Buzz a Mom: Alyssa is a Coupon Queen
March 12, 2009 by Edie
This week, Moms Talk Network is continuing our “Buzz a Mom” series. It’s a fun and unique way of learning about a blogging mom from the Moms Talk Network of blogs. If you would like extra exposure for your blogs, contact mom@momtalknetwork.com
This week’s featured mom is Alyssa Avant a Christian writer and speaker, blogger, podcaster, and business owner. Oh yeah, she’s a wife and mother in addition to all that! Needless to say, she has to be organized to juggle it all.
We interviewed her about how her planning and organizational skills have helped her to utilize coupons to trim the family food budget. Here’s what she had to share…
As the busy WAHM that you are, how do you find time to clip coupons?
This definitely can be a struggle. But for me in order to get “anything” done I must prioritize my time well and have some semblance of a “routine” as scary as that sounds. This helps me to be able to have days that I focus solely on family and “household” things such as coupon clipping.
My coupons seem to sit in a giant Ziploc bag and expire before I use them. Can you share any organizational tips for managing and use of coupons?
The best way I have found to organize coupons and one that I see a good many couponing moms I have met online using is a coupon binder. This binder, organized with photo album inserts or baseball card inserts and separated with labeled dividers can really whip your couponing into shape and keep you super organized.
Do you utilize any online coupon clubs to print your own coupons?
I use quite a few online places to print coupons. These include:
I am also a member of Hot Coupon World and A Full Cup, both websites that allow you to search coupon databases, post in forums and connect with other couponers.
How do you incorporate coupon purchased items into your meal planning for your family?
I plan my menus around the sale circular and what items I have coupons for as well as what items are already in my pantry. I am attempting to create a stockpile of commonly used items which will save me even more money.
Great tips Alyssa! Thanks so much for sharing with us.
Let’s see how she feeds her family:
I notice you do “Menu Plan Monday” each week. How do you decide what to have on your weekly menu?
I have been “menu planning” for my whole marriage of almost 9 years, therefore Menu Plan Monday was natural for me. I love participating and find it helpful as well as fun. In order to determine my “menu” each week I sit down and begin to write a grocery list. I try to buy things that are on “sale” and use any coupons I have that match. Besides that I also ask my husband what he’d like to have and we come up with a list. I have “family favorites” we do often and I save old menus to be able to use the ideas again.
What day of the week do you plan the next week’s menu? What inspires them – Left overs? Panty stockpile? Cravings? Time of year?
I plan my menus towards the end of the week, usually on Friday or Saturday as I usually grocery shop on Saturday or Sunday these days. This has varied over the years. I do try to use items we have stockpiled, however we do not do leftovers much as my husband is a big eater and any leftovers he’ll often take for lunch the next day.
Since you have 3 little ones under the age of 6, do you have any tips to share with us about feeding them nutritious meals that don’t break the budget?
Most all of my meals are healthy. I don’t often do things that are convenience type foods unless it is for lunch on the weekends since we try to make those “simpler” things such as corn dogs or sandwiches. However, my weekly night time meals are usually a well -rounded meal with a meat and 2 veggies. This is how my mom cooked and I have followed suit. To save money, I always buy items when they are on sale and I use coupons. I don’t buy expensive cuts of meat and I just started purchasing bone in chicken rather than boneless skinless, and skin and debone myself.
How do you deal with any of your children’s dislikes of food or possible
Food allergies ( I seen you have one who has asthma)?
My oldest son does have allergies but they are related to mold, dust and grass, so no food allergies, however my children can be a little picky. Luckily, my children do like most of the foods I make. My daughter’s favorite drink is milk and my son will choose water over other drinks any day. So, I guess I am lucky.
Alyssa also has these words of wisdom for us about planning our meals:
Planning is so important as a busy mom. Feeding our children and families should be a priority so proper planning allows me to do this even with a busy schedule. You can always feed your family healthy meals if you plan adequately and shop wisely. My food budget is small and I still manage to do so because of proper planning.
Thank you Alyssa, for taking time to share with us about meal planning and feeding our family nutritious meals on a budget!
Learn more about Alyssa and her brand new Project ‘Faith Leaps’ at tonight’s Christian Women’s Tweet Up!
Read more Buzz about Alyssa at Profitable Mommy Blogging!
Read more Buzz about Alyssa at Work at Home Moms Talk Radio!
Read more Buzz about Alyssa at Mom’s Talk Network Resource Blog!
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