Free Expired ItemsI went to Sprouts today and an item on my grocery list was parmesan cheese for a baked chicken dinner. I came across this brand called BelGioioso on sale for $2.99. Sounds great because there's parmesan cheese as well as 3 other cheeses so I could make pizza too, but when I checked the expiration "best by" date, it had already passed, 7 days ago!
Keep Groceries Organized to Save...To keep my groceries organized so I know what I have and don't have, I have been doing the following:
Research Saves Money When ShoppingA great way to save money is to research what you are buying first even if it is something simple like a coffee pot. You would be so surprised to see how many deals you can find online.
Download Store Coupons on Your Rewards CardI downloaded coupons to my Safeway grocery store rewards card for the very first time. Not only did I receive normal rewards card discounts of about $9.00 in savings but I also received an additional savings of about $10.00 from the downloaded coupons!
Sign Up for Local FreecycleI sign up for the freecycle yahoo posting in our area. I received some really nice furniture this way. Also in Florida, what people don't want they put on the curb, and you are free to take it. We look at the piece to see if it is good or worth redoing.
Reducing the Cost of Feeding a FamilyI was in the grocery store yesterday and was talking with a lady in the dairy section about the rising cost of food. She was very upset that her kids were eating her out of house and home.
Use a Well Organized List When Grocery ShoppingWhen shopping for groceries and household supplies, having a well organized list is one of the best money savers (and time savers) that we've tried.
Ask Butcher To Make Sale Roasts Into Ground BeefEvery few weeks the different grocery markets have London broil and top round roasts on sale. What I do is go to the butcher at the market and tell him/her that I want 10 or 15 or 20 pounds of the roasts made into ground meat.
Play Your iPod While Grocery ShoppingI have hated going to the grocery store recently. I keep getting depressed with the high prices! I went today after I went for my morning walk at the track. I continued to listen to my music with one earpiece of my iPod in.
Start Stocking Your Pantry For The HolidaysAlthough it may seem too early to think about the Holidays, they are just around the corner. There are always special recipes and favorite foods that are only prepared for these holidays.
Take Your Forgotten Coupons to Customer ServiceHere is an additional way to use your coupons: Have you ever not purchased an item you needed because you had left the coupon at home, necessitating a trip back to the store at a later date? OR worse yet, paid full price, grumbling all the while?
Buy Frugal Extras When You ShopWhen you go to the grocery store, pick-up a couple of frugal extras for your pantry, or to give to your favorite charity. Stores are always having sales or specials on canned goods.
Keeping a Master Grocery List on the ComputerAfter reviewing my grocery receipts and pantry for a month, I devised a shopping list on my computer that lists everything I use in my home, broken down into general categories like Produce/Fresh; Frozen; Pantry; Office; Toiletries/Household.