You had me at, 'Without Coupons'

It seems we are all looking for ways to slay the "no money at the end of the paycheck" dragon.  I, myself, have struggled off and on for years trying to find WORKABLE solutions to make the grocery budget fit within the household income. I always seem to fall just a tad short of the mark in doing great meal planning, price comparisons, pantry stocking...which makes no sense to me...I'm a list maker for crying out loud! You'd think these things would be easy for me!  How about you?

I am so excited to tell you that I have a blogger friend who has not only mastered the art of cooking on a shoe-string budget , she has written a book about it!! 

Kate was very gracious to send me an advance copy of her new  e-book to review. Her book, Cut It Out! How I Feed My Family of 10 for $500.00 a Month Without Coupons, is coming out July 30, 2012. 

Kate, I have to say...You had me at, "without coupons"!  Couponing has always been a bit of an on again-off-again affair for me...not a fan!  So when I saw the title, with those words, I was intrigued. I knew I had to read your book! 

I found the book to be easy to read, and packed with very user friendly information! She begins by applying the concept, "measure twice, cut once."  I have heard this old proverb used in carpentry, but never applied to meal planning.  If you are not familiar with the phrase, it's literal meaning is that you should double-check your measurements for accuracy before cutting a piece of wood; otherwise it may be necessary to cut again, waisting time and material. In her book, Kate shows us how to apply this concept of careful planning and thorough preparation in order to feed our family within our budget, enabling us to be good stewards of the financial resources with which we have been blessed.

Kate spends $500 a month on groceries for her family of 10. She allocates an additional $50 a month for toiletries and paper products, but there are some months where that additional $50 is not available.  She'll teach you how to create a price book (includes a downloadable price book template), how to use your computer to help organize your meal planning and your shopping, and how to cut back on your grocery spending WITHOUT the hassle of cutting, sorting, and using coupons. 

You don't have a large family to feed?  No problem! Kate gives tips on how to make it work for even just one or two.  I think the appendix alone, with it's recipes and detailed instructions, is worth more than the price of the entire book. 

There is really quite a lot packed into this 34 page e-book! I highly recommend it!

Cut It Out! will be available for sale on July 30. The cost of the e-book is $3.99 but for the first 5 days of the launch(July 30-August 3) it will be available for half price-only $1.99!! 

Want to learn more?

Visit Kate's website at,  Teaching What is Good...a book giveaway.   You can also enter a chance to win a free copy of her book! She is giving away 5 copies! (giveaway has ended)

 Kate is a dear sister in Christ and she and I both share a passion for older women teaching younger women in the manner of  the Titus 2 model.  For Kate, this book is just one small manifestation of the outflow of that passion. 

How about you? What are you passionate about? What are you doing about it?  I'd love to hear what you are doing as you follow your passion and purpose!

 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.    ~Titus 2:3-5

Update on Kate's book...she's in her local paper's headline!  

Here's the link to the article:Mom knows how to pinch a penny...frugal shopping