Look for Coupons
Looking for coupons is one of the best saving money tips to remember when you go grocery shopping. You can find coupons in the Sunday paper, you may receive them in the mail, or you can find them online. You’ll be surprised at how much they add up when you use them regularly.

Purchase Generic or Store Brands
Purchasing generic or store brands can save you a lot of money on that grocery bill as well. Usually these brands are high quality and tasty, and they cost a lot less than other brands.

With these saving money tips, you can begin saving a lot of money on your groceries. Combine these tips together and save hundreds of dollars a year, which is definitely helpful with the current economic problems.

“You know, if we do have an economic meltdown, I’d sure rather have my money as cash in my hand rather than in something like gold or silver coins.  What happens if nobody wants that gold or silver?  And what can you buy with it?”

This one is easy to fix.

• Do a search and see how long gold has been valued and used as money.  (Hint:  Answer will be around 6,000 years.)
• Now do a bit of research on the history of paper currencies to find out how many have retained their purchasing power permanently, let alone in crises. (Hint:  None.  They all have become “museum pieces.”)
• Conclusion? It is far more likely that your gold or silver coins will retain their value than your paper currency.

Now it might well be that using a one ounce gold coin in trade could be a problem because it’s worth over $1,000 and you are trying to buy a cheeseburger. But that problem is easily solved by using fractional gold or silver coins. Or you could sell your gold or silver coins for whatever paper currency is currently in use and spend that money.

Anyway, we are not talking about convenience here but rather the ability of paper money to retain value as compared to precious metals, particularly if there is an economic crisis. The likelihood that you are going to wind up with a sack of worthless gold or silver coins is vanishingly remote. But what about your paper currency?

Study history.

As a man whose father was a veteran of WWII, I have a great respect for the military and for those who serve our country in uniform.  I say this as a preface so I’m not misunderstood in the comments that follow.

It should be understood that countries do not get rich by going to war.  Unless, of course, one is the victor and plunders the vanquished, hauling off copious amounts of booty and turning those unfortunate souls who happened to be fighting on the wrong side into slaves.  Even if one is able to ignore the hideous moral implications of such actions, the whole business of war is still going to turn out to be costly in many areas – financially, emotionally, in terms of freedoms lost – and those are just for starters.

Every dollar spent on articles of war is a dollar that is not spent on bridges, schools, cars, homes, and food.  What do you have left of the things you bought for war?  Nothing.  Yes, lots of people were employed.  But what have they built that has continuing value?  Nothing.  Those items were largely expended in the war effort.  Along with a lot of lives.

How then can people think that spending money on war will in some way help the economy?  How can spending money to destroy things make the nation more wealthy?  Suppose the money that was spent to prosecute wars or to maintain hundreds of military bases had been left in private hands.  Private individuals could have used those funds for countless things that do have lasting value such as homes or education.  Even if the government kept the funds and spent that money on bridges and roads, at least there would be something to show for it – and people would have been employed building things that last instead of things that do not.

Are there times that we must go to war?  Yes, and they are very rare.  But let this idea that going to war provides a financial benefit to our nation be done with.  War is a terribly expensive business.  It lowers our standard of living.  It has bankrupted nations before.  Will ours be next?

Some hints that will help you become better organized with your coupons along with where to find coupons ought to aid you.

Organization: The key to getting organized would be to purchase a little accordion-type folder to put your coupons in. They usually come with mini files inside them to classify the coupons that you have accumulated. These little clutches will help you find your coupons in just minutes. Now all you’ve got to do is remember to bring them with you anytime you go shopping. Try placing them with your keys or cell phone. You can’t forget your car or truck keys or you are not going anywhere. We do not like being without our cellular phones either, hence with these two items in mind the chances for forgetting your coupons are slim. If you have been successful in remembering your coupons when shopping, then you’re doing well. Now, how do we remember to make use of them? Bring your coupon file with you anywhere you’re going. If you do not prefer to take it around, then store it in the car so it will never be left behind.

