By JAMIE GRISWOLD
MyNorthwest.com

The family that proudly carries the name "America's Cheapest Family" says that if you need to save some money for the holidays take a look at your grocery list.

"Groceries are one of the fastest ways to save money, so if you need to free up some cash for the holidays this is the way to do it," says Annette Economides.

The Economides, who've authored two books on their family budgeting techniques, say they're trying to show other families the way to turn a profit.

"The point we've always made is that we really have learned to manage our money, and this is what every business does. They have somebody in the business that watches the bucks, and makes sure that they don't overspend so they can earn a profit," says Steve Economides. "We're encouraging families across America to start looking at their homes as a business."

The Economides have two kids out of the nest, but with three still at home, they say they spend only $350 a month for groceries. They offered a few tips on how they do it in an appearance on KIRO Radio's Ron & Don Show.

"We encourage people to plan a week's worth of dinners before they ever set foot in the store, so you have a plan written down, and when you work the plan, you're going to save more money," says Steve Economides

The Economides say a freezer is one of their best tools for saving.

"We look at it like a vault to put your valuables. When we find a deal on meat, like the other week one of the store's here had marked down top sirloin for $1.50 a pound. That's our buy price. So we bought 28 pounds of that, cut it into steaks. We wrapped it up, repackaged it and put it in the freezer. We're going to eat that cheaper meat now for the next couple of months," says Steve.

The thrifty family also says that getting a deal on credit really isn't a deal. The Economides say no to credit cards, and instead encourage people to stick to a strict budget.

"If you buy something on credit, you're going to pay 18 to 20 percent on that. That's not smart," Steve says. "The budget is our main tool for managing our expenses. We know that we're spending $350 on food. We know what we're spending on our dogs. We know what we're spending for clothes. We know what we're spending on our cars. We know everything, and because we can manage it, we save in advance for those expenses. We don't overspend," says Steve.

Follow Jamie Griswold on twitter @jamiegriswold

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