Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
If you've been waiting to jump on the coupon train, now is the time! March is Frozen Food Month which means you can be guaranteed of finding bargain basement prices on everything from frozen peas to frozen pizza.
At SavingsAngel, we are busy scouring the ads and finding the best coupons to give you the lowest price possible. Meanwhile, you should check out your freezer and make sure it is in good working order to store all the deals coming your way.
30th annual Frozen Food Month
The year 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of March Frozen Food Month. Sponsored by the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association, the month celebrates the benefits and diversity of frozen foods ““ all 3,700 of them. It is also a great time to find fabulous frozen food deals.
To kick off the savings, a special coupon insert is distributed through most major papers on the first Sunday of the month. In addition, many retailers often run their own promotions during the month. For example, Meijer typically issues its own frozen food coupons. You may also find special sampling events and other activities at your local grocer.
Tips to prepare your freezer
To get ready for the frozen food deals this month, take a day to get your freezer in order. Here's a quick guide to make the process simple.
1. Empty your freezer: Pull all the food out of your freezer. Place items in coolers, the fridge or if it is cold enough, in a box in an unheated garage or porch.
2. Defrost the freezer if needed: If you have ice accumulated on the sides of your freezer, unplug it and let it defrost.
3. Clean the interior: Wipe down the walls with vinegar or another non-toxic cleaner. If your freezer has removable shelves, clean those with warm, soapy water. Finally, you can also use a mixture of baking soda and water as a cleanser to remove odors and deodorize the freezer compartment.
4. Weed out old food: Food kept below zero degrees will remain safe indefinitely, but quality will certainly degrade with time (watch for next week's column to discuss proper storage times). Now is the time to toss old items that may be freezer burned or otherwise past their prime.
5. Sort and restock the freezer: As you put items back in the freezer, arrange your food so you will reach for the oldest items first. Also, be sure to store items using a system that works for you. You could keep all the meats together and all the veggies together. Or you could group items together based upon what you need for the meals you make regularly.
6. Make a freezer inventory: Finally, as you restock your freezer, make note of the items on a freezer inventory. Creating and maintaining an inventory list may seem tedious but you'll appreciate it when you are making your weekly menu and can see at a glance that you have all the ingredients for your favorite meal.
Spend a couple hours getting your freezer ready for Frozen Food Month and then check out the Enlightened Shopping lists on SavingsAngel.com for the best deals of the month.
If you hate couponing,you'll LOVE SavingsAngel. If you love couponing, you'll LOVE SavingsAngel.
The best couponers save hundreds of dollars every month at the grocery store. However, couponers can end up living very extreme lifestyles to get those savings. For over five years, SavingsAngel.com has equalized the playing field ““ giving extreme savings to busy families who don't have the time or ability to be a full-time couponer. Each week, SavingsAngel.com's team of more than 70 angels combines over 2,000 products on sale at local grocery and drug stores with an enormous database of over 2,000 different manufacturer coupons. These combinations result in our members getting access to over 300 products each week for 50% off or better. Simply log in, choose the deals you want, print or clip only the coupons you need, and save hundreds of dollars a month at regional and national stores. Our angels will personally work with you to craft a plan that will help you buy healthier food at lower prices ““ helping you keep $200 to $400 in savings each month.
