The Beginning

o   As I have reflected back the past couple of days on my journey with coupons, I decided to start at the beginning, and this is what it is.  I began to think about when I started couponing, and why I couponed and for what reason I had to do it.  I did it for my family, we had decided that I was not going to work the 8th grade year of my daughter to help her transition from Texas to Kentucky.  A navy mom had alerted me that coupons had gone viral on line.  That not only could I get them from manufacturer’s websites, that they actually had websites that promoted them.  That started my journey 4 years ago of extreme couponing.  What I mean by extreme couponing, is NOT what you see on a well-known TV show.  I provided my family with a well-stocked pantry, so well stocked to which if there was a week we could not afford groceries; I had an overstock of them and could go a week without running to the store.  It has then since become a passion of mine.  I do not hoard food or supplies, but I do have a modest stockpile.  The key to this is providing your family with a minimal of one months’ worth of stocked goods. 

o   When I started, I did not have the help of others to determine how exactly I was going to organize.  At that point, I tried the match up sales with coupons myself not knowing over the last 4 years how couponing would grow into the global out break it has become.  There are many sites out there that can tell you how to set up your binder, where to get the best deals and some of them can actually tell you how to get around the legal laws surrounding coupon policies.  I am not one of them, nor do I support them.  Therefore, you will not see any mention of the new show we all have heard about. 

o   My blogs are going to be for the simple couponer, beginner couponer, and those who have little or no money to begin with.  It is one thing to tell somebody who really does not have a budget where the sales are and to match up coupons for items they really do not need, but in turn, that costs more money than what you actually have or budget for.  I have decided for that reason to keep things basic in my blogs.  I will leave the confusing and dark alley approach to couponing to others that do not have a moral issue with disregard to the laws and limitations of the coupon world itself.  In reality, the ones who get around the system are the ones that are causing the policies to change and make couponing extremely more difficult.

o   I also firmly believe that if you do have an overabundance of stockpile, you need to give back to the community because you never know when you might need it yourself one day.  Now on to my first of many posts concerning creating a couponed out of you.  Today’s lesson is all about meal planning and making use of fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat. 

·         Meal Planning

o   Create your monthly meal plan around the coupons.  Plan your meals according to what coupons and what sales you have.

o   Identify all parts of your meals and post them so you know exactly what you will need for that meal.

o   Fresh fruits and vegetables at certain times of the year will definitely be more expensive than using canned or frozen.

§  Depending upon the fussy eaters in your family, will determine which will be best for your family during each off-season time.

§  When you are buying fresh, bagged fruits or vegetables, make sure you weigh the product even though the product states a specific amount.  Sometimes that bag that looks bigger, sometimes actually can be.  It is hard for packing plants to get packing down to an exact ounce.  Use it to your benefit.

§  Break down your vegetables and use storage containers made especially for the fruits and vegetables.  Do your homework, find out which f/v stays longer in the fridge and what the best storage/preparation is for that specific f/v.

§  Waste of food means waste of money.

o   Recruit your younger ones in the preparation of the meals that way they can actually work on their “math” and measuring skills.  This makes dinner a fun time as well.

·         Make use of your local farmers market and in some areas, flea markets have fresh fruits and vegetables.  Do not be afraid to question prices if the products do not look as fresh as it should.  If they do not look ripe, offer a lower price to take it off their hands, and if it looks over ripe, same thing.

·         Make use of your local butcher shops as well.  Buy in bulk, take it home, and break it down.  If you do not have a local butcher then figure out the time table for the local supermarket that puts their meats on last day sale.  Majority of the time you can save up to 60% off regular prices and beat out the sale price of the product

o   If you do purchase last day meat, several things to keep in mind.  Freshness.  If you do not plan to cook it that same day, break it down into portions and then freeze it accordingly.  Mark the product with the date that way you can rotate it and use it according to Last in, Last out.

o   There are always coupons for freezer bags and containers.  Keep in mind, containers will create air in the container and I would not suggest putting anything in them that would get freezer burned.

o   Get as much air out of the freezer bags as possible to prevent freezer burn.

o   Deli lunchmeat when purchased on sale freezes perfectly fine.  You want to divide it up into one-pound packages and then wrap them with saran wrap, then place into a freezer bag.  When you go to thaw it, place a white paper towel around the product so when it thaws, any excess water that has been created will be drawn away from the product.

o   When the product is in use within the refrigerator, you can make it go longer by placing a white paper towel in the storage bag to keep the juice away from the meat and to prevent spoilage.

o   Portion control is not only healthy, but budget wise too.  Remember, just because it is expensive, does not mean it is the best.  Do your research on your local grocery stores and find out where the meat has come from. 

o   CHICKEN- It is very important when you break down chicken to clean as you go.  You do not want to cross contaminate other food products during this process.  I personally process chicken LAST.  That way I do not have any worry about cross contamination. 

§  Again, break it down according to meal plan and portion control. 

§  If you are going to boil chicken, make your stock accordingly but then reduce it down and freeze the stock for future use.  Here are some tips on making a stock.

·         A good way to add flavor and vitamins for instance is when you buy that celery with the whole stalk and not just the hearts, the top part that nobody likes.  I would use this part for my stock

·         Potato peelings.  If you are planning to add potatoes to your meal, use your peelings in the stock to give it more vitamins and a bolder, starchier taste and thickness.

·         Onions-I prefer to buy bagged onions, peel them, quarter them, and use them for stock.  No need to buy the expensive kind when the flavor will most certainly get lost.  *Cheaper too!*

·         Carrots-but whole bunches if they are available in your area.  Cheaper and better flavor.

·         Garlic-buy the dehydrated chopped garlic.  Normally you can find them in the spice aisle.  If you have not stock piled your spices with coupons yet, cheapest brand works just the same as the higher priced brand

o   Hamburger-I buy this also in bulk, price per pound is less expensive, and I can break it down according to how much I use per meal.

§  Hamburger patties-I mold my patties and then freeze them as is.  That way all I have to do is throw them on the grill, forman, or skillet as is. 

§  I store my entire hamburger this way, portion control.  If I am making meat loaf for six people, then I portion how much each person with eat and thaw accordingly and so on for other uses.

o   Pork depending again upon the meticulous eater in your family purchases your pork accordingly.  No matter what meat I purchase, family pack is the best bang for your buck.

o   I hope some of these ideas make sense.  I personally know these are great cost cutting ideas, and it provides for less waste as well.