I think most of us have at least one item we refuse to sacrifice on, whether it's Mac & Cheese or toilet paper. So that's the theme of my first poll.
To give your answers in the poll, go to my blog and see it on the left side of the page (if you are viewing this on an RSS reader or via email, you'll want to click here)
In our household, either one or both of us refuse to sacrifice on all of the items listed. After fighting over toilet paper for the first year we were married, we both finally agreed on the Kirkland's brand from CostCo, so now we won't buy anything else.
When it comes to detergent, I'm a little more giving, but I'm allergic to at least one brand. We also have to use "he" detergent thanks to our high end washing machine (that's another post). So we typically stick to ALL. It's proven itself and once we started stocking up we've found we can keep it on hand for around $2.50/bottle or less, with sales and coupons.
Toothpaste and razors are two things I refuse to give on. I like Colgate. I know I like it and I don't see the point in wasting money on other brands, that I may not like. I know from past experience I don't like the other two major brands (one I don't like the taste of, the other for some reason gives me pickle breath). Compared to typical sale prices, this was another item that we'd found we could get the best deal on at CostCo. When they run their coupon for their Colgate Total 5pk, we could get 5 8oz tubes for about $9. That said, over the holidays I've built up quite the stockpile, getting every tube for under .50.
While hubby doesn't care which razors he uses as long as they have at least 3 blades, I like Gilette Fusion and no other else seems to shave me as close while lasting as long. Until recently, I would have sworn this was something I couldn't get cheaper than at CostCo, but then I managed to grab 2 razors (with blades) at Rite Aid (Free after coupons and +UPs). I'm hoping I can keep grabbing a few this way and keep my stock going.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Making Friends Monday
More Blog Lists for your to check out this Monday morning and find some fun new frugal finds.
Drugstore Deals Week of 12/12
Walgreens wins this week on most deals (for me). Unfortunately, most of the great deals I'd seen others talk about at Rite Aid this week aren't showing up in our local ad (as per usual). The upside is that probably means this week they will likely have a "get $25 for transferring a prescription coupon", as it seems they often do when our ad is sparse.
Walgreens
Rite Aid
Walgreens
- Listerine 1L bottle $3.99 - $1JC - $2/1 coupon
- Scotch Packing Tape $3.49 (BOGO with in ad Q on page 14) - (2) coupons $1/1 coupon2 from Publix Winter Savings = 2/$1.49
- Mars / milky way .39 (w in ad coupon pt 3) - .50/2 coupon
- Lindsey Olives .99 (w in ad coupon on page 3)
- Scotch Tape $1.99 (w in ad coupon on page 13) - $1/1 coupon from Publix winter Savings = .99
- Sharpie Twin pack .99 (with in ad q on page 14)
- Olay Body Wash $6.99 -$3JC - $2 coupon from P&G Have you Tried this Yet coupon book = $1.99
Or if you still have the B1 Olay Body Wash G1 Olay Lotion FREE Coupon, get both for $3.99 - Bic Comfort 3 $3.99 BOGO - (2) $2/1 coupons from 12/12 paper = 2/FREE
- Blistex .99 ($1/2 coupon) = 2/.98
Rite Aid
- Halls 2/$3 - $1+UP -.50VV (Dec) = 2/$1.50 (2/$1 if you still have Novembers VV coupon)
- Ghiradelli pouches $2.50 - $1+UP/2 - $1/2 coupon = 2/$3
- Gillette disposable razors (2-4ct) 2/$10
- Hershey candy (get $5+UP wyb $15)
Kisses 2/$5 - $1VV (Dec) - $1/2 Hershey Kisses = 2/$3
Bliss 2/$6 - $1VV (Dec) - (2) $1/1 Coupon from 12/5 paper = 2/$3
Pot of Gold $3.99 - $1 coupon = $2.99 - Colgate Sensitive $3.50 - $1/1 coupon -$3.50 +UP = $4.50 moneymaker
- Gillette Fusion 4 ct blades (get $5ECB wyb 2)
- Glade Reed Difusers $6 (Buy 2 & use BOGO coupon) Spend $10 get $3 ECB = 2/$3
Saturday, December 11, 2010
The Fine Line Between Saving Money & Hoarding
Reading another bloggers post regarding the upcoming Extreme Couponers show on TLC got me thinking. This is an extension of my reply to their post.
