Christmas on a Zero-Budget

Brandy from The Prudent Homemaker is guest posting today over at Mom's Frugal. Her topic is how to make Christmas special for your family on a zero-budget. Head over HERE for some great ideas!

Saving on Groceries Without Using Coupons

Amy from Amy's Finer Things just finished up a series entitled 20 Ways to Save on Groceries Without Using Coupons. (If you're a couponer, there are still some good tips for you!) I highly recommend taking just a few minutes to read through Amy's advice.

Methods 1 through 5 are HERE.

Methods 6 through 10 are HERE.

Methods 11 through 15 are HERE.

Methods 16 through 20 are HERE.

Do you have any other ideas for saving that don't involve coupons?

Frugal Friday: Cash (Without the Clunker) for a Vehicle

The Cash for Clunkers program has ended, and around here we're glad. We're certainly not mad at anyone who took advantage of the program, but we did find that it made our most recent vehicle purchase VERY difficult. Let me explain....

We've been driving a minivan (which we love) and what I lovingly refer to as our "little old man" car. I can call it that because it belonged to my grandpa before he passed away. The car is a 1993 Mercury Topaz, and it's "little old man" blue. Perfect if you're my grandpa. Not so if you're my 37-year old husband. And really not perfect if you're four-and-a-half and trying to climb into your booster seat in the back seat of this car. I didn't take a picture of it before we gave it to my uncle, but here's one I found online. It's pretty darn close.

The trunk leaked, the passenger window wouldn't roll down, the locks didn't work, the engine hesitated (and actually died in the Kmart parking lot an hour from home!), the A/C didn't work.... But did I mention that it's a 1993 with only 60,000 miles on it?

It was our getting-out-of-debt-mobile.

And it served its purpose.

Because we were driving this car and not paying a car payment, we were able to stash away enough cash to buy another vehicle. We did this with the van we're currently driving, and we're determined to never have a car payment again!

When the time came to buy our next vehicle, my husband had his heart set on an SUV. (Our area can get pretty rough in the wintertime!) He called around to let local lots know what he was looking for and what he had to spend. He got the same reply many times. The lots had many SUVs similar to what we wanted, but they were all Cash for Clunkers trade-ins. They weren't sellable.

God truly did bless us with a great vehicle though. A friend from church was able to get a vehicle (which was marked $3000 more than our budget) down to exactly what we had to spend. We are so thankful for him (Thanks, Bob!) and for the vehicle. Emma loves her "truck" and wants to ride in it all the time. No... Seriously.... She cried when we got out of it the first night.

So here's what our cash got us.

It's a far cry from our "little old man" car, and it was worth the sacrifice of driving that car to not have a payment now.

If you don't think that you could survive without a car payment, I challenge you to watch this video.

Well... That's our plan, and we're sticking to it. At this time last year, we owned cars worth a combined $2000. Now, through savings and having the cash to snag good deals, our current vehicles are worth almost $14,000. These vehicles should last us through paying off our last two debts next year. Then we can continue saving and replacing our vehicles with the ultimate goal of driving free for the rest of our lives!

For more frugal living ideas, stop by Frugal Friday hosted by Life As MOM.

Making Wise Spending Choices

I stopped by Kmart today armed with a few coupons that I thought might work well for my Kmart Super Doubles Round 2. (See Round 1 HERE.) My husband dropped me off and headed out to run a few errands. I grabbed a cart and started searching. I grabbed a couple of great deals and then some that were just good deals. In order to meet the $25 minimum purchase requirement, I even threw in some so-so deals.

When I stopped to add up everything before checking out, I realized that I was about to spend $20 out-of-pocket. Now, that $20 was going to get me $37-worth of merchandise. But I took a good hard look at what was in my cart. I realized that I didn't really need ANY of it!

Now that I have a healthy stockpile built up, I don't usually NEED to shop. Sure, I need to grab fresh produce and dairy items each week. But, other than that, I can usually create a meal plan using just what's on-hand. And we have enough personal care items to replace what we're currently using a couple of times over. Why would I want to get deals that added up to only 50% off when I know that within the next few weeks, I may be able to get some of those items free or almost-free? I would much rather keep my stockpile stocked with freebies than pay 50% to add to it.

So I was able to put back the double coupon items that I had chosen and walk out with just the shower curtain liner and the two throw pillows that I intended to buy. (By the way, Kmart has some really great housewares items in their clearance section right now.) I didn't spend the extra $20. For me, that was a wise choice.

Have you ever stopped yourself mid-shopping and realized that you were just shopping for the sake of shopping?

Frugal Travel Update!

I almost forgot to check in with you after our trip to my mother-in-law's house last weekend! Our goal was to spend as little as possible. We started with a cooler full of pop, juice boxes, and bottled water. We had snacks that we scored for next-to-nothing at Target last week too. We were set!

Unfortunately, gas prices seemed to bump up right before we left. Darn! Even with the higher-priced fuel, we still managed to make the trip for around $100, $60 of which was fuel. We even had pop, water, and snacks left over when we got home! We made two stops for fast-food dinners, and we stopped for one kids' cheeseburger about an hour before home. Those were our only drive-thru meals. We also got snacks at one gas station. We were tired of eating what we packed, and we were on the last leg of the journey. I was quite pleased with being able to take a 3-day trip -- six hours driving each way! - to visit family for around $100. (Note: That $100 includes gas, food purchased on the road, and snacks/drinks packed to take with us.)

The plus is that I saved money on my Sunday newspapers while we were there! I buy the Columbus Dispatch, and it's shipped in from two hours away. I end up paying $2.25 a copy every Sunday. *YUK!* I was able to get the Louisville, KY papers for 99 cents each! Yay!

Start Saving Part 1: Where Do I Start in this Couponing World?

Lately more and more people are turning to couponing and deal-seeking to get the most for their money. If you're new to couponing and are having trouble figuring out where to begin, this post is for you. If you've been couponing for a while, you may be able to glean a few things from my experiences, and you can certainly add your advice/tips in the comments section below.

Where do you start?

#1 - Accumulating Coupons

The first thing I recommend is buying two newspapers every Sunday (except some holiday weekends when they don't have coupons in them). I don't buy my local paper. I buy a paper from Columbus, OH instead. They have a track record of having different/better/more coupons than our local paper offers. For example, there was a Cover Girl buy-1-get-1-free coupon in the Columbus paper last fall. When my grandma gave me her coupons from our local paper (same day), the coupon that was in the same location was only a $1 off Cover Girl. $1 off isn't bad, but buy-1-get-1 is much better. So, I'm sticking with the bigger-city paper.

