Let's talk about Aldi.

Aldi. It's been called "the poor man's grocery store." It's been labeled as "dirty." It's frequently overlooked. Lots of people are intimidated by how different it is from other grocery stores. It can be super confusing if you've never visited before!

I admit, I was really nervous the first time I wandered in a few months ago! The Aldi in my town is right down the hill from Walmart, where I do most of my normal grocery shopping, and I have to drive right past it... so, one day, I decided to stop in. (I bought one bag of potato chips, which were DELICIOUS.) I remember being confused about:

1. Needing to put a quarter into the buggy to release it. I had seen this a long, long time ago when shopping with my mom, but I didn't have a quarter. Shoot.

2. Not being able to use a credit card? Well, shoot again.

3. Did I want to buy a bag? What?!

I've heard that most people are confused about those same things, as well. But, I overcame the nerves and managed to go back to Aldi the next week and spent a considerable amount of time (and money!) there, and I've been much more confident ever since. Now, I always carry a quarter in my car so I can get a buggy. I know to use my bank card as "Debit," and I usually remember to bring my own bags. I actually love shopping at Aldi now! Since I love lists, I'll go ahead and make another one!

Why I love shopping at Aldi

1. I can bag my own groceries. Since I'm so picky about how my bags are packed, this is a huge deal to me.

2. The prices! Duh! This only came in second place (instead of first) because I am so unbelievably picky about how my groceries are packed.

3. The cashiers are lightning fast. Seriously!

4. There are no buggies rolling around the parking lot. I can park wherever and not have to worry about coming back to a dent in my bumper from a rogue cart.

5. Thus far, they have not re-arranged the inventory (as so many grocery stores love to do). I always know exactly where my favorite things are, and I know what aisles I can avoid.

6. They sell bags of frozen fruit  (I buy a pineapple/peach/strawberry mix) that I use to make smoothies for $1.99/bag. I spend $4 every week on frozen fruit and have enough to make a smoothie every morning for breakfast!

7. I can stock my pantry/baking supplies for super cheap. I don't care if my flour is name brand, I just want flour! Same goes for brown sugar, sprinkles, and... well, you get the idea.

8. Their produce section is killer! I bought a bag of baby carrots today for $.59. I grated and froze them, and now that bag will last through several batches of shredded chicken! 

9. The prices. Good enough to mention again!

And there you have it. I will forever be a fa of Aldi! What are your feelings? Good? Bad? Confused? Let me know!

Happy Sunday!

How We're Saving

Hi, all! Poll results are in, and I have great news- you all want to hear about more than just coupons! That's super great news for me (and you!) because that means I can post more often, not just when I take a coupon trip.

Today's post is a little different from normal. Instead of tips and tricks or advice or whatever, I'm going to list some ways that my husband and I are saving money. They're not huge things that are saving us a large amount, but every little bit helps when you're trying to get out of debt! (Which we are. Desperately. Because debt is annoying!)

1. Coupons. Seriously, did I even need to mention this one? ;)

2. Turning down the AC. I'm going to let you in on a little secret (that everyone knows): I don't like being hot. I don't handle heat well at all. I hate being sweaty and sticky and uncomfortable. Still, though, I like to turn on the AC only when necessary. Our unit was out for 5 days last week, and... I survived! I learned where to put our 2 box fans for maximum air movement, so now we only turn on the air for a few minutes in the evening (typically when the house temperature reads over 80 degrees). I like the thought of making this month's electric bill less than last month's... let the games begin!

3. Changing when we do laundry. This one may seem silly, but hear me out. Because of the lack of a proper vent in our rental home, running the dryer makes it extremely hot and humid in the whole house. We do laundry when it is cooler outside (early mornings and late evenings) so that we can open up the windows and let the hot air out/cool air in. Doing laundry when it is too hot outside makes it stifling inside, and we don't wait to run the air too much!

