Teri's Blog

Kids learning lessons on thrift

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:41:00 -0800

Last night at our school’s basketball game, a new Grocery Gamer told me she saved 50% on her first shopping trip. She was thrilled! She added that she’s doing something alot of Gamers do… Her teenage daughter cuts the coupons, and helps her shop, in exchange for half the savings. “Mom” is happy with the help, loves the savings, and her daughter is thrilled to be able to make a significant amount of money every week!

Over the years, Gamers have set up rewards systems for even the youngest of kids. There’s almost any level of reward that you can agree upon. For the little ones who can use a pair of scissors safely, it’s as simple as giving them the savings equal to the face value of the coupons that are cut and redeemed.

On the same theme, this morning, I got an email that www.TheGroceryGame.com is in Seventeen magazine’s March issue. Since magazine lead time is 6 months, I couldn’t remember what the nature of the press interview was about. I’m thinking, “What tip did I give to teenagers?” Turns out that we suggested that teenagers could offer to play the Grocery Game for parents or grandparents in exchange for half the savings. Good one! It’s a win win situation.

A discussion on Facebook about the article brought lots of comments related to “teaching them young”. Playing The Grocery Game is a good weekly lesson on thrift. It’s on-going. And the reward is immediate!

Supermarket Technology AND Easy Savings!

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:12:34 -0800

The first half of 2009 showed a 308% growth in digital and internet coupons as compared to the same time period of 2008! Wow!

In an age of cell phones, mobile apps, digital coupons and the internet, supermarkets have gotten on some bandwagons, and off of some others. With each new application or changed technology, The Grocery Game asks two things “How much money can Grocery Gamers save with this new technology?” And “Is it easy?”

Suffice it to say, the past year has seen new technology developments that have come and gone. I can’t even begin to tell you how many we’ve had on our lists, and no longer have. By the time I post this blog, things will have changed again, improved, or disappeared. But for those that are in existence at this moment in time, many are really quite good and easy. Here’s a brief overview of what’s out there, and what to look for in terms of new technology and easy grocery savings!

First, cell phones and digital coupons… Cellfire is a company that offers digital coupons that can be accessed from your mobile phone or your PC. However you choose to access Cellfire, you can select coupon savings to be downloaded right onto your club card. In most cases, these coupons can be combined with manufacturer coupons from your Sunday paper or otherwise. This is allowed and acceptable. For groceries, you can find huge savings upwards of 70, 80 or even 90% off, and sometimes for FREE! And you know I love free! www.Cellfire.com

There’s also Shortcuts.com, which works like Cellfire for Kroger stores, Safeway stores, and others. Here’s a link to those that participate: http://shortcuts.com/stores Incidently, most stores will also accept Cellfire as well as Shortcuts.

Many supermarkets are starting to develop their own digital coupons. Last December, Kroger company announced the ending of their relationship with P&G eSaver digital Coupons. Almost seamlessly, Kroger began offering digital coupons that can be downloaded to your Kroger club card using “SoftCoin”. This applies to all Kroger banners, Fry’s, Smiths, Ralphs, Dillons, etc. You can visit your Kroger store website to sign up, and load up digital coupons. Pathmark and others have also begun to offer digital coupons on their websites. Bottom line, check your grocery store’s websites to see what new digital coupons may be available.

Mobile applications are also now being used by supermarket chains to convey sales information, recall alerts, discounts, and digital coupons. Shoprite, among others, offers specials through the Iphone application. Food Lion and Marsh supermarkets will send text messages with savings potential, discounts, coupons, and sales. Also in December, Whole Foods Market launched a website optimized for web-enabled mobile devices, where you can find recipes and specials. http://m.wholefoodsmarket.com

The Grocery Game launched a new mobile application for accessing any of our 170+ LISTs nationwide from your cell phone. At this point, it is only for Windows Mobile phones. I use Verizon, so I switched to Imagio HTC which can handle professional applications, just so I could see what this thing does. Wow! Even for me, as non-techy as I am, I’m loving the ability to pull up my list at Joe’s softball game on my phone, and start planning my money saving shop! We’re going to develop apps for Iphones, Blackberry, and whatever else comes along as well. And I’m sure there will be lots more as technology keeps forging ahead!

For New Year's: Tribute to a Southern Belle

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:15:00 -0800

In thinking about the New Year, I’m reading through our message board, and re-capping the year. Love this post by one of our Grocery Game members, who saved $7,000: http://terismessageboard.thegrocerygame.com/showthread.php?t=149656 And there’s SO many more. That board is a goldmine of inspiration and just good ole money saving advice.

I’m very proud of our Grocery Game community. Read the message board and find that we are people who live within our means, come rain or come shine, and we’re having a good time doing it. This is how we should resolve to live in 2010. Then my mind kept going back to a Southern Belle I once knew, who could tell you alot about the good life…

Her name was Dixie.

Dixie never had much in the world’s eyes. She wasn’t born rich. In fact, her father was shot down in World War 2 when she was a year old. Her mother was young and gave her up to be raised by her grandmother and aunts. When she was about thirteen, her mother had married into a better situation, and sent for her. I’m told by her sisters, that Dixie always wore a cheery smile, always saw the best in a situation, always had fun, and was kind to her much younger sisters. She carried no apparent animosity for having been left behind all those years. To know Dixie, one would expect that “chin up” attitude. Make the best of it. Enjoy…

Dixie was eventually married to a minister, and continued a life of simplicity in terms of shopping frugally, cooking food that was delicious, and yet inexpensive. She didn’t have the Grocery Game. But she sure had that Grocery Game spirit!

