by Laura Conaway

While I'm at it, NPR has a story today about a woman who saves a gamillion dollars on her grocery bill by clipping coupons. To each his or her own, but at my house we save money by not buying the kind of groceries that come with coupons. I've yet to have anyone offer me a coupon for a head of broccoli or a whole chicken at the farmers market. I do think I'm generally better off with those choices than with packaged anything.

On a related note, here's the best financial advice I've had in years, courtesy of my mother: Eat from your own pantry. Shop in your own closet. Entertain in your own home.