How I Shop: A Tutorial for Saving On The Basics

Every so often, people ask me how I am able to save so much money on everyday items. Sometimes it's the patient customer behind me in line, and other times, it is the sales clerk. Sometimes it's a curious friend. But they always want to know how I do it.

Well, there's no quick answer. And there's no easy answer. There are no get-rich-quick ideas here. It's a combination of hard work and passion. Saving money is truly a thrill of mine. I love the rush I get from saving 20, 30 or 60 percent on my grocery bill. I love getting free or next to free items.

So, I've decided to put together a little tutorial for saving money on groceries, personal care items, and household supplies.

First off, recognize that this will take some time. I've been doing this frugal living bit for seven years now, and I still spend an hour or two a week finding deals. (If I counted all the time I put in on the blog, it would be a lot more!). When I first started couponing, it would take me two or three hour blocks to figure it all out. It gets easier once you know where to look for deals and have a good coupon stash assembled.

I have a good organization system for coupons. You have to find what works best for you. I personally have a coupon binder that is organized by types of products (baby, cleaning and laundry, dairy, etc.). I like to see all of my coupons at once, so I like using the binder.

I clip coupons from the Sunday papers once a week, usually while watching television. We get three different newspapers on Sunday (my hubby and I are former journalists!) and my parents also give us their coupon leftovers. I also have a very sweet uncle who sends me all the diaper/baby coupons in the mail. I'm learning to be more selective in my clipping... but if there's a chance at all that I may use a product, I clip it... you never know when a really amazing sale will come along. Read some more about couponing here.

You need to have a sense of what you already have. I like to establish a stockpile of stuff when it's on sale so that I can make it last until the next great sale. A current inventory will help you know where to fill in the gaps. Committing to building a stockpile does take some money up front, but once you get a good stash of stuff, it's really nice to not have to go to the store as often. Because of my stockpiling, I don't set a weekly budget for groceries. Instead I think more on a monthly basis. Depending on the sales, I may have one month that I spend $350 and another month I spend $160.

You should also know your prices. Some people keep a price book, where they write down the best price on a given item. I am such a deal hound, that I've committed most prices to memory and don't need a price book anymore. (I am SO ready for the Price is Right!)

I look at all the sales fliers for my area: Super One Foods, Ogles Marketplace (local), Cub Foods, Kmart, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart and see if anything leaps out at me as being a good deal.

I'll match up coupons to good deals in the fliers... which makes them an even better deal. To save time, I always check out the following websites for other deals: Coupon Mom, Money Saving Mom, A Full Cup, Hot Coupon World, The Centsible Sawyer, Centsible Shopper, Sisterly Savings; sometimes I'll peruse a few others if I have time. (Check out my blog roll (at right) for ideas). Usually these sites have links to printable coupons that I can also use for more savings.

I then check out Baby Cheapskate for the best diaper deals and Freebies4Mom to make sure I'm not missing out on some free stuff.

Then I make my shopping list. I pay close attention to what things we need immediately, and what things would be good to stock up on if there's a decent sale. Some weeks there are NO good deals... so I don't shop at all! How can I do this? Well, I have my stockpile! I simply pull items from my pantry or freezer. On these off weeks, I still may buy milk or fresh fruit, but that's it.

I like to shop by myself. I love my family, but they distract me on my money saving mission. I like being able to take my time to evaluate the deals.... or discover clearance/discounted items. I don't have that kind of time with three little boys.

If I don't find the deal I'm looking for in the store, I usually don't buy the item. I just file the coupon back in my binder for a better day. I try very hard to stick to my list, and I really think about sale items before I put them in my cart... it must be something I will use.

I try to hit several stores in a day. A trip to town costs $8 for me now, and I don't get out much without the kids, so I combine all my errands into one trip.

So that's how I shop. In May, I was able to save nearly $300 using these methods. I'm on my way to a $200 savings for June.

What are some ways you save on the basics? Do you have any favorite resources?

Saving Money On Food

It's really easy to lament the high cost of groceries and accept that that's the way it's going to be.

