I want to tell you about this great web site - RetailMeNot.  Did you know when buying items and services online there are often great discounts readily available?  This is where retailmenot.com comes into play.

This is a great way to save money while your doing your shopping this Christmas or anytime.  With the economy the way it is, coupons are a big plus and this is a great source for online coupons.  Also it is less of a hassle to shop online; not to mention the money you'll save on gas.

More and more people are doing their shopping online and you may not even know that many times there are coupon codes readily available where you can get discounts for what you order.

For example, if you're shopping at amazon.com; go to RetailMeNot and type in the address - amazon.com and press the "Get Coupons" button.  You should be presented with coupons, if any, are available at this time for this store.

They claim to have over 100,000 coupon codes, so there is a good chance you'll find one you can use.

Another great thing is the FireFox Extension.  If you use Firefox as your web browser - you can grab the new RetailMeNot.com Firefox extension and never miss coupon savings again.  It tells you when a site you're on has coupons!  You can't beat that.

You can also find a tutorial and a RetailMeNot online community.  It's free!  So what are you waiting for?  Go get your coupons and start saving today!

On The Oprah Show today, Stephanie Nelson, the Coupon Mom gave some tips on how to grocery shop using coupons.  She is the MOM behind couponmom.com, a site where you can get free coupons as well as download the  free eBook, Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half. 

In today's economic climate we can use any and every tool we can to cut corners.  Coupons are an excellent way to save money.  And with eCoupons there is no clipping required.

You can also find restaurant coupons as well as free offers.  I highly recommend you check out couponmom.com for all your grocery coupons.

So come on and be a thrifty mom; be a coupon mom.  It's free and you can start saving money on your grocery bills today!

If you are like me, it is important that you and your family are eating healthy.  At the same time, we want to save money on our grocery bills.  I have some tips that will combine the best of both worlds!  You can eat healthy while saving money.  We have become a nation of waste!  I have taken notice as to how much food we waste in our home and quite honestly, I am embarrassed. 

If you are a college student living on a tight budget, a single mother trying to make ends meet or a family that is tired of wasting and throwing away money, I have come up with some tips that work.  Last time I posted about Grocery Shopping The Frugal Way, so you can check that out to refresh your memory. 

Eat More Veggies:

Meat can be one of the most expensive items on our grocery list, especially if you serve meat every day (more so if you fix it with every meal).  I suggest that you cut out some of the meat.  You really don't need to have meat with every meal.  Not only will this save you money, it is much healthier for you.  We need to eat less meat and more fruits, vegetables and nuts, etc.  Just remember that frugal or simple living is all about living a healthier lifestyle. 

If you have a garden, you are way ahead of the game!  You can grow many vegetables that your family eats on a regular basis.  This can save you so much money.  Even if you think you don't have the space for a garden, you can have a tomato plant or two in pots on your patio.  Tomatoes are so expensive and with the current scare over tainted tomatoes, you will know yours are safe.  Or perhaps you have a spot for a little raised garden bed. 

Even if you don't have a garden, you can shop for your veggies and fruits smarter.  Always buy them when they are in season.  This way you will be buying locally from local growers and produce in season is cheaper.

Keep It Fresh:

Frugal food is all about wasting less.  Keep in mind that when we throw away food we are throwing away money.  We've become accustomed to throwing away food that is slightly stale or doesn't look its freshest.  My parents and especially my grandparents didn't waste food.  And I'm getting myself into this mindset of 'waste not, want not' mentality. 

• Bread - when I find bread on sale, I'll buy an extra loaf or two to freeze. 
• Fruit - you can slice up some fruits, like apples, and place them in a little water and lemon juice, put them in the fridge and they will last longer. Speaking of apples, you can store them in a loose bag in the fridge, take a few out and place in your fruit bowl an hour before eating them.  Unless you like the taste of a cold apple, eat straight out of the fridge.
• Cheese - wrap cheese tightly and keep in the fridge. If mold does appear it will normally only be the edges, which can be easily sliced off. You can store a  block of cheese in the freezer and use it grated in your recipes (it does not need to be thawed).  It is cheaper to buy blocks or chunks of cheese and grate it yourself.  Another good tip is to buy stronger cheeses (instead of mild cheddar buy sharp cheddar).  This way you won't need to add as much cheese, thereby, the cheese will last longer and as an added bonus, you won't be eating as much calories.
• Containers - invest in a few screw top bottles to store your homemade condiments, dressings, etc. in.  It is much cheaper to make your own and you know its all fresh ingredients without all the preservatives added.
• Pasta and rice - first off pasta and rice isn't expensive so you can fix a multitude of recipes using them to make great frugal, simple and easy meals.  To keep your pasta and rice fresher longer and insect free, store them in glass containers with a lid and add a bay leaf. 
• Lettuce - never use a metal knife to cut lettuce...it will turn the lettuce brown.  It is best to tear it with your hands.
• Leftovers - get in the habit of not throwing away leftovers.  Most leftovers can be used to make another completely different meal or frozen to use later.

