Have you seen the new recommended guide lines for portions? ChooseMyPlate.gov website has the complete details on the new replacement to the food pyramid that many of us have grown to learn back in school. Personally I think this version is a more realistic approach to visually learning the way a plate should look. It seems like the new generations are all visually stimulated, so this is an excellent way to get the image engraved in to our heads.

And with great sources to fill your plate like the excellent food from folks like Green Giant, there isn’t an easier way to get healthy produce to fill the largest portion on your plates. Did you know that Green Giant frozen food process actually preserves more nutrients, vitamins and minerals in frozen food then the “raw” or “fresh” vegetables in the grocery department. Yep it’s not a myth! It is true! Click the image below and look for it at the bottom of the Green Giant website to read from independent studies of the health benefits of frozen Green Giant vegetables:

Look for this image at bottom of Green Giants website here

A Thrifty Mom.com has not been paid for this post – It is the sole opinion of A Thrifty Mom.com

Related posts:

1. Be a lil “Sprout”
2. Food Lion matchups thru 11/25
3. Giant Food and Stop&Shop coupon deals thru 3/3

Winner: holly r
Comment: shared with my friends via email

Winner: Carla
Comment: shared this on facebook!!

Winner: Dee
Comment: Left the comment on Rayovac’s facebook page

Winner: Jenina B
Comment: I visited Rayovac’s Facebook’s page, Liked them and left a comment saying “ I can’t wait to win the new Lithium Ion Power Pack on A Thrifty Mom.com “

Related posts:

1. Enter to win one of four Lithium Ion Power Packs from Rayovac
2. New Rayovac Lithium Power Pack – best ever!
3. Awsome $1 off any Rayovac Battery

Thanks to Rayovac, they have given us four new Lithium Ion Power Packs to give to you! These are awesome! If you haven’t seen one before, check out the review I did a few weeks ago on it. These make perfect stocking stuffers. They are small, and powerful, and is a great match to any one who has an electronic device!

They can charge your phone while you are on the run, or any other electronic rechargeable device. So small and carries an awesome charge!

The giveaway ends Tuesday Nov 29th, 2011 at 10pm mtn. Four winners will be chosen by random and contacted by email. Please provide a valid email address to contact you. All anonymous entries will be voided. For additional rules read here

To enter to win do one or all of the following, then come back to THIS post and leave a comment saying what you did:

• Visit Rayovac’s Facebook’s page, Like them if you haven’t already and leave a comment saying “ You cant wait to win the new Lithium Ion Power Pack on A Thrifty Mom.com “
• Share this post on Facebook by clicking on the Facebook “Like” below – when the window opens type a message to your friends to check this out to win a free Rayovac Lithium Ion Power Pack on A Thrifty Mom
• Share this post on Google Plus by clicking the +1 image below - when the window opens type a message to your friends to check this out to win a free Rayovac Lithium Ion Power Pack on A Thrifty Mom
• Share this post on Twitter by clicking the Tweet button below.
• Share this post with your Friends by clicking on the “Share” button below.

Related posts:

1. New Rayovac Lithium Power Pack – best ever!
2. Local Giveaway – Win 200 bucks toward service and repair of Furnace
3. Power your Halloween safely with Rayovac

A Few Short Cuts - little girl

This this Green Giant outfit is the best

easy way to make a cute costume

Some face paint, and some felt - seems like a quick costume

Two little "sprouts"

Related posts:

1. Halloween costumes 9 Bucks and up
2. Green Giant- Small town goodness #GreenGiantVV
3. Salt and Pepper~ Thrifty Halloween Costume Idea

If you are looking for some thrifty tips on ways to save on veggies then you may want to take a look at this article on Green Giant Blog today.  It is only part one so many more tips are on the way.  A Thrifty Mom was honored to be one of the featured  blogs to offer our money saving tips.

Related posts:

1. Green Tips
2. A Thrifty Mom is heading to the valley of Green Giant Vegetables
3. Where did the Green Giant name come from? #GreenGiantVV

Maleeya loves to dress up and look pretty.

