I LOVE buying school supplies! I am not always happy about the cost, but I love the smell and feel of new paper, pencils, folders, etc. This past week I bought the majority of what the kids need, including clothing and shoes for $350. I know that sounds like a lot, but with 4 kids, 2 who grow out of everything VERY quickly, I was impressed with myself! :) could have waited for next weekend and the tax free shopping, but I really don't like crowds and saving $20 on taxes isn't worth fighting them. I was able to get folders for a penny at Staples this week, and composition books for 25 cents. Those are both pretty good prices. I also got crayons for 25 cents. I usually buy extras of crayons and paper to donate for those that can't afford them.
All 4 of the kiddos decided they want to take their lunch this year, so today I went to the grocery store to buy fun lunch stuff :) EVERYTHING was on sale! AND I had coupons for most of it! Here are the best deals I got at Kroger and Publix.
KROGER
They have a deal this week where you get $6.00 WYB 4 General Mills cereals or Nature Valley granola bars. I had coupons for both brands. Nature Valley bars were $2.39 each and I had one coupon for 50 cents off and one coupon for 75 cents off. I got 2 boxes for $1.77 each. Golden Grahams were $1.29 a box and I had a coupon for $1.00 off 2 boxes, so I got 2 for 79 cents each! I also got a box of cheerios for 99 cents! General Mills cereal bars are also on sale and I got 3 boxes of those for $1.09 a box. Field Hot dogs are 10/$10 this week and I had 2 $1.00/1 coupons, so I got 2 packages of hotdogs for FREE! My last big deal at Kroger was Danimals for 88 cents each.
PUBLIX
Go-Gurt is BOGO this week and I had 2 75 cents off 2 coupons so I got 4 of them for $1.03 each. Pop-Tarts are also BOGO this week for 99 cents each for the 8 ct. I also got 4 boxes of Post cereal for $1.28 a box.
I got more than whats listed here, but these were the biggest deals I saw. I got a lot of lunch stuff for the kids for a very low cost, and that makes me happy!
I'll try to post deals more often so that you can see the true results of couponing on your budget.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Trying New Things....
Today I shopped at a store I have never been in before....Food Lion. Why you might ask, well because we are moving to a tiny town in another state and Food Lion is the only grocery store there. So anyway, I went in kind of scared about what it would be like. I had gone through the ad and picked out my coupons, but I was still nervous. I went in with my list, got a cart and started up and down the aisles.....and ended up pleasantly surprised! I got all the things on my list, plus a few, signed up for the Food Lion MVP savers card, gave the cashier my coupons and ended up with $110.80 worth of groceries for $73.41 a 34% savings. Not half bad for my first trip. My ONLY complaint about the entire experience is that they don't double coupons. So, I will continue to check out Food Lion and figure out the deal cycle and see how things go.
Whens the last time you tried a new store and was pleasantly surprised?
Whens the last time you tried a new store and was pleasantly surprised?
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Department Stores
Department stores are another option for shopping. I am not a huge fan of Wal-Mart at all, but I do shop at Target. The coupon rules vary at both of them. As with any other store I recommend you ask the stores you frequent for their policies. I have noticed that even in my area that the Kroger in Hermitage and the Kroger in Mt. Juliet will run different deals and accept different coupons. Very odd since they are both within three miles of my house. So, if you choose other stores, here are some of the policies you will find.
Wal-Mart
Let me start by saying that Wal-Mart is not a place I frequent. If I absolutely have no choice I try to get in and out as quickly as possible. They are not coupon friendly, and although they boast at having the lowest prices I have done comparisons and I can get things cheaper at Kroger with sales and coupons. Wal-Mart will price match other stores current ads. However, you have to have the ad with you when you check out AND they will not honor BOGO deals. Wal-Mart never doubles coupons, ever. You also cannot stack coupons, ever.
