Eating Out for Less!

I love going out to eat...but I hate the bill! When my husband and I first got married we would eat out at least 2 times a week and since we would put it on our check card we didn't think twice about it. But once I started working part time we needed to cut our budget so we started looking over our expenses and found we were spending over $50 some weeks eating out! We know we had to cut back so we starting getting cash out at the beginning of the month for "Eating Out" and when it was gone it was gone. I started researching some options to help us save money and came across the Entertainment Book. It was loaded with coupons for B1G1 and other great offers like $5 or $10 dollars off your bill. There were some restaurants we were familiar with and many we were not but I was up for anything that would save us $ and allow us to eat a nice meal out. This is our 3rd year purchasing this book and have saved the amount it cost to buy the book within the 2nd use. You can actually purchase the Entertainment Book right now for $15 and this INCLUDES shipping HERE! Most of the coupons are good until November 30th 2009. Also, if you enter your zip code you can see the offers inside the book-this way you can know for sure if it is worth it for you.

The Entertainment Book isn't the only way to save on Eating Out. Here are a few other places to look for savings.
-Check your Sunday Paper-Almost every week I see Restaurant Coupons!
-Sign up for your favorite Restaurants Email Clubs
-Follow Your Coupon Coach for the latest Restaurant Printable Coupons like:
Get a FREE Arby's Chicken Roast Sandwich w/ Waffle Fries Purchase

Sign up and get $5 off at Smokey Bones!

Sign up for Auntie Anne's Emails and get a Coupon every month-I just got a B1G1!

Dinner Match Ups-Super Sized Edition!

I have been busy in the kitchen trying some new recipes and taking old recipes and putting a twist on them. I thought I would share them all with you!

Coupon Coach's Meatloaf (pictured above)
Serves 4
Preheat Oven to 375
Note: I don't measure the wet ingredients out-I just eyeball it. If the consistency doesn't seem right just add more crackers or BBQ.
Ingredients
1 lb or so of Ground Beef or Meatloaf Mix(beef, veal and pork)
1 pack of Meatloaf Seasoning Mix
1 Egg
10-15 Ritz Crackers(crushed)
1/4 cup BBQ Sauce
1 Tablespoon Mustard
1/4 cup Ketchup
1/2 cup shredded cheese
1/2 cup diced green, red and/or yellow peppers(optional)

Directions:
Combine everything together in a large bowl. Don't over mix but make sure it is well combined. Form into an oblong shape in a 9x9 or 11x7 pan. Cook covered for 40 minutes, take foil off and cook for another 5-10 minutes so it browns on the outside.

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Brownie Babies

These were super easy to make and would be a great "make ahead" dessert. I worked out extra hard yesterday do I could have one-and it was sooo worth it.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza (top half of picture)
Ingredients:
1 Pizza Crust(.20 after coupon at Kroger!)
Ranch Dressing (use your $1.50 Kraft coupon from last week)
1 Large Chicken Breast
Franks Red Hot Sauce (use FREE coupon from a few weeks ago!)
Shredded Cheese(I used Italian Blend-I think Mozzarella would work well also)

Directions: Preheat oven to 400

Cook chicken(I used a Ziploc Steam & Cook bag and it worked perfect!) and cut into small pieces. Spread out pizza crust and bake for 3-5minutes. Take out and top w/Ranch Dressing, then add chicken. Drizzle a little Franks Red Hot Sauce over chicken then cover w/cheese. Cook for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and drizzle a little more Franks on top and cook for 3 minutes or until cheese begins to brown.

This was my first attempt making this kind of pizza so I just did half, but I will definitely be doing a whole one next time...It is real good!!

Free Sample of Glad ForceFlex and More!

Get your FREE sample of Glad ForceFlex from Sam's Club HERE. Don't worry-you don't have to be a member to receive this sample!*These are awesome trash bags!*

Get a free booklet of Recipes from Jiffy HERE

Have you signed up for the Betty Crocker Newsletter yet? I got an email yesterday with the cutest ideas for spring cupcakes! You can sign up HERE. You will also have access to some great coupons!

Any Nursing Mom's out there(or soon to be)? This is a great sample.

New P&G eSaver Coupons

You can now load new P&G brand coupons to your store card HERE. There are lots of great coupons including:

$2.00 off Venus Razor
$1.00 off Tampax
$1.00 off Always Liners
$1.00 off Always Infinity Pads

.75 off Crest Toothpaste
$1.00 off Pampers Diapers
.50 off Pampers Wipes
.50/2 off Pringles

$2.00 off Gillette Body Wash
.50 off Dawn Dishwashing Liquid

Many of these coupons match up with the P&G promotion going on at Kroger right now so be sure to check your store ad and load the new coupons before going.

New to ecoupons? First, register at P&G and add your store card number. Once you have all your information in you can begin selecting coupons. They take up to 24 hours to load to your card(usually less!) and should come off your bill at the end of your transaction. If you have an issue with a coupon not working you can contact P&G customer service HERE.
Questions? Leave me a comment!

$30 Coupon Booklet

Get Cascade coupons and more in this awesome coupon booklet worth over $30! Sign up HERE. There is normally a coupon for a FREE cascade rinse included!

FREE Latte on Fridays

McDonald's in Central Ohio is offering a FREE small Latte on Fridays from 7am to 7pm! I have tried these(several times) and honestly think that are just as good at Starbucks.

Want more FREE food this week? Stop by Tim Horton's tomorrow, April 1st for a free Chicken Wrap Snack between 11:30 and 2pm.

Maximize Your Coupon Savings

There is some strategy when it comes to saving the most money with coupons.

1.Don't use your coupon until that item goes on sale!

You will really maximize your savings if you wait until that product you have a coupon for goes on sale. Example: .50 coupon for Granola Bars. Non Sale price 3.50. So if you just buy the Granola Bars at the normal price you will pay 2.50(if you get double coupons!) but if you wait for a sale you will likely get the same box for 1.00-1.50. A savings of 1-1.50.

2. Know your stores coupon policy

Every store has different coupon policies. It is very important to know what $ amount of coupons are doubled and how many identical coupons you can use. Example: Meijer in Central Ohio will only double 2 identical coupons per transactions. If there is a really good deal and I have more then 2 of the same coupon to use, I will break up my order into multiple transactions(I normally only do 2 if there are people behind me or go to the self check out)

3. Be prepared before you get to the checkout!

Make sure to have all the coupons you are going to use ready before you get to the checkout. You don't want to be digging around for a coupon with the cashier and the person behind glaring in your direction. I will stop in a low traffic area to make sure I have everything on my list and separate all the coupons I am using.