Saturday, January 7, 2012

My Top 10 Tips for Frugal Living

I'm starting a list and counting backwards to #1 of my Top Ten Tips to Living Frugal. You may have your own to add, and please feel free to leave comments and suggestions. That's one thing I love about the frugal community...we share what we know to help others. So, with that said, here's the first post:

#10 Know the Prices!!
It is imperative that you know what a good price is. Some may think a $1 is a good deal on toothpaste. However, for me, that is WAY too much to spend!! Toothpaste always goes on sale, basically alternating between mostly Crest and Colgate. So when it's on sale, get a coupon on top of the sale price to pay the very least you can.
But, if you don't know prices, you won't know if you should buy or not. For example, again w/ toothpaste, sometimes it appears that a store has it on sale. But, after final calculation, the price even after coupons is still too high. So, don't let the stores dictate to you what's a good deal or not. Do the math, know what coupons you have, and let the bottom line be the determining factor.
Now, how do you keep track of prices? I mean, if it were just on toothpaste, it wouldn't be too hard to remember. But, for us serious couponers, it's hundreds of items were talking about!! Trying to remember all that can be quite frustrating...and exhausting. Well, if it seems too overwhelming, it does not have to be. I recommend using a small notebook (usually on sale for like 3/$1) to record regular prices of the items your family buys. Next to the regular price I would record sale prices as you find them. After doing this for a while, you will get to "know" what's a good price on toothpaste, for example. And, you will also see trends.
Most sales are cyclical. Which means, in simple terms, if it's not on sale now, it will be soon. And, so you wait, hopefully having stocked up enough the last time it was on sale to get you through until it goes back on sale.
A lot of really successful couponing is all in the timing...you have to know when to use your coupons and when to hold on to them for a better deal. So, if you know your prices, and you know a good sales price when you see it, there's no need to hesitate to buy all you can w/the coupons you have. (And if it's a REALLY good deal, you order more coupons!).

I hope this halps some especially those who are new to couponing. Again, please feel free to ask questions or leave your suggestions...they are always welcome!

Puppy Chow Printable Coupon!

Puppy Chow Healthy Start

Try the Biggest Loser for 14 days & Lose Weight!

Biggest Loser

Sign up for the Biggest Loser Coach Network and receive a 14 day trial for only $1.95 .

Save on Converting Home Movies to DVDs!!

iMemories

iMemories transforms your most cherished home movies and photo albums into high-quality digitized DVDs designed to last a lifetime. Never worry about damage, loss or fading again, and enjoy iMemories’ easy and convenient online interface to organize, enhance, and share your favorite moments.

Nabisco Snack Coupon!



Go here to print a $1/2 cpn for Nabisco Snacks (not on single serve sizes).

Friday, January 6, 2012

Save Money on Craft Supplies!

Another Great Product Testing!

Sign up here to become a member of Psst.  It's the General Mills product testing site.  They send you their new products to try out and review.  I received 2 boxes of the new Ocean Spray fruit snacks and coupons for $1.10/2 to give to friends!!  They are delicious!

Kellogg's $10 Gas Card wyb 10!!

Go here to print the form for a $10 gas card from Kellogg's wyb 10 participating cereals!!
Limit of 5 per household.  Thanks, Michele!

Walgreens Ad 1/8/12


Here's the best deals I see at Walgreens this week:


  • Kids Omega Smart Ultimate Fish Oils 60 ct $10
     
    - $10 RR = FREE 
  • Reach floss $2.99
    - $2 RR
    - $1/1 printable cpn
    = FREE
  • Syntha Meal Replacement bar $1.89
    - $1.89 RR
    = FREE
  • Tylenol Precise $5.99
    - $3 RR
    - $2 cpn (11/6 RP)
    = $ .99
  • Colgate Total $3
    - $4 RR wyb 2
    - $1 cpn (Dec All You)
    - $.75/1 cpn (1/1 SS)
    = 2/$.25
  • Chex Mix $1.50
    -two $.50/2 cpn here
    - $1/4 cpn Wags Jan book
    - $2 RR wyb 4
    = $.25  each wyb 4

Meijer Ad 1/8/12

Here's the best deals I see at Meijer this week:


Meats:
  • Ball Park franks $1.67
  • Oscar Mayer lunchmeat 3/$7
  • Jimmy Dean sausage rolls $2.89
    - $.55/1 cpn (1/8 RP)
    = $1.89
  • Johnsonville sausage $2.79
  • Certified Angus Ground from Round $2.99/lb
  • Pilgrim's Pride Breaded Breast Strips $3.99
  • Bob Evans side dishes 20% off
    - $1.10/2 cpn here

