Showing posts with label Coupon Savings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coupon Savings. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

The Stockpile Advantage

Stockpiling...I guess it kind of runs in the family...remember the toilet paper in the bookcaseA little organizational skill and a second refrigerator go a long way toward keeping up with the every day supply and demand.  

Here's part of my stash.
Last Friday Cardiogirl shared her intense feeling of gloaming (think gloom) over possibly running out of some of their morning staples.  Imagine her relief at finding her backups.

I know the panic of running out of something you depend on every day!  That is why I have my stash of everything from food items, to paper goods and laundry supplies.

Having a stash doesn't have to break the budget either.  I shop at both Costco and grocery store sales, and I use coupons at both.  Good money-saving strategies add even more value to your stockpile.

So, do you stockpile, and if so, what's in your stash?

Monday, June 21, 2010

Another Restaurants.com 80% off Promotion

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through June 24.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code SUMMER when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2.

What a great way to eat out and save!   EXTENDED THROUGH JUNE 30.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Restaurants.com 80% off Promotion - 3 Days Only!

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through June 10.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code SAVE when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2.

What a great way to eat out and save!   

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Restaurants.com - New 80% Off Promotion

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through May 31.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code FLAG when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2.

What a great way to eat out and save!   

Monday, May 10, 2010

Restaurants.com Gift Certificates Now 80% Off

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through May 13.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code ENJOY when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2.

What a great way to eat out and save!   


Friday, May 7, 2010

Stretching Your Dollar

We've talked a lot about how to get the most out of your coupons at the grocery stores, drug stores, Walmart and Target.  Perhaps you've been wondering where else you can use your coupons.  There are some "discount" stores such as Family Dollar and Dollar General that will accept them, and others like Big Lots and Dollar Tree that will not. 

Family Dollar accepts all manufacturer coupons, including internet printed coupons, according to their coupon policySome highlights:
  • No overage given when coupon is greater than item purchased.
  • You may stack manufacturers coupons with store coupons.
  • Buy-one-get-one-free coupons are accepted.
  • No free item coupons unless purchase required (BOGOF).
Dollar General accepts all manufacturer coupons, including internet printed coupons, according to their coupon policySome highlights:
  • Buy-one-get-one-free coupons are accepted.
  • No free item coupons unless purchase required (BOGOF).
Dollar Tree does not accept any manufacturers coupons.

Big Lots does not accept any manufacturers coupons.  They only accept the Big Lots printable coupons available to Buzz club members.

Note:  Dollar Tree (all items $1.00), Dollar General and Family Dollar are different stores.  Dollar General and Family Dollar are NOT "dollar stores", and prices vary.

As always, please review the coupon policy for each store, and use coupons accordingly. 


Friday, April 23, 2010

Restaurants.com 80% Off Promotion - limited time!

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through April 26.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code MEAL when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2. 

What a great way to eat out and save!   Offer Extended Until April 30.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Don't Let Your Bundle of Joy Cost a Bundle

The economy may be improving, but for those new parents and parents to be, there are new expenses on the horizon, and it is a broad horizon spanning 18 years or more.  This requires commitment and sacrifice, but it shouldn't land you in the poor house, at least not in the first few years of life...as scenes of Harvard flash before your eyes.

But first things first, you need to prepare for your upcoming bundle of joy.  You need clothes by the bundles, diapers, food, baby toiletries, and maybe formula and bottles.  You may wonder what I'm doing writing a post about baby stuff when all my children have four legs and fur.  Well, the answer is simple.  I want to help people save money, and steer them in the direction of value and information.

There are a number of websites out there devoted to coupon savings, where to get the deals on diapers and how to work the system to even get free stuff.  I have sorted through and pulled out what I think are some good ones.  Some are simply money savers, some have reviews and others will relate their experiences so you'll know you're not alone in baby-land.  


Smart Shopping

Let's start with money saving.  After all that's probably at the top of everyone's list.  This first group isn't baby-specific, but they provide sale information and coupon match-ups for food, household goods, personal care and baby items.

Hip2Save.com
This site has a myriad of different savings from Target and Wal-Mart to the 3 major drugstores, Walgreen's, CVS and Rite Aid.  She has even included store guides so you'll learn how to take full advantage of the savings available.  Yes, there are things to learn about drugstore shopping, and all three stores are different.  She also offers lot of on-line deals like books and toys from Amazon. 

