It's officially warm weather!  Woohoo!  I'm so excited because we have been cooped up for so long!  Only problem with warm weather: huge mess outside, huge mess inside.  Also, the neighbor kids are swarming since we have a brand new play set up.  (That's a whole separate topic...)

This will be our third year of gardening.  I am hoping this year is a winner.  Quick recap: First year: we were in our apartment and tried those hanging planters.  Our upstairs neighbor decided to sabotage all attempts of growing by throwing toxic water off of his balcony daily.  Last year: drought = dead plants.  I cannot say that I haven't tried!

So what do I do when I become obsessed with a topic? Check out books from the library and scan Pinterest.  Ricky always makes fun of me because I check out 10 books at a time and skim them all.  When we started planning the wedding I DVR'd every wedding show and checked out every book.  (I also have an issue with reading books that have been made into movies).  

From all of this research I have learned some great tips for building a (hopefully) successful garden.

Here's my favorite tips:

(If my garden crashes and burns this year, I'll blame Pinterest)

1.  Save egg shells to help nourish your soil.  I kept them in a bag, crushed them up and dried them at 200 in the oven for about 45 minutes.
2. Before laying down your soil, place 3-4 layers of newspaper to help keep out weeds.  I sprayed each layer with the hose between to help it from blowing away.
3.  Before planting your tomato plants, put a banana peel in the ground with some extra egg shells.  
• Also, make sure you put your cages around your tomatoes when you plant them NOT later as they grow.  Learned that the hard way last year!!
4. Keep mint away from EVERYTHING.  It spreads like wildfire.  
5. Compost! It's a super easy way to feed your garden.  We throw everything in a bowl during the day and then take it out to the compost at night.  We use an open tub with holes cut in the bottom (to help drain water).  We aren't' perfect at it yet (I forget to turn it), but it seems to really help our soil!
• There are many lists online which go over what items work.  One word of advice: no pits and break up citrus peels.

I am NO expert, so any tips are much appreciated! 

Do you have a green thumb?

Warehouse stores: good for bargain shoppers?

We just joined Costco.  I love that place!  Since the twins eat like little football players, it was a good idea for us to buy more items in bulk.  I feel the quality of coupons has gone a bit downhill lately and I haven't been able to stock up on products like granola bars and kiddie type food.  At least at Costco we can guarantee we get a decent price on certain items.  Plus they have the double cart for the girls to ride in, which no stores have around here.   It makes it so much easier to shop. 

You do have to be careful in warehouse stores.  It really helps if you break down each item and see if it is really a good deal.  Here are some quick tips that I have for buying in bulk.

• With any bargain shopping, it is best to know how much is a good price for an item.  Some people keep price notebooks, but I don't have enough motivation for that! It's easy enough to just keep a mental note.  Try to remember sizes as much as you can.  I call these my price points.  It's good to have these mental notes to know when you should stock up on an item.  As always, coupons may vary, so a general price range is efficient enough.
• Example: I know my price point for jarred spaghetti sauce is $0.75, and its usually around 20 oz.  At Costco they have the huge containers for a much better bargain.
• Be realistic.  Can you really eat THAT much before it goes bad?
• We made this mistake with tortilla chips (which we don't buy anymore), and the 2 lb bag didn't stay fresh for long.  Duh!  
• Don't forget to look at their clothes and gift items!
• They have Carter's sleepers for the kids for $7, which is an AMAZING price.  They only get cheaper if you buy them off season on clearance
• Check out the produce section!  
• I found 3 lb packs of cubed squash for $3.99.  At Meijer a 12 oz package is $2.99.  Such a great bargain.  You can steam it, roast it or use it for baby food.  It also freezes well.
• Pineapple and avocados are also cheap.
• Just remember to think about how much you can actually use.  I love the price of the organic lettuce, but there is no way I could finish it before it got soggy.
• The price of batteries and light-bulbs can't be beat.  We got enough energy efficient bulbs for our entire house (about 20) for less than $10!  Batteries are great to stock up on this time of year with kids around.  You can get about 20 for $13.
• Just want to check out the prices?  You can get a guest pass to browse (but you can't buy). I have heard if you don't have a membership, you can buy a gift card and use that to pay.  That is a great idea for someone who may not need to shop there regularly.  You can load up a gift card for $25 and get what you need and pay the difference on a separate card.  I would research this a bit though, because I have just heard this on other bargain blogs.

Do you have any warehouse shopping tips?  I would love to know what you buy!

How to save money without double coupons: step 2

Happy Sunday everyone! 

Yesterday, I shared my first tip on how to save money in an area which doesn't double coupons: shop early.

