Coupon Saving Tips

In this crazy economy, every Working Diva has to watch her pennies closely. Just like when we wait for a sale to get the shoes we have been dying for...we must have the same mentality when it comes to shopping for our groceries. I had a neighbor that was able to save $60 dollars a month buy using coupons. I'm not a coupon clipper superstar, but with these tips from the free e-book, “Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half” from CouponMom.com, we can get on the right track. Read.Enjoy.Share!

1. Know Your Top 10 Grocery Items.What do you consume the most? For example, growing up our household always had milk, eggs, and bread on the shopping list. Make a list of the items you regularly consume. If you track just the prices of these specific items you can reap major savings. Make a list of your “top 10″. Then compare the prices, apples-to-apples and week-to-week, in the stores you shop.

2. Does Your Store “Double Coupon”?Common sense says that the store brand is generally less expensive than the name brand. But, if your store doubles coupons a name brand item can end up costing less than the store brand. The secret is to track your top 10 items so you know first when the price is the lowest and second, if/when a coupon will be doubled.

3. How Is “Buy One, Get One Free” Calculated?Ask your store manager how the “buy one, get one free” is calculated. Does one item ring up full price and the second item free? Or are both items rung in at half price? If the latter you can legitimately use two coupons for the purchase, thus saving more!

4. Can Coupons Be Electronically Delivered to Your Loyalty Card?Some stores will automatically add coupons to your loyalty card so there is no need to cut them out of the paper, or remember to bring them with you! You can find out by going to the website of your favorite grocery store. If you use Upromise to save for college or pay off your student loans you can also link coupons electronically to your debit card.

5. Will the Store Email You Coupons or Weekly Circulars?If you subscribe to several grocery “weeklies” you can quickly see who has the best prices for your Top 10 items. Sometimes stores will email you coupons you can print at home, too. Keep all your coupons in an organized folder.

6. Can You Join Specific Programs Like “Pet Care”?Some stores will provide coupons for different shopper demographics. For example, new mothers can sometimes get emails for discounts on baby care items. Pet owners can get discounts based on the pets in a household.

7. Does Your Store Accept Competitors Coupons?If so, it makes it a lot easier to choose which store to patronize. Choose the one with the best deals for you.

8. Are There Additional Loyalty Card Perks?Will you get a money-off coupon if you spend a certain amount at their store? If so, know the threshold and factor that into your shopping decisions.

9. Can You Use Both “Store Coupons” and “Manufacturer’s Coupons” on the Same Item?Some grocery stores allow you to double up. If so, you can use the coupon issued for the store AND a manufacturer’s coupon and double your savings. Buy when an item is already reduced and you’ve got greater savings.

10. Are There Coupon Limits for the Same Order?Some stores impose a coupon limit for each visit. No problem. Just send your kid, friend, spouse, or partner through another line with the other items to take advantage of deep discounts. Consider splitting large bounties with the person who helped you buy at a discount.Is that all? Hardly. There’s a reason some coupon clippers are self-described “fanatics”. Even casual coupon use can save you some money if you’re buying something you regularly use. Meet One of Our Very Own Coupon-a-holics.

Cut your grocery bill now! by Jennifer Openshaw

Before you head to the grocery store this weekend to stock up your shelves. Read this and SAVE!

Seven ways to avoid the cash traps at your local grocer:

Running into the store to pick up a gallon of milk for tomorrow’s breakfast? Don’t be surprised if you end up leaving with a lot more than you initially wanted to buy.

Just as a department store is designed to make you walk through the costly perfume and cosmetics counter (and, they hope, stop for an impulse buy), grocery stores force you to walk buy stuff you’re likely to toss into your cart on a whim. To get to the dairy case at the back of the store, for instance, you have to walk past all sorts of enticing products like Super Bowl Sunday party goods and vegetables (we all feel like we should be buying those, right?).

For years, Marcie Rothman has been giving this advice to shoppers: “Stick to the outside aisles.” Marcie, who goes by the moniker The 5 Dollar Chef (see her site), points out that the real food — the unprocessed, fresh, and less expensive stuff, is generally found on the perimeter of the stores.

And if you limit your spending to meat, produce, and dairy, and skip strolling up and down the aisles filled with expensive pre-packaged products, you’ll spend less. “Making your own food is healthier, and it doesn’t take any longer to cook real food than something out of a box,” she says.

Research shows that the average American spends 30 percent of their monthly budget on food, so even a small savings can make a difference week after week. Karen Schuppert, who blogs about healthy eating (see blog), recently shared a list of expensive grocery store items that budget conscious shoppers should avoid.

