Frugality: Why You Shouldn't Feel Bad Watching Extreme Couponing

If you haven't seen Extreme Couponing on TLC, I don't recommend it, or if you do watch it, I recommend not taking it as anything close to reality. I've had more then one person both online and real life mention how they've felt bad because they just can't reach those savings. Well here's a list of why you shouldn't feel bad.

• Remember it is reality tv, and that means it's all about the ratings.
• Realize that when the stores sign on to do this show, they are doing it because they want to look good.
• Because they want to look good, the store will give the show producers very advance notice of upcoming sales because the show producers only want the really good savings.
• Because of the advance notice of sales, they can then in turn give the "couponers" on the show lots of time to get coupons.
• The couponers never count the cost of the coupons they buy in their totals. While often these coupons are cheap, they still cost money.
• Because the producers only want the best totals, the people are not going to buy anything they might actually need like bread, milk, meat, and produce because the goal is to get close to $0. They can buy that stuff when they aren't on camera.
• They are also going to buy more then they probably ever do because again the goal is to get as close to $0 as possible while making the savings amount huge.
• Some stores have admitted they have bent their policies to make themselves look better. This might be doubling coupons over the value they double, allowing more then their quantity limits, allowing overage when they don't normally, or similar.
• Some of the couponers have actually been caught being allowed to do illegal things like using coupons for something other then it is for. For example, one couponer was seen using coupons for yoplait multipacks on single cups and coupons for items 16 oz or larger on items that were under 16 oz. This is coupon fraud, and is technically punishable by fines and jail.
• Other illegal things include stealing papers from in front of people's houses because the person hadn't brought them in yet, also in some cities it is illegal to dumpster dive.
• It's also very staged on the show. So when you see them just throwing a whole display in the cart, they aren't really just doing that. The producers wanted them to, and the store arranged for there to be a display with the exact number they need.
• A few of the stores have come out to say they wish they didn't do the show.
• The result of the show is that a lot of people have gotten into couponing, but either they have no idea what is allowed or they easily burn out because they can't reach those savings. The result from the stores is they are changing coupon policies and being more vigilent when you do use coupons.

So all in all, this reality tv is not reality, it's managed reality. Real couponing is saving more money then you used to spend on items you buy. There is no magic amount you should be saving or a magic grocery budget you should have. It all depends on your personal situation. A person with dogs, cats, babies, and teenagers will spend more then someone who is just a family of 2. If someone has a special diet or food allergies, their budget will be more then someone who doesn't. It also depends a lot on where you are at in your couponing journey. If you have months of coupon inserts, tear pads, booklets, etc., then you will probably save more then someone who just started. If you have a stockpile and are now in maintenance mode, you'll probably save more then someone who is just starting and still has to buy regular meals while building their stockpile.

Want to know the best way to see how you are doing? Compare what you are spending now to what you were spending before you started. Don't get discouraged because of Extreme Couponing or something you see on a show and tell blog post. I use the blog posts I see as a way to see what deals are out there, but don't compare yourself to them. If you are saving money on your family's needs, you should feel good. :-)

Frugality- Ditching the TV

Last week I talked about trying to spend more time with family, and recently we ditched our satellite service. Don't get me wrong, we love tv, but when we really sat and looked at it 95% of the shows we like to watch are available somewhere for absolutely nothing. A good portion of them come on local channels (Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS), which with over air digital receiver, we can watch them all for free.

I then discovered this website, where all you do is type in the name of the show you like to watch and it will tell you where it is available online. A lot of times it is free, but sometimes it will be on itunes or Amazon to pay for. I'd say all but one or two of the shows we like to watch were available somewhere to watch for free. If we want to watch the shows on our regular television, we just plug in my computer with an HDMI cable. The added advantage is my computer has a blu-ray disc drive, so we can also get Blu-Ray movies to watch.

The third thing we did was buy a Roku. This is teeny-tiny device that connects to the tv. Through it you can stream Netflix, HuluPlus, Amazon on Demand, and other things. These are all pay services, but they all run fairly cheap compared to pay tv. We're doing a free trial of HuluPlus right now, we'll see how we feel. As well as having those channels, it has many other "channels" that you can add to it. For us we could add BYUTV, which is a channel that plays a lot of great programing on matters of our faith. We also have the Pandora channel for when we just want some music on. The newest version of the Roku actually has a remote that works like the Wii remote, and they are adding games all the time. If you like Angry Birds, it comes pre-loaded on the device.

Everything else we make up for with Rebox and the Library.

The only downsides are that there is a bit of an upfront cost for things like the over air antenna, HDMI cables, and Roku if you choose to do it, but I think for us that would only equal a few months of satellite. Also, you'd need one for each tv you have, or have the patience to move things to different rooms.

