Frugal Tip: Don't Let Your Menu Control Your Budget! Learn How to Control Your Menu!

Make your weekly menu around what is in your pantry and the weekly sales. Instead of making your shopping list around a menu. 

The normal thought process is to make a weekly menu , then make your shopping list and go out and spend alot of money.

You can really save some money changing your thought process:

First go to your pantry and make a list of items you have you could use for the week.  Keep in mind to look for items that might be close to expiration. Check the freezer as well.

Next you will want to see what special sales are going  on at the grocery this week. 

Put these two together and make your menu around this list..use a website called RecipeMatcher to help you formulate recipes.

On this website you enter ingredients you have and it will give you a list of recipes that you may want to try.

You will be exposed to new recipes as well.

You will really save some money using this method. 

RecipeMatcher is a website that you can input ingredients and it will give you a choice of recipes that you can make.....VERY USEFUL TOOL!

Frugal Tip: Know The COST of the Items You Buy Most

Frugal Tip for the day: In order to save you have to know what things cost normally....

Many stores mark up to mark down-and your sale isn't a sale at all. 

 Keep a notebook, chart prices and then you will know the cheapest an item will run and the most expensive and you will discover where is the best place to get certain items!

To help you get started here is a "Buy Price" List   that may be helpful in helping you understand. 

I would also note what store the price is...

Hope this is helpful

 

Blogging: A Way to Share and Help Others Save Money!

I have  been so bad about my blogging lately and really got discouraged to be honesty.  There are some many folks blogging and I just thought that nobody really needs the help.
Well the recent news about the economy and predictions of an increase in our basic cost of groceries made me rethink. 
While I am frustrated in trying to make my blog look good...I realize I have put alot of work into this already and if I can help some folks save money then I should try.
So here we go again.

Kids Bowl Free Summer Program: 2 free games every day, all summer long!

Kids Bowl Free is a program offering 2 free games of bowling every day this summer to children 12 and under. Go register and then you are emailed coupons for free bowling every week.
 Just click here to find a location near you .

Very reasonably-priced family pass are available for adults to bowl as well.

Old Navy: 30% OFF Online and In Store!

 5/1 through 5/2, OldNavy.com is going to be having the 30% off as well as the in store sale when you use the code ONBIG30!  

There will be  a flat shipping charge of $7.00 on all orders so this is an awesome way to save! If you have a friend locally that you can order together and ship to one address....you might save even more.

Be sure to check the clearance online. This is for 2 days only so make sure to get your shopping in before Monday.

While shopping online is good, shopping in store where you can find some great clearance deals and enjoy no shipping cost is where I feel the best deals are to be had.