Or you can take a look in your pantry and freezer and think a little harder about what you could do to stretch your grocery budget.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Cut back on meat. Make one meal a week meatless. Make a veggie pizza, a quiche, or bean burritos. You can use less meat than a recipe calls for. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 lb of ground beef, try to use 1/2 lb instead. I buy family packs of ground beef when it's on sale, and then I repackage them into 1lb increments and freeze them. If I froze the meat in 3/4 lb packages instead of 1 lb, I would get 2 extra meals out of a family pack. Most of the time, you'd never miss the 1/4 lb of meat. Eating less meat is just plain good for your health, too.

Stock up when there's a good sale. I expect that all corn-based foods will increase in price because of flooding. That will also affect beef prices, too. Watch those prices, because you may find fish and chicken to be less expensive.

Don't be afraid to try cheaper cuts of meat. Many cheaper cuts of meat are great after being marinaded or put in the crock pot.

Eat more beans. They're cheap and loaded with fiber and nutrients. Read The Simple Dollar's take on beans.

Shop at the Bakery Outlets. My area has a Sara Lee Bakery Outlet and I LOVE IT. I frequently get whole grain bread for 75 cents a loaf instead of the insane $3.50 + a loaf at the grocery store. Plus it can be a great place to get hamburger buns, spices, and snacks. My store has discount days and a shopper rewards program. Sure, the stuff is near or just past its prime, but it freezes really well. I've never had any problems.

Rethink convenience. Do you need someone to cut your fruit for you? Let's get real. You can wash your own lettuce and peel your own carrots. And when you do, you'll save some money.

Shop in season and watch the news. Summer is a great time to get watermelon... not such a great time to get oranges. Are there hurricanes in Venuzuela? Then it may not be the best time to get a deal on bananas. Head to your local farmers' market and save money there.

What are some ways you stretch your money at the grocery store?

Need Help With Diaper Prices?

Need help figuring out when a good deal on diapers is really a good deal?

Angie at Baby Cheapskate has come to the rescue! She's compiled a chart of all the different size packages of Huggies, Pampers and Luvs diapers. This is critical information for those of us who are trying to figure out what the cost per diaper is. She's also included her "Price to Beat" in the chart.

Read her post here, to get all the details and the fabulous chart!

The Walmart Phenomenon

The area I live in is not new to hard economic times. It cycles in and out of recession like it's a fashion trend.

There's not a lot of shopping because of it. So when the first Walmart Super Center opened in Hibbing about eight years ago, it was THE place to be. It was a mecca for depressed shoppers starved for stores.

Because people had not had easy access to discount shopping, they instantly became drunk on the savings. It was common to hear people admire something and the response would be, "Oh, I got it at the new Walmart."

Flash forward eight years and now the locals are used to the Walmart SuperCenter. It's just another store. It's where they get their shampoo and laundry detergent. They're no longer buying stuff like it's going out of style.

A brand-new Walmart SuperCenter recently opened about 35 miles away in Grand Rapids. What struck me about this new SuperCenter, was that now Walmart was trying hard to be a bit more upscale than its competitors. There's brick on the front of it. It's a nice tan color (instead of blue and gray), and there's wood laminate flooring in certain sections of the store. The fence around the garden area is wrought iron instead of chain link.

But the people patronizing this new Walmart SuperCenter had the same dazed look those shoppers did at the grand opening of the Hibbing SuperCenter eight years ago.

They wandered the aisles, blissfully crying, "Oh, wow! I need one of those. And that's a good price." As if they need a giant plastic golden retriever or a hot pink laptop case. And there's still a lot of bragging about the new store: "I hear it's the biggest in the state."

What I noticed with this Walmart phenomenon was that it is very easy for shoppers to get caught up in all the marketing and hype and end up buying things they don't really need.

To me, it's just another place for me to save money. You still have to be able to differentiate wants and needs.

It's really just a really big Walmart. That's all.

Need Help With Savings Goals?

America Saves is a non-profit organization that can help you with your savings goals.

When you sign up, you can set goals and receive e-mails designed to help motivate you in reaching those goals. You can also find a local group to connect with like-minded people or learn how to start your own group.

The free website also has a variety of resources, such as calculators, tips, and inspriring stories.

If you're a numbers geek like I am, you can also check out DollarTimes. DollarTimes has a big selection of free calculators so you can figure out how much you'll need to save to meet your goals. There are also free budget sheets you can download.

Use Those Freebies for a Creative Gift

Michelle at Leaving Excess has a great idea for using all the great freebies she's been gathering:

She uses them to put together clever gift bags for new graduates.