Why do I buy 2 copies of the same paper? I do this so that I can have 2 coupons for any buy-1-get-1 deals. For example, Kroger has Crystal Light priced at $4.29 but is running a buy-1-get-1-free sale. I can get 2 packs for $4.29. I can also use two $2.00 off coupons. I'm going to get both of them for 29 cents.

#2 - Don't buy what you want.... Buy the best deals!

The second thing I recommend is stocking up on great deals. Keep an eye on prices, and get an idea of what a good price is for the items you buy most often. Don't be brand loyal! Just keep an eye out for overall prices. For example, $1.29 is usually a good price for spaghetti sauce in my area. My Kroger store just had their store brand (which is really good) on sale for 88 cents per jar. I bought five. Now I won't have to pay $1.29 the next five times we have pasta. By the time those five jars are gone, I'm hoping to have caught another sale and restocked my pantry.

This is a weird way to shop. I was used to making a menu and then trying to find the best deals for what I wanted to cook. Now, I stock up on what's on sale each week. Then, I make my menu around what's in my pantry. I've purchased items at rock-bottom prices, and I can spend my weekly grocery money on perishables (fresh fruit/veggies, milk, eggs, etc.) and other items that are on sale at rock-bottom prices each week.

When I shop, my grocery cart doesn't look like it's filled with items that go together to make meals! But my pantry is continually stocked with items that do go together. For example, the last time Kroger tripled coupons, I stocked up on items like flavored rice, tuna, pasta, canned veggies, salad dressing, BBQ sauce, and other items. Now, when it's time to plan a meal, I can look at my pantry. If I find BBQ sauce, canned veggies, and rice mixes, I can plan to have BBQ chicken and some side dishes. As my current stock is depleted, new items are going on sale and taking the place of what I'm using.

If you're new to couponing, stay tuned for more tips on how to get started and how to make this whole money-saving thing work!

Start Saving Part 2: Printable Coupons

In this Start Saving series, I'm trying to share some of my experiences and advice with people who are new to the couponing world. If you missed Part 1 of this series, you can catch up HERE.

Since you're reading this post, I'm assuming that you're already doing some bargain-hunting online. That's a fabulous place to find printable coupons, deal alerts, and support for your frugal journey. Let's talk a little bit about how to make the most of what's available online.


Printable Coupon Tips

Our mothers and grandmothers had to wait for manufacturers to have coupons printed in the newspaper. We are so fortunate to have coupons at our fingertips. I try to never leave for a shopping trip without making sure that I've checked for printable coupons for the items I'm buying. You never know when you might stumble upon a few and save yourself a few extra dollars.

When I find a printable coupon for something I might buy, I've found it best to print the coupon as soon as I find it. My experience has proven that the coupons are limited to a certain timeframe or number of prints. Once the limit has been reached, the coupon is no longer available. Recent examples of this would be $5 off any Huggies Natural product (free wipes!) and $2.00 All Detergent (almost-free at Kmart this week with this coupon). There were there and gone before you knew it! So if you find one you might use, print it! You can read my post HERE about how to score an inexpensive laser printer when Staples runs their recycling deal. Laser printers are far more economical to use than ink jet printers.

When you do find a great printable coupon, you can usually print 2 copies of it from every computer that you have access to. The sites don't say that, but that's the way it works. You can click your browser's Back button several times to get back to the original print screen and print again. This is ethical and legal, as the software is designed to operate this way. If you have access to more than one computer, you can print two copies from each of them.

You'll need to make sure that the stores that you frequent accept Internet printable coupons. More of them are headed that way, but I still have trouble with my local Rite Aid taking any that don't have the Rite Aid logo on them. I've found that Kroger, CVS, Kmart, and Wal-Mart do take Internet printable coupons. If you have trouble with a store taking them, it might be worth a call to their corporate office. Sometimes cashiers and managers are just misinformed.


Protecting Yourself Before You Print

Many companies will offer coupons that can be printed from their websites. However, in return they ask for your contact information. They might want your mailing address and email address. I have set up a separate free email account just for online couponing. Some companies do share your information or continue to send you emails about their products. You can usually opt out, but that takes time. Instead, protect your personal email inbox, and set up a separate account.

I've been pleasantly surprised by some companies who've collected my personal contact information. For example, Suave sent me a coupon for a totally free Suave product not too long ago. I was incredibly surprised -- and glad I gave them my address!


But where do you look for printable coupons?

Coupons.com offers new coupons every month. They've even been sneaking in a few new ones thoughout the month lately. They've also had some VERY high-value coupons that show up for a VERY limited amount of time. Bloggers will try to alert you of any new ones that appear, especially if they're high-value coupons. But be sure to check Coupons.com often. If you see coupon that you think you might use, print it. To help, I've placed a Coupons.com quick print tool bar on the left side of this blog.

Blogs, blogs, blogs..... As bloggers come across new printable coupons, they will share. Oftentimes you'll find a post called "Printable Coupon Roundup". This is a blogger's post of favorite printable coupons that are currently available. That's the great thing about the frugal blogging community. Everyone loves to share great deals and printable coupon links! Find some blogs you like and read them often.

Hot Coupon World is a phenomenal resource for printable coupons. You will have to register for a username and password, but that's something I HIGHLY recommend! They have some great deal-sharing forums, but I'm a big fan of their coupon database. You can go there and search for any available coupons for items you need/want to buy. I always change the source to printable, so I only view the printable coupon links. Before I shop, I use this site to search for items that I don't already have coupons for.

And if all else fails, you can always do a Google or Swagbucks search for the coupon you want. Example: Philadelphia Cream Cheese Printable Coupon I haven't had much luck searching like that, but you never know!

Stop back tomorrow to learn more about staying organized as you hunt the best deals.

Start Saving Part 3: Stay Organized

In this Start Saving series, I'm trying to share some of my experiences and advice with people who are new to the couponing world. If you missed the first two parts of this series, you can catch up HERE and HERE.

There's nothing more frustrating than knowing that you have a great coupon for something but not being able to find it. I know this because I've done it once a few times more than I'd like to admit! But now I've worked very hard to come up with a coupon management system that seems to work for me. I'll share it with you, and maybe you can share your ideas in the comments section.


