Savvy Shopping: Grocery-Store Style

With ads for $.99 Big Macs and cheapy fries, it can take a little more work to eat a healthy, great-tasting meals and snacks. While I’m not the world’s best cook, I am a gal who loves food and healthy eating (and seeking out fun new snack foods!) so I’m willing to seek out the deals and learn what’s worth it and what’s not.

As your fab new in-the-know best friend (if I do say so myself, ha!),

let me share with you five easy tips to help reign in your food budget:

Eat what’s in season!

The best, easy tip to save money is to buy what’s in season. Here’s a great chart to use as a guide. Buy watermelon, grapes and strawberries now and hold off on... .

Try frozen fruits and veggies.
Are you someone who constantly tosses your produce because you don't eat it in time? Buy frozen; it lasts much longer. I love adding frozen veggies with some olive oil, salt and pepper, in a skillet along with a protein and whipping up a quick stir-fry. Add soy, ponzu or teriyaki sauce, too. Avoid frozen meals and veggies with pre-made sauces that are loaded with artificial ingredients and tons of sodium. If you can’t pronounce an ingredient, it’s not for you.

Pay attention to prices.
Don’t just buy, buy, buy! Notice costs, including fruit and veggies per pound. You’ll be surprised how quickly you recognize when items are a better value. And, compare seemingly similar items: thin-sliced chicken can be 40 percent more than regular breasts. Save a lot by taking two minutes at home to slice in half or pound thin (good stress reliever, too!). Sometimes the convenience is worth it -- like buying diced butternut squash or cut brocoli -- but often it's not.

Buy on sale.
Sounds obvious, right? Do it, but be more strategic. It might take a few weeks to see the savings because you first need to stock up during sales on your go-to items (though don't go to the extreme like what's on TV lately; no one needs 93 ketchups!). Think almonds, granola or paper towels. Notice the sales so you can avoid buying for full price when you’re completely out. I love BOGOs (Buy One Get One) sales added with coupons from my Sunday paper or from Coupons.com. I’m usually saving at least 30-40 percent each week, with hardly any work involved. You do not have to be a crazy coupon lady! And, once you stock up you don't have to worry about buying the same product every week; you'll have it. I'm stocked on everything from preserves to shaving cream! For those who are really interested, there's an "un-couponing" method by Jodi at Live FabuLESS that masses of women go nuts for. Haven't done it yet, but considering it soon because this gal has never steered me wrong; love her. She saves without sacrificing. Totally my motto, ladies!

Cook more than you need
This one is more about saving time than money because to me --- time is the most valuable commodity in the world! Even though I’m typically only cooking for two, I make enough for at least one or two more days. Tilapia one night can be transformed into fish tacos the next night without the hassle of making more fish. I do the same with chicken. Make chicken breasts with black beans, rice and grilled onions one night and go for fajitas or a salad topped with chicken the next.

Hope this is helpful... ask questions: always do my best to answer!

Groupon: Post-holiday deals

Groupon is doing it up today! Check out these deals....

Ever want to make your own granola bar, cereal, shake or other healthy treat? Get $25 to You Bar for just $12 -- and customize your creation (head to DC deal)! I'm obsessed with this deal --- 1. I love to eat. 2. I love to eat healthy. and 3. I can be kind of picky. This let's us pick exactly what we want! So fun to try.  Purchase deal by 12.31.10.

People love this site: For just $35, get $100 worth of cards, calendars and photo books at Picaboo. Make fully customizable pieces, and loving that the certificate is good toward shipping and tax, too. Yay! Find the deal by clicking on Portland. And, it's available for purchase through 12.30.10.

Wine drinker or go to friend's for dinner, soirees, and get-togethers? Take advantage of this gift certificate to wine.com. A $60 value, for just $30. Perfect to sip new wines, or bring the perfect bottle to a Find it under San Diego friend's house. The deal is available through 12.30.10.