Dixie sewed her own clothes and her three kids’ cloths. Beautiful outfits, using remants creatively to save money at the fabric store. She also bought clothes at Salvation Army, and always looked like a million bucks! She was one HOT lady!

Dixie wasn’t one to follow the crowd. She liked bright colors, and once decorated her whole kitchen in stars and stripes. One day, she was wearing a particularly wild looking pair of shoes, that she probably picked up on some clearance table or garage sale. Someone made a joke that they looked like something the kids made in Vacation Bible School. No offense taken. She laughed out loud!

Dixie knew how to have a good time. She didn’t have money to spend on extravagant family outings. But she would pack a picnic lunch, and head out to the beach or a park. And if the crackers accidently got soggy in the ice chest, it was “all good”, “Look, we can roll it into balls and feed it to the ducks!” She was a hoot! Dixie had a zest for life, and wasn’t going to let soggy crackers spoil her day!

Dixie was nicknamed “Dr. Pursy”. If you needed a bobby pin, a nail clipper, an aspirin, a bandaid, or anything else, ask Dixie. She’d have it in her purse for sure. And might even tell you how she got a deal on it. Her famous line was, “I know just the thing.” She knew all the cheap, tried and true remedies. Dixie was a survivor. She rarely complained about her “simple” life. Rather, she enjoyed each day as if it were her last.

I was nineteen when Dixie died at the young age of thirty nine after a long battle with a terribly painful disease. Though she suffered on and off for the last thirteen years, she did it with grace, and never let a day go by without squeezing out every last bit of fun that could be had. I think it was her battle with her health that made her value every moment of every day that she had to live, as if it were her last. Who would know? She never showed anything but joie de vivre, the joy of life! She would rather take the kids to the park, than to mop the floors. She had her priorities straight in my book.

Alot of what I live by, is due to her and her zest for life. Her zeal was not contingent upon how much money was in the bank, but rather, just how much fun she could have with whatever she had.

No matter what life deals to you, richer or poorer, sickness or health, poverty or wealth, I hope you will resolve to live 2010 and years ahead like Dixie would.

I’m missing Dixie today. I will miss her always. I’m afraid I can’t say anything more, except, “I love you Mom.”

If You Dream It, Build It

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:17:31 -0800

“If you build it, they will come.”, a famous line from “Field of Dreams”. It all starts with a dream. Hey, Dreamer, I say, “If you dream it, build it.” Now is the time. The time is now.

History shows that in recessions and depressions, new ideas emerge, new products are developed, newer and better ways to do things are conceived. Fellow Dreamer, this is when we grow up and out!

This wonderful business called www.TheGroceryGame.com, started as a dream. If I wasn’t going through my own personal financial depression, I never would have had “the dream”. But it was only a dream until desperation drove me to step out into a field I knew nothing about. In November of 1999, I had never literally seen the internet. But I hoped it would be the avenue to make my dream come true. Naive? Yes. Foolish? Maybe. Risky? Definitely. But hey, this is what America is made of: The American Dream. And at the core of that dream is you. Yes, capital Y-O-U!

The entrepreneurial spirit is made up of dreams and risks, and fed by tenacity to see a dream to fruition. In the vernacular, I picture storms, a windy night, and a weary traveler with coat blowing, face down, and forging ahead. This was me, and most often still is. I can’t say I did it right all the time. I know I didn’t. But I kept forging ahead, and still do, day by day. But I’m not alone. I have a staff of tenacious and positive people who share this dream and keep the wheels spinning day in and day out. All the while, it’s an adventure I don’t think any of us will ever regret.

I hear lots of ideas, even really good ones. I believe in many of them. And even the ones I don’t understand may be great. In the end, it doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what the Dreamer does with the dream. In the end, it might be as real as if it truly existed at this very moment in time.
But…
Be forewarned Dreamer… very few of those closest to me understood what I conceived until they saw it years later. Without a doubt, I had much more discouragement than encouragement in the first few months. Even still, I sometimes get disparaging remarks from those who have no clue what “we” do. But it’s easier to take now, because www.TheGroceryGame.com is more than just a dream. It’s reality. And it’s more than I had ever dreamed it would be. (Ephesians 3:20)

As I write this, I believe that there are countless dreams that are ready to be born. I earnestly hope that all those dreams don’t end up frozen in time by fear.

Hey, Dreamer… What’s your dream?…

Oh really? Hmmm… Sounds sort of odd…

Build it!!!

Our family's birthday cake

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:11 -0700

Greg’s birthday is coming up. And it never fails, all my boys ONLY want Tunnel of fudge cake.

Greg has had this cake since he was in Vietnam. His mom used to make them and ship them to him, wrapped in tin foil, and in a fruit cake tin. By the time he got it, it had been a month. And he said it was as good as the day it was made. Kind of scary, actually!

It’s the 1966 Pillsbury bake-off winner. And it IS a winner. My friend, Kathy Langnehs is in the finals this year! I’m SO excited! Imagine, her name and her recipe her Pecan Thumbprint Cookies will be SO famous!!!!

You can make it as is, but I do a few things different. And here are my tips after making it several times a year for 29 years:

I only use 2 cups of flour, while their recipe calls for 2-1/4.I use pecans instead of walnuts.Take the butter out of the fridge for at least an hour. It’s hard to beat, unless it’s really soft.And we bake for 50 minutes. I usually have to use a knife all around the sides to loosen the sides. And all around the inner sides, around the center post. It sticks really bad. We normally don’t frost it, or use the glaze, unless it falls apart when I take it out of the pan. In which case, I piece it back together and glaze it. Nobody cares. It ALL gets eaten. And it’s awesome re-heated in the microwave with ice cream in the days to follow.Notice the only liquid is butter and eggs. So it’s important to follow the directions on slowly adding and beating.I hope you enjoy it!http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/showrecipe.aspx?rid=11510

Thinking of starting a web business?