Check out her post to see all of the goodies she puts in the gift bags and the clever note she writes to the lucky graduate.

I can see this idea being used for other things: a gift for a new mom or dad, a new homeowner, or a bridal shower gift.

Thanks for sharing the idea, Michelle!

Take a Kid Fishing this Weekend and Save Money

Well, not when you factor in the cost of the boat, trailer, motor, fishing pole, reel, tackle, bait, snacks....

Well, there is a chance for you to save a little money on fishing this weekend.

Take advantage of Minnesota's Take a Kid Fishing Weekend June 6-8. During the weekend, any adult over 18 can fish for free (no license needed!) when accompanied by an angler who is 16 or younger. Of course, once Monday comes, you'll need a license to fish in Minnesota.

Finding a place to fish in Minnesota is easy. Visit mndnr.gov/takemefishing on the DNR Web site. Just click on the link to Lake Finder to catch all sorts of inside information. Or, visit exploreminnesota.com to find great places to stay, play and fish. Finally, visit the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation Web site at mn.takemefishing.org to hook great tips to make the trip a success.

The DNR’s MinnAqua program, which teaches kids and adults about lake and stream ecology through angling, is planning several events corresponding to Take-A-Kid Fishing Weekend.

Events scheduled for Saturday, June 7, include:

• Children’s Fishing Clinic at Camden State Park near Lynd


• Fishing History Fun at William O’Brien State Park near Marine-on-St. Croix
  
• Fishing History Fun at Lake Bemidji near Bemidji


• Fishing History Fun at Bear Head Lake near Ely
  
• Take A Kid Trout Fishing at Whitewater State Park near Altura.

More information on these events is available online at mndnr.gov/takeakidfishing.

Fishing is such a great hobby... where else can you sit and enjoy the great outdoors and feed your family on the cheap at the same time?

Remember the saying: Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.

Now's your chance to teach a child how to fish and to respect the outdoors.

The Month in Review: Big Savings, Big Spending

The month of May carried its share of strengths and weaknesses for our finances.

On the plus side, I saved a TON of money using coupons this month. In fact, I saved a grand total of $297.97!

And we had some extra money come to us: we got our economic stimulus check and my husband's contract got settled, so he got a nice back pay check and a slight pay raise.

But we spent quite a bit more than we usually do. We bought a laptop and printer for me, a gas grill (which has been on our wish list for YEARS), and another flu bug cycled through our house, which meant a total of FIVE visits to the clinic and FOUR prescriptions. And the sickness is not done yet!

While our extra purchases messed up our May budget, we still did not mess up our overall spending plan. We budgeted for and planned for each of these expenses. We researched and talked about what we wanted. We made sure that we had the money to pay for these items in cash.

It was fun spending some of our money. But it's fun saving it, too. We realize how long it takes to save money and how quickly it disappears. We'll be back to our normal spending in June. No more big expenditures for awhile.

As for the pay raise, we are putting half of it into our "Buy a Car With Cash Fund" and the other half will help us cover our increased expenses (primarily gas and groceries). We channeled the money into our appropriate accounts right away so that we wouldn't get used to bigger pay checks. It will be nice to watch our savings grow a little bit more.

How was your month? Was your spending on track or out of whack? What's your plan for June?

Printer Problems Resolved with Persistence

I recently bought a new HP Pavilion notebook. My goal when I ordered it was to buy the best product I could afford that met my needs.

As much as I tried to resist the add-ons they always tempt you with, I could not resist adding on an all-in-one, wireless photo printer. For the longest time, I've wanted the ability to easily make photo copies (instead of using my scanner) and print straight from my computer to printer with no wires.

So, when I saw I could get a nice all-in-one with my notebook and then get a $70 mail-in-rebate on the printer, I jumped at the chance.

The only problem was that I never received the printer. Instead I got a phone call from Fed Ex telling me that it appeared my printer may have gotten wet. Actually their words were, "We opened the box and took everything out and the printer looks okay, but the box is really bad. Do you still want it?"

Well, gee, if it is electronic and it got wet, and you've removed it from it's original packaging and all, then NO, I don't want it thank you.

So Fed Ex returned it to HP saying it was damaged in transit. Unfortunately for me, I naively believed that HP would send me another printer and all would be well.

But they didn't. They just accepted it as a return and credited my credit card. When I finally called to find out where my printer was, they said I would have to re-order it.

