“You can easily shave $5 to $20 off your weekly grocery budget with a minimal investment of time,” says House. “Cutting your bill just $10 a week will save you $520 over the course of a year.

“Taking a couple of extra steps to ensure you can use all the coupons you clip will save you more money – and protect your investment of time in clipping them.”

How can consumers take advantage of coupons without becoming consumed by them?

Let us count the ways!

• Learn different stores’ rules. Call the grocery stores that are convenient to you (near home OR work), ask these questions and write down the answers: Do you have double or triple coupon days? (If so, what are they?) Do you accept other stores’ coupons? Do you allow “stacking” coupons – using them on sale items?

• Seek coupons far and wide. The Sunday paper is always a good place to start, but most households also get coupons through direct mail. And you can find coupon deals at SaveYourMoneySaveYourFamily.com, Coupon-Lady.com and a host of other sites. If there are brand-name products you just have to have, try Googling the name and “coupon.”

• Plan meals around your coupons. Say you have coupons for 30 cents off a box of pasta, half-off spaghetti sauce (a type you normally buy – not a pricey splurge!), buy-one, get-one canned mushrooms and $1 off a pound of ground chuck. Can you smell dinner simmering? For less than $4?

• Organize your coupons. An expandable folder, like you might use for taxes, is a convenient place to store coupons at home. You might organize it by product – frozen foods, snacks, meats, or by expiration date. If you’re going to do some meal planning around coupons, you might want a section for those. As you clip, sort the coupons immediately so you don’t end up with a big pile that never gets sorted or used. Clip the meal coupons together and drop them in either the meals section or, if you’re organizing by date, the date the first one is set to expire

• Save up to 30 to 50 percent with “shopping club” cards. Many supermarkets now offer “shopping clubs” that provide members with special in-store discounts. These are no-clipping-required coupons that never expire! Sign up for free and get a “membership” card that clips to your key ring. When the cashier swipes it, the discounts are applied to your grocery bill. Some stores have an associated website where you can log in while you’re planning your shopping list and see what discounts are available that week.

• Upload coupons directly onto your shopping club card. Stores that have a shopping club website may also post manufacturer and brand coupons there. Log into the site with your card ID number, then click on the coupons you want and they’ll load right onto your card! Instead of carrying coupons to the grocery story, you get your discounts when the cashier swipes your card.

• Organize your shopping club cards and coupons with your smart phone. If you shop at a lot of stores, you may be carrying around a lot of shopping club cards. Ditch the cards by loading them on a free club card organizer app available soon atsaveyourmoneysaveyourfamily.com. You’ll also soon find a free coupon organizing app there. It will allow you to click on coupons online and load them onto your phone for the trip to the grocery store.

Planning ahead is the most effective way to use coupons. Since we know you would never dream of heading to the supermarket without a list — because that’s a huge money waster – just match your coupons to your shopping list before you head out the door.

Be sure to check expiration dates, brand names and quantities on the coupon (if it says “8-ounce tub of lard,” don’t grab the 24-ounce tub of lard!)

Imagine, if you save just $1 a week with coupons, you’ll have $52 extra at the end of the year. And then you can get that splurge spaghetti sauce – and the 24-ounce tub of lard!

About Toni House

Toni House has a bachelor’s in accounting and a master’s in business administration and was most recently the senior consultant and owner of an accounting firm. “How to Reduce Your Grocery Bill” is her second “Savvy Shopping” book. Her first was “Save Your Money, Save Your Family.” Find her money-saving blog tips at www.saveyourmoneysaveyourfamily.com.

She rides horses as part of 4H and plays soccer (she is undoubtedly one of the best goalies in her league).

She is also in girl scouts and has earned her Bronze Award. The project was collecting and donating pet food and toys to the Humane Society. She is currently working toward her Silver Award and is doing research to decide what she wants to do, which is difficult as she wants to help everyone. With her girl scout troop, she has volunteered at a local food bank, visited the children at A Kids Place to donate items and play games with them, and she enjoys working with her troop’s “sister” girl scout Brownie troop.

