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I would use coupons more if FL doubled them sm [2008-11-18]
As it is, I will use them if it is something I normally buy, but most of the stuff I get is not stuff they have coupons for, or it is for a different brand that I don't like. Florida doesn't charge sales tax on groceries and we don't have state income tax, but we pay higher grocery prices on a lot of things for that reason. And as much as people hate Wal-Mart, that is where I do my shopping because it is affordable and the prices don't change from week to week because of sales ads, which is mostly bumping up prices on stuff so that you really aren't getting that much of a deal anyway.
I used to use coupons a lot [2008-11-18]
& had one of those little wallet things with tabs for organizing them. I haven't done that in years. Maybe I should get back to it.
There are 2 markets up here, a vons name brands are very expensive in that store. But the produce is always a lot cheaper than at vons.
Coupons [2008-10-22]
Clip coupons from your local newspaper or print them online. Also see if any of your local stores double coupons. Freds doubles coupons on Saturdays and Kroger always doubles coupons (up to a certain amount). If you can catch things on sale and double a coupon on it you can get stuff free a lot of times.
If you shop online, check the internet for coupon codes for the store before you check out. A lot of times you can get free shipping or a percentage off your purchase, especially for national chains like Best Buy, Toys R Us, Target, etc.
Check stores you normally wouldn I findgood deals onhousehold necessities (toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, etc) at our localfarm supply store.
See if your power company offers real-time billing based on peak and off-peak times. It
If you can On the really cold nights I hang heavy blankets or towels over all the windows to help keep the heat in and avoid the cold air radiating from the window.
My grandparents used to shut off part of their house and just heat half of it. Of course, they were empty nesters and had more house than they needed, but it could still work for any rooms that aren I have vents in my pantry and my closet that I shut off every winter. No sense in heating rooms I
Instead of cooking enough to eat for a day or two, make up a bunch and freeze some. I It saves a ton of time and saves power because instead of cooking 5 or 6 small batches you
I have a thing that goes on the exhaust hose of my dryer to vent it into the house instead of blowing the heat outside in the winter. It also adds lots of moisture to the air. You can also justtie piece of pantyhose over the end of the hose, just make sure to keep the lint cleaned out of it.
Has anyone ever printed and used on-line coupons, [2008-07-19]
specifically for groceries? If so, can you recommend a free site? Thank you!
I use coupons when I can get them, but lately [2008-04-27]
Safeway gives a few in its weekly mailings, Lucky practically ZERO. I.31 cents per oz., etc.) If I product I formerly bought a lot of (for example, granola bars) turn into incredible shrinking products, which seem to get tinier each month, then I stop buying them. I figure, if you can eat an entire granola bar in one bite, it is no longer a granola BAR - it is a granola BITE! And Ibars, when it takes all 6 to make you feel like youbreakfast - now it's more of an on-the-go tidbit. And $5 for a box of Corn Flakes, where the level of cereal contained within the box is now hovering right at or below the halfway mark, and the rest is AIR? Forget it. Cereal has got to be the biggest gyp in the entire supermarket. Nowadays I pretty much just have oatmeal and coffee for breakfast. Used to eat a cup of yogurt, but those have shrunk drastically in size, as well.
I have to laugh that the Pres. thinks a one-time economy booster check of roughly $600 is going to be of much use in convincing people to spend more. It would only work for me if I got an extra $600 every month!
We have a Price Chopper , WalMart and Aldis. PC and Aldis won't take coupons. sm [2008-04-27]
WalMart still does so far.
Oops - PC will take manufacturer's coupons, not those printed off various web sites. nm [2008-04-27]
m
Free Nestle Crunch Crisp bar (2000 coupons given out daily) [2007-10-04]
http://www.playinyourday.com/
Buy more than one paper Thurs. a.m. [2008-11-22]
It will be worth the price to get extra coupons, especially if you have someone else to go with. Preplan the day/night before. Layer clothing as it may be really cold out usually (where I live anyway) but the stores get hot, crowded and nasty. But it's worth it if you really still need to shop for some special things. I would not want my husband with me as he gets frustrated with crowds and holds me back. Better to bring a friend who will help you shop and likes the excitement of it all. Have fun!!
Just check all the ads in the newspapers. [2008-11-21]
Most stores have special coupons for early birds on Friday morning. Around here, stores open around 4 a.m. and last year we got there at 3 and stood in line in the cold just waiting to get in. Good luck. Don so unless you are first in line at those places you are usually out of luck. I know last year, people were in line at Best Buy at 2 a.m. waiting for it to open at 5.
I'm a virgin, help a first timer out .. [2008-11-21]
BLACK FRIDAY Shopper's!!!!
