WOW, I must say that our Weather has been inside out and loopy for a while. That's Michigan weather for you, sometimes we can depend on it and sometimes not.

    I do have most of all my receipts logged into my computer, so hopefully I can get to doing my comparisons for you from store to store. I do see a difference, as I'm working on logging the prices in. I am saving a lot by shopping at Aldi's and Save-A-Lot.

    I hope your shopping adventure is saving good money for you. Remember to share your stories on my Facebook Page, so all of my readers can get some hints and tips from you.

    Now, I have been posting deals and contest links on my Facebook, for you to check out. Be sure to visit it. You don't have to have an account to view any and all posts.

    Please try and stay cool in this weather and don't forget to keep clipping COUPONS and use them wisely... Cheryl :)

Win free pasta for a year... Rozoni Sweeps.

http://www.itpaystoeatpasta.com/sweeps/index.cfm?u=4F1E0829-3024-49B0-AD81-F19162FDCE89


Now this is to win free food, through Rozoni. Click on the link and it'll take you to the official page to enter or copy & paste to your browser. I did this every day last year and didn't win, but you never know... Maybe someone will win, that we know. I have this link on my Facebook page as well, if you want to check it out there. Good Luck, Cheryl :)

Update on the Summer blogs

    How is the Grocery Shopping Challenge going? I've been getting my receipts together and making an OFFICE pdf document file. There I'm listing the stores, the product, size and price. I want to compare the prices and start blogging the comparisons, for you. When I get it all done, I will start posting on here and on my Facebook page, this way I can get the ball rolling on the Grocery Shopping Challenge.
 
   I know I haven't been putting up the grocery blogs, I've been busy with the kids, the garden and all the other stuff that needs to be done. Now, when September rolls around and all the kids are in school, I will be posting all the Grocery/retail ad's for you again. I will list the item's on sale and give the coupon & savings, you can use to save money. This way I can squeeze in my blog, while there are no interruptions.

   Be sure to check my Facebook page and like. I do list some deals that I find, that I don't necessarily list on my blog posts. If I find a good deal or contest, I usually post on there.

   Please stay cool in this extreme weather, we've been having. I started to cry, when I found out about all these people losing power, from the mid west to the east coast. With the DROUGHT & HEAT WAVE, a lot of people suffered. So, remember to fill those water bottles and create a going bag to take with you, when you leave your home. Stock it with energy bars, water, candy or anything small you can think of, to hold your family over, in case your car breaks down. You certainly don't want to have nothing with you, when you have to sit in the heat and the kids get antsy. I usually sneak in a game or toy, to keep them occupied. Usually I think ahead on the "What If's". I have a huge purse, that I stuck "Everything, but the Kitchen Sink in". It contains wipes, band aids, food, toiletries, utensils, sewing kit,emergency items, personal hygiene products, tooth pics/ paste/ brushes.... ect..... Don't want to be out in the middle of nowhere, with 4 kids & a Hubbie and not be prepared. All of them are small, but it'll get whatever job done that I need, if anything arises.

    So keep checking back here, for small blog post during the summer & I look forward to helping you when the school season starts... CHERYL :)

I've been working on a project, the past few months. I wanted to see how much money I can save by shopping at Aldi's, Save-A-Lot, the local Dollar Stores and the Salvation Army Thrift Store. As opposed to using Coupons at our Local Grocery Stores, which can mark up products to about 300%, the ones that I have mentioned above in the second sentence, only mark prices up to 15%, over retail value.

Now, most think you can save money by couponing on major Grocery Store sales, you can, but they still make a huge profit on the margin of mark ups.

You can't use coupons at Aldi's or the Dollar Store, but you can use them at Save-A-Lot and the Thrift Store. Let me explain...

I went to Aldi's and Save-A-Lot and bought groceries, same as the amount of what I get at the major Stores. Even without the use of coupons, I scored comparable groceries for a lot less than what I would at the major Grocery stores, with their sales and coupon use.

I do want to let you know that most of all the off brand products that they sell, are made by the same companies. They are just packaged differently and priced lower, for people to buy at a lower price. The food is still just as good, if not better tasting. Cheaper always tastes better!!!

Also, I wanted to see what I can get at the Dollar Store, for a cheaper price than our bigger Stores. There are several $ stores that stock up on Major Brands and also products that Hardware and some Retail stores sell. Amazing, you but the products for $1, as opposed to a few more bucks on a sale and use of coupons.

The local Thrift store, as most of you know, sells what people donate for a tax deduction or just out of the Goodness of their Hearts. The kids and I always donate at least twice a year, but never shopped there. We walked in and I was thoroughly impressed. It was like a Giant Garage sale. All the product were in new or gently used condition. Many of us have gone to Garage and Yard sales, but at the thrift store, all the money goes to a Good Cause. A big Bonus is, for every $50 you spend there, you get a $5 off coupon for your next shopping Visit.

I did save a lot of money, not buying several papers weekly for my coupon booklets and also saved on Gas, not running to several stores using Coupons hitting all the Major Grocery Store Chain sales.

Now, I'm not trying to knock down my own blog, but I do want to find deals for all of my readers. I still want you to shop where you feel most comfortable and save money, but I want to pose a CHALLENGE to all my readers....

My CHALLENGE is: for 1-3 months, I want you to shop at Aldi's, Save-A-Lot, the Local $1 Store and local Thrift Stores. I want to read your posts on here and share with other readers, your savings. I want a comparable Price from place to place and let us all know your savings. Good luck Shopping!!!

Are you up to the Challenge?

This will be posted on Face Book as well, so if you're more comfortable Posting on there, Your more than Welcome!!!