Real Simple has a great article this month (I always love their money features – so straightforward and easy to put into practice) about cutbacks that have saved people the most money but have changed their lives the least, which got me thinking about how I prioritize expenses and what I’ve whittled down over the years.

Here’s what I came up with off the top of my head:

Things I’ve cutback and don’t miss:

• I haven’t paid for cable since 2002 thanks to a mix of online streaming and apartment provided basic channels.
• I started using my cell phone as my primary line around 2000 and cut the landline a few months after.
• I do go in spurts, but I’ve largely stopped coloring my hair. Talk to me again when the grays really start coming in.
• Tanning is bad for your skin and your checkbook. I’ve been embracing my pale legs since 2005.
• Since moving to Texas, I’ve replaced the using the furnace with using an electric blanket. My wiener dog also approves.
• Now that I’m only commuting 15-20 minutes to work, I canceled XM radio. It was a luxury that I enjoyed, but just wasn’t necessary anymore.

Things I tried to cutback but couldn’t live without:

• When I was fresh out of grad school I went without home internet for two years. TWO YEARS! Granted it was more of a necessity than a choice, but as soon as I was making enough money I had it reinstalled and I can’t imagine living without it again.
• Manicures and pedicures are so relaxing and they do a much better job than I could.
• Fresh bread and organic veggies. If I’m able, I always opt for both.

Things I could probably cutback but haven’t made the plunge:

• I love going to the movies alone on a Sunday afternoon, and I usually go once or twice a month at $20 a pop (our theater has table service).
• I have plenty of tea-towels and dishtowels, yet I still have a bad habit of using paper towels to cleanup. (Though I do use dishtowels to wipe my hands.)
• If I wasn’t such a chicken (I live alone) I’d turn off the AC and open the windows at night (it’s October and still 85+ degrees in Austin during the day).

Have you made any cutbacks that have made a big difference in checkbook but not so much in your daily life? If you were going to start making cutbacks, what would be the first thing to go?

Cutbacks

I met Kimberly Danger at Bacon, Eggs and Coupons and we had a great conversation about saving and spending and all things frugal. Then she lays it on me that she’s written two books on those exact topics – Instant Bargains: 600+ Ways to Shrink Your Grocery Bills and Eat Well for Less and The Complete Book of Baby Bargains: 1,000+ Best Ways to Save Money Every Day – and I knew I was out of my league!

Kimberly was nice enough to give me copies of both books and I finally got around to thumbing through them.

I wish I had a copy of Instant Bargains: 600+ Ways to Shrink Your Grocery Bills and Eat Well for Less when I first started couponing. It’s a really precise introduction on how to get organized, where to look for bargains, and how to stretch your budget by stockpiling and being more deliberate and efficient with your shopping and meal preparation. There’s real life examples of shopping scenarios, which I always find helpful, and I love the sprinkling of recipes (yum homemade gnocchi)!

I’ve packed away The Complete Book of Baby Bargains: 1,000+ Best Ways to Save Money Every Day (don’t tell my husband) for when we have kids. I love that it’s literally a list of 1,000 baby bargaining tips, which makes it a quick read and easy to refer back to when you’re looking for ways to save on something specific. It’s a perfect baby shower gift.

Both books are real frugal gems and I recommend them to bargain hunting beginners. I think they are both fabulous resources and something you’ll keep around to refer to again and again.

Affiliate links are included in this post. Please see my site policy with any questions.

Looking for bargains? Here’s two books that can help.

Half the battle with couponing is organization. I know that’s what frustrated me the most when I began.

If you don’t know what coupons you have, you can’t combine, stack, and stock up on the best deals, which can make it seem like your couponing efforts aren’t paying off.

I’m beginning to outgrow my current organizational system, and Coupon Clutch looks like a great upgrade.

The Coupon Clutch looks like a stylish tote bag (and I’m all about being stylish while saving money) that opens to reveal a convenient binder with clear pockets that allow you to store and organize all your coupons however is most convenient for you – I prefer by date within each category.

The Coupon Clutch is handmade and be customize with a 2″ or 3″ binder, as well as 3, 4, 6, or 9 pocket binder pages. You can also download instructions and do it yourself!

If the Coupon Clutch looks like something that can make your couponing easier, use Coupon Clutch coupon code INEXPENSIVELY now through October 31st, to save 10% on all Coupon Clutch purchases, including sale items!

And if you’re feeling lucky, head over to Inexpensively where you can win a Coupon Clutch!

I was entered into a gift card drawing for writing this post, as part of a Team Inexpensively tour, but all opinions are 100% mine. Please see my site policy with any questions.

Coupon organization made easy with Coupon Clutch

Have you ever cooked with dutch ovens? They are a great way to stretch your grocery budget by utilizing root vegetables and more economical cuts of meat – slow cooking makes everything tender and juicy!

