The following is a guest post brought to you by Lina Zussino of GroceryAlerts.ca! Enjoy and happy coupon clipping!
My husband and I love to use coupons to save money on purchases. We use coupons when we go golfing together, going grocery shopping, and dining at nice restaurants. The availability of many coupon websites and great blogs has given many Canadians the ability to save a little extra money using coupons. Some people think that couponing is a waste of time and too much effort but we enjoy it and see it as a way to save our after-tax income to take an extended holiday to Hawaii this summer to making extra payments on our mortgage. I wanted to show how we track and store coupons. It really can become a fun challenge with your spouse to see how much you can each save.
Acquiring and Storing
It is important to acquire as many coupons as possible to make it easy in the future to use them or to give them to friends. What we do is if we see a new printable coupon from the Internet we print it off as soon as possible. Additionally, we also clip coupons that are stored at the aisle level and in magazines.
Whenever we see coupons, we clip them right away and put them in the folder just in case we need them. Our rule for clipping is to clip if the product is something we would use like toothpaste. If the item is something like dog food (we have no dogs) we will not clip any coupon for that item.
Getting Organized
Envelope system
This is fairly popular system for some people. They write the category on the front of the coupon (i.e. “Pets”, “Dairy”, “Laundry”), and stuff each envelope with the coupons that belong to that category. It is a fairly inexpensive system. One of the problems with this is finding the coupons later could be a hassle. Additionally, many coupons are printable (like the ones from Grocery Alerts) that are fairly large and when you fold them up it is difficult to find at the store. Thumbing through a stack of coupons is a waste of effort and reduces the benefit of coupon clipping.
Couponizer system
My husband and I recently received this in the mail as a giveaway product. It was great. Inside are small slots clearly labelled that keeps you organized.
The Couponizer system contains a wire-bound booklet, a guide to smart savings, a sorting mat for all your clippings, a shopping list, a monthly savings record, scissors and a carrying bag. It is available at TheCouponizer.com. We have only used it for a week but like most of the tools included.
Coupon Binder
I have seen many bloggers swear by this method. It is just a photo album with clear pockets (for storing baseball cards) and a binder that allows you to move pages around as you wish. For me, it would take too much time to organize with this method. It depends on how many coupons you would use.
My advice, is to start with the envelope system first and if it doesn’t work try the other two.
Thumbing through reams of coupons is a giant waste of time and drastically reduces the benefits of a coupon clipping time investment. Couponing is clearly worth it in our case. The relatively small time investment it adds to our shopping is well worth the real cash savings we realize from our system.
Do you have any coupon storing strategies or tips to share?
The author is Lina Zussino, Co-founder of Grocery Alerts Canada, home of grocery deals and money saving coupons. She is becoming a mortgage broker and enjoys teaching group fitness and saving money in beautiful Victoria, BC with her husband Steven.
The following post is a guest post by Cristina from FabulousSavings.ca! Enjoy!
This post is for all of you frugal brides interested in planning a wedding on a budget. Since neither my fiancé nor I am rolling in pools of money, we, like most of you, have to be smart with our spending. Along the way, I've kept track of any new way to save, so I can share my knowledge with fellow brides. Hope you enjoy them!
Announcing Your Engagement
Buy sophisticated stationery from Wal-Mart or Michaels & make your own.
Create free engagement card online & e-mail your announcement.
Create a wedding website & let your family & friends follow along with your wedding plans. (eWeddinghas a free website option, as does The Knot for its members.)
Visit Wedding Tradeshows
Most companies with booths offer special tradeshow deals. (I saved over $500 on my DJ!)
View examples of invitations for inspiration if making your own.
Watch bridal wear fashion shows for dress ideas, especially if you're considering having a dress made.
Create Budget & Checklists
Create a budget spreadsheetto keep things in check. Always update deposits left & what's owed.
Keep a wedding planner with contracts, checklist & a copy of your budget.
When you feel the urge to spend more on cake or decor, review the budget list to see where else you can shave expenses. Seeing the numbers will keep you in check.
Saving on/at the Venue
Book your venue during months like January, February (excl. Valentine's Day) & March to keep plate prices lower.
If you want a golf course for your venue, book in the off-season (Oct-March), like I did.
Book Sunday instead of Saturday.
Ask the venue rep if you can supply your alcohol to save money.
Ask the venue rep about any hidden fees for bottle corking, wine/champagne pouring, chair covers, etc.
Shopping for the Dress
Tell your bridal boutique rep your budget & to only bring you dresses within it.
