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Feed Your Family For LessWithout Extreme Couponing

©2011 Kimberlee StokesThePeacefulMom.com

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the author.

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Contents

Part 1 Background Information

Introduction 4

My Story 5

What Stores Don't Want You to Know 9

How To Save Hundreds of Dollars a Year 13

Part 2 Saving Strategies

Shopping Strategies 15

Meal Strategies 21

Planning Strategies 23

The Biggest Obstacle to Saving Money 25

A Note About Change 27

Part 3 Step by Step Plan

Quick Start Plan 29

Long Term Plan-Preliminary Work 30

Planning Day 34

Shopping Day 35

Appendix

Meal Ideas With Specific Foods 37

Multiple Store Shopping List 38

Simple Meal Planning 39

Online Resources 40

ThePeacefulMom.com Page 3

http://www.thepeacefulmom.com/

Everyone likes to save money and with the current state of the economy, using coupons as a way to save is more popular than ever. You can even watch couponing on television!

Using coupons may be popular, but is it possible to save money on groceries without extreme couponing?

In Save More◊Clip Less I'll help you do just that. I'll tell you my story of extreme couponing, why I'm no longer an extreme couponer and I'll share with you my top strategies for feeding our family of six (including three teenagers) for around $100/week or $400/month. Our budget even includes gluten free items for my daughter with a wheat allergy!

In Save More◊Clip Less I will show you:

♦What Grocery Stores Don't Want You To Know

♦One Key To Save Hundreds of Dollars A Year

♦Specific Shopping Strategies to Save More

♦The Primary Obstacle to Saving Money

♦Hot Tips to Save the Most on Dairy, Meat and Produce Items

Interested? Let's get started.




My StoryI'm sure at this point that you have seen (or at least heard of ) the TLC show Extreme Couponing. Shoppers use coupons in large quantities in order to get items for pennies and most of the couponers have large stock piles of food and toiletry items in their houses. Basements and garages are filled with canned food, diapers, shampoo, body wash and more.

Spending $2.00 to get $200 worth of groceries looks appealing, but there's a story behind the scenes. In order to get the kind of savings those shoppers receive, they spend hours researching deals and organizing coupons. Many of them admitted that they spend the equivalent of a part-time job in order to get those extreme savings.

My own extreme couponing story begins in 2007 when my then twelve year old son was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. I had returned to teaching at that point, but once my husband and I received the news about our son we determined that my staying home would better serve the needs of our family. Staying home, however, meant that our income would be cut in half. I needed ways to cut the budget, and fast!

Soon after we made the decision for me to leave work, I came across a website that talked about matching coupons with store sales to save more money on groceries. I started researching and within a few months I became quite proficient at working deals to get items for just a few cents or even free. I found this new hobby to be quite addicting and I even started a website to share my finds with friends.

Over the next two years I spent hours each week buying multiple newspapers, organizing coupons, researching deals and driving to the stores to buy those deals. I lived to see my total saved double or even triple over my total spent. On days when I saved 90% I felt an elation that rivaled illegal drug use. I began to spend more and more time searching for deals and driving to purchase them.

I was obsessed with shopping.

At first my obsession seemed positive as I looked at my shelves of food and toiletries. My kitchen cabinets were all full, and I even put an extra shelf in the adjoining laundry room and filled it with food. In my basement I had three 7 foot tall utility shelves and a 19 foot cubic chest freezer all filled with food. My children started to make fun of me because I ran out of room and had to start putting food in the bedroom and bathroom closets.

My house was being taken over by my “free” and cheap products, but I couldn't stop shopping. I had become addicted to couponing and just like a drug addiction, my extreme couponing was stealing from our family.




Extreme Couponing Stole My TimeExtreme couponing takes time. Buying papers, researching deals, ordering and organizing coupons can take 20-30 hours a week. No problem if you have the time, but for me personally couponing was taking time away from other priorities. I neglected time with my children, and my conversations with my husband and friends all centered around the best deals I had found that week. Instead of taking care of household responsibilities, I preferred to spend time on the computer looking for deals.

I also started spending more time driving to get deals. In one trip I bought the last six bottles of body wash at my local drugstore and then drove ten miles to buy more off the shelves of another store. I lost all objectivity as my goal became getting as many of the cheap products as possible, no matter how much time or gas it took.

I also had to spend time organizing my stockpile. Food items had to be rotated to ensure that nothing expired. I had to constantly inventory what I had to make sure that we were using it and replenishing it with the next sale.

Extreme Couponing Stole Our NutritionNot only did couponing take my time, it also took my desire to feed my family healthy food. While there are more and more coupons available for organic and whole foods, the majority of coupons are for processed foods. It makes sense--food manufacturers want to make money and the products with the highest profit margin are those which are cheaper to make: sugary, processed foods.

I did find coupons for dairy products, salad and even meat, but as I continued extreme couponing I found myself buying more and more processed foods and foods that contain high fructose corn syrup. My cabinets filled up with sugary cereals, crackers, cookies and other snack-type foods because those were the foods with the best coupon deals.

I'm not a nutritionist by any means, but as I have recovered from my couponing addiction I have focused more on feeding my family real food: meat, vegetables and fruit. Using coupons enabled me to save money on the items that I purchased, but the money that I spent getting coupon deals, even if they were super cheap, took money out of my budget that could be spent on these more nutritious alternatives.




Extreme Couponing Stole My Peace The most devastating effect of extreme couponing was the loss of my inner peace. My goal in life became finding and buying as many deals as possible. I began to get an adrenalin rush with each shopping trip. I nervously wondered how many items I would be able to purchase for free. I felt that I was in competition with the stores and every time my amount saved was over my amount spent I was winning. Never mind that my closets and pantry were filling up with items that would take years to finally consume.