Southernsavers.com
This one covers local grocery stores such as Harris Teeter and Food Lion plus other regional stores with coupon match-ups.  It also covers the same 3 drugstores, offering another take on the same sales.

Sometimes grocery stores such as Food Lion, have printable coupons on-line.  In addition to food and household items, there are usually several sets of baby care coupons.


Just for Baby
Babycheapskate.com
This provides information on cost-conscious decorating, baby product reviews, coupons and sales and diapers and other products.  There is a product review on diapers, and what other mom's have to say about the different brands and styles, including generics/store brands.

Babycenter.com
A wealth of baby information, health and support, links to blogs, questions and answers and more.

Alternative Shopping Places

This may not suit all new parents, but I suggest checking out thrift stores, and consignment shops.  Every parent wants their babies dressed in adorable little outfits, and they should be.  However, they grow out of everything so quickly, especially in the first year, that it can be very costly to keep up with their ever-changing dimensions.  While you can't cover all your baby's wardrobe needs at these places, you can find new, or nearly new items, even brand names, for a fraction of mall and specialty shop prices to help offset the other costs.

Hand-me-downs

Network with friends and family who already have children.  Baby clothes will be outgrown before being worn out so see if someone has clothes to loan or give away.  The same goes for items like strollers, car seats, high chairs and cribs.

Other Links


Diapers.com (free shipping on orders over $49)


Babies Online (free coupons and magazines and samples, and more)

Wal-Mart Baby (97¢ shipping to your home)

Restaurants.com (save money on a parents night out, babysitting not included)

Passion for Savings  (check here for Wal-mart deals, and more)

Centsible Savings (check here for Wal-mart deals, and more)

There is much repetition among the coupon sites.  Many cover the same stores and have the same coupons.  You just need to find the ones that best> meet your needs.  As always, pay attention to your coupons for restrictions such as size, item count, etc., and use coupons appropriately.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Restaurants.com - 80% off...Again!

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through April 6.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code CHOW when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2. 

What a great way to eat out and save!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Are the Grocery Stores Really Too Expensive?

It has been mentioned to me that some of the stores I shop at are too expensive.  I suppose this is true on a regular price comparison with say Wal-Mart or even Aldi.  I shop at these stores, too.  However, I go where I can get the most for the least, and many times that is a major grocery store.

For example, I posted a week or so ago about Harris Teeter coupons in the Friday newspaper.  There were $16 worth of coupons:  Four 50¢ coupons off "any" one item and four $1.00 coupons off "any" item of $2 or more, and also two for $5 off a $40 purchase.  

I used three of the $1 coupons on 3 packs of diet Coke, which brought the price down from 3/$10 to $3/$7, a much better deal.  I used the 50¢ ones on Campbell's tomato soup, making it 10¢ a can.  I used my last $1 coupon on a bottle of wine, and also used a $5/40 coupon.  All of this was on sale already.  Everything else I got was either on sale, I had a manufacturers coupon or it was a store brand.  

What was the bottom line?  I saved $27.34 and paid $34.08.  This is about 45%.

Last week's highlights focused on cleaning products:
Lysol Kitchen cleaner - Regularly $2.89 for 44¢ (BOGOF + $1 coupon)
Lysol Toilet cleaner - Regularly $2.69 for 34¢ (BOGOF + $1 coupon)
Brawny paper towels 8 rolls - Regularly $9.99 for $4.99  (sale $5.99 + $1 coupon)
12 oz. bottle of Joy dish washing detergent - Regularly $1.39 for 39¢ (sale 99¢ + 30¢ coupon)

I saved around 43% that day.  My goal is to save an average of 50% on groceries and household items. 

Harris Teeter always doubles coupons up to 99¢ every day (up to 20 coupons per day).  Go here for their next triple coupon event starting 3/24.

Check out my Top 5 list of things not to pay full price for, and see another example of savings here.

Restaurants.com Gift Certificates 80% Off

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through March 31.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code COOK when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2. 

What a great way to eat out and save!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Five Things You Should Never Pay Full Price For

A penny saved is a penny earned.  