If shopping for a classic design, browse last year's rack of dresses that are always in style but reduced in price.
Shop the sample dress rack. Your dress will be cleaned, steamed & pressed before your day.
Have one made! A seamstress is ideal & frugal for brides who have a specific look in mind or want to mimic celebrity styles.
Shop vintage stores for something simple & add embellishments (bows, ribbons, lace, etc.) to personalize it.
Rent a dress to avoid the post-wedding maintenance costs.
Found "the dress?" Write down the dress number, designer & size you need & comparison shop online at reputable sites like www.bestforbride.com to see if it's more affordable.
Music, Photography & Videography
As mentioned before, visit wedding trade shows for special deals.
Make sure you read your contracts & negotiate prices before signing.
Always ask for references & examples of his/her work to assess the value.
Hire a friend or family member who's a photographer or videographer. They might donate their services as a present, so you only pay cost.
Place disposable cameras at guest tables for more affordable pictures of the evening.
Ask the DJ about extra charges for overtime in case the party lasts longer than expected.
Ask the DJ about extra charges for using any props he/she owns.
Ask the DJ if he/she is insured. Insurance covers your behind should an equipment malfunction damage the hall or injure a guest.
Flowers & Centrepieces
Move decor like flowers & bows from home to church to venue to save money. Assign a friend or family member to leave a bit earlier & deliver them.
Make bouquets yourself with silk flowers. Shop flea markets with a discerning eye for authentic-looking artificial flowers.
For real flowers in bouquets or centrepieces, choose affordable in-season flowers. Use more baby's breath & rose buds to make an arrangement look fuller.
Buy inexpensive centrepiece vases from Wal-Mart or Dollarama & fill them with non-floral (more affordable) decor like rocks, water & floating candles.
Ask bridesmaids to set their bouquets at the edge of head table after walking into venue for effortless decor.
Wedding Invitations
Find online invitation software to download & make your own. Take advantage of free trials to sample different styles.
Make your own by shopping at craft stores for card stock, ribbons & other embellishments.
Have an online company like VistaPrintmake customized invites. Use free VistaPrint Canada coupons for a discount.
Make one invitation complete with its RSVP card & have it weighed to determine postage fees. If costs are too high, buy thinner card stock & cut down on embellishments.
Wedding Favours
Donate a small amount per guest to a charity. Most, provide you with an elegant certificate you can frame & display & cards you can give to individual guests to say "thank you."
Give out small decorated boxes filled with chocolate treats. To save money, see how to make your own origami boxes out of paper & accent with ribbon.
Create a CD with classic love songs – a frugal yet meaningful favour!
Honeymoon
Book all-inclusive to get the most bang for your buck.
If you don't mind honeymooning a while after your wedding, let the vacation price determine when you go! Book a last-minute package for huge savings.
Let guests help you out! Register for your dream honeymoon at a site like TravelRegistry.ca. Guests can either put money towards your honeymoon or purchase gifts like a couples massage.
Keep in mind that the planning can get pretty hectic at times. But if you have a budget spreadsheet and some folders to keep things organized, it'll be a lot smoother. I hope you enjoyed my tips. Good luck and congratulations to you all!
We at FabulousSavings.ca offer online coupons for Canada, and our team is proudly frugal obsessed. We love sharing and hearing about money-saving tips on Twitter (we're @CanadaCoupons) and discovering other Fabulous Savers in the frugal blog and personal finance community. Connect with us and share your savvy saving secrets!
Here we are at the final installment of Eating Healthy on a Budget! This week it’s all about Cooking it Slow. By that I mean, using your slow-cooker to make dinner! This is one of my all time favourite ways to cut costs on my grocery bill.
Not only does a slow-cooker use less electricity to heat than an oven, but since it cooks slowly using low heat, it’s perfect for tenderizing less expensive cuts of meat! Love that!
Another reason I love Cooking it Slow? It’s super easy (I can’t mess up!) and there’s no maintenance! Many times I make a recipe using some meat and a sauce. I put the meat in the bottom then cover it with an easy sauce that will make it taste delicious! Then I go about my business for the rest of the day knowing that dinner is basically making itself.
I’ve also noticed that I use less meat in a slow-cooker meal. The meat seems to go much farther then when I prepare it in the oven or stove top.
Below, you’ll find a bunch of our favourite slow-cooker recipes:
The following post is a guest post by Patricia. Enjoy!
