Strategic Shopping

This is good information, for each month of the year. See the rest here. (I found this site via Instapundit.)
The information is good for the family shopping, and also to plan for giving to the local food pantry.

By knowing what goes on sale when, you can save a lot of money at the grocery store. And that frees up money to spend on other essential preps.

January

• After Christmas Sales
• National Oatmeal Month
• National Beef Month
• National Meat Month
• National Tea Month
• National Soup Month
• Super Bowl

January is a good month to purchase winter clothes. You can catch sweaters and other cold weather gear as much as 70 percent off. You can also pick up Christmas wrap, bows and ribbon. 

January is National Oatmeal Month. You can expect to find oatmeal BOGO (Buy One Get One free). It’s a good idea to buy year’s supply of oatmeal in January (or February for National Hot Breakfast Month). If you under calculate how much oatmeal your family will eat, don’t worry. Oatmeal will go on sale again in September for National Better Breakfast Month.

January is also the month to stock up on tea and canned soups. You can usually find these deeply discounted.

Keep an eye on the meat sales. If you have a pressure canner, set aside some time to put up meat.

January also brings Super Bowl sales. You can expect excellent prices on chips, salsa, soda and snacks.

Thrifty

Over the years I have decorated my various living spaces with thrift store and "junk" store purchases. Also I have found the raw materials for crafting, such as old costume jewelry to decorate frames with, large books to "alter" for an art project,  and various containers for storage (among other things).

I usually don't have the patience to look through clothes, though; I think I will make the change and start looking,

What are you doing to cut expenses in these times?

From the Frugal Cafe:

When money's tight and prices soar in the retail stores, there's no need for despair or foolishly overspending. Second-hand stores always have inexpensive alternatives, fabulous buried treasures. 

Granted, you can't always find what you're looking for at a used store, but you'd be surprised at what you often do find. And the hunt makes the conquest just that much sweeter.

Tender

Mmmmm, tender roast beef.
I will be trying this for next Sunday's dinner.

From The Frugal Cafe.