Friday, December 10, 2010
More Blogs to Check Out
It's Friday, so it must be Blog Hop time.... or something. Here's a few blog hops you may want to check out to find some more blogs to help you on your money saving mission.
Just Because it calls itself a Deal doesn't mean it is one!
I posted my thoughts on this subject a month or so ago, but one of today's deals that's going around made me think about it again. There are so many "daily deal" sites, sites like Groupon, and Living Social, as well as more retail oriented sites like HouseWaresDeals, Swirl and many others that if you bought everything you were told was "deal" you'd have no money and tons of junk.
Before you buy that "deal" do some checking and make sure it really is a deal. If you aren't familiar with the restaurant or brand that is being offered, check it out first.
We had a local deal a couple of weeks ago for 2 wine tastings for $20 to a wine shop that normally only charges $10/person anyway (granted this deal gave you two wine glasses with the deal, but really if you are going to wine tastings chances are you have a few of those at home).
Another thing that throws many retail deals out of the land of "good deal" is shipping. While the deal itself may be an ok deal, when you add in their inflated shipping charges, it becomes a "bad deal". Before you buy an item at one of these daily deal sites do some searching on Froogle to see what the item normally goes for.
Today's deal on HouseWareDeals, for instance, claims to be a $51 savings ($70msrp) for $19. Except that when I checked this brand on Froogle*, I found that these baking sheets & cake pans typically only go for $6-$10 each anyway. The 5 items in this deal would go for...
2 round pans @ $5.99 each = $12
2 cookie sheets @ $8.99 = $18
1 loaf pan @ $7.99 = $8 (rounding up for ease of math)
= $38 (a far cry from $70, but still an ok deal at $19)
Shipping is a flat rate of $4.95, so it's still a decent deal.
This time of year, especially, it's easy to get caught up in the idea of a good deal, especially on items you aren't familiar with. So, do your homework before you buy.
*If you aren't familiar with Froogle, it's Google's Price Comparison site. It basically scours the web for any item you type in and returns the various sites that offer that item and the prices.
Before you buy that "deal" do some checking and make sure it really is a deal. If you aren't familiar with the restaurant or brand that is being offered, check it out first.
We had a local deal a couple of weeks ago for 2 wine tastings for $20 to a wine shop that normally only charges $10/person anyway (granted this deal gave you two wine glasses with the deal, but really if you are going to wine tastings chances are you have a few of those at home).
Another thing that throws many retail deals out of the land of "good deal" is shipping. While the deal itself may be an ok deal, when you add in their inflated shipping charges, it becomes a "bad deal". Before you buy an item at one of these daily deal sites do some searching on Froogle to see what the item normally goes for.
Today's deal on HouseWareDeals, for instance, claims to be a $51 savings ($70msrp) for $19. Except that when I checked this brand on Froogle*, I found that these baking sheets & cake pans typically only go for $6-$10 each anyway. The 5 items in this deal would go for...
2 round pans @ $5.99 each = $12
2 cookie sheets @ $8.99 = $18
1 loaf pan @ $7.99 = $8 (rounding up for ease of math)
= $38 (a far cry from $70, but still an ok deal at $19)
Shipping is a flat rate of $4.95, so it's still a decent deal.
This time of year, especially, it's easy to get caught up in the idea of a good deal, especially on items you aren't familiar with. So, do your homework before you buy.
*If you aren't familiar with Froogle, it's Google's Price Comparison site. It basically scours the web for any item you type in and returns the various sites that offer that item and the prices.
Set Your Tivo for Extreme Couponing
Just saw a post about this on Krazy Coupon Lady, who just happens to be featured in this new show on TLC. TLC's latest reality show, Extreme Couponing, features 4 extreme couponers (imagine that) who go over and beyond for this tv special. 218 boxes of pasta? Really? OMG (I mean pasta really is a staple in my house and there's no way we'd go through that much in a million years).
I was glad to see Krazy Koupon Lady's post that, after the show, she donated most of what she bought.
I was glad to see Krazy Koupon Lady's post that, after the show, she donated most of what she bought.
