Grocery Saving Tips

I know these days everyone is looking for money saving tips or ideas. So I thought I would share a few Grocery saving tips that anyone could use when they go shopping.

1. Use coupons. Even if it's a 50 cent coupon, your saving 50 cents. Any amount can help.

2. Pick items on the top or bottom shelf. Bigger sizes of items, which tend to offer a lower price per unit, are usually placed on the highest and lowest shelves at the grocery store. Smaller sizes, with a higher price per unit, are often given prime placement at eye level.

3. Buy store brands instead. Store brands are usually close to the market leader in quality yet less costly. In fact, the same manufacturer that makes the branded product often manufactures the house brand.

4. Avoid buying prepared and packaged goods. You’ll pay a premium for convenience. Consumer Reports once found that two pounds of carrots cost $1.29, compared with $7.16 for the same amount of precut sticks.

5. Become a club member. These free programs entitle cardholders to members-only savings on selected products, a benefit that could shave about 18 percent off your total grocery bill. The catch: The stores keep tabs on what customers are buying to study different segments of the shopping population.

6. Join a warehouse club. Bulk retailers such as BJ’s Wholesale Club and Costco can be 20 to 50 percent cheaper than regular grocery stores when it comes to products like condiments, coffee, bottled water, and canned beans and vegetables. (The supermarket has better deals on items like produce, chips, and cookies.) Visit the websites of clubs like BJ’s (bjs.com; $45 annual fee), Costco (costco.com; $50), and Sam’s Club (samsclub.com; $40) to determine which has the best location and product mix for you, then join online.

There you have it, 6 great money saving ideas at the grocery store. You can't tell me you'll save from at least one of these ideas. I know at our home we've saved with coupons, and shopping at Sam's Club for specific items.
If you have any tips of your own feel free to leave them in the comment area. We could always use more tips. :)

While I have you here I thought I would share a few photos.

Getting to know the community.

Hello Friends,
Last Saturday, Crystal, Marla, and I decided to get out there to get to know our community, so our community could get to know us. We believe that what we offer here at LZP is so special that more people should know about us. In the past we've tried various forms of advertising that didn't provide results. Then, Miss Marla had a great idea! She suggested setting up a table at a Mom 2 Mom sale. It was so awesome.

We were able to connect with other parents in our community in a way we never could have through any other advertising vehicle.

We gave out free bottles of waters and individual bags of pretzels for weary shoppers and kids. We also gave out balloons and stickers and let people enter for a chance to win a $25.00 Wal-Mart gift card. Everyone seemed so blessed that we were giving everything away! These gifts really opened up opportunity to share our hearts about early childhood education with caring parents. The day resulted in a pile of requests for more information! We are looking forward to our next sale, which should be in April. We will post the details here and on our website: www.lzpdaycare.com. (Mom's, if you've never been to one of these sales, you should definitely check it out at mom2mom.com. I bought my daughter, in like new condition, 1 coat; 1 sweater; 2 pr capri's; 2 skirts; 2 pr leggings; 2 shirts; 2 dresses; 1 pr boots for $35.00!)

Til next time,
Miss Bethany

Simple Pleasures

The most simplest things can be so fun and amusing to young children. It really is a breath of fresh air to see all the children getting excited to just simply cut paper into pieces.

So many times I've done things with the children that was just so simple. It made me happy to know that we could have loads of boxes to play with and they were free. We didn't have to spend a dime on boxes. So when your thinking of things to do with your young children why not try to think simple. Scrap papers and scissors, or even just tearing and gluing. Just think SIMPLE.

Great Ideas For The Family

Genesee County Parks
March ~ Nature Preserve has wonderful children & family activities. Most are $3.00 per person, but, some are free.

Toy exchanges ~ Instead of buying new toys for your children consider trading with a friend. They may be older toys but seem brand new to your children.

Thanks Diane for these great tips!

Be Proactive During Cold and Flu Season

This time of year can be especially trying for parents who are trying to juggle the responsibilities of work and family. Children, who constantly have their fingers in their mouths in addition to other less appealing orafices, are virtual breeding grounds for viruses and bacteria. Consequently, it is a time when parents are called upon more frequently to pick up children from school who may make others sick.

I understand this challange as well as anyone. When my two oldest children were little, I was a single, working mom. I did not have family nearby who could help with them when they were too sick to go to school. One year, my son contracted chicken pox, and as soon as it looked like I could return him to school, my daughter developed symptoms. It was a full three weeks before I could return to work! However, I NEVER missed work unless I had to be home with one or both of my kids. I kept all my personal and/or sick days for such instances. That year, I had exhausted all the days alloted toward personal/sick time, and only had vacation days left. Because my superiors knew I only missed time for my kids, they made a special exception to allow me to use them. There's more. Later that spring, I developed a severe sinus infection. After being off work for three days, I returned over concern for my job. My face was badly swollen and the infection had not yet begun to clear. I worked for less than an hour when my boss took me into her office. She complemented me on my work ethic and expressed her appreciation for knowing that the only time I would miss work was to take care of my kids, but that I needed to go home until I was better.

I'm trying to say that I understand how hard it can be. Especially if you don't have family around who, for whatever reason, cannot help. So, I've developed a small list of things that I think can help all working families during this particular season.

Have a back-up plan in place, if possible. Ex: Gramma, Neighbor, etc.

Bank any personal/sick days while your children are preschool age. Your child's immune system is getting stronger and stronger with every runny nose, but they WILL need to miss school from time to time in order to provide everyone a moderatly healthy environment.

Give your child daily vitamins and other supplements. This is a blog all on it's own. See me if you have questions, or do the research online.

Make sure your child is getting the proper rest and nutrition in order to fight off illness. Again, a blog of it's own. See me, or get online!

For married couples, alternate who stays home to care for your sick child.

I trust that most parents not only understand the importance of enforcing a reasonable better health policy, but support it wholeheartedly. Occassionaly, I am faced with the frustrated parent who is understandably concerned about the consequences of missing time from work to care for their child. In every instance, I can honestly say that I have and will continue to adhere to the better health policy set forth in the handbook that each parent says they have read and agree to before signing the placement contract. I am responsible for ALL the children who attend LZP - while they are in attendance. And I believe that the majority of parents would want their children at a place where decisions are ALWAYS made based on what is best for children.

Miss Crystal's 2 Cents

It's me Miss Crystal.... on our blog you will be able to experience the knowledge of 3 ladies, who all happen to work at Learning Zone Preschool! To kick off our blog I will post a old post that was on our website... www.LZPdaycare.com.
Being Active with your children:

Staying active! Help your child develop good physical activity habits at an early age. You might be thinking, “Crystal, how can I do that?” Well, I have some great tips to help you and your child. Limit time on the tv, video games, computer, and movies. Get them outside moving around. Plan family outings that involve physical activities such as biking, hiking, swimming, etc. Give your child more chores around that house that require physical exertion. Take advantage of you communities recreation opportunities, such as soccer leagues, T-ball, gymnastics, etc. Help your child live a long and happy life, by helping them stay active.