When I was younger, mom would send me to the store with her checkbook and tell me to get groceries.

Sounds like a dangerous concept, right? Sending a teenager out with a checkbook to get groceries?

Our local grocery store was a small mom and pop, but I would still take the time to look over each aisle carefully. You don’t always realize how much things cost when you’re younger. Things are bought and paid for with a check or plastic and the exchanging of money is only a half thought in your mind. Those shopping trips opened my eyes, at least somewhat in my teenage mind, to what things cost. Granted, at that time the only frozen processed quick food were pizzas and yes, the ubiquitous pizza roll also. We thought it was great if one of those items were in the freezer. Now our fridges and cupboards are stocked with anything you could want or be able to make any time of the day. My awakening, if you can call it that, came at a very late age.

My goal now is to pay less than I ever have for food or products.

Or even nothing.

I’ve always been frugal. When I say frugal, I mean I never was an extravagant shopper. My favorite haunts include our local thrift store Save-n-Serve, Goodwill, Walmart, and my heart beats swiftly for my all-time favorite Aldi. I frequently bemoan the fact that I have to drive to New Philadelphia or Wooster to get to an Aldi.

Did you know Aldi originated in Germany? It spread through Europe and down to Australia before entering the USA in 1976. Its products are plentiful, all packaged under its unique brand. They buy from major retailers, and have worked hard to keep true to their no-frills philosophy. In my own experience, I have never had an item at Aldi I didn’t like. Their prices are extremely low, and I consistently find my grocery bill is slashed in half when shopping there.

Right now they have a myriad of items such as Christmas chocolates for $1.99, Sparkling Apple Cider for $1.99, premium truffles for $2.49, and chocolate chips for $1.69. Their butter is also consistently $1.99. We all know that Walmart will price match any local competitors item, but since Aldi is not local I can’t do price matches for them. If I went to Wooster or New Philadelphia I could, and I wish I could get to those stores more frequently.

I’m still learning. I’ve infrequently used coupons over the years, relegating the practice to too much time and energy to be useful. That all changed not too long ago. My coupon binder is full to bursting with all types of coupons. That is, if you can consider a small photo album converted to coupon binder legitimate. It will do for now until my wonderful family decides to get me one for Christmas. Yes, that was a huge hint.

I invite you to read me on this journey of coupon/thrift/saving madness. Each week, my aim is to give you tips on where to find the best deals. Whether it’s how to score free razors, or slash your grocery bill in half. I’m not perfect, and sometimes come out of a store wondering if I bought too many things just to get the deal advertised. It’s a learning process, and one I want to share with you. There’s no better feeling though, than getting something you’ve wanted or just need for a song. This morning I scored a magazine subscription to a magazine my husband has wanted forever. Original price was $27.99 for a year. I paid $4.99. That, my friends, is the kind of journey I’m on. Wanna come with me?

Websites: http://aldi.com; http://www.freesnatcher.com (magazine); Facebook.com/saveandserve