Rite Aid Gift of Savings
The word is spreading through the blogosphere that Rite Aid changed the terms of the "Gift of Savings" program after many complaints over the last 2 weeks.
The Idea: Spend $25 at Rite Aid during the holidays, enter your receipts, get a $5 voucher for future purchases (or perhaps a check, since they are using the Single Check Rebate program to process these).
What Happened?: They were subtracting all your coupons and +UP rewards from the amount you spent, so if you were like so many of us who roll our +UP rewards and/or use coupons to pay as little out of pocket as possible, we were likely to never reach that $25.
The Change: They sent out info today updating the program so that we are no longer being penalized for manufacturer Q's and +UP's. They still deduct store coupons (video value coupons, etc).
What a huge change that made in my report. I went from barely having $10 worth of credit towards the Gift of Savings to having over $35!
The Idea: Spend $25 at Rite Aid during the holidays, enter your receipts, get a $5 voucher for future purchases (or perhaps a check, since they are using the Single Check Rebate program to process these).
What Happened?: They were subtracting all your coupons and +UP rewards from the amount you spent, so if you were like so many of us who roll our +UP rewards and/or use coupons to pay as little out of pocket as possible, we were likely to never reach that $25.
The Change: They sent out info today updating the program so that we are no longer being penalized for manufacturer Q's and +UP's. They still deduct store coupons (video value coupons, etc).
What a huge change that made in my report. I went from barely having $10 worth of credit towards the Gift of Savings to having over $35!
It's Your Birthday, Eat for FREE if ya wanna!
Over and Over and Over again. Really, you should be able to eat for free for the full 2 weeks surrounding your birthday, possibly even more if you wait till about a week before your birthday to start signing up for these programs. But, why wait, when you can spread the free eating out throughout the year!
There are many more restaurants than these that offer various deals for your birthday, my suggestion is if you have a favorite restaurant in your area look to see if they have a website/ email program and if they do, sign up for it. Many programs offer more than just free food for your birthday, usually it's something free when you sign up, then something free for your birthday/ anniversary, as well as special promos throughout the year. These are the ones I know we have locally; I know, because I've signed up and gotten the deals. As far as I could tell, all the below have no additional purchase required, I'm thinking you could just take all your deals and make a hometown tour of your favorite restaurants and eat for free all day.
Pauli's Bistro - this is a local place (corner of 72/Jeff Rd in Madison). It's a little on the spendy side but great for special occasions and the best part is that by signing up for their email newsletter you will get all kinds of great deals. This year on our anniversary they sent us a certificate for a free desert sampler (think 5 full size deserts - that was no sampler). For birthdays they send you a $25 coupon off dinner for 2 ($50 if your party has at least 4 people). And twice in the last year they have sent out offers where you could purchase discount gift certificates - and by discount, I mean 50% off. We buy the discount certificates then combine them with the birthday/anniversary offers, as well as try to go on a Monday for 1/2 bottle of wine night.
Ruby Tuesday - get a free burger for your birthday (click the "so connected" icon at the top of the page to sign up for the mailing list
IHOP - free breakfast (or menu item of equal or lesser value)
Famous Dave's BBQ - (we don't have one in Huntsville, but it is a nationwide chain) - free $10 entree
Captain Ds - free 2 piece fish dinner
Sonic Drive-in - choice of free cream slush, medium drink or tater tots
What's a Birthday without free desert?.....
Maggie Moos - free kids cone
Ben & Jerry's - What's a birthday without ice cream? B&Js Scoop Shops will give you a free scoop PLUS $3 off a cake.
Cold Stone Creamery - Like it Creation (ice cream + 1 mix-in)
Cantina Laredo - Free Mexican Brownie
CHILI's - Free brownie sundae
Macaroni Grill - They will send you a $5 coupon when you sign up, and a coupon for a free piece of cake on your birthday.
---- I'm sure there are more and I will update this post as I confirm them.
