{Saving Money Week: Smart shopping tips!}

So, have you learned a lot this week about saving money? Well put on your seat belt kids, because this post is about shopping wisely so you can REALLY save some dough! Coupons are great, but if you don't know how to shop wisely aside from them, you are going to fail.

So I wanted to show you all some tips that have really helped me, and others, to achieve our money saving goals at the grocery store!

TIPS FOR SUCCESS AT THE GROCERY STORE...


Tip #1: MAKE A LIST! This will help you stay organized and ONLY buy the things you have on your list, not the things you want...like that bag of Oreos that's almost $3 bucks!


Tip #2: TAKE CASH! Set a budget and stick to it. I don't even take my credit card to the store, I just take $60 in cash so I am forced to stay on budget.


Tip #3: SHOP ALONE! It's a fact...the more people that shop with you, the more hands there are to put junk in the basket. When we shop with others, we are easily convinced to add things that are not on our list to the cart. Plus, when you shop alone, you get a few hours of "ME" time!


Tip #4: AVOID CHECKOUT HOOKS! All that candy and magazines and junk for who knows what! You don't need these things, and more than likely, they are marked up more here than they are in the store!


Tip #5: USE A CALCULATOR! This is without a doubt the most important tip I can give you. When I put something in my cart, say bread, then on my list where it says "bread" I will write down how much it is. I do this for every item that goes into my cart. Then as I shop, I occasionally tally up my total. This way, I know what I have bought, how much it is, and how much I am spending.
This also really helps you to form your grocery list down the road. You can see how much items are usually priced and then you can estimate how much your grocery bill will be before you even shop. This helps me so I will know if my meals I chose were too expensive so I can change them out!

**Now, you need to also stay organized at the store. This is how I usually do it. If your new to the blog, this will be new for you, but if you have been here for a while, here is a refresher course on how to keep your coupons organized!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO!

{Saving Money Week: Using coupons the smart way!}

Segment two of our Saving money week! I am so excited to hear every one's comments and get your emails about how you use coupons, or how you don't but you want to! So today's post is about using coupons wisely!

We already chatted about using coupons to create your stockpile, and today we are going to talk about how to get coupons for the items on your grocery list. This also has to do with price comparisons.

To save the most money on your grocery bill, first shop the front page of your local store's add. These items are what they call "Loss Leaders". I used to work at a grocery store, and they put these in there so you will get enticed by these items and then come in and shop for everything else at the store. DON'T BE FOOLED BY THIS TRICK! If you see something you would like to try or something you ALREADY buy (more about this in a minute...) then circle it and plan it into your menu. These loss leaders are items that the store actually looses money on to get you in there. But if you only shop these items, then you are getting the best deal for your money!

Now, once you have planned out your meals and made a list for that and anything else you need to pick up at the store, go online! That's right, some of the highest value coupons are available on line.
What I like to do is Google each item individually. For example, if I need taco shells, I will search "Old El Paso coupons" on google. If I find a coupon, I will print it out (*HINT..most online coupons allow you to print up to 2 coupons, so print them both out, you never know when you might need it!)

You can also find coupons at the following sites:
- Coupons.com
- Smart Source
- Pillsbury
- Betty Crocker
- Eat Better America
- Coupons Inc. (also known as Bricks Coupons)

You can also chat about coupons and sales at your specific store at websites like A Full cup, or MY FAVE, Hot Coupon World!

So, you have your list, your meals planned out, and your coupons in hand and your ready to go to the store.
Now, BE SMART! Look at the item your buying and ask yourself these questions...

1. Is it something your family really needs and/or eats fairly often?

2. Does it fit into your budget?

3. Is the price for the name brand with the coupon still more expensive than the store brand?

These are really good things to keep in mind when using your coupons. Often people get carried away just because they use coupons and they end up spending even more than they normally would!

Stay tuned tomorrow to find out how to stay on budget while your at the grocery store. Commonsense strategies that most people DON'T do! Plus, now that you have all of these coupons, how do you keep them organized?

{Saving Money Week: Creating a Stockpile with coupons!}

As our economy gets tighter and tighter, more people are trying to cut costs in their daily lives. Many have canceled their cable, quit going to Starbucks, buy clothing from thrift stores, shop craigslist, etc. But the one huge change I have seen is a surge of households using coupons!

Over the next week, I want to be able to share different ways to use coupons, and how to save money at the store. These might be some long posts filled with tons of info, so grab a pen and paper and get ready to save! (And, I am also going to show frugal cooking techniques to get the most from your money!!)

Now, lots of people think of using a coupon and think its a waste of time. Having to buy a paper, look through it, clip coupons, all to save 30 cents? Well, for small amounts, your right, they are a waste of time!

But couponing is all about being smart and knowing how to use them correctly. Yes, there is a right and wrong way to use your coupons.

First, you need to know where to find coupons. I find a lot of my coupons in the Sunday paper, in All You magazine, online printables, peelies on packages at the store, or blinkies...those little machines on the isle at the store that push out coupons.

Now, there are two different ways to use a coupon.
First is for Stockpiling, second is for savings.