Coupons Everywhere = Money Lost

Your coupons need a home. This home looks different for everyone. Some people use shoe boxes. Others use Trapper Keeper-style binders. Still others use envelopes for individual coupon categories. My coupon binder is an ugly 8x8 scrapbook with scrapbook page protectors inside. I'm actually planning to change to something different in the VERY near future. Not only is the thing so ugly I hide it behind my purse whenever I take it somewhere, but the page protectors inside are all open on the top. That means that one wrong drop, and my coupons are scattered everywhere! You can do a search for "coupon organizers" and find as many ways to organize them as there are ways to use them. Just find something that works for you. That's all that matters!

I have my coupons organized by category. Here's my category list:

• CVS coupons (from previous receipts)


• air fresheners


• baby/child


• baking


• beverages


• bread/crackers


• canned goods


• cereal/breakfast


• cleaning


• dairy


• granola bars


• HBA - deodorant


• HBA – feminine


• HBA - hair care


• HBA - makeup


• HBA - medicine


• HBA - shaving


• HBA - skincare


• HBA - tooth care


• laundry


• meat/produce


• office supplies/batteries


• paper products


• pasta/rice


• peanut butter/jelly


• pets


• sauces/dressings


• snacks-salty


• snacks-sweet


• store specific/restaurant

In a perfect world, coupons would get filed in coupon binders as soon as they are cut out. But in reality, coupons end up in every room of the house! I've started a new system that might be helpful. I've been using business-size (#10) envelopes as temporary holding zones for coupons. When I clip the Sunday ones, they go into one envelope. The coupons I know I'll never use go into another envelope to be mailed to a military family who can use them. Expired coupons go into another envelope for another military family. Coupons that I print get cut right away and put into the to-be-filed envelope. When I have a few minutes, I deal with each envelope, filing the coupons into my binder or getting them mailed off to the military families. So far this seems to be working!


Patience Pays Off

Once you have your coupons organized, you're going to want to use all of them. BUT WAIT! You have to be patient. You may run out and use that $2 off coupon today and get an okay deal. But, if you hold onto it, you may be able to match it up with a great sale and get an out-of-this-world-have-to-start-a-blog-just-to-tell-about-this-deal kind of deal! If you're patient, you may be able to get the item free or almost-free. It's SOOOO hard to hold onto the high-value coupons, but you'll be glad you did.

If you're really worried that you're going to miss an opportunity to use some of your high-value coupons, make a list of the coupons and their expiration dates. That way, you can keep an eye on the deals and use the coupons before they expire.


Organizing Your Online Deal-Hunting

Now that you've found some blog sites that you frequently visit, how do you keep them organized? I've tried two things so far, and both work pretty well. The first thing I did was make a Blog Sites folder in my favorites list. That way, when I launch my Internet browser, I can click Favorites and choose a blog to read.

I recently started using my Blogger Reading List for reading. I signed up to "follow" some of my favorite blogs. To do this, log into your Blogger account (or start one if you don't have one). Go to your Dashboard. There you'll find a heading called "Reading List". You can click the Add button, and enter the URL of your favorite blog site. Click Next, and then decide if you want to remain anonymous or if you want to be known. Then, when you log into your Blogger account, you'll see all the newest posts from your favorite blogs all in one location. This keeps you from having to click all of your favorites links. Just click the posts you want to read.

There are lots of other readers available. The key is having a system that works for you! If you have any other organizational tips to share, please feel free to leave a comment in the comments section of this post. We learn so much from each other!

Stop back tomorrow for money-saving tips to use when you're shopping at the grocery store.

Start Saving Part 4: Grocery Store Tips

In this Start Saving series, I'm trying to share some of my experiences and advice with people who are new to the couponing world. If you missed the first three parts of this series, you can catch up HERE, HERE, and HERE.

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We've all heard some form of grocery shopping advice before. Don't shop on an empty stomach, shop with a list, don't let the kids buy everything they want. Doing all of these things is wise, but let's talk about some other ways to make your grocery dollars go further.


The Grocery List

We keep a running grocery list going at our house. It's not a menu-based list, just a list of items that we are almost out of. My husband and I both write on the list any items that we see running low or used up. I add those to the appropriate list (Kroger, CVS, etc.) for the week so that they aren't forgotten.

Before I ever create my grocery list, I plan a menu. I do this by first looking at what's in our pantry, freezer, and fridge. Do we have several bags of frozen chicken from last week's sale? Do I have a gazillion cans of diced tomatoes that I got for pennies? I peruse the kitchen to see what I can do with what I already have. Then I jot down items that I need to complete the things on my menu. I also plan around family events and my work schedule. The goal is to not cook on the 3 days that I work. I use the crock pot, or we have planned leftovers.

Once I have my menu planned and have a list of things I need to complete it, I check the sale flyer for my local Kroger. If I have a day when I still need a meal idea, I'll use what's on sale in the ad to create another day's menu. I also jot down items that are listed at rock-bottom prices. For example, last week Kroger had Kellogg's cereals for $2.18 a box (the big boxes!!). I had some $1 off coupons, which made the cereal $1.18 a box, a really good price! I list items like this, check my coupons, and create my shopping list.

I also use blog sites as resources for my grocery list creation. Many bloggers will note what's on sale each week and tell you if there are coupons that can be matched with those sales to make the deals even better. For my Kroger shopping, I use Kroger's website (to view the ad), Nickels-n-Dimes (printable coupon matchups), Stretching a Buck (Great Lakes Region deals). If you don't shop at Kroger, you can do a Google search for coupon matchups at your store of choice.

I make it my goal to find the best deals and stock up on them. That way, when I sit down to create my next menu, I'll have new items on-hand. This lets me shop for just perishables and the best deals each week.


Off to the Store -- Coupons

Rule #1.... Always take your coupon binder/box with you to the grocery store. It only took me a few times of missing great deals to live out this rule. I remember one time when Kroger had the Ziploc Big Bags on an incredible clearance sale (I believe they were $1?), and I knew I had $1 coupons for them. But I'd left my coupons at home! The next time I stopped by, they were gone.... probably snatched up by someone else who had remembered to bring their coupon binder!