Target
I love Target. I shop there for the kids clothes, electronics, all sorts of things. I try to only buy clearance items and sale items since I refuse to pay full price….EVER. Target does not double coupons. They do allow you to stack manufacturer coupons with Target coupons. This can mean big discounts. Especially if there are sales that if you buy a certain dollar amount of a product you get a Target gift card. A few weeks ago they had a deal where if you bought Charmin and Bounty you would get a $5.00 Target gift card. The total was $25.00 because it was the biggest packs available. I had two $1.00 off manufacturer coupons (one for each item) and two $2.00 off Target coupons (one for each item). This made my total $19.00 AND they gave me a $5.00 gift card. So I got both for $14.00.
Wal-Mart
Let me start by saying that Wal-Mart is not a place I frequent. If I absolutely have no choice I try to get in and out as quickly as possible. They are not coupon friendly, and although they boast at having the lowest prices I have done comparisons and I can get things cheaper at Kroger with sales and coupons. Wal-Mart will price match other stores current ads. However, you have to have the ad with you when you check out AND they will not honor BOGO deals. Wal-Mart never doubles coupons, ever. You also cannot stack coupons, ever.
Target
I love Target. I shop there for the kids clothes, electronics, all sorts of things. I try to only buy clearance items and sale items since I refuse to pay full price….EVER. Target does not double coupons. They do allow you to stack manufacturer coupons with Target coupons. This can mean big discounts. Especially if there are sales that if you buy a certain dollar amount of a product you get a Target gift card. A few weeks ago they had a deal where if you bought Charmin and Bounty you would get a $5.00 Target gift card. The total was $25.00 because it was the biggest packs available. I had two $1.00 off manufacturer coupons (one for each item) and two $2.00 off Target coupons (one for each item). This made my total $19.00 AND they gave me a $5.00 gift card. So I got both for $14.00.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Shopping at CVS
CVS is another drugstore where you can save a lot if you know how. The CVS loyalty card is a must! You can get it in the store and start using it immediately or sign up online and it will be mailed to you. The loyalty card is called the Extra Care Card.
As you enter CVS you will see an extra care coupon machine where you can scan your card and it will print in store coupons. These coupons can be stacked with manufacturer coupons for extra savings.
Extra care Bucks (ECB)
These are the best way to ave money at CVS. They are instant rebates that you get when you buy items that are advertised as earning ECB’s. You pay for the item and the ECB prints on the bottom of the receipt. Cut them off and keep them like cash. You can use them next time you shop at CVS.
EXAMPLE: Buy chips at $4.00 and receive $2.00 ECBs. Buy chips – pay $4.00 – receive $2.00 ECB. Next visit: Buy diapers $8.99 – give cashier your $2.00 ECBs – pay $6.99.
Maximize ECBs by “rolling” them. Buy something that earns ECBs then use ECBs to buy something else that earns ECBs. You CANNOT use $10.00ECB on $8.00 purchase and get $2.00 back. Purchase must be equal to or greater than ECB amount.
Quarterly ECBs: CVS gives 2% back on all purchases. Every three (3) months you get ECB for 2% of what you spent at CVS that quarter. EXAMPLE: Spend $100.00 in a quarter, get $2.00 ECB.
Weekly Deals: The weekly ad has regular sale items and ECB deals. Look for the ECB deals to save the most money. You can use a CVS coupon, a manufacturer coupon and get ECBs.
EXAMPLE: Colgate is $2.99 and you earn $2.00 ECB. Have $1.00 Colgate coupon from internet and you got $1.00 Colgate coupon when you scanned your card at the store. Buy the Colgate for $2.99, use both coupons, pay $0.99 and still get the $2.00 ECB.
ECBs have limits listed in the ad. You can only get the ECBs on an item for the limit amount.
When presenting coupons at CVS, do so in the following order to maximize savings.
1. CVS coupons that are $/$$ (i.e. $4/$20 Spend $20.00 get $4.00 off)
2. Manufacturer and CVS coupons
3. ECBs
As you enter CVS you will see an extra care coupon machine where you can scan your card and it will print in store coupons. These coupons can be stacked with manufacturer coupons for extra savings.
Extra care Bucks (ECB)
These are the best way to ave money at CVS. They are instant rebates that you get when you buy items that are advertised as earning ECB’s. You pay for the item and the ECB prints on the bottom of the receipt. Cut them off and keep them like cash. You can use them next time you shop at CVS.