Some leftover tips:

• Vegetables - use today's leftover veggies in tomorrow's stews and soups.  You can also go through your fridge and take the veggies that are starting to get soft or wimpy (like bendy carrots) and make a soup or stew.  And if the cost of veggies is just too high right now buy frozen.  Studies have shown that they are just as healthy for you.  Buy in bulk and just use what you need for your meals.
• Stale bread - bread pudding or use bread that is a little stale by toasting it and using as croutons for soups and salads.
• Meat and fish - leftover meats and fish can be added to stews, soups, fried rice and used for sandwiches for lunch the next day.

Finally, you can find frugal foods at your grocery if you buy store brands instead of the name brands and look in your stores reduced prices sections.  Usually the only reason they are reduced is the packaging has been dented or the sale by date is for that day.  Remember you can prepare meals ahead of time, so if you find a great deal on say beef cubes, for example, you can go ahead and make beef stew or soup and it that day and freeze the leftovers.

I hope you find these tips useful and helping you to become a more frugal consumer, less wasteful and healthier eaters.  If you have some tips please share them with us!  Hope to hear from you.  Enjoy life!!!

What does the word 'frugal' mean to you?  Does it conjure up images of your grandparents doing without?  To some people the word frugality is old fashioned and means depriving yourself; but today the word means living a more simpler, less wasteful life.  Living a life that our personal finances will allow.  Today with the skyrocketing costs of fuel, groceries and heating bills to name a few, as well as the shaky economy, living a frugal life is the way to go. 

First, I ask you to not think of frugality as doing without.  Think of it as buying smarter and healthier!  Today we will talk about some frugal grocery shopping tips.  The most important step in becoming a smart shopper starts before you leave the house.  And that is with the grocery shopping list.  Your grocery list will not only save you time at the grocery store but will keep you from getting tempted by things you don't really need.  This is where it is important that you stick strictly to your list. 

Here are some tips for your frugal grocery shopping list:

• Decide in advance your next week’s meals and note down the ingredients required.  Planning meals in advance really helps you to stay focused on what you really need and cuts down on wastefulness.
• Check your cupboards to see what ingredients you do not have or need to re-stock.
• Check your staple items such as bread, milk, cleaning products and personal care items.
• Once you have made your list keep it available for next week, it will come in very handy as reminder of items that you regularly need.

Be a smart frugal shopper:

Did you know that grocery stores spend thousands of dollars a year on marketing ploys to make you spend more money than you intended?  They employ teams of people to analyze shop layouts and consumer shopping habits so they can place items in their stores just in the right places to tempt you.

However, since you are aware of these tricks and are becoming such a smart shopper you won't fall for them.   Here are some common ploys:

• The long walk - commonly purchased items such as milk, bread and eggs, are normally placed along the edges of a store, often at the back of the store.  This is to force you to walk past lots of tempting goodies.  If all you need is a loaf of bread then keep to the edge of the store and avoid walking through the center isles.  This will help you to not only save on your wallet but also your waistline.
• Check the lower shelves - stores will most often put their most expensive or their own brand names on the shelves at eye level.  This is because a lot of shoppers buy the first item they see on the shelves.  Check out the lower or upper shelves first.  If you are on a frugal grocery mission, here is where you will find items at a much cheaper price or that have special offers on them. 
• Beware of Advertising - don't fall for the hype.  Stores and brands will bombard you with ads making all kinds of promises.  Don't fall for it!  Did you know that many products are made by the same manufacturer and sold as different brands?  Therefore, buy only what you need and not what the advertisers tell you that you need.

Shop fresher and cheaper:

Cut out processed foods.  Not only are they full of preservatives and additives they are expensive. 

Buying fresh fruits and vegetables and preparing our own meals is much healthier as well as cheaper.  This is especially true if you shop at farmer's markets or buy produce in season.  Help local growers by getting cheap, seasonal and plentiful produce.

More frugal grocery shopping tips:

• Watch for coupons for items you buy regularly.
• Buy bulk items on sale if you regularly use them.
• Never go grocery shopping when you are hungry, in a rush or tired.  You will come home with more than you intended!
• Never buy single portion items.  A box of rice will last several meals and cost less than a single serve item.

I hope you find this information useful.  Next time we'll talk about more frugal food tips.  If you have any grocery shopping tips let us know.  Hope to hear from you!  Enjoy Life!!!