You'll have to check the coupon policy at your local grocery store, but my Kroger allows me to use coupons on clearance items. Not too long ago, I found some Quaker granola bars in the clearance bin. They were not expired, just a manager's special. They were a little over $1 a box, and I had $1 off coupons. So I got almost-free granola bars. My Rite Aid is famous for this in their makeup department. They must cycle the products through pretty regularly, because they always have 75% off makeup items available. And I can still use my coupons! I've gotten some 25 cent lip gloss and nail polish and used them as part of some Christmas gifts.


Discounted Merchandise

In addition to the clearance bins, I also check for discounted produce and meat. I've bought bananas in bulk and frozen them for baking or smoothies. They're still yellow, and they're usually bagged for bulk sale. I do the same thing with meat. The discounted meat is usually a couple of days from it's sell-by date. I either use it the same day I buy it, or I freeze it. Since prduce and meat are big budget-busters, I try to buy them at discounted prices whenever I can.

You'll be amazed at how many manager's special items you can find if you keep your eyes open for them! If you shop with kids or a spouse, you may want to recruit their help in spotting these sale tags.


Don't Fall for the 10 for $10

Our Kroger runs 10 for $10 sales regularly, and they're usually pretty good deals. Just know that you do NOT have to buy 10 of any one item to get the $1 price. In fact, you don't even have to mix-and-match 10 of the items to get the $1 price. When you see a 10 for $10 sale, think of it as s $1 sale instead. Buy just what you want/need.


Brand Loyalty

I used to be VERY brand loyal when it came to certain items.... toothpaste (still am!), laundry soap, softner, hair color, facial cleanser... the list goes on and on. Some of it was my favorable experiences with products. Some of it was just habit. I wasn't paying attention, and I was just buying what I always bought. Couponing changed all of that!

Now I try new products that I would have never even considered before. In fact, when I was a novice coupon-clipper, I wouldn't even clip the coupons for products I didn't already buy! (No wonder I had such a tiny coupon stash!) Now I clip anything I think I might possibly use. I also clip for items that would make good donations to the women's shelter.

I have found a few new products that I absolutely love... just because I stopped being brand loyal and tried a different brand. For example, I tried Garnier's hair color and thought that it worked a million times better than what I was using before (and it smelled better!). I've tried All Small & Mighty laundry detergent and Snuggle fabric softner. I was a diehard Tide/Downy fan before. We've also tried some foods that we wouldn't have tried without coupons. It's fun to be able to try something when it's free or almost-free. If you don't like it, you're not out much. If you do like it, then you have a new favorite!

Do you have any money-saving tips for navigating the grocery store? Feel free to share them in the comments section of this post.

Come back tomorrow when we discuss shopping at CVS. I'll try to help CVS newbies make sense of ECBs, CRTs, and other CVS goodies.

Start Saving Part 6: Name Brand vs. Generics

In this Start Saving series, I'm trying to share some of my experiences and advice with people who are new to the couponing world. If you missed the first five parts of this series, you can catch up HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

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I used to be so sure that I was saving money by shopping at Wal-Mart and buying their store brand merchandise. If you look at the price tags on the shelves, they don't lie. The Equate brand shampoo is much less expensive than the Garnier. And I can say, having tried many of the store brand items, most of the products are pretty high-quality. Buying generics must be a better deal, right?

Wrong!

Think about this scenario.....

You're taking a shower tomorrow morning. You use the last drop of your shampoo, and you have no extra bottles in the house to replace that one. What do you do? You swing by Wal-Mart and pick up a $2.50 bottle of generic brand shampoo to replace the empty one, right?

Well, if you read yesterday's post about shopping at CVS (HERE), you saw how you can often get health & beauty and home care items for free or almost free. When I can get items for rock-bottom prices, I don't just buy one. I buy as many as I can with the coupons that I have (within reason). That means that I have a nice little stash of shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, hair color, medicines, and other similar things in my cupboards. They were all bought when I could get them free or close-to-free, so they only cost me pennies.

If the above scenario happened to me tomorrow morning, I would walk to my cupboard and choose a new bottle of shampoo to replace the empty one. I paid pennies for my bottle of Pantene, Garnier, or L'Oreal shampoo. You would have paid $2.50 for the generic. I would much rather use the name brand shampoo if possible. Using coupons and matching them to sales makes it possible for my family to use name brand products for MUCH less than it would cost us to use generics. And I don't have to spend any gas money driving to Wal-Mart.... not to mention the five other things that would mysteriously find their way into my shopping cart while I was there. That bottle of shampoo could end up costing me $30!

It takes a while to build up a nice stockpile of items to pull from, so you may need to buy items as-needed until you're well-stocked. But once that stockpile builds a little bit, you'll love "shopping" in your own cupboards!

Note: My exception to this rule is food. If I'm shopping for groceries and don't have a coupon that would make an item cheaper than the store brand, I am willing to try the store brand. I am especially fond of the Kroger brand canned veggies, fruit, pasta, cheese and beans. I believe Kroger has a money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied with one of their store brand items.

Start Saving Part 7: Maintaining Balance

In this Start Saving series, I'm trying to share some of my experiences and advice with people who are new to the couponing world. If you missed the first six parts of this series, you can catch up HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.

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Oh how I love a good deal! In fact, I can get totally wrapped up in finding a good deal and lose my perspective on what's important. So I speak from experience on this topic!

Saving money is a truly important task, one that benefits every member of our families. Our family members get to try new products, and the money we save can be used to fund other family activities or purchases. It's a lot more fun to partially fund a vacation than a trip to the grocery store. Plus, getting a good deal is just plain fun!

But saving money can be time consuming. There are blogs to read, sale ads to scour, coupons to clip, lists to make, and actual shopping to do. It's enough to wear anyone out!

The key is balance. You will need to do a little planning in order to get the best deals. However, it doesn't need to consume you. I've found that allowing myself a little time each day to see what I can find deal-wise is fun, and it's relaxing. But I can easily be sucked into reading blog sites and printing coupons, only to realize that an hour and a half has passed without me realizing it.

One trick that I've found is using blog-reading as a reward for myself. I teach online, and there are times when I'd rather be blogging than grading. So I make myself a deal..... Grade 5 lessons, and then I can read one blog site that I like to visit. Grade another 5 lessons, and I can do a quick blog post. Going back and forth between what I need to get done and what I'd rather be doing is a good way to break up the work. It also motivates me to get those 5 lessons graded! (I just graded 5 more before I finished this section!) I'm sure that all of you don't teach online, but you can apply the same idea to any task that you need to accomplish. Do you need to dust, vacuum, and unload the dishwasher? Challenge yourself to get the dusting done, and then reward yourself with some time visiting your favorite frugal site. Then jump back up and get the sweeper run. Once that's done, allow yourself time to clip last week's coupons.