Even with upgrading our internet, we are paying significantly less. Thankfully the "phone" company around here has stand alone dsl internet, and it is soo much better then Comcast's. We also still get 911 access on our home phone, and people can still call us, we just can't call out. If we agreed to sign a contract with them for the internet we'd get a lower rate, and since we love them so much, we agreed.

This is just some food for thought. We really started to look into it when we realized we really didn't watch a lot of tv anymore and that sooo much of what we like to watch was available for free online. It may not work for everyone, but it works for us.

Frugality: To "Green" or Not to "Green" and Other Popular Phrases

I'm not very old, but I know that there is always some sort of catch phrase going around when it comes to food and other things you buy. Words like "light" and "low-fat" used to be big, then came "low-carb," now it's things like "all natural" and "green." Now not all the time do these words mean something bad. Something that is low carb can be good for you, as can something that is green. So how do you know what is good and what is just marketing?

• Read the label. Sometimes in order to make something low-fat, light, or low-carb, they actually add things like tons of salt, artificial sweeteners, or the infamous "natural/artificial colors and flavors." Those things themselves can be kind of scary.
• When it comes to the words all natural or green, those really don't have a lot of backing. You can say something is all natural, but think about what things are "natural." Sugar is natural as is salt, but thinking about cleaners a lot of things naturally found are not necessarily safe. My adage to remember is "even arsenic is natural." If you want natural food, stick to the outer aisles of the store, where you find produce, meat, and dairy. For cleaners, stick to vinegar, lemons, baking soda, etc.
• For the term green, always weigh the price to what it is. I'm sorry, but a hybrid gigantic SUV just does not make any sense, you pay a ton more to get a few extra miles. A lot of things will claim to be green, which really aren't any different then they used to be, and somethings don't make the claim and are more green then the ones that do.
• Organic. Organic is a good thing, but to truly be organic at the grocery store it needs a USDA label. When it comes to the farmer's market, ask how the farmer grows his food.  A lot of times local farmers do grow things organic, but cannot afford to be certified. Also, organic does not mean good for you. Organic sugar is just as unhealthy as regular sugar. An organic cookie is just as bad as a regular cookie.
• Whole grain. Whole grains are good for you, but if it's whole grain Chef Boyardee, you'll probably still find trans fat in it. Also, corn is a whole grain, but really it's not the best kind of grain to have. Really you want wheat, rice, barley, etc. Don't buy something that says whole grain without reading the whole label.
• 0g of Trans Fat per Serving. Here's the thing if there is less then 0.5g of trans fat in the food, the company doesn't have to list it on the nutrition label. However, if you read the ingredients you'll still find it. It will be listed as either fully or partially-hydrogenated oil. You'd be surprised what you'll find it in. Also, with the reality that most people don't eat just one serving of many foods, it can be concerning that the company can fool you into thinking you are not eating any trans fat.

Really what it comes down to is read the label and do research. Remember the company is trying to sell you something, they will not tell you the bad, only the good. It's up to you to be informed.

Frugality: Sometimes Items are Cheaper at a Warehouse Club

I've posted before about Warehouse Clubs, but I figured I'd revisit some things, and share some new stuff I've found out about BJ's specifically.

Why a Warehouse Club membership is worth it:

• I'd say 95% of the time, they have the cheapest gas in town. Sometimes by 5¢ or more. I use an App on my ipod to see which is cheapest in the area, and rarely is something else cheaper.
• Propane. At least at BJ's, the propane is significantly cheaper then anywhere else. We're talking like $10 cheaper.
• Seasonal/clothing/books/tvs/etc. Honestly you can find a lot of good deals on these items at warehouse clubs. Our most recent was 150 cubic feet marine cooler that we got for about $50ish for our fridge breaking. That was the price Target was charging for some 50-100 cubic feet ones. Now we have it, and it will be great should there be a power failure, or a need to evacuate, or even if we are taking a long trip and want to bring food to cook with (like camping!)
• Eggs, Milk, Butter. A simple price comparison (and I realize our prices are higher here then many areas): Milk at Publix: $3.85, Milk at BJ's: $3.29. Eggs at Publix $1.60ish, Eggs at BJ's $6ish for 5 dozen (so about $1.20/dz ). Butter is usually about $2.50 for 4 sticks at BJ's and that's generally a sale price at Publix.
• Meat. Here's one example from a sale a few weeks back. Publix Ground Turkey was on sale for $2.69/lb. Ground Turkey is regularly priced $2.29/lb at BJ's. This is similar across all meats. There are times where Publix (or Winn-Dixie) has a great sale on meat, but generally it's still cheaper at BJ's then the sale price at Publix. Of course if I can make a deal happen at Publix where I get $X off Meat wyb some item, I try to do that, but only if the item I have to buy is a good deal.
• Some produce. If I need a lot of some produce it's often cheaper to buy at BJ's. Like say I'm going to make stuffed peppers, it's about $5 for a 6 count bag (and these are good size red peppers). I often buy salad from there because I can get a large container of organic salad for $5ish. Considering the BOGO price for regular salad is generally $3.99 for two, and the amount in this container is about 4 of those bags and organic, I'd say it's a better deal.
• Bread Products. Sure occasionally good deals come with coupons at Publix, but a lot of times I can get it for the same price at BJ's. I consistently buy hamburger and hotdog buns from there, as it is always $1.99 for 16. The bread we like (Martins Wheat Potato bread) is consistently about $5 for 2 loaves when it is about $4 for one at Publix. Even regular bread is fairly cheap there.
• Pet items. If your dog or cat uses a typical brand pet food (like Dog Chow, Purina One), a lot of times the Warehouse club is the way to go. I've compared several stores on the price and a lot of time even with sales and coupons the warehouse club is cheaper.

