Money's Too Tight to Mention

I've taken a HUGE hit financially in the past few years, who hasn't?  I'm making much less money than I used to and I lost both my SAG health insurance and ran out of COBRA and because I used to be fat and unhealthy I'm now on a obscenely expensive HIPPA plan, it's the only plan that will give me guaranteed coverage. 

So these days I'm trying to limit my purchases to food and basic household items (shampoo, detergent, toothpaste, that kind of stuff).  In "The Biz" we call this stuff expendables.  Basically nothing that is consumed.  I did have to buy clothes this year my best advice on where to buy clothing (men's at least) is Macy's.  You'll need to spend some time and dig around in the bargain racks but I found some incredible buys there this year.

If you want to save money on food it can be done but again it will take extra time and extra trips.  First place to check is your mail box on Tuesday.  Grab the supermarkets circulars, no don't throw them out, look at them!  Look for products you normally buy and see what's on sale and where.  I'm kinda of a snob when it comes to meat but otherwise I find the quality of produce about the same at all the big supermarket chains.  The only chains I think have better meat and produce are Gelson's, Whole Foods and Bristol Farms.  Trader Joes' meat is better but not necessarily their produce.

Next make a list of what you need and who has it at the best prices.  The iTunes store even has free shopping list apps, I use them all the time, they're real easy to use and you can't forget your list.  Your next step is to check your Sunday paper's coupons, yes you need to clip coupons!  If you don't want to buy a Sunday paper, you really should though, sometimes they'll throw coupons and flyers at your door on Sunday.  If you didn't get them steal your neighbors.

But Alex, paper newspaper coupons, that's so like 20th Century!  Well now you have a 21st Century choice, online coupons.  There are two kinds, the first kind you print yourself at home and take to the store.  The other kind loads automatically onto your shopper's cards.  There are different sites but Coupon Mom has all of them in one place, except for Red Plum.

But Alex, I'll look like a dork at the market carrying coupons, what if I see a pretty girl?!  Well any woman who looks down on you for using coupons is not the kind of person you want to be with.  Sorry my mother's spirit just took over the keyboard for a second.

But Alex I don't want a shoppers card, I don't want the government to know what I'm buying! Boy you sure complain a lot and take off that foil hat, nobody cares how many Oreos you buy, that's between you and your waistline.

Now only clip coupons for things you normally buy and are on sale, this is no time to get your guard down.  Companies give you coupons to make you spend more, not less.  If something you use a lot is on sale and it's not perishable, stock up.  Stick to your list and do your best to get out of the door fast.  I find the longer I'm in the market I'm more likely to let me guard down.

Yes this is a lot of work and you may not have the time but if you can, you can save a huge amount of money and beat them at their own game!

JUST REMEMBER BUY WHAT YOU NEED, NOT WHAT YOU WANT.  STOCK UP IF IT'S ON SALE AND DON'T PAY FULL PRICE, IF YOU CAN.

Sorry I went a little crazy with the links, who knew there was this much Oreo stuff on Amazon