Another effective way for me to keep myself from getting too wrapped up in deal-hunting is to take a week off from shopping. This might mean sending my husband to the store, or it might mean cooking from whatever we have on-hand. Either way, I give myself a bargain-hunting break, and I focus on other things that may have been neglected while I was getting my deals. I used to read other bloggers' sites and just be astonished by the fact that they skipped a whole week of bargain shopping. How could they possibly pass up the deals??? What would they do if they ran out of toothpaste this week? Now that I've been living frugally for a while, I see how they did it. I now have a nice supply of personal care and food items in my little stockpile. I don't feel a desperate need to run out to CVS every single week. My bargain shopping has paid off!

If you're new to bargain shopping, you may feel like you have to get to every store every week. You may feel like missing a good deal this week means that you'll never find that great of a deal again. Trust me, all sales run on cycles. If you happen to miss the sale cycle this time, you can catch it next time. It's much more important that you have a balanced life. Striving to get every deal will throw life out of balance very quickly!

If you find yourself getting out of balance and devoting too much time to your bargain hunting and coupon clipping, you may want to enlist the help of a friend or family member. Being accountable to someone else is a great way to keep things in check.

Do you have any other ways that you maintain balance? Feel free to share your ideas by clicking the comments link below.

Stop back tomorrow when we'll be talking about specific store policies on coupons and bargains. We'll try to hit Target, Rite Aid, Wal-Mart, and Kroger.

Start Saving Part 8: Store Specifics

In this Start Saving series, I'm trying to share some of my experiences and advice with people who are new to the couponing world. If you missed the first 7 parts of this series, you can catch up by clicking one of the topic links below.

• Part 1: Where Do I Start in this Couponing World?


• Part 2: Printable Coupons


• Part 3: Stay Organized


• Part 4: Grocery Store Tips


• Part 5: Shopping at CVS


• Part 6: Name Brand vs. Generics


• Part 7: Maintaining Balance
  

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We've already talked about the specifics of shopping at CVS (HERE), but what about some of the other stores that you might frequent? Grab a cup of coffee and some chocolate, because this is going to be a lengthy post! Today we will cover Target, Rite Aid, Wal-Mart, Kroger, and Kmart. As you read, keep in mind that store policies may vary regionally. If you have a specific question, it's best to contact your local store.

Target

Oh how I love Target! Our closest Target store is about 35 minutes away, so I don't get to go there as often as I would like. My favorite thing about Target is that you can stack manufacturers' coupons and Target store coupons for extra savings. (For more information about "stacking" coupons, read the post HERE.) A couple of months ago, Target had Goldfish crackers on sale for $1.66 each. There was a $1 off 2 manufacturer's printable coupon available, and there was a $1 off 1 Target coupon available. The scenario looked like this:
Buy 2 Goldfish crackers for $1.66 each.
Use 2 Target $1 off coupons.

Use 1 $1 off 2 coupon.
Total out-of-pocket: $0.32 for 2 bags

Target is also good about offering gift cards back for when buy certain items. Last week I posted about a Special K deal that Target was offering. If you bought 5 Special K products, you got a $5 gift card back. Here's how the scenario played out for that one:
Buy 5 Special K cereals for $2.39 each.
Use 5 Internet printable $1 off manufacturer's coupons.
Pay $5.95 out-or-pocket.
Get back a $5 Target gift card.
That's $0.19 per box!

I usually wait to go to Target until they're running several promotions like this at once. If you have a Target store nearby, you're fortunate enough to be able to snag the deals from week-to-week.


Rite Aid

I absolutely love Rite Aid! I just started shopping there a few months ago, and their rebate program is top-notch. Rite Aid runs sales just like other stores do, and you can use your manufacturers' coupons there. Some Rite Aids are also accepting Internet printable manufacturers' coupons. Mine is not. They only accept printed coupons with the Rite Aid logo on them. So be sure to check with a manager (not a cashier) before you shop your local Rite Aid.

Rite Aid runs a Single Check Rewards (SCR) program. Throughout the month, you shop their sales and buy items marked as SCR items. You can use your coupons on these items, making them even cheaper. After each shopping trip, log in to the Rite Aid rewards website (HERE) and enter your receipt information. The website automatically knows which items on each receipt are eligible for SCRs. At the end of the month, log in to the website again and request that your SCR check be processed. You may only make a check request ONCE each month (thus the name SINGLE check rewards). Your rebate check will arrive within a few weeks.

The first month is the most expensive one. You're paying out-of-pocket for the items you're going to earn SCRs for. But, if you shop the sales, you can keep your out-of-pocket to a minimum. For example, a couple of weeks ago, Rite Aid ran a deal on Huggies GoodNites pull-ups. The mega packs were $8.99. That's not a bad price to start with. I had a $2.00 off coupon, bringing the price down to $6.99, an even better price. I submitted my receipt for a SCR for $3.00. Including the SCR, the pull-ups were $3.99... a really good price!

Watch the SCR limits. Sometimes there is a limit of 1 per household, and other times you can get up to 5 SCRs for a particular item.

Rite Aid is also great about putting out $5 off any $25 purchase coupons. You'll find the most current coupon HERE. This applies to your purchase BEFORE coupons, so be sure to hand it to the cashier before you hand over your manufacturers' coupons.

I don't know if this is true for every Rite Aid or not, but my Rite Aid has FABULOUS makeup clearance deals. The best part is that you can still use your manufacturers' coupons! Many times I can get nail polish or lipstick/lip gloss for under $1 when I use my coupons. And these are name brands like Sally Hansen, Almay, and Cover Girl. They must cycle through their products often (which I truly appreciate!), and they get rid of the older products. I love grabbing these great deals for Christmas and birthday gifts!


Wal-Mart

I have to be SO careful when I walk into Wal-Mart. There are so many items in that store that I somehow didn't realize I needed wanted! They cry out to be put into my shopping cart. Wouldn't that bath mat look much better than what we're currently using? Wouldn't those cups come in handy? Doesn't Emma need a couple more pairs of shorts for summer? EEKS! While my husband appreciates having everything from spark plugs to boxer shorts in one location, it can cause me to overspend in a heartbeat!