Ive NEVER in my life shopped on Black Friday, it used to be of no interest, then it got interesting for awhile, but DH hated the idea and I dont shop without him unless I absolutely have to and/or dying to get out, and now the interest is back with DH on my side! So I am excited, or should I be frightened, is it a true mad house?
I need some tips and info. Do you have any tips for a 1st Timer??
What time do you get at the store? Do you have to get a coupon or something to be allowed IN? If so, where do you get these coupons?
What time do stores typically open? What times do they take the sale prices down, is it usually an all day thing, or an end at lunch type of thing?
And most important of all. I am a fan of the old fashioned way..... newspaper ads to see who has what deal. Where do you get this? Does it come out THIS Weekend or on Thanksgiving Day??
Thanks so much!!!!
Your welcome! Don't forget to [2008-11-19]
check the theater website for coupons or a frequent visitor card. He probably wouldn't fill one out himself but you could fill it out and include it in with the gift card. Usually you can get free drinks, etc. and it will really stretch the gift card.
We did a movie pack for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law last year. I found a plastic popcorn bucket at the $1 store and wal-mart had candy in the boxes (like at the movies) for a $1. Turned out to be a very cute gift if I do say so myself. We through the giftcard in there instead of buying a $3 card to go along with the giftcard.
I would use coupons more if FL doubled them sm [2008-11-18]
As it is, I will use them if it is something I normally buy, but most of the stuff I get is not stuff they have coupons for, or it is for a different brand that I don't like. Florida doesn't charge sales tax on groceries and we don't have state income tax, but we pay higher grocery prices on a lot of things for that reason. And as much as people hate Wal-Mart, that is where I do my shopping because it is affordable and the prices don't change from week to week because of sales ads, which is mostly bumping up prices on stuff so that you really aren't getting that much of a deal anyway.
At certain stores in MI, s/m [2008-11-18]
They will double coupons up to $1. I do this a lot with toothpaste and stockpile it. A lot of times it is 2/$4 or 2/$5, so I either get it free or for 50 cents a tube. A lot of the $1 coupons are for new items and our local store here is pretty good about having those on sale a lot during the first few weeks it is out to promote it, so I get the new things relatively cheap as well. You just have to be careful about not getting things just because you have a coupon.
When I coupon shop, it can take me 3 hours because I compare all the prices with brands to coupons, etc. You also have to really know your prices as compared to other stores. I have one store where I get my meat and I don Where they double the $1 coupon, I don I'm really careful about it and belong to an internet sites to help me as well.
I think I spend less at the store when [2008-11-18]
we eat out/order in. Of course, then our entertaining budget increases. But some things are cheaper to just order in. For example, pizzas -- I can get 2 large pepperoni pizzas from the local pizzeria for under $20. If I buy them in the store, I spend about $15 and then have to cook them and my kids don The frozen kind are also smaller.
I just got groceries this past Friday and spent $200. I had an entire cart full. In addition to the coupons I had, I also had a 20% discount on everything (one of those reward plans for spending so much the previous 2 months). I got value packs of skinless/boneless chicken breasts - buy 1 get 1 free -- $15 packs of chicken, breakfast sausage on sale, ham steaks on sale, plus my 20% off all that.
Overall, I think I spend somewhere around $150 a week on groceries. There are 5 of us -- me, my hubs, and 3 boys -- ages 6 to 11.
What I notice that I spend more on are school lunches. It costs $2.00 a day per child and I don I $2/day x 3 kids = $6/day x 5 days/week = $30/week x 4 weeks/month = $120 for lunch. YIKES!!! I think I can do better than that if I pack them.
I think this is about what I spend [2008-11-18]
I'm not sure yet, but I think it's about $200 a month. But there are people posting who spend less than that for several people!
I hardly ever use coupons. It just seems like most of the time they are for stuff I never use. No one doubles coupons up here, ever. This mountain community caters to tourists, so things are more expensive on the weekends, when the skiers and boaters are here. I avoid going to town at those times.
It's actually something like a second job to get the bill that low. [2008-11-18]
I spend a lot of time studying sales and clipping coupons (doubled and sometimes tripled in our area). And I use bonus cards and shop at places like Aldisauce I just use olive oil, salt and pepper, GOOD cheese, maybe a little bit of chopped ham or dried sausage as a flavoring. Add some sauteed spinach or escarole, a little salad from whatever veggies looked good at the market. Add some beans to the salad to boost the protein, and we're eating very fine! I also haven't bought canned soup in .... probably ever. I save up chicken carcasses or buy the backs to make stock. I also make veggie stock and buy beef soup bones and make my own beef broth. The home-made stocks make all the difference when cooking from scratch.
