Smart Bargains For Your Whole Family (Including The Furry Ones) meals, including food for her dog, (NAPSA—Inthis timeof ecoSMART SHOPPING TIPS nomic uncertainty, people are Taz, for $5. The key to Faye’s success is to chart out meals, particuincreasingly stressed and looking Become a"Loca-vore.” By doing so for new ways to cutcosts for their larly dinners, before shopping. consumers are likely to receive fresh families. “Aggressive couponuseis critiOneof the most commonfinancal, but one can go overboard,” ingredients and pay less. cial strains on a family’s budgetis advised Prosser. “A common household (this includes the dog Purchase a three-ring binderfor coupons. rookie mistakeis clipping coupons house) spending on groceries. for deals’ sake, not necessarily After taking 30 minutes to an hour to According to American Consumer becauseit's a product you need.” organize, shoppers can takeadvantage of News, a family of four spends an Prosser continuedto say there can average of $500 Lo $800 #2 month be huge success ahead for those all of the local deals. on groceries. What’s more, Pet whowill dedicate 30 minutes to Attendlocalfairs ond festivals, where a Product News International rean houra weekto this process. cently reported that Americans By using a three-ring binder lot of product sampling occurs. and categorizing coupons by prodwill spend an estimated $17 bilHelpful Websites include www.festivals.com uct type, shoppers will be well lion onpet food in 2009. The good newsis thatthis is an area where organized andableto take advanorfor pet lovers www.dedspetfoods.com. @ families can take steps to econotageof sales. Also keep in mind mize, without compromising taste find out about DAD'S local soure- that just because something is in and quality—particularlyfor pets. ing practices, there has been a a bigger package, does not mean Becomea “Loca-vore” validation for their purchase thatit is a better deal. In an effort to improve one’s decision,” said Doug Lang, BusiFrugal Fun Can Help Feed budget and the environment, buy- ness Development, Principal at Your Family ing local products or products DAD'S. “Buying local makes it Onelast method for trimming with ingredients sourced locally easier to supervise the supply down on foodcosts is by having has emerged as a nationwide chain; it also lowers transporta- some frugal family fun. The trend. This has spurred many tion costs, helping to contain autumn months tend to be peak independent businesses to band DAD'Sretail prices. If consumers timefor festivals andfairs. Cost of together and concentrate on are given a choice, they'll support entry to these events tends to be bringing consumer buying power the local economy.” minimal, and manytimesfree samcloser to home. ples of food and productswill be Coupon Collecting DAD'S Pet Care, the longest available. Tb findlocal events, famiMade Simple running privately owned pet food Faye Prosser, author of “The lies can visit www-festivals.com. company in the United States is Smart Spending Guide,” saves Foran overview of eventsthatoffer an example of a business thriving approximately 50 percent on gro- wholesomeandcostefficient dog from buying and sourcinglocal. cery bills every time she shops. Her and cat food giveaways, visit “Overwhelmingly, when people goal is to always buy her family’s www.dadspetfoods.com.