I also have a great resource for those of you who live near BJ's. It is called MyBjsWholesale and it works a lot like iheartpublix. She lists the best deals she can find at BJ's using their coupon books, flyers, and policy for manufacturer's coupons. You'd be surprised what you can get for super cheap.

Frugal Dates and Family Fun

I recently was asked to present on this subject at church, and thought you guys might like some info too! Some of it I've discussed before and some is new!

Dates on a Budget

·         Look for free activities. Going for a walk at the beach or a picnic by a lake are wonderful ideas.

·         Check daily deal sites, like Groupon or Living Social, for cheap date activities. Also, restaurant.com is a great place to get restaurant gift certificates cheap.

·         Start a babysitting exchange group where a group of families trade off watching each other’s kids.

·         Instead of eating at a restaurant, consider their “to-go.” You get the same food minus the tip, and then you can take it for a picnic.

·         Sign-up for emails from your favorite restaurants and places, and if you use Facebook consider “liking” them.* Companies love to offer coupons.  Some offer BOGO meals or free food on your birthday or anniversary.

·         Look for membership perks. AAA and many professional organizations often have great discounts for museums, parks, and other cultural events.

·         Consider a high school performance. Many high school music and theater programs are quite good in quality, but a lot less money. The added bonus is supporting your community.

Family Fun

·         Just like for dates, look for free activities like going to beaches and parks, or just play in the backyard with a sprinkler.  Crafts and gardening can be fun for kids. Go on a camping trip in the backyard.

·         In the summer, there are tons of great programs for kids. The library offers summer reading programs, many bowling places offer free bowling, and some movie theaters offer cheap movies especially for families. Don’t forget craft stores and home improvement stores who often offer free programs to make stuff. Bass Pro Shop is another great place for free activities!

·         Again check daily deal sites and your memberships for great deals on activities, and sign-up for emails from places you really love.

·         Do some service. It’s free and rewarding.

·         Look for kids eat free at restaurants. For every day of the week, there is some restaurant that offers a kids eat free promotion.  Chick-fil-a even offers activities at their kids eat free night. (FYI Cow appreciation Day is July 8th, which means if you dress like a cow you get a free meal! It's really simple too.)

·         Redbox and the library. The libraries around here are awesome when it comes to movies you can borrow. For newer movies, Redbox is usually easier to get them. There are tons of free codes for Redbox. Two that I know of are DVDONME and BREAKROOM. They also often send codes via email or their monthly text.

General Advice

Plan fun around promotions, coupons, and other savings. I don’t think there is anything yet that I haven’t found a coupon, discount, or promotion for. And remember keep it simple! Often the best activities are the ones that cost the least amount of money. With a little planning and creativity, you can have tons of fun for little to no money.

*I highly recommend a second accout for signing-up for things, otherwise your inbox will be full! Also, you can create a Facebook profile specifically for "liking" pages of companies.

Frugality: Meal Planning, Part II

I previously posted on meal planning a few weeks ago and gave a brief overview and the benefits of meal planning. This week I thought I'd go over some different ways to meal plan successfully.

• Circular/Pantry Method: This is mostly how I do it. You plan your meals based on what you already have and what is on sale that week at your store. You save money and have food to eat.
• Reinventing Meals: The idea behind this one is you cook something major on one day and then reuse parts of it to make other meals. For example, you could make a whole chicken for dinner Sunday, Tuesday have shredded BBQ chicken, Wednesday BBQ Chicken Pizza, Thursday Soup made from making stock out of the carcass of the chicken, etc. You can combine this with option one to make it stretch even further.
• Days of the Week: For this method, you assign categories to each day of the week, and plan your menu to match it. For example, Monday could be Meatless Monday, Tuesday Comfort Food, Wednesday Italian, Thursday New Recipe, etc. This is helpful if you find it hard to even think of ideas.
• Freezer Cooking: The idea behind this is you spend one day a week/month making meals for you to eat. This can be great for those who don't have a lot of time to cook every night, as you spend a lot of time on one day, but for the rest of the time you just have to pull one of them out and let it thaw, then just warm it up.