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 08:39:00 -0700

Lots of people are going through some tough economic times. That’s the understatement of the decade! But the silver lining of this cloud is that tough economic times usually gives birth to innovation.

Over the years, I’ve had alot of people ask me about how I started my web business and for general advice. But since these times have hit, I bet those requests have increased 10 fold! And that’s a good thing! We’re thinking!

I just answered an email with alot of the usual questions. So I decided to share my response here, in hopes that if anyone is thinking of getting something off the ground, this may shed some light on the subject.

If you have money to burn, you can do it better. But for me, in the beginning, it was just “fly by the seat of my pants”. And probably still is!

As you read this, please realize that I’m not techy, or software savvy. I didn’t even know how to do email and had never been on the internet when I built my own first website almost 10 years ago. So this will sound juvenile to a web developer. But this is how I understand it in my little brain…

I built my own first website, and had no custom software. Growing out of our platform was the problem that we had after about 6 months. I was using shared application software running on a host site. It started crashing when I got too many members. But it got me started on a shoestring. Which is actually a good visual… Picture me with one shoestring with both feet tied together and trying to walk!

I knew I needed a better platform. So I reinvested everything I was making so that I could lease better software, and switched to a more robust host. Neither one of those companies exists anymore. In fact, the first one went under overnight and disappeared along with all my data. Poof! In my mind, it was floating out there somewhere in cyberspace, and I wished I could capture it with a space shuttle, and re-attach it to the mother ship. Seriously. That’s about all I knew. Fortunately, I had everything backed up on my computer to rebuild. So…

Backup, backup, backup! Never trust a server that is not your own. And even then, now that we’re on our own servers, (12 of them I think now all load balanced), our web developer backs up everything on a schedule, and in more than one geographic location.

For the last 8+ years, we’ve been on our own servers and custom software. Millions of dollars in software and web development. And it’s an on-going full time work in progress, keeping up with new developments of ours and updated everyday to accomodate changes to the web, and better technology. So it’s all been dynamic for some time, and our web developers work full time for us to keep us rolling smooth and safe.

I hope that helps someone. “Now” is as good a time as ever. Just DO it!

I have lots more details about how I started in my book:

http://www.thegrocerygame.com/con_Shop_Smart_Save_More_Book.cfm

I wish you all the best of success!

What are "Smart Choices"?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:49:42 -0700

The Centers for Disease Control and prevention survey recently released disturbing, but not surprising statistics regarding our teens. Fewer than 1 in 10 US high schoolers are consuming the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables. (sigh) I worry. I wish teens and parents would begin to make smart choices. So…

You’ve probably seen the new “Smart Choices” with a checkmark logo on some grocery products. And you’ve probably heard alot of negative press. I’ve read alot about this over the last few months before and after it came out on the shelves. My final conclusion is that we need to be “smart” to make good “choices”. I’m providing a link to an article that has spun a negative argument about the checkmark logo. But…

Please, before you read this article, let me tell you that while this article may contain some revealing information, it is extremely biased against major food manufacturers. In all fairness, the article doesn’t really tell the whole story. Many of the products bearing that “Smart Choices” checkmark, have indeed been improved to a notable degree to include more fiber, and/or less sugar, and/or less fat. But those same products may not be deemed “healthy” or a “smart choice” by your standards or mine.

The bottom line is, know what you’re buying. You should take the time to read the ingredients of those items you purchase. Then YOU make the smart choice.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/05/business/05smart.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&adxnnlx=1255619130-RjQuUpvC4ePQUXt80JhyKw

Ratpiles!

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:46:31 -0700

I posted on Facebook that I was tackling “ratpiles”. Someone asked, “What’s a ratpile?”

To understand ratpiles, you have to first understand rats. A ratpile is created by a family of rats. Once started, ratpiles grow almost organically. One item mislaid on a counter by one rat is an open invitation to the other rats to add their odds and ends to the ratpile. The motivation to contribute to a ratpile is due to one or more of the following reasons:

1. It’s an ”ignorant rat” and doesn’t know where it’s supposed to go. Or…

2. It’s a ”lazy rat”, and simply doesn’t want to bother. Or…

3. It’s a “busy rat”, and doesn’t have time to put it away.

Note: While there’s no legitimate excuse for any of the three ratpile motivations, alot of rats will claim to be a “busy rat”, but really is just a “lazy rat”. Either way, HE, err, I mean “it” is just a “RAT”!!!

Here’s the pathetic thing. I’m the Rat who started the ratpile on our laundry room counter. But it was purely innocent, and not attributed to any of the three reasons that categorize me as a rat in the truest sense. I laid the dogleash on the counter, because it’s by the backdoor that leads outside. I wanted to keep it there, so that when I take Marley in the car, I can grab the leash on the way out the door. See? I did it on purpose, and it was purely innocent. I wanted the leash to be able to “live” there, alone. Ha! Fat rat chance! In the flash of an instant when I first laid the leash there a few weeks ago, I thought, ”The rats are going to think I’m starting a ratpile. But I’m not! This cannot, and should not become a ratpile! I simply won’t allow it.” But the invitation was made, and the rats RSVPed. In the eyes of the rats, a ratpile was in its infant stages and had to grow into a full grown ratpile!