Here are more tips for you:

• Shop sales.  This goes for any area, but especially when you have to make your money stretch further.  Once you start following the ads and what is on sale, you will be amazed at how much you can save.  Meijer, Family Fare and all of the drug stores offer early ad previews, so you can get a head start on your grocery list and menu planning.
• If you plan your menu to the sales, as well as using your pantry more often, you can save so much money!  My best tip is to have a weekly or monthly budget.  For our family, $100 seems to work each week.  Each family is different though!
• If you are stuck as to what to make, use an online resource like Allrecipes.  I love their ingredient search because you can find so many fun and different recipes you wouldn't have used before.  Once I find a keeper, I add it to my virtual recipe box.
• Once you know what's on sale, flip through your coupons and find even better deals.  I use A Full Cup for this, people do all of the work for you!  Go to specific grocery store's forum and they list coupon match ups.   I also love the Target forum.
• Do some research.  I know grocery stores in the Lansing area double coupons, so if I'm in the area visiting my parents, I might save a shopping trip for their local store.  There might be a store closer than you think!  When we were in Madison, our local Copps doubled every few weekends. 
• Since our Kmart does double occasionally, I do always check to see if there are any great deals that week.  Usually you can get great savings on items like wipes and baby products.

Tomorrow, I will finish up this blog series with my final tips.  I hope you are learning something! 

How to save money without double coupons: Step 1

When we moved back to Michigan last year, I was shocked when I found out there are NO stores in my area that double coupons.  Actually, we have one Kmart which occasionally does, but their prices are SO much higher!  It was a bit of a bummer, especially since the grocery prices are higher here.

After making some adjustments, I have learned to save almost the same amount of money.  It's sad watching that crazy Extreme Couponing show and realizing some areas of this country TRIPLE coupons.  I can't even imagine!

Here are some tips for everyone in the land of no doubles (or LOND in bloggy world).  

• Shop early in the day.  Especially Monday or Tuesday.  

• As the shelves are restocked, they mark down boxes that are not so pretty (ripped, smashed, etc).  Look for big orange stickers.  With cereal and crackers, this doesn't matter because the food is in another bag inside.  Who cares what the box looks like!  You can save 50% or more.  Use that with a coupon and you are getting super cheap items.  I stay away from cans, unless it is just the tag that is ripped. 
• Reduced produce carts go out early, as well.  I was almost stalking the produce lady last Tuesday when I realized she was marking down items.  I got 20lbs of Gala apples for $5...perfect for applesauce and baby food.  I also get potatoes, onions, grapes, berries (watch out for mold!), citrus.  
• Don't be afraid of markdowns in the meat section.  You can get great cuts of meat cheaper.  Stay away from browning meat, though!  I just repackage once I get home and throw it in the freezer.  Chicken breasts have been my favorite find lately, they bake quickly for a  weeknight meal.
• By the salad mix are bags of broccoli, stir-fry mix, squash, etc,  I LOVE these bags because I always can find at least one marked 40% off ($1.20) and they steam right in the microwave.  So quick and easy.  If I find a lot, I throw them in the freezer.
• On other non-food items, markdowns are done overnight or early.  
• Target has a set markdown schedule (great to know if you are watching an item):
• Monday: Kids Clothing, Stationary Items, Electronics, Baby
  Tuesday: Domestics, Food, Women’s Clothing, Pets
  Wednesday: Men’s Clothing, Toys, HBA, Lawn and Garden
  Thursday: Housewares, Shoes, Lingerie, Sporting Goods, Media, Books              Friday: Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, Jewelry

Tomorrow, I'll cover more tips, including how to shop the sales ads!

Coupon pep talk!

I've posted this before, but since I have so many new readers who are new to couponing (hello!!!), I wanted to give you this little pep talk.  Being new to the coupon world can be intimidating, but stick with it!

Since I've been using coupons for years, I am used to the negative side of them.  When I go to the store, I'm sure I am the cashiers nightmare with the amount of coupons I use.  Now I am proud of my savings and I do not care what they may think, but it can be almost intimidating using coupons.  Make sure you know the rules for the store you are shopping at because the cashiers can be wrong sometimes!

Here are some ways to make coupons less stressful for newbies:

