Win $1000 for Groceries from Prego® Italian Sauce

UPDATE 10/16/08: We at Prego want to thank you for your participation and appreciate all your lively and informative feedback. We know times are tough, so don't forget to check out some great restaurant-quality recipes at www.myitaliantable.com. These recipes allow you to keep living the good life even as your budget tightens.

The sweepstakes has ended. Thank you all for entering. A winner will be chosen soon!

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Small changes can equal big $avings - tell us how you stretch your budget and you could win $1000 from Prego® Italian Sauce.

You're a smart woman and we figure you've got some pretty smart ideas about saving money when it comes to feeding your family. At the same time, you have no interest in sacrificing quality and taste just to save a few cents.

So, tell us, when it comes to feeding your family, what are some of the small changes you've made that have added up to big savings? And if you really have saved big - how did you spend your savings? Post your comment below and you will be entered to win $1000 Gift card from Prego® Italian Sauce!

No purchase necessary. To participate, you must be a U.S. resident 18 or older and enter your comment by October 15. To enter, log in or register at BlogHer and simply submit your "small change" in the comments section below. Or, blog your response and leave the link to your blog post in the comments section. (See official rules.) We will be contacting the winner by email so be sure your email address is current in your BlogHer profile.

Five small changes

Lauri September 15, 2008 - 4:14pm

I try to make the most of my prep time and if cleaning, chopping and cutting veggies.. then I try to think ahead and plan for the following days. I often cut it all up at once and have zip loc bags of celery, carrots and onion all ready.

I use leftovers in a new way. Leftover pasta sauce or chili w/shredded cheese as a topper for baked potatoes

I keep my pantry & freezer filled with staples - pasta, frozen veggies, rice, jar pasta sauce, and chicken stock. This makes throwing a quick dinner together fast & easy.

I use my freezer and freeze casseroles.

I use ground turkey as a replacement for Ground beef.

Every penny counts

jenbentch September 16, 2008 - 5:55am

I stretch my pennies by doing the following things

1. Read ads for local stores and stock up on sale items for the future

2. Buy generic

3. Use coupons on items that are also on sale that week

4. Avoid buying prepackaged snacks and instead buy in bulk then make the prepackaged snacks myself by using sandwich bags.

5. Go to more than one store a week and buy only the sale items

6. I make a list and stick to it

On Reading Ads quickly and Easily

MGD Cyndi September 30, 2008 - 2:10pm

May I suggest our site MyGroceryDeals.com for a quick online reference for local grocery sales. We list all local stores by ZIP Code so you can search and browse, make a list of the best deals in your area for the items you need and then head out to shop for them.

You can even add our online coupons on top of the deals for extra savings.

Happy deal hunting!

MGD Cyndi

What I do

coolmom8 October 9, 2008 - 1:17am

I shop at Aldi's

big change

bjaworski38 September 17, 2008 - 7:40am

I use my scooter that gets 150 mpg for smaller trips and going to work everyday. I have found that I rarely even use my car these days.

Saving Pennies

Maureenbasile September 17, 2008 - 5:50pm

I have formed somewhat of a co-op with friends and family. We all put together a list of produce we would like to have. We compare the list and the most requested items we buy from the produce stock house here in town. We save about 60% buying it wholesale over the grocery store.

I also stock up when the local grocery has the buy one get 2 free sale, or the dollar days.

Dinner Co-Op !!

BeccaJoy September 18, 2008 - 5:21pm

I recently participated in a dinner co-op sponsored by a local church. The ladies who organized it took orders in advance as to how many of each and which meal options you wanted. Then we all showed up on a Saturday and assembled our meals to take home and stick in the freezer. With this kind of event you'll get HUGE savings by buying in bulk PLUS save a ton of time by cutting out the prep. All you have to do is stick it in the oven! And in my case I was able to support a local charity too while still paying less per meal than I normally would! A win-win-win situation :)

Local Staples

brittanymarie81 September 20, 2008 - 5:09am

Lately, I have been looking localy to help my wallet. By buying my meat (pork and beef) from local farmers, I not only get it at a great price, but I know that it is grain fed and hormone free. And, in return, that frees up more money for me each grocery trip, where even coupons don't stretch things along as much as they used too!