Most couponers are fond of stock-piling. We've got quite the stockpile going in the last few months since we started couponing and shopping sales. There are some things that just aren't worth buying in bulk because you won't use them and/ or you can't give them away before they need to be used. But, many couponers don't even think about donating their overstock. Unfortunately, some couponers don't think beyond what they are "saving" to realize what it's really costing them.
Some things to consider before you buy that item in bulk:
How much of it do you really use?
If you use 3 bottles of shampoo in a year, then having a stockpile of 20 bottles might be a little excessive. I have to admit this is the one area of overstock in our house that I'm thinking I need to donate at least half of. There are two of us in the house and we both have short hair... and we now have at least a dozen bottles of shampoo on hand. But... but.... it was FREE! Doesn't matter. Leave it for someone who needs it, or someone who will actually donate it quickly.
Do you really use it at all?
It really doesn't matter how cheap toilet paper is, or how free it is, there is only ONE brand we have managed to agree on in this household, so unless I'm getting THAT brand for free or super cheap... it's really not worth stockpiling.
Do you have a place to put it?
Where you won't forget about it until it's too late to use it, then just end up throwing it out anyway? If you end up throwing it out, it's a waste of money.
Does this deal make good sense? For YOU, not for someone else!
As I've posted in other posts, too often we get so caught up in "getting a deal" that we don't really consider if it's a good deal. Really ask yourself if it's a good deal before you buy it.
The best way I've found to ensure that I don't go overboard on buying things that we wouldn't normally use/ want is to make a list before I go to the store, get my coupons together (that match said list) and then go shopping and stick to my list. If you do this you can still donate items but you can plan ahead for what you will donate, rather than just buying things under the premise of "maybe we'll use them / it's a good deal, I can't pass this up" only to realize too late that you won't use it.
If you plan to donate things that are perishable, check around at local shelters before you go shopping to find out who will take them, then plan to drop those items off at the shelter on your way home. This will ensure they get where they need to go and don't go to waste in your fridge.
Most couponers are fond of stock-piling. We've got quite the stockpile going in the last few months since we started couponing and shopping sales. There are some things that just aren't worth buying in bulk because you won't use them and/ or you can't give them away before they need to be used. But, many couponers don't even think about donating their overstock. Unfortunately, some couponers don't think beyond what they are "saving" to realize what it's really costing them.
Some things to consider before you buy that item in bulk:
If you use 3 bottles of shampoo in a year, then having a stockpile of 20 bottles might be a little excessive. I have to admit this is the one area of overstock in our house that I'm thinking I need to donate at least half of. There are two of us in the house and we both have short hair... and we now have at least a dozen bottles of shampoo on hand. But... but.... it was FREE! Doesn't matter. Leave it for someone who needs it, or someone who will actually donate it quickly.
It really doesn't matter how cheap toilet paper is, or how free it is, there is only ONE brand we have managed to agree on in this household, so unless I'm getting THAT brand for free or super cheap... it's really not worth stockpiling.
Where you won't forget about it until it's too late to use it, then just end up throwing it out anyway? If you end up throwing it out, it's a waste of money.
As I've posted in other posts, too often we get so caught up in "getting a deal" that we don't really consider if it's a good deal. Really ask yourself if it's a good deal before you buy it.
The best way I've found to ensure that I don't go overboard on buying things that we wouldn't normally use/ want is to make a list before I go to the store, get my coupons together (that match said list) and then go shopping and stick to my list. If you do this you can still donate items but you can plan ahead for what you will donate, rather than just buying things under the premise of "maybe we'll use them / it's a good deal, I can't pass this up" only to realize too late that you won't use it.
If you plan to donate things that are perishable, check around at local shelters before you go shopping to find out who will take them, then plan to drop those items off at the shelter on your way home. This will ensure they get where they need to go and don't go to waste in your fridge.
Redbox 3 rentals for $1 Groupon still Active
If you use Redbox (or if you just rent movies and you want a cheaper alternative), you may want to give Redbox a try, and now is the time to do it.