Even though I knew I was buying more than we could use, I excused my behavior by thinking that I would donate the extra items. I once wrote a post encouraging others to buy items they wouldn't use just so they could donate them. The idea made me feel good about myself, but when I looked at the actual amount of money I spent to get those deals (buying newspapers or coupons, paying sales tax and buying “filler” items plus the gas to drive to the stores), I saw that I was spending at least $20-$25 more a month on toiletries than I had previously. I am sure that some charities would rather have my cash than my shampoo bottles.

I also noticed that I began to feel in competition with other shoppers. I wanted to beat them to the best deals and get as many items as I could. Once I bragged on my blog about clearing out the shelves with a body wash deal. A reader from another state commented that she had gone into her store early Sunday morning for the body wash and didn't find it because someone had cleared the shelves. Her husband was out of work and she needed the body wash that week.

Her comment convicted me that I was only thinking about myself, but using the idea of donating the products to rationalize my selfishness. Even if I had donated the products, I was taking away someone's ability to provide for their family by clearing the shelves of products. Truthfully, I was a selfish, greedy person and I was allowing fear to rule my life.

I had a radical problem, so there had to be a radical solution.

The Beginning of the End

As I prayed about my situation, I realized that I had to give away my huge stockpile. I found security in my shelves of food and I was depending on my own efforts to provide food for my family rather than trusting God to provide for my needs.



http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/05/the-depends-dilemma-why-i-buy-items-i-wont-use-guest-post.html


At first I resisted the idea. We were entering recession and people everywhere were encouraging stockpiling food in case the economy collapsed (sound familiar?). It only made sense to have extra food in my house, but then I read Psalm 40:4 in the Message Bible:

“Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world's 'sure thing,'

ignore what the world worships;The world's a huge stockpile (emphasis mine)

of God-wonders and God-thoughts.”

It turns out that God has His own stockpile and it's way better than mine. By depending on my own strength and trying to provide for myself I was leaving God out of the equation. I was in bondage to fear and it was ruining life: my health, my family and my relationship with God were all suffering.

A few days later I heard about a family with six children whose father had been out of work. Our family invited them to our house for a surprise and as we took bags and boxes of food to their car I felt elation far beyond any thrill I had experienced while shopping for deals. I was free and I finally had inner peace.

Finding BalancePlease don't misunderstand me. Couponing can save you money and having a supply of food in your house is a wise idea. Proverbs 21:20 says,”In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.” (NIV) The problem for me was trusting in my stockpile rather than looking to God to provide for our needs.

As I began developing more balance in my life, I realized that I could still use coupons occasionally and that I could still buy multiple sale items, I just couldn't let shopping and finding deals become the focus of my life. Sure there are amazing deals that I miss, but I have found that I can still save money without spending lots of time couponing. I would rather spend my time on things that matter more.

In the following pages of the book I will share with you the strategies that I have discovered which enable me to feed our family of six (including three teenagers) for around $100 a week ($400 a month) using only a few printable coupons. Other families of our size may be able to spend less, but we have found that a budget of this amount enables us to include meat, dairy and fresh produce items, as well as gluten free products for my daughter with allergies.

Before we get into the strategies, let me share some information about how grocery stores operate.




What Stores Don't Want You To Know

Grocery stores, like any other retail establishment, are in business to make money. They provide services and products to customers in order to make the highest profit possible. To increase those profits, they use strategies based on market research which include advertising, store design, product placement and pricing.

AdvertisingAccording to the Food Shopper Insights 2011 survey data from Packaged Facts, 31% of polled consumers who had shopped for groceries in the previous 24 hours had received, seen or heard some form of marketing communication from the retail store where they shopped. The actual percentage is probably higher because many shoppers are unaware of all of the advertising they receive. The constant barrage of media causes the human mind to subconsciously block it out.

Advertising takes the form of weekly sales circulars; television, newspaper and radio ads; internet ads through direct websites, email campaigns, pop ups on other sites and social media such as Facebook and Twitter; product promotions in conjunction with food manufacturers and any other creative way marketing executives can grab your attention. One recent trend is to place ads on the floors of some aisles. The motto seems to be “No space left behind”.

All of this information bombards us on a daily basis and it's not going away. A 2010 report from the Grocery Manufacturers Association states that “A majority of companies (55 percent) rank shopper marketing as their number one investment and will boost spending by more than 5 percent annually.”

Stores use all of this advertising to make you aware of their retail brand and to give you a positive feeling (best shopping experience, lowest prices, best meat, etc.), so that you will choose their store over the competition.

Once you've chosen a particular store, you will find that marketing research is being used to keep you as a customer. One of the primary ways that stores obtain information is through shopper loyalty cards. While you are busy watching the discounts rack up at the check out, the registers are recording your purchases. The stores then use that information to empower their arsenal of advertising tools. In order to save the most money on your groceries, you need to be aware of the stores strategies and shop in a way which counteracts them.



http://www.gmaonline.org/

http://www.packagedfacts.com/


Store Design

Have you ever gone to the store for milk and left with $40 worth of other food? You have probably been influenced by store design.

Grocery stores are arranged with the object of keeping consumers in the store as long as possible. The items that shoppers consistently buy (dairy, produce, bread) are usually placed at opposite ends of the building so that they have to walk through the entire store to get what they need. Shelves and displays are arranged to direct customers in a circuitous path so that they walk past more products. Items may even be stacked on the floor in a way that prevents shoppers from going directly to the item they entered the store to purchase.

Store executives know that the more products a customer views, the more products he is likely to purchase. These impulse purchases can double or even triple the amount a consumer planned to spend.

Executives also know that the amount of money spent in a single shopping trip is directly proportional to the amount of time spent in the store. Pleasant music, free samples and the wonderful aromas wafting from the bakery are all designed to relax you and keep you in the store so you will end up with more items in your cart (especially if you are shopping with children).

In order to save the most money, you need to steel your resolve, stick to your list and get out of the store as quickly as possible.

Product PlacementAnother way stores encourage consumers to spend more is by placing products in a certain way within the aisles. Generally more expensive products are placed at eye level because those are the items that most shoppers will choose first, especially if they are in a hurry. Sugary cereals and other kid-friendly items are placed at the eye-level of children, because market research shows that moms will buy what the kids ask for just to keep them quiet. The more boring “adult” cereals are usually found on the top and bottom shelves.