Finding Coupons: Coupons can be found in lots of places. If you receive the Sunday paper you’re certain to uncover terrific coupons. It really is entirely worth buying the paper. Should you only find one coupon that you can use, and I am sure that you’re going to discover more than just one, that one coupon will probably pay for your Sunday newspaper subscription. Other places to get coupons are online. Browse for the individual product and the odds will be that you will find a coupon for your product. It is possible to pick up coupons on an on-line auction for pennies. Coupons can sometimes even be found in the supermarket next to the item. There are sometimes coupon dispensers in the store or some left behind by a kind soul who didn’t need them. If there are coupons that you don’t need or would never use, then return the kindness by leaving them near the product for someone else. Someone, someplace uses that product that you do not.

You’ll be surprised at how the savings will add up. Just to see for yourself, place all the money that you saved by using coupons in a jar for about a month and then count it. It pays to use coupons.

To a large degree, Americans are living off the legacy of our former small-government, free-market, capitalist economy which was the engine that provided the growing standard of living Americans used to experience and today’s Americans seem to expect.  I say former, because we have anything but that anymore.  The central government attempts to regulate the production of wealth while producing no wealth whatsoever.  Its main products are regulations, failed programs, and aggressive foreign wars.  None of these have a positive impact on the wealth of this nation, and I believe that the “military-industrial complex” that President Eisenhower warned us about might be the most destructive factor of all.  Anyway, given his military experience he sure should have known all about it.  War is horribly expensive, and as we’ve seen, once we get into one the attitude becomes one of “we must have victory so we have to spend whatever is necessary to achieve it.”  Sounds like a path to national bankruptcy.  Imagine what could have been done with the money we’ve spent on these wars.  And that doesn’t even include the social costs to individuals and families.

In any event, “downsizing” on a personal level is going to be the new in thing, whether we like it or not.  An ever increasing standard of living comes from private savings and investment, hard work, and a political environment created by a government that does not act like business growth will continue regardless of what the government might choose to do to impede it.  To the degree those things are absent, so also will growing personal wealth be outside our grasp.  One doesn’t have to like the laws of economics, and one can employ the services of those with flawed views to get the answers one wants, but the facts remain the same.

Here’s what’s going on.  The private sector is not creating jobs in any way that  indicates an economic recovery is underway.  And, as I pointed out in a post some months ago, figuring unemployment is a tricky job, and one that offers enormous opportunities to both  make errors and to deliberately distort the figures for political and other purposes.

Take for example the part of  the report that stated that 625,000 people gave up looking for a job.  Let’s suppose that number is accurate.  Since they are no longer looking for a job, they are not considered unemployed anymore.  That reduces the size of the labor pool which works to reduce the unemployment rate.  So having over a half a million folks give up looking for jobs makes the unemployment rate look better.  Suppose those half a million folks had found jobs instead of giving up.  They would no longer be considered unemployed.  So regardless of whether people get discouraged and give up looking for jobs or whether they actually find jobs, are we to understand that either event has basically the same effect on the unemployment rate?  Does that make sense?  Do you really want to base decisions on data like that?

This economy is far from out of the woods, and it won’t be until there is robust and sustainable growth in the private sector.  When that happens we’ll see a real drop in the unemployment rate, not one spuriously induced by questionable statistical methods.

Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses. Sometimes we don’t even realize it, but we spend extra money just by trying to keep up appearances. If you feel that you have to buy a new car just because your close friend bought one, you should seriously consider what type of financial burden you are passing on to your family. Living within your means will allow you to have more financial freedom in the long run because you won’t constantly be playing catch up as you try to pay off old debts.

If you know how to cook, then cook for your family. If you don’t know how to cook, then it would be beneficial for you to learn. By cooking meals for your family, you will have extra money every month that you can either save or use to pay bills. As an added bonus, cooking dinner will help you to be able to ensure that your family is eating healthy foods.

