As the recession forces companies out of business, leaving thousands without a job, those already strapped for cash are finding it difficult to make ends meet. Many are contemplating bankruptcy, but don’t want to ruin their already broken credit ratings. With the uncertainty of the federal deficit getting ready to blow off the ceiling of American, add in soaring utility and rising gas pump prices we as Americans are facing a future of financial insecurity.
Thousands of baby boomers will recall their parents and grandparents telling them to stock up for a rainy day. Unfortunately, many of them failed to learn the art of saving and stocking the pantry for when there is a loss of job, shortage of cash or that unexpected emergency. In recent years many of them have fallen on hard times and are struggling to make ends meet because they didn’t heed the warnings of their parents and grandparents. Unfortunately because the baby boomers, their families and their children didn’t listen, they’ve been forced to humiliate themselves by visiting food pantries, or resort to social programs in order to survive.
To make matters worse, with gas prices soaring to record highs, the trucking industry has had to increase their delivery price which has caused food prices to increase; making matters even worse in a declining economy. This end result is now causing many parents to cry at the grocery check out counter.
Recently, I’ve met many families who are finding it harder and harder to stretch those grocery dollars. Mothers have cried because they can’t seem to make ends meet. Their self esteem has been shattered, because they themselves have gone without in order to provide for their families, yet still find they must visit food pantries or apply for food stamps to feed their children. This isn’t something they want to do, but as a mother, they will do what is necessary in order to feed their children.
Many families are finding what they believe to be a new trend, but if they speak to their mothers and grandmothers, they would find they’ve been doing it their entire lives. What are they doing to save money; they’ve learned what this writer calls the “Art of Grocery Shopping” - Couponing! Using coupons is an easy way to stretch those grocery dollars each week to ensure your family has what it needs to survive.
There is no mistaking that couponing is time consuming, but the benefits to using coupons can save you thousands upon thousands of dollars that can be used to be used for other things. The money saved can be used to pay off debt, take a vacation or save for a rainy day.
When parents work together to save money on their grocery store bill by using coupons, they’re teaching their children essential life lessons. If they make couponing a family affair, researching deals, cutting out coupons and planning the trip to the store, everyone benefits from the end result. – saving money. This procedure also creates quality family time that children will remember later in life.
How do you save money by using coupons? It’s easy, but first you must get organized. Buy yourself a zippered binder organizer with dividers and coupon holder inserts – approximately $80 investment. In the meantime, stop by your local grocery store and map out what’s on each aisle and then divide your organizer accordingly. Divide your organizer between perishable and non-perishable items. This will help you not only file your coupons correctly, but also find them when you get to the store. Never enter a store without your complete organizer. You don’t want to be caught without a coupon if something is on sale and you can save money.
Begin starting to collect coupon flyers from your local newspapers. Ask your friends and family to save their coupons for you weekly. Check out your local recycling center to see if they have a stock pile of coupon flyers. You can also check with your local newspaper to see if they have any left and offer to haul them away for free. Go through each flyer and cut out all coupons and file them in your organizer by item and category. Once you’re organized its time to start saving money. Remember just because you don’t use a coupon doesn’t mean you can’t gather them, get them for free and donate them to your favorite charity.
Thousands of people pay pennies for thousands of dollars of items each and every day, so why shouldn’t you save money too. Buying in bulk at the local Costco or BJ’s is one thing, but they don’t usually take coupons, so why not buy those same items at your local grocery store and get them free or for little out of pocket money. Be sure to check out the sales at the Family Dollar or Dollar General in your neighborhood because they also take coupons.
Saving money at the check out register can be stressful, but if you plan out your meals, note what necessities you truly need to survive the month, grocery shopping with coupons will not only save you money, but help you eat better in the long run. Ladies don’t forget to look into saving money on make-up and hair products too.
Should you stock pile more than you can use in any quarter, consider donating some items to your local church or food bank to help those less fortunate. Even if you don’t have pets, there are pet food banks in your area that need donations. Your family fun could help feed your neighbors and their pets, so have as much fun as you can handle while saving money and helping your community at the same time.
Organizer: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/213210/Mead-Zipper-Binder-3-Rings-3/;jsessionid=0000x2m724ftm0F_O4-35QgeZZx:13ddpq5n2?cm_mmc=Mercent-_-Pronto-_-Binders_and_Accessories-_-213210
Dividers: http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/990655/Avery-Index-Maker-30percent-Recycled-Clear/
Coupon Page holders http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QO3CRY/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B002A9H0D4&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1QJQSGMF35E2PP48TQXJ
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