Brittany

www.barefootfoodie.com

I have started to buy more

OHmommy September 22, 2008 - 5:43am

I have started to buy more in bulk: rice, noodles, chicken, and other staples and have seen a huge difference. I shop each week and my bill is much smaller and I buy less junk. It forces me to buy only what I need.

www.classychaos.com

Using leftovers

maggie_mom September 24, 2008 - 8:49am

I make extra for dinner each night, and put it straight into single-serving tupperware. My husband just grabs one of those for lunch each day. It saves us on buying lunch stuff, or having him eat out. If we have too many, I can freeze some or eat it myself for lunch.

Hidden nutritious fillers

melismax October 3, 2008 - 6:09am

When making a pasta dish, I stretch it further by adding chopped fresh veggies (spinach, zucchini, broccoli) and/or canned beans and tomatoes to add bulk and nutrition. My son doesn't recognize mac and cheese without something green in it.

Small Changes

nbkhx48 October 3, 2008 - 10:19am

I make use of reabtes and coupons. I take up the offer for double and triple coupons. I know lots of women make use of coupons, but I hear very little about rainchecks. They are wonderful. Maybe your money is a little tight the week that a particular item is n sale. With a raincheck you can get it later for the sale price.

Cook at home

writingandliving October 6, 2008 - 4:55am

I have started cooking at home, and cooking from scratch. Convenience foods add up quickly, but with a well-stocked pantry with flour, sugar, eggs (which would be in the fridge, not the pantry, but you get the picture), you can make nearly anything for a fraction of the cost.

Staci at Writing and Living

Matching Prices

tcpokim October 6, 2008 - 8:07am

I've learned that I can go to the grocery store manager and they will match the prices of the other stores in town. I bring in all the flyers from the 4 area stores, and they give me the lowest price for each item from those flyers. That saves time and gas - I don't have to physcially go to 4 different stores.

Then I use coupons that I find in the paper and online to get items discounted more. If I can, I shop on the double coupon days.

If no double coupon days, I shop on senior discount day - my mother registered for me so I use her "senior" bonus card to get 5% off - on top of the sales & coupons - on senior discount days.

I literally save hundreds of dollars a month using these methods.

Trying to Survive

Helpful October 11, 2008 - 1:03am

When our third child came, cutting corners, and becoming a stay at home Mom, was the only option for us.

1. I only buy it, if it is on sale. I plan my meals by, what is on sale.

2. I use coupons.

3. I use vinegar and Ivory dish soap to wash our clothes.

3. I make big pots of food that last two nights. Casseroles, and Spaghetti, And Hubby takes it to work.

4. I use a mixture of 1/2 botttle rubbing alcohol and 2 cups vinegar pour it into spray bottle and I use it as a stain remover for laundry, and for cleaning mirrors ,kitchen and bathroom floors, and add 1/4 cup clorox to that for cleaning the bathroom and kitchen counters. It does a wonderful job.

5. We stopped drinking soda.

6. I use Prego Sauce, when it is on sale, because, if I use something generic or cheaper,,the kids won't eat it. And then I won't save any money at all.

Oh, and any money that's left over, or you feel you saved, put it in the savings, for those 20% off, Meat sale days.

- try to use as many frozen

squishpink October 12, 2008 - 5:56am

- try to use as many frozen vegetables as possible

- after I make dinner I put some aside for lunch the next day, to gurantee there will be leftovers (since my husband will eat whatever he sees!)

- i try to use more pasta and canned soups in recipes

- casseroles and omelletes are great for leftover veggies

- we buy 2 liters of soda instead of cans to make sure we don't waste money on leftover soda.

- we bought glass containers to store extra food, so we wouldn't keep having to buy those plastic gladlock disposibles (this saves us A LOT.)

- buying generics

- buying "buy one get one free" at vons

- using spaghetti sauce as pizza sauce

- making things from scratch (like pizza dough and english muffins.)

- using left over lemon rinds to freshen the sink..

- shredding and chopping vegetables and cheese myself.. bagged/pre-cut is always more expensive.

small change

elektra369 October 14, 2008 - 7:26pm

I used to use coupons a lot, but I've found that cooking with fresh ingredients and planning meals stretches the dollar much further. Lots of pre-packaged foods aren't quite as healthy for us...

Anyway, I plan out several meals before shopping - especially meals that use the same ingredients. If I can roast two chickens at once, and use the second for a pasta dish the following day, then I've managed to save myself time and money.