These are just a few ways to plan meals, but you can also mix and match them to make something that works for you.

Saving Money on Pets

I'm a pet-lover, but pets can be expensive. Here are some ways to save money on your pets needs.
Food/Litter

• Coupons.* There are tons of pet coupons out there. Don't be afraid to contact a company to request coupons.
• Sales. They happen all the time... Use a coupon with the sale for better savings.
• Plan ahead and stockpile. Dog food and cat litter don't follow the same pattern as most sale items, and usually you only buy one brand because well it can cause stomach problems or your dog/cat doesn't like it. When there is a really good sale, stock-up on as much as you can to make it to the next sale. Avoid getting to the bottom of the bag and having to pay full-retail. I seriously have 6 big bags of dog food and several boxes of treats stockpiled, as well as a big bag of cat food and several bags of litter.
• Make your own treats. There are tons of simple recipes out there, usually consisting of flour and peanut butter and a few other ingredients. If you can't score a good deal on treats, consider making your own.

Vet/Medications

• Ask for discounts. I know it sounds silly, but vets have a lot of lead way on their prices.
• Ask for cheaper alternatives. There are generics and sometimes even human otc work for animal conditions. Sometimes a treatment isn't always necessary.
• Check-out online pharmacies like 1800petmeds.com. They have always been cheaper than the vet for me.
• Consider the human pharmacy for some drugs. My beagle has epilepsy, and the drug she takes is also available for humans. I could pay $100 for a 6 month supply at the vet or I can pay $11 at Walgreen's. (On a side note, this works when you see a dentist, and they prescribe medicines or mouth rinses, our dentist wanted to charge $50 for a mouth rinse, and we got it at Walgreen's for around $10. It never hurts to call around.)
• Check into local animal shelters, some offer low cost care and free spay/neutering.

Grooming/Boarding

• Do it yourself. Many dogs don't require expensive grooming. Many dogs would prefer a bath with you then a complete stranger. Same goes for nail trimming. If it's not a show dog, there is no harm in trimming your own dog.
• Ask for specials. This goes for grooming and boarding.
• Call around.

Other

• Look for clearance and sales on toys, bedding, leashes, washes, etc.
• Try craigslist for dog crates, cat towers, etc.
• Realize most animals would be happy with used blankets, balls, and you.
• Be creative. Honestly my cats bed is a box that those snack size chips come in. She just climbed into it when it was sitting on the floor, and it became her bed. We just put an old towel in it. My one dog sleeps in an old comforter.  My other dog like to play with empty water/soda bottles.

*A great blog for all sales and coupons related to pets is My Pet Savings. They update often with coupons and sales for all sorts of retailers, online or brick and mortar. She covers all kinds of pets as well. If you have a pet, it's definitely worth it to follow that blog.

Frugality: Meal Planning

If you really want to save money, you need to plan meals. In fact, every week I do my meal plan monday where you can see my plan for the week.
You've probably also noticed I don't buy a lot of meat at Publix, but many of my meals have meat in them. The reason for that is simple, if it's a great price I buy it and a lot of it, so I have a freezer full of meat. I also tend to find the best prices for meat (and other things...) at warehouse clubs.

We also routinely have a meatless night, some weeks it doesn't happen, but most it does. This really helps save money because meat is expensive. I'm also one to cut back on portions of meat to stretch it further, which is why I try to do a lot of meals with cut up versions of meat because when it's mixed with a bunch of other things (like in a stir-fry or casserole), you just don't need a lot of it. After all most of us eat twice the recommended serving size of 4 oz, and then go back for seconds!

So how do you meal plan most effectively? Eat what you have, and cater to the sale ad for what you don't! Now it sounds hard, but it really isn't. I have a ton of ground beef/turkey from sales and from BJ's. Now I could choose to make sloppy joes with that, but the produce I need for that isn't in season right now, so if I did make that I'd be paying a lot more for it. However, in my stockpile, I do have cornflakes and stewed tomatoes, so I have everything I need for cheeseburger loaves. This time of year is grilling season, so a lot of good kinds of meat are on sale. If I buy steaks or pork ribs or hotdogs now (and the buns), I can freeze them and eat them later.

The reasons this saves money is simple:

• You won't be forced to eat out because you have nothing for dinner.
• You won't spend a lot of money because you aren't just shopping with no idea what you are going to make with it. (Have you ever gone shopping just thinking "I'll figure out meals for the week when I get to the store?" Sure you come out with meals, but probably a whole bunch of things you don't need.
• You'll avoid having to run to the store because you need something for a meal. This almost always leads to buying something you didn't originally plan to.
• Since you buy what is on sale, you'll be saving money right there.
• You aren't wasting food. Throwing away expired or foods you won't eat is just like throwing away money. Often times the foods we throw away are things we bought without a list or a plan.
• You save gas. If you aren't going out to eat, or stopping at the store several times a week, you are saving money.

