36 :: You can’t win ‘em all
When I first started on my journey towards finding good deals and adding coupons to cut the prices down even further… well, I was a little obsessed.  I felt like I needed to scoop up every good deal that came my way.  It’s not true.  You do not need to run out to cash in on every good deal that you find.  If you already have 15 boxes of cereal you probably don’t need to purchase more cereal for 0.50 each.  Remember that things do expire so make sure to never get more than you know you will use or than you can donate.  Don’t stress out about running to store after store to get a good deal — get what you need, get what you want and leave the rest.  If it is leaving you feeling exhausted and stressed out then it simply isn’t worth it.

37 :: There will always be last minute trips to the store
No one is perfect.  We can make lists and use coupons, but there is always going to be something we forget to purchase. Something we didn’t know we were running low on…something that needs to be picked up last minute.  This is reality, ya’ll.

38 :: If you don’t see it…Ask!
If you set out to purchase a particular item only to get to the store and it isn’t there…ask for it!  I always find a sale associate to ask whether or not they have the item in the back and, if they do not, I ask if I can get a Raincheck.  Many stores – such as Walgreens  & CVS – offer rain checks where you can come back at a later date — even after the sales price has been bumped back up to regular price — to purchase the item at the sales price.

39 :: Burnt Out
I’ll be the first one to tell you that sometimes I would rather read a book than clip coupons.  I’d rather take a long walk than write a grocery list.  And sometimes I do!  There will be spurts were you will be tired of clipping coupons and shopping the sales.  What do you do then?  Take a break.  Live off of your stockpile.  So many people go after saving money with everything they have only to fizzle out a month or two later.  I look at shopping the sales and using coupons as a way of life…our standard of living would be a lot lower if we didn’t shop this way.  After shopping the sales for months, and lowering our grocery budget by over a hundred dollars a month, it is hard to return to the store and pay regular price for all of your items.  Believe me…I’ve done it.  {gulp}

40 :: Sometimes I cheat
I have to be honest…I cheat when it comes to finding good deals.  I don’t set out and search for them all by myself.   I listen to friends who have shopped and read blogs to find some awesome deals I might otherwise overlook.  I don’t always clip my own coupons either. {gasp} I know.  It’s a shocker.  Sometimes I use a coupon clipping service – especially when I want to stock up on a certain item.   Everyone is different – so find which way suits you best and go for it!

{Photo Credit: moneysavingtips}

31 :: Eat at home more
On average it cost at least $6 per person when eating out…and that is on the low end.  If you eat out three times a month that equals $24 per person which adds up over $280 a year per person!    Try cutting down to only once a week or every other week.  There are a ton of coupons for restaurants that you can use – don’t be afraid to take them and use them when going out to eat.  Also, check to make sure wherever you are eating if they are offering any specials. Some places have half off of their drinks at certain times, some buffets offer a free kids buffet with each adult buffet.  Be creative when eating out and it’ll save you hundreds of dollar in just one year!

32 :: Drop the Pop
I am a Dr. Pepper addict.  Wooh, I feel better now that I’ve gotten that out!  I love Dr. Pepper, but I rarely purchase it and bring it home.  Not only will this help with your health and keep a few extra pounds off, but it will help keep your budget low.  I do still enjoy a few glasses of Dr. Pepper whenever we go out to eat.  It makes going out to eat an even bigger treat!

33 :: Save those Leftovers!
Throwing away left over is one of the worst ways in which people waste money.  Save those left over – eat them for lunch the next day, use that left over chicken to make a casserole, eat it when you don’t have time to make dinner.  Throwing away left overs is like throwing away your money…

34 :: Menu Plan
This is one of the biggest ways in which I save a bundle!   At the beginning of every week I sit down and write out a menu plan.  I compose my menu plan based on what is on sale for that week and what I already have at home in my pantry.   Not only does it save me a lot of money, but time as well since I no longer have to stand in the kitchen, scouring the cabinets to find something to make for dinner.

35 :: Be prepared
We all have days were unexpected things show up at our door.  Another way to cut down on eating out and staying within your budget is to prepare food ahead of time for emergencies.  You may not be able to make what is on the menu plan tonight, but you could throw that frozen lasagna you prepared two weeks ago into the oven.   I always like to keep at least three dinners in the freezer for days where things happen and I either don’t feel like cooking or am unable to do so.  This is a great way to keep you from a spur of the moment run to a fast food joint!

