It used to be that you could get many items free or cheap with doubled coupons. Since the TV program "Extreme Couponing" aired, that has changed. Very rarely can you get anything free or cheap. If you do, most of the time it is for something sugar laden or unhealthy. Matching up coupons with sales has been more and more non-existent when it comes to food. You can still get some great deals on non-food items at both the drugstores and Walmart. So I will continue to use coupons for those items. However, I doubt very much that I will be buying extra coupons or inserts unless I find that most of the insert coupons are on items that we are using all of the time. Instead of spending the money on coupons, I will be adding the money that I would have spent to our healthier food budget. Printing needed coupons online will be a priority.
I will be cooking most everything from scratch. This means I will be scoping out the best places to buy the ingredients that go into my meals. I will be looking for the best prices on meats, poultry, fish, veggies, fruits, grains, milk, juice, etc. My hunt will include all of the grocery stores, the Dollar stores, Niagara Produce, BJ's and any other place that I run across. I will be updating my price book with all of those prices. Buying fresh produce that is in season will be a priority.
I am in the process of updating my sidebar so you will see some changes over time there also. The Buffalo Blogs will still be listed there for those of you who would like to still do the coupon deals each week. Most of those blogs list the deals each week at Top's and some of them list the Wegman's deals.
Most likely, I will not be shopping weekly but more often than not, it will be every two weeks. I will still post what I buy and the prices. If I happen to need produce or milk and have to run into a store just to pick those items up, I will post about it. If I see a great deal that I feel should be posted, I will post about that one deal. I will be keeping a running total for the year of every dollar I spend on food and on non-food items.
I will post my menu every week showing what we are eating for that week and any recipes that I can easily link or type up. I will give tips on what I am cooking and how to do it the cheapest way I know.
Tomorrow, I will be posting about the Money Saving Challenge for 2012 and what that will entail.
24 comments:
This is great. I need to start cooking healthier and I've noticed the same thing with coupons.
That will be great!! It is hard to buy produce with coupons. Just have to watch the sales. However, it is better to spend the money on fruits and vegetables than to get a bargain on chips and cookies (cheap, free or otherwise). My co-worker (former bypass patient) read the book about reversing heart disease. She started eating fruits, veggies, beans, (no meat/no dairy/nuts or oils)getting protein from other sources. Full all the time and without trying lost 28 pounds in 3 months. The doctors say if you have heart disease to stay from all oils and nuts. She was pretty much a vegetarian prior to this but did eat dairy and oils. She did reduce her cholesterol. I am trying to eat healthier myself and really need to commit to it.
I agree with you on that very much, especially when you look at some of the shopping carts. Noticed that stores are very, very closely looking at the coupons you give them, then make sure they all are legal and be able to use them. I think (only my opinion), that with Extreme Couponing came the Extreme Consequences of some getting caught, cheating the systems.
I always liked eatin home but it nice to go out now and then, my problem with that is "prices".
Not willing to pay an outrages pices for something simple that are maybe a few dollars for the table. Also at times, I've been told that mine even tasts better... bennifits of loving to cook and bake.
Me too, will have some changes coming in 2012.
thanks for sharing ....
Your fruit looks great. After a week of non-stop baking, I am ready for anything healthy!
I am right there with you on the coupons. Now that the baby is turning 1 I have more time and energy and I am really going to renew my making food from scratch thing in the new year.
I look forward to the challenge for next year.
A woman after my own heart. I too have found that I am just not finding the deals like I used to in general but especially since I have tried to eliminate almost all processed food. Mind you by processed I mean all the "convenience" foods. I won't name brand names but ya'll know what I mean. We weren't huge eaters of it to begin with but I am trying so hard to get back to basics and the root of real food. Mind you also that I will NOT be making any of my pasta anytime soon, or canning my own fruit/veggies. Just don't have the time or inclination. But...trying to weed out all the unnecessary "stuff". I am even going to try making my own French bread rolls.
Sorry....off topic a bit.
It is nice to see that you are taking care of you and your hubby and choosing a "lighter" path. Good luck to you on your new adventures. As always...I look forward to seeing your new posts
Nini
Sounds like a great plan! I have been finding the magazine and cookbooks done by "Eating Well" magazine to have tasty recipes with the health profile we are looking for. Library likely has the books at the very least.
Hi Michelle P.,
I am sure many of us need to eat healthier. :-)
Hi Kathy,
Your co-worker is one smart lady. I am commmitting to be healthier, much healthier in 2012 so I am right there with you.
Hi Ursula,
I agree with your opinion.
I too like to go out and it is okay once in while. But not once a week for me. I don't know what is in the food in restaurants and many times it is butter to make it taste better.
Hi Lucky,
Perhaps we can trade some healthy recipes.
I am also looking forward to the challenge.
Hi Nini,
As soon as my boxed pasta is gone, I will be making my own healthier pasta.
Thanks for the kind words. I am glad that you are going to try to eat healthier too.
Hi Jen,
Thanks for the suggestion. I will look into that.
You will do fine, P! But I can say as a person who cooks fresh produce from scratch, it actually works better if you shop for veggies more frequently.
Two huge bargains in our area are at Weggies -- their carrots (2lbs Organic) and banana prices can not be beat! For Tops, it's actually worth it sometimes to peruse what is marked down. I have turned a lot of marked down produce into soup or stew.
I bet you will rock the fresh food world just as seriously as the coupon one...
I know how that goes... we can't use many coupons for the cooking we do in our home. I am also upset about that Extreme Coupon show. We know that half of those deals wouldn't have even been accepted in most stores.
Great plan; we all need to eat healthy food!
Have you signed up for Earthbound Farm brand coupons? They send a booklet of them snail mail perhaps approximately quarterly, and also email some out. Generally they are for $ off any 1 of their fresh produce. When their produce go on sale or are reduced for quick sale, the coupon can be an additional help.
I agree Precious! The cpns have been terrible! I have also revamped my way of shopping. Basically if my family/extended and friends will not use it or want it, I don't buy it... moneymaker or not!! I have realized it's ridiculous to just have it around because you made $10UP on it and you will never use it... now what?? I know, you can alway's donate it. But then you have to take account, finding a facility that will accept it (they have become really picky on things they accept now), your time to get there, your gas!
I'm very looking forward to your future posts!
Hi Alex M.
Thanks for your kind words. Also thanks for the tips on the carrots and bananas at Wegmans.
I do watch the marked down produce. But lately, it hasn't looked so great. I am lucky that I have Niagara Produce so close to me.
Hi Hunie,
You are so right that most people could not replicate those deals at their stores. This was all done for "good TV".
Thanks so much anonymous. I am headed over to sign up at Earthbound Farms.
Hi Didi,
Your e-mail was timely on Sunday. I had just decided not to buy so many coupons. I also agree that the food banks have become very picky.
YAY for healthy recipes! I'm all for that too with all the health problems that plagued my family this year and I vow to get DH and I to eat healthy!
Hi spaghetti0625,
Glad to see you here. We all can eat healthier, I am sure.
I am so glad you posted on this topic. I too have for almost the whole year felt that couponing and the time and work involved was no longer worth it for me. The deals had really dried up and to spend hours in my already tight schedule to then only save a couple of dollars shopping was no longer the way to go. I have been shopping at Sams more and stockpiling on regular deals. I even cancelled our Sunday paper. I didn't feel that I was saving enought to offset $12 a month. My inlaws give me their inserts so I can use them if I find a deal. Sad that when we need these coupon deals the most, they have all but disappeared.
Hi Elaine,
I so agree with everything you said. I am only getting one Sunday paper delivered.
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