Author Topic: Coupons (Read 6894 times)

Emerentiana · « **Reply #15 on:** April 07, 2011, 07:30:26 PM »

Here is a website today that has links to lots of coupons:
It has a link to a coupon database.

http://thekrazycouponlady.com/

MaterDominici · « **Reply #16 on:** April 07, 2011, 07:36:58 PM »

Quote from: Emerentiana

Here is a website today that has links to lots of coupons:
It has a link to a coupon database.

http://thekrazycouponlady.com/

Krazy Coupon Lady is on top of her SEO (search engine optimization). Her header says "Extreme Couponing" and she added that verbiage to her menu and title as well. :cheers:

Emerentiana · « **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2011, 07:37:13 PM »

Quote from: momofmany

Quote from: MaterDominici
Talthough HEB doesn’t specifically price match, you’ll often find that they’re matching Walmart’s rollbacks on their shelf pricing. I’d hate to live somewhere where I’d only get a reasonable price if the item was on sale.

Quote
I don't shop for food at Walmart either.

Walmart is consistently going to have the lowest standard prices for national brands (read, processed foods). But, the sales price at your average grocery store will be similar if not beat Walmart’s normal price. From a couponing point of view, Walmart has pros and cons, but that would be an entire post in and of itself..

I'm pretty much forbidden from food shopping at Walmart by dh. They are his competition and he has HUGE issues with many of their business practices. It isn't a loss, I am not a fan of Walmart or their lack of quality. HEB isn't an angelic company, they have definite issues but compared to Walmart? I'll take HEB.

I went to Wallmart last month for groceries for the first time. Their prices were great and they carry the same brands as other chains do.

BTW, I saw a show on couponing. The ladies were going to Albertsons.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #18 on:** April 07, 2011, 10:38:23 PM »

A basic/simple method to save some money at the grocery store…

Start with your store’s weekly sales ad. If you have options between stores which are similarly priced, go with whichever has the more appealing sales for the week or possibly shop both if they are located near each other.

Plan what you’ll be eating for the week around what’s on sale. Make a shopping list of all the items you’ll be buying (both food and other household items).

Now, take a look at your list and identify which items might possibly have a coupon available. Go online to a coupon database (I recommend dealseekingmom.com or moneysavingmom.com). Search for those items and see what is available. Some items might have coupons you can print, some might be found in your Sunday paper. If you consistently find that there are coupons available for products you buy that you don’t have access to (for example, you don’t buy a Sunday paper), you might consider investing in that coupon source.

Unless you’re very good with numbers and self-control, I do not recommend you browse through coupon inserts randomly. That’s what they hope you’ll do as it encourages the habit of the coupon justifying the purchase – you’ll likely buy things you didn’t need in the first place.

Random tips:
- Don’t be brand loyal unless you have good reason to do so.
- Coupons can make name-brand items cheaper than store brand, but it’s not always the case. Watch the prices and know when NOT to use a coupon.
- Buying larger packages isn’t always cheaper per ounce (Walmart is bad about this).
- Make sure you’ve sufficiently cleared your fridge at home before you go shopping – you already paid for that food, so don’t feed your trash can.

momofmany · « **Reply #19 on:** April 07, 2011, 10:52:29 PM »

Quote from: Emerentiana

I went to Wallmart last month for groceries for the first time. Their prices were great and they carry the same brands as other chains do.

BTW, I saw a show on couponing. The ladies were going to Albertsons.

I rarely by branded items. I buy almost exclusively private label/store brand items. Walmart's private label is pretty much the lowest of the low. Some manufacturers don't even make a quality low enough (iow, cheap enough) for Walmart to sell as their "Great Value" brand.

Albertson's is not a nationwide chain. The only nationwide chains anymore are Super Target and Super Walmart. Kroger is the next closest thing and they still haven't penetrated large parts of the country.

momofmany · « **Reply #20 on:** April 07, 2011, 11:00:01 PM »

I plan meals using a combo of the sales that week and our usual 'go-to' meals. I stock up on what I can when items I use a lot of go on sale as long as I have room.
Fruit is always bought by what is in season and on sale same with fresh vegetables.