This year, since Idaho usually gets some form of heavy frost or snow by Halloween, we still needed to keep little Maveric warm. We found this cute monkey outfit at Other Mothers. He giggled when he saw it and when we got home dug through the bag till he found it. He ran around the house the other day wearing his new monkey outfit. It fits him because we have always called him “chunky monkey”.

But outside of the fun of costumes is safety and the decorations. Many people are thinking a little more about pumpkin safety. Not carving them, but lighting them. When I was young I remember smelling burning pumpkin as I went door to door trick or treating. Back then every one used candles, and they always seemed to dry out and start to char the inside. Every now and then I saw people pouring water on them to put out the char.

Why worry about that when you can use a candle that is safe and powered by a battery? And with coupons now a days that is so easy to do! And while you are out following your kids around the neighborhood, and the next neighborhood, and so on, you don’t have to worry about your pumpkins catching on fire. Just use a small LED flashlight or lantern from Rayovac!

It is so easy to use this lantern it comes with three of the AA Rayovac. It is the Rayovac Sportsman Xtreme Mini LED lantern. With a dollar off coupon on any flashlight you can pick one up for a thrifty price. I know these are in Walmarts and other major retailers nation wide.  So go ahead, carve your pumpkin and light it up and forget about it. You wont have to worry about the pumpkin catching on fire, and you wont have to come home to a dark dim pumpkin with the power that Rayovac batteries provide! This lantern can run for 35 hours continuously! Talk about trick or treating~ you could do your whole town and come home to the pumpkin still lit up!

Don’t forget to visit Rayovac on Facebook and print your $1 OFF any Rayovac Flashlight

Also print a $1 OFF any Rayovac rechargeable.

And print $1 OFF any Rayovac Alkaline

Related posts:

1. New Rayovac Lithium Power Pack – best ever!
2. Rayovac FREE 9 volt batteries – March 9th Spring Forward
3. Become a Rayovac VIP and Discover Facebook Fan Fridays

There is such a need for power in today’s world. Power in large and small quantities. Rayovac’s new Platinum Lithium Power Pack PS60 meets that need head on. Check out this review that shows the Platinum Lithium Power Pack and its features. You can also see a competitor unit that I have used in the past.

What I got to test was just perfect. The Rayovac PS60 has no moving parts. The competitors unit that I just got about two months ago, is large, very heavy, and bulky. There is no way you just slide it in your pocket. Also about two weeks ago I had to send it back after using it just once. The plug end of it that moves broke internally.

With the Rayovac PS60 there are no moving parts. You have the Lithium Ion Power pack, a carrying bar that hold the three adapters – micro – USB, a mini-USB, and an Apple charging plug. It also has the charging cable. You have one cable the adapts to them all. On the top side of the power pack there are two ports. One says “IN” which is to charge the actuall unit when plugged into a charging USB port like on your computer. Next there is an “OUT” which you take the power cord USB end and plug it into the PS60 and attach what ever charging plug you need for your electronic device. And your unit has some 6 hours of talk time for a phone!

If you are on the phone for six hours – You might of well set a new record! So this Platinum Lithium Power Pack the PS60 might even help you set that record!

You can find it at Walmart for about $15 bucks!!!! (In stores Monday 9/26/11)

Here are more of the features that were not included in the review.

Features and Benefits:
•Rechargeable Mobile Device Charger
•800 MAh Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery Charges in 3 Hours
•Recharge PS60 by USB or your device wall plug
•Includes adapters: Micro USB, Mini USB, and Plug for Apple Devices
•Charge Cell/Smart Phone for 6 hours of Talk Time
•Recharge MP3 Player and iPod Nano 3X
•Compatible with cell/smart phones,  digital cameras, portable gaming devices and MP3 players
•LED Battery Gauge Indicators
•Colored LEDs: Indicate Charging Status

So stop by Walmart, starting this Monday and pick a couple up as stocking stuffers for your family and friends!

