Healthy Crumbs Week: Cheap Tip Tuesday: Coupons!

Healthy Crumb: Cheap Tip Tuesday


Coupons!

My Cheap Tip Tuesday this month is all about couponing. Many people hate using coupons, and I completely understand. The world of couponing can be overwhelming at first. Most people think it takes too much time to find them, cut them all out, organize them, and then remember to use them at the store before they expire. I get that and honestly some of the time I completely agree. But when I see all the savings coupons can bring it reminds me how much it really is worth it. Especially when the money saved by using coupons can be used for something fun like family vacations and trips. 

The two things to remember about couponing are to buy low and stock up. Pretty simple. You want to buy at the lowest price possible for the products you need. Once they reach rock bottom price, you simply stock up to last until the next sale! Add a coupon to the mix and it gets even cheaper!

My first tip is to start off slow. A lot of people want to dive right in, but end up getting burnt out quickly because they spend way too much time at it in the beginning. You don't need to find and get every deal every week. Start of by just seeing if you can find coupons for the items you already buy on a regular basis. Then you can gradually dive in further.

Where do you find coupons? Check out manufacturer websites, the weekly Sunday papers, websites of your favorite stores, coupon codes online for online stores, and coupon websites such as, coupon cabin, mambo sprouts, smart source, and red plum for coupons. 

The next step after actually finding the coupons on products you use regularly is to know when to use them. This requires you to know your prices. This is key to getting the best deal possible. Start out by paying close attention to the prices at your local grocery stores for a few weeks on the top items your family buys, everything from cereal to pasta, and try to get a general idea of when prices are at their lowest. This will help you save whether you are couponing or not. You might be surprised at how much prices fluctuate. And always remember just because it is "on-sale" doesn't mean it is at it's cheapest. For example last week at Fred Meyer I noticed Freschetta Pizza was on sale for $4.99. This week Freschetta Pizza is also on sale but for $7.99. Both weeks it was advertised as a sale but obviously one week the sale was much better. When you see something you use regularly hit its lowest price, buy a little extra to get you through to the next sale, most likely every 4 weeks or so.

My second tip is just because you have a coupon, it doesn't mean you have to use it. Don't buy something you never buy just because there is a coupon for it, that is not saving money, it's spending extra money. Only buy things you need and use. I see so many people stocking up on a product they never use, because they have a coupon, and end up with 50 boxes that sit on the pantry shelf and expire. That is a waste of both money and food. Yes, it may be a good deal, but it doesn't mean it is a good deal for you. Know what you eat and the quantity you eat, there is no use for a product to go to waste because you couldn't eat it before it expired.

Here are a few allergen free product coupons to help get you started couponing!

Manufacturer coupons from their websites:

• Enjoy Life Foods: http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/coupon/
• Udi's Gluten Free Foods (get $1.00 of any Udi's Gluten Free Foods): http://udisglutenfree.com/special-offers
• Rudi's Organic Bakery (get $1.00 off any of Rudi's Organic Breads): http://www.rudisbakery.com/loaf-for-less/
• Lundberg Family Farms (get 0.75 off Lundberg Rice Cakes or Get 0.75 off Lundberg Risottos): http://www.lundberg.com/Coupons/Coupons.aspx
• Mary's Gone Crackers (get $1.00 off any Mary's Gone Crackers Product (expires 12/31/11)): http://www.marysgonecrackers.com/coupon
• Crunchmaster (get $1.00 off any Crunchmaster Crackers): http://www.crunchmaster.com/ppccoupon.aspx

Mambo Sprouts has coupons on all kinds of natural products you can download and print out to use at any store, they change regularly so check back often!

• Mambo Sprouts: http://www.mambosprouts.com/free-coupons/

Also check out the Whole Foods websites for coupons if you shop there, they change regularly and can save you money when shopping at Whole Foods!

• Whole Foods: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/coupons/

For more tips on how to save money on an allergen free diet check out my earlier Cheap Tip Tuesday blogpost; Saving on the Cost of an Allergen Free Diet!

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 6:00 AM 0 comments

Healthy Crumbs Week: Cheap Tip Tuesday: Healing Herbs

Healthy Crumb: Cheap Tip Tuesday

Healing Herbs

Plant a healing herb garden in your kitchen windowsill and save money by making these home remedies for common ailments.

• Foggy head, try a rosemary bath. Rosemary clears out phlegm with invigorating, muscle-relaxing camphor. Crush leaves from three or four rosemary sprigs, then place in the toe of an old hosiery or muslin bag. Throw into a warm tub and soak for 20 minutes, squeezing to release additional oils. 

• Sore throat, try a sage tea gargle. Sage is anti-inflammatory. Create a strong tea by adding 2 teaspoons of crushed fresh sage leaves in 8 ounces of hot water. After steeping for 20 minutes, strain the tea and stir in a 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt. Gargle for 30 seconds then spit. Repeat several time per day.

• Clogged sinuses, try a thyme steam inhalation. Thyme’s anti-bacterial thymol can help unplug sinuses. Pour 3 cups of boiling water over 2 tablespoons of crushed fresh leaves in a medium bowl. Place your face above the fragrant water, close your eyes, and breathe in deeply. For best results, cover your head with a towel to hold the healing vapors in.

• Stomach cramps: try peppermint tea. Peppermints cooling menthol will help ease stomach cramps from an intestinal bug. Pour 8 ounces of boiling water over 2 teaspoons of crushed peppermint leaves. Steep for 30 minutes, strain, and drink.

