Brooke Blogs This

The beginning of January, the husband and I decided we should try to eat healthy. We tend to have this same conversation the beginning of EVERY January. So, I went to the store and bought juice, fruit, yogurts. Then the husband says everyone at his work is RAVING about the Keto diet and while he doesn't want to strictly follow it, he does think we need to cut carbs. Well, I am more of a "rule follower" so I dive in head first, full Keto. I research and purchase carb counting apps. I look up all the Keto recipes. I make meal plans. I buy the ketone test strips. Then, I make my online order for Walmart and see the total in my cart !?!?! It was more than TRIPLE my normal grocery budget.  Now, if you know me at all, you know my budget is my life. I am a tight wad. I admit it. So, I dump out everything "health food" or "Keto" related. No almond flour, no Lilly's chocolates. I also eliminated any "double recipes" I was making because some...

Here are the deals that I just can't pass up this week (and neither should you)! Walgreen Mars and Dove Candy Bars - $.39 Post Cereal - $1.75 Soft Soap Body Wash - 2 for $6, plus you get $4 Register Rewards Starbucks Frapuccinos - 4 for $5, plus you get $1 Register Rewards Old El Paso 12pk Taco Shells - $1 Hamburger Helper - $1 (there have recently been coupons in the paper for $.75 off of 3) Dole Fruit Crisps - $1 (A few weeks ago, there was a $.50 coupon in the paper) Duncan Hienz Brownie Mix - $1 Lunchables 2 for $3, plus you get $1 Register Rewards Finish Power Tabs - $3.49, plus you get $1.50 Register Rewards (and if you've been saving your coupons, you probably have the $.75 coupon tucked away) Gillette, Old Spice and Zest Body Wash (mix and match) - 3 for $10, plus you get $3 Register Rewards (There are also multiple coupons. In this weeks paper there is a Gillette Body Wash $2 coupon. In recent papers there have also been $1 off 2 Old Spice Products, Buy 1 Get 1 Free O...

Lately I've been asked lots of questions about my couponing, and I never seem to be organized enough to give anyone the full run down, so I though I would post some of my favorite tips. Feel free to ask questions, and I'll be glad to answer. Consider this an overview and I'll go more in depth on some of these in later posts. 1. If you use coupons, you will save money. Period. However, it is important to know what your goal is. Are you trying to get more expensive products at a bettr price? Are you trying to get your grocery bill down to a certain amount? Your goal will determine over all how much you save/spend. 2. Usually (I've never found a case where this isn't true) you can only use 1 manufacturer coupon and 1 store coupon on a single item. If you purchase 5 products, you will need 5 coupons (if you want to save on all 5) unless the coupon states otherwise. 3. I tend to save a bigger percentage and have a lower grocery bill when I buy the less expensive item...

Some people have been asking how I keep my grocery bill down, and the truth is, sometimes I sacrifice what we eat. Hamburger Helpers go on sale for less than a $1, and I have coupons, we're having Hamburger Helper. The Homestyle Bakes usually aren't a bad deal either. I noticed on my last box of Pasta Roni (which is never more than $1) it had a recipe for adding beef or chicken, making it a lot like a Hamburger Helper as well. The truth is, meat (ground hamburger, shredded or chunked chicken) mixed with a pasta and sauce with a vegetable side, is usually the cheap way to go. But we all get tired of eating the same thing, every day, so here are some of my favorite cheap recipes. These I've tried and the Family has approved: Braised Chicken Grease the bottom of your crock pot, and add in enough onion (fresh chopped or frozen or pearl onions) to cover the bottom. Add as much potatos (fresh cut up or frozen) and carrots (fresh, frozen or canned) as you would like. Combine 1...

Well, February did not have the wonderful results that January did. However, I still got some pretty amazing coupons. Pledge (S C Johnson Company) sent a coupon for a free Pledge product ($4.00 value) I wrote 3 Con Agra companies: Chefboyardee sent a $.50 coupon Manwich also sent a $.50 coupon Banquet Homestyle Bakes also sent a $.50 coupon. Mt. Olive Pickles sent a $.75 coupon in response to my compliment and another $.75 coupon for signing up for their news letter. Tyson sent 3 $1.00 coupons good off any Tyson product. Blixtex sent 3 $.25 coupons. Kellog's Pop Tarts is supposed to be sending coupons for signing up with them, however, I have not received any as of yet. My other companies that were a bust this month inculde: General Mills Progresso Hamburger Helper Trix Coty Sally Henson N.Y.C. Color Other Pepsi/Starbucks Wrights Baccon (Tyson) Mahatma Rice (Riviana) Wishbone Salad Dressing (Unilever) Scotch Bright (3M) Sun Drop (Prescot Bottling) Tostitos (Frito Lay) Old S...

The project is simple. Write the maker of a product every day for a year. Do not ask them specifically for coupons as I did in the Coupon Mania post. Do not write regarding any particular product more than twice in a year. Do not write any particular parent company more than four time is a month (or once a week). Be honest in what you write, give feed back, ask questions. (NOTE: While I have these categorized by parent company, I never wrote to any parent company more than one time in a day.) JANUARY RESULTS NESTLE: Purina pet food -2 coupons worth $2 each Hot Pockets -2 coupons worth $.40 each SC JOHNSON Ziploc -coupon for free bags ($5 valule) Glade -coupon for a free candle ($6 value) Windex -coupon for a free bottle of Windex ($4 value) SARAH LEE Jimmy Dean - coupon for $1 off and Sarah Lee product CON AGRA Banquet frozen meals - 2 coupons worth $.50 each Kid Cuisines -2 coupons worth $.50 each KIMBERLY CLARK Cottonelle toilet paper - 4 coupons worth $.50 each MCNEIL ...

Last night, I did our grocery shopping and spent just over $100 on two weeks worth of groceries!!! Yeah, I am a little proud. =) So to stroke my own ego, I am going to post my top 10 grocery buying tips. I really do hope you find some of them useful. 1. Try the store brand at least once, on everything. We have found that most store brand canned vegetables are great, except green beans. Store brand green beans suck. But, try the store brand atleast once, on every product that you buy. Most of the time we are pleasantly suprised (some are even better than the national brand!) 2. Pay attention to how much things cost, otherwise how will you know when it is *really* on sale. I have found more than one store that advertises some thing "on sale" and it really hasn't been marked down at all. 3. Pay attention to how much you actually use/need/eat. If our family will only eat half of a dish, then we have the leftovers for lunch the next day. If your family despises lefto...