And don’t forget to visit Rayovac’s Facebook page for the latest Rayovac product coupons

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2. Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Power Bar Harvest Bar
3. Power Juicer BOGO

We all know about Single Use Batteries.  They have been around for what seems like forever. Most tend to buy these because the cost can be lower then the other types.

The next main type are Multiple Use or Rechargeable, or even called secondary batteries. Rechargeable batteries have a variety of types of internal components. many have shelf life of 10 years, while some can be recharged hundreds of times. These can be confusing because with technology there has been a growth to these type of batteries and what they are made of. Here are the different types that you may see on the labels:

• Nickel Metal Hydride – NiMH
• Nickel Cadmium – NiCd
• Lithium Ion – Liion
• Sealed Lead Acid – SLA

With so many different electronics and applications which battery should you use and in what? Here is a list of electronics and their recommended battery:

Rayovac Heavy Duty battery - best for low drain household electronics:

• Hand-held Radio
• Remote Controls
• Clocks
• Print Coupons

Rayovac Alkaline battery - best for household electronics, most popular long-lasting power, very good shelf life of 7 years:

• Flashlight
• Remote Controls
• MP3 players
• Print Coupon

Rayovac Lithium battery - best for high drain and high tech devices, storage life of 10 years, 33% lighter then alkaline batteries:

• Smoke Alarms
• CO2 detectors
• Wireless Microphone

Rayovac Rechargeable battery - best for frequent high use h, high drain devices, rechargeable 100′s of times, ready to use out of the package:

• Digital Cameras
• Handheld Game devices
• Wireless Controllers

Related posts:

1. Awsome $1 off any Rayovac Battery
2. $3 off Rayovac rechargeable batteries
3. Thankful for Rayovac

Day two of our trip to Minnesota to the land of the Green Giant.  I heard we would have a special visitor at breakfast I wondered if it was going to be a tall, half naked man, covered in green paint and leaves….. hmmm that may be a little awkward.  I am happy to report I was greeted instead by the adorable “Sprout”.  I grew up watching Sprout on the Green Giant TV commercials and I have to admit I am a bit a of fan.  Who needs the Disney princess when you have this cute little fella around.  I just marked one of my childhood dreams off my life list.  Now if I could just poke the Pillsbury Dough Boys tummy….lol.

As you can tell Matt and lil Sprout were doing some male bonding as he took a nice little punch to the gut.  No really all joking aside, it was fun to have a few pics with Sprout and made me feel like a kid again.

We then got on the bus and had a 45 minute drive to Le Sueur.  On the way be watched a video telling us about the history of  Green Giant.  They have been around since 1903. They started small, made it thru 2 wars but pushed along and now nearly 1000 families farms grow vegetables using decades of experience.  In doing so helping to feed American families.  Do you know how Green Giant got their name?  It was because of the abnormally large Green Peas they were able to grow.

The video ended with this kind of cheesy…ok really cheesy, dramatic music that was meant to stir up emotion…… or hold a lighter to and wave your arms to.  Either way the bus was full of giggles.  The words went something like…

Someone working on a dream….Some where beyond the harvest…. you get the point.

But I have to admit I kind of liked it.  Growing up on a farm I totally got that all that hard work had a purpose.  Working towards the dream of providing for your family and others thru your harvest.  I better not let my mom get a hold of this song or I am pretty sure she would make us all memorize it, learn parts and preform it at the next family reunion.

Last but not least I was able to spot something in the trees…. do you spot him?  The bus was moving so fast it was hard to get a good photo…. look hard. The Green Giant is hiding.

More of our trip to come……

A Guys Perspective- Green Giant Trip

Dinner Cruise on Lake Minnetonka- Green Giant Trip

Small Town Goodness- Green Giant

Guess Where I am Headed- Green Giant

Green Giant paid for our travel, but we were not paid to attend.  All opinions are our own.