Groupon has a great deal going right now where you can rent 3 movies for just $1. Pay $1 for $3 worth of rentals from Redbox.
To get this deal:
Go here to sign up for Groupon.
Then go here to get the deal
If you haven't created an account at Redbox yet, you can also get a free rental by creating a new account.
Groupon has a great deal going right now where you can rent 3 movies for just $1. Pay $1 for $3 worth of rentals from Redbox.
To get this deal:
Go here to sign up for Groupon.
Then go here to get the deal
If you haven't created an account at Redbox yet, you can also get a free rental by creating a new account.
More Birthday Freebies
This post from another blogger who shares the best birth day ever, lists some more birthday freebies you may want to check out.
Awesome Deal on Advil Cold & Sinus Next Week
This deal is at Rite Aid starting on 12/12. (Their ads tend to vary from market to market, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this deal is valid for our area).
Advil Cold & Sinus, Allergy Sinus or Congestion Relief on sale for $6.99
-$1SCR
-$1+UP
-$1/1 Video Value coupon
-$1/1 Printable Coupon
= $2.99
Advil Cold & Sinus, Allergy Sinus or Congestion Relief on sale for $6.99
-$1SCR
-$1+UP
-$1/1 Video Value coupon
-$1/1 Printable Coupon
= $2.99
Coupons for Advil, Centrum, Dimatapp & More
Pfizer has a good selection of coupons available on their website for the following products:
- $1 off Advil Liqui-Gels
- $1 off Advil Congestion relief
- $1 off Advil Cold & Sinus
- $1 off Advil PM
- $1 off Childrens Advil
- $1 off Alavert
- $2 off Caltrate 155ct or higher
- $1 off Caltrate 120ct or lower
- $3 off purchase of BOTH Centrum AND Centrum Kids
- $3 off Centrum Cardio or Centrum Performance
- $2 off Centrum Silver (150ct or higher)
- $5 off TWO Centrum Ultra Silver, Ultra Mens or Women's
- $2 off any Centrum Ultra Silver, Ultra Mens or Women's
- $2 off Dimatapp
- $2 off Preparation H
- $1 off Thermacare
$19 - Spice Rack with 16 Spices and Free Spice Refills
Ok, now this is a good deal. I'd looked it up yesterday knowing this was coming and because the preview wasn't clear on whether or not the rack came with spices, I wasn't sure this would be a good deal. However, the deal is now up and not only does it come with spices, it comes with free spice refills for 5 years! You just pay shipping for the refills and you are good to go for the next 5 years.
This is a deal that I went ahead and purchased two of. My mom was just complaining recently that she wanted a new spice rack and telling me about a deal on one at Costco that was about $10 more than this one (and didn't come with refills). Really, she didn't care about the spice rack so much as they use a lot of spices and buying a spice rack full of spices was cheaper than buying the spices individually!
Get the Deal
This is a deal that I went ahead and purchased two of. My mom was just complaining recently that she wanted a new spice rack and telling me about a deal on one at Costco that was about $10 more than this one (and didn't come with refills). Really, she didn't care about the spice rack so much as they use a lot of spices and buying a spice rack full of spices was cheaper than buying the spices individually!
Get the Deal
Swagbucks For Your Birthday
If you haven't already signed up for Swagbucks, make sure you do it before your birthday! Why? Cuz they give you a bonus 50 swagbucks for your birthday (that's 1/9 of the points you need to earn an Amazon gift card).
Also, once you do sign up be sure to do the following things regularly each day....
Of course Amazon gift cards aren't the only thing you'll earn but you can earn them rather quickly and they are the best bang for your (time) buck on the gift card options.
Also, once you do sign up be sure to do the following things regularly each day....
- Search using the Swagbucks search engine (you can earn points doing this twice a day, I suggest doing several searches until you earn your points, then come back later in the day and do it again).
- Answer the daily poll.
- If you install the SB toolbar, you'll also earn a point just for opening your browser each day and get special tips on other ways to earn points via messages that show up on the toolbar.
Of course Amazon gift cards aren't the only thing you'll earn but you can earn them rather quickly and they are the best bang for your (time) buck on the gift card options.
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