All You is a magazine that is sold exclusively at Walmart and by subscription.  This magazine is FULL of coupons and budget conscious articles.  I absolutely LOVE this magazine!  Right now, you can print (2) coupons for $.50/1 All You Magazine (February Issue).   You might even be able to print 2 more here!

Amazon is running a great deal that allows you to get All You (1-year) for only $15.  This magazine RARELY goes on sale, so take advantage of this one!

Hot Coupon: $.50/1 All You Magazine (February Issue) is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Ultimate Couponing I Workshop on December 15th in Springfield, Missouri Register Today!

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? Read our Diary of a Discount Shopper Series

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I get asked about grocery savings a LOT!  As funny as it sounds to us die-hard couponers who don’t ever want to pay much for our overly inflated groceries, there are still people who either don’t want to use coupons or don’t believe in them, no matter how much proof you give them.  I honestly think that some people would believe in the Tooth Fairy before they would admit that couponing is real. 

Because most people can’t always buy every item they need with a coupon, this post is intended to show you ways to save without touching a coupon.  If you’re a couponer, still read through this, as you will save even more when you combine these tips with couponing!

Grocery stores are considered to have some of the most intelligent marketing practices of any business.  Did you know that even the music they play is scientifically proven to slow your heart rate so that you spend more time in the store?

• Planning your meals and shopping with a list can save a fortune! Impulse purchases will be reduced to a bare minimum and you won’t be walking around basing meals off of what looks good.

• Make your menu plan off of the sale ad. Remember that the items listed at drastic discounts are actually priced at a loss for the store (except in OK and MN). This is intended to take advantage of those looking to save time by shopping at one store. They want to get you in the door so that you’ll spend more on everything else.

• Pricematch sale items at Walmart or Target. Walmart is by far the easiest. Take in your ad and show the sale items you would like to pricematch to the cashier. Most stores offer this for a 50 mile radius. They will NOT pm BOGO or % off sales, but will match generic items, meat, and produce (check your Aldi ads!)
• Shop when you have limited time. Again, this will hurry you through the store. The more you meander, the more you buy. Try shopping on your lunch hour or before church.
• Cook from your pantry for one week each month. Limit your shopping that week to perishables only and get creative. Check out websites such as www.stockpilecooking.com to learn different ways to use basic ingredients. Cutting out one week of shopping can save $1200 per year (with a $100 per week budget) and will save even more by using up those items you might eventually throw out.

• Avoid ‘Speed Traps’. These are the big sale displays located in the aisles that stop you from using them as a cut-through. If you stop, you look around and end up purchasing something. Don’t assume the sale prices on the displays are the best available. These items are typicallycoded with a unique barcode that may even make them ring up at a higher price than those on the shelf. 

• If an item might be considered seasonal, check in the seasonal and regular section for this item. Again, they are coded with unique barcodes that have different prices. A perfect example is tape- it’s always cheaper in the Christmas section than the giftwrap section or office supply section.

• Know your prices- can’t stress that enough! Many times a sale price really isn’t a sale price. If you see a huge yellow sign that says ‘New Lower Price’, lift it up to see what the regular price is. It just might be cheaper when it’s not on sale- or at a store like Walmart or Target. 

• At most grocers, you don’t have to buy 10 items to take advantage of a 10/$10 sale (you DO have to at Walgreens or CVS). Many don’t even make you buy 2 items in a BOGO sale- each item rings up half price.

• Don’t strictly shop generic. This can cause you to spend more money than if you were to shop the sale ads. Name brand items go on sale, may have coupons attached, and participate in store promotions more frequently than their generic counterparts. Identical lists fulfilled by shopping strictly generic and again by looking at prices can cost up to 34% more by purchasing strictly generic.

• If you find a great sale price on an item you use frequently, buy enough to last you a while. If you use 2 cans of tomato sauce per week ($1.19 regular price) and it goes on sale for 20¢ per can, but several. When you get 6 for the price of 1, it will save you a fortune.

• Assess your spending!! Write out what you buy on a regular basis and what you spend on it. Calculate your yearly costs with that item to see what you spend yearly. This will AMAZE you! When we shopped locally (before I started couponing), we bought 2 lbs of bacon a week at $7 per package. I stocked up on it for 50¢ per package with coupons- I bought all I could! It saved us $624 per year- just on bacon! We went to Florida for the weekend, (I got a super hot deal on flight, meals, and 5 star hotel) for less than what we spent on bacon. We sacrificed nothing, still had our bacon, went to Florida, and had a couple hundred to boot. The tomato sauce deal listed above would save you $114.40 per year.

11 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Bill-Without Touching a Coupon! is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Ultimate Couponing I Workshop on December 15th in Springfield, Missouri Register Today!

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? Read our Diary of a Discount Shopper Series

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When my sister called this morning to cancel the tea party she had scheduled with Katie, I knew she was sick. Because her husband is out of town, I offered to take her to the doctor, and to my surprise, she said yes. The nearest one that accepts her insurance is 45 miles away, so we knew that we were in for a lengthy and expensive little trip.

