Publix Trip 7/8/10

I spent $21.55 for  $51.40 worth of groceries, saving $29.85 or 58%. So not the best, but I bought mostly staples and diapers of course (but $10.99 for a box of diapers is not too shabby).

See my original list HERE.
So there are definitely quite a few additions:

(2)Musselman's Applesauce BOGO $1.89
   - (2) 75¢/1 MFQ from Publix Smart Savings Booklet
(2) Nature's Own 100% Wheat BOGO $2.63
   - (2) 75¢/1 IP from HERE
(1) Hormel Bacon $4.99
   -(1) $2 off wyb Nature's own and Hormel Bacon Publix tearpad
(1) Watermelon 81¢
(1) Publix Turkey Lunchmeat $3.69
(1) Eggs $1.29
(2) OM Deli Creations @ 2/$5
   -(1) BOGO Publix Printable (if still available) HERE
   -(1) 75¢/1 Publix Printable HERE
   -(1) $1/1 from 5/16/2010 SS (I wish I had another, but I had used a lot awhile ago, so I just had one)
(1) Kraft Homestyle Mac and Cheese $2.99
   -(1) Free product coupon from Kraft Summer Savings Promotion (promotion over)
 (2) Suave Professionals $1.39 each
   -(1) Free product home mailed (rang up as $3 off so made both free really)
   -(2) 55¢/1 Publix Beautiful Benefits Booklet  

Frugality- Hot button Topics of the World of Coupons

Click here for more on couponing.

Sorry this is a little late today, somehow the time on the post got changed to later in the day! 

You realize there is a great deal to be had that isn't listed on your favorite deal site, so you share it in a comment. Next thing you know someone makes you feel like you just committed a serious offense. That's what this entry is about. We'll look at both sides of a few key issues to help you establish your own coupons ethics code.

Taking Peelies off a product that you are not purchasing in that shopping trip
Against- Some say it is stealing as the manufacturer placed them on that product to be used when you buy it.
For- Some say that these are just another manufacturer's coupon that the manufacturer's don't care when you use it as long as you buy their product.
My view- Taking one or two is fine, as the reality is most peelies are placed by third party groups and therefore may place them on only one type of an item (for example recently there was a $1/1 Ritz Cracker Item peelie that at my store was only placed on the cracker chips, but at another store were on the Ritz crackers.) When manufacturer's are serious about a coupon being only for that item the coupon usually says "Coupon must be removed by cashier" or something to that effect. People who take all the peelies though are not cool in my book.


Buying, trading, and selling coupons.
Against- Some feel it is a violation of the fine print on the coupon.
For- Some feel it is a way to gain coupons not found in the paper or larger quantities of coupons they want. They also say they are not selling coupons, but rather charging for "clipping."
My view- I tend to fall more against it. I feel like companies spend a lot of money to print coupons only in certain areas for a reason. However, if a family member or friend offers me coupons that's fine. I also feel that obtaining coupons through sources other than original ups the chance for fraudulent coupons. I don't go out of my way to get coupons I don't have. All of my savings come from printing from two computer's, one newspaper insert, and home mailers, and I do just fine that way.


Buying large amounts of items to get overages.
Against- Some feel it is misuse of the system to do it this way, and often results in a bad taste for coupon users.
For- Some feel there is nothing wrong with it because they're manager lets them.
My view- I'm against it. Buying one or two items to get an overage is fine. Buying 50 to get $100 overage is not fine. I've seen some people buy 50 of an item to get overage to buy everything else on their list. Some of these people claim to donate it, which is great, but this also happens to cause problems with stock at other stores. To me it is also not realistic for others to reach the same savings. These people also often buy coupons from online to do so. Rather than going for the highest percentage of savings I just try to spend under my grocery budget.


Shelf-clearing (essentially the same concept as above)
Against- Save some for the rest of us!
For- If my store cared, they would limit me.
My view- If you are going to buy a lot of something, then order it at customer service. However, unless you have a large family or need a lot of the item there isn't many cases I could see for shelf clearing. Ordering it does help so that other people can get some, but sometimes it also causes a depletion of stock at the warehouse. I also feel like most things go on sale about once a month, so really I don't think there is that great a need.

Taking as many booklets, tearpads, and blinkies as you want
Against- Save some for the rest of us.
For- They are there, so why not!
My view- Only take a couple, and certainly never take the whole stack. Greediness with these items has led a lot of stores to keep them behind the customer service counter and only give you one per visit. And it's definitely not cool to take the whole stack and then sell it online.

