The Frugal Map

Want to start saving money but don't know where to begin? Overwhelmed by every other frugal blog that seems to pop up overnight? Confused when you go to the store only to realize that the deal you read about online wasn't for your region?

Then you need to check out The Frugal Map.

You can click on your state to find frugal/couponing blogs local to your area. This is a GREAT resource, not only for making sure you're reading about deals for your region, but for getting to know other frugalistas/couponers in your own area!

Know of other blogs in Texas or the DFW area that aren't on this map - share them here so we can learn from each other!

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Track Your Grocery Savings

I blogged last year about the spreadsheet I used to track my 2009 Grocery Savings.

However, I found a new spreadsheet that I think is an even better resource than my measly spreadsheet.

Angela, over at The Coupon Project, has created the best FREE downloadable Savings Tracker.

I have started using this year and love it. Some of the features include:

• Easily imput your monthly and yearly goals
• Enter data from your reciepts and let the preset formulas tally your spending, savings, actual-to-budget, and more
• Track and manage your rebates (NEW!)
• Determine how much you saved with coupons, store sales, and rebates
• Have your monthly and year-to-date savings ratio update instantly

I especially like that I set my goal grocery budget for the month, and as I input receipts I can watch my remaining monthly balance change. It's a little more accountability for me to watch how much I spend each week!

So, check out The Coupon Project and let me know if you end up trying out the Savings Tracker spreadsheet. Or, if you have a resource that you LOVE to use to tracker your spending/savings at the grocery share that with us! I'm always on the lookout for new tools.

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2009 Savings Totals

Well, I finally got around to running some numbers and tallying the totals from last years spending/savings spreadsheets, and here are the results:

2009 Grocery Budget:

Saved $1,332.69

Average Percentage 36%

I consider these numbers to be somewhat incomplete, because I know there were times I ran to the store to pick up three items with no coupons and instead of recording that transactions I just threw away the receipt.

This year it's one of my goals to record EVERYTHING we spend at the grocery store - wether I have a savings of 98% or 0% - it's all going in the spreadsheet!

2009 CVS:

Spent $64.03 OOP (out of pocket)

Saved $1,454.48

Average Percentage 95.78%

Again, if we went to the store for a box of Claritin and didn't use any extra bucks or any coupons, I often didn't record the transactions - I'm such a cheater aren't I? Throwing out the zero savings shopping trips to keep my percentage high?!

Well, this year, no more. I'm using this fabulous new spreadsheet that I'll share with ya'll tomorrow to record our monthly spending goals and our every transaction!

Did you track your savings last year? Or is that something you want to do this year?

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Big News for a New Year

Big Announcement over at the main blog: http://thestillers.blogspot.com

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Coupon Insert Schedule 2010

If you have been clipping coupons from the newspaper for any amount of time you've probably figured out that some weeks there are NO INSERTS.

No doubt you were like me, furiously and meticulously combing your newspaper sure that you must have just overlooked the SmartSource insert.

Well, save this schedule so that you can save your money. Some weeks (mostly holiday weekends) there will be no coupon inserts in the newspapers.

January
1/3: 2 Smart Source & 2 Red Plum & General Mill
1/10: Smart Source & Red Plum
1/17: Smart Source & Red Plum & Proctor & Gamble
1/24: Smart Source & Red Plum
1/31: Smart Source & Red Plum

February
2/7: Smart Source
2/14: No Inserts
2/21: Smart Source & General Mills & Procter and Gamble
2/28: Smart Source & Red Plum

March
3/7: Smart Source, Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
3/14: Smart Source& Red Plum
3/21: Smart Source& Red Plum
3/28:2 Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble

April
4/4: No Inserts
4/11: Smart Source & Red Plum
4/18: Smart Source & Red Plum
4/25: Smart Source & Red Plum

May
5/2: Smart Source & Red Plum & P&G
5/9: Smart Source & Red Plum
5/16: 2 Smart Source & Red Plum
5/23: Smart Source & Red Plum
5/30: No Inserts

June
6/6: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
6/13: Smart Source
6/20: Smart Source & Red Plum
6/27: Smart Source & Red Plum

July
7/4: No Inserts
7/11: Smart Source & Red Plum
7/18: Smart Source
7/25: Smart Source & Red Plum

August
8/1: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
8/8: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/15: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/22: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/29: Smart Source & Red Plum & P&G Insert

September
9/5: No Inserts
9/12: Smart Source & 2 Red Plum
9/19: Smart Source & Red Plum
9/26: Smart Source & Red Plum

October
10/3: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
10/10: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/17: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/24: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/31: Smart Source & Red Plum

November
11/7: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
11/14: Smart Source & Red Plum
11/21: Smart Source & Red Plum
11/28: No Inserts

December
12/5: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
12/12: Smart Source & Red Plum
12/19: No Inserts
12/26: No Inserts

Thanks: The $30 Weekly Grocery Challenge

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