My only purpose for stepping inside Wal-Mart these days is to shop for things that are free or almost-free. I scour the blog sites that mention Wal-Mart deals, make my list, and go in armed with my coupons. I try to hunt down the items on my list and then leave. The only exception to this rule is if Emma truly does need some shorts, shirts, tights, etc. I like to shop for quality, but for play clothes and socks, Wal-Mart is the place for us! I try to do this in a planned manner though, helping me avoid impulse buying and overspending.

Wal-Mart accepts manufacturers' coupons and manufacturers' Internet printable coupons. The only time they won't take the printables is when the coupon value exceeds the cost of the item. They will not adjust the coupon down to make the item free, even if it is only a few pennies. So, double check the cost of the item and the value of the coupon before you check out.


Kroger

I love Kroger!! There are two main grocery stores in our area, and I go to Kroger 99.9% of the time. They are the only store that doubled coupons, and they run great sales.

Our local Kroger doubles manufacturers' coupons (including Internet printables) up to 50 cents. I know that in some areas coupons up to 99 cents are doubled, so check with your store on its specific policy. Kroger also partners with several eCoupon companies.

• Cellfire - Cellfire sends coupon deals to your cell phone. I don't have text messaging, so I entered my home phone when I registered. It said that they sent me a text message with my login code, but I was able to just go back to the site the next day and log in without using my cell number. Create an account HERE and enter your Kroger card number. Then choose which Cellfire coupons you want to add to your Kroger card. When you check out, the savings will automatically be deducted from your total... no coupon clipping required!


• Shortcuts.com - This site works just like Cellfire. Register HERE, add your card, and choose your coupons. Scan your Kroger card at checkout, and the coupons come off automatically.


• Proctor & Gamble eSaver - This is another eCoupon company that works with Kroger. Register HERE, add our card, and choose your coupons.

I've read several blog posts about the ethics of using eCoupons stacked with manufacturers' coupons. This is not the way that these coupons were intended to be used. They are to take the place of your paper coupons. So you may want to print a list of what's loaded on your card so that you can avoid double-dipping. You can read more about the ethics of eCouponing at Mommy Snacks (HERE).


Kmart

I've been loving these Super Double Coupon events at Kmart! My store has only participated twice so far, but I was able to get SO much free stuff last time. (See my posts with pictures HERE and HERE.) I have noticed that their regular prices are a big higher than Wal-Mart or Kroger, but you can get many inexpensive items if you pair sales with coupons that are doubled.

Kmart accepts manufacturers' coupons, now including Internet printables. They just started accepting the printables not too long ago, so that makes the deal hunting even better. Kmart also has an email list that you can sign up for HERE. Signing up for this list allows you to print a $5 off any $50 purchase. This is $50 before coupons, so give this coupon to the cashier before you hand over your manufacturers' coupons.

If you find out that your store is participating in the Super Double Coupon event, check the blogosphere (or this site) to see what you can get free or almost-free.


WHEW!!! You made it through all of my stores! You'll notice that I haven't discussed Walgreen's. I don't have a store nearby, so I'm not very familiar with how they operate. If you have a Walgreen's, I would highly recommend reading Money Saving Mom's Walgreen's 101 post HERE. They're supposedly building a Walgreen's by my office, so I'm hoping to get to do a little shopping there in the near future!

Stop back tomorrow when we'll be talking about budgeting and avoiding overspending.

Start Saving Part 9: When is a Deal NOT a Deal?

In this Start Saving series, I'm trying to share some of my experiences and advice with people who are new to the couponing world. If you missed the first 8 parts of this series, you can catch up by clicking one of the topic links below.

• Part 1: Where Do I Start in this Couponing World?


• Part 2: Printable Coupons


• Part 3: Stay Organized


• Part 4: Grocery Store Tips


• Part 5: Shopping at CVS


• Part 6: Name Brand vs. Generics


• Part 7: Maintaining Balance


• Part 8: Store Specifics
  

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Have you ever gone shopping with a detailed plan of the spectacular deal you're going to get and then left the store wondering how you spent so much? The best plans can go awry if you're not careful and mindful of the dreaded B-word..... your budget!

Finding deals and snatching them up can become a bit of an addicting endeavor if you're not careful. I'm forever checking to see what percent of my total bill I've saved. But how often do we look at how much we've actually spent? I may walk out of CVS with $25.00 in Extra Care Bucks. Whoo-hoo! But what if I spent $57 to get those? I may have gotten some great deals, and that $57 of stuff may be worth $102. But if I've spent more than I intended to spend, I may need to stop and evaluate my habits. Am I after the best deal for the sake of the deal? Or am I looking for ways to trim out spending from week to week?

I just read a blog post about how bargain shoppers actually spend more overall than people who don't bargain shop. I can see how this could happen. It's the thrill of the hunt! When we find good deals, we want to stock up. But we don't need to stock up every single week just because the bargains are there.

My personal goal has been to lower our overall spending weekly. That doesn't mean that I don't splurge on a good stock-up sale once in a while. (You can see my latest Kroger stock-up photos HERE.) But I always make sure that we're paying cash for these purchases and that we have the extra cash available for them. I don't want to spend $99 at Kroger and come home to the realization that I spent part of the electric bill payment. So, for me, having a grocery budget amount in mind and sticking to it is important. My goals is simply to stay under the budget. That's reason to celebrate!


When is a deal not a deal?

I have a couple of friends who like to call me when they find great deals. They want to know if I want in on their finds. I'm usually quite impressed with what they find! But I may not jump in wholeheartedly. I know that they question this when it happens.... I'm the coupon lady after all! But sometimes a deal just isn't a deal.

For me, a deal isn't a deal if I'm not going to use the items that I'm considering purchasing. If I can get items free and I know someone who can use them, then that's one thing. But buying items at rock-bottom prices when I know we won't use them - and we don't know anyone else who would use them - is a waste of our money.

Many times clothes for our daughter fall into this category. People tell me about wonderful end-of-season clearance deals that I just have to check out. But they're usually for clothes that would fit Emma next year. My problem is that she goes through such amazing growth spurts that I don't know what size she'll be in next year. I can't even begin to guess. There was one year when she skipped up 3 sizes from one summer to the next. Had I guessed and bought clothes in the size I thought she would wear, I would have been stuck with a drawer full of midriff tops for her! I'm a bit jealous that they're able to plan ahead and stock up like this!! But that's not how I want to spend our money.