I keep the grocery bills low by planning my shopping expeditions and cooking from scratch. It depends on how far you want to go with it. I love to cook. It's a creative outlet for me, so I find it relaxing. Someone else may not, in which case, buying convenience foods would lower their stress level and would be worth the extra expense.
Live in WI [2008-11-18]
I live in northern WI and it is only my husband and Iin the household. I think we spend about 75 a week. We used to spend less living in south-central WI, but found groceries are more expensive up here.....
I try to use coupons whenever possible. I definitely get more bang for my buck...
Eating Out - About the Same as You [2008-11-18]
We usually get take out on Friday's because I don't cook on Fridays (it's my day off so to speak). Then we go out on Saturday nights just my husband and myself and our best friends and usually spend about $40+ depending on where we go. The kids get together with their kids and they usually get some sort of take out. Then on Saturdays we usually either eat lunch out (fast food) and then Sundays either lunch or dinner out (fast food - I hate to say sometimes it's both). We have been trying to cut down the Saturdays and Sundays as far as the fast food goes. My daughter who is a vegetarian doesn't usually get much from the fast food restaurants so our bill usually isn't that large (About $10). We always use coupons, though (buy 1 get 1 free - we have what is called Entertainment Books that the schools usually sell). My husband will cook, and I hate to say he cooks better than I do.
I checked that site out a couple [2008-11-15]
months ago. They didn't have any stores on the list for my area. Our stores won't even take computer-generated coupons for some reason.
What I 'used' to do [2008-11-14]
They had a store in my area where you could buy canned goods without labels by the case. That was nice. The store is no longer there.
If there is astore that have off-brand names, buy there. For example,I bought 16 ounces of extra virgin olive oil from Italy for $4.99. There is also a store in my area that have name brands but they are close to expiration. I haven't been there yet, but you can buy Hamburger Helper at 4 for $5 every day.
Buy store brands instead of national brands. When there is sale, buy more than one and use coupons whenever possible.
Two other stores have sales where you can buy items 10 for $10. Examples of the items are Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes, canned tomatoes, tuna, pasta, Pregoor Hunts spaghetti sauce, ketchup, etc.I stock up then.
Canned and dehydrated items are good items to stock up on, as are canned meats (good for casseroles). Butter and cheese is a bit tough to store. They say you can freeze butter without much of a problem, and I tested cheese, but it crumbles when it thaws.
If you have a farmer's market in your area, buy tomatoes and freeze them. They're good for casseroles and soups. Peppers and onions freeze okay for the same reason. I don't like frozen green beans, but they freeze well, as does corn.
Root veggies keep well in a cool, dry place for a few months. A book I have said you can keep them for a few months if you put them in a box andcover withsawdust (I haven' t tried this). They supposedly also keep well in the ground itself if you cover with large bales of hay. If you live in a city, that could be a problem.
A good web site...... sm [2008-11-14]
for using coupons and stocking up on groceries is www.thegrocerygame.com. It does cost a little to join the web site, but they have done an amazing job at matching coupons with various grocery sales. You can choose your stores, like Kroger, HEB, CVS, etc. I used to do this a long time ago and still have a stock pile of shampoo and toothpaste. I quit for a while, but I think I may need to go back to it. I could get like $300 of groceries for around $90. No lie!
There are no jobs where I am sm [2008-11-13]
I had thought of working part-time in a mall to get the discount, do some Christmas shopping, get out to see people, only a few days here and there. Our newspaper used to have at least 3-4 full pages, 7-8 on the week-end, down to 1 column on weekdays, 2 on weekends. Most are heavy lifting jobs for men and/or must speak Spanish, especially if medical. So I buy extra at every sale, extra everything, use coupons, got 30% off from Kohlnice dress with atoy inside.The only thing is I am getting depressed from clutter, too much stuff all over but have to remind myself some have nothing. We do not go out to eat except perhaps soup in a sour bread bowl on special just every other week or at a Panera Bread just to say we went out, bought video movies for a dollar at church bazaars (all Disney) for grandkids, using our VCR which will be obsolete soon but can still watch movies on old TVCutting back in general, baking bread, baking cookies, really clipping and saving everything I can get my hands on. Walmart does not accept internet coupons, so check the newspaper. I do read labels on food from Walmart as some is from China.Joined a wholesale club but found it more expensive than most stores, so we can get our money back, refundin 3 months so they tell us. I really wish I had been more frugal when I made decent money at MT, I can now see I was wasteful and shame on me! I should know better, have been through recessions before. They do turn around and the only good thing is they give us a swift kick in the rear! Feel sorry for those who can barely make it, work is hard to come by in New England and a lot are losing their jobs, even teachers with over 20 years. No one knows when the next shoe will fall, even malls are failing. I am leaving all tags on gifts this year, usually cut them off, but with so many people returning things for the money, they said itand even though I get gift receipts, I want them to see where it came from so the store won't give them grief. Target is the worst for returns. So that's my story here in cold, sleeting today, NE.