I have a bonus most women do not. Dh brings food home from work. I never know when or what he'll come home with but most of it is shelf-stable so it eventually gets worked in...unless it is weird. I have jarred asparagus and jarred marinated mushrooms I have yet to use:D and they've been sitting in my pantry for a while.

MaterDominici · « **Reply #21 on:** April 07, 2011, 11:00:18 PM »

Quote from: momofmany

Walmart's private label is pretty much the lowest of the low. Some manufacturers don't even make a quality low enough (iow, cheap enough) for Walmart to sell as their "Great Value" brand.

I think it's funny how they don't even try to impress you with their face value anymore. All of the GV stuff has gone to plain white with block lettering.

momofmany · « **Reply #22 on:** April 07, 2011, 11:03:39 PM »

Dh can tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the quality or lack thereof of GV branded food.
It is his job to know what is going on over there since GV brand is what he is competing against day in and day out.

momofmany · « **Reply #23 on:** April 07, 2011, 11:05:31 PM »

Enough food talk,time for bed. Of course, the dog is having a spaz. He thinks it is great fun to leap over the baby gate...again and again and again....then he wants to chase the cat up the stairs... :whistleblower:

MaterDominici · « **Reply #24 on:** April 08, 2011, 12:53:58 AM »

And now for the "drugstore game"...
This is a post I wrote in August 2009:

Quote

I’ve been spending way too much time getting into couponing, but it’s a little fun and saves us bunches of money, so for now I’m a couponing lady.

Last night, the family did a Walgreens outing and I’m so impressed by what we came away with, that I have to share. Everything pictured cost us only $5.99.

For the record, that’s 10 tubs of 72 ct. Huggies wipes, 2 tubes of Colgate, 8 toothbrushes, 2 bottles of 500 mL Listerine, 6 packs of highlighters, 8 packs of Bic round grip pens, 1 bottle of Jergens lotion, and 4 boxes of 20 ct Band Aids. I paid for the purchase with $31.50 in Register Rewards (like cash at Walgreens) and charged $5.49 to our credit card, but came home with $31 in Register Rewards to use on my next trip to Walgreens. The Huggies wipes were an especially great deal since we use so many of these. This same amount of SAMS Club brand wipes would have cost us about $13.50, but these were only $2.90. I hope to be able to go back and get another 10 tubs next week since that coupon is good through 8/29.

An additional benefit of following coupon blogs is that they tell you about every good deal they come across, not just grocery deals. So, while we were out, we picked up a free Schlotzkey’s sandwich that I signed up for and received for my birthday as well as two more KFC grilled chicken meals–both offers I discovered from couponing blogs. So, our dinner was free as well.

btw, I did go back and buy more wipes ... lots of them ... probably around 40 tubs total. Thy occupied quite a bit of space in my kids' closet, but I haven't had to buy baby wipes since then (we're down to 2 of those tubs now)

ora pro me · « **Reply #25 on:** April 09, 2011, 12:13:06 AM »

MaterDominici,
That is very impressive. Gee, now I feel guilty for letting the coupons sit until they expire. I don't think we can outdo that haul of yours, but thanks for the encouragement.

I think you can call yourself a coupon :king: (Where's a queen smilie when you need one?)

MaterDominici · « **Reply #26 on:** April 09, 2011, 12:19:10 AM »

I'm not couponing for now. You have to invest a noticeable amount of time each week, consistently, to do that well. I don't have that much time right now.

I pretty much stopped when we reached enough people in our family to qualify for free food from WIC. Much healthier food and much less time consuming.

The real success is finding a good balance between time invested and money saved.

Jehanne · « **Reply #27 on:** April 09, 2011, 07:24:54 AM »

We get WIC, too! For awhile, I had never eaten better. However, I gained 20 pounds over several months, so I had to go on a no-pop/soda (which, in actuality, mean very little) diet with only one major meal a day. Fortunately, I was able to get down to my pre-WIC weight. Still, it is very convenient and a good way to budget, also.