And then there was the kicker: The customer service rep said I would no longer qualify for the $70 rebate because I wasn't ordering it at the same time as a notebook.

WHAT?!!!

I politely explained to the rep that I should qualify for the rebate because I DID order it at the same time as a notebook, and that I NEVER RECEIVED it due to no fault of mine. The rep was rather snotty and told me "well, that's the way it is" and asked me if I still wanted to re-order the printer. I told him there was no way I would re-order it unless I could get the rebate. He said there was nothing he could do. At this point, I got snotty and said, "Well I guess I'll have to buy my printer someplace else" and promptly hung up.

I was still mad about the whole thing, so I sent HP customer service an e-mail explaining my case. I got a quick response back from them that basically said they understood my problem but that I would have to call the 800 number again, ugh.

Well, I called again, and the customer service rep actually listened to my story. When I explained that I had previously been told I couldn't get the $70 rebate, he said, "Well that's ridiculous. Please hold for a moment."

When he came back, he told me he had talked to his supervisor and that I could re-order the printer (with free shipping ) and get a $70 credit on my bill! So now I will be getting my printer, and the credit and I won't have to send in for the mail-in-rebate!

I'm glad that I didn't let my anger over the situation prevent me from following through. My persistence paid off and soon I'll be printing coupons and other goodies from my new printer.

Savings Bonds Just Aren't What They Used to Be

A recent report by ABC News confirms what I have suspected for some time: U.S. Savings Bonds just aren't what they used to be.

The report says federal changes will result in Series EE savings bonds earning a "miserly" interest rate of 1.40 percent. The Treasury has also reduced the amount of savings bonds you can purchase and, according to the story, seems to be encouraging investors to purchase other types of bonds.

"Taken together, the miserly interest rates offered on savings bonds, smaller
savings bond purchases and easier access to other Treasury securities, are
likely to diminish the attractiveness of savings bonds.
Savings bonds, however, offer one major advantage you can't get from other Treasury securities -- tax-free interest is available on savings bonds if they are used to pay for college expenses by an adult meeting income limits set by the IRS.
Also, the tax on savings bond interest is deferred, meaning you do not have to pay it until you cash in your savings bond. Even with these benefits, it's tough to
recommend the trusty savings bond." --- ABC News

My grandfather always bought his grandkids a savings bond for every birthday and Christmas. Ten years ago, I had enough money to put a dent in my college education. I had a few savings bonds left after college. (My first emergency fund!) My grandfather has since passed on, and one day when I was thinking about what to do with the bonds that would help me honor his memory, I started to think about what kind of interest they were earning. I realized that the bonds were barely earning any interest at all. I could have made more interest by putting the money in my checking account! (You can find out how much yours are worth by downloading the calculator here).

I decided that the best way to honor my Grandfather would be to use the money for my sons' college education. I cashed in the Savings Bonds last fall (about $1,500 worth) and divided it into three 529 plans for my sons. They'll earn more money there, which is something my frugal grandfather would appreciate it.

Ultimately, my goal is to fund our retiremement and then worry about the kids' college fund. But it still feels good knowing that our boys will at least be able to buy a couple of textbooks in 2025.

Tips for a Tight Traveling Budget

Summer is a great time to travel. Unfortunately, with gas prices eating up our budgets, it's getting to be a challenge to find the money to travel. I will be the first to admit we don't travel much these days (with the little ones, it's a challenge), but when we do, we like to get the most bang for our buck.

One of the first things we do when we decide to go somewhere is to research, research, research. This means using the internet, the library, requesting info from state travel bureaus, and talking with friends and co-workers. Find out the best places to go and which ones to avoid so you don't waste your precious resources.

Saving on Getting There and Staying There
You can use services like Expedia and Travelocity to find deals on airline tickets, but even with the high cost of gas, it may still be cheaper to drive. Use sites like Gas Buddy to get deals on fuel.

You can use services like Hotels.com to find hotel deals, but I've had the best luck by simply calling hotels directly and asking for their best price. Take advantage of rewards programs if you stay at hotels frequently. Some programs will give you a free meal with a night's stay. Others will give you a free night's stay if you stay several nights.

