Get To Know Your Local Bloggers – Mindfully Frugal Mom

*Go here to read more about my “Get To Know Your Local Bloggers” series*

This weeks first local blogger to be featured is Sarah from Mindfully Frugal Mom.

Blog address – www.MindfullyFrugalMom.com

My Quick Review:  I think that everyone can find something on Sarah’s blog that they enjoy.  She often posts recipes, great online deals, a round up of printable organic coupons, her shopping trips and she keeps a great list of current Wegmans deals while concentrating mainly on the healthier options.  She is pretty funny too!  Be sure to check out her entry for the Inappropriate Elf On A Shelf contest (and vote if you so choose!).  Sarah has much more to offer but I will let you hear about it in her own words…..

What is your name?

Sarah White aka. Mindfully Frugal Mom

Where are you located?

Rochester 

Do you work outside of the home?

Nope — but I spent 8 years as a high school English teacher before I had kids.  I like to call Barnes & Noble my office because I go there once a week to work on the blog and my new project, Kaia Magazine.

Do you have any children and/or pets?

Mason, 3 1/2 and Emma, almost 2. We have a very patient black lab named Bella

What are some of your favorite things to do when you aren’t blogging?

My current passion is Kaia Magazine – a brand new green living eZINE I am co-editing and co-creating. Offline, I love to bake with my kids and spend time with family and friends.

How about some blogging questions, shall we? -

Why did you start your blog?

I had been thinking about starting a blog for about 2 years before I actually took the leap. I really feel like there is a misconception that eating healthy or organic is too expensive or out of reach for a lot of families. I wanted to show that with a little resourcefulness, it’s easy to save money while making healthy choices.

What is your favorite part about blogging?

The reader interaction. I love when people tell me that something I posted gave them a new idea or saved them some money.

Which stores do you do your own coupon match-ups for?  I focus primarily on Wegmans deals, but I also write about Aldi and BJ’s Wholesale

Approximately how many times do you post a week?

I post deals, coupons, ideas, or recipes every day.

Do you have any special features on your blog?

I keep my list of Natural & Organic Coupons updated regularly, and my series on  “Make it Yourself” items is also really popular.

What do you think is your “specialty” when it comes to your blog content?

Presenting healthful choices and deals in a very realistic, do-able way. 

I am curious to hear about your spending and saving habits!

Do you use coupons on every shopping trip?

I can’t remember a time when I haven’t used a coupon. If I don’t have my coupon binder with me, I just won’t go in the store. I can’t stand paying full price! The only place I don’t use coupons is at the Rochester Public Market.

What is your favorite item to find a coupon for?

I love finding all the recent coupons for Silk — we like the Almond Milk. I don’t think I’ve paid full price for it in 6 months. 

What is your best deal that you ever got?

32 boxes of Raisin Bran Crunch for $1.39 each

Do you have a set grocery budget each month?

Yes; $320 a month for our family of 4 (and 1 dog); that includes toiletries and cleaning supplies (although I make most of our cleaners)

On average how much do you save on your grocery bill?

I always save at least $20-$30 a week. On a good week, I’ll save up to 50% of my bill

What is your favorite store to shop at for deals?

I love to shop Wegmans’ Nature’s Marketplace. Even though it’s a mainstream (not discount) store with higher end products, there are ways to save money on high quality items if you put a little effort in

If you could pass on one tip to people trying to save money, what would it be?

One week a month, do a meal plan using only items you already have in your pantry and refrigerator. Trust me — it’s not as hard as it sounds. You probably have tons of random things stuffed in the back of your cupboards! Then you’ll just have to purchase staples like fresh produce and milk, and you can sock away the money you’ve saved!

Do you have a favorite frugal recipe?

When we’re having a belt-tightening night, everyone in my house loves egg salad sandwiches with homemade soup. 

What is the most frugal thing that you do?

Make my own handsoap

What are some of your favorite money saving websites aside from your own?

Where to start! Of course, Money Saving Mom is amazing. I also love the Thrifty Mama and Organic Deals for money saving tips on healthy and eco-friendly products. I am THAT Lady is a great fellow CNY blogger.

GIVEAWAY:
1. Choose to either “like” Mindfully Frugal Mom on Facebook or Follow Mindfully Frugal Mom on Twitter.
2. Leave a comment on one of her blog posts saying something similar to “Mom’s Coupon Affair sent me”
3. Leave a comment on THIS post letting me know that you did everything required in step 1 & 2 to enter.

The Giveaway will last until Thursday, December 15th @ 11:59 PM EST.  The winner of this coupon giveaway will receive an envelope of coupons.  The amount of coupons that will be won depends on the amount of people that enter the giveaway.  I will start each envelope off with 15 coupons and one coupon will be added for every person that enters!

**Keep an eye out this Thursday for our next local blogger, Our Real Deal!**

Previous local blogger interviews: WNY Deals And To-Do’s, Crazy About Savin, Reality Couponing In Rochester, Deals Is The Deal