I would use coupons more if FL doubled them sm

As it is, I will use them if it is something I normally buy, but most of the stuff I get is not stuff they have coupons for, or it is for a different brand that I don't like. Florida doesn't charge sales tax on groceries and we don't have state income tax, but we pay higher grocery prices on a lot of things for that reason. And as much as people hate Wal-Mart, that is where I do my shopping because it is affordable and the prices don't change from week to week because of sales ads, which is mostly bumping up prices on stuff so that you really aren't getting that much of a deal anyway.

• How much do you spend on groceries.... - deenibeeni
  • I live alone now, but I remember other times sm - Food allergies
  • We have been spending less than 100 - for a family of 5 (3 kids.)
    • this is horrible - deenibeeni
      • Deenibeeni, you are right on sm - Touches a nerve with me
      • this is horrible p.s. - deenibeeni
        • You are both so kind, and you are right - for a family of 5 (3kids)
    • BTW: Sorry I forgot to say - I live in Florida.
  • Four people and roughly spend about 700+ per month. sm - Texas Gal
  • $50 a week if I send DH. $100 or more if I go - Backwards typist
  • About $100 a week give or take - LinK
  • In Montana and just me and husband spend $400 a month..nm - KS
  • eating out of the - pantry
  • Live in Oregon, just DH and me, spend about 400 a month... - phillygal
  • I really appreciate this. - deenibeeni
  • Last month I spent $321 for 3 of us. - Lllls
    • I'm in Delaware... - I spend at least $100.00 a week
      • I'm in Delaware also and spend about $150 a week plus sm - iKnow
    • This is incredible - deenibeeni
      • It's actually something like a second job to get the bill that low. - Lllls
  • I think I spend less at the store when - sm
    • Live in WI - Sarah Golat
    • Dogs v kids - deenibeeni
      • When I was in school, it was 85 cents for - sm
  • I'm in Florida and spend about $175/wk for 5 sm - HappyFlaMT
  • I'm from Michigan and s/m - MI-MT
    • I would use coupons more if FL doubled them sm - HappyFlaMT
      • I used to use coupons a lot - deenibeeni
      • At certain stores in MI, s/m - MI-MT
  • I haven't actually figured it up...sm - blondie_1147
    • I think this is about what I spend - deenibeeni
    • Forgot to add what area I live in...sm - blondie_1147
      • Just moved to South Mississippi and... - Kendra

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I have a huge family.  I don't strictly adhere to the recipe - I use canned french cut green beans - and put it in a larger casserole.  This isn't a recipe that you have to go by the book.  In fact, you can even mix the ingredients, put it all in the microwave till it it gets bubbly, then put it in the oven and brown the FF onions.  You're not gonna mess it up, don't worry.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Clip coupons from your local newspaper or print them online.  Also see if any of your local stores double coupons.  Freds doubles coupons on Saturdays and Kroger always doubles coupons (up to a certain amount).  If you can catch things on sale and double a coupon on it you can get stuff free a lot of times.

If you shop online, check the internet for coupon codes for the store before you check out.  A lot of times you can get free shipping or a percentage off your purchase, especially for national chains like Best Buy, Toys R Us, Target, etc.

Check stores you normally wouldn't for common household products.  I find good deals on household necessities (toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, etc) at our local farm supply store.

See if your power company offers real-time billing based on peak and off-peak times.  It's not for everybody, but it could save you money if the off-peak hours are times that would be feasible for you to use the big appliances like the dryer or stove. 

If you can't afford new windows, cover the ones you have with plastic.  On the really cold nights I hang heavy blankets or towels over all the windows to help keep the heat in and avoid the cold air radiating from the window.

My grandparents used to shut off part of their house and just heat half of it.  Of course, they were empty nesters and had more house than they needed, but it could still work for any rooms that aren't used that often.  I have vents in my pantry and my closet that I shut off every winter.  No sense in heating rooms I'm in for five seconds at a time. 

Instead of cooking enough to eat for a day or two, make up a bunch and freeze some.  I'll make enough BBQ or Italian beef to fill my crock pot or my roaster and keep enough out to eat for a day or two and freeze the rest.  It saves a ton of time and saves power because instead of cooking 5 or 6 small batches you're just cooking one big one. 

I have a thing that goes on the exhaust hose of my dryer to vent it into the house instead of blowing the heat outside in the winter.  It also adds lots of moisture to the air.  You can also just tie piece of pantyhose over the end of the hose, just make sure to keep the lint cleaned out of it.