Cut the following out and you’ll your bill down immediately:
Bagged salad — These can be a time-saver, but they can cost three times as much as buying the same amount as an ordinary head of lettuce. “Salad kits,” where you get some greens, a small bag of dressing, and a small bag of croutons — are even more expensive.
Energy or protein bars — They’re often stacked at the checkout counter for impulse buyers who grab them for a quick health fix. They are high in sugar and fat and about as “wholesome” as a candy bar. They’re also two to three times as expensive.
Spice mixes — Things like grill seasoning and rib rubs might seem like a good buy because they contain spices that you would have to buy individually. But once again, it pays to read labels. Usually the first ingredient you see is salt, followed by a few herbs and spices. Look in your own pantry; you’ll be surprised to discover just how many herbs you already have on hand.
Bottled water — This is a bad investment for many reasons. It’s expensive compared to what’s coming out of the tap, its cost to the environment is high, and it’s often no better for your health than what’s running down your drain.
Boxed rice “entree” or side-dish mixes — These consist basically of rice, salt, and spices — yet they’re priced way beyond the ingredients sold individually. Yes, there are a few flavorings included, but again, you probably have them in your pantry. Buy a bag of brown rice, measure out what you need, add your own herbs and other seasonings, and voila! You’ve just saved some money, and prepared something that likely tastes better than what you were going to buy.
Pre-formed meat patties — These are handy, but they’re more expensive than buying the ground meat in bulk and making patties yourself.
Tomato-based pasta sauces – These may run $2 to $6 a jar, while the equivalent amount of canned tomatoes is often under $1. So, try making your own sauces from canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes. Put the tomatoes into a skillet, stir in some wine or wine vinegar, your favorite herbs, and whatever chopped vegetables you like in your sauce—garlic, peppers, onions, mushrooms, even carrots—and let simmer for an hour. Easy!

Avoiding these cashtraps will make a real difference in how much you spend each week. This has an impact on you as a consumer, but what about the flip side — what does the change in grocery store habits mean to American companies?

The latest earnings reports just arrived for several large consumer product companies, including Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG), Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB), and Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL). Laundry detergent, diapers, toothpaste, and other staples are all expected to suffer as consumers cut costs by avoiding cashtraps and by purchasing store brands instead of name brands where they can. While you change your own shopping habits, think about how changing consumer habits could affect your portfolio, too.

Jennifer Openshaw, author of The Millionaire Zone, is co-founder and president of WeSeed, whose mission is to enable people to discover the stockmarket in their everyday lives through their passions, their fashion, their careers, their kids and the brands they know and love. You can reach her at jopenshaw@weseed.com.
(source: yahoo.com)

New Year's Eve on a Budget

Working Divas...it's time to put on your hottest heels and kick up for the New Year. Going out may not be an option, but you can have a great gathering for less. Check out these great ideas from wisebread.com. Now start calling your friends and celebrate 2009!

Keep The Food Simple
It's tough to have a New Year's Eve bash without food and drinks! Keeping your party expenses on a budget is possible if you remember to keep it simple. You don't have to serve a three course meal to entertain party guests – go for finger foods and appetizers! They're easier to serve, easier to eat while standing around chatting with friends, and far less expensive than trying to feed a big crowd a full meal. If you start your party later in the evening, most guests will have dinner before they arrive, anyway!
Ask everyone on the guest list to bring along their favorite snack or dessert to share. This is becoming extremely commonplace and surely your friends and family will be more than happy to contribute to the party.
Stock The Bar
Most home party goers would not expect you to have a full bar. One way to keep your beverage costs down is to decide on one or two signature drinks, such as Martini's or Daiquiri's, and then provide beer and some non-alcoholic options. Alternatively, you could ask guests to bring their own beverages, or make a fruity punch to share. Make sure everyone drinks responsilbity! If a friend has had too much to drink, select someone at your gathering to drive them home.
How do you know how much you need without overbuying (or running out half-way through the party?) You can expect guests to have two drinks each the first hour and then about one drink every hour they hang out at your party.
A Bottle of Wine: 5 servings
A Bottle of Champagne: 6 servings
One Liter Alcohol: 22 mixed drinks
Create Ambiance
You don't have to hang balloons and paper streamers all over the house to prove you're having a party. Dim the lights, light candles, and consider hanging red Christmas lights around your home to create a party ambiance. Complete the look with a red table cloth and red carnations in a pretty bowl or vase and the mood will be set for an evening of entertainment!

ENJOY!