EXAMPLE: Buy chips at $4.00 and receive $2.00 ECBs. Buy chips – pay $4.00 – receive $2.00 ECB. Next visit: Buy diapers $8.99 – give cashier your $2.00 ECBs – pay $6.99.
Maximize ECBs by “rolling” them. Buy something that earns ECBs then use ECBs to buy something else that earns ECBs. You CANNOT use $10.00ECB on $8.00 purchase and get $2.00 back. Purchase must be equal to or greater than ECB amount.
Quarterly ECBs: CVS gives 2% back on all purchases. Every three (3) months you get ECB for 2% of what you spent at CVS that quarter. EXAMPLE: Spend $100.00 in a quarter, get $2.00 ECB.
Weekly Deals: The weekly ad has regular sale items and ECB deals. Look for the ECB deals to save the most money. You can use a CVS coupon, a manufacturer coupon and get ECBs.
EXAMPLE: Colgate is $2.99 and you earn $2.00 ECB. Have $1.00 Colgate coupon from internet and you got $1.00 Colgate coupon when you scanned your card at the store. Buy the Colgate for $2.99, use both coupons, pay $0.99 and still get the $2.00 ECB.
ECBs have limits listed in the ad. You can only get the ECBs on an item for the limit amount.
When presenting coupons at CVS, do so in the following order to maximize savings.
1. CVS coupons that are $/$$ (i.e. $4/$20 Spend $20.00 get $4.00 off)
2. Manufacturer and CVS coupons
3. ECBs
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Shopping at Walgreens
Getting the hang of shopping at drug stores and getting great discount can be hard. Hopefully I can explain this in such a way that you “get it”. Of course you can always ask questions if you have them and I will do my best to answer them. I am by no means an expert at this, but I am doing my best to reach expert status!So, here we go with the “rules” of Walgreens.
Walgreens ads come with coupons! Use them! These coupons have limits posted on them and you can get that limit with one coupon. You can stack these in ad coupons with manufacturer coupons to get greater savings.
Walgreens prints an Easy Saver catalog that can be found at the front of any store by the weekly ad. These catalogs have instant value coupons (IVC) that can be stacked with manufacturer coupons!
The best way to save at Walgreens is to get their loyalty card and get Register Rewards (RR) with your purchases. Register Rewards are manufacturer coupons that print when your transaction is complete. You can use these RR to buy other items that earn RR, but you CANNOT use them on the same item. Items that give RR have limits printed in the ad on how many RR you can earn on that item.
EXAMPLE
Buy Tylenol for $3.99 and earn $3.00RR; then buy Gillette Razor for $7.99, use $3.00RR from Tylenol and earn $4.00RR for razor. Cannot use $3.00RR to buy more Tylenol and earn another $3.00RR.
When using coupons you cannot use more coupons than items purchased, excluding ad coupons and IVC’s. On one(1) item you can use an IVC and manufacturer coupon, but cannot add an RR unless you add another item to purchase.
The best way to save is to make a purchase on a couple items that earn RR then go get more items that earn RR and use the first RR to help pay for second purchase. This reduces your out-of-pocket expenses right off the bat.
REGISTER REWARDS EXPIRE!!! Pay attention to the dates printed on RR.
Walgreens ads come with coupons! Use them! These coupons have limits posted on them and you can get that limit with one coupon. You can stack these in ad coupons with manufacturer coupons to get greater savings.
Walgreens prints an Easy Saver catalog that can be found at the front of any store by the weekly ad. These catalogs have instant value coupons (IVC) that can be stacked with manufacturer coupons!
The best way to save at Walgreens is to get their loyalty card and get Register Rewards (RR) with your purchases. Register Rewards are manufacturer coupons that print when your transaction is complete. You can use these RR to buy other items that earn RR, but you CANNOT use them on the same item. Items that give RR have limits printed in the ad on how many RR you can earn on that item.
