MAIN Shopping Money & Time Saving Tips

1. When you make mashed potatoes, make an extra big batch and freeze leftovers in muffin cups. Once they are frozen transfer to a zipper bag. Just get out as many as you need and heat up in the microwave.

2. Use leftover beef stew to make beef potpie. Just put it into a shallow baking dish and place a pastry crust on top.

3. If your recipe says use an 11 x 7 x 2 inch pan and you don't have one, you can use your 9-inch square baking pan instead and you won't even have to adjust the baking time.

4. When you find chicken on sale, before you put it in the freezer, go ahead and coat it with seasoning mix. Then it's so easy to just remove as many pieces as you need to thaw and bake.

5. Check the prices at your grocery store: it may be cheaper to use squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate than chocolate chips, when your recipe calls for melted chips.

6. For a thrifty dip for fresh fruit, add a little brown sugar and some cinnamon to vanilla yogurt.

7. Write your grocery list on the back of a used envelope. Your coupons go inside the envelope and everything's handy!

8. Save your bacon grease to make a treat for your feathered friends this winter. Mix some birdseed in and put it in a shallow dish, maybe a leftover plastic meat tray, and place it in a handy place (for the birds) outside.

9. Adding a few grains of rice to your salt shaker will absorb moisture and reduce those clumps.

10. Buy your fresh fruits and vegetables when they are in season and they will be cheaper.

About the Author...
Cyndi Roberts is the editor of the "1 Frugal Friend 2 Another" bi-weekly newsletter and founder of the website of the same name. Visit http://www.cynroberts.com to find creative tips, articles, and a free e-cooking book. Subscribe to the newsletter and receive the free e-course: Taming the Monster Grocery Bill.

Related Resources:

The Dollar Stretcher

Money Saving Ideas

also see -> Buying Groceries Online