Her insurance, if I may put it nicely, stinks! An urgent/walk-in visit has a co-pay of $100. While Swagbucking to find the nearest clinic, a link to a local news story featuring the grand opening of the new Wal-Mart clinics popped up. We decided to try there first, to see what services were offered and how well they meshed with her insurance policy.

We were pleasantly surprised at the prices, cleanliness, and politeness of the staff. Even though it was a Saturday, not to mention the day after a holiday, she was in and out in under an hour. And that was with the computers down! Everything was being processed by hand. Office visits were mostly $50 each, with those requiring labs (such as strep and kidney infections) priced at $75. Insurance was accepted as a normal office visit, so she was able to pay her $40 co-pay and the other $10 was to be billed to her insurance.

I would highly recommend this if you are in a bind and have a basic illness. They are unable to treat cuts, broken bones, or breathing problems that could require further diagnosis.

The ones in our area are members of the CoxHealth network (in case you are wondering). The hours are 10-7 on Saturday, 11-4 on Sunday, and I didn’t catch those for Monday-Friday.

(K- if you’re reading this, I’m SORRY!!!

A Visit to the Walk-In Clinic- in Wal-Mart! is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Ultimate Couponing I Workshop on December 15th in Springfield, Missouri Register Today!

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? Read our Diary of a Discount Shopper Series

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Wow!  This deal reminds me that I still have Pampers points to redeem from when ‘The Girl’ was a baby.  She was potty trained at 18 months, so it’s been a while- I hope they are still there!

If you sign up with Pampers, you will be entered to win diapers for a year!  You will also receive great coupons in the mail.  Even if you don’t have a baby, someone always needs coupons!

You can enter codes found in your diaper packages to redeem for merchandise such as toys, gift cards, and books.  Be sure to check on each individual package in larger packs, they are on each one (can you tell I missed a few?).

I’m off to check my points balance and snag a few Christmas gifts!

Sign up with Pampers for some cool stuff! is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Ultimate Couponing I Workshop on December 15th in Springfield, Missouri Register Today!

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? Read our Diary of a Discount Shopper Series

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If you’re in the majority that is looking for ways to stretch your holiday budget, I recommend that you sign up for MyPoints.  MyPoints offers coupons and discounts for hundreds (maybe thousands) of online stores.  You will earn points for all eligible purchases that can be cashed in for gift cards.  There are also offers that you can complete for free points, such as insurance quotes.

If you are planning on purchasing anything over the web, log into your MyPoints site and see if the store is a partner.  Click through their links to get your points.

I save these up all year long and redeem them for some great gift cards for Christmas gifts (or to treat myself)!

Bonus:  If you sign up through this link, you will receive 100 bonus points.

Stretching Your Holiday Budget: MyPoints is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Ultimate Couponing I Workshop on December 15th in Springfield, Missouri Register Today!

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? Read our Diary of a Discount Shopper Series

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**Only 2 days left to enter this giveaway! Get your entries in now!

On August 13th and 14th, I will be speaking on the Consumer Showcase Stage at the Missouri State Fair. I will be presenting mini classes of Ultimate Couponing, Sensible Living, and Online/Retail Shopping.

The Public Information Specialist from the Missouri State Fair has contacted me and asked me to assist with a new type of press release. We would like to put together a full listing on how families on a tight budget can still enjoy the fair. I would like to add in some information and tips from my readers on how to cut costs of attending such an event.

The Missouri State Fair is offering 2 adult admission tickets to my readers! This giveaway will end on Friday, July 17th at 5:00 p.m. EST.

You can earn entries in the following ways:

• Leave a comment below telling us your frugal fair tips. You will earn one entry for each separate comment.
• Visit the Fair’s website at http://www.mostatefair.com/ and tell us what inexpensive event you think your family will enjoy the most. (one entry for each comment).
• Gain one entry by becoming a fan of Gateway to Saving on Facebook . Leave a comment below stating you have done so. If you are already a fan, you will receive an entry by leaving a comment below.
• Gain one entry by following us on Twitter. Leave a comment below when you follow us, or if you already do.
• Twitter about the giveaway. Be sure to include the tag @gatewaytosaving in your Tweet! (2 entries)
• Blogging about this giveaway will give you 5 additional entries! Leave a comment below-with a link to your blog.
• Grab my button on the inner right sidebar. Simply copy and paste the code into a widget on your blog. You will earn 10, yes 10!!! entries for doing so.
• Forward a link to the giveaway to all of the friends in your inbox. Simply write an email, forward it to all of your friends (including me at info@gatewaytosaving.com). You will receive 1 entry for every friend you have forwarded it to!

Missouri State Fair Giveaway is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Ultimate Couponing I Workshop on December 15th in Springfield, Missouri Register Today!

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? Read our Diary of a Discount Shopper Series

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In an attempt to cut costs, many are turning to gardening this summer. Local businesses are reporting a 300% increase in sales of gardening products. Seed potatoes have been unobtainable for weeks. Onion slips are few and far between. And the gardening season is barely underway.

