Here’s an example of how I have used the “buy ahead principle” for purchasing my daughter’s Christmas gifts.

• bath robe – regularly $20, after Christmas sale in Feb for $5
• two-wheel scooter – regularly $17, Black Friday sale for $5
• Hanna Montana doll set – regularly $28-32?, after Christmas sale in Feb for $7-8
• guitar purse – regularly $8-9, clearance for $2-3
• Barbie Advent calendar – regularly $20, after Christmas sale for $5
• Pet Shop bubble bath – regularly $10, clearance for $2.50
• High School Musical umbrella – regularly $8, clearance for $2
• Pet Shop electronic game – regularly $13, clerance for $3.24

This is approximately $125 in gifts for the bargain price of about $35.  My daughter will have a nice selection of toys under the tree this year, and all things that she likes.

Those of you with older children may find buying ahead more difficult, however, it is not impossible.  Try picking up just a few things that you’ll know they’ll like, even if it’s just stocking stuffers or dvds.  Every little bit saved helps.

Did you shop all year for Christmas?

image (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

While many items are still good for a while past their best by date, it’s important to get fresh products so that they’ll last longer and taste better.  If you like to stockpile groceries while they’re at rock bottom prices (or buy ahead), it’s especially important that you pay attention to the dates.  It doesn’t really help to save money if the products you buy go out of date before you can use them.

One way to get the best date is to look around on the shelves.  If you find an item that’s soon to expire, move the items around and look towards the back of the shelf.  Stores put the newer items at the back so that they can sell the older items first.

Honestly, there are some products that I don’t check the dates on.  These items are usually things with a long shelf life such as cereal, cookies, and canned goods. 

Items you should definitely check the dates on are:

• mayonnaise/Miracle Whip
• salad dressing
• cheese
• coffee creamers
• coffee
• premade foods
• medicines
• meat
• dairy products

Do you check the dates on the food while in the stores?

image sxc.hu

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3 day sale (Friday, Saturday, Sunday):

• 12 inch Food Lion self rising or thin crust pizza 5/$10, limit 5
• 5 oz Food Lion chunk light tuna 3/$1, limit 6
• 64 oz Food Lion apple juice $.99, limit 4
• 6-16 ct Food Lion ice cream sandwiches, bars, and cones 2/$3, limit 4

Other sales:

• 26-32 load Wisk laundry deterent (includes H-E) $2.99, limit 2
• 48 oz Edy’s ice cream buy 1 get 1 free, limit 2
• seedless grapes $.99/lb
• half boneless pork loin 50% off
• London broil or top round roast $1.99/lb
• General Mills cereals buy 1 get 1 free, limit 2 free (use $.75 coupon off 3)
• Betty Crocker fruit snakcs buy 1 get 1 free
• Green Giant vegetables buy 1 get 1 free, limit 6 free
• Hamburger Helper buy 1 get 1 free, limit 2 free (use $.75 coupon off 3)
• select Kellogg’s cereals buy 1 get 1 free (use $1/2 blinkie coupon), final price $2.29 for 2 boxes

Prices vary by location. Be sure to check the online ad for sales in your area.

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Alligator Girl’s birthday is July 4th and here’s a look at the cool stuff she got, thanks to her Thrifty Mommy! 

• MagNext magnet set – This was a last minute request from her.  Her older brother got a set for his birthday and she wanted a set so that they could play together.  Good thing I had bought an extra set when Target had them 50% off.  Now that she has a set, Cuddlebug has asked for his own set too for his birthday later this month.  We went to Target this weekend and they still had more of them on clearance.  I think we paid $11.98 instead of $23.99.
• WoofTown dog and accessories – All of these were 50-75% off.  The dog was $1.98 instead of $8, the large box of clothing and accessories was $3.24 rather than $12.98, the t-shirt was 75% off for $1.24, but the dog carrier bag was only 50% off.  It was $3.98 rather than $8.  This is one of her most favorite birthday presents.  Even her brothers like this toy.
• Silver star fanny pack – I saw this at Target last week.  I can see this coming in handy in the next few years.  It was $2.48 rather than $9.99.
• Hannah Montana necklace and bracelet set – On sale at Dollar General for $1, regularly $5.
• Precious Places dvd – A freebie from Fisher Price.  I received this just in time.  I hope the other dvd arrives before Cuddlebug’s birthday.
• Animal Jokes dvd and book – I actually got these in a 4-pack at Food Lion.  The entire set was $6, but I opened the package and just gave her one from the set.  This made her gift $1.25.  She is really into jokes lately so she was excited to get this.  She can listen to the cd while reading along in the book.

All of these gifts would have cost about $80. I never would have paid that.  I got it all for less than $30. 

