Suddenly Saturday.

ok, hubby went to get the Sunday paper somfreddies ad will be posted later.     I hate to repeat myself, anyone that has an idea for a blog post so welcome to comment .    New ideas would be nice.    TIA.

Following the five series..   Or a little tto more....

Five ways to maximize a basket coupon.    We have been seeing a lot of basket coupons lately.   QFC had ten dollars off of forty.   That's twenty five percent.    Safeways had five off of twenty five - or twenty percent.   There are ways to get th most bang for your buck.    QFC always has one of the best coupon policies of all the stores.    They let  you post the basket coupon first, amd the. The other coupons.    Safeway will not.  

Ok.  Five ways to maximize your coupon.

1. Look through the ad and circle things you buy that are a good price.    
2. Check your coupons for a matchup or two.   Look on line for electronic coupons also.   The more coupon stacking you can find the better.    Electronic coupons can't be stacked, but you can still use a basket coupon.   
3. Keep your eyes peeled for discount merchandise and unadvertised specials.   I found shrimp and stir fry veggies.   
4. Bring a calculater and keep a running total.   Husbands and kids are a good resource for this.   The closer to the dollar amount you can get, the more you save.   You want the whole percentage off.   Buying more lowers your percentage.    
5. 
   
6. Watch for freebies.  Don't bother with something you are not going to eat.....let's not waste, but if you can use it or know someone that can, go for it.   I get cat treats because I have a grandcat. I took advantage of twenty five percent off for basically a food bank purchase.    

It takes a little planning, but the reward is good , nutritious food for little money.    That's how you can put a meal on the table for less than four dollars-- you just buy your food for 1/3 to a 1/2 of what other people pay for it.   You are not eating cheap; you are eating smart!   

Example : Alfredo sauce on a jar 1.00, pasta .55, frozen peas (1/2bag) .33, chicken pieces .50. ( part of the rib portions of de-boning chicken breast.    Total.  2.35.   I bought extra fiber pasta.    

Pasta sauce 2.00

Pasta 1.59

Peas (1/2) .78

Chicken 3.00 

Total.  7.37

Difference 5.02 

68 percent off.    Think of it as getting two more meals for free.  

Trust me, if you are on a limited budget, that is HUGE and well worth some time  and effort.   

Groceries on the cheap is looking at the "put the meal on the table train" from  a different perspectives. 

The emphasis is on purchasing good shelf stable or frozen food  for a RBP in quantity - enough to last you until they goes on sale again or to keep a controlled non-perishable stock of the things you  use  on a weekly basis. 

This means that instead of shopping daily or weekly for just the things you need to cook your meals for the week. You go to two stores and buy :
1) a protein that is a RBP - enough to make that meal for x number of days. (I.e.: if you eat it once a week, buy enough for 4 meals.)
2) produce and dairy you will need to fill in the meals for the week. 
3) a stock item, if you need to and it is on a RBP - enough to fill in to your self imposed stock level. 

You often are paying 1/2 price for your food.   This allows you to put well-balanced meals on the table consistently on a four dollar a day per person budget.   You spend more time on the locomotive ( planning and shopping ) end of the train, and less time in the caboose ( kitchen )by
cooking more efficiently. 

 Four dollars a day is the target amount for people on snap.   My premise is that of you can do it on 4 dollars a day, spending