Tips for Extreme Couponing

Coupons have always been popular, but in recent years the art of extreme couponing has taken on a life of its own. Extreme couponing isn’t simply using coupons now and then. It is a dedication to using coupons to obtain maximum savings on an ongoing basis. Extreme couponing can save the experienced shopper over 80% on the standard grocery bill. However, for the beginner, extreme couponing can seem a little intimidating. If you’re interested in mastering the art of extreme couponing, start small and slowly hone your craft.

Extreme couponing requires some basic knowledge. Start by knowing your local stores. Each store will have a different coupon policy. Often, these stores will have their coupon policy posted online, as Wal-Mart and Kroger do. Other stores will have a printed brochure or pamphlet that outlines how and under what circumstances coupons are accepted. You may have to ask the store manager for information on coupon policies at individual stores. Understanding the policy of each store will help avoid problems and you’ll discover which stores allow you to stack or even double your coupons for maximum savings.

Once you understand local coupon policy, you have to acquire some coupons. You can find coupons in many different places. Check local newspapers and flyers first. These often have time sensitive coupons that you might overlook. The Sunday paper is usually full of coupons. If you’re hoping to purchase multiple items, you might want to purchase multiple papers. Consider purchasing a subscription to your local paper, or even two or three. You’ll save money on the paper and stock upon valuable coupons.

The Internet has become an excellent source for coupons. Internet coupons come in two varieties: coupons you print at home and those that you request to have mailed to you. Either type of coupons are valid at most stores. Just make sure that every coupon you collect from online sources has an expiry date, a scannable bar code, and the manufacturer’s address (for the retailer to remit the coupon). Never purchase coupons from online sources as they might not contain all the necessary information to be accepted by most major retailers. As for printable coupons, don’t cut them off the paper after you’ve printed them. Leave the URL at the top of the page intact. Store managers will be able to see that you’ve obtained the coupon legitimately. Some excellent sources for online coupons include SmartSource.com, RedPlum.com, and Coupons.com.

In addition to bookmarking these sites, you might want to subscribe to couponing websites or mailing lists. These sites often let you know what coupons are available and from whom, making your shopping easier. SavingMoneyPlan.com and KrazyCouponLady.com are just two examples of sites you might want to visit.

Now that you have your coupons, you have to organize them. How you do this is up to you. One of the most popular methods involves using a small expandable file folder. Group your coupons according to expiry date and product type. This will make them easier to find while you’re in the store, saving you time. It will also help you keep track of which coupons expire when, maximizing your coupon use and your savings.

Coupons and flyers in hand, it’s time to plan your shopping trip. Take your flyers and circle the best prices on the items you intend to purchase. You’ll maximize your savings if you’re not too concerned with specific brands. Remember that many stores such as Wal-Mart will match any advertised price on an item they carry, provide you have the flyer to prove the price. This may save you from running to several stores in one day.

Once you’ve located all the best deals, pull out your coupons and match sale items with your coupons. By combining your coupons with the sale price of a particular item, you can probably save 50% or more. You may even be able to get some products for free. If you notice that your coupons actually exceed the sale price of the items, check store policy to see if they permit overages. It’s unlikely that the store will give you cash, but overages can be applied to the rest of your grocery bill if store policy permits.

Saving money takes an investment of time and effort. It doesn’t just happen. You’ll have to devote time to find coupons, organizing coupons, figuring out local coupon policies, and organizing your shopping trip. All of this sounds like it takes a great deal of time, but if you concentrate your efforts, you’ll find that you can do all of this in about an hour a week. The time invested is well worth the money you’ll save.

Talking About Money Before Marriage

Marriage is a huge decision and an exciting time in anyone’s life. It is easy to get caught up in this excitement and focus on the ceremony and reception. However, sometimes couples are so focused on wedding that they forget to consider the marriage that comes after. One of the factors to securing a happy future is discussing key issues before the wedding. Perhaps the largest issue that must be addressed is financial. It may not seem very romantic to discuss money while you’re picking flowers, but certain questions are necessary.

Debt

Perhaps one of the most concealed issues prior to marriage is the question of debt. Who has the debt and how much? It’s important to disclose this information at the outset of the engagement, especially if you have a lot of debt. Perhaps your partner won’t mind helping you pay it off and straighten out your finances. However, if you hide the information until after the marriage, you’re just asking for trouble. Be honest about how much debt you’re bringing into the marriage and avoid the resentment that will occur later on.

