Mommie Cheapest

Status Report: The Eat From the Pantry Challenge

 

Well, we got off to kind of a rocky start for the "Eat From the Pantry Challenge" this week. We had been away for the holiday, so our pantry was low on essentials like half & half, milk, and lunch items for my husband. So I headed to the store to stock up, and to take advantage of the sales they had running. EIGHTY DOLLARS LATER, I realized that I was doing kind of a bad job at eating from what we had in the pantry.

I am forgiving myself for that, because we hadn't been to the grocery in nearly three weeks, so I am still coming in at under my $40/week grocery budget. And there were no rules that said you were not allowed to set foot in a grocery at all, right? So now we are a bit better stocked, and the challenge will really begin. Nothing like a false start, right?

So tonight we are having Teriyaki Sausage, using some smoked sausage I got on sale in November and had in the freezer, and a half bottle of Teriyaki sauce that has been in the fridge for at least 8 months. I am assuming this is safe to consume... if not, it will be just plain old Smoked Sausage night. We are also having some scalloped potatoes from a box that I got dirt cheap, and some green beans I got on sale on my last grocery trip. Hey, I never claimed to be a gourmet chef. But we will be full and happy, and that much closer to saving for a house.

I plan to eat all our dinners from the pantry this week... no ordering out, and no hitting the grocery store for dinner items I don't have! Let's hope this week goes better than the last!

Coupon Basics 2

Now that you've organized and stored your coupons, here are a few tips to maximize your savings!

1. Try to always pair your coupon with sales, whenever possible. For example, if you have a B1G1 (buy one, get one free) coupon, see if you can wait for a B1G1 sale. This will net you two items for free!
2. Check out your local stores to see their coupon policies. Some grocery stores will double coupons. In my case, I have two grocery stores to choose from: one that is slightly cheaper, but it is further away and doesn't double coupons, and one that is a tad more expensive, but is closer and doubles coupons 99 cents and less. Considering how many coupons I use, this store has become my preferred store.
3. Know your market. This comes with time. Being in New England, I have learned that our coupon market up here is not as lucrative as other areas. For example, where my sister lives in Virginia, she will get a coupon for a product that offers 50 cents off of one item. She can then go to a store that doubles and she will get $1.00 off of that item, possibly making it very cheap or even free if it is on sale. By contrast, my coupon for that same item on that same date will be $1.00/2, meaning I will have to buy two AND I will only get 50 cents off of each one because they will not double the coupon since it is over 99 cents. Not as good of a deal! This is worthwhile to know if you exchange coupons with someone, or buy coupons online... find someone who lives in an area with higher value coupon choices!
4. Be prepared for the occasional "battle of the wills" at the register. Most cashiers are great, but once in a while you will get one who just can't believe you are getting $24 worth of merchandise for only $2, and they will challenge you, because obviously you are either stealing or you are a witch who is putting spells on the register. For some reason these people are personally invested in how much money you are saving. Be organized with your coupons, know that store's coupon policies, and ask to speak with the manager to clear up the confusion if this happens to you. At this point, when visiting my "regular" stores, I know which cashiers to seek out and which ones to avoid like the plague, and that helps. Mostly, don't lose your cool. Just politely explain the scenario to the cashier, and if s/he still thinks you are some kind of con artist, ask for the manager.
5. Bring all your coupons with you to the store, if possible. I can't tell you how many times I have been shopping and either spotted a great unadvertised sale, had to buy another brand because the one I wanted was sold out, or remembered an item I wanted that is not on my list, only to recall that I have a great coupon for it!! AT HOME. Having my coupons in a binder allows me to bring them with me without leaving a trail of coupons fluttering out behind me as I walk the aisle. Whatever your organization system, consider bringing it with you to avoid this very frustrating situation.
6. Buy multiple papers. Ok, this one I am on the fence about. It depends on how much of a diehard couponer you are. Me... I can't see buying four Sunday papers and spending all morning cutting and filing. I have too many other things that I want to do. I am willing to cut out one paper's worth of coupons, but four? Nah. Others, however, see a lot of value in this practice. If it works for you, you can certainly build up a stockpile of items in your fridge or pantry this way. And I must admit, there have been times I have wished I had more than one coupon for an item when the sale has been particularly good. Your call.
7. Contact companies whose products you really enjoy. Many times, they will reward your loyalty with a coupon mailed to you, often a high value coupon.
8. Lastly, when your coupons expire, don't throw them away! Military families are allowed to use coupons for up to two months after they expire. There are clearinghouses that collect expired coupons and distribute them to these families. Organize them into "food" and "non-food" categories, clip them together, and mail them to:

