A few tips on saving money

Who doesn't like to save money? When I am going to the grocery store, I start planning my trip a few days prior. I do subscribe to the Sunday paper just for the coupons, print online coupons, and have a coupon binder but I still have a lot of learning to do. I haven't mastered it yet. I actually only saved about $6 today with my coupons. Better than nothing I guess. However, today when I went, I took a pen and paper to write down the prices of the items I bought that offer a generic brand and name brand. The difference is amazing!!! I only wrote down the ones that I actually purchased. By buying Great Value (Walmart brand), we saved over $16 !!!!! That's amazing! These products are ones that I recommend because they taste just like the name brands. I am willing to try it at least once. If I don't like it, I'll go back to the name brand. I still saved money even though a lot of these name brand items offered a coupon. It still cost less than the name brand. So, I saved a total of $22 by taking small steps. I'd say that's pretty good. Here are easy things that you can do to save:

• Clip coupons!
• Follow companies on Facebook. They publish coupons there. Also sign up for their newsletters on their main website. Great way to get coupons!
• Check other store ads. Milk in my location is cheaper at pharmacy stores than it is at Walmart. I typically pay $1 less at those stores. 
• Compare prices by size of packaging. Example: We love Frigo Cheese Heads string cheese. If you have 2 coupons, it's cheaper to buy to smaller packs. If you don't have coupons, it's cheaper to buy one 24 pack. 
• Follow couponing blogs!!!! They find the best deals and lay it all out for you! Here are a few of my favorites.... www.couponingtodisney.com and www.passionforsavings.com
• Get store cards such as CVS and Walgreens and look for store coupons to use with manufacturers coupons. You can stack  (use together) these.
• Make a grocery list and try your hardest to stick to it!!!
• Don't go to the store hungry. You'll spend more and get more 'junk'.
• Make a meal plan and make your list by this plan. It helps knowing what you actually need before you go to the store. I look at each recipe and write down everything I need to buy for that recipe. If I have a few that require chicken, I'll mark that I need 3. 

Enjoy your savings! Feel free to ask questions in the comment section.