Bank Accounts

Before you get married, you need to decide if you’ll have a joint bank account or maintain individual accounts. If you trust each other completely, at least on a financial level, you may only need joint accounts. Otherwise, you might want to have a joint account for joint expenses and individual accounts for individual expenses. This makes each person responsible for any wants and needs that may occur.

Who Pays That Bill?

If both partners make the same amount of money (or almost the same amount), then it’s usually simplest to allow everyone to pay for half of the expenses. But in many cases, one partner may earn significantly more than the other. Perhaps one partner is a stay-at-home-parent. In this case, you really need to discuss who pays for what. If you just assume that you already know the answer to this question, you will likely experience resentment towards each other at some point.

What Do We Do If We Lose Our Jobs?

Have a candid conversation about what to do in the event of financial disaster. What if you lose your jobs? Discuss how you would manage to pay the bills for a few months. If you don’t have any cash reserves, consider how you will build up enough savings to survive if the worst happens and both of you are laid off at the same time.

Financial Goals

Long-term goals are a good thing, but they need to be discussed. If one of you wants to take expensive vacations and the other wants enough money to pay for your children’s education, you may have to have a discussion about how to deal with these different goals. Perhaps they can both be met on your current income. Perhaps not. If not, explain to each other why you have those particular goals and try to compromise.

You should also have financial goals as a couple, things that you both want to accomplish. Before walking down the aisle, create a plan. Outline the steps you need to take in order to accomplish your shared goals. Don’t forget to address how you will afford large purchase. Will you borrow money or save? It may seem like a simple question, but it can drastically change how you relate as a couple.

Financial Styles

While there is no right or wrong when it comes to spending styles, it is important to discuss how each of you likes to spend money. Partners with very different spending styles may find themselves arguing over money on a frequent basis. If one of you is responsible and saves judiciously and the other racks up the credit cards every day, a clash is almost inevitable. The two of you could end up resenting each other all over a little money.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t get married. But get married with a plan. Make a list of income and expenses and indicate who is responsible for paying what. Then discuss disposable income and what you should do with it. You may both have to compromise. Perhaps the saver agrees to spend a little and the spender agrees to stop using credit cards. The marriage can still work if you both approach it with open eyes.

When Do We Consult Each Other?

It’s important to establish clear rules when it comes to buying various items. While you probably don’t need to consult each other when buying a head of lettuce, it may be unwise to buy a new car without discussing it. Make sure each partner understands when a purchase needs to be discussed beforehand.

How Do We Invest?

Investing is wise, but it’s also a big deal. It’s not something one person should handle alone, not when that person is married. Discuss investments early on to make sure you both agree when it comes to what investments you hold as a married couple.

One of the largest issues cited in divorces cases is money. How much is available and what is done with it is important to people, including you and your prospective spouse. It may seem awkward to discuss money before you’re married, but understanding each other financially is one of the most powerful things you can do to save your marriage.

How a Propane Gas Grill Works

There are two basic types of grills today — gas and charcoal. Gas grills are becoming more popular with each passing year, but they are also more complex. They are more difficult to set up and require more maintenance than traditional charcoal grills. In addition, the user of a gas grill is recommended to have some basic knowledge of how the grill works in case of any problems with the grill.

Most people can figure out how to operate a gas grill simply by following the directions. But understanding how your grill works will ensure that your grilling is safe and that your family and friends are protected against potential accidents.

Gas grills run from either a liquid propane or a natural gas source rather than the traditional charcoal grill which usually has a wood source. Upon inspection, it will be noted that the tank which contains the fuel source connects to the valve regulators though special tubing. The valve regulators, as expected, regulate the flow of gas from the tank to the burner. The flame is controlled by twisting the valve regulators, or control dials. Adjust the dials to allow for more gas and you get more heat. In the same manner, less gas means less heat.

Of course, the gas alone does not create heat. It just flows, swirls around, just gas. It needs a source of ignition to create the flame you’ll use to cook your food. Ignition requires three things — fuel, oxygen, and a spark. Two of these three are already present as soon as you turn the control dials. The fuel is the gas and oxygen is present in the air. All you have to add is the spark. In most gas grills, this spark is provided by the starter or ignition switch. Usually, this will be the large red button, though some grill styles will use something else. Consult your owner’s manual for details. When this button is pushed, it produces a spark that ignites the gas and creates the flame you need.