Related posts:

1. Green Giant- Small town goodness #GreenGiantVV
2. Dinner Cruise on Lake Minnetonka with Green Giant #GreenGiantVV
3. A Thrifty Mom is heading to the valley of Green Giant Vegetables

Well it’s Matt. As many of you know Sarah and I just got back this past weekend from visiting Green Giant’s facilities in Minnesota. Let me say we had tons of fun! But many of you might be wondering what a guy thought of a trip among 22 other bloggers who were all female. Well the main thing I learned was – Yummy! Yes I ate a lot! As you can see in the photo above we saw lots of corn! We ate lots of corn! We also learned a lot about corn and many other vegetables. For me and I am sure many other guys, we love to learn the numbers. I am very logical and love to figure things out. I am very logical minded.

One of the things I learned from the guys there teaching us about Green Giant’s agriculture programs is their increased production abilities since they began farming. It really amazed me. Did you know in the 1950′s farmers could only produce 82 cases per acre.

Now what’s in a case? A case is 24 cans that are 11 ounces each. Wow right? That might seem like a lot, but with science management that includes special irrigation, soil management, finding the right species of corn out of over 3000 different varieties, and so many other practices that Green Giant help increase production. Since Green Giant has been around since 1903. That and their partnerships with universities all helped and continue to advance the science behind the vegetables on our plates.

By the 1970′s they were able to advance production to 150 cases per acre. With many more years of research and growing thousands of test crops, they advanced even more. In the 1990′s that production soared to 250 cases per acre. That’s not even the end of it. By 2010 the production of sweet corn blew out of the field to 350 cases per acre!

In the photo below you can see on the far right that little row is all it takes now to produce 24 cans (11 ounce each) of sweet corn.

In a 6 foot by 6 foot square of corn, Green Giant has been able to produce one whole case (24 cans) of delicious corn! The section in the middle is from the 1990′s and the one to the right was the amount it took to produce one case of corn. It was a great visual example of the advancement of crop production that Green Giant has perfected over the century!

So what else did I learn from our visit?

It’s so good raw in the field! I ate two whole cobs – even after a huge lunch we had earlier. It was soooo GOOD – More Green Giant stories to come!

Green Giant paid for our travel, but we were not paid to attend.  All opinions are our own.

Related posts:

1. A Guys Perspective
2. Green Giant- Small town goodness #GreenGiantVV
3. Dinner Cruise on Lake Minnetonka with Green Giant #GreenGiantVV

Matt and I were grateful to be selected as two of 23 bloggers invited to visit the Green Giant Farm in Minnesota. Growing up on a farm I was well aware what a family farm looked like, and the long hours of hard work, love and dedication it took from my whole family to get crops from seed to harvest to my families kitchen table.

So I was most interested how this happened on such a large scale, and how Green Giant was able to feed so many of Americas families. I knew where I came from and I was worried this small town farm girl may feel a little out of place in the Giant Valley. It was clear within a few hours that I had “found my people”, kind , genuine, down to earth, hard working and family oriented.

I have so much to share with you, and plan to highlight our trip over the next week. While on the beautiful Worth Family farm I shared a few of my thoughts with Keven from the Taste Of General Mills. Click here to watch a short clip. Feel free to leave a comment as well, tell them A Thrifty Mom sent you!

Related posts:

1. A Thrifty Mom is heading to the valley of Green Giant Vegetables
2. $.50 off Green Giant Frozen Vegetables
3. $1 off Green Giant Gourmet Red Yellow Potatoes

I was honored to be asked to take part as a Frugal Blogger in the All You Grocery Challenge. Today A Thrifty Mom was featured on their site.  Here is part of the story:

Growing up on a small farm in Middleton, Idaho, Sarah Barrand learned at a young age that day or night, there were always chores to do. Her mother taught her she could be happy with less and told her to always put her needs in front of her wants.

