Mar 5, 2012

Free Paper at Staples

Photo paper, pastel paper and copy paper all free today at Staples with Rebates.  Here is the full ad.  Page 12 has the details.  The rebates are easy to do online or through the mail.  Your receipt will have the information you need.

Mar 2, 2012

What to do when you do not like sale prices.

This week I looked at the ads and did not like the prices.  I am guessing I am not the only one.  Here are some ideas on dealing with high grocery prices.
1. Price match.  Find the best prices in the ads.  Usually on the front and back page of the store weekly fliers. Then price match at Walmart or another store that will price match.
2. Only buy what you need.
3. Use food storage.
4. Be creative in menu planning and items you use. Steaks maybe out of your price range but maybe steak soup is not.
5. Buy only what you can afford.
6. Buy staples and have home cooked meals.  Homemade soup can be healthier, tastier and lower priced than canned soup.  Soup is also a great way to use leftovers
7. Spend less.  Show the stores you will buy more when their prices are low.
8. Think about how much a meal costs.  I can feed a family of 6 for under $2 a meal if I chose the right ingredient.
9. Use coupons.  They let you have sale prices when you choose.  It is better to combine a sale with a coupon, but sometimes that does not happen.
10. Shop less and spend less.  Enjoy not shopping this week.  Find something fun to do instead.

Save money on Eggs

Eggs are another staple that are good to have on hand.  If you want to save money here are some ideas.

1. Buy eggs on sale.
2. Look at price per egg.  Sometimes, it is more expensive to buy an eighteen count carton of eggs than a dozen eggs.  Take the total price of the eggs and divide by the number of eggs you want to buy to find the price per egg.
    For example: if a dozen eggs cost $1.00.
    1.00/12= .08 cents an egg
3. Buy bulk.  Take into account your egg usage.  You are not saving money if you throw away food because it goes bad before it gets eaten.  There are two stores near my home that belong to the same chain of stores.  One has a great price for their bulk eggs the other does not.  Prices will vary.
4. Eggs will freeze. Beat the eggs and freeze.  You can freeze in ice trays then put them in freezer bags.  You can also freeze two beaten eggs or more in a bag.  This works great when too many eggs in the fridge are about to expire or you can get them at a great price.
5. Prices go down near Easter. I stocked up last year and put some in the freezer.  It is comforting to know that I do not have to make a last minute run to the store for eggs.
6. Buy powdered eggs in a number ten can.  This is great for food storage.  The price per egg may be higher but if you go to the store less you may save on impulse buys.
7. Look for marked down eggs.  When stores have eggs that are nearing their date they will mark them down.
8. Use coupons.  Facebook, papers and websites will sometimes have coupons for eggs.
9. Try to combine more than one of the above ideas.  Buying marked down eggs with a coupon and freezing can help in avoiding paying full price.