4. Packing a lunch. I know I mentioned this one in an earlier post as a "tip," but I didn't actually take my own tip until a few days ago. One morning, I was running around trying to get ready, and I didn't really have time to eat breakfast or make a lunch. So, on my way to work, I drove through Tim Horton's and got a breakfast sandwich, donut, drink, and an iced coffee. First of all, let's not even talk about how many calories I consumed. Secondly, I spent about $6 just because I didn't have time to eat breakfast and also because I knew I didn't have a lunch.

That night, I went to the grocery store and stocked up on lunch items and some Pop-Tarts. I went home and portioned out all of the snack-y items (pretzels, animal crackers, etc.) into baggies and then put them into paper lunch sacks. Now, all I need to do in the mornings is grab a lunch bag, throw together a sandwich, and grab some fruit and a drink. If I haven't had breakfast yet, I'll grab a Pop-Tart (which have also been portioned out). Problem solved- there is no excuse for me to waste money on food now!

Side note: I've also noticed that portioning out the snacks and putting them in the baggies makes me completely forget that they're in the house! I don't snack on them mindlessly and then wonder why I don't have anything to pack for my lunch anymore.

5. Scouring Pinterest for recipes. If I lived alone, I would rotate the same 5 meals week after week and never try anything new. My husband, on the other hand, likes a little more variety. So, instead of buying expensive cookbooks (or having an unhappy man!), I look at Pinterest every few days to find new recipes, or ways to change things that I already make. This allows us to eat out less often... and really appreciate it when we do!

5. Regarding gasoline. Based on what I've seen, there aren't a large number of ways to save on gasoline besides walking, biking, and carpooling. Since I work 32 miles from home (and nobody else from work lives near me), none of those are an option for me, so I've made several discoveries that allow me to make the most of my gasoline!

• Filling up when our tank is 1/2 full. We're paying less each time (since filling half a tank costs half as much as filling up an empty tank!). It also makes me feel much better when I'm stuck in traffic if I have at least half a tank of gas!
• Using rewards systems for buying gas. Thomas and I have a Speedy Rewards card that we use every time we go to Speedway. If you buy a $25 gas card, you get a certain amount of Speedy points that you can redeem for free food/drink items, cents off of gas, or even gift/gas cards! Every time we need to get gas, we buy a gift card so we get those extra points. I can't even tell you how many free items we've gotten! The card has extra perks, too, like free fountain drinks when you buy 6, free bottles of Pepsi after you've purchased a certain amount, and more! If you don't have a Speedy card, I'd definitely recommend getting one.

• Leaving earlier. This allows me to relax a little and set the cruise control, meaning that I'm using less gasoline. I'm also not tempted to blast past anyone on the 2-lane road and use a bunch of gas as I speed by them at 70MPH! Don't tell my dad! ;)
• Rolling down the windows. As I said earlier, I hate being hot... but I hate paying for gas more, and AC uses more gas than I care to talk about. If I get into my car and it's obnoxiously hot, I usually run the air on high with the windows all down, just to get out all the hot air, and then I turn off the air and leave the windows down. If it gets too hot again, I'll run the air for a few minutes (windows up!) and then turn if off (windows back down!) just to cool off. I've found that it's really helpful to have the front windows 1/3 of the way down and the back windows all the way down. It keeps me cool but doesn't mess up the hair. (Very important!)

Wow... that's a long post. I hope it's helpful, though! Happy Thursday!

***Please note that I am NOT (NOT NOT NOT) a financial person... just a blogger who shares little bits of her life. Your results may vary (but I hope they don't)!***

How to Shop at Yard Sales

This post name probably sounds a little silly, right? I mean, everyone knows how to shop at a yard sale. You pull up, park, get out, roam around, buy something (or don't), and leave.

Or, maybe you're one of those people who just doesn't like yard sales. They're a waste of time, it's all "junk," everything is dirty, the stuff is too expensive... yeah, yeah. I've heard it all before!

I just so happen to be one of those people who loves yard sales. Around Wednesday of every week, I start to get what I call the "yard sale itch," and I hop onto Craigslist and browse local yard sale listings. I have tons of things in my house that were purchased from yard sales, and I guess I'd call myself something of an expert! I've rounded up some of my best tips for you to browse and (hopefully!) learn from!