Never has that statement been more true.  With prices rising and sizes shrinking, we have to make the most of every dollar.  There are many products you buy regularly that you can get without paying full price.  Here are my top 5:

1. Paper/Plastic Products
2. Toiletries/Personal Care Items 
3. Sodas
4. Cleaning Products
5. Cereal

For this writing, we are not talking about generics or store brands, although these are often a better buy from a regular price standpoint. Today we are focusing on name brand products from the major area grocery stores.

Every week the competing grocery stores put out new sale ads, usually on Wednesdays. Nearly every Sunday there are one or more coupon inserts in the newspaper.  If you take a few minutes to look through the grocery sales, and match up coupons to the sale items you can often save 50% or more.

I have found the biggest money savers to be the buy one get one free sales.  In many stores you are not required to purchase two items, and each one will ring up individually.  At this point the item is already 50% off.  Add a coupon and your discount increases.  If your store will allow it, you can use two coupons on a BOGOF item.  If not, then just purchase them in two separate transactions to get the greatest savings.

Some stores go a step further and double or triple coupons up to a set amount.  They usually have a per-day limit of around 20 coupons.  Of the stores I write about, Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods double coupons every day, and Harris Teeter occasionally has triple coupon or super double coupon weeks.  Food Lion does not double coupons at any time.

Quite often items such as paper goods and cleaning products are BOGOF or maybe 2/$5.  For example, if the regular price for a bottle of kitchen cleaner is $3.29, a 2/$5 sale makes it $2.50 or 79¢ cheaper.  That same item on a BOGOF sale would be $1.64.  Use a $1 off coupon and you get it for just 64¢.  This is the effective way to use your coupons.  The $1 coupon used at the regular price would still make your item $2.29.  You see the difference.

This same concept applies to nearly everything, and coupons are readily available on most items.  One key to making the most of sales and coupons is your ability or willingness to switch brands depending on the deal available.  Brand loyalty goes right out the window here.

However, if you're like me and have favorite brands on certain products, cereal for example, then you clip the coupons and wait for the sale. Our faves are Frosted Mini Wheats (his) and Raisin Bran Extra (hers).  There are often coupons for these, sometimes as much as $1.50 off 2 boxes.  I've gotten Mini Wheats for as little as 50¢ a box.  In this instance, I combined a BOGOF sale with two coupons which were doubled.  I will tell you that great finds like that do not come along every week.  This is where your ability to stock up will take you further down the road of savings. 

If you drink soda, you know that coupons for them are rare.  The price of all brand-name soft drinks has been steadily increasing.  They are now around $6 per 12-pack in the grocery stores.  Most stores have one brand on sale each week, but we are seeing the good sales less often.  Common sale prices range from 3/$9, which is about half price, to 3/$12.  A good price is 4/$10 or $2.50 each, and anything less than $2.50 is a real deal.  So don't be fooled by the BOGOF sales on sodas, pay attention to the regular shelf price, and you'll know when you're getting a good deal.

A little disclaimer:  I like to use the term BOGOF instead of BOGO.  To me this emphasizes that one item is free as opposed to sales such as "Buy one get one for half off" which are also referred to as BOGO.

New Restaurants.com 80% Off Promotion

Restaurants.com has a new promotion going on now through March 16.  All gift certificates are 80% off.  Just use the promo code BITE when you check out, and your discount will be applied.  You can get $25 gift certificates for just $2.  What a deal!

I have used these several times now, and they're a great way to save!

Expired

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Dinner for Two, and Other Related Events


Yesterday was no ordinary day.  It was another cold, windy day in the sunny South.  What made it different from any other day?  It was my birthday, a milestone birthday no less.  Let the celebration begin.  

The first birthday-related event was a trip to the New Balance store at Thruway.  I had clipped a coupon (ah, here we go again with the coupons) from Friday's paper for 20% off any one item.  Wow, just in time for my birthday.  I can't pass that up, so we make a surgical strike for the shoes.  I walk in and the guy asked how he could help me.  "I'd like a pair of 855s in size 7 1/2 please."  I tried them on and they fit perfectly, no waffling or struggling with a decision.  I'll take 'em.  That doesn't happen every day!

The main event was dinner at Century Kitchen.  For anyone not familiar with the place, Century Kitchen is located at Flint Hill Vineyards in East Bend.  It's out in the country, off the beaten path, and we usually make a wrong turn or miss a turn somewhere along the way.  In our defense, it's usually dark when we start out, and this place is way out there.