                48 MSS/DPF

                        ATTN: Coupon Connection Program, Unit 5200

                        Box 105APO AE 09464-0105

            Feel free to pass along any unwanted coupons that are still valid, as well! They must be neatly cut out and organized, though, to be effectively passed on to families in need of them.

Do you have any other great coupon tips?

Mint.com

 

Have you heard about this website?

Mint.com is a totally free website that allows you to thoroughly manage your budget through a variety of means and methods. Unlike traditional budgeting websites, where you hand enter all transactions each time you visit, Mint.com has you enter your account information one time and itemizes everything for you by pulling data from your accounts and analyzing it so you can not only keep track of what you have earned and spent, but you can see where you spend your money (in the form of pretty graphs and charts), compare your spending against national averages, and keep track of what's left in your account and what expenses you have yet to pay.

Additionally, they assist with saving goals. They help you develop your goals and get them down in print, but they also help with finding savings for you that you may not even know exist. For example, they can find credit cards with smaller fees or interest rates, insurance companies with reduced premiums, or investment opportunities with greater returns than what you are currently seeing. Note: This is how they make their money... by earning commissions from companies based on signups from their recommendations. They do promise, however, to provide you with unbiased information, no matter what.

This website looks great, but I personally have one problem. I am terrified to hand over my checking, savings, credit card, or investment account numbers to anyone I don't know. I really do imagine the website is trustworthy and safe, and I am sure they have all the necessary precautions in place to prevent theft of account information. But thieves are crafty, and hackers are relentless... I would be worried that this would be a GOLDMINE for hackers looking to steal account information for their own devious use.

What do you think? Do the benefits of Mint.com outweigh the potential risks? Would you try Mint.com? Have you?

Ok, we're doing it: The Eat from the Pantry Challenge

 

I read about the Eat from the Pantry Challenge on Crystal's great website, Money Saving Mom. I was immediately intrigued by this idea because we have enough food in our pantry to feed a small country -- as long as that country really really likes pasta and condiments.

I immediately wanted to take up the challenge, but I knew the real challenge lied in convincing my husband that this was both worthwhile to our budget and our stomachs. I broached the idea to him and he seemed fine with it, even though it meant eating dinners that might be less than his first choice.

So last night I went through and made a list of what I could create from what we had in the pantry, focusing on dinners. I came up with ten dinners, not even being that creative, just looking at individual components that I had sitting around. I sat down with my husband and read him the list. The first thing was Teriyaki Sausages with rice and sugar snap peas. I looked at my husband. He had this totally blank look on his face. I hesitated, but pressed on with the list, and his expression gradually improved, so I was encouraged.

My husband could eat Buffalo Anything with french fries every single night. He's also into things like steak and ribs, and things like steak and ribs are expensive. He's not much for sacrificing yummy dinners for the budget's sake. But, if we keep in mind that these little sacrifices we make now will get us a HOUSE later, I think we can get through it. I've talked to him a little bit about it, and I know he gets it and agrees... it just takes him a little longer to come around to embracing the idea rather than just tolerating it.

Anyway, the challenge starts tonight with BBQ Chicken Sausage, scalloped potatoes, and green beans. See, that's not bad! Are YOU taking the challenge?