1. Do your research. As I said above, I typically check out Craigslist for listings of yard/garage sales in my area. I like Craigslist because people can put as much information as they want and they can add pictures! Sometimes, though, people don't want to/have time to/know they can post online, so drive around and look for signs listing times, dates, and locations of local sales. I typically take note of signs as I drive around throughout the week and hit up any sales that look promising! Oh, and don't forget newspaper ads!

2. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You'll be doing lots of walking! A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are also good ideas!

3. Do a drive-by. This isn't as shady as it sounds! If you are looking for something specific at a yard sale (for example, furniture) do a drive-by before stopping your car (as long as it's safe to do!). That way, you can quickly see if they have what you're looking for. If you're just browsing or looking for knick-knacks, though, this tip isn't for you.

4. Ask questions. It is a huge pet peeve of mine to go to a yard sale where nothing is priced! It does happen, though, and if you really want to buy an item, you have to ask for the price. (Annoying, especially for introverts like me!) Also, don't be afraid to ask if something actually works. Hopefully, the answer is yes, but I've also gotten the response of, "Well, it would work if the cord was replaced" or "We don't have the battery pack that goes with that, but it would work if you ordered one online!" (Also annoying!)

5. Don't be afraid to dig. Lots of people throw yard sales together last-minute and don't take the time to display items on tables to everything is visible. If stuff is piled in boxes or crates, dig in! (Tip: bring gloves and/or hand sanitizer with you!) You never know what you're going to find!

6. Take small bills. Especially if you're shopping early in the day, yard sale hosts probably won't be able to make change for a large bill. It really stinks to not be able to buy something just because it costs $.50 and you only have a $20 bill.

7. Haggle, haggle, haggle! I can't stress this one enough. Try to talk people down! Chances are, they'll take your offer as long as it's reasonable. At our last yard sale, I had an old Garmin GPS marked at $15, and I sold it for $10 to the first person who asked about it. We also had a loveseat for $50 and sold it for $25 because we just wanted to get rid of it. It was worth that other $25 to not have to lug it back into the garage!

8. Go later in the day. Around here, yard sales all seem to end around 3PM. I've noticed lots of times that after around 1PM, sellers start to lower prices. Again, they probably will do whatever it takes to get rid of the stuff! The downside to this tip is that, by later in the day, lots of the good stuff will already be gone.

9, Take your own bags. Even if you just take a plastic Target bag and stick it in your pocket, it'll save you from having to worry about carting all of your treasures back to the car! It is also helpful to keep a crate in the car, to move things into from the bag. That way, the items won't be rolling around in the car.

I was going to do 10 tips, but I think I'll stop at 9 for now... I enjoy odd numbers. :)

Have a fab Saturday and be sure to share your treasures with the Clip Smarter community tomorrow!

Last week's Kroger trip!

Last week, I posted a picture on Facebook showing what I Purchased at Kroger for less than $5! Here it is again for you to admire.

After that trip, I decided that I really needed to go back to Kroger and pick up some more cereal. So, this was my second trip.

I was so excited that all of this was just under $10! So, all in all, for less than $17 (rounding both figures up by $1), I got...

• 13 boxes of cereal
• 3 bottles of Tone body wash
• 2 packages of Pillsbury biscuits (one of which I used to make pizza balls tonight... yum!)
• 2 bottles of barbecue sauce
• 2 bottles of mustard

AWESOME.

Here's how I did it-

Transaction 1 (first picture)

• 2 boxes of Lucky Charms: $1.99 each & used a $1/2 coupon
• 2 boxes of Multi Grain Cheerios: $1.99 each & used 2 $.75/1 coupons that doubled
• 2 boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch: $1.99 each & used 2 $.60/1 coupons that doubled
• 2 bottles of French's mustard: $.75 each & used 2 $.50/1 coupons that doubled = FREE!
• 2 packages of Pillsbury biscuits: $.99 each & used a $1/2 coupon

All of these items were included in the Kroger Mega Event, where you got $5 off automatically when you bought 10 participating items.