Using a coupon not for the item listed (for example a coupon for Tide with Febreeze for regular Tide)
Against- It's coupon fraud
For- It worked when I used it. 
My view- This is called coupon decoding. I think it is complete misuse of a coupon. A lot of coupons work for different items then the one listed because of their coding and how the computer reads them, but it is still misuse of a coupon.  Some deal sites will show these in match-ups, but I don't think they are trying to misuse the coupon, but rather do not know exactly which items are on sale. For example, the ad may say Mueller's pasta, so they list one for Smart Taste, but it turns out not to be in the sale. They listed it because they didn't know not because you can use the coupon.


The best advice is to decide what is right for you and check with your store on things you may be worried about. There is a spectrum of opinion in the coupon world on what is and isn't right. Keep in mind that abusing coupons or coupon policies only ever leads to higher prices, less coupons, and stricter policies.

Come back next week for more frugal tips, as I talk about one of my favorite things: mail in rebates!

Shopping list for 7/8

Blue- Manufacturer's Coupon

Green- Publix Coupon

Red- Competitor Coupon

This is going to be real short because I don't feel like there is much that I need this week, so I may just run in for a few things.

(1) Publix Diapers @ $15.99
   -$5/1 Publix Baby Club Coupon

I'm also considering some items that I have a free item coupon for....Other than that I may just grab some staples. 
 You can check out the full-ad with match-ups at iheartpublix or southernsavers.


But I did want to tell you I added a new tab called "Favorite Websites" at the top. There you will find links to some of the websites I've mentioned (and some I haven't mentioned yet) that you may find useful. So go check it out, and let me know of any sites you like so I can check them out because I love finding great sites!
  

Water Storage- Step One: Proper Storage Conditions

For more on food storage and emergency prep, click here.

You would think storing water is a no brainer, right? It's just water after all, but you would be wrong. The last thing you want to happen is to at the moment you need your water storage you find that it is somehow unusable. This is why I have chosen the actual storage of water to be the first task in water storage, even before you have any water to store! So I figured the best way to discuss this is with a little bit of Do's and Don'ts.

• Don't store water in direct sunlight.
• Do store water in a cool, dry, place.
• Don't continue to store commercially bottled water after its expiration date. The water does not expire, but this is the date when the bottle will start to break down.
• Do rotate trough commercially bottled water to avoid tossing water out.
• Don't open commercially bottled water until you intend to use it.
• Do consider storing water in your freezer as it can serve several purposes. First, a full freezer runs more efficiently saving you money. Second, during a power outage the frozen water bottles will help keep food cold for a long period. Third, it will keep water safe for use.
• Don't use the wrong type of bottle for storing water. Containers from toxic materials and milk jugs are bad choices. There will be more on storing your own water next week.
• Do use any water you bottle your self with in 6 months.
• Don't forget to date your water. If you store it yourself write it on the container, if it comes from the store write the expiration date larger or write the date you bought it if you cannot find a date. 
• Don't use glass bottles to store water in as they are easily breakable
• Do be creative in storing your water. Some great places to store it are under beds, in closets, under other furniture, in cabinets, in drawers, in your basement or garage (as long as it meets the cool, dry place guidelines), or even turn it into a piece of furniture if you are really creative. Add shelves to pantries or deep closets, or even shelves behind where your clothes hang in your closet.
• Do think of water storage as a priority rather than an inconvenience. This will make it easier for you to stay motivated and find places to store your goods. This statement also stands true for food storage.

I hope that gets you thinking about where to store it. Hopefully you have some water stored already in your 72 hour kit, but if not next week I will teach you how to store your own water, which is so simple to do. 

New Uses for Newspaper

For more in this series, click here.

If you are couponing (and there are many reasons you should be!), you probably have some newspaper around. Check out this list for some interesting uses for newspaper.

