Keeping Food Costs Down

Food costs continue to rise. It is winter time, and Farmers’ Markets will not open again until May. Extreme weather has damaged crops in warmer climates in the U. S., yet I still strive to purchase products grown in America. The HH has worked from home for three months (normally he is only home 2 1/2 days a week), and we are eating in a more healthy way.  All of these factors have caused our food spending to rise dramatically lately.

In the past, I have prided myself on my ability to keep food costs at a level well below the average for households of a similar size, despite the fact that we do not have the ability to have a garden at present.  As I’ve reviewed our recent food spending, it is apparent that I must knuckle down and watch spending. If not, I may blow our food budget in 2014, which would be the first time since the hubby and I have been married.

While saving money, especially on food expenditures, is a common topic, here are some of the strategies I use.

• Digital coupons, clipped, coupons, or printed coupons (I use the different types of coupons in the order listed)
• Watching weekly sale adds
• Using mobile apps to find deals
• Using Ibotta to get cash back when purchases are made in brick and mortar stores
• Using ebates when ordering items online
• Looking for restaurant deals on sites such as Groupon or Living Social
• Purchase an annual Entertainment book (on sale and with free shipping ONLY)
• Purchase gift cards at stores that offer points to give as gifts or use for yourself when it is money you would spend anyway at the stores or restaurants
• Earning cash back from our credit card company if we use our card to pay for food
• Earning air miles when paying for food when dining out on cards associated with dining rewards accounts
• Earn points to reduce fuel cost

Using any of these strategies to save money will help, but it is when one is able to combine several of these tools in a single transaction that one will get the most bank for his or her buck.

Ibotta App Showing Some of My Rebates Earned

Today, I went to Kroger to pick up a few things I’d left off my list yesterday.  New sales went into effect today, so I had opportunities I did not have yesterday that worked in my favor. One of the things I failed to put on yesterday’s list was toilet tissue. Cottonelle, which is normally $7.49 for a 12-roll pack at Kroger, was on sale for $5.49.  On the package was a manufacturer’s coupon for $1.50 off two packages of Cottonelle. In addition, Kroger had a promotion where items marked and bought in mix or match groups of six received another 50 cents off each item. As I went through the store, it seemed that almost everything on my list was one of the items included in the extra discount offer.  More than that, four of the items I needed were included in Ibotta rebate offers.

How did I come out? (all prices are before sales tax)

• Each 12-roll package of Cottonelle (regularly $7.49) was purchased for $4.24.
• Jamba Juice smoothie mix (regularly $3.49) was purchased for $2.49, and I got a $1.00 rebate from Ibotta, so the net cost was $1.49.
• Bag of Ore Ida Simply Fries (regularly $3.99) was purchased for $2.49, and I got a $.75 rebate from Ibotta, so the net cost was $1.74.
• Two cans of Simple Truth beans (regularly $1.00 each) were purchased for $1.00 with an e-coupon of a $1.00 when purchasing two cans.

I could continue, but there is no need; you get the idea.

Now, consider that using my cash-back credit card, when the credit card balance is paid in full each month, I am being paid to shop and use our credit card.

Finally, Kroger gives me fuel points – 1 point for every dollar spent, and these points are used to reduce the price of gasoline in 10 cent increments.  The most I have ever used when filling my car is 1,000 points for $1.00 off each gallon of gas I pumped, but I had that many points because Kroger was offering 4x the usual fuel points when purchasing gift cards. At the moment, I could fill my car with gas and pay 30 cents less per gallon than the going rate.

How do you save money on food costs?  Hopefully, I’ve given you some ideas you have not read or heard before.

Bon Appetit!

Angela

Dating Your Spouse on a Budget

Hello World!

There is something to be said for dating your spouse; it is lots of fun, especially when one can do it within budget.

The HH and I, both 50+, had let “life happening” hinder our dating of each other, so after getting settled from our move, we have made a concerted effort to date each other again.  He is on the road so much, it has been up to me to make sure that we have had fun activities to share while staying within our budget.  I’m sure it will be no surprise to those of you who have been reading my blog that I have utilized sites such as Groupon, Living Social, and other similar deal sites to add variety and spice to our dates while at the same time saving money.

What have we done?  Here is a list of some of the activities we have enjoyed the last couple of months.

• Lunch & a Movie (Groupon half-priced Asian lunch & Entertainment Book By One Get One (BOGO) movie ticket)
• Bare Naked Ladies Concert at Fontanel (one of the few things we bought full price)
• Dinner Murder Mystery Theater (BOGO free through Living Social)
• HH’s first Indian cuisine experience in a nearby town (Groupon half-price)
• Lunch at Fast Freddy’s Cafe (free dessert) and BOGO firing range package (Groupon)
• Lunch & Hick Chicks Comedy Bus Tour of Nashville (Living Social BOGO tour with 1/2 price entree at Dick’s Last Resort)
• Bowling games with shoe rental included (HalfOffDepot discounted bowling package)
• Riding Music City Star to downtown Nashville to attend the Music City BBQ Competition and Festival with listening to live bands at the festival and along lower Broadway (Discounted train tickets and Living Social BOGO festival tickets)
• Dinner at Bria Bistro Italino (Groupon half-priced meal)
• Dinner at Fulin’s Asian (Groupon half-priced meal)
• Hick Chicks Nashville Pub Crawl (Living Social BOGO)
• Cell-Phone-Guided Scavenger Hunt (Groupon BOGO)
• Laser Tag (Living social BOGO)
• Lower-level tickets to the Titans/Chiefs NFL game (Score Big discount)

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These are some of the things we have done this summer with a few that are planned between now and our trip to Europe next month. My husband and I have had a blast without breaking our budget.  Perhaps you should give it a try, too!