There are many more restaurants than these that offer various deals for your birthday, my suggestion is if you have a favorite restaurant in your area look to see if they have a website/ email program and if they do, sign up for it. Many programs offer more than just free food for your birthday, usually it's something free when you sign up, then something free for your birthday/ anniversary, as well as special promos throughout the year. These are the ones I know we have locally; I know, because I've signed up and gotten the deals. As far as I could tell, all the below have no additional purchase required, I'm thinking you could just take all your deals and make a hometown tour of your favorite restaurants and eat for free all day.
What's a Birthday without free desert?.....
---- I'm sure there are more and I will update this post as I confirm them.
All You Magazine Just $1/Issue
If you aren't familiar with All You magazine, you might want to become familiar real quick. If there is any magazine on the planet that is worth more than its weight in gold, it's ALL You. A bad issue has $24 in coupons, but most that I've seen have well over $75 (fwiw, the issue that had $24 was the second issue put out this month; a special holiday issue).
There are only two ways to get this magazine, either by subscription or by going to Wal-mart. This is the first good enticement I've seen for going to Wal-mart in years! But, a subscription is cheaper and headache-free (unlike Wal-mart).
Right now a subscription is even CHEAPER! And if you coupon or know someone who does, or if you know someone who likes to save money, this is a great gift idea! I'm thinking if you have someone on your list that you haven't picked up a gift for yet, this is it.
But, it gets better. Right now Amazon is running (yet another) great promo. This time it's Spend $30 on magazine subscriptions, get $10 back
to spend anywhere on Amazon.com
Just a few of the deals you may want to consider (for yourself or as gifts):
All You (2-year)
(2 years is just $34) - or pick up 2 - 1 year subscriptions for you and a friend.
Entertainment Weekly (1-year auto-renewal)
Redbook (1-year auto-renewal)
Woman's Day (1-year auto-renewal)
Better Homes & Gardens (1-year auto-renewal)
SmartMoney (1-year auto-renewal)
For the Parent:
Parenting School Years (1-year auto-renewal)
Working Mother (1-year auto-renewal)
For the Computer Guru:
Wired (1-year auto-renewal)
For the Men....
Men's Journal (1-year auto-renewal)
This Old House (1-year auto-renewal)
Maxim (1-year auto-renewal)
*note that some of these are auto-renewals so you will have to login to Amazon to cancel the renewal before the year is up, to keep from getting charged again.
There are only two ways to get this magazine, either by subscription or by going to Wal-mart. This is the first good enticement I've seen for going to Wal-mart in years! But, a subscription is cheaper and headache-free (unlike Wal-mart).
Right now a subscription is even CHEAPER! And if you coupon or know someone who does, or if you know someone who likes to save money, this is a great gift idea! I'm thinking if you have someone on your list that you haven't picked up a gift for yet, this is it.
But, it gets better. Right now Amazon is running (yet another) great promo. This time it's Spend $30 on magazine subscriptions, get $10 back
to spend anywhere on Amazon.comJust a few of the deals you may want to consider (for yourself or as gifts):
(2 years is just $34) - or pick up 2 - 1 year subscriptions for you and a friend.
For the Parent:
For the Computer Guru:
For the Men....
*note that some of these are auto-renewals so you will have to login to Amazon to cancel the renewal before the year is up, to keep from getting charged again.
Get Cash Back When You Shop
I think I'd heard something about this a long time ago but I just ignored it thinking there was some major catch, but in our recent days of trying to save money, I had to look a little deeper. It turns out you really can get cash back on your purchases online!
Lately, even our bank has gotten in on the action (if you are local and use RCFU, be sure to log into your online account and look for the deals). That said, the choices through our bank are pretty slim and the cash back is about half of what you can get through other services online.
Right now is really the time to use it too as many of these sites are offering bonus cash back through the holidays on certain stores or certain days. For instance, this coming Monday (Dec 13) is Cyber Monday II and that means big sales at many online retailers but it also means bonus cash back at many of the cash back services.
I know there are many other cash back services, and maybe even some that are better than these, but the two I've really started using lately are ShortCuts and Ebates. Both of these have a huge variety of stores to choose from (including major stores like Lowes, Target, Kohls, JCPenney and pretty much every major name you can think of, but quite often they both offer extra savings coupons on top of the cash back. So before you shop be sure to sign up for these sites and make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck. Oh, and when you sign up for an Ebates account and use it for the first time they will give you a $10 gift card to a (select) store of your choice. We chose Home Depot (cuz, well, we are always doing something around this house).