On her own, she created a campaign called “Cuddles for Cancer” and collected between 60-70 new stuffed animals, which she then delivered to the Children’s Cancer Center in Tampa, FL.

This howler monkey is from the site of Grand Chaco, in Argentina, South America. It has not been radiocarbon dated, but it is likely that the monkey was naturally preserved in the warm, dry environment of the area and prepared for display, with a rhea feather skirt and feather wreath around its head and neck. (Photo credit: American Exhibitions, Inc.)

After well-deserved and highly publicized fanfare, Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) will open the Mummies of the World exhibition to the public on Friday, April 27, 2012.  This exclusive exhibition includes an amazing collection of artifacts and mummies from Europe, Asia, Egypt and Oceania.  Visitors will be invited to start their journey by viewing a three minute introductory video which reminds guests to respect the exhibit but also encourages visitors to engage in the interactive touch screen kiosks and hands-on science displays.  The exhibition space feels peaceful perhaps due to the subdued lighting which helps the mummies and artifacts on display take center stage.  There are high-tech displays which allow you to peek inside the mummies to reveal what’s hidden under the linen wraps.  This recent technology has been a huge advance in the study of mummies and artifacts.  With some advance preparation, children will be able to enjoy all aspects of this exhibit.

MOSI’s President and CEO, Wit Ostrenko said “The mummies in this exhibition have been studied using cutting edge, non-destructive technology to provide insights into lives and cultures of long ago…..MOSI is honored to offer such a thought-provoking collection to the region.”

The Mummies of the World will be on exhibit through September 9, 2012.  As of today, over 7,000 advance tickets have been sold.  Since this is a timed-entry exhibit, patrons will be asked to choose a date and time for their visit.  Tickets can be purchased now by calling 813/987-6000.

For more information about MOSI, please visit www.mosi.org or cal 813/987-6000.

1: Support Pivotal Response Treatment

One of today’s most popular and effective treatments for children with autism, Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), uses natural learning opportunities to target and modify key behaviors, leading to rapid and sweeping behavior changes.  Now parents can learn all the basics of PRT and support this treatment for their children with The PRT Pocket Guide: Pivotal Response Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders, a quick and practical guidebook by PRT developers Robert and Lynn Koegel. Packed with helpful tips and vivid examples based on actual children, this concise how-to guide reveals the secrets to motivating children with natural reinforcers, reducing disruptive behavior,  encouraging communication and social initiations, helping families weave interventions into daily routines, and more.

2: Increase attention

The ability to focus on a specific task to completion is a foundational skill for life. Whether it is cleaning up their room or calling a friend for a play date, children rely on direction from others and the ability to execute those directions within themselves. Parents can help increase their child’s attention span and ability to follow directions with the software program, HearBuilder Following Directions Home Edition. Created by Super Duper Publications (www.superduperinc.com,) it covers 40 basic concepts that help children ages 4-9 (grades PreK-3) improve their ability to listen to and follow directions while they play fun interactive games.  This researched-based program automatically adjusts the difficulty level based on the child’s performance in the program.

3: Sustain engagement

As many children on the spectrum tend to focus on their own individual interests before those of others around them, it is imperative that parents and family members create positive memories and engage in activities that will cause their child to develop a vested interest in the world around them. Games can be a great way to engage a child, but oftentimes can be confusing and overwhelming for children with autism. With MagneTalk Turns and Topics, a magnetic board game for children with autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), children are able to have fun, increase concentration and communication skills, and learn basic game playing. The game offers four magnetic boards that increase in difficulty.

4: Use interests as a learning tool

Many children with autism develop an acute curiosity in a specific topic, interest or subject area. Engage your child in meaningful play by using her natural fascinations and interests as an opportunity to learn. One common fascination in children with autism is trains. Author and inclusion expert Paula Kluth has created a book that teaches vocabulary by using a child’s fascination with trains in “A is for ‘All Aboard!’” Published by Brookes Publishing Co., the book includes steps for using the book as a teaching tool as the child’s skills progress.

