The Couponizer Company
Hey Shoppers! Check out our great money-saving tips below!
Hey Shoppers! Check out our great money-saving tips below!
Make way for fresh flavor in 2008.
So many recipes this time of year call for spices that you may not use regularly so without knowing it you could be using spices that are way past their prime! So, McCormick, the spice company is helping consumers through their website identify old spices. Did you know that any McCormick brand spices that are packaged in the rectangular tin (except for black pepper) are 15 years old! When I read this I immediately did a spice check and discovered I had 15 year old nutmeg and I just used it in a recipe! Not the end of the world, but I think it is time for some new nutmeg.
The good news is coupons are readily available for spices this time of year; the bad news is you may discover you need to restock in a big way! It is worth the investment in taste!
Find out if your McCormick brand spices are past their prime - Click here! You will also find many useful tips for keeping your spices fresh.
One way to save on the rising cost of beef!
With cooler temperatures on the way, I started thinking about cooking more things in the oven for dinner. Then I started researching how to save money on meat and came across this great article about buying beef in bulk. Seeing the photo of all the meat in wrapped in white paper reminded me of when my Mom and Dad bought a side of beef when I was growing up in Ohio. At the time I did not appreciate the savings side of the equation however I do remember the great steaks, roasts and hamburgers from it. As soon as we can free up some freezer space, we are going to buy a side of beef and I'll let you know how it goes. Enjoy the article.
One of my fondest memories growing up is of Thanksgiving dinner. My Mom is a master at cooking a turkey and stretching it into several meals following the holiday. Sandwiches, soups and casseroles are among the entrees that came out of the original Thanksgiving entree. The flavors and ingredients in her recipes are fresh and simple which is what makes them so delicious and special. The challenge of leftover meals is to create more meals that are as tasty and original as the first meal. If you start with plan for leftovers from the main entree, then you will be much more successful.
Below are a few tips from the National Turkey Federation website which will set you up for having a fabulous holiday meal and what you need to prepare lots of yummy leftover meals. Visit their website for lots more excellent ideas, information, and recipes from the experts!
Buy a QUALITY fresh or frozen bird.
The decision of which to purchase is based on personal preference in price and convenience. Oven-ready fresh and frozen birds are tucked into snug, air and water resistant plastic wraps immediately following processing. Air is removed as bags are sealed and shrunk so they fit the turkey almost as tightly as its own skin.
Frozen turkeys are flash frozen immediately after processing to 0 degrees F or below and held at that temperature until packaged. The meat, once defrosted, is virtually at the same freshness as the day it was processed.
Fresh turkeys are deep chilled after packaging. They have a shorter shelf life and are, therefore, usually more expensive. Whether you buy a fresh or frozen turkey, proper cooking and handling of the bird will ensure a delicious holiday meal.
Ensure that the packaging is intact and avoid purchasing a bird with packaging that has rips or tears.
Buy enough bird.
Purchase one pound of turkey per person to be served. This formula allows for the holiday meal plus a little left over.
Select the size of turkey based on number of servings needed. There is no appreciable difference between female (hen) and male (tom) turkeys in tenderness, white/dark meat ratio or other eating qualities. Hens typically weigh between 14 to 16 pounds and toms 15 pounds on up, so choose the size which best fits the number of dinner guests you expect.
Save on supermarket specials by purchasing more than one turkey. A whole frozen turkey may be stored in your freezer for up to 12 months.
Properly store leftover bird.
All leftover turkey should be carved from the bone and the stuffing removed. The leftovers should be stored in shallow containers and refrigerated or frozen within two hours of cooking.
The NTF recommends that cooked, sliced turkey go in the refrigerator and reach 40 degrees F within two hours or less. When reheating, be sure the turkey reaches a temperature of 165 degrees F. Turkey gravy should be used within 1 to 2 days; be sure to bring the gravy to a boil before serving.
Start scanning recipes now and that way you will be prepared to try something new or familiarize yourself with your old favorites. When you plan ahead for leftovers, you will save time and money while enjoying the flavors of the holiday for many meals to come.
When you go to buy bread in the grocery store, have you ever wondered which is the freshest, so you "squeeze" for freshness or softness?
Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week? Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Each day has a different color twist tie. They are: Monday = Blue, Tuesday = Green, Thursday = Red, Friday = White and Saturday = Yellow. So if today was Thursday, you would want red twist tie; not white which is Fridays (almost a week old)! The colors go alphabetically by color Blue- Green - Red - White - Yellow, Monday through Saturday.
Enjoy fresh bread when you buy bread with the right color on the day you are shopping. Don't forget to use a coupon too!
Information courtesy of Paul Richard - Director, The Institute of Consumer Financial Education
If you are taking a road trip this summer, this equation for saving money will never let you down (unless you are an ultra gourmet lunch packer!) and has been passed on from generation to generation. I remember my Mom packing turkey sandwiches, chips, drinks and homemade chocolate chip cookies in a cooler when we traveled from Ohio to Iowa during the summer to visit family. Back then fast food was not as prevalent as is it today, and the cost of eating out was still much more than packing a healthy lunch and snacks for the road.
So now that I have 3 children of my own, I totally appreciate how stopping to eat while traveling becomes costly in more ways than one. Besides, my Dad had a very low tolerance for restaurant clatter and bad service so we avoided restaurants partly for this reason. But today, if you stop at a fast food place like McDonald’s, the service can be slow and it becomes more about the playtime than eating lunch. Talk about clatter, have you ever been in the playplace at McDonald's during peak lunch hour? Then the begging for ice cream and other messy treats add to the mix and all this turns a 30 minute break for lunch into an hour of playing and 10 minutes of lunch.
While packing a lunch requires some advance planning, it is well worth the pay off once you are on the road. Below are some tips to help make it a great break and meal:
Please understand I love to stop and eat at restaurants occasionally due to the convenience of someone else doing the work, but I have learned the value of packing a few meals and snacks while on the road. And now that I am a parent, I fully appreciate my mom's turkey sandwiches why my Dad liked the packed lunch picnic option much better.
Summer seems to be a time when the meal schedule becomes more relaxed. During the school year, we don't really eat out very much and ordering take-out or eating out fits our summer lifestyle better since we socialize more and spend time down by our neighborhood pool. So below are a few tips to score more savings when you choose to have someone else do the cooking:
TAKE-OUT
EATING OUT
Now, to make the most of your juice box inventory, save some for lunches and take some to put in the freezer. When the kids want an icy treat, cut the top off and there you have a juicicle complete with a covering that functions much like push-up. The closed bottom catches the melted juice and makes it easy to drink up.
Also, this is a great way to make use of the juice boxes that have lost their straws!
According to the American Consumer Credit Counseling Service, half of all purchases are made on impulse. Following are five ways you can cut down on impulse spending, save money and reduce clutter:
Excerpted from the book, Organizing Plain & Simple, by Donna Smallin.
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