Coupons

Save Money on Your Groceries

There are lots of ways to cut your grocery bill. We all have sometime and some money...if you are willing to spend a little time, you can save a bundle of money!

Here are a few ideas:

• Coupon Container - find something that works for you that you can put coupons in that is safe and secure. (I find mine upside down occasionally and I am very grateful it locks closed.) This is an inexpensive box from Walmart that I made my own cards for.

You can make the cards according to what you and your family need. I keep this box in my car at all times except for Sunday's when I am going through the paper.

• Use coupon. For the greatest savings, use multiple counpons and combine with grocery stores sales. Several Methods:

1. Order newspapers - I order three newspapers. It runs about $33/yer for the Sunday paper. I see that return in a month. Grocery stores will usually accept up to 3 coupons of the same type. This way you can also build up your food storage.
2. Remove coupon inserts, stack coupons, staple, and cut once. (if that doesn't make sense ask.)
3. File coupons in organizer
4. Check out the sale flyers and make your list. Our grocery store sends out a mailer on Thursdays in the mail and again in the paper on Sunday.
5. Rather than plan menus then making your list, buy what's on sale, stock up, and plan menus around what you have.
6. This will increase you food storage. Remember, you also want to have a supply of non-food items. ( if you have to live off your food storage, wouldn't you like to have toilet paper?) This will also eliminate buying things at full price because you ran out. Other than fresh produce and dairy, you can store just about everything(especially if you have a freezer).
7. Use websites. www.thegrocerygame.com (subscription website) www.couponmom.com (free but requires registration) There are many other ones. Let's share as we find them.
8. couponmom.com has a virtual coupon organizer, enabling you to chose, sort, and clip only the coupons you plan to use. It also has losof other free stuff, retarant coupons, and grocery deals by state. You can match up your coupons to what's on sale that week.
9. Find which grocery stores double coupon. A lot of your savings will come from double couponing.
10. Check all adds. Sometimes the drug stores have the best deals. Be willing to drive around to different stores. (also, Walmart might seem the cheapest, but price shop because it isn't. It is worth shopping around.
11. Don't be a brand shopper. Be willing to buy what is on sale at the best price.

Let me know if you have any questions and feel free to add to this. This is what I have found works best for us here. You might have some pointers I haven't thought of.

Only 4 things for food storage?

4At church we had a class on being prepared. It was really interesting. The speaker had done a lot of research. She gave the history of food storage given by the prophets. Right now they recommend having at least a three month supply. If you can't do that right now, you will still benefit from a weeks supply. In the March Ensign there is an article "Family Home Storage: A New Message" President Hinkley said "We can begin ever so modestly. We can begin with a one week's food supply and gradually build it to a month, and then to three months."

The speaker also talked about the four things everyone should have in thier food storage. 1-Wheat 2- Honey 3- Salt 4-Milk. She said if you store them right they will never go bad.

I looked up Powdered Milk on-line. You can buy powdered milk in many containers. One I found sold it in 5 lb. buckets for $25.00 each. I called them to see how long the milk was good for. The customer service rep said that it doesn't go bad as long as you keep in out of sunlight and store it at room tempature. I haven't got around to checking out the others.

I might not be able to have a huge supply now but I can build up to it.

Prayer

I was reading on a friends blog today. Her husband lost his job and is looking for a new one. Thankfully they have a big tax return and a 3 onth food storage. I was moved by her testimony. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in trying to save money and cut costs to help out the family budget, I forget to include the Lord. I truly believe that he will give me comfort and strength when I ask (maybe when I don't). Matt and I have been blessed with family and friends that will help if we need. And vice versa. I have struggled with going back to work. Everytime I get serious, Jack finds out (big ears) and he gets really upset. Or I come across a talk or article in the Ensign that talks about the important role of a mother in a home. I have recommited myself to cut costs and spend everyone elses money(lol). If it means not having new, nice, cool, stylish shoes so Jack can be happy and secure than I'll do it. Ok I'm off my soapbox now.

This has been set up so the Christensen girls, and anyone we can adopt into the group, can share ideas on Provident Living. We having seemingly just passed through 7 "fat" years and over the last year begun what may be 7 "lean" years. That alone should be enough to "use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without". Regardless, living well means obeying the commandments, living on less than we make and making the most of what we have. Joyfully we can seek to do better than we have as we help each other.

I, most gratefully, have seen the next generation, the Christensen girls, taking care of each other and their families. Let's continue, on a near daily basis, as we post new ideas making the most of our resources. From eldest to youngest I have watched you girls share and provide for each other. Keep up this good work that is both temporal and spiritual.

I will begin with some ideas that Tanya and I have discussed while Dad and have been in Wyoming.

1. Use a dryer sheets more than once. (Molly's idea actually) It will go at least 2 dryings.
2. Try store brand items, some will work, some won't but you can save a bunch.
3. Buy in bulk with friends and split the big quantities with friends. Get the savings without the loss of quality as food gets freezer burn or shelf stale.
4. Make croutons by cutting old hamburger/hot dog/plain bread into cubes. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and dried herbs, then heat for 15 minutes at 375 degrees, turning once. Would this make a good neighborhood gift, put in a pint/quart canning jar and tied with a Christmas ribbon?
5. Several of us have mentioned having couponing classes in our wards. Share the knowledge. My ward hasn't done it yet.