I will be talking about both of these this week. But I want to start with creating a stock pile, because this is the main way I use my coupons.

Granted, you wont be able to stockpile everything your family eats, it just wont happen, but you can get a significant stockpile that will keep your grocery bill down.

The way I create a stock pile is by purchasing coupons. Yes, you heard me right, I buy coupons. But not just ordinary coupons. First I look at an item that I use quite often, then I will go look and see if there is a coupon available for that product that will make it free or close to free.

HOW TO USE A PURCHASED COUPON:
For example...I purchase Muir Glen Organic canned diced tomatoes (we like the fire roasted) and use them in lots of my recipes. Now, at $1.14 a can, these can really add up, especially when the store brand is $0.68. But I have stockpiled these by purchasing a lot of coupons from Ebay. (www.ebay.com)
What you need to do is search for the type of coupon you want (i.e. muir glen coupons) and any coupon available will come up. I usually purchase the $1.00 off any muir glen product (make sure the expiration date gives you enough time for the coupon to arrive and for you to use it). I will buy a lot of about 20 coupons for around $2.00 with shipping.

Then I will take those coupons to the store and purchase 20 cans of tomatoes for $0.14 a piece, totaling $2.80 plus the $2.00 for the coupons is $4.80. Buying these tomatoes at regular price would cost $22.80, so that makes a savings of $18.00!! That's huge!



A couple of other products I stock pile are:
White cloud 4 roll toilet paper: Regular price $2.00 minus coupon $1.00= $1.00 for 4 rolls

Smart Taste Pasta: $1.50 minus coupon $1.00= $0.50 per package

Starkist tuna creations pouches: $1.48 minus coupon 1.00= $0.48 per pouch

Bagelfuls: $1.50 minus $1.00 coupon= $0.50 per package

Green Giant Vally Fresh Steamers $1.00ea. minus $1.00 coupons= FREE!
(We eat these all the time, and anytime I can get these coupons, I buy them!!! They make great side dishes and they also cook well into meals, plus, free veggies!!)

These coupons are not always available, but when they are, I buy as many as I can! Remember to search for the HIGHEST VALUE of coupon that you can find. I RARELY purchase a coupon that is under $1.00!

So, I hope this helps you to create a sufficient stockpile for your family! Tune in the rest of the week for more money saving and coupon tips!!

{The Secret is out}

Hey Everyone! I hope you all had a WONDERFUL Christmas! I have so many photos to edit and put up on the blog, I will do that very soon, but for now, I wanted to FINALLY list my secret blog over here so if you never got to see it, or just wanted to bookmark it for future use then you are more than welcome!

I sent out over 100 invitations to you wonderful blog readers for the secret blog, and have decided to LEAVE IT UP so that you can come to it year round!

So here it is! http://nikkisthriftyunderfifty.blogspot.com

Even better, whenever other occasions come up, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. and I make gifts, I will be sharing them over there as well! I am hoping this will be something really fun to keep up and help me be more inspired to create instead of buy, buy, buy!

Thank you all so much for supporting me and all of the other "Thrifty 50"!

{Im sharing my secret...}

Hey Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a Fun Black Friday seeking out amazing deals! Yes, I was one of those crazies! I was up at 4:00 to be at Walmart when they opened at 5:00am!! I went and got everything I had planned on buying. Tomorrow I will be doing my "craft" shopping for my Thrifty under Fifty challenge!

Speaking of Thrifty under Fifty. I have had so many of you wanting to see my "Secret Blog" so guess what....I'm going to let you!!!!
Just leave me a comment on this post, PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS so I can send you the link and you can all keep up with my projects, get inspired, and make some of your own. Plus, I might even feature YOUR projects!!
Just don't send the link to my mom or my sister!! :)

**Photo found here: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_organizing_storage/article/0,1801,HGTV_3142_5741723_01,00.html isn't that an AWESOME room?!?! WOW! I would love to craft there!

{A Christmas Project}

Have you ever seen something in a catalog and wanted it so bad, but you just couldn't justify the cost?
Well, I saw this in my Ballard Catalog a few weeks ago, and thought just that. I mean, $49????? I don't think so!

So what's a girl to do? Make her own of course!
And that's just what I did...and I'm going to take you along the journey with me so you can make your own too! :)

Step 1: Create your template.
Ok, so I used the same silhouette from their website by searching through istock. Its actually in sections so you will have to look for all three sections! I actually lost the links, otherwise I would share them! :(
Once you have your template, print it out in sections and trace around it onto a piece of white poster board.
**TIP: trace it backwards on the WRONG side of the paper. This way, you can cut it out on the back and not see your cut lines or any pencil lines that you miss.


Step 2: Cut out your pattern
Now you will want to cut out your design with an xacto knife.


Step 3: Make your Frame
Now you want to make your frame. I bought these frame pieces at Hobby Lobby on the isle with the canvas. They are SUPER cheap!
Then I painted them with black craft paint and allow to dry.


Step 4: Cutting the Background
Once your frame is dry, you will want to trace it's size onto a red piece of poster board. This one I am using is like a textured paper, not shiny like regular poster board.
Once you have measured the frame, then cut along that line.