{Photo Credit: moneysavingtips}

26 :: Sign up for Netflix – it’s cheaper than the movie theater!
I come from a long line of movie buffs in my family!  We all love watching movies {in theaters and at home} as much as the next person.  But when we were creating our budget we realized that we could rent a whole months worth of movies from Netflix for roughly around the same amount it cost for both of us to see one movie in theaters!   We still go out to movies occasionally, but for the most part we stay in the comfort of our own home, pop some popcorn and cuddle up for a movie and some quality time together.

27 :: Visit Your Local Library

Our local library is bulging with not only books but DVD’s as well!  I was pleasantly surprised over the fact of how many new movie titles they had.  They also were offering free internet – via their computers or yours!   Library aren’t just for books anymore.

28 :: Drive Less
I know everyone doesn’t live in town, but as much as you can…walk!  I live right off of a town square and can often walk to the post office, bank and our library.  If you aren’t able to walk, specify certain days as errand days and certain days to just spend at home.  This will help cut down gas costs for your vehicle and make sure you get all of those errands ran in time.

29 :: There really is such a thing as free!
When I first began my journey towards a more frugal lifestyle, I though that there was no way I would ever get anything for free.  Man, was I ever wrong!   To date I have gotten over 10 bags of Nature’s Valley Nut Clusters, Tide Swoosh, NutriSerum body wash, razors, shampoo, toothbrushes, beauty tools, Texas Toast Croutons, Lunchables, Betty Crocker Potatoes, and so much more for FREE!   And even better when you sign up for a freebie sample that includes high value coupons!

30 :: Sign up for Newsletters such as VocalPoint, Betty Crocker, etc
I love VocalPoint.  I have been a member for months and have received a lot of high value coupons with which I’ve been able to score some pretty sweet deals!   There are a ton of newsletter you can sign up for which will produce valuable money saving coupons for your and your family.  Find the brand you use the most and check to see if they offer newsletters with coupons.  Here are a few that I received: Betty Crocker, VocalPoint, Kraft First Taste.

{Photo Credit: moneysavingtips}

If you’re just now joining us towards lowering your monthly budget, make sure to read the first 20 tips!

21 :: Keep those Receipts
I keep every receipt that we get – whether it’s for gas, grocery or drugstores.  I keep my receipts in separate envelopes dated by month.  You never know when a rebate will pop up for something you purchased.  All rebates I have seen require original sales receipts along with their rebate sheet.  So make sure to keep your receipts divided by month {I simply use the envelopes for the bills that I pay online – it’s easy, simple and cheap!} so that they are quick and easy to find whenever I need them for a rebate.  I’ve received well over $50 in rebates just these past few months.  It’s worth it to keep them handy!

22 :: Track your spending habits
I first began doing this in order to create a budget for our family.  I needed to first see where our money was going and then see where we could cut things.  My husband sat down and created me an Excel document that I can enter all of my grocery trips into to track my savings and spending.  I then created a document to track all of our bills, etc.  I’ll be sharing more about this later!

23 :: Write out a Budget – and stick to it!
Once we knew where our money was going and what areas we could cut back on, my husband and I sat down and wrote out a budget for ourselves.  It takes a few months of adjustment to really stick to it and, I’ll be honest, sometimes we don’t!  Sometimes we may spend a little more and sometimes we spend less.  The point is to have a general budget so you limit yourself on how much you buy.  Creating a budget is a wonderful way to be able to not only save more, but be more creative in your shopping trips!

24 :: Stay Organized
It’s easy to let receipts, rebates and tracking your monthly spending and savings go.  Make sure to keep your receipts organized where you can easily find them – you might not like my system for organizing receipts. No two people are alike, so find the organization method that best fits you and your needs and stick to it!

25 :: Write it Down
When I see a sales item at a particular store and I want to make sure I remember to purchase it – I write it down.  I also write down the coupon value that I will be using along with the sale.  This helps me to keep a tally of how much I will be spending each trip.  I’m pretty forgetful so, if you’re like me, writing it down will be a lifesaver for you!

{Photo Credit: moneysavingtips}