My travel-savvy friend AnnMarie plans her trips based on where her friends and family are and stays with them for free. She says, "We often plan our vacations this way so we save on hotel costs but also get to catch up with old friends. When we stay with people, we usually take them out for dinner or pay for pizza delivery as a thank-you. We also don’t stay with people we hardly know, only good friends. We aren’t in it only for the savings, that’s just an added bonus."

AnnMarie also recommends Ebates for buying your tickets and car rentals. Ebates often has good deals and you'll get cash back on your purchase. Use a rewards credit card to save even more.

My frugal friend Susan frequently camps on her vacations. Once you have the equipment, it is very frugal to camp... and you really get to experience your destination.

Plan your trips during the off-season such as early summer or early fall. Hotels will be cheaper and tourist sites will be far less crowded.

Think about what you will do if the weather is unpleasant. Plan indoor and outdoor activities. Plan at least one day to do nothing. After a rigorous schedule of site-seeing and exploring, it's nice to have a relaxing day by the water.

Saving on Food and Beverages
Stay at places that have free breakfasts or continental breakfasts. If your room has a fridge and a microwave, you can also save money on snacks and meals. I know a hockey mom who brings her crockpot and a pizza oven on hockey road trips. All the kids and parents come back to her room after the tournament and they get a hot, inexpensive meal.

If you'll be out doing lots of walking/site-seeing, be sure to bring several refillable water bottles and a cooler. Each morning we would fill our water bottles and put them in a cooler in the car filled with free ice from the hotel. We had plenty of cheap, cool drinks for our activities.

If you're doing the road trip thing, bring your own snacks and beverages. It's much cheaper than getting them at the gas stations. Pack your own picnic lunch to avoid spendy fast food stops.

When you get to your hotel, be sure to check the lobby (and ask the front desk) about discounts that are available at local restaurants. We found coupon books in the lobby of a hotel we stayed at and saved more than $30 on eating out over the course of our trip.

And speaking of coupons, check out the Entertainment Book for the area you plan to visit. You can often get good deals this way. You can also visit Restaurant.com to find cheap gift certificates for restaurants.

Look for places where your kids can eat for free. This is a great strategy because you'll save money and know you'll get to eat in a kid-friendly atmosphere. Try My Kids Eat Free, Kiddie Menu, and All Kids Eat Free for some starting points. You may want to call ahead to the restaurant to verify that their policy hasn't changed.

Saving on Activities
One website that I find useful is Free Attractions. You can find all kinds of free things to do at that site. Be sure to ask the locals for tips, too. They know of things that are off the beaten path and what days are cheaper. For example, I recently learned that a popular museum in my area has free admission on Thursdays.

Saving on Souvenirs
As a scrapbooker, I feel that the best souvenirs are photographs. But, if you simply must buy things to remind you of your vacation, try to focus on things you will use and admire. Do you really need another shot glass or spoon? One friend of mine always buys local artwork for her house. Another buys t-shirts.

Don't buy your souvenirs at a tourist attraction. They are often cheaper elsewhere. I've found fabulous t-shirts at a local Walgreens. We got our Mount Rushmore t-shirts in Mitchell, SD, instead of Rapid City, because they were half the price.

Making Decisions for My New Laptop

I recently got a new laptop computer. I'd been stealing my husband's work laptop for a long time so that I could blog in the evenings while I watch television. Since it's his work computer, you can see where the conflict of interest was! Our desktop computer is getting older, and I wanted the flexibility of using the computer anywhere in the house.

The laptop I bought is a pretty simple, no-frills model. My primary purpose for it is to surf the internet and blog. I'll also probably do some digital scrapbooking on it as well.

While I was building the new laptop online, I realized that there were so many decisions to make. And with every decision came the opportunity to spend more money. It was difficult to weigh the value of the "upgrades." I was able to find a few ways to save money on the laptop when ordering.

First of all, I opted not to purchase Microsoft Office. The laptop comes with Microsoft Works, which has a word processor that will meet my basic computing needs. I can always use our desktop or my husband's laptop if it's absolutely necessary. This saved $149.

I did not buy anti-virus software. The computer comes with a 60-day trial of Norton. During that time, I plan to explore cheaper/free options. One thing I'm looking at is AVG's free anti-virus software. It's not as comprehensive in its protection as Norton, but it is rated well. I figure if I can couple that software with some free firewall software, I could save $50 a year on computer protection. My uncle sent me a link on security freeware that I will researching in depth.