When I have veggies left over in the fridge, I throw together a vegetable soup to use them up, and freeze the extra (if there's too much).

Same goes with tomatoes and extra veggies for a tomato sauce.

When my favorites go on sale, I stock up. I've gotten crazy looks in the checkout line when I pile 10 bags of .99 flour on the belt, but it all adds up in the long run.

When I'm lucky, I can convince a neighbor to take a trip to a warehouse place, and we can split large items between the two of us. Saves us both money!

How far can I s-t-r-e-t-c-h it??

bwsmom October 15, 2008 - 7:29pm

Hoo boy! I work HARD to stretch our budget! I can't remember the last time I paid full retail for anything. I'm a serious bargain shopper, both online and in person. I'm a hardcore couponer at the grocery store (and the cashiers know me as such!). I scan the grocery ads each week, make my lists, match my coupons, etc. I comparison shop (is the price per ounce less on the smaller size of an item, or the larger size that's on sale?) I'm a member of several online bargain shopping sites. We pay our bills and have very limited amounts of credit cards so we're not living above our means. It's not an easy task, but it all can be done, and it makes a HUGE amount of difference!

stretching budget

shabbyshopper September 15, 2008 - 4:01pm

I read daily blogs on couponing, print coupons and match them with current sales adds - that is how we plan our meals for the week! We shop the sales, hit the loss leaders and make it work! It is much like a game!

stretching budget

strawberry3d September 16, 2008 - 1:08am

i stretch my budget by using coupons and looking thru local grocery stoes flyers, and going to grocery stores that double and triple coupons.

Make Your Money work for You

nbkhx48 October 3, 2008 - 10:30am

Ladies, ladies, ladies. Have you ever paid attention to the packaging that your purchases come in? On everything there is either a website or 800 number to contact that company. Use it. I cannot tell you how many free things I have gotten just from using the "Contact Us" link on a website.

I let the companies know that I tried their product and I let them know my opinion. Sometimes I get coupons, other times I get free things. I emailed a water company about the price of theirs versus Dasani and others and they sent me a 24-pack of their water to my home via UPS.

Nowadays everyone wants to complain about Customer Service being in the toilet, but I think some of the fault lies with the consumers. You and me. We have ways to talk to the cmpanies and many of us don't take the time to do it. As I have been told by companies many times "we can't fix a problem taht we don't know about." Well, if I have a problem or if everything is just pachy I let them know.

I rarely bother going to the customer service counter in a store anymore. I launch my problem on their website. That way it gets some attention. I once got $10 cash from a Wal-Mart manager for a 30 something cents price difference. The kicker is that the man that gave me the money is the manager that the lady at the customer service desk called when I brought the product to their attention. I wasn't satisfied in the store, so I went to the website.

With job shortages everywhere you turn and the hosuing crisis only getting worse we have to make sure that we get what we have paid for with our hard earned money.

Share your opinions with me. I would love to hear from you.

stretching budget

viclen1954 September 15, 2008 - 8:43pm

I have clipped coupons forever, it seems. The trick is to use coupons on items you will use, not buy just because you have a coupon of course. I double those by using my stores doubler coupons also. I belong to Fatwallet.com and get rebates back on items I purchase online, always getting Free Shipping, of course! I make, bake and prepare in quantity and also freeze meals in advance. I save and freeze chicken stock and serve more rice, beans and pasta meals. I shop the outer lanes at the grocery store and avoid the traps of junk and fast foods in the aisles.

Saving our hard earned Dough...

Mynxx September 15, 2008 - 8:55pm

The first step to saving money in our home is to buy in bulk! We buy things like chicken breasts, easy to prepare microwavable foods, cereal, snacks, diapers, formula, etc, to help our dollars stretch. We also buy certain things that go on sale every week from Walmart and stick to a list. I love the one skillet meals that come in a single bag complete with pasta, veggies and a protein like beef or chicken. They are quick to prepare and healthy for my family! If you buy the store brand of the big named products, you can save lots too! But everyone knows, clipping coupons is another way to save big!

Our meals each week revolve

jashelep23 September 15, 2008 - 9:02pm

Our meals each week revolve around the coupons I have and what is on sale. We also have a leftover night every three days, which clears out the fridge and gets another dinner on the table.