Do you shop the clearance sales for birthday and Christmas presents?

image (c) Karen Weideman

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I stopped by earlier this week and picked up about 12 cans or so,  but I’m thinking of getting a few more.  Stockpiling foods when they’re at their lowest prices can really save a lot of money.

What foods are you stockpiling this week?

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Marie Callendar’s frozen dinners and entrees are buy 1 get 1 free.  Then be sure to look on the freezer door for the blinkie machine.  There is a coupon for $.75 off one Marie Callendar’s Pasta Al Dente entree.  The pasta entrees are normally $3.99 and are on sale for $2.  Using the coupon makes them only $1.25!  If your blinkie machine is out of coupons (like mine) look inside on the freezer shelves.  Sometimes they get dropped inside.  I found 3-4 extra coupons on the shelves. 

White House High School Musical applesauce is on close-out.  Get a 6-pack of applesauce for $1.25.  I didn’t have any coupons for these, but it is still a pretty good deal.  These come in different flavors such as mango, cherry, cinnamon, and regular. 

If you have the space and a need for the items, I’d recommend stockpiling the pasta dishes and the applesauce.

Other sale items:

Food Lion bologna, sale .99
Aquarius Spring Water 24 pk, bogo 2/$5.99
Crisco oil, sale $2.50
Tylenol Cold (select varieties), $3.14 close-out, use $1 coupon
Pillsbury Reduced Sugar brownie mix, $1.09 close-out, use .35 coupon
frozen salmon, bogo
$10 off full or half graduation sheet cakes

What other Food Lion deals have you found this week?

Sales and prices vary by location.  Please view the online weekly circular.  image food lion

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Also, last week I shopped at Harris Teeter while they were having their triple coupon sale.  I ended up with about $160 in groceries for only $60.  My cabinets are pretty full right now and other than fresh items (milk, bread, egg, lunch meat, fruit) there’s not a whole lot I need.

Today I did stop at Food Lion to pick up some milk and eggs and discovered that their Kraft cheese slices (12 oz package) are on sale 4/$5.  You have to buy four packages to get the deal.  Otherwise, it will cost you a bit more.  I bought the four packages.  With three kids home for the summer, I’m sure we’ll have no problem eating the cheese.  Besides, the expiration date isn’t until December 2009.

I regret that I also missed out on Food Lion’s 2-day sale.  I didn’t look at the flyer earlier in the week and missed out on buying Pampers Easy Ups for $7.99 . . . and you know I’d have a coupon to go along with that deal.  Oh well.

Sometimes Food Lion’s prices vary by location, so it’s a good idea to check the online flyer.  Good luck and happy stockpiling!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Food Lion has their ground chuck on sale this week for only $1.69/lb.  Normally, you would pay $3.50 or more per pound for ground chuck.  You certainly don’t want to pay that price when you can stockpile it now on sale for later use.  By the way, if you plan on heading out to Food Lion, you’ll want to check this Food Lion sale and coupon match-up from A Full Cup.

By the way, I am in desperate need of a freezer.  I sold ours when we moved and I’m hoping to find a good deal on one before the ground chuck sale ends on Tuesday. If I have the freezer space, I plan to buy 15-20 lbs of the meat.  A freezer is essential for stockpiling sales on meats and frozen foods. 

Are you taking advantage of the Memorial Day sales?

image sxc.hu

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There are two types of buying.  The first type of buying is need buying.  This is when you buy the things that you need at that moment.  Of course, need buying causes you to pay full price for items.  How many times have you gone to the store to buy something that you needed for a recipe and were disgusted with the price?  Or upset with yourself because that item was just on sale last week?  I know that I’ve done this many times. 

Stockpiling is the preferred method of buying.  It saves money because it allows you to buy foods at rock bottom prices that you’ll eventually need.  The lowest prices on items can usually be found by combining a sale with a coupon. 

Stay tuned for more posts on stockpiling tips.  Do you stockpile groceries when they are at their lowest prices?

image (c) Karen Weideman

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I have been a Clark Howard fan for quite a while, so I was very excited about this opportunity.  Unfortunately, the radio stations here do not air his shows each day, so I am not able to post his tips as frequently as I would like.  

Yep, that’s Clark and me.     Two others and I spoke about saving money with couponing, meal planning, and stockpiling.  The other two speakers of the event were Faye Prosser from Smart Spending Resources and Dan Griffin from SavvyDollar.org. 

(I wonder if they could see my head over the podium. lol) 

I spoke about saving money with menu planning and stockpiling.  You’ll find many of these tips here at Thrifty Mommy, but I’ll be reviewing some with you in the next few weeks.

Welcome new readers and a special thanks to Coastal Federal Credit Union for putting on this free event for the public.

images (c) Karen Weideman

Post from: Thrifty Mommy