Sarah kept these lessons in the back of her mind, but didn’t always follow them as an adult. Pleased with her job, she thought she had “made it” and started buying frivolously.  “Suddenly, I realized I had a lot of bills to pay,” Sarah says. On top of that, her husband was $10,000 in debt. Together, they decided to get out of debt and spend no more than $10 to $15 per week on groceries.

Their first child, Matthew, was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome – a condition that meant the left side of his heart was severely underdeveloped. For three years, the Barrands would travel frequently for Matthew’s surgeries.

To read the full story click here

I was also the featured in this article Live a fulfilling, Frugal lifestyle with one Frugal Blogger’s tips

Take couponing seriously. “Extreme couponing is like a fad diet. At first, people get really excited about all the savings that can be had. They shop every store, grab every deal and buy a ridiculous amount of products just because they’re free. You can’t maintain this lifestyle without hitting a coupon burnout. Just like a fad diet, you can’t make it a way of life.”

*  Prevent frustration with the ultimate couponing guide!

Double up. “My biggest saving strategy is to coordinate using coupons with a sale item to get the lowest shelf price. Plus, I try to save at least five of the same coupon so I can get multiplies of a product and save on each one. I’ve even stocked up on one year’s worth of a particular item!”

* Stock up on canned foods to make simple and quick dishes.

Determine your wants and needs. “It takes dedication not to make impulse buys. And it’s important to plan your meals around what you already have in the house.”

To read the whole story click here

Thanks Alyssa at All You it was a pleasure to work with you!

Related posts:

1. TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS FOR THE FOOD DRIVE ON 6/17…
2. A Thrifty Mom in the Idaho Statesman today
3. A Thrifty Mom will be on Channel 2 News Today

Ok,I know June is almost over and these  will not be on the shelf much longer as July editions is on its way.  I had a few of you notice that  A Thrifty Mom was in fact featured in the June addition of All You Magazine.  I did not mention it before, as I was a bit bashful at seeing my face in a magazine as I waited at my Doctors appointment.  And I guess I did not want to come off as I was bragging or something.

I was honored and humbled to be featured in a national publication.  But also had a good laugh with my Mom that it happened to be about the topic of saving money at the Dollar Store.  Not exactly rocket science or a heart warming story… but  glad All You felt my money saving tip was worth passing along to its readers.