Stocking up [2008-11-13]
I have not lived through a depression and hope we aren't headed that way but think we probably are.
As far as saving, I clip coupons but only use them if the item is also on sale or something that I use regularly. I feel coupons just get you to buy the brand name product when you would otherwise save more buying generic without a coupon. I look for 2 for $ sales. A good one is cereal. When it is on sale I buy about 10 boxes. Same for oatmeal. Anything that I can buy more than one and get it on sale, I do. I add to my normal grocery shopping so its not like I am spending a lot. One time I buy my meat and higher cost items, the next I stock up on whatever I can.
As far as meats and vegetables, the bulk of my list, I buy what is on sale. Lots of soups and stews now that winter is here because it seems to stretch things farther and the meat is a lot cheaper to buy.
I do not take anyone to the store with me, cuts down on impulse buying. I plan all of my shopping for one day. I find that cut down on impulse buying too. If I know I bought a special shampoo or something for me at wal-mart, I will be less inclined to buy something special the same day at the grocery store.
I have an area in the basement where I can keep extra stuff, especially toilet paper, canned goods, and a deep freeze.
First rule: Know your prices. sm [2008-10-23]
Second rule: Then again, it won't save you any money to drive all around unless you are making substantial purchases. If just one item is a little higher at Wal-Mart or the grocery store where you already are shopping, might as well go ahead and get it then. I shop first at the Dollar Store. Love Top Job and can't always find it anywhere else. Also, those old timey remedies include vinegar, cheapest and proven to kill as many germs as alcohol and bleach. Back in the day, I remember the ladies starting out the wringer washer (yes, I am that old) with the whites, then running those out to the side and reusing the water. I have actually wished a few times I had a wringer washer, especially after a hurricane. Then they started rinsing the clothes using the same water as long as they could for the rest of the stuff.
Make a list and stick to it, no impulse buying, take your coupons, maybe include a small cooler or thermal bag in your vehicle especially in the summer.
Check out the new lightbulbs, LEDlight that is almost always on. From what I understand, there is no real saving if you just turn it on to get something, then turn it right back off. I had motion detection lights outside, but had to unplug it, too much breeze here on the coast and the trees constantly set them off. Almost choked on that light bill.
Some economist on TV was saying to shop the perimeters of the store and avoid the center aisles, this for both money and health reasons.
See something really cute and not too expensive at wal-mart? Started telling myself I bet I could get 50cents for that in a garage sale in 6 months. Not doing the impulse buying will save a small fortune; it really adds up. Don't look at the stuff while you are checking out, either.
Check out America's Test Kitchen, not long ago they had a program on making your own pizza in 30 minutes. If you have kids, that can save you a fortune, that is about the most expensive thing out there.
my grandmother made the most wonderful soup - from a soup bone and leftovers. She never threw away leftover veggies; they went into the freezer in little bags until needed.
That is another thing, cut back on the meat and up the veggies.
I do splurge on some things. I usually have canned chicken ready for cheater pot pie and frozen pie crusts. All 3 of my daughter-in-laws use that recipe now, great with leftover chicken or turkey, another thing to be frozen when left over.
If you do eat out, make it during the day when prices are down.
maybe I gave you one or two things anyway. Good luck.
Coupons [2008-10-22]
Clip coupons from your local newspaper or print them online. Also see if any of your local stores double coupons. Freds doubles coupons on Saturdays and Kroger always doubles coupons (up to a certain amount). If you can catch things on sale and double a coupon on it you can get stuff free a lot of times.
If you shop online, check the internet for coupon codes for the store before you check out. A lot of times you can get free shipping or a percentage off your purchase, especially for national chains like Best Buy, Toys R Us, Target, etc.
Check stores you normally wouldn I findgood deals onhousehold necessities (toilet paper, dishwasher detergent, etc) at our localfarm supply store.
See if your power company offers real-time billing based on peak and off-peak times. It
If you can On the really cold nights I hang heavy blankets or towels over all the windows to help keep the heat in and avoid the cold air radiating from the window.