Transaction 2 (second picture)

• 2 boxes of Lucky Charms: $1.99 each & used a $1/2 coupon
• 2 boxes of Multi Grain Cheerios: $1.99 each & used 2 $.75/1 coupons that doubled
• 3 boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch: $1.99 each & used a $.60/1 coupons that doubled and a $1/2 coupon
• 3 bottles of Tone body wash: $2.77 each & used a B2G1 (buy 2, get 1) coupon and a $1.50/2 coupon
• Kraft Barbecue Sauce: $1 each and used a $1/2 coupon

All of these items (except the barbecue sauce) were included in the Kroger Mega Event, where you got $5 off automatically when you bought 10 participating items.

It's a great feeling, knowing that I have enough cereal and body wash to last for 6 months! Oh, and here is a picture of my stockpile!

It's not unusual to find me staring at it with the closet door wide open... and I have no shame in that. At least now, my husband can no longer say, "Hey, honey? I ran out of shampoo a few days ago and I've been using yours since then." He has 12 bottles JUST for him... no need to take mine!

How to be Rich* (Part II)

*Rich: having enough money to buy things that you need and some things that you want

Finally! Some things that I really love talking about! In my last post about "being rich," I talked about some ways to save money. In this post, I will be focusing on how to spend less money when you do need to spend.

Shop at thrift stores.
I'm gonna pop some tags, only got twenty dollars in my pocket... oops, sorry! Okay, seriously. Thrift stores are my very favorite places to shop! Whether it be Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or privately-owned shops, you can find treasures there for next to nothing. As I look around my living room, I can see  13 things that have come from thrift stores. It's kind of addicting. I plan on doing a post later about my favorite finds!

Shop at yard/garage sales.
Yard sales are great in that people typically want to get rid of everything that they have set aside to sell, so they're willing to make deals. It takes a bit of practice to know what kinds of yard sales are worth your time, but it is so much fun once you figure it out! Every Thursday evening, I get something that I call "the yard sale itch." I get on Craigslist and look for garage sales in my area and map out my Saturday morning. It may sound crazy, but... well, okay. Maybe it is crazy.

Learn how to navigate Craigslist.
Like thrift stores and yard/garage sales, Craigslist is full of junk and a few treasures. If you know what you're looking for, and know how to use the "Search" feature (which is basically the easiest thing in the world), you're all set! We have purchased several things from Craigslist, including our refrigerator (for $60)!

Know when to invest.
At my previous job, I was on my feet for literally 8 hours every day. I was walking, dancing, skipping... you know, kid stuff. And it wore my shoes out in 2 weeks flat. I went to Dots and bought a pair of cheap canvas shoes, and they lasted 2 weeks. I went to Walmart and bought a pair of cheap flats, and they lasted 2 weeks. Then, I decided to stop buying "cheap" shoes and went to Payless. (Have I mentioned that I loathe spending money?) I bought a pair of DexFlex flats and they lasted me 4 MONTHS and are still in good shape (although they have certainly had better-smelling days). Had I "splurged" and bought them from the start, I would have saved about $25.

So there you have it! Some of these are painfully obvious, but some are not-so-much. I hope that you enjoyed reading!

How to be Rich*

*Rich: having enough money to buy things that you need and some things that you want

If you're reading this blog, you are probably interested in saving money. Coupons are a fantastic way to save money on groceries and toiletries, but there are so many other ways to save! I find myself in a trifecta of being poor (as a young, recently graduated newlywed), so I have learned a thing or two hundred about being broke. I'd love to share some tips with you and hear some of your tips, too!

Learn how to coupon effectively.
(Did I even need to list this one?)

Cut down on unnecessary expenses. 
I know this seems obvious, but some people dish out money for things that they don't even need or use. Do you really still need a landline? How many of those 2,000 channels do you actually watch regularly? Can you clean your house instead of hiring the job out to someone else?