EXAMPLE
Buy Tylenol for $3.99 and earn $3.00RR; then buy Gillette Razor for $7.99, use $3.00RR from Tylenol and earn $4.00RR for razor. Cannot use $3.00RR to buy more Tylenol and earn another $3.00RR.
When using coupons you cannot use more coupons than items purchased, excluding ad coupons and IVC’s. On one(1) item you can use an IVC and manufacturer coupon, but cannot add an RR unless you add another item to purchase.
The best way to save is to make a purchase on a couple items that earn RR then go get more items that earn RR and use the first RR to help pay for second purchase. This reduces your out-of-pocket expenses right off the bat.
REGISTER REWARDS EXPIRE!!! Pay attention to the dates printed on RR.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Grocery Store Rules
Shopping at Kroger
Kroger ads run Sunday to Saturday. In addition to the weekly ad there are usually some great unadvertised deals. As this blog progresses I will be posting more of these deals. Before I post the best dels for this week, let’s talk about Krogers store policies.
1. BOGO – do not have to buy 2 to get 1/2 price. You can use 2 coupons if you get 2 items.
2.Do not accept competitor coupons
3.Double .50 or less coupons
4.eCoupons load directly to Kroger plus card, but do not double
5.Cannot stack eCoupon and paper coupons
6.Catalinas: print off at register with receipt
7.If item rings up wrong it is FREE!
Shopping at Publix
Publix ads start on Wednesday and run through Tuesday. There is a penny item every Wednesday. This is an item that you can get for a penny with a $10 purchase. The best deals at Publix are BOGO deals. The item automatically rings up 1/2 price and you can use two manufacturer coupons and two store coupons if you get both items. Publix accepts competitor coupons also. This means you can use coupons that are store specific (Target, Kroger, etc.) on items. Ask at your local Publix what they accept as far as competitors beceause each store is different due to new rules. Publix doubles coupons that are .50 or less except for competitor and store coupons. Publix has a Green Advantage flyer and a Yellow advantage flyer that comes out regularly and is full of coupons. These coupons are considered store coupons and can be used with manufacturer coupons.
Food Lion
I have personally never shopped at Food Lion even though there is one within three miles of my house. I don’t know why I haven’t, I just haven’t. The times I have looked through their ads they have had a few decent deals but not enough to make it worthwhile for my needs. They offer BOGO deals regularly and if you only get one it will ring up half price. If you get two BOGO items you can use two coupons. They do not accept competitor coupons, nor do they double coupons. You can look online to find store coupons and they have a coupon printing machine in the store like CVS.
Harris Teeter
I have heard that you can save a lot by shopping at Harris Teeter. I have never shopped there since the closest one to Mt. Juliet is on 21st Avenue in Nashville which is about 30 minutes away depending on traffic. They do offer BOGO items and they ring up half price if you only get one. You can only use one coupon on BOGO deals which kind of stinks. They only accept competitor coupons that are amounts off whole purchases. For example: the coupons that print off at Kroger that says save $5.00 of your next purchase. Harris Teeter does double up to 20 coupons a day that are $0.99 or under ALL THE TIME! This is huge if you live close enough to take advantage of it.
Those are the other stores I have information on. If there is a store you shop at that I haven’t talked about yet please let me know. You can also go to www.southernsavers.com and look for the store policies. Be aware that this website originates in South Carolina and the policies may be different at your local stores.
Thanks for reading!!!
Kroger ads run Sunday to Saturday. In addition to the weekly ad there are usually some great unadvertised deals. As this blog progresses I will be posting more of these deals. Before I post the best dels for this week, let’s talk about Krogers store policies.
1. BOGO – do not have to buy 2 to get 1/2 price. You can use 2 coupons if you get 2 items.
2.Do not accept competitor coupons
3.Double .50 or less coupons
4.eCoupons load directly to Kroger plus card, but do not double
5.Cannot stack eCoupon and paper coupons
6.Catalinas: print off at register with receipt
7.If item rings up wrong it is FREE!