The next day, I noticed the leash on the counter was accompanied by a flashlight. I let it go. Big mistake… I went out of town for four days, and when I came back and wanted to put Marley on his leash, I had to plow under a huge ratpile consisting of: A tape measure, a sash for a robe, a hammer, a dish towel, a half empty water bottle, swim trunks, and a baseball belt. A baseball belt? It’s not even baseball season!

If you’re considering starting a rat family and allowing ratpiles, just know this… In rat families, there are designated areas that are grandfather-ed in as ratpile zones. Even I will turn a blind eye for days or even weeks, as long as the ratpile is starting and building in a designated ratpile zone. A designated ratpile zone is one of usually about two or three areas of the house that typically are proned to be hosts to ratpiles. It doesn’t make it quite so bad, if you’re accustomed to seeing ratpiles beginning and thriving in a desgnated ratpile zone. They almost become invisible over time. But…

Don’t try to start a new ratpile zone! For a few days in a row, Greg started laying a jacket and hat on a chair near our entry way. That chair was becoming his new coat rack! First of all, this is a “ratpile foul”, as there has never been a ratpile zone in our entry way! And it’s NOT going to start now! To make matters worse, I could see it coming… There was a small end table next to the chair. Nothing had been laid on it yet. But horror of horrors! I KNEW what would become of that chair and end table, if I let it go for even a moment. Not going to happen on my watch. “Either hang it up, or start a ratpile in a designated ratpile zone!”

Phew! So glad I nipped that in the bud!

Exercise and prevention

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:15:20 -0700

Exercise and prevention go hand in hand. Thinking about it today, especially, for a lot of reasons…

When Greg was a stuntman, wrecking cars, motorcycles, doing stair falls, ladder falls, etc., his secret weapon was lifting weights. He said that building muscle protects the bones and holds you together. SO true!…

I have neck and back issues from a snow skiing accident in 96. Then, in Sept. 2006, I fell down some stairs and landed so hard that my ears were ringing for about an hour, and I couldn’t see straight. It was bad! But I didn’t go to the doctor, because I didn’t know how bad I was. I “recovered” well enough to move on. I was able to go on, because I was in such great shape. I dealt with on-going pain, traveled all over the map, and continued to work out. (Probably not a good idea in hindsight). Eventually, I hurt my neck again in May of this year just doing my normal routine in the gym. But this time, it was so bad that I went to the doctor and got an MRI. And low and behold, I had a 9 mm herniated disk in my neck, which partially paralyzed my left arm. Since I had been experiencing pain in that arm and shoulder from my fall in 06, the doctor said I probably herniated that disk in that 06 fall. My doctor and therapist attribute my resilience and recovery to my commitment to being strong and staying strong.

Yesterday, Sami and I were out at the pool. Our two big Dobermans ran into her from behind, and knocked her feet out from under her. I can still see it in slow motion… She flipped into the air, and her back and head hit the pavement with a loud “whack”!!! As I rushed over to her, I feared she could be dead, paralyzed, or at least unconscious. But she spoke to me and said she just wanted to lay there for a few minutes. When I helped her up, she said her neck and head hurt, but that she was fine. Sami works out. She does palates 4 days a week, and tons of core work on top of it. She’s in her late 50’s. She’s resilient, energetic, and… (Drum roll please)… she still looks hot!

Since May, I got out of shape while I was going through all this physical therapy and pain from my disk. I kept working out, but very light weights, and cardio, because that’s all I could do. It was dis-heartening, because I was gaining weight, and hated slipping backwards. But I resolved to be patient and follow doctor’s orders. Slowly but surely, I’ve gotten stronger. Now, I’ve been back to my normal weekly routine for about 3 weeks: Pilates 2 days, free weights 2 days, 35 min. cardio 4 days. And I’m feeling great again! I know that 3 weeks is the magical number. It’s really hard when you’re out of shape to work out consistently for 3 weeks. But once you get over that hump, you begin to look forward to how good it makes you feel.

On top of protecting from injury and promoting fast recovery, exercise helps the immune system. And that’s great news as we approach flu season.

If you’re going to start back to a workout routine, be sure to eat healthy and feed your body what it needs to be strong. And take supplements as needed for recovery from the workouts. And it’s a good idea to get a physical from your doctor before starting to work out again. Especially if you’re really out of shape or it’s been awhile.

In finality, if you’ve been putting off getting back into a workout routine, I hope my story today will encourage you to just suck it up for 3 weeks. Yes, it will be hard! But… you’ll start feeling a reward by the 4th week. I promise! Contact me on Facebook in 3 weeks, and let me know how you’re feeling. And tell me I was right!

Fooled by WalMart?

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 09:32:31 -0700

Someone just asked me about shopping at WalMart instead of her local supermarkets, which are Albertsons and Safeway. It got me thinking it’s time for another tutorial on EDLP vs. Hi-Lo marketing strategies.

WM has the #1 market share in the country for groceries. So, that in itself proves that they have the public believing that they are the lowest. Lowest overall? Depending on where you live, maybe. But no matter where you live, being the lowest overall is not important to those winning The Grocery Game. Shopping at WalMart will lend some level of savings on all categories at all times = EDLP (every day low prices). However, when those same items go on sale at a hi-lo supermarket, such as Albertsons, Safeway, Kroger, etc, the low end of the Hi-Lo sales will most often dip lower than WM’s EDLP.