Happy deal shopping!
xo-Alyson

Divine Deal: Jasmere

Jasmere, a site that helps you save on specialty retailers, has today home-made caramels for just $8 (reg. $22) from a company that funds cancer research. A tasty good deal. For you? A gift? We likey.

Plus, new deals are posted almost daily. A friend got (at a huge discount) what she considers the best cookies she ever tasted from NYC-based This Chick Bakes, thanks to this site. I'm jealous. Now, I need some caramels!

Register/check it out here: http://bit.ly/9vXkh5.

Divine Deal: Ebates!

Do you shop online? If so, do you know about Ebates?

If you shop online and you do not, you are totally missing out on extra cash-ola in your pocket! I recently discovered it thanks to a few other bloggers and have already made about $10 just buying what I normally would. No joke.

Here's the scoop: when you shop online -- including favorites like Gap, Target, Nordstrom, even Home Depot for the guys -- click through Ebates FIRST rather than going directly to the site... what happens is that Ebates gives you a percentage of what you spend! There's more than 1,200 registered sites, with percentages from 2-20% (so you also know it's legit; 1,200 of the country's biggest brands are not going to participate in something that's not)! For example, Banana Republic right now gets you a whopping 15% back!!


Think about it: make a seriously good buy -- or even a full-price splurge -- and it's now that much more of a deal. You're getting your own money back. What's not to love?? Plus, if you search a store you're interested in, it tells you about coupon codes, too. Big love for that. Four times a year you'll get a check from them or can get paid via PayPal.
To sign up, click here NOW. It takes literally 15 seconds to sign up and best of all? You'll get a $5 bonus after you make your first purchase (and so do I... yay for both of us!)

Is this a Happy Friday or what?! Make it a great one! xoxo
:)

Divine Deals: Dine for Less!

Love eating but don't love getting the bill? Ditto! Check out restaurant.com! Buy $25 gift certificates for just $2 each, through Sept. 13. Just use the code TOUCHDOWN for the discount at checkout. Voila!
These deals are the best; find your favorite restaurants or use this as a crazy cheap way to try a new place. Worse case, you're out $2. That's not even a latte these days! And, while restaurant.com used to have a limited number of places, it has quite a few now. Worth revisiting if it's been a while. I just bought three for $7.50 total!

I'm ALWAYS buying these certificates here and locally on southfloridadines.com. You need to check restrictions (some are dine-in only, have minimum bill requirements or exclude certain specials) but it's such a value and it enables us to eat out more often. What's not to like?!

Divine Deal: Steal the Real... for Less

Whenever I read InStyle, Vogue, People Style Watch and some other magazines, I go through a range of emotions. Excitement over the latest looks, intrigue about whether it will look good on me, and then often depression because I can't afford $300 for freaking t-shirt!

After depression sets in, I realize there must be a way to get the designer looks for less. I hit up stores like Forever 21, Urban Outfitters and soon H&M (ones opening near me in Nov!) and also check out a few key web sites that do the work for me. What's not to love? Here's two you should add to your favorites, your RSS reader or make a mental note to check out.

The Looks for Less: Steal the Real and In Their Closet. Check out the example boots below. Believe it or not, there's a $100 difference between the real by Steve Madden and the steal from Wet Seal. Many steals can save you way more... hundreds!

I find tons of good deals through various web sites, so the Guide will be coming to you with more down the road. Stay with us!

Savvy Shopping: Average Girl Style

We're in a recession people! While it may have been chic to show your findings from a spending spree in years past, now it's all about bragging about a great bargain. Check out some of my favorite ways to save while still looking stylish.