• AMDRO Pest Control – Save $2.00
• Banana Boat – Save $1.00
• Blue Bunny Premium Ice Cream or Novelty – Save $0.75
• Blue Bunny Premium Ice Cream AND All You magazine’s July issue – Save $1.00
• Burt’s Bees Tinted Lip Balm Save $1.00 off any one (1)
• Catherines $15.00 off your purchase of $75 or more
• Celebration Foods Ice Cream Cakes (including Carvel, M&M’S or OREO) – Save $3.00
• Colgate Sensitive Toothpaste – Save $1.00
• Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Save $2.00
• got2b – Save $2.00
• Hartz Crunch ‘n Clean Biscuits and Mini Bites Treats – Save $1.00
• Hartz Crunch ‘n Clean Cat Treats – Save $1.50
• HartzUltraGuard Flea & Tick Drops – Save $1.50
• Hormel Compleats microwave meal – Save $0.55
• HUGGIES LITTLE SWIMMERS and NESTLÉ JUICY JUICE, Buy any 1 HUGGIES LITTLE SWIMMERS and get a FREE NESTLÉ JUICY JUICE (4.23 OZ 8-pk) (up to $2.21 value)
• HUGGIES LITTLE SWIMMERS Disposable Swimpants AND ALL YOU magazine’s July issue – Save $1.00
• Keri Lotion – Save $1.00
• King Oscar Sardines – Save $1.00
• King’s Hawaiian Sandwich Bun – Save $0.50
• Kleenex Hand Towels – Save $0.50
• Kleenex Hand Towels AND All You Magazine’s July issue – Save $1.00
• Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows Free (up to $1.25 value) when you buy both HONEY MAID Grahams (14 oz or larger) and HERSHEY’S Milk Chocolate (6-pack)
• Lasting Finish Pro Nail Lacquer Buy 1, Get 1 Free (up to $4.00 value)
• Marzetti Slaw Dressing – Save $1.00
• McCormick® Recipe Inspirations AND ALL YOU Magazine’s July issue – Save $1.00
• Mineral Ice – Save $1.50
• Mrs. T’s Pierogies Save $1.00 when you buy any 1
• Nature’s Path Granola Bars AND ALL YOU magazine’s July issue – Save $1.00
• Nestle Juicy Juice AND All You magazine’s July issue – Save $1.00
• Nivea Body Lotion – Save $1.00
• Nivea Body Wash Buy 2, Get 1 Free (up to a $5.99 value)
• No Doz – $1.00
• NYC New York Color $5 off when spending $10 on NYC product
• Nylabone Edible Chew or Treat – Save $1.50
• Nylabone Non-Edible Chew – Save $1.50
• Odwalla Beverage – Save $0.35
• Olivari Mediterranean Olive Oil – Save $1.00
• Pure Protein Bars – Save $0.50
• Pure Protein 100% Whey Protein/Jillian Michaels Natural Whey Protein – Save $3.00
• Purpose Skin Care – Save $2.00
• Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash AND ALL YOU magazine’s July issue – Save $1.00
• Sally Hansen Beauty Tools Save $1.00 on any Sally Hansen Beauty Tool purchase of $2.00 or more
• Sevin Bug Killer – Save $2.00
• Shedd’s Spread Country Crock Spread and 1 bag of Lender’s® Bagels – Save $1.00
• Skinny Cow Save $1.00 off any (1) 6-count box (Confections items ONLY)
• Skinny Cow Dreamy Clusters Milk Chocolate, 6 ct. box AND All You magazine’s July issue – Save $1.00
• Slow Fe – Save $2.00
• Vassarette® panty AND ALL YOU magazine’s July issue – Save $1.00
• Viva Paper Towels – Save $0.50
• Viva Paper Towels AND ALL YOU magazine’s July issue – Save $1.00
• White Cloud® Product (excludes 4 roll Bath Tissue) – Save $1.00
• Zegerid OTC® 42 ct – Save $5.00

“I receive a commission for All You subscriptions purchased through the link above”

Related posts:

1. Magazine Coupons
2. Coupons in December magazine issues
3. Organic magazine coupons

Want to know where to start?

Coupons 101

Q&A-

• How to start a coupon stockpile
• Coupon lingo
• How to find the items you are looking for in stock
• One Coupon per purchase…. what does this mean?
• How to coupon long term
• What is a Catalina

Other fun things our site has to offer

• Menu planning with coupons
• My weeks budget review.
• Recipes

Local stores we cover

• Albertsons
• Fred Meyer

• Ridley’s
• Rite Aid
• Target
• Walgreens
• Walmart

For only $12 per month, couponers will receive 5 Sunday papers and a daily paper on Monday through Saturday.

For $13.50, subscribers will receive 6 Sunday papers and a daily paper on Monday through Saturday.

This fantastic deal lasts for 6 months.

To sign up, you can call Greg Roesberry at 870-2784.

Tell him you want the A Thrifty Mom special!

Also, if you currently get 3 extra Sunday Press-Tribunes call customer service today at 467-9252. They will up you to four extra Sunday papers and reduce your rate.

If you already get 5 extra Sunday Press Tribunes your rate just dropped too. It’s now $7.50 per month for the extras and there is no need to call as it will automatically adjust to the new rate.

Related posts:

1. Idaho Press-Tribune Reduced Rates
2. We are lucky to have the Idaho Press Tribune
3. Idaho Press Tribune in Boise area

Now do not get me wrong, I think you should be selective  and if you want a certain make or model and it fits into your budget plan then go for it. Enjoy your new ride that style and features fit your families needs.  If you are not sure your “dream vehicle” will fit into your budget I suggest you put the money aside each month that you would be spending for that payment ( don’t forget to check insurance prices too and add that to your payment).  After 3-6 months of making your pretend payments see how it effected your over all budget: was it a stretch, did it cause stress, or did you have to take money from other places to make the payment?  If you were able to answer no to all these questions, then you now have made a more informed decision.   You also have  your “pretend payments” set aside which you  can use as a down payment to help you get a better interest rates, or help get approved for financing.