5: Foster social skills

Developing key social skills and the ability to relate to others requires age appropriate and contextual dialogue. Often children with ASDs have a difficult time developing these skills and lacking these skills prevents them from interacting with peers and the world around them. With thePracticing Pragmatics App, children learn age-appropriate behaviors and responses through social skills questions about politeness, solving problems, feelings, giving information, requesting information, telephone skills and staying on topic.

By learning how to support the treatments your child receives and how to best expand their learning throughout the day, you are ensuring that you will have happy and stress-free days with your child.

The program describes the setting as a funhouse. Whatever it is you’re watching as an audience member, you are quickly mesmerized by the tremendous energy and sound before you onstage. I recognized some faces (or should I say FEATS!) from the previous show I’d seen including a foot spinning duo, a pair of gravity-defying strongmen who wowed the crowds and a couple of cylinder stackers with impeccable balance who left many jaws on the floor of the theater even after dismount.

One highlight for our crew of two: a confounding and seemingly “magical” quick dress change behind the pass of a single draping when voila! In an instant, the woman’s dress changes colors before our eyes…multiple times! I witnessed this quirky and devilishly entertaining little “trick” on “America’s Got Talent” a few seasons ago and am still talking about it (and just as confused) years later. Like the rest of the audience, we too were big fans of the young man who perhaps garnered the biggest applause of the night as his partner spun him in the air repeatedly using only his feet and incredible body strength and muscle control to the cast’s rendition of Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” – to the point where many of us were wondering if this poor boy would ever be able to stand straight again without tipping over from dizziness. Astoundingly, after what clocked at well over a minute of nonstop rotation, the young chap sprang off his partner’s feet and onto the floor as perky and alert as ever. I try to use the word “amazing” sparingly but this act calls for it. Seriously.

If you’ve seen a previous Cirque Dreams production, expect to see a few returning acts you’ll recognize from other shows that have simply been dressed up in new music and costumes. It doesn’t take away from the spectacle but it is something you should be aware of in advance. I found that those couple of acts I did recollect were just as exciting to watch the second time around in their new setting. If you’ve never been to a Cirque Dreams production before, prepare for lights (lots of them), colorful and outlandish sets and costumes, plenty of music and acrobatic feats – from ambitious tightrope cyclists to stunt skaters to romantic tandem aerialists overhead. You won’t find a complex plot or provocative message woven throughout, but you will get a fast-paced, entertaining feast for the eyes and a melodic journey of many flavors, one that can taste sweet one moment, a little maddening the next, but always interesting a la Alice in Wonderland.

Mary Lee Farrior accepts proclamation from Mayor Buckhorn.

In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn declared April 4, 2012 “Mary Lee’s House Day” at a special ceremony this morning at Mary Lee’s House in Tampa. Mary Lee’s House is a nonprofit child protection and advocacy center that has served more than 8,000 children and provided more than 14,000 individual services since opening their doors in November 2008. Mary Lee’s House depends on the generosity of the community and is 90% privately funded. The Mary Lee’s House Auxiliary was formed in 2011 and includes more than 200 dedicated community volunteers.

In addition to the proclamation presented to Mary Lee Farrior by Mayor Buckhorn, members of the Farrior family, Hillsborough County School Board Member Candy Olson and Colonel David Almand USAF praised the various child protection and advocacy programs housed in the state of the art child-friendly facility.

More than 200 guests in attendance included representatives from these partner agencies: the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, the Children’s Justice Center, Healthy Start Coalition, Success 4 Kids & Families, the Auxiliary ladies of Mary Lee’s House and the Child Protection Team.

Mary Lee’s House provides a child-friendly environment where law enforcement, child protection, prosecution, mental health, medical and social services personnel can work together to ensure that child victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse and neglect receive the services they need under one roof. The 30,000-square foot facility is the only one of its kind in Hillsborough and surrounding counties. For more information, please visit www.maryleeshouse.org.

Submitted by Lisa-Marie, a Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine Social Mom, who is always on the go with a tiny tot in tow.