• Papier-mâché crafts
• Other crafts such as paper dolls, hats, and boats.
• Crumple it up or shred it to use as packing material
• Donate to a local animal shelter.
• Make a fire-starting kit for camping, fireplaces, or fire pits.
• Prep your garden bed.
• Use the comic section to wrap gifts (or the sports section for the sports fanatic).
• Spread it on the floor or table for craft time.
• Patch a hole. For small holes in dry wall, use it as a backer for joint compound.
• Animal bedding
• Use it to get your stuck car out of the mud, snow, etc. Stick a big section under the wheel, and you should be out in no time.
• Wad it up in smelly shoes to absorb odors. (This also works for containers, trunks, drawers, and suitcases.)
• Use it to germinate seeds. Stick seeds between two sections of damp newspaper in a warm place.
• Composting
• Soften a tomato by wrapping it in newspaper
• Make shift funnel for beads, nails, and other small objects.
• Crumple it up and clean your windows.
• Line your vegetable drawer to keep it dry and free of smells
• Make paper from newspaper. Simply tear it up, soak it in warm water until it becomes pulp, then spread on an old window screen covered with a piece of fabric. When it dries, voila! card stock.
• Use it to stuff shoes and purses to help them retain shape.
• Reading. Duh! Newspapers are a great source for reading. They have current events, gardening tips, puzzles, editorials, etc. They can be a great tool for teaching children about different forms of writing as well.
• Use it as a prompt for a story, poem, or song. You could also use it as a game to pick the first line of an article and tell a story using it.
• Cut out photos to make a picture book for a kid. (My grandfather cuts out the pictures of animals and puts them into a photo album.)
• Emergency dust pan.
• Use it to remove spider and cob webs by rolling it up and swishing it around to collect the web.
• Make it into clothing. 
• If all else fails, please recycle!

Do you have any uses for newspaper? Comment below and I will add them to the list.

Publix Ad and Nabisco Coupon

Head over to iheartpublix for the next Publix ad. It's not finished yet, but it will be by the end of the day. Also, while you are there check out her new coupon database, it's a pretty nice addition. You can use it when you need to buy something that is not on sale and you want to see if there is a coupon for it.


Also, head over and like Nabisco on facebook to get a coupon for a free package of cookies wyb a package of cookies and a gallon of milk. This coupon is available today only.

Monday Money Sense- How's it going?

Click here for more in this series.

It's been about a month since I started this series, so I thought I would take the opportunity to take a break and see how everyone is doing?

Have you:

1. Stopped spending more than you make?
2. Established a budget?
3. Created a debt pay-down plan?
4. Started kicking your debt pay-down into high gear? 

So which step are you on? How is it going? Have you been surprised by any of the results of the steps?

Remember, this is a slow and tedious road, but don't give up! Keep in mind that this is temporary, and eventually you will no longer be in bondage to your debt, and think how great that will feel.

Please feel free to comment and let me know how you are doing! Join me next week as we begin a series on emergency (aka rainy day) funds.

Friday Fun- Keeping Kids Busy in the Summer

 For more free and cheap fun, click here.

We're now in full blown summer mode. Summer can really become an expensive time with children being home and wanting entertainment! Here are some ways to keep the kids busy for less.

• Summer reading programs- many public libraries offer summer reading programs for free! 
• While you are at the library, check out all the great things libraries have today. Seriously, many libraries have cd's, dvd's, books, and some even have electronic resources for you to download at home. My local libraries have extensive children and teen rooms, as well as, an extensive dvd collection. My local library also hosts many activities from baby story time, to arts and crafts. I love to check out books for DIY projects. 
• Parks! Many local parks are free, and some offer programs for kids in the summer. At the very least they provide some good fresh air for children. 
• Take a picnic to the park! I've done this before and it is tons of fun. 
• Start a summer project with your kids. This depends greatly on your child's age and capabilities, but kids often love helping out on big projects. One idea might be to hold a garage sale. This requires gathering items (a good way to cut back on the clutter), cleaning items, pricing items, making signs, setting up, and then selling things. Offer to let the kids keep the money for any of their own items that they sell, or put all money to something the whole family wants like a vacation. Perhaps consider a lemonade stand as well at the sale. Other projects might be gardening or painting. 
• Museums and national parks- a lot of them have summer programs. You can also find coupons for these activities in local papers, online, and other coupon sources.
• Board games and card games- I still love playing these, and they are some of the best memories I have from being a kid.
• For pre-teens and teens- summer jobs. Baby-sitting, pet walking, lawn mowing, car washing, and the like are all appropriate and help them learn some great skills.
• Be creative- paint pictures, do crafts, make up plays and skits, do mad-libs, have magic shows, sing, dance, build forts. These are all really fun things to do that kids love to do as well.
• Exercise- find some sort of exercise for you and your kids to do. Go bike riding, walking, do yoga, play basketball together, etc. It shows them that exercise is important and you do it to. (I know it's hard, it's one thing I'm working on too)
• Volunteering- there are plenty of places that would love some volunteer help or visitors. Examples would be animal shelters, nursing homes, hospitals, homeless shelters, and churches.

Do you have any ideas? Share them below.

