OK....so maybe you've thought about going into business with your parents...but I bet you haven't considered ADULT MOVIES!!!  Jessica and Monica have.  They are 56 and 22 and they make mother daughter adult movies. 

ick.

gross.

full creepy story here.

Saving $ is making $.  A great way to save serious $ is at the grocery store.  I figure if I can save $200 a month, I can invest that money in a college fund for Alex.  Cautiously, over 15 years that $200 a month will be worth $75,000.  That should cover half his college.  Hopefully he'll be smart, or a star athlete, or go to a state school to maybe even make that money last all 4 years :-)

Today we made 2 stops to save and pick up items that we love.  We stopped at Big Y and Price Chopper.  We spent a combined $52 and got almost $95 worth of groceries.  We saved 45%.  The best part is we didn't even cut 1 coupon.  We're not very good at cutting coupons and keeping track.  However, we are getting better at knowing a good deal. 

Here are some keys to saving the most $ with the least effort:

• Aldi prices are hard to beat.  For example, a gallon of milk is $2.99 near us in Rocky Hill.  However, most of their products are generic store brands.  I'm easy.  THere's only been 1 item there that I did not like...baked beans.  My wife is more particular.  She loves JIF peanut butter and KRAFT american cheese.  I was finally able to convince her to try the ALDI brands and she liked them.  Now we buy those and save significantly. 
• Wal Mart has low prices on name brand groceries.
• If the super market has a card or rewards program, get it.  Many of their sales require these cards and some come with secondary benefits.  For example, when you reach a spending threshold you save $ on gas or bonus deals.
• Know your store.  Find out about their coupon policy.  For example, Stop & Shop will DOUBLE up to 4 coupons of .99 cents or less.  This can come in handy when (for example) Barilla Pasta is on sale for .99 cents and you've clipped a .50 cent off coupon.  You'll get the box for free...or 4 if you clipped 4 coupons.
• Know your store.  Are their BUY ONE GET ONE deals actually contingent on you buying two?  Or can you buy one for HALF PRICE?  Many stores actually charge them at half price.  If it's an item you use a lot, buy as many as you can.  Heck, come back every day during the sale!  If 1 will last you a while, then don't buy multiple just for the sale.  That will just end up as waste in the garbage!
• Don't be afraid to buy generic store brands.  There are certain items that I cannot tell ANY difference on, except for the brand.  For example, ALDI white bread is .99 cents.  Wonder Bread runs about $1.99 for the same size.  I notice no difference.  I LOVE LAY'S classic potato chips, but most store brands cost exactly the same and the price is usually half.  PRICE CHOPPER pasta is on sale this week for .50 cents.  RONZONI, BARILLA, ETC all regularly run about $1.50.  I notice no difference.  Stock up on the right store brands!
• Go to the store with a list.  If the item isn't on your list and isn't an amazing sale, don't buy it.  People often make the mistake of walking in with a list of 20 things and coming out with 30.  The added 10 are usually unnecessary and expensive. 
• Know your seasons.  Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day are usually filled with great deals on your outdoor party essentials like plastic cups, soda, beer, meats, cheeses, ice cream, and condiments.  In Oct/Nov/Dec you'll see all your family holiday goods on sale.  You can get great deals on things like turkey, ham, baking ingredients, etc.  Take advantage of these times.  Buy the items you'll use in bulk, if they're a great deal.

*** If you have the time, clipping coupons is a great way to accelerate your savings.  I'd recommend getting a few coupon inserts per week.  Also, Coupon Mom is a great site that will do the leg work for you.  They'll tell you which items you can save BIG MONEY on, in some cases 100% off), when you combine the weekly sale with a coupon from a recent insert. They also have coupons you can print on your own printer.  CHeck out their site here. ***

This week is a great one for sales.  Below are the ones that will save you 40% or more and beat the cost of the generic brands.  In many cases the BOGO deals are still more expensive then the store brands.  So, I didn't include those.  Items highlighted in yellow are extreme deals.  For example, I've seen Coca Cola 12 packs for as much as $6.99.  Most stores are regularly $5.99 now.  At Big Y you can get 4 for $10.  That's roughly 65% off.  If you love it, like I do, stock up.  The same goes for Snapple at XPect Discounts.  I've seen individual bottles for as much as $1.69 at a convenience store.  Stock up today and spend only $5.99 for a 12 pack.  That's a savings of over $1.00 a bottle. 

*** These are sales currently available near Rocky Hill, CT.  Sales vary based on location ***

Breakfast for a buck! Click here to make some quick, delicious, home made magic!

This article is part of the Frugal and Fit series of blogs.  Follow along on Twitter @FrugalandFit

aaarrrrrrrrrrggggggggggg matey!

Alex loves Jake and the Neverland Pirates on Disney.  Jenni made him a hat and eye patch.  I found some pirate jokes that made him laugh.  Let me know what you think!

Why are pirates called pirates?
(They just arrrrrgh!)

How much did the pirate pay for his earrings?
(A buccaneer!)

How much did the pirate pay for his hook and peg leg?
(An arm and a leg!)

Why can't you take a picture of a pirate with a wooden leg?
(Because a
wooden leg doesn't take pictures!)

What is a pirate's favorite subject?
(Arrrrrrt!)

What is a pirate's favorite country?
(Arrrrrrgentina!)

What are pirates afraid of?
(The darrrrrk!)

Why did the pirate go on vacation?
(For arrrrrgh and arrrrrgh!)

Why does it take pirates so long to learn the alphabet?
(Because they
spend years at C!)

PS - Alex loves fishees too.  We're excited he'll be making his first visit to Kids Dental Care (Windsor and Bristol).  They've got an aquarium, video games, and lots of cool things to make a 2 year old, 10 year old, or 30 year old's experience great!  You should check out their site and book an appointment for your youngster!