My grandparents used to shut off part of their house and just heat half of it. Of course, they were empty nesters and had more house than they needed, but it could still work for any rooms that aren I have vents in my pantry and my closet that I shut off every winter. No sense in heating rooms I
Instead of cooking enough to eat for a day or two, make up a bunch and freeze some. I It saves a ton of time and saves power because instead of cooking 5 or 6 small batches you
I have a thing that goes on the exhaust hose of my dryer to vent it into the house instead of blowing the heat outside in the winter. It also adds lots of moisture to the air. You can also justtie piece of pantyhose over the end of the hose, just make sure to keep the lint cleaned out of it.
Christmas gifts will be practical sm [2008-10-22]
Fortunately, was able to start today but bought warm, fuzzy clothing, will put a little something to play with in with that to lessen the blow of clothes! I have grandkids and they don't want clothes. Kohls had some great lounge pants at 50% off, Guitar Hero, Mario Bros., etc. Used another 15% coupon off. The grownups are getting warm PJ's,etc., working DIL will get something to wear to work.
I was poor as a kid, and I can remember getting a 16-color paint set and thought I'd hit the lottery. I went to Michaels Craft Store and bought some craft kits instead of toys today with coupons. I don't think I'll be too popular this year but I'm being practical. I know it isn't what the holiday is about and think many are going to be suffering. I can remember my mom rooting plants early on, buying white cotton cloth, and every grown up got a beautiful plant and a home-sewn apron. I know what it's like to have lean Christmases and if you can start now, you can come up with something basic if possible. I hope the house of cards does not blow down any further for us. I feel for those struggling to make ends meet, everything is affected. I will probably spend much less. Church bazaars are good for some things as well, every little bit helps.
Gift for transcriptionist? HoMedica's heated rolling massager on sale, helps with the back problem and husband uses it also,best gift I ever received (aside from home made cookies and brownies).
I hope some positive change is in the air for everyone so no one goes without this holiday season, especially the children.
frugal sm [2008-10-21]
Depends on who is living home. We are not buying anything we don We bought the energy-saving lightbulbs but find it hasnprivate label store products which sometimes are manufactured by the high-end companies using the private label of the store you buy it in, all you have to do is read, read, read, to be sure it isn now we are smartening up. But that's just our story as a family, perhaps we were just not walking the walk. Now we are finding things come out just as clean with cold water as hot, just ordinary cutbacks add up at the end of the week. Hope you get more posts on this.
frugal sm [2008-10-21]
Depends on who is living home. We are not buying anything we don We bought the energy-saving lightbulbs but find it hasnprivate label store products which sometimes are manufactured by the high-end companies using the private label of the store you buy it in, all you have to do is read, read, read, to be sure it isn now we are smartening up. But that's just our story as a family, perhaps we were just not walking the walk. Now we are finding things come out just as clean with cold water as hot, just ordinary cutbacks add up at the end of the week. Hope you get more posts on this.
I also stopped some luxuries....sm [2008-10-21]
I used to like to get my nails done...cut that out. Would occasionally have someone help clean the house. Can't do that any more. If I take the kids to do anything for entertainment I look for coupons. I used to go clothes shopping fairly often but don't do that anymore either.
My best way to save -- my mom and I share [2008-10-21]
the club card for our local grocery store (we only have 1 in our little town). We accumulate the points together and usually qualify for the higher percentage off when it Then we pick a day we can go together and ring our order up together. Of course we use our coupons, too. We just went 2 weeks ago and qualified for 15% off our total bill. Before coupons/discounts, our total grocery bill was $550 but after our discounts, it was only $283. We saved almost $200 ---- unbelievable but true.
Before dining out, I check the website of the restaurant we They usually offer a free appetizer and that helps to fill us up so we can order smaller meals. We have 3 kids and my 2 younger kids share a kids I also like to order water -- that always cuts about $5 off the bill.
Remember -- if you donate clothes to Good Will/Salvation Army, it's a deductible dontation, so keep track.
"One project done thread" [2008-10-10]
What projects do you need to get done?
I have quite a bit of scrapbooking and organizing photos to get on.
I've gotten all my coupons in my organizer. I just need to go back through them and organize the dates a bit better.
I have taken tons of things to the Salvation Army this year....Cleaned out closets, drawers and so on. I need to clean out and reorganize my kitchen cabinets.
It wouldn't hurt me to organize my recipes a bit better too!
I don't know much about it...sm [2008-10-05]
But is for dolls? I plugged in American Girl, discount, on a Google search, and a bunch of stuff came up....here's one on clothes for discount. There's others if you google, for coupons and such, too.
I hope others can help you out!
http://www.dollsclothes-emilyrose.com/Sale-and-discount-american-girl-doll-clothes-s/291.htm
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