The other time a deal isn't a deal is when you don't have the extra cash to pay for it. We're very anti-credit card around here. Credit cards got us in trouble when we used them to pay for things like car repairs years ago. Then we found Dave Ramsey, and life has never been the same! Now we pay for things as we need them, not 30 days later.... or 10 years later in the form of sky-high credit card payments. Now, if I find a good deal and we don't have the extra cash to fund it, I pass up the deal. It's not worth being in credit card debt to get a deal.

The same holds true for rebate items. Sure, you may be able to get the total price of an item back as a rebate. But can you go 6-8 weeks without the money while you wait for the rebate to be processed? You have to pay for these items up front and be willing to wait for the check to come. So do rebates slowly, just a few items at a time, so that you can cycle the up-front money through and not pay so much out-of-pocket at once.

What about you? Do you fall prey to a good deal? Or do you limit yourself to just the best deals for your family, the things you know that you're going to use?

Start Saving Part 10: Planning Ahead

In this Start Saving series, I'm trying to share some of my experiences and advice with people who are new to the couponing world. If you missed the first 8 parts of this series, you can catch up by clicking one of the topic links below.
Part 1: Where Do I Start in this Couponing World?
Part 2: Printable Coupons
Part 3: Stay Organized
Part 4: Grocery Store Tips
Part 5: Shopping at CVS
Part 6: Name Brand vs. Generics
Part 7: Maintaining Balance
Part 8: Store Specifics
Part 9: When is a Deal Not a Deal?

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My Organizer


I am addicted to my family organizer book! We have a copy of Amy Knapp's Family Organizer sitting in our kitchen. It has a large space for each day of the week, a space for each day's menu, a to-do list area, and a grocery list area. My husband and I have an agreement that everything we each schedule will go into this book, and we consult it before we schedule anything new. If it's not on the calendar, then you're not responsible to plan around it.

The same goes for the grocery list. When either of us sees that we're getting low on something, we write it in the grocery list area of the organizer. If I go to the store and don't get something that one of us wanted, it's usually because it wasn't on the list. The list is also detachable, so you can tear it out and take it with you.

I seriously don't work for Amy Knapp's company. I just love, love, love her organizer! You can see it HERE.


Upcoming Events

My favorite thing about using an organizer like this is that you can see upcoming events at a glance. As I menu plan each week, I can look ahead to see if there are any special events coming up. If there are, then I can work them into my menu plan. For example, my husband and I attend a small group from our church once a week. When I see it on our calendar, I can plan a snack to take and a meal for my parents who come to watch our daughter while we're gone. If I see a picnic on the calendar, I can plan what I'd like to take for my covered dish. Then, while I'm grocery shopping, I can buy the necessary ingredients. This eliminates the need for an extra trip to the grocery store. That saves me money!

I also plan ahead with my stockpile. When we were planning our daughter's 4th birthday party last January, I watched the sale ads and stocked up on pop and chips from CVS. I got a couple of excellent deals and paid pennies for these items. My friend Becky (who is probably reading this - Hi, Becky!) got a fantastic deal on pop for her son's graduation party. She stopped at several different stores that were running pop sales, and she stocked up. Her husband was quite impressed, and I was too! It pays to plan ahead, especially on budget-busters like pop.


Planning for Points

Because we bank at National City, we earn points on our debit card purchases. (Usually people have to use a credit card to get points, but National City offers them with a debit card! Yay!) We like to save these points and cash them in for rewards that we use for Christmas gifts, birthday gifts, or gifts for other occasions. You never know how long it's going to take for the reward to arrive, so you really do have to plan ahead. This is especially true around Christmas. I ordered a gift card about a month ago for my brother's birthday, and it's not until August. But the card has arrived, and I don't have to worry about it being late for his birthday.

We cashed in our National City points before our daughter's birthday this year, and we ended up with a $100 Amazon gift card. With this, we were able to get all of the decorations/paper goods for her party as well as her gifts! We saved a TON of money by using our points and got much cuter party supplies than we would have bought if we were paying out-of-pocket for them! But again, we had to cash them in early so that we had time to order and have the items shipped.

I'm a fantastic procrastinator, but this is one area where I've learned (the hard way!) to plan ahead. Knowing what I need and when I need it is a great way to save money!

Start Saving Part 11: Couponing Ethics

In this Start Saving series, I'm trying to share some of my experiences and advice with people who are new to the couponing world. If you missed the first 8 parts of this series, you can catch up by clicking one of the topic links below.

• Part 1: Where Do I Start in this Couponing World?


• Part 2: Printable Coupons


• Part 3: Stay Organized


• Part 4: Grocery Store Tips


• Part 5: Shopping at CVS


• Part 6: Name Brand vs. Generics


• Part 7: Maintaining Balance


• Part 8: Store Specifics


• Part 9: When is a Deal Not a Deal?


• Part 10: Planning Ahead

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Well, this post will wrap up our Start Saving series for now. Hopefully you've gotten enough information to get started navigating this crazy coupon world! It really can be fun to see what great deals you can get and how much money you can save your family. We used to dip into our savings account each month when the bulk of our bills were due, and then we would replenish the savings the next time we got paid. It was not a productive cycle, one that we're no longer on. We attribute that change to making frugal choices, planning ahead, and couponing like crazy!

Today's topic is ethics. Most of us are very ethical people in most areas of our lives. There's no reason that this shouldn't carry over into our bargain shopping endeavors. However, because the Internet is a place where many times anything goes, and because people don't understand all of the ins and outs of couponing, you can easily do something that's not ethical without even realizing it.

I speak from personal experience on this topic! I used to print CVS coupons like $4 off any $20 purchase from the a website. Every time I used them, they would beep. The cashier would put them through, but now I realize that they beeped because I was not supposed to be using them. The coupons had been emailed to a specific person whose name had been removed from the coupon before it was posted for everyone to print. Now that I know this, I don't print them any more. I only use the coupons that CVS emails directly to me. Those have my name on them, and they don't beep when they're scanned. That's because they were intended to be used with my CVS card.