The ends of the aisles are also a problem area. End caps, as they are called, are set up to draw your attention to certain products. Consumers usually assume that the products on the end caps are sale items, but this is rarely the case.




Pricing The final tool that grocery stores use to make higher profits is pricing. Sale prices are based on consumer behavior and are advertised to get shoppers in the store, but not all sale prices are a deal. Knowing about loss leaders, seasonal sales and periodic sale cycles can help you save more money.

Loss Leaders

Grocery store executives realize that they are in stiff competition for consumer dollars. One way that they attract customers is by offering a few items at low prices. If the item is priced so low that the store takes a loss on it rather than making a profit, it is called a “loss leader”.

Think of a loss leader as bait to attract shoppers. Once the shoppers are in the store they usually purchase other items which are not on sale which enables the store to make up the loss suffered on the few sale items.




In the last few years grocery store chains have increasingly joined efforts with food manufacturers to provide special deals through sales, coupons and rebates. The manufacturers and the stores split the loss, but enjoy increased sales overall as a result of the promotions.

Sale Cycles

Stores also use regular sales cycles. Particular items will be offered for sale every eight to twelve weeks. Others will go on sale every six weeks.

Knowing the timing of sales cycles enables you to purchase enough product to last until the next sale, which means you are always paying the lowest price. For example, if you use a particular brand of olive oil and you notice that it goes on sale at your store every twelve weeks, the next time it goes on sale buy enough to last for three months. Over time, as you purchase more items at the lowest price, you will be able to save more and more money on your overall grocery bill.

Seasonal Sales

Along with periodic sales, stores offer seasonal sales based on consumer demand. Fresh ears of corn and watermelon go on sale for Memorial and Independence Day, turkey goes on sale at Thanksgiving and baking goods at Christmas time. Store executives hope that if they offer a good price on the items shoppers are planning to purchase, they will purchase other non-sale items as well.

Planning your meals around these seasonal sale items and stocking up on items at the lowest price helps you save more money.

In the next section of the book I will show you more specific shopping strategies, but first let's look at a key ingredient to saving more money.




How to Save Hundreds of Dollars A Year

Humans are creatures of habit. We find something we like and stick with it, but sticking with old habits can prevent you from truly saving money.

As you read the strategies in the next section, keep an open mind. Some strategies will be familiar to you, others may be out of your comfort zone. By being open to new ways of shopping, cooking and planning you can save hundreds of dollars a year. Choose the strategies you feel you can work with and add more over time. The power of the strategies is using them in combination, not simply trying one.

Life is a constant balance of managing limited resources of time, energy and money. In order to save money, you often have to sacrifice time just as you often have to sacrifice money to save time. You will need to decide what is important to you and find the strategies that help you meet those goals.

In Section 3 I will share a step by step plan for getting started, but first let's look at the specific strategies I use to keep our grocery bill to around $400 a month.



Part 2

Saving Strategies


Shopping StrategiesMost shoppers choose one store and buy all their groceries for the week in one trip, or they shop every couple of days and buy whatever looks good. In order to save the most money you will need to think about your shopping strategically. Your job is to counteract the store's plan to make you spend more.

Know Your PricesIn order to most effectively use the strategies below, you will need to know the actual prices of products in the stores where you shop. I will talk more about making a price book in section 3, but for now, as you shop make a mental or written record of the prices of items you normally buy. You can use your receipts and make a spread sheet when you get home, or simply write prices in a notebook or on an index card as you shop.

Knowing prices is essential to the next strategy.

Buy at The Lowest PriceThis concept may seem like a no-brainer, but most shoppers are completely unaware of how much they actually pay for food items. They believe advertising rather than taking the time to check prices for themselves.

Your goal is to buy every item at the lowest price by buying primarily sale items and buying enough to last until the next sale. This is an especially effective strategy when buying meat. In my area, for example, the lowest price for ground beef is $2.39/lb. When I find a price lower than this, I buy 10 pounds or more. I use some of the meat in meals that week, brown some with onions and make hamburger patties with the remainder. I then freeze the browned ground beef and hamburger patties for later use.

Shop Multiple StoresOne strategy you can use to buy items at the lowest price possible, is shopping at multiple stores. Shop the stores within a few miles of home or work and determine which offer the best prices in general on produce, meat, etc. You can read more details about how to choose stores in Part 3.




In my area, I was surprised to find that a local produce stand offered better prices than Walmart on fruit and vegetables. My local Winn Dixie offers the best sale prices on meat, and Save A Lot has the lowest prices on dairy products. I can occasionally find better prices by combining a printable coupon with a sale, but knowing my lowest price enables me to know when using a coupon is to my advantage.

Work with Sale CyclesAs mentioned previously, sales generally run in cycles of around 8 to 12 weeks. Watch the sales and when an item reaches a price lower than your lowest recorded price buy enough to last until the next sale.

For example, I know that in my area the lowest regular price for 28 ounce canned tomatoes is $1.09. If I find a sale price below that mark, I will buy enough to last several months. In the winter I buy more because we use the tomatoes in soups and stews. In the summer I would buy less because we rely more on fresh produce.

Bring A List Before you shop, check sales fliers from the newspaper or online, and make a list of those items you will buy at each store. The Coupon Mom website is a great resource because it shows you the percent saved on each item so you can choose the best deals.

You can use the Multiple Store Shopping List form in the Appendix of the book to record the best sale items so you know exactly what to purchase at each store.

Shop Quickly

As mentioned previously, the amount of money a consumer will spend is directly proportional to the amount of time spent in the store. In order to spend the least amount of money you will need to go directly to the items on your list.

Think of yourself as a sniper, picking off the best deals and getting out of enemy territory as quickly as possible.