Above is a photo of your 1998 Dodge Caravan, we purchased it in 2004.  We upgraded from a small car, that did not accommodate  Matt’s 6’2 height (all legs) and the car seats for our kids.  When we were looking to upgrade, Matt really wanted a SUV but I wanted a minivan.  I was busy looking at seating, gas mileage, air control and price.  Matt on the other hand was looking at the body style, window tint, tire size, engine power and how far back he could push the front seat to fit his long legs.  We came to a happy compromise and were thrilled with our Dodge minivan, it had what we both  wanted.  Matt was now the proud owner of his “Man Van”.

I went outside to take a photo of our van today, and Matt got this horrified look on his face and said you are not going to put that on the site are you.   I said ” you bet I am”,  sure it is not the glamorous  new body style, the paint is faded,  tires are worn, a little dusty and far from what it was back when it was new.  And yes I desperately want to upgrade, but I am proud to have a vehicle that is paid in full, runs well and have kept my family safe for the last 7 years!

As for the the new Dodge Grand Caravan RT ( Man Van), Matt took a peak at it today online and was rather impressed with the new look.  It met both the need to provide space and comfort for his family, as well as the look he is attracted too.  He was “all about” the grill he said looked like Dodge Charger…..me on the other hand “hmmm what is a grill”.

Related posts:

1. Idaho Falls Readers….show me the thrifty deals in your town
2. Today……
3. A Thrifty Mom in the Idaho Statesman today

By Tabitha Simenc   Idaho Press-Tribune

CALDWELL — A Caldwell stay-at-home mother of four works hard to maintain a thrifty lifestyle and, like many others locally, uses coupons to save money.

Sarah Barrand works hard to clip coupons and monitor deals to save 80 percent to 90 percent on her groceries each month. In September her grocery bill totaled $190.64 for $1,730.48 worth of groceries for her family of six.

Barrand began using coupons to stick to the family’s limited budget, which was initially caused by credit card debt that had to be paid off and continued with her son needing extensive medical care for a heart condition that resulted in 14 surgeries.

“I bought the things that were at their lowest price point with coupons,” she said. “I would stock up on those items, then I would not need to purchase those items for several weeks.”

How to save more
Combining manufacturer coupons with in-store coupons and sales allowed Barrand to drastically reduce her grocery bills.

“I think that the trick is, you can honestly find the best deals at any stores,” Barrand said. “I shop at stores that welcome coupon shoppers … That’s where I’m able to get the best deals for my money.”

She said that she stocks up on pantry staples when she can get them at a low price, to avoid spending more money later on when she needs the items. For example, she was recently able to buy hot cocoa for 10 cents per box, so she brought enough for the whole winter and will not have to buy anymore this year at around $2 per box.

She compared coupon shopping to trading stock on the stock market. Strategy with stock is to buy it at the lowest price point, not just what stock seems appealing, she said, and that is a good strategy to apply to grocery shopping too.

“As the economy turned, I saw so many people lose their jobs and they couldn’t afford to feed their family,” she said. “I knew a way to feed my family inexpensively.”

Sharing the wealth
Barrand decided to share this knowledge with others to help them save money too on her website.

“My website is basically a one-stop shop for thrifty living resources,” Barrand said. “We do the hard work and try to match all the coupons to the deals.”

Barrand said shopping with coupons can be overwhelming and so she gives all the information on her site to help first time coupon shoppers. She updates the site daily with information about the best coupon deals.

Barrand and her husband Matt founded the Web site in February 2009. The site has close to four million views as of this month.

The site is different from other coupon Web sites because it has a local focus, Barrand said. She tries to show how the coupons affect her family, shows her shopping trips to purchase coupon items and explains step by step how the discounts work.