So how do we know which coupon practices are ethical? Sometimes we just have to learn by trial and error. But here are a few guidelines to start you off:

1. Read your coupons. Some people try to use coupons for items that they are not intended for. Each coupon will state specifically what should be bought with the coupon, and that's what the coupon should be used for. Asking a cashier to just "push it through" isn't ethical. I've recently heard some rumblings about people decoding coupon bar codes. This is a way for them to figure out which of the company's products the coupons will work for, even ones that the coupons weren't intended for.


2. Photocopies aren't legitimate. When you print coupons from the Internet, the print limit for each offer is usually 2 copies per computer. If you have access to more than one computer, then it's perfectly fine for you to print from each one of them. In fact, we just bought a printer for my husband's laptop so that I could print coupons. (Okay... we couldn't figure out how to network our computers to share my printer, and I really wanted to print from his computer!) Once you print a coupon, that's it. Each coupon has a unique bar code, and copying a coupon means that the same bar code is going to be used more than once. This will cause problems, and stores won't get reimbursed for the copied coupons.


3. Printing to a PDF file isn't allowed. Most companies make this known when you're printing coupons. They use special coupon printing software, and you need to print to an actual printer. You may find Rite Aid coupons in PDF format, and those are okay. If anyone sends you other coupons in PDF format, you need to question the validity of the coupons. (You can read about the Velveeta cheese coupon that recently made its rounds HERE.)


4. I just read about people who use self-checkout lanes at bigger stores, scan high-value coupons, and then slip different, lower-value coupons into the coupon slots! They keep their high-value ones to use again. Eeks! This is obviously unethical.
   

I guess that the biggest thing to keep in mind is that we want the stores to continue to accept our coupons. If people try to commit fraud by using coupons that aren't legitimate, it makes it harder for the rest of us to use coupons, even if we're using them ethically. The cashiers and managers get suspicious of anyone who is using coupons. And who can blame them? They need to make sure that their stores will get reimbursed for the coupons that they accept. And we want them to get reimbursed! Every time they accept a fraudulent coupon and don't get reimbursed, it's another chance for prices to go up. Someone has to pay for the fraud, and it's most likely everyone who shops at stores that are victimized.

Hopefully we can continue to promote the ethical use of coupons. By using coupons that we know belong to us, and using them for the products that they were intended for, we can make a good name for couponing!

A Post to Read

Alyssa at Kingdom First Mom has an excellent post today entitled Breaking the "Consumer" Mindset. She talks about the changes that she has made to move from being a consumer to being a wise steward. It's definitely worth the read! Click on over HERE to read it for yourself.

Frugal Car Travel

We're going to be traveling to visit my mother-in-law next weekend for Mother's Day. She lives about 6 hours away from us, and that is quite a trip with a four year old. We tend to stop often to stretch our legs. Before I started my frugal shopping journey, we would just grab some extra cash from the ATM before we left home. Then we would buy all of our meals, snacks, and drinks when we stopped along the way. We didn't buy the most expensive items, but it still added up!

Now that I've been coupon-shopping and bargain-hunting, this is one area that I want to get under control. The last time we traveled by car, we spent almost no money when we stopped, and we're going to try to do that again. Doing this takes some planning and shopping, but I'm up for the challenge!

The first thing we're going to do is dust off the cooler and put it in the back of the van. Throughout this next week, I'll be scouring the sale flyers for great prices on snack items and drinks. We'll fill the cooler with these items. That does mean cutting back on looking for deals on household items and health & beauty aids, but it keeps our budget in check. I can usually find great deals on crackers, juice boxes, Pepsi products, cheese, and maybe a few sweets. :) I may even use up my CVS Extra Care Bucks, but it's worth it to not pay much out-of-pocket for travel snacks.

For more great frugal living ideas, stop by Frugal Friday hosted by Life As Mom.

Are You Too Hard on Yourself?

As you begin (or continue) your frugal journey, you may find that you're too hard on yourself. You expect to find the best deals right away. You want to save 90% at the grocery store this week! I came across an excellent post today, and it goes right along with the Start Saving series I've been doing. Deal Seeking Mom has a guest post from Sharon (from Good, True & Beautiful) entitled Saving Money: The Learning Curve. This is a FABULOUS piece of writing about saving money. It's encouraging! Take a few minutes and click on over HERE to read it for yourself.

How will you build wealth?

I was standing in line to pay for gas at my local Speedway when I overheard the lady at the counter requesting her lottery ticket numbers. She walked away, and I stepped up to pay for my gas. While I was completing my transaction, the same lady approached the next register. She told the clerk that she "was feeling it today" and requested that he give her more lottery tickets with the same numbers.

How sad......

I actually felt sorry for this woman. I don't know anything about her life story, but I can see that she's trying to become wealthy the wrong way. I'm a huge Dave Ramsey fan, and Dave is big on teaching our kids that work equals money. I had just gotten paid before I came across the woman at the gas station. I had earned extra money in my paycheck by taking on some additional responsibilities. This money will go toward paying off debt and getting our house ready to sell. Doing wise things with our money will cause us to become more wealthy. Buying lottery tickets gives me a one-in-something chance to possibly win some money. There are certainly no guarantees. I can guarantee you that working more/harder will earn me more money. I can guarantee that paying off debt will keep more money in my pocket down the road.

I suppose there's nothing inherently wrong with playing the lottery -- if you're just playing and you're playing with money that you can afford to lose. This woman was doing more than playing. You could see it in her eyes and hear it in her voice. This was crucial to her.

I'm sticking with the sure thing. I'll keep clipping coupons, shopping smart, and working for my money.

The Best Way to Spend Less than $5 at Wal-Mart

Why is it that every time I walk into Wal-Mart I spend at least $25 or $30. I guess that's not too bad considering the fact that I used to drop over $100 each time I went. (Those were my pre-CVS days!) I walk in with coupons in hand and head straight for the great deals that I've found online. I snag as many of those deals as possible, but then I notice more things that I forgot I HAD to have! (Please hear the sarcasm in this!) Those shorts for my daughter are too darn cute to not buy.... I forgot that we needed some animal cookies.... I forgot to that we could use a couple of new bath towels.... I forgot a lot of things that add up quickly.

I sent my husband to Wal-Mart the other day. We needed a new shower curtain liner. He walked in, picked up the liner, checked out, and left....... spending a whopping $3 and some change.

I've found the secret!

To save money at Wal-Mart, I'll send my husband.