Guest post written by Jennifer at The Coupon Centsation
Shrinking Budget? How we provide for a family of five with less than $100 food budget a month!
Can you afford NOT to coupon? For my family of five, couponing is NOT an option, it is a NECESSITY! Several years ago, I was faced with the dilemma of being able to produce quality meals for our family. After our household income was cut by more than two-thirds, I found myself trying to find ways to get more for my dollar! One evening, while enjoying dinner with friends, I was introduced to the Coupon Game. After doing several weeks of online research and months of experimenting at local stores, I have cultivated a variety of methods into the Coupon Centsation approach. I have been using this approach for the past two years.
Saving money on your monthly household budget is much more than just cutting coupons! On a daily basis I find myself searching for deals, applying for FREEBIES, and identifying the best places to get the most for my money! Every week, I visit the local grocery stores and drug stores several times. By using my innovative approach, I know the latest trends! In weekly coupon trips today, my overall savings is greater than 90%. I find it a privilege to be able to bless those around me with the money-saving gift that I have been given, even if it’s only several dollars at a time!
Our family uses the Coupon Centsation approach to plan our weekly menu based on the items that we already have in the house. Our weekly grocery list is created based off of the coupons that we have matched up with the weekly sales ads from various grocery and drug stores. In today’s newspapers, there are so many coupons! We find it our mission to wait until the most opportune time to put those coupons to practice. I find myself not wanting to pay full price for anything since I know that I don’t have to! People ask me all the time, do you really need all those coupons? Yes, I do! Even if I cannot use an item, I use the coupons and give as much as I can to those that are less fortunate. In today’s economy, people like us are still able to give a lot without money! We take our extra items to local shelters and organizations that benefit from our true passion, couponing!
Today nearly every American family is on a budget trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible. If you follow the tips below, you will be on your way to saving money. Many times, you can shop for FREE, or get paid to shop! I like to think of couponing like a game of Poker, I have the coupons; I just have to know the right time to cash them in. Here are the top 5 tips to act on:
1) Shop the Sales & Stockpile
2) Plan your Menus
3) Stock up on Coupons: Internet, Printable and Inserts
4) Know and Understand your Store Savings Programs
5) Be Flexible on brands and stores
Couponing has become part of who we are! Anybody can cut coupons out of the paper. However, it takes practice to know how to match the coupons to the best sales each week. Learning the sales cycles of your stores and the best time to buy items is the most important concept to learn. With a passionate heart and a little planning, you can save a lot of money and help your family while helping others at the same time.
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