But wait! You’ve been told that WM matches the sales of their competitors! Tricky wording indeed…

Yes, WM does match sales, but not all sales. I’ll say it this way, “Only some sales”. And the ones they skip are costing you big time! They don’t match the BOGOs or % off, or any UN-advertised sales. BOGOs are “buy 1 get 1 free”, which is half off. That’s a biggie. And your local Hi-Lo major supermarket probably has twice as many UN-advertised sales as they do advertised. So when a Hi-Lo store hits many of those rock bottom sales, WM doesn’t match them, and that’s when we get the better deals. (And that’s why the Hi-Lo stores are The Grocery Game’s playing fields for those who want to save the most with the least amount of time invested.)

While many of the Hi-Lo stores’ rock bottom sales do beat WM’s EDLP, you don’t get all categories on sale every week at Hi-Lo stores. But that’s the basis of playing The Grocery Game. It’s like a game that we love to win… Hi-Lo stores run in Categorical Sales Trends. There’s about 15 major categories… Each category usually cycles through about once every 12 weeks, and each category stays on sale for about 1-3 weeks. By investing in those categories and items that you eat or use in your home when they are on a rock bottom sale and with a coupon at the Hi-Lo supermarket, you should be beating WM’s EDLP (every day low price).

The Grocery Game does work, if you are using it as intended. The blue items are expected to beat WM and warehouse club stores. So, if an item is blue or green, and if it’s something that you ever use, you should invest in it, whether you need it now or not. That way, when you run out of it, you don’t have to buy it at full price, or at a sub-standard price at WM.

We do offer WM LISTs in some areas, because people ask for it. Not because it’s the best place to save.

The Grocery Game is designed to save you the time of putting together the best weekly savings plan. You need to stay with it for twelve weeks, and invest in blues and greens to experience maximum savings. Then, you should begin to see that you are spending less money and less time on your grocery trips. And you’ll be shopping at a lovely store where you get great customer service. How nice is that?

Grocery Consumer Mindshift: Can we sustain it?

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:54:00 -0700

Not surprisingly, according to recent food product and consumer studies by Information Resources Inc., this economy has brought on a significant grocery consumer mindshift. Those who were eating out more often, have shifted to more grocery shopping, and more meals at home. And those who were already cooking at home, have become more value concious.

But I’m worried… My concern is with the first group. Can they sustain it?

I liken it to a crash diet. How many people who are used to eating whatever they want, can sustain a super strict diet, compared to a more sensible eating plan? Not many. So by the same token, if those who are used to the convenience of having their meals made by someone else and no dishes, how long will they last? Not too long, I don’t think.

I have a plan to make this mindshift stick. And to some degree, it applies to anyone with a busy lifestyle who wants to cut food costs.

1. Buy convenient frozen meals - I’m not saying to eat TV dinners every night. And on that note, get out of the dark ages, if you cringe at the thought of something like a frozen lasagne. There are gourmet offerings in your supermarket’s freezer! So when a nice frozen lasagne or Alfredo Chicken is on sale, it will be half the regular price, and feeds a family of four for about $1.50 each. Add a coupon to make it even cheaper. Throw together a salad, and voila! Dinner is served! Alot of family size entrees include vegetables. So skip the salad and do nothing! On a busy day, or when you’re just plain tired, this dinner will cost one fourth of what it would cost to eat out.

2. One Dish Wonders - That’s a chapter title in my book, “Shop Smart Save More”. While the book is a great education on how to shop smart and save more on food, this chapter is all about making a one dish dinner that usually includes protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates. The “wonder-ful” part of a one dish meal is that it’s less pots and pans to wash. Besides, they’re some of my family’s favorite dinners! Yummy and easy. Think casseroles and crockpots, and you’ve got an easy winner! http://www.thegrocerygame.com/con_Shop_Smart_Save_More_Book.cfm

3. Buy a deep freezer - Use your grocery savings to re-invest in a deep freezer. I can’t say enough about how this makes you save more money. It’s a key foundation for playing The Grocery Game. In fact, most members save more than enough during their free four week trial to buy a deep freezer. Do it!

4. Learn to ”2x2” - It’s almost as easy to make two meals as it is to make one, since you have all the ingredients out already. So for two of your meals per week, make two. One for tonight, and one for the freezer. If I make a pot of chili, I make a double batch, and freeze one. Or a homemade chicken pot pie, same thing. This is a freebie on time savings! And it’s like you’re amassing a treasure of non-cooking nights in your freezer.

5. Eat out! - Yes, I did say that. Play The Grocery Game and save a ton of time, and hundreds of dollars a month. Then use your savings to treat yourself and your family to a night out once in a while! Or, just go out with your hubby, and leave the kids home with “babysitter food”, which is all that easy frozen stuff you invested in on sale with a coupon. And the kids love it!

In finality, if you’ve made a commitment to eat home more, just know this…

This new mindshift is totally do-able. It’s wonderful for you, fantastic for your family time, and awesome for your bank account!

Visit www.TheGroceryGame.com to shop like I do every week! And get a free four week trial!

Organics: Store Brand or Name Brand?

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:42:00 -0700

This week, I had a reporter asking whether store brands were good quality compared to name brands. She asked specifically about organics and conventional staples like flour, butter and sugar.

First, let’s address the issue of the old word, “generic”. Unfortunately, when we think “store brand”, it may still have a negative connotation, based on the initial emergence of the “generic” concept. I say, “Pshaw!”, which can be translated as, “the ‘generic’ of the 80’s is nothing like the ‘store brand’ of today.” So, now that that’s behind us…

USDA certified organic has to follow the same strict guidelines for all manufacturers, whether name brand or store brand. So, when name brand organics are not on sale, store brand organics are always a great alternative.