Shop AlonePart of being able to shop quickly is avoiding distraction. Ask your husband to play with the kids or swap baby sitting with a friend. If you must shop with your children, you can offer them a pack of gum or other budget-friendly treat which you will give them at the end of the trip if their behavior is good. Steel your resolve and resist their requests for extra items.

Check Unit PricesConsumers have been trained to think that larger sizes are a better bargain, but you should always check unit pricing. A 24 ounce can of peaches costing $1.59 is $.06 per ounce. The 12 ounce can at $.96 is cheaper, but actually costs $.08 per ounce, so the larger can would be a better value.

If you are using a coupon, it is almost always a better value to buy the smaller size because you are saving more per unit. Some stores list unit pricing on the shelves, but it is safer to take a calculator so you can check prices for yourself.

Buy Cheaper FoodsStaple foods like beans, rice, pasta, potatoes, oatmeal and grits are almost always a better bargain than processed and prepackaged foods. Eggs, hot dogs and canned tuna are also budget friendly.

Rotating cheaper foods through your menus once a week can dramatically decrease your grocery bill. Of course, you will need to buy the unprocessed versions of foods like oatmeal, grits and rice rather than the individual flavored packets. You can find a link to budget recipes in the Appendix.

Buy in BulkIf you are buying staple foods, check into a local food co-op to get an even better deal. You can buy rice, oats, beans and other foods in 25-50 pound containers for much cheaper than you can buy them in retail stores. If you don't have a local co-op, check out Walton Feed or Azure Standard to see if they deliver to your area.




Price Match at WalmartUsing the price matching policy at Walmart can be a great time and money saver. Simply take the current ad from another store to the register and they will match the price on the same grocery item. When I use this strategy I place all the items I am price matching on the conveyer belt first and hand the cashier the ads. Once we're done with those items, I place the remaining groceries on the belt for check out. You can find a link to Walmart's official policy in the Appendix.

Save on MeatMeat can be one of the biggest expenditures in your weekly grocery budget. Try these ideas to spend less:

Buy MarkdownsFind out when your store marks down meat. Some stores discount products just before closing, others mark down first thing in the morning. Be prepared to use the meat immediately or place it in the freezer. I find that removing the packaging and placing the meat in a freezer zipper bag works better in preventing freezer burn.

Use Alternate CutsMany times cheaper cuts of meat can be substituted in recipes. A few weeks ago, I wanted to serve steak fajitas for dinner. Sirloin steak was $4.59 a pound, but sirloin tip roast was just $2.39/lb. I bought a 3 pound roast and asked the store's butcher to cut it into slices for fajitas. I saved $2.20/lb or $6.60 total! I also had enough for two meals, so I put half in the freezer for later.

Use LessWho says meat has to be the star of the show? Rather than making meals with meat as the main course, make dishes like soups and casseroles which use less meat. Combining meat with cheaper ingredients means that you can buy less meat and save more money.

Host Meatless MondaysMake one night vegetarian, just don't announce it that way. Beans and rice night can be presented as Mexican Night. Have a baked potato “bar” and a salad, or soup and homemade bread. Focus on the fun, not the fact that there's no meat.



Save on ProduceBuy in SeasonFruits and vegetables are much cheaper in the season in which they grow naturally in your area, because they don't have to be transported. Enjoy berries in summer and root vegetables in the fall and winter months to cut costs.

Buy LocallyAn easy way to buy produce in season is to buy locally grown food. Visiting the farmers market stalls near closing time can also yield savings because many vendors will sell at a discount just to avoid taking the produce home.

Compare PackagesFruits and vegetables in pre-packaged bags are not uniform in size and will vary in actual weight. Finding the heavier packages gives you more food for the same price. For apples and oranges buy the bag with the smallest pieces of fruit to get more servings per bag.

Buy Produce Past Its PrimeYou can often find markdowns on over-ripe fruit and vegetables, or ask the produce manager for a discount. For directions on how to use specific over-ripe fruits and veggies check the link in the Appendix.




Save on Dairy

Check DatesNormally it's best to choose the latest expiration date to ensure the product stays fresh longer. If you notice some products nearing the expiration date, however, ask the manager if he will mark them down.

Use Your FreezerMilk, shredded cheese and yogurt can all be frozen, so when you find a good sale buy extra. Before freezing milk or yogurt, remove some of the product from the container as these products expand when freezing.

Milk also separates during the freezing process, so you will need to shake the milk once it thaws to recombine the separated water content with the milk fat.

Flavor it YourselfIt is usually much cheaper to buy unflavored milk and yogurt and add the flavoring yourself. Buying the larger container of yogurt saves money and allows you to control the amount of sugar and artificial ingredients your children consume.

Grate Your OwnBuying block cheese and grating it yourself is usually a cheaper. If you must buy pre-grated cheese, finely shredded cheese will go further. The packages are sold by weight and weigh the same, but you can cover the same area with less by using the smaller size shreds. You can also freeze grated cheese, so stock up when you find a good sale!

Make Your OwnIf you're feeling adventurous, you can try making your own yogurt. This can be especially cost- effective if you find milk on sale.

Use LessTry breakfast alternatives like oatmeal or bagels instead of serving cereal with milk every day. If you have more extreme budget needs you can also buy a half gallon of whole milk and add water to make a gallon. If you normally use 2% milk, it will taste about the same. If you normally use whole milk you will want to implement this strategy slowly to allow your family to adjust to the taste.




Meal Strategies

Cook Basic FoodsAs mentioned in the Shopping Strategies, staple foods like grits, oatmeal and rice are generally cheaper, but not when purchased in individual serving containers or pre-seasoned mixes. For example, in my area a 42 ounce container of oats costs $2.98, while the 10 ounce package of instant oatmeal packs costs $2.88- practically the same price for one fourth of the product!

Life is always a balance of managing time and money. Sure it's easier to rip open a little paper package, add some water and microwave for one minute, but choosing this convenience costs you four times what it costs to cook the oats on the stove.