Dairy/ Refrigerated items:
  • Philadelphia Cream Cheese $1.67
  • D'Animals $1.89
    - $1/2 Mealbox cpn
    = $1.39 each wyb 2
  • Kraft cheese $2
    - $ .50/2 cpn here
    = $1.50
  •  I Can't Believe It's Not Butter $2
  • Pillsbury Cookie Dough or Sweet Moments $2
    - $.75/2 cpn (1/8 GM)
    - $1/2 mperks cpn
    = $1 each wyb 2
  • Kraft singles $2
  • Kraft Slices $2
  • Jello Ready to Eat $2.50
    - $.60/1 cpn (1/8 SS)
    = $1.50
  • Kraft Parmesan cheese $3
Canned goods/Pantry Items:
  • Campbell's Chicken Noodle or Tomato soup $.59
    - $.40/4 cpn (1/8 SS)
    = $.39 each wyb 4
  • Starkist tuna $.60
  • Spaghetti Os $ .60
  • Freshlike canned veggies $.79
  • Campbell's condensed soup $.79
    - $.40/2 cpn (1/8 SS)
    = $.39 each wyb 2
  • Campbell's Soup at Hand $1
  • Campbell's Select Soup $1.25
    - $1/2 cpn (1/8 SS)
    - $1/3 mperks cpn 
  • Ronzoni pasta $1
  • Dole canned fruit 4/$5
  • Pace salsa $1.89
  • Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip 12 oz $1.88
  • Bertolli pasta sauce $2
  • V8 Vegetable juice $2.50
Cereal/Breakfast foods:
  • Post cereal or bars $2
    - $.55/1 cpn on treats (1/8 SS)
    = $1
  • General Mills cereal $2.50
     $.50/1 Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal cpn here or here
    - $1/1 Multigrain Cheerios cpn here
    - $1/2 cpn on GM cereal here
    - $.75/1 Fiber One cereal cpn here or (1/2 SS)
    = as low as $1.50
  •  Kelloggs cereal or Fiber Plus bars 4/$10
Beverages:
  • Kool Aid Jammers $1.67
  • V8 Splash $1.67
    - $1/2 cpn (1/8 SS)
    = $1.17 each wyb 2
  • Nabisco Saltines or Teddy Grahams crackers $1.67
  • Nabisco Ritz or Wheat Thins $2.50
  • Maxwell House $2.50
  • Simply Orange Juice $3
Produce:
  • Michigan apples $.79/lb
  • Strawberries $1.67
  • Dole Salad Blends $2
Frozen:
  •  Smart Ones 5/$9
    **Buy 10, get $4 off instantly
    - $3/10 cpn here
    = $1.10 each wby 10
  • Hungry Man dinners $2
  • Stouffer's French pizza $2
  • Hot Pockets $2
  • Dean's ice cream, Mars or Dove Novelties $3
  • Tyson Breaded Chicken breast $3.99
    - $1/1 cpn
    = $2.99
  • Red Baron pizza $3.33
Baking & Breads
  •  Filipio Berio olive oil 25% off
  • Thomas' English Muffins or Bagels B1G1
Snacks/Cookies:
  • Oreos or Honey Maid Grahams $2.79
    - $2/3 cpn (1/8 SS) on Teddy Grahams
  • Hostess Snack Cakes B1G1
  • Combos B1G1
  • Lays chips B1G1 
    Cleaners:
    • Clorox bleach or toilet bowl cleaner $1.98
    • Bounce or Downy $4.99
      - $.25/1 cpn (1/1 P&G)
      = $4.49
    • Tide 50 oz. $5.99
      - $2 cpn (1/1 P&G)
      = $3.99 
    Baby:
    • Beech Nut Stage 2 10/$4
      - $1.10/4 cpn here
    • Enfamil formula $22.99
      - $5/1 cpn here
      = $17.99
    • Johnson's Baby 10% off
      - $1/1 cpn (1/8 SS)
    Health & Beauty:
    • Suave Professsional or Kids shampoo $1.67
      - $1/2 cpn (1/8 RP)
      = $1.17
    • Suave deodorant $1.67
      - $.75/1 cpn (1/8 RP)
      = $.67
    • Suave Body Wash $1.79
      - B2G1 cpn (1/8 RP)
    • Band  Aid $2.50
    • Bic Soleil, Flex or Bella disposables $4.99
      - B1G1 cpn (1/8 SS)
      = $2.50 each wyb 2
    • Clean & Clear B1G1 50% off
      - two $2 cpns (1/8 SS)
    • Stayfree $4.50
      - B1G1 cpn (1/8 SS)
      - $1/1 cpn here
      = $1.75 each wyb 2
    • Carefree $4.50
      - $.55/1 cpn (1/8 SS)
      = $3.50