Shopping at Publix
Publix ads start on Wednesday and run through Tuesday. There is a penny item every Wednesday. This is an item that you can get for a penny with a $10 purchase. The best deals at Publix are BOGO deals. The item automatically rings up 1/2 price and you can use two manufacturer coupons and two store coupons if you get both items. Publix accepts competitor coupons also. This means you can use coupons that are store specific (Target, Kroger, etc.) on items. Ask at your local Publix what they accept as far as competitors beceause each store is different due to new rules. Publix doubles coupons that are .50 or less except for competitor and store coupons. Publix has a Green Advantage flyer and a Yellow advantage flyer that comes out regularly and is full of coupons. These coupons are considered store coupons and can be used with manufacturer coupons.
Food Lion
I have personally never shopped at Food Lion even though there is one within three miles of my house. I don’t know why I haven’t, I just haven’t. The times I have looked through their ads they have had a few decent deals but not enough to make it worthwhile for my needs. They offer BOGO deals regularly and if you only get one it will ring up half price. If you get two BOGO items you can use two coupons. They do not accept competitor coupons, nor do they double coupons. You can look online to find store coupons and they have a coupon printing machine in the store like CVS.
Harris Teeter
I have heard that you can save a lot by shopping at Harris Teeter. I have never shopped there since the closest one to Mt. Juliet is on 21st Avenue in Nashville which is about 30 minutes away depending on traffic. They do offer BOGO items and they ring up half price if you only get one. You can only use one coupon on BOGO deals which kind of stinks. They only accept competitor coupons that are amounts off whole purchases. For example: the coupons that print off at Kroger that says save $5.00 of your next purchase. Harris Teeter does double up to 20 coupons a day that are $0.99 or under ALL THE TIME! This is huge if you live close enough to take advantage of it.
Those are the other stores I have information on. If there is a store you shop at that I haven’t talked about yet please let me know. You can also go to www.southernsavers.com and look for the store policies. Be aware that this website originates in South Carolina and the policies may be different at your local stores.
Thanks for reading!!!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Making the Most of Savings
Saving money starts with an attitude dedicated to saving. It takes time and energy, but the end result can be exciting. Today I will discuss using coupons, tips for saving, what to be aware of and stockpiling.
There are a few terms that you must know in order to use coupons for the biggest savings. First is doubling. This is when the face value of a coupon is doubled. Stores have different policies on what they will double, but rule of thumb is any coupon .50 or less will be doubled where it is allowed. Second is stacking. This is using a manufacturer coupon and a store specific coupon at the same time to maximize savings. Most stores allow this as well. Third is competitor. This is when a store will accept another stores coupons. Lastly, BOGO sales have the greatest opportunity for savings. When you get both items in a BOGO sale you can use two manufacturer coupons AND two store coupons on the purchase.
I follow the same routine every week when I shop. I only buy items when they are on sale and I have a coupon. Most sales run every 6-8 weeks, so if I miss a cycle I can always catch the deal the next time around. I try to always buy enough of an item to last until the next sale cycle. By doing this I am able to maximize my savings. I am not brand loyal on everything. Like anyone there are some things you have to be brand loyal about. For me it’s Kraft macaroni and cheese . But for many things it is cheaper to not be. By not being brand loyal I can get toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and many other things for free or close to it. Don’t use coupons on items that are not on sale. It doesn’t save much in the big scheme of things at all. Leave your kids at home! This is so important if you are able! Kids can add a lot to your total if you aren’t careful. If possible shop the first day of the sale so that you don’t have to worry about the store being out of the sale item. Last, plan before you shop! Look through the ads, check out your coupon blogs/sites, make your list based on sales, get your coupons together, THEN shop!
When shopping there are some things you should be aware of. When starting couponing you should start a pricebook to keep track of regular prices on the items you routinely buy. This will help you in determining when something is a deal. When shopping 10/$10 deals you do not have to buy 10 items in order to get the $1 price. If something is on sale 2/$4 you do not have to buy both in order to get one for $2. A limit on the number of an item you can buy does not make it a good deal. You wouldn’t notice a 2/$4 sale, but you would notice a 2/$4, limit 2. Don’t fall for it! Bigger is not always better. While the cost per unit might be smaller on the larger item, sales and coupons may make the smaller item cheaper. Make sure your cashier scans all you coupons and that all of your items ring up correctly. If there is a mistake make sure you go to customer service before you leave the store. This means if you check the receipt in your car and there is an error get out of the car and go to customer service.