Dutch ovens are also terrific because they can be used on the stove top, oven, or grill for sauteing, boiling, baking, and more – there are very few things that you can’t cook in a one of these babies.

They can be a pricey investment, but you can get the Le Creuset dutch oven pictured at CSN for only $269 with free shipping! With proper care, your dutch oven will last generations.

Below is one of my tried and true favorites to try in your dutch oven, but have fun with casseroles, soups, and deserts made in your dutch oven, too!

Beef Stew with Potato Topping

• 2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch chunks
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 12 small white onions, peeled
• 12 baby carrots, whole
• 1 cup celery, chopped
• 5 tablespoons flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup tomato juice or diced tomatoes with juice, lightly crushed
• 2 prepared mashed potatoes (homemade or from a box – just about any flavor works!)

Melt butter in dutch oven; add beef and brown, turning frequently. Add onions and carrots to meat. In a sauce pan, combine flour, salt, pepper, mustard, bay leaf, water, and tomato juice; simmer for 10 minutes over medium heat. Remove bay leaf from sauce and pour over meat and vegetables. Cover and bake at 325° for 2 1/2 hours. Remove from oven and top with prepared mashed potatoes. Bake uncovered at 400° for 15 minute , or until potatoes are browned.

CSN is providing a gift certificate in exchange for sharing the wonders of dutch ovens with you, my lovely readers. All opinions are 100% mine. Please see my site policy with any questions.

Thrifty Tip – Dutch Oven Cooking

BlogHer. Blissdom. IZEAfest. EVO. Mom 2.0. Savvy Blogging. Affiliate Summit. Blog World Expo. The list goes on and on.

Blogging conferences are the hip new getaway. I’ve been to my fair share and plan on attending more. Getting away for a weekend with family and friends is hard enough, so how do you make blogging conferences affordable if your blog isn’t making any money? Even if your blog is making money, conferences can be pricey!

Here are a few of my simple ideas  to  make blogging conferences budget friendly. If you have more ideas, leave a comment!

• Plan ahead. Tickets are all ready on sale for BlogHer ’11 in San Diego. I did some quick math and putting aside $20 a week saves enough to purchase a ticket at Early Bird Pricing and has the entire trip paid for by the opening keynote. Tally up your anticipated costs, divide by the number of weeks until the event, and voila - your savings schedule!
• Take advantage of Early Bird Pricing. Many conferences offer a discount for being one of the first to purchase a ticket. Also pay attention to different tiers of pricing – student, blogger, sponsored – you can save hundreds!
• Special Rates. Conferences often negotiate special hotel rates. Take advantage of those rates by booking early. Reduce your costs even more by finding roommates! You’ll be able to stay at some great hotels at a fraction of the cost.
• Treat Your Blog Like a Business. If you aren’t already, start saving those receipts. If you are making money blogging or plan to make money blogging, your blog is your business and blogging conferences are business trips.
• Sponsorship. Take your blogging relationships to the next level – start discussing event sponsorship with companies early. Everyone handles sponsorships differently, but here are a few of my sponsorship rules:
  • Only approach companies you’ve worked with before.
  • Take a soft-sell approach.
  • Offer partial sponsorships.
  • Be honest about why you are attending the event and what you hope to learn/gain/experience.
  • Be knowledgeable about sponsorship guidelines laid out by the event hosts. This will effect what you can offer your sponsor.
  • Do not over-promise what you can deliver to your sponsor.
• Be Picky. Not every conference appeals to every blogger. Determine the type of conference you’re looking to attend (beginner, technical, networking…) and hone in on those that meet your requirements. It may not be the biggest conference and it may not be the most well known conference, but you’ll gain the most from those that meet your qualifications. That? Is money well-spent.

Ways To Make Blogging Conferences More Affordable

Last week I told you the average couponer saves $1,000 each year by clipping coupons for 20 minutes a week. So how do you make the most of those 20 minutes to maximize your savings? I’m a relatively new couponer, so here’s a tips that helped me get started…

• Know your spending habits. Keep a list of the products you buy. You’ll quickly see trends in sales and coupons and learn the best time to buy.
• Get organized and create a system. Whether you use a coupon organizer, file folder, or shoebox, or file by expiration date, product category, or alphabetical order – find a way to organize your coupons that works for you and you’ll be able to find and file coupons quickly without getting overwhelmed or frustrated.
• Pick your store and know the coupon policy. Whatever your grocery store preference is (I prefer one store for pantry staples and another store for fresh fruits, veggies, and meat), focus on that store’s sales and know their coupon policy.
• Be flexible. Know which products you are loyal to and which vary depending on price. Store brands are a great alternative, but with careful couponing, brand names are often cheaper!
• Pay attention to price per unit. Usually, the best savings based on price per unit are for larger sized items. Not so when couponing! Matching high value coupons with smaller-sized items can yield the most savings, so make sure to determine unit price when making purchasing decisions.
• Broaden your horizons. The Sunday paper is a great place to find coupons, but more and more are avilable online to print instantly. Here’s a few places that I check before I head to the grocery…
  • Coupons.com
  • RedPlum
  • Smart Source
  • All You Exclusives
• Stay motivated. Think of coupons as cash. Is there any greater motivator for a couponer?