Oh, and one more thing. Many stores now offer in-store pickup of items without any extra charge. So, if you know you are heading out to say...Lowes for a specific item, why not go through Ebates to get a little discount before you go.
Lately, even our bank has gotten in on the action (if you are local and use RCFU, be sure to log into your online account and look for the deals). That said, the choices through our bank are pretty slim and the cash back is about half of what you can get through other services online.
Right now is really the time to use it too as many of these sites are offering bonus cash back through the holidays on certain stores or certain days. For instance, this coming Monday (Dec 13) is Cyber Monday II and that means big sales at many online retailers but it also means bonus cash back at many of the cash back services.
I know there are many other cash back services, and maybe even some that are better than these, but the two I've really started using lately are ShortCuts and Ebates. Both of these have a huge variety of stores to choose from (including major stores like Lowes, Target, Kohls, JCPenney and pretty much every major name you can think of, but quite often they both offer extra savings coupons on top of the cash back. So before you shop be sure to sign up for these sites and make sure you are getting the best bang for your buck. Oh, and when you sign up for an Ebates account and use it for the first time they will give you a $10 gift card to a (select) store of your choice. We chose Home Depot (cuz, well, we are always doing something around this house).
Oh, and one more thing. Many stores now offer in-store pickup of items without any extra charge. So, if you know you are heading out to say...Lowes for a specific item, why not go through Ebates to get a little discount before you go.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Grocery Shopping & Review of Coupon Organizer v3.1
It's official, I hate Organizer 3.1. It's just too big and bulky to easily use while shopping. It's easy enough to find things in it when I'm home and planning ahead, but pretty much impossible when I'm at the store. It's too small to sit on top of the cart seat without falling in, and once it's sitting in it, it's too big to page through and find a coupon easily. Add to that, that it's just bulky in general, which makes it hard to pick up.
Overall, my most recent grocery trip did not go well. Between trying to find coupons for items that were unadvertised and then getting to the register to have the cashier debate with me over my coupon usage. It just sucked the fun out of couponing and made me dread using this organizer again.
So what happened with the cashier? I had 2 different coupons for Kraft Homestyle Mac & Cheese (the new stuff in the blue bag). One was for $2/2 and the other was a BOGO coupon. I'd done this exact scenario last week, purchasing 3 bags and using both coupons without an issue. It just made logical sense to me that I would need to purchase 3 bags. Coupon 1 ($2/2) would attach to the first 2 bags. Then in buying those two bags I would be able to use coupon 2 (BOGO) to get the third bag for free. This cashier didn't see it that way, telling me I had to buy 4 to use both coupons. I explained to her why I didn't and eventually she relented with the old "well I'll do it this time" line. Then another woman came up to help bag, so the cashier decided to get a second opinion. The new lady agreed with the cashier that I needed to buy 4. I should have just put the original 3 back and tried the scenario again later with one of the more agreeable cashiers (the guys in this particular store), but I was already frustrated at that point, so I told them to grab me another bag. I think I'm going to take that 4th bag back, since the woman who grabbed it grabbed the wrong one anyway.
From now on I will stick to my usual Friday shopping at Publix and look for my guys.
Another thing I noticed that she did, which kind of annoyed me (and seemed to slow things down A LOT) was when I handed her the coupons (with the BOGO on top, because that's what one of the guys had told me to do), she went through separating them all and laying them out, ringing each matching coupon immediately after she rang the item it went with. For some reason I feel like in doing this she likely forgot a few coupons.
Overall, I was disappointed with my savings on this trip. Granted I bought A LOT, and I bought quite a few items that weren't on sale because I wanted to make a specific dish. In the end, my savings were only about 50% (having spent $80 and saved just under that amount). That said, there were quite a few items on the BOGO sale this week that were good deals. My hubby was still proud of the savings (he helped me unload the groceries so he saw just how much I got for that amount).
