you'll save even more. By the way all prices went up across the board. BUT the one bargin you will find is Milk. HT owns it's own dairy and since it's near there Distribution center transport cost aren't as high as some stores. My local HT milk is 3.59 but I know most stores in the area are over $4. But I have invested a membership to my local Costco. But buyer beware - just because it's in bulk doesn't mean it's cheaper than the regular stores. For example I bulk pack of tuna- the per can price was higher than the sale price at stores I go to regularly. NOW the other thing I did just save a bunch of money on was eggs. My local HT eggs were 2.39 a doz. I got 3 dozen at costco for 5.23. I don't normally use this many eggs in a week or two but we'll be having lots of eggs themed meals to use them up. Plus eggs are quick and make an easy meal. We have breakfast for dinner alot. So you have to do your homework when it comes to these big bulk purchases. otherwise you end up with stuff that you don't need and goes bad.
Happy Shopping.
Mary

Have you forgotten your New years Resolution yet.

My New Year's Resolution
Mine was to become more tolerate of ignorant people.
I'm reminded of mine every morning on my commute to work.
Mary

Pay it forward- giving to charity

Here is a simple way to give to charity. The only reward you'll get is the satisfaction in knowing that your helping in your own way. Use a search engine known as GOODSEARCH. This each engine pays the organization 1 cent for every search. It has pays when you shop online through their portal. I've used the shop on line several times thru the holidays.It earns money for the organization and saves me gas money. I downloaded the toolbar and use it to do my everyday searches. Think about it? How many times during the day do you use a search engine? I use mine every time I'm online.
So GOODSEARCH and you'll feel like you're helping in your own way.
Mary
FYI- there are many charities to choose from.

Crock Pot is a wonderful thing

As a busy mom, I'm finding the crock pot is a valuable time saver. I found a wonderful book called Home Tested Slow Cooker Recipes. It's wonderful. I even had dear hubby make a chili for us one night. We used the crock pot about 3 times last week. It was great. I threw everything in when I got up and when it's was time for dinner the main course was done. Hubby used the Chili Recipe.
He had to brown up 2 lbs of ground beef. Then added that to the 4- 8oz cans of tomato sauce and 3 - 15 oz cans of chili spiced kidney beans. Throw it all in slow cooker ond high he was done in 3 hours. you can cook all day on low for 6-8 hours. the Chili spiced kidney beans are a real money saver. I like them because then I don't have to go out and buy a bunch of spices that never get used again. This book contains lots of down to earth recipes that anyone can do, that's me I'm not Emeril Thanks God.
Check your local thrift store especially right now after christmas when everyone's bringing in their older appliances because they got new. I sell standard crock pots for 5-10 in my store. I'll try to find a link for the book and post here for you. so far we tried 4 of the recipes and will be trying some more in the next couple of weeks. As we try to use up what's left in freezer and fridge.
Mary
Below is link to the book I mentioned above and the other link is the kind of crock I use. You can buy crock pots anywhere. But spend the extraa money and get a removeable crock.