1. Organize, organize organize!  I always keep an ongoing list on our fridge and before I go shopping I check out sales, finalize my list and get my coupons out that I may need.  I put the coupons for that shopping trip in a separate envelope so I know exactly where they are.  If I'm getting something like trash bags and I don't know what I will end up buying, I get out all coupons for trash bags, so I don't fumble around in the store. 
2. You don't have to hit every great deal.  This tip is one I should really follow.  You should see our linen closet and pantry.  I am addicted to free toothpaste and cereal.  If you try to go out and get every great deal, you would drive yourself crazy!  Buy what you can use.  Also, just because you have a coupon doesn't make that the best price- if you are trying to use a coupon for salad dressing, but there is a better deal without the coupon, go for the better deal!
3. Don't feel bad about using coupons.  Before you get in line to check-out, make sure you have everything you may need out and ready to go.  As long as you are organized, there is NO reason to feel bad about using coupons.  I get all sorts of comments from people behind me and I try to not let it get to me, but I will admit its hard to not want to give up.  Especially with a grouchy cashier.  My opinion is, if people get annoyed with you they can go in a different lane! 
4. Stand up for yourself.  This goes back to the whole "grouchy cashier" category.  Some cashiers refuse to deal with coupons and they will do anything they can to say "nope, we cant take this".  In my experience, 9 times out of 10, they are wrong.  If you know your coupon is right, say something!  If the cashier is still salty, go right up to the customer service desk after your transaction.  Yes, this sounds time consuming, but its worth it.
5. Have fun!  Coupons are not for everyone.  Its hard for me to understand, but a lot of people hate using coupons.  If you can't have fun saving money and you think of coupons as a burden, stop using them.  I find saving money fun, so I brush aside the negatives of couponing.  Once you get the hang of it, couponing is really quick and easy...I promise!

If you have any beginner questions, as always I'm here for you!
My new email is: beingcheapiseasy at gmail.com or you can message me through this blog. 

I love all comments!

What to do with grocery store markdowns: recipes & tips!

I love any deal, but grocery markdowns are one of my favorite ways to save.  By markdown, I mean products on clearance or "manager specials" throughout the store.  Im such a dork that I get super excited when I see those orange stickers.  Maybe I need a life?  Anyway, I thought I would give some tips on what to do with some commonly found markdowns, as well as some great recipes I've come across.  Before buying anything, make sure there are no brown spots on meat, dents in cans or moldy produce!

• Bananas.  I actually like slightly brown bananas over ripe, but when I see a big bag of them I get them for two reasons: bread and smoothies.  Check back in a few days for my smoothie tips.  
• Banana Oatmeal Bread (from allrecipes.com) This is a new favorite and its amazing as bread or muffins!  It freezes well, too.  Just cover in foil and then a freezer bag (after cooking, of course).  I don't use shortening, I substitute 1/2 cup of applesauce and 1/2 c of butter, as a review suggested.
• Peppers. 
• With bell peppers I slice them and freeze for pasta, stir fry, fajitas or whole for stuffed peppers.  When you defrost them, make sure you let them drain liquid.  They loose their crispness, but the flavor remains when you use them for cooking.  
• Jalapenos and other spicy peppers also freeze well, but I try to use them right away.  My aunt gave me a great recipe for stuffed peppers, if you are interested, message me! 
• Meat.  I love finding chicken, pork roasts, sausages, or more expensive cuts of meat like flank steaks or NY strips on markdowns.  If you freeze them right away, they are okay for months. 
•  If you watch the Food Network, Tyler's Ultimate has great recipes.  Here is one for a pot roast.  So delicious!
• Ground beef or turkey can be made into meatloaf or burger patties.
• Italian sausage freezes well both raw and cooked.
• When I first bought a pork roast I had no idea what to do with it.  I find slow cookers are the best route for tender results.  This pulled pork recipe from allrecipes.com (can you tell I love this website?) gets a lot of compliments.  I usually add more of my favorite bbq sauce to it.
• Chicken the best bargain, especially if it happens to be Gold n' Plump because there are always coupons for it.  
• Flank steak is a great marinade & grill steak.  Slice it thin for tacos or just sliced with potatoes works too. 
• Avocados.  I can eat guacamole every day, I love it so much.  If you happened to miss my "Healthier Guac" recipe, you should try it!  It can be frozen too!  When I find bags of 12 avocados, I make huge batches and freeze them in cup sized portions.  Make sure you add a bit of extra lemon or lime juice.
• Berries & other fruit.  We fly through fruit around here, so finding edible fruit on markdown is a jackpot (sometimes fruit on markdown is mushy or almost moldy).  
• I freeze strawberries, blueberries and raspberries for smoothies. 
• Apples can be made into applesauce or apple cake or bread. 
• Canned goods: stock is a great find!
• Veggies. 
• Corn can be sliced off of the cobb and frozen.  Rachael Ray has a great corn chowder recipe that we love, also. 
• Zucchini doesn't freeze well by itself, but if it is mixed with other veggies for a stirfry mix it will be okay.
• Broccoli freezes or you can make soup first, then freeze.  I do recommend cutting it first. 
• Bread.  There is always day old bread which you can make garlic bread with (just combine minced garlic, butter and Italian seasoning) or bread crumbs super fast.  Both freeze well. 

There are many other great finds out there, but this should get you started.  Don't be scared of trying new recipes.  You can also find products or foods you would may have always wanted to try on markdown.

Keep your eyes peeled when you are shopping, you can find some great deals! If you need some suggestions or recipes, message me.  I have many saved!