Archive for ‘Coupon Strategy’

Building Your Grocery Stockpile

meijer 510Retail price $48.60
Sale price $36.11
OOP = $11.11
Cost of coupons purchased on Ebay $3.60
Final Price $14.71
Saved 70%

While we’re on the topic of what’s on sale, how do you actually go about building your grocery stockpile?  Here’s a quick example of what I do. (Lots of links ahead — they mostly link to tutorial posts if you need more info.)

  • When Meijer has a sale on Ortega, I know it’s time to stock up because everything will be under 25¢.  I take advantage of the sale by stacking the Meijer Mealbox coupons with manufacturer coupons.
  • You’ll need more coupons than you normally purchase. I order from The Coupon Clippers or from eBay. *Note: if you order from eBay, be sure to use Ebates for 2% cash back.
  • Order your coupons by Monday or Tuesday so you can shop before the sale ends on Saturday!

I’ll be doing this again this week to stock up on the 45¢ Kraft Salad Dressing before the Meijer Mealbox coupon expires on 6/11/10. PS please don’t tell my trainer those Reese’s Dark are in my freezer. Thanks ;-)

What are your tips and tricks for building your grocery stockpile?  How do you get more coupons?  Do you keep a 6 month supply of staple items on hand? A year’s supply?

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By Jolon, 1 June, 2010, Leave A Comment

Did You Watch “The Super Couponers” Segment?

Did you catch The Super Couponers on ABC Nightline last night?  My friends made sure I didn’t miss it ;-)

If you can’t see the video, here’s the direct link: The Super Couponers – ABC News.

What were your initial reactions? Are you an extreme couponer, too?  Do you think they’re crazy?? lol

My thoughts as I watched:

  • Since when are coupons “old fashioned” ?? Especially when they can be downloaded to your smartphone!
  • Seriously jealous of his TP stash…. mine is dwindling.
  • No, it IS borderline hoarding when you take it to that level.  Don’t kid yourself, Mister.  You can’t tell me you use that much jello in a year.  AND why aren’t you donating it?!?!?
  • YES YES YES get paid to shop! (In West Michigan, this is most easily done at drugstores.)
  • The purpose of frugal blogs IS to help each other be more efficient and effective.  To share deals & coupons.  Build a community.
  • Most people who love extreme couponing just love math naturally.  We see deals in our sleep.
  • It’s NOT just a game.  Some people rely on coupons for survival.  But even if you don’t NEED them… why not play to your advantage?!? I do!!

I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts…

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By Jolon, 26 March, 2010, 2 Comments

How to Organize Your Coupons (Video)

For those asking about coupon organization, I decided to elaborate on the topics I covered in the Coupon Organization Methods post I did a few months ago.

“Alright, Guys” *cringe* please disregard my Midwestern self and focus on the content LOL. (I’ll work on the audio quality next time.) :-)

Here’s the direct link to the video “Coupon Organization Methods” OR review the Coupon Organization Methods post.

Do you have a different way to organize your coupons?

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By Jolon, 22 March, 2010, 3 Comments

Be a Good Coupon Spender: Coupon Fraud & Other Usage Tips

dollar man

I never wanted to do this type of post because I’m not the almighty coupon goddess and I hate reading other posts on this subject that sound “preachy.”  That being said, I know some of you are new to this type of coupon-shopping and I want to channel your excitement and enthusiasm in the proper direction.

Here are a few key “How to Be a Good Coupon Spender” guidelines:

Spend Coupons Ethically

  • Coupons have expiration dates for a reason! Manufacturers make coupons available for specific periods during a specific campaign.  Don’t try to slip an expired coupon through just because you’re using a self-checkout or you don’t think the cashier will notice.  *If you have a special circumstance and you really want to spend that expired coupon, ask the store manager for permission.
  • Don’t make copies of coupons. This is FRAUD.  Many stores have such strict coupon acceptance policies because people try to cheat the system and make fraudulent coupons.  This is the same as stealing!  It’s illegal! Don’t do it!

Be Pleasant to Store Employees

Even if you are following the rules of the store coupon policy and you are within the guidelines of the fine print on the coupon, it’s possible the store simply will not allow you to use the coupon.  You have NOTHING to gain by being rude to the store employees.