Before Kids, my husband and I had well paying jobs. With our dual incomes, we didn't have to worry about where our money went. We didn't spend foolishly but we didn't have to follow any budgets. Anytime we wanted to travel or feed our technology habits, we did and didn't think twice about it.
Then along came H.
When we found we were expecting, we knew I would stay at home with the kids. The money I was paid while on maternity leave went towards building up our savings. We got used to living on one income BEFORE we actually lived on one income.
Here are some of the things I have done to cut our costs:
Breastfeed
(If you can, if not, don’t beat yourself up. A fed baby is a happy baby)
Mother’s milk is the cheapest option for feeding a new baby. It’s readily available, it's at the right temperature, it’s already sterile. If you choose not to breastfeed (for whatever reason), be sure to look for deals and coupons for formula!
Make your own wipes
With wipes running about $5.00 per box, making your own will save you a bunch of money. It’s quick and easy too. Check out the recipe I use here.
Buy used
Babies grow fast. They grow so fast that they never get a chance to wear out their clothes or baby accessories. That means there is a bunch of used but in great condition baby items out there! Make it known to friends and family that you would appreciate receiving the hand me downs. You can also get great deals on used items at garage sales, second hand stores and even Facebook marketplace. Enjoy buying used while your little one doesn't care where things come from. In a very short period of time they will want the latest and greatest! NOTE: For safety reasons, car seats should always be purchased new.
Try before you buy
My first liked being in a baby swing, my second preferred a bouncy chair. I didn't know that until I tried them in each. To save money, you can borrow baby equipment to see if your baby will like using it. You can also take baby equipment for a test drive by contacting a baby rental company. They will charge a rental fee but that will still be cheaper than buying an item then finding out later your baby screams when placed in it.
Make your own baby food
There is no secret formula to making the pureed peas or carrots that you see in baby food jars. Steam your chosen fruit or vegetable, stick in a blender or food processor to puree. Freeze portions in ice cube trays. Once frozen, plop the cubes into a freezer bag. All done!
We have been a one income family for the last 3 years. In that time, we have added a second child (baby J), moved into a larger home, purchased a new (to us) larger vehicle and continued to travel.
Yes, we have made sacrifices.
Yes, we are more careful about where we spend our money.
But we are able to live quite comfortably on one income by using these frugal tips for the new mom.
Part three in the Eating Healthy on a Budget series is all about buying items in bulk!
I find that buying items I use often end up being cheaper in the long run when I purchase them in large quantities. Most grocery stores sell large batches of certain items at discounted prices. For example, ground beef or those giant bags of flour. Another example would be a 10 pound bag of potatoes. But in our case, since it’s just my husband and I, I skip the big bag of potatoes and settle for a smaller one to avoid waste.
I figure I’ll buy everything I can in large quantities if we can finish it in a reasonable amount of time or I can freeze it. Here are some things that freeze well:
Meat (either cooked or uncooked)
Flour
Fruit (strawberries, peaches, cherries)
Vegetables (beans, corn, tomatoes…etc)
Butter
Breads, pastries and baked goods (cookies, muffins)
Cooked rice
Anything I’m forgetting?
Since chicken goes on sale about every 6 weeks around here, I tend to stock up at this time then freeze it into packages of two. Works great! Also, we live in the land of orchards so whenever fruit is in season I go crazy and buy tons so I can freeze it for smoothies, desserts, or just to eat in the winter! We’re not jam eaters so I haven’t canned anything other then salsa and pickles. Canning is also a great way to preserve large quantities of items!
Last week I started the Eating Healthy on a Budget series with a post onEating Seasonally. This week it’s all about making your own seasonings!
This is an easy way to eat more healthfully and cut down costs. Chances are, you have many of the spices or other items needed to make many of your own seasonings, on hand already! And since most of the recipes I’ve found make a large batch, it’ll only cost cents each time you use it! I bet many seasonings won’t even cost $1 to make a big batch. What I also love about making your own seasonings is that you can omit the msg and salt that is found in most store bought seasonings!
Here are some of my favourite homemade seasonings:
I have seen many bloggers swear by this method. It is just a photo album with clear pockets (for storing baseball cards) and a binder that allows you to move pages around as you wish. For me, it would take too much time to organize with this method. It depends on how many coupons you would use.The author is Lina Zussino, Co-founder of Grocery Alerts Canada, home of grocery deals and money saving coupons. She is becoming a mortgage broker and enjoys teaching group fitness and saving money in beautiful Victoria, BC with her husband Steven.
The author is Lina Zussino, Co-founder of 
