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!

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”

Did any of you see A Thrifty Mom in the paper today?  Idaho Press Tribune contacted me this weekend, and asked me a few questions about couponing.  They are running a 5 day story on coupon tips.   If this is your first time visiting my site I would like to welcome you!   We do the work for you, showing you how to make couponing fit into your busy life, and make it a life long change.  We help you save your families hard earned money.

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.

Click here to read the article

Clcik here to watch the video

So my wife isn’t one to brag, but she has been featured today in Financial Times, www.FT.com
Her blog “A Thrifty Mom” has a write up by Jonathan Birchall titled “Americans embrace cyber moms? blog bargains” from the New York office of the London based newspaper Financial Times, Jonathan calls his newspaper “like the Wall Street Journal, but based in London, we like to think it’s more fun”. Jonathan found her blog and asked if he could interview her. Of coarse Sarah being a small town dairy farm girl was a bit shocked. She actually did some research on the Financial Times, thinking she just got some spam mail. Come to find out it is a legit and high end news source. So she called him back. His British accent made it a fun conversation. In his article he stated:
“In a sign of the demand, Sarah Barrand, a mother of three who launched A Thrifty Mom in Idaho last month, says she is already averaging 1,000 readers a day. ?To be honest, I had no idea what a blog was a year ago,? she says. ?But it?s taken off like I would never have imagined.?”

She is featured with other bloggers such as Southern Savers, Money Saving Mom, The Frugal Mom, Coupon Cravings, and Stephanie Nelson, the Coupon Mom, who has been featured on Oprah, The Today show, and many other news agencies. These are all very large blogs that do quite well. Sarah said she feels so honored to be included with these fellow bloggers.
You can read the full article here:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/94651ae2-04f7-11de-8166-000077b07658.html

Tell Sarah what you think.

Click here to read the article

Clcik here to watch the video

A Thrifty Mo
m made the front cover of the Life section today in our local Idaho newspaper, The Idaho Statesman. I was so nervous today waiting for the paper, so I sent my husband Matt to go buy one!