Thrifty Thursday~ It's time for Census 2010

I got my mail today and sat down to open and read all thee things I had received. Inside was a letter explaining I would be receiving the census survey soon and to please fill it out and send it back. What's so important about this I hear all the time! Well the government uses the data they receive from the census forms to disperse money to state and local agencies. It directly impacts public transportation, campus safety, scholarship programs, and much more!

Census information affects the numbers of seats your state occupies in the U.S. House of Representatives. And people from many walks of life use census data to advocate for causes, rescue disaster victims, prevent diseases, research markets, locate pools of skilled workers and more.

When you do the math, it's easy to see what an accurate count of residents can do for your community. Better infrastructure. More services. A brighter tomorrow for everyone. In fact, the information the census collects helps to determine how more than $400 billion dollars of federal funding each year is spent on infrastructure and services like:

• Hospitals
• Job training centers
• Schools
• Senior centers
• Bridges, tunnels and other-public works projects
• Emergency services

Participation isn't just important—it's mandatory. (taken from the official census site)

We're asking all of America to "Take 10 Minutes" to complete and mail back their 2010 Census Forms.
Here's how we did in 2000 -- Let's do even better in 2010!

Census 2000 National Participation Rate: 72%

How well did your state/area do? Find out here. 

In this economy and this day and age we need all the help our communities can get! I urge everyone to take a few minutes and fill out the census survey when you get it in the mail. It really does make a difference and thats what we are looking for right?! 

 

I was compensated for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are mine and mine alone. For more information please see my disclosure policy.

5 Ways a Grocery List Saves You Money

 

I found this great site today and realized at the same time that it is America Saves Week. Head over here to read the article I found 5 Ways a Grocery List Saves You Money. 

Thrifty Thursday~ Stocking up on Meat

So I get asked the same questions all the time:  

How do I stock up on meat? How do I save money on meat? How do I eat steak on a regular basis?

I decided to do this weeks Thrifty Thursday topic on the do's and don'ts on stocking up on meat.

• DO buy in bulk IF it breaks down to cheaper. This is where having a calculator is handy. decide per ounce or pound if the bulk package is actually cheaper. There are times it is and times it's not.
• DON'T buy meat just because it goes on sale! The sale prices often are not as cheap as they make them out to be. A good tip is to make aa note in a notebook of what meat usually runs and then some simple notations of sale prices. What are your store best, median, and worst sale prices as a trend?
• DO have the butcher cut meat up for you. MOST stores will do this for free. So if you can get a great deal on a roast but its to big for one setting or could easily make several meals. Ask the butcher to cut it up how you like it.
• DON'T think that because it's at a discount or a buy it now that it's bad. You can buy meat that is about to expire and freeze it for 2 - 6 months depending on the meat.
• DO learn when your stores mark down their meat. I know that my Food City marks down meat every Tuesday morning. I make sure I am there to look over what is in the bin. (more on this in a moment)
• DON'T assume cause the price is a little high it's not a bargain. Look at the price and divide by how many portions. I often can get flat iron steak for $4 - $6 a piece. Sounds like not a great bargain; yet I can also get 3-4 servings per flat iron. Hmmmm two meals for $4 - $6 does not sound to bad now.
• DO remember things like round steak and other 'tough' meats are often priced way lower then other meats yet they work GREAT as easy crock pot dinners. Put the meat in with some seasoning and water let cook all day; serve with noodles, rice, potatoes, etc. The possibilities are endless!
• DON'T stock up on more then you can honestly use. It is not a bargain/saving if you buy things and then have to throw them out.
• DO stock up on sales for lunch meat. Lunch meat often goes on BOGO sales and it store in the freezer so well.

Okay so I told you in one of the bullet points that  I know my Food City stocks their discount meat on Tuesday's. I wanted to give you an idea of how much food you can get. Mind you I had a screaming, hungry, and tired seven month old with me. I had just dropped my three year old off at headstart and the meat department was still working on putting out the meat. I did not get to wait for everything to be put out.

 

I got (2) packages of ground pork sausage. It was 3 pounds total. (was 6.00) I paid 2.48 for both. (will be used for 4 breakfast's)

(1) Pack of New York strip steak (was 11.97) Paid 2.33 and it had two steaks in it. They were pre marinated as well.

(1) Pack of plain New York Strip Steak (was 12.89) Paid 1.78 it's one steak but will serve two people.