Pack a lunch.
I have a confession: I love going out to lunch in the middle of a busy day at work. It's a nice break to get away from the madness that comes with working around kids all day! At my previous job, I ate out almost every day at lunch. Now, though, I pack every day and I can't believe how much money I'm saving. Think about it: if I spent an average of $3/day for a lunch, that's $15/week. When I pack, I spend about $8 and get enough stuff to last me for 2 weeks. That's a $22 savings in just 2 weeks! In addition to saving money, I've also lost weight. Whoo!

Budget, budget, budget.
My husband and I are preparing to begin the "envelope system" method of budgeting. The name is self-explanitory, but the basic idea is that, when you receive a paycheck, you get it out in cash and divide it into envelopes. You should have a pre-determined budget for each envelope (for example, $100/paycheck for gas, $25/paycheck for eating out and entertainment, etc.). Bills go into envelopes, too, although we will be re-depositing that money into the bank and writing checks for bills. Using this system is said to give you financial freedom, because you always know where your money is going and you can budget money for things you want and need (for example, work shoes!) I also know from experience that I am much less likely to spend unnecessary money if I have to fork over cash instead of just swiping my debit card. I am excited to begin this budgeting method and will keep you updated! (I will link to more information at the bottom of this post!)

Pay off debts.
Obviously, this one is easier said than done! Thomas and I have an intimidating amount of medical bills (thanks, asthma!), a credit card, a car... OH! and student loans to pay off. It will be easier when we begin the envelope system, and I can't wait to feel the excitement of paying off loans. It'll be awhile before we're debt-free, but we're setting goals and will be working toward them.

Here are some other quick tips that I have learned:
-When eating out, drink water or share a drink with someone else. When Thomas and I go to Chipotle, we buy 1 small soft drink and just keep refilling it!
-Don't shop at convenience stores. I know, I know... they're convenient. Just remember that you'll be paying for it!
-Use cruise control. This has been a lifesaver during my 65-mile daily commute to and from work! It saves gas like you wouldn't believe. And, on that note...
-Don't let your gas tank go below half-full. There is a scientific reason for it that I can't properly explain, but I do know that it takes less money to fill it from half-a-tank than to fill the whole tank!

***Here is some more information on the envelope budgeting system!***

Brand Loyalty

If you're anything like me, you know exactly what you want at the grocery store. It used to be that whenever I went to the store with a list of items to purchase, I knew exactly what brands to pick up. Typically, it was whatever brand was cheapest. This all changed, though, when I started to use coupons. When I first began clipping, I would only look for coupons/sales for my usual brand, assuming that anything else would be too expensive. My eyes would totally ignore coupons for any brand besides what I was used to. I've learned, though, that it is good to try new things... especially when they're dirt cheap!

Frequently, higher-priced brands will have higher-value coupons that, when paired with a sale, will make that brand cheaper than a lesser-quality product!

(As much as I love saving money, this was a hard lesson. I am definitely a creature of habit!)

Nowadays, I really couldn't care less what brands I pick up. I can't tell you what brand of toothpaste is in my bathroom right now, or what kind of body wash my husband uses. (I know what kind I use, because I got a killer deal on it!) There are, though, a few brands I will not stray from, even if I have coupons for another brand.

1.)  Q-tips. I think I'm a Q-tip snob. I'm one of those crazies who carries them all the time, and I've found that no other cotton swabs do the trick.
2.) Purina. My cat did not ask to be adopted by someone as cheap frugal as me, and I don't think she should have to settle for a lesser-quality brand because I don't want to shell out a few extra dollars. To me, it's worth the extra cost to keep her healthy. (Oh, and also because I bought generic food once and she wouldn't go within 10 feet of her food bowl. Oops!)
3.) TruMoo. This is kind of a silly one, but I absolutely love chocolate milk, and TruMoo is the best brand. I don't buy it all the time, but I think it's worth the money to have something that I will actually want to drink.

So! There you go. If you want to be a successful couponer, you need to be open to trying new brands... but keep in mind that it's okay to have a handful of brands to be loyal to.