Instead of creating a situation that reflects poorly on couponers in general, why not take a proactive approach?

  • Ask for the 1-800 customer service number and call them while you’re in the store (or go out to your car) and explain your situation.  See if they can help or give you any insight.
  • Gracefully abandon your purchase and try again at a different store location.

Consider Other Shoppers

  • Every family has different needs which determines the amount they consume.  I’m simply suggesting you think about other shoppers when you’re purchasing high volumes of a product.  Do you need ALL of the items on the shelf NOW or can you just take 2 or 3 to get you through to the next sale cycle and leave the rest for others to take advantage of the deal?
  • Share your coupons!  If your coupons are close to expiration and you have some extras, why not leave them on the shelf and make someone’s day! :-)

Your thoughts?

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By Jolon, 19 March, 2010, Leave A Comment

Frugal Living Tip #9: Plan Ahead for Holiday Shopping

savvy_125

I realize it’s only… umm… spring, but a great way to save money this Christmas is to plan ahead!  Start thinking about what gifts you’d like to give, use the toy coupons that are available now & pair them with a great sale, and why not put a few things on layaway?

What creative, frugal gifts will you be giving this season?

I try to hold myself accountable each holiday and stay within my shopping budget while still getting thoughtful gifts for my family and friends.  Every year, I designate a page in my planner (yes, it’s paper…) to write down gift ideas for those I buy for.  Having a buying plan helps me shop throughout the year and avoid over-spending at the last minute.  Along with store-bought gifts, I like to include a handmade item, too.

Have you considered layaway as an alternative to using credit cards?

If you’ll pay with cash, even better, right?  Last year, we saw a lot of stores participating in layaway programs including:  Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Toys R Us, and Kmart.   Apparently, not every single location of these stores participate, so call ahead.  Do you know of any other stores offering layaway?  Does it help your budget by spreading your spending throughout the year rather than just spending during the holiday rush?

Buy gifts made in your state or support the creative-types on Etsy.

Support your local economy and buy gifts made in your state!  There are resources for Michigan shoppers in my “Buy Michigan Now” post.

Etsy is an amazing source of creative gifts and inspiration!  Take some time to explore and get gift ideas!
Here are a few of my favorites to get you started:

What are your strategies for staying within your holiday shopping budget?

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By Jolon, 19 March, 2010, 2 Comments

How to Use a Restaurant.com Gift Certificate

25KITCHENBAR

How many of you have used a Restaurant.com gift certificate?

Here’s an example of how I used a $25 restaurant.com gift certificate at 25 Kitchen + Bar in Grand Rapids, MI.

  1. Purchased $25 gift certificate during 60% off promotion – paid $4.00 out of pocket.
  2. 25 Kitchen + Bar states you must spend $35 with a party of 2+ people to use the gift certificate.
  3. Total check amount came to $44.52.
  4. Used $25 restaurant.com gift certificate.
  5. Paid $18.02 + $10.00 tip.
  6. Add cost of restaurant.com gift certificate for a total out-of-pocket expense of $32.02 (for a meal that would have been $44.52 + $10 tip.)
  7. Spent $32.02. Saved $21.00. (41%-ish savings)

25kitchenbarreceipt

I love using restaurant.com gift certificates because there are so many local restaurants to choose from!  I get to support local restaurants AND save a little cash!  WIN-WIN!  There are SO many local restaurants to choose from no matter what part of the country you live in.

Using restaurant.com is easy!  You may only use one gift certificate per restaurant per month.  Check out the current restaurant.com deal here and get all the details.

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By Jolon, 18 March, 2010, 1 Comment

Frugal Living Tip #8: Use Social Media

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Before I attended the savings.com Save Up ‘09 Event in San Francisco last fall (video | post), I’ll admit I only had a vague inclination of what Twitter is all about. None of my friends use it. For the most part, I was relying on the Sunday paper insert and blogs for the source of my coupons.  Now, I realize the value of social media in saving money!  Here’s my two cents:

Facebook:

Go directly to the source! A company’s Fan Page gives you direct access to coupons, promotion codes, and free samples. Get their updates in your news feed. Become a fan of Savvy Chic Savings while you’re there!  My feed updates to the fan page nightly and I’ll often post more time-sensitive deals during the day.