The effort in getting there is worth it, however, and we arrived right on time for our 6:00 reservation - no mistakes.   We were immediately seated at a table for two by a floor-to-ceiling window which was original to the house.  Pause to explain that the restaurant is in the old family homestead, and though it has been restored, much of it is original, and therefore drafty.  I asked if there was another table available, but it was Saturday night, and they were booked.  Our waitress, (or do they prefer to be called servers these days?) adjusted our table so that it was at an angle to the window, which moved us somewhat away from the cold air emanating from outside.

Whew, now I could concentrate on the task at hand...food.  We settled on Duck Confit over Braised Red Cabbage with Chambourcin Beurre Rouge as our appetizer and two glasses of Viognier .  Delicious!  Yes, the duck and the wine.  For my entree, I chose one of the specials of the night, seared Mahi with diced potatoes and thinly sliced Brussels sprouts in a white cream sauce.  Hubby got the Pan Seared Jumbo Shrimp and Sea Scallops Crawfish Gumbo and Rice Pilaf.  Both dishes were excellently prepared.  The chef does not over salt, and shakers are on the tables if you want more.  My fish was mildly seasoned and very good.  The shrimp and scallops were delicious.  The sauce bordered on Étouffée-style, which we don't usually  like so much, but this was good, and spicy but not fiery.  

We were full as usual, so we ordered some dessert to go.  It was called a chocolate torte, and described as a flourless chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache.  It was a round chocolate cake about 3/4 inch high, covered in ganache and garnished with fresh strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream.  It was fine, but next time I'd try something different.


On a wine note, since they've been open I've had the opportunity to try all of their wines several times.  For such a young vineyard (open since October of 2005), their wines are among my favorite North Carolina wines.  My personal favorites are their Viognier, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.  You can read more about their other varieties, as well as the restaurant, on their website.

The house is lovely and the setting is picturesque with an old-timey charm.  The food, wine and service are excellent, and reservations are recommended.  If you'd rather not have a chill with your dinner, you can request to be seated away from the windows.  This is another special occasion place that definitely gets a thumbs up rating from me.




Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Change back from your dime!

Think I'm kidding?  What, you ask, can you get for under 10 cents?  Well, I was in CVS picking up a prescription for my hubby, and I had these Extra Bucks that were going to expire soon.  Now I wasn't about to let that happen.  No siree, that's money!  So I started looking around the store for something I wanted, needed, someone else needed, but I came up empty, not even a Valentine card.  I was about to walk out when I decided to hit the food aisle.  No, I don't usually buy food at a drug store, but sometimes you get lucky.  Now, I had $3 in Extra Bucks and the DAK canned hams just happened to be on sale for, you guessed it, $3.  That's not the brand I normally buy, so I was going to pass.  I walked a bit further up the aisle and spotted small boxes of Wheat Thins for $1 each (marked down from $1.99).  It just so happened that I had a coupon for $2 off any 2 boxes of Nabisco snack crackers (no size or variety restrictions).  I couldn't pass that up - 2 free boxes of crackers.  Thinking just how great a deal it would be to get the ham with my Extra Bucks and free crackers, I went back for the ham.  After the EBs and coupon, my subtotal was $0.00, and I paid only tax.  And that, folks, is how I got change back from my dime.  I mean it didn't seem right to swipe my card for 8 cents.

Good things come to those who coupon.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Eating Out For Less!

We all like to eat out now and then, and now we can do it for less.  Restaurant.com offers deeply discounted gift certificates of $10, $25, $50 (and up) to many restaurants.  For example, you can get a $25 certificate for $10.  After the initial purchase, that equals a $15 savings.  Go here to see what restaurants are available near you, and enjoy the savings.  Just enter your zip code (or any zip code where you will be dining) in the "Find a Restaurant and Save" box.

Now here's where it gets even better.  These certificates go on sale every so often for up to 80% off.  That makes a $25 certificate only $2  Wow!  I got a $10 one for La Botana for just 80 cents.  We used it Monday and got $10 off our $21 total.  We had two entrees and one beer on the bill.  The meal was delicious, by the way. 