    Coupon Inserts 1/8/12 Udpdate



    There will be SIX inserts this Sunday, January 8, 2012: 1 Red Plum, 2 Smart Sources, 1 General Mills, 1 Target and 1 Walmart!!
    Here's the best ones I see:

    • Stayfree B1G1
    • $.55/2 Sunny D
    • $.50/1 Carefree (will go FREE)
    • $3/1 Cortaid
    • $2/1  Bengay
    • $2/1 Airborne
    • $.55/1 Barilla Whole Grain pasta
    • FREE Hershey Air Delight wyb Milk chocolate bar
    • $.75/1 International Delight creamer pint
    • $1/1 Ken's dressing
    • $.75/1 Mitchum deodorant
    • $1/1 Axe body wash, deodorant, or anti-perspirant
    • B1G1 Axe  shower gel
    • lots of Post It,  Schick, Listerine, & Suave as well
    Go here to see the entire previews!

    FREE Welch's Fruit Snack Sample!

    Clip N Go Coupons!

    Hormel Naturals $.50/1 Printable Coupon

    Go here to print a $.50/1 cpn for Hormel Naturals Lunchmeat.

    FREE Crystal Light Sample

    Thursday, January 5, 2012

    FREE Samples

    FREE Business Cards!

    More Printables...Axe, Hamburger Helper, Slim Fast & More!!

    Go here to grab these great printable coupons:
    • $1.35/2 Axe bodyspray, deodorant, or antiper.
    • $.80/4 Hamburger Helper
    • $2/3 Slim Fast multipacks (use in conjunction w/the B1G1!!)

    Scotch Brite Wipes B1G1 cpn!!

    Go  here to print a B1G1 cpn for Scotch Brite Botanical Disinfecting wipes!

    South Beach Bars Coupon

    Go here to print a $1/1 cpn for South Beach Diet bars (use zip 90210)!

    B1G1 Lint Lizard As Seen on TV




      The All-New Infiniti JX Luxury Crossover - Coming Spring 2012. Request updates from Infiniti on the all-new Infiniti JX. 

    New Kelloggs, Keebler & More Loadable Coupons!

    Go here to load these coupons to your cards:
    • $1/3 Kelloggs cereal
    • $1/2 Keebler cookies
    • $1/2 Gum toothbrushes
    • And many more!!

    New French's Mustard Coupons!

    Go here to print these great French's coupons:
    • $.30/1 Spicy Brown mustard
    • $.75/1 Dijon mustard

    FREE Crush Coupon!

    Go here to print a cpn for a B1G1 Crush up to $1.59!!

    Tuesday, January 3, 2012

    GREAT New Printables!

    Go here to print more of your favorite coupons:
    • $.40/1 Fiber One bars
    • $.75/1 Fiber One cereal
    • $.50/1 Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
    • $.50/2 Chex Mix
    • $.40/2 Totinos pizza rolls
    • $.50/1 General Mills cereal bars
      And many more!!

    FREE Benefiber Sample!

    Go here to request your FREE sample of Benefiber!

    New Ziploc Printable!

    Go here to print a $1/2 cpn for Ziploc bags!!

    Clorox Wipes Printable Coupon!

    Go here to print a $1/2 cpn for Clorox wipes!!

    New Campbell's Printable Coupons!!

    Go here to print these great Campbell's coupons:
    • $1/2 Slow Kettle Style soups
    • $.40/3 Condensed "Great for Cooking" soups
    • $.40/3 Condensed (excludes Great for Cooking) soups

    Monday, January 2, 2012

    SO Good to Be Home!!

    What a day...I am so thankful to be home.  We had quite a rough travel day today.
    Unexpectedly, the road conditions were horrible here in Cincinnati. We saw at least 6 different accidents and narrowly escaped being in one ourselves.  Only by the grace and protection of God, we were not involved.
    It's a horrible feeling to have NO control of your vehicle as you slide across ice.  The only thing I could do was pray and steer our car out of harms way.  God is so faithful!!
    Be careful out there...it's a mess.

    Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal Coupon

    Go here to print a $.50/1 cpn for Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal!!

    I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Printable

    The $1/1 cpn for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter tubs is back here!!!

    Midol Printable Coupon

      Go here to print a cpn for $2.00 off on ANY Midol® 20 ct. or larger