Gardening is not cheap, nor easy- especially if you are starting your garden from scratch. You will have to have ground plowed, fresh dirt and manure brought in, purchase plants or seeds, fertilizers, gardening tools, and pay a higher water bill. Many gardens will require the purchase of a tiller. If you decide to can or freeze your bounty, that can be quite time consuming and expensive also. If you have to buy jars and seals, you are probably better off to purchase canned veggies at the grocery store.

So, why should you garden? If you already have supplies and the time to devote to your garden, it can be very rewarding. Nothing will ever compare to the taste of home grown produce.

I’ve not had much luck with gardening before, but this year, the kids and I are starting a small raised bed. I was inspired by this guest post by Beth. She has graciously agreed to document this year’s progress with photos and regular posts. I will be doing the same with our small garden.

Guest post by Beth:

As a kid growing up in the 60′s and 70′s gardening was a way of life, not a hobby as it is for most people today. If we didn’t grow it, can or freeze it, we did not eat. I grew up in rural Southwest Missouri, the youngest of 4 siblings. My dad owned a sawmill and was a logger. My mom taught school in a one room school house until my brothers and sisters started coming along. Looking back, I suppose we were poor, but I never really realized it at the time. We always had plenty of food, clothing and a warm place to live.

Our raised beds were a huge success last summer and in my next segment, I will tell you how we planted the beds and how we maintained them. It was a wonderful way to have fresh produce right out the kitchen door and I did not have to work hours and hours to achieve it. Be sure to look for “Green” ways to recycle products to use. We were very lucky to find the used blocks, that saved us around $200.00. We are going to add 2 new beds this spring, a project we will start on soon. I plan to take pictures, so you can see the whole process.

My delve into gardening… is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Ultimate Couponing I Workshop on December 15th in Springfield, Missouri Register Today!

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? Read our Diary of a Discount Shopper Series

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Our elementary school’s science fair is tomorrow night. We have been so busy the past two weeks that tonight is the first night we will have to work on it. So much for early preparation. The science fair means a lot to my son, who rarely takes interest in academic work. He is the reigning champion, with 3 1^st place trophies. I’m not sure how he’s managed to win 3 years straight, and doing so has skewed his vision so that he thinks he will win every year.

Science experiments can become quite costly, and over the years I’ve learned a few ways to cut corners.

1. Select a basic experiment. When you do this, you can alter the experiment to fit your needs. All of our ‘trophy winning’ experiments have come from Crayola or Zoom. Both sites offer some great experiments that require few materials. You can find most of these materials in your own home.
2. Alter your experiment. My son’s experiment this year is called ‘Electric Jello’. This experiment uses static electricity to create stalagmite type peaks in different types of powdered gelatin. Instead of purchasing many types of gelatin that will just get thrown away, we will compare unflavored gelatin, flavored gelatin, sugar, salt, cornstarch, baking soda, and other powdered substances we find in the cabinets.
3. Reuse a board. Many schools have science fair boards available for students to borrow. The only downside is that you will have to fully cover your board I order to keep it in good condition. If your school does not do this, save your board for the next year. Be sure to remove the elements as soon as the science fair is over, or you’ll run into the problem we have this year. It won’t peel off!
4. If reusing a board is not an option, check out Michael’s and Hobby Lobby for boards. They are the same price as Walmart, but come in many different colors. You won’t have to cover them with paper if you’d like something bolder. Also, watch for coupons for those stores. They frequently offer 50% off of any item coupons.
5. Remember that the kids will be judged on content, not style. We allow our son to decorate and determine the layout of his board. We do step in if he gets too crazy with it. Judges would rather see a child made project, not an adult art contest.
6. Your project does not have to have good results in order to win. The goal of a science fair is to see that each child can follow the Scientific Process. Even if your experiment is a total flop, if you document it properly it is a successful project.

Please remember that you don’t have to purchase expensive materials. Our project last year was called ‘Water Highway’. We used dental floss, fishing line, embroidery thread, thread, yarn, and whatever other strings we could find around the house. We used two plastic cups and determined which type of string could carry the water from cup to cup the quickest.

Remember, the goal of an at home project is to encourage children and parents to work together. It can be a very rewarding experience for both of you!

Science Fair Projects- done cheap! is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Ultimate Couponing I Workshop on December 15th in Springfield, Missouri Register Today!

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? Read our Diary of a Discount Shopper Series

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I posted this last January, but want to use it to remind my readers about how many bargains can be found this month!

Thrift stores can be a wonderful resource for bargain shopping, but I’ll bet you didn’t know that January and February are the best possible times to visit the resale shop. Many people are trying to clean out and reorganize before the holidays, which results in a large increase in donations. There is also one other huge contributor… tax time! Many people scramble at last minute to get the most out of those deductions. Thrift stores receive such a large amount of donations, they cannot put them all out at once. Each new day can bring some great bargains!

If you have a favorite thrift store in the Southwest Missouri region, leave a comment to this post. We’d all like to check them out!

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.. for Thrift Store shopping! is a post from: gatewaytosaving.com

Ultimate Couponing I Workshop on December 15th in Springfield, Missouri Register Today!

Want to learn everything you need to know about couponing- and then some? Download the Ultimate Couponing Ebook

Need a laugh? Read our Diary of a Discount Shopper Series

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