Loehmann's: Man, I love this store! In my opinion it's like T.J. Maxx or Marshalls but better (though TJ's is a close second). Best to avoid shopping on the weekends when intense shoppers who throw elbows are in full force, but go in on a week day or night to take your time to browse the racks. I've scored a $450 Nanette Lepore dress for under $60, silver Ray Ban aviators for $30, and more recently a really cute, bright-blue Juicy Couture bathing suit for just $25 (regularly $120+). Just saw the exact same bottoms on sale at Bloomies for $57 (see pic); score! At Loehmy's, always check out The Back Room for the best designer fashions at discount prices, and don't miss the children's and men's sections. They're typically small but have good finds. Bought my girl five pairs of Splendid leggings at an embarrassingly inexpensive $5 each!

Shop it to me: This site refers to itself as "your personal shopper," and they don't disappoint! Register, tell the site your go-to brands and stores, and then get ready to receive emails with sales of your favorite... everything! It's kind of dangerous! Takes the hassle out of going to a million web sites to look for sales or Googleing the item you're looking for. Everything from Tory Burch to Old Navy, Saks to the Gap, DVF,Michael Kors, NineWest, whatever your heart -- and stylish bod -- desires.

Gilt.com, RueLaLa.com, etc: We can't all live in NYC with enviable fashion, gorgeous window displays and sample sales seemingly around ever corner, but at least we have fab web sites like these that offer them right at our finger tips. Register at these sites and others (mom alert: check out zulily.com). Be aware that the merch is pretty limited. If you want something, be at your computer the second the sale starts, or beware... the competition is fierce.

TAGG tip

Shop the day BEFORE a sale (if you have time to go back the next day): Especially with stores that have limited merchandise, this can make a big difference. Not only are stores less crowded, but there's a much better chance you'll find your size. I get emails from about a half dozen or so of my favorite shops so I'm always in the know about a big sale. Find what you want, try it on and put it on hold. The next day, just make a pit stop at the store to make a quick purchase. This also gives you the opportunity to review potential purchases one last time. Just ask yourself... Do I reeeaaalllyyy need it?

Look for more of my tips in a future post; can't give it all away at once! What are your favorite ways to save on the latest fashions and wardrobe staples?

Cool Summer Looks for Hot Prices

With summer almost half-way over (tear!), who wants to invest in pricey accessories that soon will be pushed to the back of the closet in favor of boots, scarves and other Fall must-haves?

Thanks to InStyle magazine, check out more than 20 drool-worthy accessories UNDER $50 each that will help you beat the heat... or at least look good while you're sweating to death: click here to check them out. Here's just a few of my favorites that are so neutral they'd pair perfectly with a cotton tee and cut-off shorts or khaki capris, or your go-to summer dress.

Aldo cuff, on sale for $11.98 each

Cynthia Vincent for Target wedges, $30

Steve Madden Boat Shoes, $50

Spiegel Beach Bag, $34

CVS is one good deal

Ok, not everything is a good deal at CVS but utilize the store's ExtraCare Rewards Program just right, and you'll start saving. Ask for a card next time you're at the register... every purchase you make is tracked (which I don't love, but hey... can't win 'em all!). Once you start spending, you'll start receiving Extra Bucks you can use throughout the store and bundle with other coupons and BOGO (Buy-One-Get-One) deals. Tip: I like to get my coupons before I start shopping. Most stores have a kiosk when you walk in; look for it.



The good part of them tracking your purchases is that it seems that the coupons are tailored to me. Love Garnier Nuctrisse products? I once used a $2 off coupon the same week as a BOGO so got two products for $2! Special K with red berries? Each box was just $1.88 and I had two coupons for $1 off/box. Fab deal; I stocked up with six boxes. Buy two boxes of Fiber One chocolate granola bars (mmm, delish) on sale and get $5 in extra rewards. Tip: When this happens, buy this item first so you'll get the $5 coupon right then to use on whatever else you're purchasing. If you're like me, it's easier to use it right then and there.



And, just learned: Every so often you get $10 off a $50 purchase. I never spend much at CVS at one time, but I do at Publix... and Publix takes competitors coupons!! Cha-ching. If you don't live in Florida, check with your local grocer. Many national chains have the same promotion.



Happy shopping (and saving!)