Twitter:

Real-time deals!  Some coupons or sample giveaways go quickly due to the volume of readers in the frugal blogosphere. Follow your favorite companies for immediate access to coupons, promos, and giveaways. Of course, you’ll want to follow SavvyChicSaving on Twitter, too!

If you’re not quite ready to jump on the Twitter Wagon, watch the “Recent Tweets” widget in the right-hand side bar.  You’ll find my 5 most recent tweets. Sometimes I don’t have time to write up a full post about a deal (this is only a part-time hobby… wow I said “hobby” which is almost as cool as admitting I knit!?!) so I’ll retweet someone else’s post. Simply click on the link and go straight to their deal!

Email:

I know for some of you, this “social media” just isn’t your bag and never will be. If that’s the case,  just subscribe to my once-daily emails so you don’t have to leave the comfort of your inbox to get all the deals!  You don’t have to use your “coupon email” for this, I prefer to be delivered to the personal account. ;-)

How do you feel about social media?  Do you find Facebook or Twitter more helpful in saving money?  Share your thoughts…

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By Jolon, 28 January, 2010, Leave A Comment

Frugal Living Tip #7: Create a Coupon Email

savvy_125

Today’s tip may be more obvious to you than it was to me, at first.

Frugal Living Tip:  CREATE A SEPARATE EMAIL FOR COUPONING

Many coupons require registration with the company’s website/newsletter.  Use an email address other than the personal account you use for everything else.  While getting extra coupons via email is very convenient, it will fill up your inbox in a hurry!  If you have a separate account you can check when you have an extra minute it makes it much easier/faster to sort through all the promotional emails!

*This should probably be the same email you use for sites such as Ebates, Shop at Home, and Alice.com.

(I just finished the process of unsubscribing my personal account/resubscribing with my coupon email.  Save yourself the time!)

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By Jolon, 27 January, 2010, Leave A Comment

Frugal Living Tip #6: Stretching Your Gift Card

savvy_125

Here are a few tips for stretching your gift card dollars!

1.  Shop online because you can often score free shipping. (No driving time, no gas.)  If you need to reach a certain dollar amount for free shipping, ask a friend to order with you.

2.  Use a cash-back site like Ebates or Shop at Home. If you’re new to the site, you get a $5 sign-up bonus plus you earn cash back on your purchases.  It’s like earning money for spending your gift card!  (Type the store into the search box and select the deal you want.  A new window will open and you shop through the window to earn your cash back.)

3.  Search for online coupon codes for $ or % off! I like to use savings.com or RetailMeNot.com

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By Jolon, 26 January, 2010, Leave A Comment

Frugal Living Tip #5: Shop At Home

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In this case, I’m not referring to Shop At Home (to get cash back on your purchases.)  I mean: shop your pantry, shop your linen closet, shop your stockpile.  Just to be clear, stockpiling does not equal hoarding.  There should only be two objectives when stockpiling:  to avoid EVER paying full retail price and to collect more to donate!

Today’s Frugal Living Tip is:  SHOP AT HOME

Shop Your Pantry:

If you’re grocery shopping with a strategy similiar to mine, you’re buying multiples of staple ingredients.  (Read the first two paragraphs of any Meijer weekly deals for my strategy.  Example HERE.)  Make an effort to plan menus #1 using the items already in your pantry/freezer and #2 from items in the weekly sale ads.  This was the idea behind NO SHOP January – I’ll humor myself and imagine you all participated in your own way ;-)

Shop Your Linen Closet:

(Or where ever it is you keep your personal care and household items.)  Because I make the effort to gather more coupons, I have 6 months worth of FREE toothpaste in my closet.  When I run out, I don’t have to throw a full-priced tube in my grocery cart.  I can spend that $3.00 on perishables.

Shop Your Stockpile:

This one is my favorite.  My goal is to keep about 6 months worth of necessities on hand in case ________. 
a.  I run out
b.  I have an unexpected change in my employment situation.
c.  Disaster strikes. (No, I don’t have a bomb shelter.)
d.  Someone I know needs something.
e.  Someone I don’t know needs something.

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By Jolon, 23 January, 2010, Leave A Comment
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