Stretching Our Budget

My3Sons3 September 15, 2008 - 9:09pm

I buy cereal at WalMart or Target, which are usually less expensive than the grocery store, and make sure I use a coupon whenever possible. I have 3 boys. I shop for my oldest son online by checking the clearance sections of websites like Kohls and Old Navy. And only if they offer free shipping. For backpacks, jackets, school supplies, I just write my child's 1st initial and last name on them, since all of my boys have the same first initial (LOL). Makes it easier when handing them down.

We're enjoying life in a less-than-ideal financial situation...

geekbearinggifts September 15, 2008 - 9:29pm

The last few years have been pretty rough for us, but we still manage to do pretty well. Here are some of the steps we've taken:

*Cook from scratch instead of going out to eat or buying convenience foods BTW, Prego is not a convenience food--it is a staff of life, and very reasonable at the club store we belong to. It would cost me more to make marinara from scratch;
*Give up soda and packaged snacks. Drink water with a squeeze of lemon. Toast with butter and/or jam, cinnamon toast, peanut butter sandwiches, and cereal (with or without milk) make great snacks, to name a few;
*Watch movies at home instead of going to a theater;
*Grow some of your food;
*Rice and Beans are cheap, especially if you buy in bulk and cook them yourself instead of getting canned beans and instant rice;
*Turn leftover meat, veggies, pasta, beans, etc. into soup or cold salads and use them for lunches;
*Make your own bread. Once you have the equipment it's extremely cheap if you grind your own wheat or buy your flour in bulk. Buy yeast by the pound. (Yeast is not cheap if you buy your yeast in packets at the grocery store--that can be as much or more than a cheap loaf of bread on sale.) Check a club store or restaurant supply store for yeast, or order online when you can get cheap or free shipping;
*If you'd rather not bake, look for bakery thrift stores near by--their prices are very good;
*Look for farmers' markets and CSA's in your area;
*Trade something you make, grow, or do for something someone else makes or grows, or offer to babysit or tutor in exchange for something they make or grow;
*Get a freezer, and buy extras to freeze when you see a good deal on something you like;

Thanks for the awesome offer!

What's on Sale this week?

coriwestphal September 15, 2008 - 10:14pm

I've switched to pretty much buying what is on sale. If Pop Tarts aren't on sale, we don't have Pop Tarts. Seems simple but it's been a tough adjustment. We're getting used to it now and I estimate it saves us about $250 a month. Now that's worth the coupon clipping.

Learning to Live On Less

bakergirl September 15, 2008 - 11:38pm

We have made many small changes in our lifestyle and are learning to live on less money. Interestingly, we find we have more now...that is, more of each other. We have cut out movies, fast food meals, regular eating out at resteraunts, going for drives, etc. Instead we now are spending time as a family planning our meals, scanning the paper for bargains and sales, packing lunches, cutting out sweets, etc. In the end, we have all lost some weight, we are spending more time together and reconnecting with each other. It turns out when we started learning to live on less, we gained so much more quality in our family life!

Less Can Be Good

IrishRose23 September 15, 2008 - 11:44pm

We try everything we can to cut down on our food bill! In fact, we've learned that going to the reduced bakery in the grocery store helps tremendously! Not only do they have 60% off on cake-type items, they also have it on bread. Granted it's a week before the sell-by date, but usually, the breads will last a very long time!

Also, we buy generic brands instead of name brands. It tastes the same, or better, than brand names, and half the price!

In these hard economic times, every little bit helps- even if that means buying in bulk, or simply just putting back that expensive lobster and going for some frozen pizza.

I Caved In

mvir9 September 16, 2008 - 1:06am

For years, I shopped "conveniently." In other words, I went to the closest grocery store that had the most items on my list. The primary reason for this is that, like many women today, I multi-task constantly. I work, I have a family, and I have innumerable activities in any given day. So, comparison shopping seemed to carry more pros than cons, even if it saved me a bit of money.

Not any more! I've begun to make sure that I have the time to look through the sales papers at a handful of stores that I know to be relatively good in their pricing. And, I am no longer against traveling to more than one store for one week's worth of groceries if it will save me more money than the gas it will cost me to run to the extra store. On the contrary, I've done this often in recent months.

With my new focus on saving money rather than time, I have shaved about $55 off of our family's weekly shopping bill. This adds up to almost $3,000 per year!

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