Store brand organic produce often costs much less than their name brand counterparts. The most dramatic difference I’ve found is on name brand organic mixed greens (salad), which are sometimes almost twice the cost of the store brand organic greens.

Now on to conventional staples (not organic)… Sugar, flour and butter are also very good items to buy as store brand in terms of quality and value.

Here’s just one example of flour from our Grocery Game databases:

At Jewel in Chicago:

Pillsbury 5 lb. flour – 4.39 – goes on sale for 2.49

Jewel 5 lb. flour – 2.79 – recently on sale for 1.99, and with store incentive, final price 1.24

However, when on sale with a coupon, the name brands can be cheaper.

$60 of groceries for $4.98!... @ Walgreens!

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:09:32 -0700

OMG!!! OK, not like it’s anything new. But I still get a huge RUSH!!! And had to tell somebody!!!

And I don’t want to hear any excuses about how long it takes to save on groceries, or cut coupons… I timed myself:

3.5 minutes to cut 8 coupons + 4.5 minutes to fill out $10 rebate = 8 minutes to save $55!

Plus… almost everything I came for was on a special display right when I walked into Walgreens. I just started grabbing 2 of everything. The sweet man who rang me up was so excited that I got $13 back in register rewards, and I told him I was getting $10 more from Kellogg’s. He did quick mental math, and asked me how. OK, I told him. No lines. I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. I paid $27.98, less the $13 in RR, and $10 rebate… (drumroll please)

I GOT $60 WORTH OF GROCERIES FOR $4.98 !!!

Here’s what I got:

2 boxes Lipton Green Tea (40 count each)

2 jars Ragu pasta sauce

2 Skippy Peanut Butter

2 boxes Pop Tarts

2 packages Keebler Fudge cookies

2 boxes Rice Krispie Treats

2 boxes Special K Cereal

2 boxes NutriGrain bars

I know all you gamers did the same thing this week and every week. But I just had to shout it out!

E. coli vs. "Safe preparation of food"

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:45:47 -0700

71% of the public cook meat to it’s proper temperature.* That means that 29% of us are cooking meat in such a way that could cause sickness or even death, if it had anything in it like E Coli., Salmonella, or any other contaminant.

But here’s the good news…

Back in March, about 50 tons of potentially E. Coli contaminated meat was released to the public. Doesn’t sound like good news? Don’t worry. It’s already been consumed. The meat was sent to institutional distributors. And maybe that was a good thing because apparently, they cooked it right, or at least better than that 71% of us in the general public. Get this… only three people became ill from it. Three people! One can only suspect that because it went to institutions, maybe they had very strict food safety standards in place.

So let’s bring those practices into our homes…

I’ve always been good about food storage, cross contamination prevention, hand washing, etc. But my weakness was about “doneness”. I’m pretty good about using a meat thermometer in the oven. But I recently started using a meat thermometer for the BarBQ as well. Which is even more important than the oven, because BBQs don’t really cook as evenly. Chicken and pork are especially worthy of it. But so is beef and really, any meat, for that matter. Why not? It takes the guess work out of it. It’s cheap. It’s easy. You can pick one up on your next grocery shop for under $10.

But there’s lots of other important food safety guidelines, some of which I touched on above. To be really thorough, I recommend reading this page from the USDA. Print it. Study it. Review it. Learn it. Memorize it. Know it. Stick it on your refrigerator until you can recite it. There will be a test.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Factsheets/Keep_Food_Safe_Food_Safety_Basics/index.asp

Now, don’t be paranoid. Just be smart. Cooking is fun. And besides, we have to keep cooking and eating!

*Statistics according to a survey recently released by The International Food Information Council Foundation

Marley the Wonder DogI’m going to start video-blogging once in...

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:21:51 -0700

Marley the Wonder Dog

I’m going to start video-blogging once in awhile. So for my first one, I wanted to introduce my family, starting with Marley. Now you can see him in all his glory!!!

Learn the Lesson of the Peanut Butter

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:30:00 -0700

I keep shouting this out… “Please don’t pay full price for your groceries, EVER!” And that includes , household items, toiletries, paper goods, etc… ever! I can buy the exact things you pay full price for, for half price or better. How?

“Grasshopper, learn the lesson of the peanut butter.” (Remember Kung Fu? SO cool!) Rather than get into long explanation, I copied a portion from my book (all I have to copy is an uncorrected proof, so go easy on me), “Shop Smart, Save More”, which is invaluable, the best book ever written on saving money on groceries. And I’m not the only one saying that. http://www.thegrocerygame.com/con_Shop_Smart_Save_More_Book.cfm

And I don’t feel bad saying that, because I had an incredible co-writer, Sheryl Berk (XOXOXO Sheryl!) and great publisher, Harper Collins, and went through the school of hard knocks for 8 years to learn what’s in that book!

Now, Grasshopper, listen carefully and take it to heart…

Chapter 4: Stockpiling

Shopping for stuff you need is a no-no. “Teri,” you say, “What are you talking about? Don’t you go out and buy OJ if your son finishes the ½ gallon in the fridge? Don’t you purchase pecorino romano cheese on a whim?” Nope. And you shouldn’t either. The whole idea of meal planning for a week of menus (or god forbid, for a daily menu) is so yesterday, not to mention the single biggest way to spend a whole lot of dough unnecessarily.

Instead, you’re going to buy more than you need when you don’t need it. It’s called “stockpiling,” and for me, it all started with a jar of peanut butter. It was my “Aha!” moment, the beginning of my Grocery Game strategies, and to this day, I smile whenever I see a jar of Jiffy on a shelf. I was about 13 years old, shopping at a supermarket in Orange California. I had my grocery list of things that we “needed” for our family. I thought I was already a smart shopper, looking for the best deals on the things that we were out of in the cupboards. I was going to stick to that list, as always, and find the best deals for each item, using a coupon whenever I could.