Some software programs allow you to load them onto both a desktop and a laptop computer as long as you aren't using both at the same time. This also saves money on software expenses. I'll also be exploring educational discounts since my husband is a college instructor.

I got free shipping and a $100 rebate. I also was able to get a wireless all-in-one printer for $49. This was a splurge for me. I don't really need a new printer, but I would love the ability to photo copy things.

I recycled a laptop bag that I had from a very old laptop (think 1999, folks!) so that I could protect my new computer without having to fork out any cash. I'll recycle the old laptop too.

This wasn't my most frugal purchase, but then, I don't make big purchases like this very often. I feel that I got the best value for the money spent. And that's what matters.

Forced to Conserve Energy

Residents of Juneau, Alaska, have delved into the world of energy efficiency... not because the want to show the rest of us how "green" they are, but because they no longer have the "green" to afford basic electricity.

A major avalanche has knocked out Juneau's main hydroelectric power transmission lines, and it could be months before they are fixed, according to MSNBC. Alaska Electric Light and Power started using back-up diesel generators to power the city. But with oil prices at a record high, some people are seeing electric bills that are FIVE TIMES what they once were. The increased power costs have Juneau residents taking new measures to save electricity: eating by candlelight, turning off the computer and television, line drying their clothes.

When I was in high school, we once had a power-outage that lasted four days. It was a loooong four days. I can't imagine what it would be like to have little or no electricity for three months or more. I can't imagine what it would be like to have light bills that rivaled my mortgage bill. This story really made me think about how much energy my family uses on any given day, and gives me a new appreciation for it.

It also makes me think about things I can do (are am already doing) that could save energy around my house:

• Wash clothes in cold water
• Use Off-peak heating and water heating
• Line dry clothing
• Unplug appliances and electronics that aren't used on a regular basis
• Replace energy-sucking appliances with more energy-efficient models
• Replace my old light-bulbs with more energy-efficient compact fluorescents.
• Maximize my oven use (bake more than one thing at a time) and use my crock pot more
• Shut off the TV and computer and do things with my family

Sometimes we all need to be reminded not to take things like electricity for granted. I know the folks in Juneau won't ever do that again.

Free Style Chicken Biscuit or Sandwich at McDonalds

McDonald's will be giving away the new Southern Style Chicken Biscuit or the Southern Style Chicken Sandwich with the purchase of a beverage on Thursday, May 15.

McDonald's is using the question "What came first, the chicken or the egg?" to launch the advertising campaign for their new additions to the breakfast and lunch menus. The website, which outlines the May 15th deal, allows you to settle the debate with a "dance off" between chicken and egg, that you can personalize with photos of friends and family. So even if you don't want to try the new menu items, you can still be entertained for free.

ECFE and Recipes for Kid Stuff

My sons and I attend Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes once a week during the school year. My boys have a great time, and I really enjoy "parent time" as well. ECFE classes are definitely worth every penny. I've learned so much and made new friends. My sons are learning things, making friends and having fun.

One of the things I've learned from ECFE is how to look at things with new eyes. So many times people get caught up in the thinking that all things fun must come from a toy store. I've learned to see new life in paper plates, coffee cans, and empty milk cartons.

I've also learned about new resources in the community - such as the Children's Fair we went to a couple of weekends ago. My kids had a GREAT time at the carnival and they got loads of wonderful goodies - books, sunglasses, beach balls, toys... we'll definitely go back next year.

Probably one of the most helpful things ECFE has taught me is how to keep my kids entertained on rainy days when there's nothing to do and not a lot of money. The staff has happily shared with me their recipes and ideas for art projects.

I thought I would share a couple of the recipes they gave me. (Keep in mind: these are the recipes they use for their classes, so they do produce large quantities. If you don't have a lot of kids, you may want to reduce the recipes.)

Homemade Play Dough
3 cups flour
1-1/2 cups salt
1/4 cup oil
3 cups water
3 tbs Cream of Tartar
food coloring/Kool Aid

Mix dry ingredients in a bowl. Set aside. Heat water to boil, food coloring and oil. Carefully pour boiling water into dry ingredients, stir. As mixture becomes cool enough to touch, mix with hands. Turn out onto counter and continue kneading until all ingredients have been mixed through. Store in an air-tight baggie. Will keep for quite awhile. When play dough starts to crumble, make a new batch.