Do you have any tips for new couponers? How much do you typically save in a month? Year?

Coupon Tips for Beginners

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine. Please see my site policy with any questions.

If you’re a regular reader, you know that my husband and I are on a budget. A tight budget. We clip coupons, buy generic, and do without. The 10 Products to Always Buy Generic is a great list to stick to when penny pinching, and we adhere to it with few exceptions.

1. OTC Medications – We use our flexible spending plan and stock up at Costco.
2. Cereal – Our favorites taste the same no matter the brand.
3. Pantry Staples – Can you really tell a difference between brands of flour and sugar? I don’t think so.
4. Soda -This is one where I can’t make an exception. I am a devout Coke drinker.
5. Gasoline – My dad works for a large oil company, you’d be amazed to learn who is buying from and selling to each other. It’s essentially all the same.
6. Electric Cables – This is my husband’s domain, but I’ve never seen him splurge.
7. Beauty Products – Drugstore brands for me!
8. Batteries – Good in theory, but in practice, I find that Energizes really does keep going and going.
9. Fruits & Veggies – Farm stands are always the freshest and the cheapest!
10. Baby Formula

Some of you may be surprised to see baby formula show up on a list of generics that are just as good as brand name, but all infant formulas are subject to the same FDA regulations under the Infant Formula Act. That means that no matter what brand of baby formula ends up in your cart, they all meet the exact same minimum nutrient specifications to ensure that your baby is receiving a safe and nutritious alternative to breast milk. That also means that you can save a few dollars (which ads up, quickly!) by buying ditching the name brand formula for store brand formula.

So, do you buy generic? What products are you loyal to and which depend on price?

Top 10 Products to Always Buy Generic

This month’s All You magazine cites Redplum, saying that the average couponer can save $1,000 each year by clipping offers for just 20 minutes a week.

For the time invested over a year, that’s the equivalent of making $58 an hour. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never made $58 an hour doing anything!

Happy coupon clipping!

How much can you really save by using coupons?

I love air conditioning. Oh, do I love air conditioning. Ice cold air conditioning. Ideally, 68 degrees during the day and cooler at night.

This year, I turned the air conditioning on in March and it hasn’t been off since, but I have gotten better about conserving and keeping our electric bill in check.

Here are some tips* to help you enjoy the air conditioning while keeping your electric bill in mind…

• Ceiling fans can make a room feel 3-8 degrees cooler and cost less than a penny an hour to run!
• Each degree below 78 raises your energy bill 3-4% so be mindful of the thermostat and keep those ceiling fans on high!
• Close registers in unused rooms and closets and keep the doors to those rooms shut. No use cooling a room you’re not using.
• Turn the AC off when you’re not home. I know there is a heated debate on whether turning the AC off or down uses less energy, but here’s how I think of it – your home can only get so hot while you’re gone, if you leave the AC it removes a houseful of heat over and over again, if you turn the AC off, it only has to remove one houseful of heat when you get home.
• Make sure to change the AC filter frequently. A dirty filter makes the AC work harder, using more electricity.
• Keep your AC unit shaded, it will consume 10% less energy.
• Close the curtains and blinds on the sunny side of the house to keep the heat out.
• Reduce heat from lighting, appliances, and cooking. Use compact fluorescent bulbs, use the microwave instead of the oven, turn off computers and televisions when not in use, and switch your dishwasher to air dry.

Do you have any money saving summer tips? Leave a comment!

*We are renters, so these are quick and easy tips that anyone can implement at any time.

Thrifty Tip – Keeping Cool

CBS News recently ran an article on Generic vs. Brand Name products, mainly highlighting which generic products are just as good as name brand.

I always try to utilize coupons to make brand name items just as budget friendly as generic, but when I can’t I don’t hesitate to buy generic or store brand products. The article got me thinking about which generic products I regularly purchase and which name brand products I am loyal to.

Not an exhaustive list, but here’s how my shopping cart usually looks:

Things I will buy generic:

• pasta
• (most) canned vegetables
• canned tuna
• ketchup
• milk
• paper products
• cereal
• butter
• pain relievers
• allergy medicine
• bread
• crackers
• ice cream

Things I absolutley positively will NOT buy generic:

• Qtips
• Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
• Campbell’s Soup
• Hidden Valley Ranch
• Hunts canned tomatoes
• Sargento shredded cheese
• Eggo Waffles
• Baked Lays potato chips
• Philadelphia cream cheese
• Miracle Whip
• Coca-Cola
• Hershey syrup
• Daisy sour cream

So, where are your brand loyalties? Do you buy any generics that you think are better than brand name?

Thrifty Tip – Generic vs. Brand Name