Skip the coffee shop. How often do you buy a latte from your favorite coffee shop? If you take a minute to add up how much they cost according to how frequently you purchase them, you will probably be appalled at the price. By brewing your coffee at home, you will be able to save quite a lot of money. If you must have designer coffee, consider investing in a professional grade coffee maker/cappuccino machine so you won’t feel that you are cheating yourself.

Stick to the list. When you go to the grocery store, you will save more money if you make a list and stick to it. This will ensure that you only purchase the things that you have previously budgeted as opposed to buying things on impulse. It is also common to go to the grocery store and buy unnecessary items because we don’t really know what items we already own. In order to stop buying things you already have, regularly take inventory of your pantry.

Certainly, the U. S. Government is bust. There can be no way it might fulfill its guarantees to future generations of Americans regarding health care and old-age pensions, let alone sustain its military presence around the world. And I’ve not yet mentioned the cost of servicing the nation’s debt – never mind paying some of it back which isn’t even on the radar screen. When I claimed the government can’t do it, I meant that. Not even with raising taxation.

It truly is bankrupt and it maintains itself by its power (until now) to borrow from foreigners as well as to create dollars out of nothing in order to make payments on its obligations. Once the first goes, the next will go, as people say, “to the moon.” The consequences of practically limitless money creation by the Federal Reserve to meet the financing requirements of the central government will be disastrous. Plan for it like your future will depend on it, because it does.

If you’re planning your retirement centered on the supposition that you will receive the same government benefits in your old age that your mother and father did, you’re in for a ugly disappointment. For you, and millions like you, retirement will be repealed.

Get busy yesterday.

Clip coupons. Have you ever looked at your weekly newspapers for grocery coupons? You might be surprised to learn that by taking the time to cut out discount coupons, you will save a significant amount of cash on your groceries.

Compare prices. Gone are the days of buying the first item you see. If you are buying a big ticket item like a vehicle or electronics, you are going to save money by comparing prices and checking for the best price. And when you’re buying products such as clothing and home furniture, waiting for sales can save you a bunch of money. You would be amazed how many bargains you will discover when you’re a price detective.

Distinguish desires from needs. So as to teach your children how to spend money wisely, you need to start teaching them the way to prioritize their desires and their needs. For example, your son or daughter might want a new video game system, however they actually need braces. They could want you to send them to Cabo San Lucas for their senior vacation, however you need to repair the transmission on your auto. When families understand how to work together, they can save more money as compared to families who don’t fully grasp compromise because you will have fewer complaints when everybody doesn’t get what they want.

Reevaluate your cellular phone program. Although it might seem that you and your family have a fantastic cell phone program, you may really be throwing away cash every month. Examine your invoice and find out what features your family uses the most. When you have completed the evaluation, speak with your cell phone provider and see whether they can tailor a plan for you based on your phone/texting use. Although they may claim that they’re able to only offer you cookie cutter programs, be courteously persistent and continue to ask these people to assist you. When you keep your cool and explain that you’re attempting to save money, they will often do whatever they can to make sure you are thoroughly pleased with their service as well as keep you as a customer.

If you don’t have much time yet need to get in on a lot of excellent discounts, shop with coupons. You can go shopping with coupons in a number of ways. You can make out your grocery list according to your family’s needs and wants and search for coupons you have clipped from the newspaper and save a little bit of money.

One other way of shopping calls for some extra labor, but with greater savings. You may look over your neighborhood supermarket weekly advertisements and buy whatever will be on sale that you like and that you have coupons for and prepare your dinners from these groceries.

If you want to get even more for your dollar it is possible to purchase strictly from the sale merchandise whether you are fond of that food or not. Out of your coupons you might be able to find some for these products.

The greatest savings comes from shopping at a couple of stores in your town. Run through their weekly store ads and look for just the top offers from each store. Bring your coupons along with you and use them too. Using your coupons on sale items gives even greater savings to enjoy later on.

Lowering costs calls for some carefully thought out planning. Typically it is best if you stay with your original food list. Whenever you go astray off of your list you may still be saving a bit, but you are putting your cost savings right back into groceries you might not actually want, which will defeat your purpose. Go shopping carefully and plan ahead!