Just to be clear, there are restrictions such as a minimum purchase amount, and some restaurants do not include alcohol in the required purchase amount, so read carefully before you select your certificate.  They e-mail you the certificates and you print them out, so you don't have to wait for snail mail.  They make great gifts, too.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Coupons in the Comics

Do y'all read Baldo in the daily paper?  Well, yesterday's was great.  Tia Carmen is a woman after my own heart.  Her conversation with Gracie went like this:

Gracie:  Do you have a shopping list, Tia Carmen?

Tia Carmen:  I don't need one Gracie.  My shopping list is very simple.  Things I have a coupon for and things that are on sale.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

It's Almost Christmas Again

It's amazing how fast time goes by, and once again Christmas is just around the corner.  Yep, just 9 days away.  Is your tree sparkling from top to bottom with a zillion lights, and ornaments of silver and gold, red and green, and all the trimmings?  Do you have all your shopping done?  Presents all around the tree?  I finally started wrapping/bagging yesterday.

My list is short these days, and on-line shopping makes is so much easier.  No driving all over town, waiting in long lines of traffic and longer lines in the stores.  Just click here, click there and you're done.  Simple.  So far, I've had 3 orders from Amazon, one from Penzeys, cashed in green points for a gift card, and ordered ink for my printer to print more money-saving coupons.  The more you save, the more you can give.

I still have a few gifts to get for the "hard to shop for" folks.  My guess is gift cards for them.  I know that sounds like a cop-out, but personally I never mind getting gift cards.  Being the frugal shopper that I am, I make the most of them.  

So, my thoughts in a nutshell...Shop on-line, use coupon codes and seek out free shipping deals.  When you do have to go to the stores, the same principles apply.  Use coupons, especially combined with sales to get the best deals.


Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Target "Manufacturer" Coupons...Not Really

Target has issued "manufacturer" coupons with their logo on them, so which are they?  Coupons issued by the manufacturer to be used anywhere or store coupons useable only at Target?  Didn't they used to say "Target" at the top and not "manufacturer", and you could use them with  manufacturer coupons on the same item.  I printed some the other day and one said Target Web Coupon (which I understand to be used only at Target) and the other two said "manufacturer" which I assumed I could use anywhere. 

I used the one for Purina Cat Chow at PetSmart, and the cashier didn't even blink.  Today I tried to use the $5 off 4 Kellogg's cereal at Wal-Mart, and argued up and down with two cashiers that it was a manufacturer's coupon and not Target-specific even though it had the Target logo on it.  That was all they could see, and said they were told not to take coupons with other store names or logos.  They wouldn't even scan it to see if it would work.  I gave up and told her if I wasn't able to use the coupon, I wasn't buying the cereal.

The point is that a store-specific coupon should not say "manufacturer" on it if you can only use it at that store, and that a true manufacturer coupon should be valid any place that accepts coupons.

Anyone care to share their experiences?

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Yogurt...Good and Good For You?

OK, today we're going on a little trip, a health trip that is.  Are you a fan of yogurt?  The regular stuff that has been around for years or the new, supposedly more healthy versions such as Activia or Dan Active yogurt drink?  I don't always jump on any new bandwagon that happens along, but lately, I thought what the heck, let's give it a try, since we eat yogurt anyway.   So now what to choose?

Activia is supposed to be good for your digestive health.  They even have a money-back guarantee of up to about $12, if it doesn't work for you.  Yoplait has their own version called Yo-Plus, and they are offering free Yo-plus for switching from Activia (receipt, completed form and UPC required).  Activia comes in a variety of flavors, a light version and a drinkable yogurt.

Dan Active claims to help support your immune system.  This product is a drinkable yogurt that comes in a variety of flavors (some in light).  Do any of these do all that they claim?  Check out their websites, do your research and come to your own conclusions.

I read about both products, and regularly purchase both.  Will it make a difference in our overall health, I don't know, but I figure they won't do any harm, and I still get calcium and the good bacteria that we've know for years are good for us.  These fancy new products are more expensive, but with sales and coupons you can still get a reasonably good deal.  Also, Costco has Activia and Dan Active in bulk packaging.  There is yet another way to score a deal on all things Dannon.  They have a program called Dannonomics where you buy products, mail in receipts and completed form and receive dollars off coupons.  The coupons you get are based on the quantity and variety of items purchased.  The program continues through December 31, 2009, so save your receipts, download the form and get up to $15 in coupons.