(1) Package of cubed porkchops. These are GREAT for stir fry or breaded country fried streak. (was 4.58) Paid 1.13 (will serve 4 people)

(1) Pack of Bonless Porkchops. (7 portions enough for two meals) (was 5.97) Paid 2.14

(1) Flat Iron Steak (will serve 2 - 3) (was 7.25) Paid 1.56

Total $11.42 (was 48.66) and will serve about 16 meals/ people for .71 per meal/serving

Thrifty Thursday: Thrifty with your time and money when shopping

So this week has just been so crazy for me. I have not been to the store once! Thankfully school started back today, Caleb is napping, and my mother in law is watching the kids tonight so I can go shopping. Needless to say I have my coupons cut and in my binder but no lists made. That got me to thinking about how to make the most of your shopping trips. So without further adu today is about being thrifty with your time and money when shopping.

~ One thing I have noticed is it is imperative to know your prices for the items you buy on a regular basis. There is nothing worse then going through a sales ad and finding Orange Juice on sale at store A for 1.99; and you have a .25 off coupon. Great Deal RIGHT? Well maybe, what if store B carries the same Orange juice for 1.75 not on sale. Hmmm now you can get a much better deal.
*TIP* get a small notebook and when your shopping next look at your regular purchases. Write down the non-sale price. Then when you find it on sale go back and add that price. This will give you a good hard copy of your price on normal buys.

~Break everything down store to store in your shopping list. I know before I got into couponing, I would make a shopping list and then next to it put which store. Needless to say I often forgot about something.

~Even more I break my list down by shopping isles. I know you think its a lot of work but if you follow this it wont be. The next time your at the store write down each isle number and what is contained in that isle. (you could just write what is on the sign, but I add anything I know I buy regularly) Then you will have a great way to make your list. Example: Tuna aisle 2, cereal aisle 5, flour aisle 6

~I recommend going down each isle of your store and scanning for clearance tags. I know all of my stores have a different color tag if it is on clearance, which makes it easy to spot.  If you take your coupons in with you always then you can score some cheap to free items each trip.

~I also keep a master list. Things I buy each and every time I go shopping. Milk, eggs, soda…. Etc this way I don’t forget them but I also save time from having to write them down.

~Go to multiple stores. I know this takes more time but I promise in the long run you will save so much more.  Yes walmart price matches, but they do not take competitors coupons, double coupons, or even have the sales that other stores have. Not only that but they will only price match for the first 4 of any item. Well that’s not helpful for stockpiling or taking advantage of some great deals.
Just remember that although it seems like a lot to do in the long run it will save time and money. And after all ‘It’s all about the Savings!’

Want more info on stockpiling? Then head to Melissa’s Bargain Blog and read this weeks Thrifty Thursday post. I know it’s something I have copied and pasted!

Thrifty Thursday

OK a friend of mine on one of my bargain boards has a blog. She does Thrifty Thursdays as a theme and I have decided to join her and post some here. Sometimes it will be mine own tip and sometimes it will be a tip I find somewhere else. (Of course I will always give credit and a link) You can visit Melissa's Blog here. I promise you will be happy you did.

Okay now on to my post: Since this is something I think is so important, saving money for our kids.
Now I am not talking college money or anything; though it could be used for that. I am talking just money for life's throws. It could be for the graduation items they want, or their yearbooks, etc.
I am slowly trying to learn the Dave Ramsey's Financial Plan. (Ken and I are actually talking about taking this if we can.)  Anyways one of the things that caught my eye right on was that he suggests a child's allowance equal one dollar for every year of age.

I have two children; age 3 and 5 months. So every other Wednesday I take and transfer $6.00 (two weeks for 3 year old) and $2.00 (for 5mth old, we count it as one dollar) to my savings acct. Ken and I do not give this money to the kids. When the boys are 8 they will get the money every two weeks and have to put half in savings; but until then it all goes into savings.  We use just one savings acct for all of our savings. It has each of my kids, my savings (rebates, money from crafts, etc), and household savings. I will post my spreadsheet later this week that I use to keep track of everything.

This money can be used for anything you like for your children. But if you take it out and put it in savings right when you get paid then the temptation is gone to spend it on that latte, soda, burger, etc.

I am always looking to save/stretch my dollar. My goal is to be debt free within the next two years (except a mortgage).