Cook from ScratchAnother way to save money is to buy the ingredients for a dish rather than purchasing it pre-made. It may seem easier to purchase that frozen pasta entree, but it's usually less expensive and healthier to make the dish from scratch.You can find a link in the Appendix for recipes on my website ThePeacefulMom.com.




Make Simple MealsAlong with using simpler foods, you can make simpler meals as well. Our family has a long standing tradition of having nachos for lunch on Sundays-- yes, just nachos. We eat a good breakfast and because we only have a few hours between lunch and dinner, everyone is fine with having a lighter meal.

Some evenings, if we arrive home late from an activity, we have a smoothie and popcorn for dinner. By simplifying and eating less, we save money.

Serve Breakfast for DinnerFoods served for breakfast like eggs and pancakes are generally cheaper than the typical dinner meal. Have an “Upside Down Day” once or twice a month and serve breakfast for dinner. You could even add some fun by serving it on upside down plates!

Use Freezer CookingOne strategy which saves me lots of time and makes cooking from scratch easier is Easy Freezer CookingTM. You may be aware of Freezer Cooking Days or Once-A-Month Cooking in which you cook a month's worth of meals in one day. Neither of these ideas worked for me because the thought of standing in the kitchen all day completely overwhelms me.

Instead of spending one day to fill my freezer with meals, I cook extra over time. For example, I buy ground beef on sale, brown it with onions and freeze it to use later in dishes like tacos, chili and lasagna. I also make double batches of baked goods, grilled chicken and casseroles. We eat the first for dinner and freeze the second dish for later. You can find links in the Appendix for more information and my Easy Freezer CookingTM Video.

Drink WaterDrinking water is not only healthier for you, but can easily save you money on your grocery bill. Beverages can account for as much as 20% of a family's weekly grocery expenditures. If you'd like to read more about the benefits of drinking water you can check the link in the Appendix to my article on Money Saving Mom.




Planning Strategies

Designate DaysI'll talk more specifically about planning your shopping in Section 3, but for now think about your schedule and choose a weekly time to shop. If you work during the day, maybe Monday after work is best for you. If you're a stay at home mom, Saturday morning when the kids can stay with dad may be your best bet. You also want to take into consideration the day that your store ads change. Designating a day for shopping creates a routine which keeps you out of the store and on track for saving money.

Keep a Running Grocery ListMaking multiple trips to the store to pick up forgotten items means more impulse purchases and more money spent unnecessarily. In order to prevent running out of items I need, I keep a grocery list on my refrigerator and mark when we open the last container of something. When I make my weekly shopping list I check the running list and add anything I need to purchase. If the item is not on sale, I usually purchase one and keep it on the list until I find a better price. You can print your own grocery list here.



http://thepeacefulmom.com/2010/12/02/free-printable-grocery-list/



Plan to Use Leftovers

Many times leftovers get lost in the back of the refrigerator and end up being thrown out, but planning to use them can save you money:

Buffet NightPlan a leftover night once a week. Raid the refrigerator for leftovers and let everyone choose a little bit of each dish from your “buffet”.

Freezer MealsThrow leftover vegetables and meat into a container to use later in soup or freeze leftover casseroles or other meals in individual serving dishes to take for lunch during the week.

Creative RecyclingMany cooked foods can be re-used in other dishes: leftover oatmeal can become oatmeal pancakes, left over rice can be turned into rice pudding and leftover mashed potatoes can become potato cakes.

Use Your Freezer

One of the primary strategies I use is planning to use my freezer and buying produce, meat and bread products at a discount. I also plan meals which will be doubled to place in the freezer as I mentioned in the Meal Strategies.

Once you are consistently using you freezer to store food, you may consider purchasing a stand alone freezer. While freezers can be found on Craigs List, it may be preferable to get yours from a scratch and dent appliance store as energy efficiency is an important part of your savings. You also don't want your freezer to die and leave you with spoiled food.

Now that you know some specific saving strategies, I want to share a step by step plan to help you get started, but first let's talk about the biggest hindrance to saving money.



http://thepeacefulmom.com/2011/06/09/usingleftovers-easy-rice-pudding/

http://thepeacefulmom.com/2011/06/18/using-leftovers-oatmeal-pancakes/

http://thepeacefulmom.com/2011/06/18/using-leftovers-oatmeal-pancakes/


The Biggest Obstacle To Saving MoneySaving the most money on your grocery bill is going to require change. Simply having information is not enough. You have to implement a plan and the biggest obstacle to that plan is YOU: your being too tired to plan, your impulse buying, your lack of motivation.

Knowing yourself and working with your personality, limitations, preferences and goals is the most important factor in determining how much money you can save.

Know Your PersonalityIn order for your plan to work, you have to know your personality. Are you a morning person or a night person? Are you detail-oriented or more of a global organizer? Are you more spontaneous or do you work better with a firm plan in place?

If you are a detail person, you will probably want to make a meal plan that schedules meals for specific days. If you are a more of a global organizer, a super-specific plan may feel stifling to you. Global organizers will work best with a list of meal possibilities for the week. Just make sure that you have all the ingredients on hand to make those meals!

If you think best between the hours of six and ten a.m., you don't want to put your grocery list together at midnight the night before. Likewise, if you think more clearly at night you don't want to do your shopping at seven in the morning.

Consider who you are and work with your personality, rather than against it.

Know Your LimitationsEvery person on the planet is faced with the same dilemma: There is a limited amount of time, energy and money available. Working within your limitations is key to successful saving.

Schedule LimitationsIf you work outside the home or if your children have a busy extra curricular schedule you may decide that although some strategies save a lot of money, they take more time than you have to give.

Physical Limitations If you are typically a low energy person or have physical problems, don't plan to cook all of your meals for the week in one day. Spread your cooking and shopping out over the week instead of completing it in one trip.




Budget Limitations

Some strategies require more money upfront and may have to wait until you have saved a little in other areas. If you have a strict budget of $75 a week, but you find an amazing deal consider serving a few super cheap meals that week to make room in the budget for the deal. If you are consistently going over the budget to buy “deals”, you're not saving money.