Bubble Solution
1/3 dish soap or baby shampoo
1-1/4 cup water
drop of food coloring (optional)
2 tsp of sugar

Combine ingredients and pour into an unbreakable bottle. To blow bubbles, experiment using plastic straws, pipe cleaners formed into loops, strawberry baskets from the grocery store, slotted spoons or any other items you can think of.

Check Out Grocery Gathering for Savings

BeCentsAble has been developing a great new feature called "The Grocery Gathering."

Grocery Gathering matches sale prices with printable coupons and coupons from the Sunday inserts to help you get the best deals. The site is FREE and has listings for dozens of stores. It's updated every Monday and Thursday. The best part about it is that the site is interactive, so if there's a deal you found, you can easily share it with others. It's slowing turning into a great little money-saving community. Their mission is to be a one-stop shop for grocery savings.

Visit Grocery Gathering this week and tell them what you think and participate on the site for a chance to win a $100 and many other prizes.

Saving with Homemade Cleaners

I've been thinking a lot this past week about spring cleaning. Please note that I said thinking and not actually cleaning.

Anyway, I found these cute little recipe cards with easy and cheap homemade cleaning recipes on them through Keep It Cheap. Keep It Cheap is a really neat website that is all about reducing, reusing, and recyling in the name of frugality.

Making your own household cleaners is a great way to save money and be kinder to the environment. And in some cases, the homemade cleaners work better than the store-bought ones.

Reflections on Making My Own Baby Food

My twins are now 10-months old, and thankfully, they're starting to eat more "people" food. They're taking a greater interest in new tastes and textures and that means they get to share the family meal (mushed up, of course) and are slowly pulling away from baby staples like pureed carrots and squash.

I've been making baby food for the twins for five months now, and I must admit, I am so happy that the end is in sight when it comes to baby food. I thought those of you who are parents may want to know my thoughts on the whole homemade baby food process.

My main motivator was definitely economics. I estimate that I saved approximately $135 over the last five months by making my own baby food. And it really only took a couple of hours every two weeks. (Keep in mind I was making food for TWO babies... with a singleton, your cooking sessions would last much longer).

I found that there are lots of resources on homemade baby food available at the public library. I also love the website Wholesome Baby Food. It has lots of great information on how to get started, what kinds of foods freeze well, and recipes and tips.

I initially bought these little cubes for food storage. But as the babies ate more, I decided that I preferred these Rubbermaid containers. It was quicker to fill the larger containers and they don't break when you drop them, unlike the baby food cubes. Many friends have told me they used ice cube trays, and I tried it once, but didn't find it as convenient as some other containers.

I learned to take short cuts when it made sense. For example, it was easier and cheaper for me to buy regular ol' unsweetened applesauce than it was for me to buy the apples, peel and core, them, and make them into my own applesauce. I also found some great deals on frozen vegetables that steam in the bag. This made making things like green beans, carrots, and peas, faster and cheaper than buying the fresh stuff.

I did a lot of double duty. I roasted squash while I was baking sweet potatoes. I cooked chicken breasts in my crock pot while I made a pot of pears on my stove.

I found that I liked knowing exactly what was in my babies' food. I discovered that they had less tummy upsets and spit-ups when they ate food I had made instead of food I'd bought. I also found that the boys were able to try finger foods and thicker textures sooner than my first son had when he was eating all store-bought baby food.

I highly recommend making your own baby food. It's economical and better for your baby and the environment. The homemade stuff just smells and tastes so much better than store-bought!

Mosquitoes, Ticks & My Dog

One of the least frugal things I do involves our little Cairn Terrier, Molly. I take Mo-Dog (as she is affectionately known) to a vet that I know is a bit pricier than other vets in my area.

I do this because I believe the quality of care is far better. Mo-Dog is not a pet - she's a member of our family and I've gone to more than a few vets that treat her like an animal... The vet we currently take her to treats her like people!

But in the back of my frugal mind, I can't help but wonder if I'm getting a little raked over the coals when it comes to paying for certain pet medications. Here's a little background: We live at the crossroads of Mosquito Land and Tick Central, so it is imperative that our dog be protected against heartworm and Lyme's disease. We also don't want the cute little fur ball dragging any ticks into the house.