This ignition switch works almost like the engine of a car. Once it is pressed and the gas ignites, the gas flows to the burner electrodes. The burners are arguably the most essential part of your grill, as it is the area that will directly supply heat, cooking your food. A close look at the burners will reveal tiny holes that allow the gas to spread out, distributing even heat across the entire cooking area. Modern grills usually have two separate burners with their own temperature controls. This helps to maintain temperatures and cook more than one dish at once.

Another important component of your gas grill is the hood or lid. This lid helps to create even heat distribution and maintains a safe cooking temperature. It will also prevent your fire from going out when the occasional wind kicks up. If you’re shopping for a new grill, you should look for one with an internal temperature gauge on the lid. It will allow you to constantly monitor the cooking temperature.

Though many people will claim that gas grills do not give food the same unique flavor as charcoal grills, these grills do have the advantage of producing a uniform cooking temperature. And while it may seem more dangerous in regards to possible leaks and generally requires more maintenance, gas grills also do not have hot coals or charcoals to dispose of. In any case, if you do choose to own a gas grill, it is important to understand the basics of how it works to ensure your safety and that of your family.

Safety Concerns of Charcoal Grills

Despite the growing popularity of gas grills, a significant number of people still love their charcoal grills. Most people using charcoal grills will not willingly switch to a gas grill, often citing flavor as the primary reason for this decision. However, there are some safety concerns regarding charcoal grills and their use that everyone should take note of.

Cancer Hazards

It might seem odd to say that grilled food might cause cancer, but there are studies that suggest it is possible. The use of charcoal can release carcinogens, in particular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs).

Some types of PAHs form from the fat in meats as they cook. This is especially important because as meat cooks the fat drips down into the charcoal, PAHs form and rise in the smoke, possibly depositing on the food itself. PAHs can also be found in meat that was cooked in high temperatures for a long period of time. However, there is some good news. Though PAHs are found in and on meat cooked over charcoal, there are many different kinds of PAHs. Some are not at all toxic, others are extremely toxic. The PAHs in your grilled meat, while not completely benign, are far from highly toxic.

HCAs are a different story. They can be found on all meats cooked at high temperatures. This includes grilled meat but also broiled or pan-fried meats. Research has discovered more than 15 types of HCAs present in cooked meat. There is the chance that consuming large amounts of this meat might increase the risk of pancreatic or breast cancer. This doesn’t mean you have to stop grilling. Simply don’t eat four large steaks every evening.

Fire Hazards

Anything that involves fire is a potential fire hazard. Charcoal grilling, because it involves cooking over fire, presents its own danger. Though grills and barbeques are responsible for almost 8000 fires annually, most of these are from gas grills, perhaps because gas grills have become so popular in recent years. However, charcoal grills do cause their fair share of house fires. To reduce the risk of fire follow some simply safety tips.

Instead of lighter fluid, use an alternative starter, something made specifically for charcoal grills. If you do use fluid, make sure it’s lighter fluid and not kerosene, gasoline, or another volatile fluid. These can explode, causing damage to people and property. Also remember to keep the vents of your grill in the open position while cooking to allow for adequate airflow.

For additional safety tips, refer to the Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association (HPBA).

Environmental Hazards

If you’re concerned about the environment, it might be better to choose an alternative method of cooking your food. There is no such thing as ‘clean charcoal.’ It all damages the environment, and in a variety of ways. Burning charcoal of any kind pollutes the air and can worsen heart or lung problems. Though grilling of any kind, even charcoal grilling, pollutes far less than automobiles or industry, it is still a possible concern.

If you’re using lump charcoal, you may be contributing to unnecessary deforestation. Lump charcoal is produced from charred wood, and trees are cut down to produce this charred wood. Not only does this practice damage natural ecosystems around the world, but the burning of the wood contributes to climate concerns around the world.

 

Some of the health and environmental concerns can be prevented by the use of natural charcoal brands. These are made with 100% wood. There are no additives that form carcinogens and they do not contain coal, limestone, oil, petroleum, sawdust or starch. They are also more environmentally friendly as they are usually harvested in a more controlled manner.

Anyone choosing to grill with charcoal should be aware of the potential risks and take steps to prevent or deal with the resulting dangers. Some of these dangers can be guarded against with common sense. Others can only be lessened by switching to a product such as Greenlink, Lazzari, or Noram of Mexico. If you prefer to grill with charcoal, it is important to be aware of the risks, both to you and your family.