Know Your PreferencesIf your family loves meat, you can save money initially by serving beans four times a week, but your family will probably revolt and you will end up splurging on a steak dinner the next week. Know what your family enjoys and work within those parameters.

That doesn't mean that you can't have a couple of meatless nights. Just present them in a positive manner: “Tonight we're going to do something a little different. We're having a fun baked potato bar.” The evening you have beans and rice, make it Mexican night. Pull out that Mexican blanket (we know you have one hiding in the closet) and use it as a table cloth or have a picnic on the floor. Presentation is everything.

Know Your GoalsDecide your reasons for lowering your grocery bill. Do you need to spend less to save money for an upcoming home repair? You can use more extreme strategies knowing that you will only have to cut back for a short time.

Are you in an emergency situation because your husband lost his job? You will need to find strategies that you can maintain over a longer period of time. Oatmeal for breakfast every day may work for a few weeks, but after a couple of months you will get very tired of it.

Do you want to eat more whole foods, but save on your groceries at the same time? If so, the $.10 box of sugary, processed cereal you can buy with a coupon is not a good deal for you.

Define what you want to accomplish and choose the strategies that will best help you achieve those goals.

Once you've assessed your personality, limitations, preferences and goals you are ready to implement the saving strategies that will work best for your family. In the next section you will find my step by step plan for getting started.




A Note About ChangeAny change takes time and effort, and involves an adjustment period during which you transition from old habits and behaviors to new ones. If you have never made a menu plan before, there will be a period of trial and error. You will probably forget an ingredient that you need and have to make an extra trip or two to the store. Spreading your shopping out over three stores may not be comfortable at first. Your family may balk at dietary changes.

This adjustment period is very normal. In order to move through this transition time more smoothly be patient, change slowly, expect problems, and be positive.

Be PatientYou probably will not save $100 the first week you begin making changes. In fact, you may see a slight increase in the beginning as you buy extra sale items. Within a few weeks, however, as you keep adding strategies you will begin to see dramatic savings.

Change SlowlyAdd only one or two strategies a week. Some strategies (like creating a price book) will take longer to implement, while others may only take a few minutes. Introduce one or two new meals each week rather than overhauling your entire menu. Sometimes children have to see a new food several times before they accept it. Be patient and consistent.

Expect ProblemsDon't be surprised when you forget your price book and don't know if the sale price of the butter this week is a good price. If you need it, buy it this time and don't worry about the difference. Try using a tote bag just for grocery shopping which has your calculator and price book so you don't forget it next time.

Be Positive You can save on your groceries, your family can adapt to new ways of eating, you can learn new recipes. Change is made much easier when we can approach it with a positive attitude. If you're having a bad day, do something fun and try again the next day.

Many people try something new for a couple of weeks, become frustrated when they don't see immediate results and give up.The important thing is to keep trying.

The key to success whether you are trying to lose weight, break a bad habit or save money on your grocery bill is to consistently apply small changes over time. Grasping this truth can change you life!



Part 3Step by Step Plan


Quick Start Plan

If you are feeling overwhelmed by all this information, choose one or two of these quick strategies to implement this week:

Planning Strategies♦Check the sales ads for two local stores.

♦Make a menu based on sale items and food you currently have in the fridge, freezer and pantry. You can print a menu planning form here. Read more about Simple Menu Planning in the appendix.

For example, if boneless, skinless chicken breast is on sale this week and you have tortillas in the refrigerator, plan chicken enchiladas for dinner. If you need help with meal ideas, check out my list of Meal Ideas With Specific Foods in the Appendix.

♦Make a grocery list (you can use the Multiple Store Shopping List in the Appendix).

♦Plan to shop only once this week.

Shopping Strategies ♦Buy a small notebook to start a price book.

♦Shop two stores this week and compare prices.

♦Take your receipts and record the prices of items you bought on a spread sheet.

Meal Strategies♦Plan one meatless meal.

♦Double one meal this week and freeze half of it for later.

♦Drink water with one meal rather than soda.



http://thepeacefulmom.com/printable-meal-planners/


Long Term Plan

Preliminary Work

Step 1 Create A Price Book

This first task may seem daunting, but in order to save the most money you must know the regular prices of items you buy most often.Yes, you can check websites, but prices vary greatly by region. I often see prices for Aldi on shopping websites, but when I go into my store the prices are at least 20% more than the prices listed online. In my area Save A Lot is a better choice, but I would not have known that unless I kept track of the prices for my stores.

To start your price book, make a list of the main categories and subcategories you want to include. You can be as general or as specific as you like. For example:

DAIRY- butter, cream cheese, block cheddar, sliced provolone, milk, eggs

MEAT- boneless chicken breast, chuck roast, pork ribs, turkey, sirloin steak, sliced ham

PRODUCE- (you may want to break this category down into Fruit and Vegetables) apples, bananas, cherries, grapes, green peppers, potatoes, onions

BAKING- flour, cake mix, baking soda, salt, pepper, basil, oregano, garlic salt

CONDIMENTS- peanut butter, jelly, honey, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles

SNACKS- crackers, potato chips, pretzels, tortilla chips, salsa

BREAD ITEMS- loaf bread, hamburger buns, hot dog buns,

FROZEN- (you may want to break down to Vegetables, Fruits, Desserts, etc.) broccoli, mixed vegetables, strawberries, ice cream, popsicles

Buy a small spiral bound notebook and label each page with a category. You may want to leave a blank page or two in between categories so you can add items later.

For example, your DAIRY page may look like this:




DAIRY

FOOD ITEM STORE 1 STORE 2 STORE 3 STORE 4 STORE 5Butter 1 lb

Block Cheddar 1lbBlock Mozzarella 1 lb

Block Swiss 1 lbCottage Cheese Cream Cheese

Eggs 12 ct.Eggs 18 ct.

Heavy CreamMilk-gallon

Shredded Cheddar 8 oz.Shredded Cheddar 12 oz.Shredded Mozzarella 8 oz.Shredded Mozzarella 12 oz.