I mentioned stockpiling earlier and want to clarify what I consider stockpiling before images of three years worth of toilet paper goes through your head! Start your stockpile slow and only ever get what you would normally use. If it’s a really good deal (or free) get as many as possible with the coupons you have and your budget will allow. For example, several months ago Kroger had Colgate toothpaste 10/$10. I had four $1 off Colgate coupons, so I got four tubes of toothpaste….for FREE! We don’t use Colgate so it was donated to the help center in town. Any time the deal is that good, even if it’s not something you would use, get it and donate it. Last, know how much you use. Pay attention to how long shampoo and soap last so you can know how much to buy during sales. I highly recommend this so that you never have to pay full price. At the same time, I do not advocate having years and years worth of supplies piled up in your spare room or garage. Stockpile, but do it intelligently!
There are a few terms that you must know in order to use coupons for the biggest savings. First is doubling. This is when the face value of a coupon is doubled. Stores have different policies on what they will double, but rule of thumb is any coupon .50 or less will be doubled where it is allowed. Second is stacking. This is using a manufacturer coupon and a store specific coupon at the same time to maximize savings. Most stores allow this as well. Third is competitor. This is when a store will accept another stores coupons. Lastly, BOGO sales have the greatest opportunity for savings. When you get both items in a BOGO sale you can use two manufacturer coupons AND two store coupons on the purchase.
I follow the same routine every week when I shop. I only buy items when they are on sale and I have a coupon. Most sales run every 6-8 weeks, so if I miss a cycle I can always catch the deal the next time around. I try to always buy enough of an item to last until the next sale cycle. By doing this I am able to maximize my savings. I am not brand loyal on everything. Like anyone there are some things you have to be brand loyal about. For me it’s Kraft macaroni and cheese . But for many things it is cheaper to not be. By not being brand loyal I can get toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo and many other things for free or close to it. Don’t use coupons on items that are not on sale. It doesn’t save much in the big scheme of things at all. Leave your kids at home! This is so important if you are able! Kids can add a lot to your total if you aren’t careful. If possible shop the first day of the sale so that you don’t have to worry about the store being out of the sale item. Last, plan before you shop! Look through the ads, check out your coupon blogs/sites, make your list based on sales, get your coupons together, THEN shop!
When shopping there are some things you should be aware of. When starting couponing you should start a pricebook to keep track of regular prices on the items you routinely buy. This will help you in determining when something is a deal. When shopping 10/$10 deals you do not have to buy 10 items in order to get the $1 price. If something is on sale 2/$4 you do not have to buy both in order to get one for $2. A limit on the number of an item you can buy does not make it a good deal. You wouldn’t notice a 2/$4 sale, but you would notice a 2/$4, limit 2. Don’t fall for it! Bigger is not always better. While the cost per unit might be smaller on the larger item, sales and coupons may make the smaller item cheaper. Make sure your cashier scans all you coupons and that all of your items ring up correctly. If there is a mistake make sure you go to customer service before you leave the store. This means if you check the receipt in your car and there is an error get out of the car and go to customer service.
I mentioned stockpiling earlier and want to clarify what I consider stockpiling before images of three years worth of toilet paper goes through your head! Start your stockpile slow and only ever get what you would normally use. If it’s a really good deal (or free) get as many as possible with the coupons you have and your budget will allow. For example, several months ago Kroger had Colgate toothpaste 10/$10. I had four $1 off Colgate coupons, so I got four tubes of toothpaste….for FREE! We don’t use Colgate so it was donated to the help center in town. Any time the deal is that good, even if it’s not something you would use, get it and donate it. Last, know how much you use. Pay attention to how long shampoo and soap last so you can know how much to buy during sales. I highly recommend this so that you never have to pay full price. At the same time, I do not advocate having years and years worth of supplies piled up in your spare room or garage. Stockpile, but do it intelligently!
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