New Printable Coupons!

Looking for new coupons? We have ‘em! Print now and enjoy the savings.

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Valentine’s Day Candy Coupon

It’s only 3 weeks until Valentine’s Day! Here’s a printable coupon to give you a head start.

Tons of New Printable Coupons!

You can never have too many coupons! Good thing, because this is a really long list of new printable coupons. (Be sure to click “read more” to see the whole list!)

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Ways To Cut Your Grocery Spending

I looked over our 2014 spending a few weeks ago and was appalled (because we didn’t really budget) at how much we spent on groceries last year. Our grocery spending came second only to our mortgage payments! We are very thrifty shoppers, believe it or not, but eating healthy is a priority for our family. When I look over lists and read books on how to cut grocery spending, I find that I’m already doing what they suggest about 90% of the time. But since we still need to cut spending, while maintaining our healthy food priority, I’m making a few more changes this year.

1. Budget. I’ve started watching our grocery spending much more closely. If I can cut our grocery spending in half, or even by a third, it would be the equivalent of me getting an additional part time job! It’s worth being vigilant about it!

2. Re-Evaluating Purchases. I’ve taken another look at the “Clean 15″ list, foods that are pretty much pesticide-free even when grown conventionally, in order to be ready to substitute foods that we normally buy organic with non-organic foods from the list. For example, I took a fresh look at the list before going shopping yesterday. Although we usually purchased frozen organic mango chunks, I opted for the non-organic frozen pineapple chunks, which were cheaper by almost $1 per pound.

I also usually buy organic onions. This time, I bought a 10 pound bag of onions for $5.

I’m on a mission.

3. Re-evaluating the meal plan. We’ve decided to have at least one, if not two, days a week without beef or chicken. I researched and researched until I found a site where I could order bulk organic dried beans. Our local Whole Foods sells organic dried black beans for $3.49/lb. I got a 25 pound bag for $1.48/lb (including shipping).

4. Reduce trips to the grocery store. I posted about this the other day. I don’t know if I can really just shop once per month; I’m aiming for twice a month for now.

What are you doing to cut your grocery bill?

A Few New Coupons!

If you’re looking for more coupons, here are a few that may interest you.

New Grocery Coupons!

Save on your next grocery store trip with these printable coupons!

Thrifty Tip: Monthly Grocery Shopping

How many times do you go to a grocery store in a week? In a month? I’d guess that, if you’re like me, you’re picking up groceries at least four times a month. Did you know that some research suggests that an average of half of what we spend at every trip to the grocery store is the result of buying things we had not planned on buying?

In their book America’s Cheapest Family, authors Steve and Annette Economides suggest a monthly cycle that incorporates meal planning and grocery shopping just once a month as a way to save time and money. I have to say that I just placed a request to check out the eight year old book from our local library because I feel inspired by their challenge.

My biggest question, upon reading about it, was how to buy produce to last for a month. Their answer is simple. You eat foods that have a shorter self life first. So, in the first week, you would eat bananas, grapes, fresh berries. Produce like pears, lettuce, cucumbers, and peppers can last up to two weeks. Other produce, like apples, celery, carrots, and cabbage can last a month.

Meanwhile, milk, bread, and most cheeses can be frozen. Are you getting the vision for saving money AND time that I am?!

If you are like me, you may be thinking about space to keep all this food. If space is an issue, how about you join me to aim for two grocery trips per month. I’m inspired to aim for one trip per month, but taking two trips may be a nice baby step along the way.

Will you join me in this personal, financial challenge? I have a feeling there will be no regretting a challenge like this one.

How many trips to the grocery store do you make each week?

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