Sliced Cheddar 8 slicesSliced Provolone 8 slices

Yogurt indiv. cupsYogurt 32 oz.

Yogurt 4 oz. 6 pack

Don't worry at this point if you forget something. As you shop, you will be reminded of items you want to add.

Your PRODUCE page may look like this:




PRODUCE

FOOD ITEM STORE 1 STORE 2 STORE 3 STORE 4 STORE 5APPLES* Gala Golden Delicious Red Delicious BANANASCARROTSCABBAGECHERRIESGRAPESGREEN ONIONSGREEN PEPPERSROMAINE LETTUCE (3) RUSSET POTATOESYELLOW ONIONSWHITE ONIONS

*Record the price per pound for each item or the weight and price for bagged items like salad. For individual produce in a bag, divide the price by the number of pounds to get the per pound price.

Once you have created your price book, choose one store per week and record the prices of items as you buy them. Plan to spend 20-30 minutes extra completing this task. (note: Instead of “Store #1” you would actually write the name of the store.)

Step 2 Choose Stores

Once you have a list of the prices in your area, you can compare stores and see which ones offer the best prices in general categories. Make a list of the items that are generally cheaper at each store and choose the three stores which you will shop at most of the time.

For example, in my area Save A Lot has the best prices on produce and dairy products, Winn Dixie has the best meat prices and Walmart has the best prices on a few select items like lunch meat and boneless, skinless chicken breasts.




All three of these stores are within three miles of my home and comprise my weekly shopping circuit. You will need to choose the three or four stores in your area which offer the lowest prices on items you buy. Choose stores which are close to your home so that you don't burn up your grocery savings in gas usage!

Step 3 Schedule Your Shopping

As I mentioned in the Planning Strategies, choosing a regular day and time to shop can save you money because it forces you to plan for the week rather than running into the store to buy a few items for dinner that night. The less often you venture into the store, the fewer opportunities you will have to purchase impulse items.

When choosing a time to shop, make sure to consider your schedule and body clock. If Tuesday is a day filled with extracurricular activities for your children, it may not be the best day for shopping. If you are a night person, Monday night may be a better time to shop than early Saturday morning. If you work outside your home or have other schedule limitations, you may want to spread your shopping out over several days. You can go to two separate stores on two different evenings purchasing the lowest priced items at each store.

Step 4 Schedule Your Planning

Once you have chosen a shopping day, you will need to choose a planning day and time. Remember to work with your personality. If you are a night owl, don't schedule your planning for early in the morning.

You should also consider the day your store's sales ads change. My planning day is Wednesday because Publix is one of my primary stores and their ad changes on Thursday. By planning early I am able to shop at the beginning of the sale which ensures that I can get the sale items while they are in stock. (If I do miss something I make sure to get a raincheck.)

Scheduling your shopping and planning may be uncomfortable for you, but getting into the routine of organizing your shopping means you are more likely to shop intelligently. Arming yourself with a grocery list and menu plan means that you spend less on items because they look good. Remember, impulse purchases equal a bigger grocery bill!




Planning Day

Step 1 Check Sales

On your planning day, research the sale prices for the stores you have chosen. You can use the circulars that come in the newspaper, go directly to the store's website or use shopping sites like Coupon Mom or Money Saving Mom. Just be aware that websites may tell you that an item is a good price, but you need to verify that it's a good price for your area.

Generally large chains are more competitive and will offer more loss leaders, but have higher prices on non-sale items. Discount stores like Save A Lot and Aldi will generally have better prices on produce and staple items.

Walmart advertises low prices, but I have found that in my area there are a limited number of items which are actually priced lower than other stores. I buy those few items if I haven't found a sale, but I do not do my regular shopping at Walmart. If you are short on time, you can use the Walmart Price Matching Policy as previously mentioned in Section 2. Step 2 Make a Shopping List

You can use the Multiple Store Shopping list in the appendix, or if you're shopping at one store you can click here for a printable grocery list.

Step 3 Check the Fridge and Pantry

Check your refrigerator, freezer and pantry for items you can use in this week's meals. Remember to check your running grocery list for items you need to restock.

Step 4 Make a Menu

The next step is to make a menu including the sale items and items you have on hand. You can download a FREE printable menu planner here and you can read about Simple Menu Planning and Meal Ideas With Specific Ingredients in the Appendix.

Step 5 Add additional ingredients

Once you make your final menu, add any ingredients that you need to purchase to your shopping list and you're ready to go!






On Shopping Day

Step 1 Gather your tools

Collect your list, any printable coupons you are using, calculator, price book and reusable bags. I also bring a cooler if I am shopping on a hot day.

Step 2 Plan Your Route

Plan your trip to use the least amount of gas. If you are purchasing a large amount of frozen items at a store, you may want to visit that store last.

Step 3 Shop Like A Ninja

Once in the store head first to the meat and produce departments to check for mark downs, then quickly go directly to the sections of the store where the sale items are located. Targeting the location of the sale items rather than walking down every aisle ensures that you spend the least amount of time in the store and avoid impulse purchases.

Final WordsI hope that you find the information in Save More◊Clip Less helpful. Any money saving strategies take time to implement, whether you are using coupons or not. Just make sure that the methods you are use are helping your family rather than hurting it.

I have lots of resources on my website ThePeacefulMom.com, including my $100 Budget Weekly Menus and my Friday Shopping Totals.Take a look at some of these posts to see how I get from the grocery-shopping stage to the food-on-the-table stage.

If you have questions, please feel free to email me: [email protected].