I'm by no means perfect. There are times when I have planned my meals for the week, but a crazy day leads to fast food. Sometimes it's unexpected events like meetings or illness. And sometimes I think I have something in my pantry or freezer, but it turns out it's not there. But the point is to subscribe to the 80-20 rule- if 80% of the time you follow the rules, 20% you can fudge on, and not feel bad.

Frugality: Saving on Produce Through Community Supported Farms

So recently my husband and I bought a share in a Community Supported Farm. A community supported farm is a farm that is basically run by people taking ownership in it. Some farms have you help with work, others have you provide monetary support. In return you get a share of the harvest.
So why did we do it?

• It's truly a great way to get veggies. For $30 a week, we will get a big box of organic fruit and vegetables. Sure we will occasionally have to pick up other things at the store, but it will provide much of what we need and then some.
• People in general need to eat more fruits and veggies. If you pay for something, you'll probably be inclined to find a way to eat it before it goes bad. Also, many people skip veggies and fruits at the store because they are too expensive, and organic is even more so.
• It helps a local business. By buying from a local farmer, you are helping them to profit, which in turn leads to them spending and hiring. If you buy from the supermarket, sure the store will profit, but it also means that a person across the country is profiting too.
• It helps the environment. When produce is shipped across the country (and world), it just means lots of gas is used, and also a lot of packaging. If it doesn't grow in your area at that time of year, chances are it came from somewhere else, and traveled a long way to get there.
• Variety. We'll get a variety of produce each week, which means not just eating the same three veggies, and getting more of the rainbow of foods available. Here's a look at some of the things my farm will be giving us, not all at once of course.

I'm actually quite excited, but unfortunately we don't get our first box for a long time. We live in South Florida, and now is when a lot of crops go out of season. It's really just to hot for many plants to grow. But I've heard both i heart publix and Southern Savers discuss their memberships in similar programs, and they love them. I hope you will consider looking for one in your area!

For more info on Community Supported Farms, or to find one near you, check out local harvest.

Publix Coupon Policy

As many of you know, Publix is rolling out it's new coupon policy. Check-out Michelle's post on it here.

Honestly, it's similar to what most people already have been dealing with. For some people it has changed their competitor's a little bit, but it's also forced stores to put who their competitors are in writing, which stops that variance from store-to-store, manager-to-manager, and cashier-to-cashier.

One thing it didn't make clear is overage. It almost seems that it is allowed now, but you'll have to ask your Publix. I heard from a cashier in my area who just got out of the meeting about the policy change that she was told by her manager that if the end balance is negative the drawer will open and the customer will receive money back. I was shocked becaused this was at a store that I hated going to because I had to fight them just to lower the coupon value to not get overage.

When I went to my store last week, they had their new competitor's poster up and it listed Save-a-lot, Target, Winn-Dixie, and Sweetbay. Definitely fair to me. They didn't hand me one of the new policies, but they didn't stop any overage, but like I said in my show-and-tell post there was that whole accident in the parking lot, so they might have been a little distracted.

So what are your thoughts on the policy? Any thing you are glad to see? Any new troubles at your store that you didn't have before? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Frugality: Share Your Story!

I thought for a change of pace this week, it would be great to hear from you! So what is your story? How did you get into couponing? If you haven't yet, why not? How long have you been doing it? What do you love the most about it?

Or ask me a question about something that confuses you about couponing? A specific stacking of coupons? How does True BOGO work with a BOGO coupon? No question is dumb, so please feel free to ask!

Do you have a way to save money? Share that too!

Really I just want to hear from you!

Frugality: Publix Coupon Policy Change?

There has been a lot of speculation about the forthcoming Publix Coupon Policy, but here's the thing: it's best not to believe any of it until it actually comes out. I've seen two posts about it from two major blogs, and in the comments everybody claimed to know someone (or worked at Publix themselves) who heard that the coupon policy had _______ in it. And they varied all over the place to only minor changes (competitor's within a certain mile radius) to huge changes (no competitor's, only one competitor coupon, no overage, limits on coupon amounts, etc.)
Here's what we can expect:

• It will make things clearer. Hopefully it will clear up confusion that you have from store to store, or even cashier to cashier.
• It will be in writing. This is a good thing really. You can show it to the cashier or manager when there is a problem.
• You'll still be able to save a lot. They'll still do BOGO's (which is an automatic 50% savings), and you'll still be able to use manufacturer's coupons saving you more. Really I'm going to bet that unless there is something really crazy in there most people won't see much in relation to their savings percentages.
• It will stop abuse. Unfortunately a few bad apples can spoil it for the rest of us. Hopefully with a written coupon policy all cashiers will be knowledgable on what they can and can't accept, and therefore there won't be any problems with people using more coupons then items, fake coupons, unacceptable competitor's (for example warehouse club coupons to by a trial size item, or coupons for a store not even in the same state or neighboring state), etc.
• Less poor customer service. While poor customer service is rare at Publix, there are cashiers (and customer service managers, and managers), who feel as though coupon users are "stealing" money from the store. Hopefully with a clear, written policy they won't feel so bad.
• It will be fair. They know who their competitor's are, they know what kind of policies are out there (Walmart just released one that was surprisingly lenient in allowing overage!), so they aren't going to want to alienate their shoppers too much. If they make it too difficult to use coupons or harder to save money, people will switch stores. They like people saving money at their store (remember their motto is "Love to Shop Here. Love to Save Here. and they have commercials featuring people printing coupons). More than likely there will be minor changes, but many of us won't see many things far different then how our store currently works.
• It won't cover everything. It just can't. All stores have learned that with written policies. There's just no way to make rules that cover everything, so there will still be things that will vary from store to store.

My best advice, until it officially comes out, I wouldn't worry about it too much. However, in the mean time I would certainly voice your opinions to Publix corporate.

What would I like to see?

• Doubling coupons in Florida
• Penny Item in Florida (a girl can dream right)
• Just a written policy in general.
• Overage written out as allowed. (After all Walmart does allow it now, which has almost tempted me to go there...)
• Limits on number of deals you can purchase. Reasonable to the type of item, obviously, since a limit of 4 yogurts would be awful, but a limit of 4 boxes of the same cereal would be reasonable. However, I think this would be best accomplished in each ad. I dislike shelf-clearers, and this seems like a fair way to deal with it, and thusly stop the store from having a then surplus when the store finally catches up.
• A written list of competitor's for each store. I don't care if there is a mile range or not, just that each store has to post who they accept as competitors. It's really frustrating when one week you ask CS and get that a certain store is a competitor and the next it is not, and then a month later it is. Really to me the only competitor's I care about are Target (we have a Super Target), Winn-Dixie, and Sweet Bay. I would also like Save-a-lot too, but I won't complain. They've been really lenient in my area, but really I just care about Target and Winn-Dixie as I rarely get any other competitors.

What would you like to see?

Frugality: Thoughts on Extreme Couponing.

So TLC has this new show called "Extreme Couponing." It's good because it brings couponing to those who might not know about it's amazingness, but it also isn't realistic and sets many people up for failure. Here's some things to know:

• It's reality tv, so it is going to be sensationalized.
• The stores were informed ahead of time, and so therefore they weren't really clearing the shelves, it was all for the tv.
• Some of the stores purposely broke their own policies because this show gives them good PR.
• You aren't a failure because you don't come out of the store with less than 98% saved. That isn't typical.
• They never account for the fact that buying 100's of something means buying coupons, and those are never included in the totals. While they are still saving money as whole, it isn't necessarily as high as they say it is.
• Some of the people are portrayed as greedy hoarders, which gives couponers a bad reputation. Most of us just are trying to save money for our family and buy a little more to donate. Most of us don't have rooms full of food that we couldn't possibly eat in one year. Most of us don't run out to the store for every little deal, we just say oh well, it will be on sale again. And finally most of us don't neglect our family to save money.
• Sales cycle through, so usually there is no need to by 100's of anything. Sorry.
• On the show they were only buying what would make them save the most money(and therefor look better on tv), not what they use, need, or want. If you truly want to teach couponing you show them how to save on things like meat, produce, etc. Most of them have had none of this.

So jsut remember, while it may be fun to watch, it's not meant to be true-to-life. And I'm sure none of those people are as crazy as they appear on tv.

Frugality- Drug Stores

This is a day late, but better late then never I guess!

I've only just begun getting into working the drug store deals, in fact I've only dabbled into CVS.

But it really is a great way to stock up on personal care items, so I thought I would share with you how it works.

Basically, each week the drug stores offer some form of money back for making a purchase. Generally, you break up what you would buy into several little purchases rolling over the money back to the next purchase, allowing you to save money out-of-pocket. Any extra after buying all you wish to buy you roll over to the next week. It does take a little more time then regular grocery store couponing, but it really helps cut down on the budget for those personal products.

My best advice though is to check-out Southern Savers. In the top right of the website you will find all the drug stores. She usually is pretty good about posting a getting started scenario for each one. She also has information on how it works, policies, and tips. So check it out, and be on your way to saving even more money.

Frugality: Tips for Saving Money on Printing Coupons

Printable coupons can be an awesome source for great coupons, but how much do you really save if you go through ink and paper quickly? It's even worse if you have a printer that has expensive cartridges! Here are some helpful ways to cut those costs down and increase your savings.