So each year, we take Mo-Dog to the vet to get tested for heartworm and Lyme's disease. She gets the Lyme's vaccine and then the vet sells us Frontline Plus and Iverhart Max to ward off fleas and ticks and prevent heartworm, respectively. Fortunately my dog only weighs 18 pounds, so she has the smallest doses of these meds. It still totals $120 for a six-month supply!

At this year's visit, the vet told me that I could give Molly the Iverhart Max year-round (instead of just during prime mosquito season), and then she wouldn't have to have the heartworm test for two years (instead of every year). They also said that the Iverhart Max has the bonus effect of acting as a de-wormer.

When I did the math, it is slightly cheaper to just have the dog get the test every year than to buy a year's supply of Iverhart ($58 versus $53). But if you factor in the cost of gas and the inconvenience of dragging the dog to the vet, the whole thing is a wash.

I also was not happy with the $91 tab for Frontline Plus (to prevent fleas and ticks). The vet did give me an extra dose for free, but it's still pricey.

The whole thing got me wondering if I couldn't find an online resource with better prices.

Here's what I found when I looked at some of the most common pet supply websites. (My findings are based on a 6-month supply for a dog weighing under 22 pounds):

1800PetMeds had Frontline Plus for $81.99 and free shipping. I could save $9.21. Iverhart Max was $21.99... a savings of $7.11. The 1800PetMeds website says it will price match its competitors and still give you free shipping on orders over $39. There's also a coupon code (AM46) that I saw in the April 27 Smartsource, that could save an additional $5 on my order.

Doctors Foster & Smith is having a sale through May 12... only $68.99 and free shipping. This is a savings of $22.21!! Iverhart Max was also a good deal here... only $13.14 versus the $29.10 the vet charged me.

PetCo had Frontline Plus for $88.99... for a meager savings of $2.21. PetCo has free shipping on orders over $50. They did not carry Iverhart Max.

PetSmart doesn't carry either of these medications.

PetCareRx had Frontline Plus for $77.99 for a savings of 13.21. Iverhart Max was $9.11 cheaper than my vet. PetCareRx apparently has a rewards program called Pet Points that offers you a $5 discount for every $100 you spend with them. The offer free shipping and $5 back on orders over $35 if you use the code GOOGLE CLICK at check-out.

Based on the above findings, Doctors Foster & Smith were the clear winners. If I had ordered my pet meds through them instead of through my vet, I would have saved more than $35! It would also be cheaper to buy a year's supply of the Iverhart Max from here than to take Mo-Dog for the annual test! It just shows me that I should have done my homework before I took the dog to the vet!

I did discover one catch to the online ordering. The Iverhart Max is a prescription medication, so you have to get your vet to fill out some paperwork for you before you can order it online. The Frontline Plus can be ordered without a prescription. Many of the above websites' deals are ending within the next week, so if you're in the market for these products be sure to order soon.

I plan on calling my vet this week to see if they'll price match. If they will, I'd rather give the local people my business. If not, I'll still have time to do the paperwork and reap the savings before the online sales end.

Should You Be Stockpiling Food?

With major warehouse clubs like Sam's and Costco rationing the amount of rice customers can buy, many folks are wondering if they should be stockpiling food.

Brett Arends, a columnist for WSJ.com, said on the Fox Business show "Cavuto" that it might make financial sense to stockpile food. He points out that if your money is earning 3 percent in a savings account, but food prices are increasing 5 to 15 percent, it may make more sense to stock up on some of those goods.

He cautioned people not to go "panic buying" but instead do "shrewd buying."

I already do "shrewd buying." I've been stockpiling food and other goods since I first got bitten by the frugality bug 7 years ago (and no, I don't have food that old in my pantry!). I do what author Mary Hunt calls "Reserve Shopping." When I see a great sale on a product I normally would buy, I combine that sale with coupons and stock up on it. This reserve of food, toiletries and other household items, has gotten us through some lean times (as well as a snow storm or two). And it's also saved us a lot of money. We rarely pay full price for any of these things because we buy enough to last us until the next great sale. As Annette and Steve Economides say in "America's Cheapest Family," think of food as a commodity... you want to buy when prices are low. A well-stocked pantry can become a secondary emergency fund of sorts, if you buy wisely.

I'm not worried about running out of food any time soon. I can ride out this "shortage."

The segment on the Cavuto show made me smile. When I first started living frugally, there were people that scoffed at it. Now they want to know how to do it. Interesting.