I was rushing down an aisle, heading for some bread, when I spotted a particular brand of peanut butter on sale. And it was a good sale! It was even the brand that we liked (although we were far from brand loyal by that time). I didn’t even have peanut butter on my list, because we weren’t out of it yet. But when I saw that sale, which was half off, I thought, “Too bad we don’t need peanut butter right now. That’s a great price.” Right then and there I had an epiphany. It’s sort of like when you are watching TV or listening to the radio, and an announcement comes on and declares, “We interrupt this program to bring you a special message!” I stopped and looked at that peanut butter high up on the shelf. As I think back on it now, I honestly think there was a ray of sunlight streaming through a window on that jar—as if the angels above were trying to tell me something. “To heck with it!” I said, grabbing the jar and throwing it in my cart. It went against every fiber of my being. I probably only had about $20 for that shopping trip. So I was paring down and trying to figure out what we could do without, rather than adding items to my list. I’m surprised I even considered it, I was so trained to get only the absolute must-haves for that week. But the price was so good, and I knew we would need it later (we all loved peanut butter)…somehow, I managed to break free. It felt good. It felt liberating. There was a new spring in my step. I was on to something, and I didn’t even know what it was. I had stepped into the world of “stockpiling.”

A lot of people email me and tell they can’t afford to stockpile. They explain that they are on a tight budget. There is nothing left in their bank account after they buy what they need. They tell me they simply can’t afford too build up their stockpile. This is a mindset that has to go. If you’re tight on your grocery budget, you can’t afford NOT to stockpile. Get stockpiling into your brain. It’s important to re-program old habits and old thoughts that are chipping away at your wallet. Stockpiling does not break the bank. By stockpiling with a strong savings strategy, you should come home with more groceries and still spend less. Stockpiling is a key strategy to winning The Grocery Game.

I understand the hesitation. At first, it might sound a little wasteful (okay, ridiculous) to buy three boxes of cereal when you only need one. Well, most of what I share with you will probably strike you that way initially. That’s because most of what I do to win The Grocery Game is the opposite of what you’ve been taught.

I’m not telling you to go out and buy 300 rolls of toiletpaper if you live in a 1-bedroom apartment. What I am telling you to do is buy more than one package of TP if you have a great coupon for it, and the timing is right (there is a categorical sales trend on paper goods, they’re offering double coupons, etc.). Carpe diem! Seize the day! Seize the sale. Don’t pass it by—like I almost did with that peanut butter—because you only came in to get a loaf of bread and some milk and it’s not on your list.

Stockpiling is not buying large packages or buying in bulk. In fact, stockpiling often means buying smaller packages rather than bigger ones (more about that later). Stockpiling is simply taking advantage of great sales with or without a coupon to buy what you need before you need it. Stockpiling is also NOT about being brand loyal. You only like your special brand of chips? Get over it. I can show you a bag for half that much or even better. Sure, once in a while, your brand of chips will be on sale, and you should go for it. But guess what? You just might find that another brand is just as good or better. And the bonus is this: Stockpiling frees up money in other areas. Once you stockpile in all areas of your groceries, the day will come when you are so far ahead in your savings, and your cupboards are so bursting, and your bank account is so much fatter, that you can afford to splurge and maybe grab that bag of your favorite brand of chips. Lots of Grocery Gamers are saving enough to go organic on their produce. The benefits of stockpiling are boundless.

Note: This is the end of the copy from the book. There is much more, and if you don’t understand “Categorical Sales Trends”, you don’t know what happens every 12 weeks in the supermarket, and why you have to stock up, or “invest” in your groceries, etc. Another subject for another day. Or get the book, or visit our message board.

Adversity gives birth to opportunity

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:50:21 -0700

This is SO hard. I feel overwhelmed with the stories of hard times, from close friends and family to those I hardly know. Layoffs, increasing debt, foreclosures… and the list goes on and on. My heart aches, because I’ve been there.

I read a number of posts on our message board about how www.TheGroceryGame.com has helped members through hard times. Some posted about having found us when they hit hard times years ago. Others were more recently affected by the economy and sought out a way to put good food on the table for half the cost. The re-curring theme was that they have “learned so much”.

http://terismessageboard.thegrocerygame.com/showthread.php?t=125696

Then I thought about what I learned through my hard times. I can’t hardly say I’m glad I went through it, as it was SO painful and extremely frightening. But maybe I am glad I HAD to go through it. Because what was born out of those hard times was www.TheGroceryGame.com. I HAD to be pressed into a corner, in order to learn valuable skills for keeping good food on the table. I HAD to go through hard times, or I never would have been pressed so hard to make $35 a week feed my family of four so well. I HAD to, so that I would survive. And… I HAD to so that now thousands of families would not just survive, but thrive.

Not to be cavalier, or insensitive, but I challenge anyone who is going through hard times. And the challenge is this: Ask yourself these questions:

What can I learn from this?

Is there anything I am doing that is keeping me here?

Is there anything I am not doing that I should be doing?

What opportunities are out there that I’ve never pursued?

What might I be missing?

Is there anything more I can do to change this situation, even in a small way?

Is there anything that “might” make things better, that I haven’t tried?

What skills do I have that I haven’t used in a long time?

What new skill can I learn?

What productive things can I do with my time?