Step 5: Connect the Dots...Glue Dots that is!
I LOVE these! I used glue dots on the back of the silhouette (remember, you cut it out backwards, so make sure you are putting the glue on the correct side for it to be able to flip over and be right!)



Step 6: Stick it to 'um
Once you have all the glue dots on the back, you want to line up the bottom and stick down the silhouette onto the red paper.


Step 7: Prepare the frame
Now you want to put the glue dots all along the back of the frame.


Step 8: Last step
Now you want to stick the entire background onto the frame, making sure to line up the sides and top and bottom. Once the glue sticks, you cant move it around, so try to be as accurate as possible!


Now flip it over and find somewhere awesome to put it for your holiday!




Here is the cost breakdown for you!
(I got EVERYTHING at Hobby Lobby)
White poster board: $0.49
Red poster board: $1.89
Glue Dots: $3.99 (plus 40% off coupon)= $2.39
Frame: 2 long pieces $1.69 ea.
2 short pieces $0.69 each
Total: $9.53

Ballard Design Inspiration:
$49.00 plus shipping= $60.95!!!!


Wow, that's a savings of $51.42!!
Now get to crafting!!!

{I am so thrifty...I got this one in the bag!}

One of my favorite websites, youcanmakethis.com is hosting a really awesome opportunity. They had a contest of sorts to see who could be Thrifty under 50. That is, they chose 50 people to make the vast majority of their Christmas presents for under $50.00 TOTAL in about a months time.

So I thought to myself when I saw the opportunity..."I think I could do that!" So I applied. And guess what? I GOT CHOSEN!!

So now I am part of this ultra secret society of 50 awesome women and we are all currently working on awesome projects for our friends and family. I am having the best time and really getting some great ideas! We have all also started SECRET BLOGS that no one can see so that we can show each other our progress...but not the people receiving the gifts!

I just wanted to say thank you to all the girls over at YCMT that put this together. I am having the best time!
I cant wait to show you all what I made...since I cant show you here. My sister and my mom read my blog and I am doing some projects for both of them! :)

YAY TEAM KRIS!! We are totally going to win!

{...and everything in it's place}

I found somewhere to put it!! :) On the top of an armoire!

{FALLing for Autumn...}

This really isn't a "project" that is original or creative, but it was cheap and fun to do! I have TONS of projects coming throughout the holiday season though! So keep your eyes peeled for that!! :)

But before I share, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who posted a comment on my previous post. We had communion at church last night and 4 people that are members of our congregation all prayed for President Elect Obama in their native tongue, then we sang some of the most beautiful worship songs ever! One being "My Nation Healed" and the other was "He Reigns".
I truly believe that God's people will come together in every tribe, every tongue, and every nation to say that HE REIGNS, no matter what the situation!

Now, on to what I was talking about! :)
I was in Hobby Lobby the other day getting some materials for some upcoming projects, and I happened to spot this little wood sign and the fall colored paints in the "Fall Decor" section. They were both $2.99, but were on 50% off sale! So I got them BOTH for $2.99!
Now THAT'S a deal!! So I came home and painted the sign! I LOVE it! Its so "fall" and warm! I cant wait to find a spot for it! hehe



Oh, and did you spot my dollar store candle holder there behind it?! I LOVE those!!

{FINALLY....a new project!}

I promised I would post a new project, and I FINALLY got pictures of it! This project is SOOOOO easy, your going to wonder why you never thought of it!

This idea came to me when I was in the middle of the scrap booking supplies isle. I love to embellish my clothing and make it my own. So I saw the supplies to make this project and it was like a light bulb! So follow along and make your clothing one of a kind!

**For prices, I forgot. I bought these a few months back, but it is very low priced to do this! :)

Materials Needed:
1 package fabric flowers with large and small sizes
(I threw away the package so I don't have a photo! sorry!)
1 package fabric covered brads
Safety Pins
Here are the brads so you can see the brand and what the packaging looks like. The flowers are made by the same company! :)


Step 1: Gather all of your materials.


Step 2: Layer a small flower on a large flower.


Step 3: Push flowers through the brad (the flowers have a small hole in the middle)


Step 4: Flip flower over so brad is sticking up


Step 5: Push brad sides down so they are flat against the flower back.


Step 6: Next, take your safety pin and gently push it through the flower so its not visible on the other side


Step 7: Flip the flower over and make sure the pin is not visible


Here are a few that I made up ahead of time. You can make large ones with the small flowers on top, or without them. You can also make just the little ones.




Once you have made all of your flowers, then you can pin them onto your clothing. I love them on a t-shirt or even on a belt or my hand bag for the day. Today I decided to put them on my pea coat since its pretty chilly out today! :)


And speaking of embellishing your clothing, try some other ideas that make your clothing all yours. I LOVE buttons and use them quite often. I have had this cardigan since middle school!!! But it was getting a little dated, so I brought new life to it with a cluster of black and grey buttons of all different sizes! This is about $5.00 worth of buttons, and it makes it look like a whole new top!