• Set your printer default to black and white to save on the colored ink.
• Make sure your printer setting is on the most economical. (Some have an economy setting, or you can choose a lower quality, which uses less ink)
• Use the backs and scraps of paper. If you are only going to print one coupon you can often use a half sheet from when you printed another coupon. Use the backs of coupons you didn't use as well.
• Use the backs of junk mail. Did you get a letter from a tax service wanting you to use their service? Use the back to print coupons. You can also use the back of children's past years school work, old papers from work, really anything that has print on one side, can be printed on the other. Of course one bit of warning is to not use anything that has personal information like SSN. Shred that. You can also ask people/businesses for this kind of paper. A lot of times it just ends in a box for recycling at office buildings.
• Print only coupons you will use, or are really high value. When I first started couponing I would print coupons that looked somewhat ok and I thought I might use. The problem with that is I ended up wasting paper and ink and never using them. Most of the coupon blogs will alert you to really great coupons that will disappear quickly, but most people know what is a great coupon for the item. There's an added advantage to waiting for some coupons as well: you get longer to use them.
• Consider buying a cheap printer for printing coupons, and remember look for one with cheap ink as well.
• Consider a laser printer. A little less than a year ago I bought a laser printer with money I got from doing surveys and rebates. It comes with a starter toner cartridge that lasted me til last month. It lasted for months after saying low toner. We bought the highyield replacement which I'm sure will last us a long time. We use the printer for coupons and pretty much anything that doesn't need color, which is a lot of things... And the quality is actually really great! If you are interested in the one I got check it out HERE. I bought it on sale for about $89, so wait for sales on these.
• Utilize sales and coupons. Office stores often have sales and coupons you can use to purchase paper and ink. Some also offer credits for bringing in your old cartridges.

With a little planning you can save even more with your printables. As always if you have any tips, share them below and I will add them to the post.

Frugality- The Best Ways to Save on Produce

One of the common things people say about couponing is that coupons are only for unhealthy foods, and they are right for the most part. I'd say easily 80% of coupons are for processed/junk food. The reason is simple, that is what a lot of people buy, and also where stores and manufaturer's make their money. So how can you save on produce? Well here are a few ways to do it:

• Coupons- Believe it or not there are coupons out there for produce. They are rare, and usually come with a purchase stipulation. One I used recently was "$1 off an avocado wyb 2 Tostitos" or "$1 off produce wyb 2 Kraft Dressings" Usually this isn't such a problem because generally these are items you will use with produce. Occasionally you'll also find coupons from major produce companies like Driscoll's Berries, Dole, or Chiquita. Another coupon source is store coupon. A lot of stores offer coupons for produce on occasion.
• Overage- I'm not advocating by a ton of stuff for hundreds of dollars of overage, but buying a few things for a little bit of overage can really help.
• $X/$XX purchase- These really can go a long way at cutting into the produce bill (and anything you don't get coupons for...)
• Farmer's Markets- This can be a real money saver. Farmer's are willing to make deals and haggle a little bit, especially if you buy a lot.
• Eat in Season- We live in an age where you can get all types of produce all year round, but that isn't the most economical. If you want the best value buy produce when it is at it's peak.

Here's a great resource for finding out when produce is at it's peak in your area, and also for finding a Farmer's Market. Check it out HERE.

Frugality: Food for Thought

Jenny over at SouthernSavers gave us some real food for our thoughts this week on supercenters (Wal-mart).

Check it out HERE.

Many people are confusing her argument though. Keep in mind as you read this that she is refering to people who use good couponing habits, which is buying a stockpile of things at their lowest price with coupons. This is not for people who just walk into the store each week and by whatever they want. But even then I can tell you Walmart is not always the best price, or worth the hassle. Be forewarned that using coupons at Walmart can be one of the worst experiences of your life, unless of course you like to feel like you just stole something.

I honestly cannot stand going in there. It's always crowded, it's usually dirty, most things are out of stock (but yet they are always stocking when I am there?), check-out lanes are always long, and customer service stinks. With all that being said, I'd rather reward a store that cares for their customers (and their employees, vendors, etc.) even if it costs a little more.

That's just my 2 cents.

Frugality- Sources of Coupon Inserts

Sometimes you need more than one insert (especially if you live in areas of True BOGO). Many would just suggest going to a clipping service, but here are a few ways to get full inserts if you feel uncomfortable about using a clipping service, or even want some free inserts.

