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

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

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

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

Related posts:

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

Related posts:

1. Idaho Press Tribune Gives Back!
2. Idaho Press Tribune in Boise area
3. Coupon on Todays Idaho Press Tribune

Related posts:

1. A Thrifty Mom will be on Channel 2 News Today
2. Free Idaho Steelheads tickets
3. Today and Tomorrow Last Days – I Made $5.60 on Restaurant.com 80% off deal!

Click here to read the article

Clcik here to watch the video

Related posts:

1. As Featured On
2. A Thrifty Mom has gone Mobile