Happy Saving!



http://thepeacefulmom.com/category/fun-friday-totals/

http://thepeacefulmom.com/category/menus/

htto://www.ThePeacefulMom.com

Appendix

Meal Ideas with Specific Foods

*Find a link to meal ideas and recipes in the Appendix. ©2011 ThePeacefulMom.com

GROUND BEEF STEAK CHICKEN PASTAHamburgers Steak, peppers & onions Chic. Salad Spaghetti/meatballsBarbecue burgers Steak fajitas Pretzel chic Ital chic & angel hairChili Steak & eggs Fried chic Fettuccini alfredoChili pie Teriyaki beef stir fry Chicken & broccoli

casseroleLasagna

Beef burritos Sirloin tips & gravy Chic fajitas Spinach LasagnaTacos Beef stroganoff White chic. chili Angel hair w/ shrimpTaco salad Shish kebab Chic. pot pie Pasta saladSpaghetti sauce Steak and mushrooms Chic. soup Bowties, ham, peasMeatloaf Grilled steak Chic. & rice casserole Mac ‘n’ cheeseMeatballs BBQ chic. nachos Rotini, ricotta, sauceLasagna BBQ chic. w/ buns Shells, peas, cheeseHamburger casserole Chicken lasagna ManicottiCheeseburger pizza Baked chic. parmesan

EGGS POTATOES CHEESE PORKScrambled w/ cheese Frittata Cheese toast Pork ChopsScrambled w/ spinach Baked potato Bar Quesadillas Pork Roast w/

potatoes & onionsFried w/ salsa Fried Potatoes Nachos BBQ Pork RoastSunny side up Cheese, Veggie and

Fruit Tray w/ saladBBQ Pork Sandwiches

Quiche Potato Soup Nachos Shredded Pork over rice

Boiled eggs Mashed Potatoes Grilled cheese/soup Sweet & Sour PorkEgg Salad Garlic Mashed

PotatoesFondue Baked Ham

Deviled Eggs Hash browns Quiche Ham & Cheese Omelet

Poached Eggs Potatoes and onions Ham SaladBreakfast tortilla Scalloped potatoes French toast Twice baked potatoesOmeletSunny side up over toast

GROUND BEEF STEAK CHICKEN PASTAHamburgers Steak, peppers &

onionsChicken Salad Spaghetti/meatballs

Barbecue burgers Steak fajitas Chicken Enchiladas Ital chic & angel hairChili Steak & eggs Fried chicken Fettuccini AlfredoChili pie Teriyaki beef stir fry Chicken & broccoli

casseroleLasagna

Beef burritos Sirloin tips & gravy Chic Fajitas Spinach LasagnaTacos Beef stroganoff White Chicken Chili Angel hair w/ shrimpTaco salad Shish kebab Chicken Pot Pie Pasta saladSpaghetti sauce Steak and mushrooms Chicken soup Bowties, ham, peasMeatloaf Grilled steak Chic. & rice casserole Mac ‘n’ cheeseMeatballs Philly Steak Sandwich BBQ chic. nachos Rotini, ricotta, sauceLasagna BBQ chic. w/ buns Shells, peas, cheeseHamburger casserole Chicken lasagna ManicottiCheeseburger pizza Baked chic. parmesan

Multiple Store Shopping List

Store 1: Store 2: Produce

Canned Goods

Cereal/Snacks

Refrigerated

Meat/Deli

Baking/Dry Goods

Bread

Frozen

Produce

Canned Goods

Cereal/Snacks

Refrigerated

Meat/Deli

Baking/Dry Goods

Bread

Frozen

Store 3: Store 4:

Produce

Canned Goods

Cereal/Snacks

Refrigerated

Meat/Deli

Baking/Dry Goods

Bread

Frozen

Produce

Canned Goods

Cereal/Snacks

Refrigerated

Meat/Deli

Baking/Dry Goods

Bread

Frozen

©2011 ThePeacefulMom.com

Simple Meal PlanningIdeas to Make Meal Planning Easier

Make a ListMake a list of your favorite dinner meals and keep the list close-by when making your menu plan. Keep a list of breakfast and lunch ideas on the refrigerator for quick reference. You can read specific meal ideas here.

Designate a Planning DayChoose a day each week to make your menu for the next week. Having a set day to plan helps you get into a routine, which makes you more likely to complete the task.

Choose a ThemeHave Mexican Monday, Soup and Salad on Wednesday and Pizza on Friday and much of your menu planning is done for you. Make theme nights fun and your family will look forward to them.

Work With Your ScheduleIf Wednesday afternoons are filled with extracurricular activities for your children, don't plan a time-consuming gourmet meal. Throw something in the crock pot so dinner is waiting. You'll be much less likely to stop at a drive-through on the way home.

Use Your FreezerCook extra on days you make freezable meals like lasagna, chicken enchiladas or other casseroles. Brown ground beef in large batches and freeze for use in recipes later in the week. You can read more about Easy Freezer Cooking here or watch my video.

©2011 ThePeacefulMom.com

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePeacefulMomVideos#p/a/u/2/eLmgNvNVZZs

http://thepeacefulmom.com/2010/02/27/easy-freezer-cooking/

http://thepeacefulmom.com/2010/02/10/menu-ideas/

Online Resources

www.ThePeacefulMom.com

Printable Planners

Printable Grocery List

Printable Meal Planners

Helpful Articles

Recipes

$100 Budget Weekly Menus

Easy Freezer Cooking

How To Use Over-Ripe Produce

Videos

Easy Menu Planning

Easy Meal Prep

Easy Freezer CookingOther

Walmart's Price Matching Policy

How To Save $500 A Year

http://moneysavingmom.com/2011/05/reader-tip-we-save-over-500-a-year-by-drinking-water.html

http://walmartstores.com/10563.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePeacefulMomVideos#p/a/u/2/eLmgNvNVZZs

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePeacefulMomVideos?feature=mhum#p/u/9/kcoDTwv1dSw

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThePeacefulMomVideos?feature=mhum#p/u/4/aWaZiGQkwbE

http://thepeacefulmom.com/2011/08/16/save-money-use-over-ripe-produce/

http://thepeacefulmom.com/2010/02/27/easy-freezer-cooking/

http://thepeacefulmom.com/category/menus/

http://thepeacefulmom.com/recipes/



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