Nutella - No So Expensive After All

My newest food obsession is now Nutella.  If you are not familiar with it, it is a hazelnut and cocoa spread.  Instead of using peanut butter on a sandwich, you can use Nutella.

For many years, I wanted to try Nutella but I was never able to because of the price.  Finally, Nutella's price has gone down and it is reasonable to buy.  Now that I've tasted it, I can't ever imagine how I lived without it.  The taste is very similar to the chocolate and hazelnut candy called Ferraro Rocher. 

The best thing about Nutella is you can use it for sandwiches.  I make a Nutella and jelly sandwich many days for work now.  This is perfect if you are bored with peanut butter and jelly.  When I am very broke, I find myself eating only peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for work each day.  This is not by choice; this is only because it is all I can afford.

If you are in the same position stuck and bored with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I recommend giving Nutella a try.  It might really help your boring sandwich become more interesting.  For now, the price of Nutella is just under $3 at Walmart and $3 at Target.  Yes, that is slightly more expensive than peanut butter, but it is worth it if you might actually enjoy lunch each day.  Also, sometimes you even come across $1 off coupons for Nutella, so it makes the price even better.  So give Nutella a try!

Baltimore Sun Coupons for August 27 - 28, 2011

Ah, what a special weekend with the whole Hurricane Irene experience.   I hope wherever you are reading this, you are safe and well prepared for the storm.  Since you are going to be spending some time at home this weekend, you may want to grab a Baltimore Sun weekend edition.  This weekend is an especially nice weekend for coupons.  The Baltimore Sun I picked up this morning has 3 packets of coupons.

Some of the best coupons included in this weekend's Baltimore Sun are:

• $1 off Tropicana
• Several L'Oreal coupons
• $1.50 off Kibbles 'n Bits for your dog
• Nature Valley and Quaker granola bar coupons
• Zyrtec and Claritin coupons
• Numerous Kellogg's coupons
• Tide and All detergent coupons
• Several cleaning supplies coupons
• $1.00 off Colgate
• $2.00 off Energizer batteries
• Duracell battery coupons (2 types)
• Feminine product coupons
• Dunkin Donuts coupons
• Prilosec, Nyquil, and other medication coupons
• And much, much more!

So if you need something to keep you entertained this weekend due to a lack of electricity, take the time to shuffle through all the coupons.  Also, there are CVS, Target, and Kohl's salespapers, to name a few.

Stay safe during the entire Hurricane Irene experience!

Food as a Gift

If you are looking for a practical and inexpensive gift for this holiday season or birthdays, I would like to suggest giving a gift basket or gift bag full of food.  I am not talking about the fancy baskets with cheese and wine either.  I am talking about a gift with food that people really need.  If you are broke, chances are, some of the people around you are low on money, too.

Some people may get offended if you try to give them food; however, if it is given as a cute present, a person who really needs it will probably be grateful.  You could even throw in a low-priced gift card or a fun item just for good measure. 

When giving a practical gift basket, make sure to include items that are non-perishable.  You should include cans of soup, rice, pasta, pasta sauce, and you may even want to give items like detergent, shampoo, etc.  In these difficult economic times, many people appreciate the help. 

For more ideas and information click on: It's OK to Give Food as a Gift

Just Don't Buy It!

Never underestimate how much money you can save just from not buying a few things.  Currently, I am still on my mission: Send Jeannie to the Beach.  Of course, I can't really afford to go, but sometimes you just must take a break.  There are things I really want to buy, but I just won't purchase them for now.  I've created a little list of things I really want, but I am currently living without:

Shower gels on sale at Bath & Body Works - $3 a piece

New MP3 Player - $30

New beach towel - $10

New CD - $15

Basically, if you add all of this together, I am saving around $60 just by not buying some items I really want.  I am instead using older products and simply dealing with it.  I have to remember the goal and continue:

Penny Pinching

What would a bargain blog be without a post about pinching pennies - literally.  How often do you walk along and see a penny on the sidewalk?  Pretty often, right?  How many times do you really pick it up?  Chances are, you do not.  If you don't, you should.  I daresay you need to start picking up all change when you see it.

Back in the good old days, before the economy crumbled apart, I used to walk by change on sidewalks all the time.  Now, I have been known to wade through a puddle to get a dime.  Change may not seem like much, but if you save enough of it you can use it to buy food.  You never know when you are going to be 20 cents short and not able to buy a loaf of bread.  So when you see change, grab it and save it.