• Call your newspaper. Some newspapers, believe it or not, will be generous with their inserts. (Unfortunately this is not mine).
• Ask the libraries in the area. This is actually a nice perk of my husband's new job. He now can bring me home 2-3 copies of each insert from the library he works at. 
• Ask businesses. A lot of businesses have newspapers for their customers to read on Sunday, some would be more than willing for you to have the inserts.
• Ask your neighbors. If your neighbor gets a paper, ask them if they use their inserts. If they don't, ask if you can have them. 
• Ask your family. Perhaps you have family nearby (or even far away). They may be willing to cut out coupons you know you will use or maybe send you all the coupons.
• Ask your friends, co-workers, playgroup members, church members, etc. These can be great sources of inserts. 
• Go for a walk on recycling day. If you live in a place that uses open recycling bins, you may be able to score some inserts just by getting some exercise. If you live in an area that has automated pick-up (where you have a large can with a lid, and all the recycling is mixed), you probably will want to skip this method.
• Use drug stores deals to buy your newspaper. I've heard of many people who use their register rewards or extra care bucks to grab more newspapers.

Hopefully this gives you some ideas. If you have any to add, please feel free to share below.

Frugality- Story!

Instead of my normal tips for saving money this week, I thought I would share a bit about why I find all of this information to be important.

For the past 6 months, my husband had been unemployed. We were fortunate enough to get a head's up way back in April 2010 that this might be the case, but we had hoped for the better. My husband worked as a music teacher, and unfortunately with a crappy economy that meant his position was one of the first to go when the school had to tighten it's budget even more (which is unfortunate for students today, but I'll spare you that rant).

We worked hard to build up a savings and build upon our food storage. I'd love to say that it was easy and he found a job right away, but he didn't. He decided to get certified for elementary school, hoping to widen his field of options. He got several interviews, but no jobs. We figured when the school year was starting more jobs would be available... but there weren't. And of course during this time several things happened to us. Our air-conditioner broke and had to be completely replaced costing over 5k. Our car battery died. Our stove broke. My husband's computer died.

But we also had blessings. An un-expected bonus from the school he worked out because the school met and passed it's annual yearly progress. Unexpected gifts from family members. Deals on the things we needed when we needed them. Receiving even the smallest amount of unemployment.

We watched as each week passed. Eventually my husband decided that maybe he would look into getting a master's in one of the other fields he loves, library science. He quickly registered for the GRE (more money!) and applied at a college for a distance learning program. He was accepted, but this still wouldn't be enough to live on. He applied anywhere and everywhere, libraries, schools, even Publix, Target, Home Depot, etc. Still nothing. We passed by Thanksgiving and were quickly approaching Christmas.

My husband and I are very active in our church, and one of our leaders encouraged us that if we were facing financial difficulties we should double our fast offering (each month we fast for two meals and give the equivalent of what we would have paid for those meals to help feed those in the area) and double it again. We did just that. It just so happened the month that we would double it again was December. Within that week he was called in for interviews at three different libraries. I received back word from a work at home job as well. With much prayer, we continued on waiting for word from the jobs he interviewed at. Within just a couple weeks (they all had said we might not hear back until the new year), he heard back from not one, but two of them to offer him a job! Just in time for Christmas!

And through this whole period we had enough to live off of because we prepared ahead. You could say it was a coincidence, but I think it was something more.

I hope you enjoyed my story!

Saving Money on Babies and Toddlers: Diapers

I've pretty much covered everything else, but the one that can cost a ton is diapers. I think the best way to deal with this is a good ol' cloth vs disposable comparison.

Cloth
Pro's
-Reusable
-"Eco-friendly"
Con's
-Upfront Cost
-Need for place to store dirty
-Learning Curve
-Need for laundering

Disposable
Pro's
-Tend to be simpler
-Coupons
-Can just toss away
Con's
-Environmental impact
-Cost over long-run
-Smelly Trash

Now here's the thing about the comparing the two. Either way can be cost effective. Cloth diapers cost a bunch more up-front, but if you end up using them for more than one child you reap the savings. There's also the issue of how many days you want to go between washing. If you have to run less than full loads of diapers and then dry them, you may actually spend the same (if not more than disposable). This also means the "eco-friendliness" of the diaper is diminished especially if you wash them with any harsh detergents/bleach. I've actually read quite a few books on green-living that have said cloth and disposable have the same ecological impact. Disposables do have coupons and cost much less per diaper, but the more kids you have the more you will have paid for diapers in the long run. Truly it's hard to make an apples to apples comparison of the two because it depends on your specific situation. Maybe you use an energy efficient washer with homemade or eco-friendly soaps and line dry them, or maybe you will only have one kid and are on the go all the time and need convenience of disposable. Then there are hybrid diapers like g-diapers. The choice is truly yours, so do what your personal values and experiences dictate.

To save on any kind of diapers:

• Look for coupons (not so likely for cloth, but still possible)
• Look for retail codes (especially good if you are buying online)
• Don't buy a ton of any one kind of diaper until you know it works for your kid because some kids just manage to leak through certain kinds of diapers. Every baby is different.