By following these home remedies you can make at home you may be able to save hundreds of dollars on over the counter medicines and doctor's visits a year. And they are often times just as effective or even better than traditional medicines. Remember as with any remedy, natural or otherwise, be sure to consult your healthcare practitioner if you are pregnant or have other health concerns.

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 6:00 AM 2 comments

Healthy Crumbs Week: Cheap Tip Tuesday: Saving on the Cost of an Allergen Free Diet!

HEALTHY CRUMB: CHEAP TIP TUESDAY

Cheap Tip Tuesday came about because it came to my attention by comments from a few of my wonderful readers, that I have neglected the “cheap” in Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me. It is true, I have. I haven’t done this on purpose. But I have forgotten to include regularly how making things at home is much cheaper than buying pre-made items from the store, especially allergen-free products. Or how I save at the grocery store when I buy ingredients for my recipes. On Cheap Tip Tuesday, look for ways to cut the cost of making all of your allergen-free meals and treats. These tips and tricks can also be used to save money in others areas of your budget too! Remember, crumbs here and there might not be much by themselves, but gathered together, you can make enough stuffing to feed the whole family for Thanksgiving!  

Healthy Crumb; Cheap Tip Tuesday: Saving on the Cost of an Allergen Free Diet!

One of the biggest hurdles and complaints of an allergen free diet is the cost. Allergen free breads, pastas, baked goods, and pre-made meals often cost more than twice as much as "regular" products. Some allergen free specialty items, depending on where you live, might sometimes have to be ordered by mail, with extra costs for shipping. This all adds to the expense of staying healthy and allergen free. Here are some tips to help you save on your food budget and still stay on your allergen free diet!

Plan ahead: Make a menu or weekly list of meals. This not only helps you save money and time at the grocery store, but it prevents you from buying things you don't need or wasting time trying to find something that sounds good. It also helps you figure out what to make for dinner in the middle of a busy week. 

Where to shop: Shop at regular grocery stores. Get as much of your food as possible at regular grocery stores. Most items on an allergen free shopping list are naturally allergen free, and these items will often times be cheaper at a regular grocery store instead of at a specialty foods store. You can also find lots of things on your list at a "club" or "warehouse" store and most of the time buying in bulk is cheaper! Just make sure to always comparison shop and check the prices by pound or ounces to make sure a product is really cheaper at a club or warehouse store. This goes for buying in bulk at the regular grocery stores too. Make sure bulk is indeed cheaper than the packaged version; sometimes it is, sometimes it is not! You should also scan weekly flyers for sales on items you use regularly and try to stock up them; try to never buy them unless they are on sale. Shopping locally at farmers markets or farm stands can be another good place to find bargains as well. Produce will not only be fresher, but most likely grown organically. As an added bonus, because it's local, you are also helping to reduce the transportation costs and impact on our environment!

Shopping online: Do some comparison shopping online. If there is a specialty item you are looking for, search for it on Google and then check the prices at a variety of sites. Product prices can vary widely among companies, as well as shipping costs. You can reduce shipping costs by placing larger orders at most places, but check around. If you use an item regularly, try looking into ordering a case or carton. (My husband frequently uses this trick.) If your storage space is limited, consider asking a family member or friend to go in on a case or carton with you before buying.

Coupons: You can get coupons from lots of different places and coupons on allergen free products are not unheard of if you look for them. Check out manufacturer websites, the weekly Sunday paper, websites of your favorite stores, coupon codes online for online stores, and coupon websites such as, coupon cabin, mambo sprouts, and smart source for coupons.  

Eat In: As often as possible, cook or bake from scratch, it's always going to be cheaper than pre-made items. When I was newly diagnosed and overwhelmed with all the new changes, it was much easier to buy pre-made products than to think about how to make my own. But after a while, I realized I could make yummy delicious things from scratch for far less money, much healthier, and with better flavor than anything that came out of a box! 

Tax Deductible / FSA Savings:

While I am not an accountant or legal tax expert, the IRS may be able to help you better cope with some of your allergies. (When's the last time you heard someone say something good about the IRS.) If you suffer from celiac disease you may be able to deduct the extra cost of gluten free foods on your taxes. In the United States, the IRS makes no specific reference to celiac disease. However, several rulings by the IRS seem to suggest that if your total medical expenses for the year exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, you may be able to deduct the difference in cost between “regular” food products and gluten-free alternatives, as well as the total cost of items that would not be purchased at all if not for the gluten-free diet (i.e. xantham gum or shipping costs). Only food used by a celiac patient would be deductible. Every receipt must be saved, along with receipts for gluten-containing foods to prove the difference in price. You’ll also need a doctor’s letter to confirm the diagnosis and the need for the gluten-free diet.  You might also be able to consider a flexible spending account. If your out-of-pocket medical expenses won’t total more than 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, you may be still be able to use a Flexible Spending Account to pay for the difference in cost between “regular” and gluten-free foods (and related shipping expenses) with before-tax dollars. Of course, be sure to see if your flexible spending plan covers these expenses and always check with a certified public accountant before claiming any of the above expenses on your taxes. 

Well I hope some of these tips were helpful.  Do you have any cheap tips for an allergen free diet?  If so, please feel free to share them with your fellow readers!  

posted by Allergy Free and Cheap Like Me! at 7:00 AM 0 comments