I told him about the new organizer and how much I disliked it and showed him the My Coupon Keeper that I was considering as my next organizer. He pointed out the one failure it has, which I have to agree with and feel like it will be the failing that will keep me from liking it as well... the lack of a handle. I think I'm going to end up just making my own (again), thinking I have a better chance of getting something that will work for me if I do that.
Overall, my most recent grocery trip did not go well. Between trying to find coupons for items that were unadvertised and then getting to the register to have the cashier debate with me over my coupon usage. It just sucked the fun out of couponing and made me dread using this organizer again.
 |  |
So what happened with the cashier? I had 2 different coupons for Kraft Homestyle Mac & Cheese (the new stuff in the blue bag). One was for $2/2 and the other was a BOGO coupon. I'd done this exact scenario last week, purchasing 3 bags and using both coupons without an issue. It just made logical sense to me that I would need to purchase 3 bags. Coupon 1 ($2/2) would attach to the first 2 bags. Then in buying those two bags I would be able to use coupon 2 (BOGO) to get the third bag for free. This cashier didn't see it that way, telling me I had to buy 4 to use both coupons. I explained to her why I didn't and eventually she relented with the old "well I'll do it this time" line. Then another woman came up to help bag, so the cashier decided to get a second opinion. The new lady agreed with the cashier that I needed to buy 4. I should have just put the original 3 back and tried the scenario again later with one of the more agreeable cashiers (the guys in this particular store), but I was already frustrated at that point, so I told them to grab me another bag. I think I'm going to take that 4th bag back, since the woman who grabbed it grabbed the wrong one anyway.
From now on I will stick to my usual Friday shopping at Publix and look for my guys.
Another thing I noticed that she did, which kind of annoyed me (and seemed to slow things down A LOT) was when I handed her the coupons (with the BOGO on top, because that's what one of the guys had told me to do), she went through separating them all and laying them out, ringing each matching coupon immediately after she rang the item it went with. For some reason I feel like in doing this she likely forgot a few coupons.
Overall, I was disappointed with my savings on this trip. Granted I bought A LOT, and I bought quite a few items that weren't on sale because I wanted to make a specific dish. In the end, my savings were only about 50% (having spent $80 and saved just under that amount). That said, there were quite a few items on the BOGO sale this week that were good deals. My hubby was still proud of the savings (he helped me unload the groceries so he saw just how much I got for that amount).
I told him about the new organizer and how much I disliked it and showed him the My Coupon Keeper that I was considering as my next organizer. He pointed out the one failure it has, which I have to agree with and feel like it will be the failing that will keep me from liking it as well... the lack of a handle. I think I'm going to end up just making my own (again), thinking I have a better chance of getting something that will work for me if I do that.
Turning Coins Into Cash
So how do you get money for your coins without paying almost 10%?
Trade them in for a gift card. Coinstar now allows you to trade your coins in for gift cards to a large number of online retailers and as of this week, they are even giving you a bonus for doing so (on top of not paying a fee). As of today, you can trade it $40 worth of coins for an gift card to one of the following merchants and get an extra $10 (so not only do you not pay a fee, you actually make money).
The current merchant list is Amazon.com, Itunes, Lowes, Regal Cinemas, Ritzy & Borders!
Of course, you can trade in your coins for gift cards to quite a few other merchants as well, without the bonus money, and still pay no fee. These include, Starbucks, Overstock.com, Gap, Old Navy, JCPenney & others.
One thing I'm not sure of (and haven't been able to find info on) is if there is any limit to this. Can I drop in $40 get a certificate for $50, then drop in another $40 and do it again? Or is it limited to one time? If you know / can find the answer please post a reply.
Living Social Huntsville Deal
Better than 50% off Shea's Express with Living Social. If you aren't familiar with Shea's Express, you should be. While they are only open for breakfast and lunch, it's one of the best places in town for a great brunch. Saturday is their "Live Jazz Brunch". Or if you'd prefer they have some great items to pick up for your holiday meals, including their wonderful Spiced Orange Cranberry Relish.
$12 for $25 worth of food. Get the Deal
$12 for $25 worth of food. Get the Deal
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