Have a blessed and happy day!

Angela

More Beauty Without the Beast

Hello World!

In Beauty Without the Beast, I shared one tactic I use to procure salon services for a fraction of the normal fees. For all of my fellow money-saving feens, here is another method I use to enjoy high-end beauty treatments most ladies will appreciate. Using deal sites such as Groupon, Living Social, and HalfOffDepot, I purchase massages, facials, professional laser hair removal treatments, etc. for a fraction of the normal cost.

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Let me give you a couple of examples. Back in February Nashville Laser Spa ran a deal through HalfOffDepot. The offer was three laser hair removal treatments, a value of $900, for $69. It got better. You see, HalfOffDepot will often run specials that further reduce the price of the deal. I purchased these treatments for $37.50! I then paired this deal voucher purchase with a Groupon deal of three treatments for $99, so I received the value of six treatments (full price would be $1,800) for a total of $136.50 – a savings of over 92%. I’ve also purchased massages, like the one from Gold Star Salon and Spa in Clarksville, Tennessee, where I received an hour-long massage for $30 (regular price was $65), which saved me 54%.

I’ve had extremely good luck with these type purchases, but as is always prudent, check out the service provider before you purchase.  You can go to the providers’ web site and see whether or not the business looks professional. Reading online reviews will give you a feel for things also, but to be completely honest, more folks will write a review if they have an ax to grind  than if they are pleased with the services.  In addition, unscrupulous competitors have been known to write fake reviews, so use common sense,too.  Keep your eyes and minds open, and you may find that you, too, can get more beauty without the beast of a price.

Have a blessed and happy day!

Angela

Making a Game Out of Saving Money

Hello World!

How many of you enjoy playing games?  I know that I do.  Saving money is many things to me, but one of those things is a game.  Yes, you heard me correctly, it is a game, and I am very competitive.

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Not having been born with a silver spoon in my mouth, or any other part of me, for that matter, I’ve always had to stretch George until he screams.  Like most everything in life, it is our attitude that makes a difference.  Even if you are living paycheck to paycheck with only single-digit dollars left in your bank account before the next pay day (let me tell you that I have been there and done that), the necessity of saving money to make ends meet can still be game-like.

When I was single again and living on my own with joint custody of three children, every dollar counted.  Stress from all different directions challenged me.  While I am sure I am not the first, only, or last person to do this, I found therapy in playing a shopping game. Religiously cutting coupons from Sunday’s paper, if I should wake up early with concerns heavy on my mind, I’d grab my coupons and go “therapy shopping” before work.  I’d walk into the very empty and quiet store, which opened at 6:00 a.m., grab a cart, put my purse and coupon holder in the buggy, and begin shopping.  My goal was to see how many items I could purchase for $5 or less by matching store specials and sales to my coupons.  I learned which days of the week were the best for matching coupons to discontinued items or items with huge sale prices because they might be within of a month of the expiration date. Over time, I would have a nice stockpile.  What I could use with my family, I did use.  When my storage closet under the stairs was too full of paper towels, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, etc., I would load the excess into my car and take it to the local mission; I’d make a couple of trips a year like this.

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The challenge of the game took my mind off my worries; the deals I got helped me stretch my budget for food and household items (often items were free after sales and doubled coupons), and it also allowed me to give to others in a very economical way.

Today, I am still thrifty.  While we may not live paycheck to paycheck, it is not like we have a year’s worth of money for living expenses in the checking account. I still enjoy saving money. Heck, I see it as a responsibility to be frugal, fiscally responsible, or whatever label you wish to use.  And you know what?  Making a game out of saving money is still fun. These days,  using discount sites like Groupon, Living Social, Amazon Local, etc. is a game I play.  I try not to spend money on things we will not use or really, really don’t need, but purchasing deals from these sites allow the HH and me to have some really neat dates, and I get to enjoy some of my guilty pleasures without feeling so guilty.

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For dates, my husband and I love trying new restaurants, new foods.  I feel much better about eating out when our meal is BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) entrees or paying $15 for a voucher that we can use for $30’s worth of food. Recently, we purchased two Murder Mystery Dinner Theater tickets; it amounted to BOGOF since each was half price.  We had a ball and met some new people.  For activities, we have enjoyed, or will be enjoying, all of the following as a result of deals purchased: bowling, paintball, laser tag, pub crawls, high-tech scavenger hunts, firing ranges, comedy tours of cities, etc.  For me, I LOVE massages, but I don’t ever pay full price for one.  Our oldest daughter purchased a mom/daughter spa day for Mother’s Day.  We each had a facial, a full body salt scrub, and a full body hour-long massage.  The day ended with mini chocolate cupcakes and strawberries.  It was a great thing to do with each other.  Because she asked me to keep a look out for a deal, I know what she paid;  we got all of that for not much more than what most people pay for a single massage.

If you feel deprived because you must save money, try changing your attitude toward it.  Make saving money a game and watch your competitive, fun-loving side come out.  Try it; you might like it.

Have a blessed and happy day!

Angela