“We’ll find deals that are pretty much localized just to the Idaho stores,” she said. “We actually go out and make sure the deals work.”

Sarah Barrand’s website is aThriftyMom.com

Related posts:

1. Thinking ahead saves you money
2. $300 giftcard saves you $30 at Albertsons
3. Main Street feature article

Thanks to the Idaho Press Tribune for running this story, it was fun working with you!

Related posts:

1. Thrifty Mom Video from the Idaho Press Tribune
2. Idaho Press Tribune in Boise area
3. Idaho Press Tribune Gives Back!

With the help of blogs like A Thrifty Mom, I have been able to save my family a lot of money!

Jeers to those who feel we are robbing the store and making their shopping difficult. Most blogs encourage people to not clear shelves or hold up lines, and to be conscious of other shoppers. They encourage giving back, donating, recycling the multiple newspaper papers (did you know taking the papers to Western Recycling proceeds go to the Ronald McDonald House?) and send expired coupons to overseas military families.

There are some couponers who don’t do this. Isn’t it that way with everything?

To those who think this is madness, I would like to describe myself. I am a stay-at-home mom with three young kids. My husband’s job requires extensive traveling to support his family. We are a middle-class family making our money stretch. This is one way I help stretch our budget.

If I chose to work, I would have to make about $15 an hour to contribute to our budget after daycare, transportation, etc. Do you know where to find a job with flexibility for my children’s needs paying $15 an hour in Canyon County?

I don’t, but I’m sure you do. One thing though: I want to raise my children! I want to be their coach, take them to the park, library, preschool, sports and gymnastics, and be a classroom mom!

So I take my coupon binder and stock our cupboards with good deals, making my grocery budget go further without using credit cards like most middle-class families.

So next time you see a coupon binder, maybe ask them what couponing does for them. Does it help pay rent, dance class, utilities or pay off debt?

• Kristel Stills, Caldwell

Article from the Idaho Press Tribune June 26, 2010

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“Cheap” is no longer a derogatory word—now we equate it with thrift, intelligence and quiet moderation. And Main Street America has always been impressed by temperance: Yesterday Warren Buffett bought $44 billion worth of railroad, yet we still love him because he lives in the same modest Nebraska home he bought in 1958 for just $31,500.

Of course, most of us never will get a chance to snatch up a bargain of Buffett proportions. Which is precisely why modern day coupon hunter-gatherers like Sarah Barrand of AThriftyMom.com serve as an example for those of more moderate means looking to get frugal fast.

Solidly middle-class folks and billionaires alike are fascinated by the art of the steal. We found Barrand noteworthy because she seems seriously committed to chronicling how she saves her family money. On her blog, she publishes a monthly “Budget Review” sharing with readers clear photos and prices of all the items she bought at deep discount during the previous month. And it’s all thanks to the magic of coupons and sales promotions.

Let’s take last month: “Before sales coupons or sales this would have cost $461.84, but because I waited to match my coupons with a great sale I was able to get it all for $95.57.” She saved close to 80% this way. The stockpile of goods she bought in October is a truly impressive sight.

How does she do it, exactly? “I do not shop like a ‘Normal’ person,” she explains on the blog. We assumed as much.

She stocks up on items at their “lowest price point for the week.”

“I bring them home and add them to my Pantry which is full of items that I use to make my families menu. My freezer is stocked with meat, so between the pantry and the freezer I do not really ‘NEED’ to buy anything. Which allows me to only purchase things at a price that I am happy to pay. Of course I have to buy my perishable items every week, like milk eggs and veggies.”

This method requires a lot of discipline, but it’s doable if you are willing to scan multiple Sunday papers for coupon inserts, as Barrand does. She describes this as the secret to her success; she told us via e-mail that this system allows her to save “hundreds of dollars a month.”

So what are you waiting for? Pick up a copy of the Sunday paper and pull out those scissors. It may just be worth your time.

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