I suppose there are lots more questions to ponder. When I was going through my hard times, I asked God those kinds of questions every night as I laid in bed. I guess he answered them.

Economy changes laundry

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:42:38 -0700

The economy has dramatically affected the way we do laundry and sales of laundry detergent.

Proctor & Gamble, who have controlled 60% of the laundry detergent market (5 times the share of its nearest competitor), and the makers of Tide, the #1 selling laundry detergent have been affected in some areas. In one particular supermarket chain, Tide dropped in sales by 46% this year, while Purex shot up 38%. In another supermarket chain, shoppers remained loyal to their higher priced Tide. Sun liquid laundry detergent saw an increase in sales nationwide of 132%!

Another smaller supermarket chain said they are starting to carry obscure brands that no-one would have previously bought. On that note, a recent market research revealed that shoppers will take into consideration the cost per ounce, without considering whether one is more concentrated than another.

Some supermarket chains are increasing their offerings of club size multipacks of laundry detergent. Buy in bulk to save is their MO.

Sales of store brand laundry detergent are up to one degree or another in all chains nationwide.

So what’s the million dollar answer for consumers?

1. Make your decision based on cost per load, not cost per ounce.

2. Don’t be brand loyal.

3. Use half as much detergent as called for.

4. Don’t assume largest package is best value. Smaller packages on sale will sometimes beat larger non-sale packages. Add a coupon to the mix, and the scales almost always tip in favor of the smaller package.

5. Don’t wait until you run out of laundry detergent to buy some. Chances are it won’t be on the best sale on the day you rush out to buy it. “Invest” in laundry detergent when it is on a rock bottom sale and with a coupon. This week Ralphs CA Purex Ultra 5.99 down to 1.29 (today’s the last day). The deals are nationwide, Fry’s in AZ (also a Kroger store) will have it for final price 1.29 on this coming list at www.TheGroceryGame.com. King Soopers (another Kroger) in CO had Purex at a final price of 1.49. Albertsons Oregon just had it for final price 2.49. A few weeks ago, Gamers in FL invested in Fab for 1.65. And the list goes on and on… I just “invested” in laundry detergent yesterday. And I wasn’t anywhere near out of it yet.

4. Pre-soak, pre-treat spots, and run shorter cycles to save on energy.

5. Wash in cold water to save on energy, and keep colors and fabric new.

Still stuck on Tide? It’s an amazing phenomenon. Believers in Tide swear by it. Just know this, Tide is always more expensive, even on sale with a coupon. But if you’re a loyal Tide user, at least “invest” in it when it’s on sale with a coupon.

Don't eat out, and don't cook!

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:06:08 -0700

I just got got a cartload piled high and stuffed underneath for $90 (all good quality brand name stuff!). That’s typical for Grocer Game players. We usually save about 67%.

A lady in front of me got less than half as much as me, paid over $200, and had that bewildered look as she stared at her receipt, “What did I buy?”. That’s why I’ve heard people say, “Groceries are so expensive, it’s cheaper to just eat out.” Yes. That can definitely be true, if you don’t know how to play The Grocery Game.

A report was just released by Food Marketing Institute, that 69% of US households said they are eating out less often this year, compared with 46% in 2008. That’s an improvement. But the scary thing is that I know they’re paying twice as much on groceries than they should. Gamers buy all the same stuff for about 67% off. Yes, same brands and everything.

For those who don’t want to cook every night, supermarkets nationwide are ramping up their service delis. Just about every one of them now offers take out dinner options for a family of four for about $15. While that’s about half the cost of eating out, there’s an even better deal… and you still don’t have to cook…

Dinner for four for less than $6, and you still don’t have to cook!… Invest in frozen family size entrees when they are on sale and with a coupon, add a salad, and voila! For example, just pulled from Grocery Game databases: Stouffers Family size entrees which feed up to five people were just on sale in lots of supermarkets nationwide for $3.99. Throw together a salad: Fresh Express salad mix on sale for $1. Add veggies in season, sliced tomatoes for about 50 cents, Fresh Gourmet salad toppings for FREE, and Kraft salad dressing for FREE = $5.49. Again, this is not unusual for Gamers.

The key is this: We “invest” in things we know we like, different things each week. When I put together a meal, I use things that I “invested” in for the past 2 or 3 months. It all makes its appearance to make a well rounded meal. Only the produce is weekly, and even that is on sale.

Now, don’t be a snob about frozen foods… Most of the time, I cook from scratch too. But I have busy days when I intended to make dinner, but football practice ran late, or laundry was piled high, or I had too many meetings, or I’m just plain pooped! That’s when my investment of a frozen entree saves me from doing something more expensive like eating out, or getting takeout, or calling for pizza.

NOTE: Coupons are not just for pre-made food. It’s for all the food that you buy every week: cheese, yogurt, pasta, tofu, whole grain bread, orange juice, etc. Today’s topic was just about avoiding eating out when you’re too busy to cook.

Start "investing" now for FREE!

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 11:45:00 -0700

The tough times are getting tougher. People are coming to us in droves, hoping we can help them put food on the table. That’s why we now have a “FREE Trial” for 4 weeks. Those who have tried us for 4 weeks, have more food and even better food, for less money. They’re emailing us with comments like “answer to prayer”, “lifesaver”… And it is gratifying to say the least! But…

Many are desperate by the time they give us a try. Then, once they finally do, they wish they had started years ago. Just not necessary! Don’t wait until you’re desperate to get started. Begin to “invest” now. And it’s now FREE for 4 weeks. I urge you. Not because we need the business, but because it’s wise and prudent. Why complain about what you don’t have, when there’s something you CAN have!