Publix Trip 7/1/10

I spent $21.44 for $98.98 worth of groceries, saving $77.54 or 78.3%!

Click here for my original shopping list.

It was a good shopping trip and I had my favorite cashier! She's so efficient at checking out that it takes no time at all. On the downside, I noticed when I got home that the sunscreen rang up differently than it said on the shelf at my store. So, I will head back later if it truly did ring up wrong I will get that item free changing the totals. Turns out my husband read the shelf tag wrong, so oh well! Anyway here are the changes from the original shopping list:

Added:
Another Kraft Sandwich shop Mayo which was BOGO $1.99!
  -Used an additional $1/1 Yellow Advantage buy coupon to make it $1 moneymaker!
(1)Scrubbing Bubbles Power Sprayer $7.99
  -$5/1 from 6/13/10 SS
  -$3/1 Target printable HERE
(2)Beggin Strips 2/$6
  -BOGO Peelie  Manufacturer's Q that says redeem at Publix only. My cashier treated it as a store as they were both on the same package.
  -$1/2 Peelie
(1)Snyder's Prezels 2/$4
   -$1/1 from 5/23/10 SS
(1)Banana Boat Sunscreen
   -$1/1 from 6/27/10 SS
 I also added the following coupons:
   -$1 off any Dairy purchase Publix Baby Club coupon
   -$1.50 off Huggies Little Swimmers Target printable HERE (my store allows triple stacking). 
   

I was going to buy milk at my store, but milk is up to $3.35. I'll be going to BJ's to buy it.   
     
    

Frugality- The rules of using coupons.

Click here for more on coupons.
Click here for definitions and abbreviations.

Here are the basic rules of couponing. Keep in mind during this post that some stores have different policies, I will note where I know of differences. Most of these rules will be true for most grocery stores, but again check with your individual stores to be certain. Follow the rules, and you will be ensured that you will have a happy relationship with your store, and the store will have a favorable view of coupons.

1.  Quantity, sizes, and product type- read your coupon to know which product to use it on. It may not match the one on sale.
2. You can use only 1 manufacturer's coupon per a product. For example, on many match-ups you will see several manufacturer's coupons listed, you must pick the best one to use. When a manufacturer's coupon say $1/2 or $1/4 you must buy whatever amount it says. You cannot combine it with a $1/1 manufacturer's coupon. 
3. Store coupons- You can use one store coupon per product. If the store coupon says $1/2, you must buy two. You cannot combine two store coupons ($1/2 and $1/1) for the same item.
4. Most stores allow you to stack a manufacturer's with their store coupon. (Target, Publix, Walgreen's, CVS, Winn-Dixie all do.) For example, you buy shampoo and use $1/1 manufacturer's and $1/1 Publix or you buy two shampoo and use $1/2 manufacturer and (2) $1/1 Publix coupons.
5. Some stores will allow use of a competitor's coupons. You will need to know what the store considers to be a competitor. In most cases, you can stack a manufacturer's with a competitor's. A few stores allow you to stack a manufacturer's, store, and competitor's. For example, at Publix $1/1 manufacturer's and $1/1 Target. In some cases, you may be able to do $1/1 manufacturer, $1/1 Publix, and $1/1 Target.
6. Doubling and tripling- Some stores will double or triple coupons up to a certain coupon value. Publix (not in Florida) doubles coupons up to 50¢.  Some stores (Harris Teeter) occasionally offer super doubles and triples. This generally means they are doubling or tripling higher value coupons.
7. True BOGO's and coupons- If your store has a true BOGO (you have to buy two of an item) then you can use a manufacturer's on both items. Your store may also allow stacking coupons on BOGO items. If you have half-price BOGO, then you can just buy one and stack coupons.
8. BOGO's with a free item coupon or BOGO coupon- if your store offers true BOGO, then you get both items free because the store is paying for the one, and the manufacturer is paying for the other. If you have half-price BOGO then the coupons work as they normally do.
9. Read the fine print on your manufacturer's coupon- If the coupon says do not double, then if your store does doubling the coupon will not double. If it says one coupon per person, it means one coupon per person. 
10. Fine print on store coupons- this one is generally up to your store to decide how strict they would like to be. (For example, most Publix coupons read one deal per coupon per purchase, which should mean only 1 of that coupon per purchase, but many Publix stores allow you to use as many as you have).
11. Expiration Dates- Most stores will not allow you to use a coupon after it has expired. Some managers will allow you to do so if it is only a day or two expired. Some in very rare let you use it for a week or more. Check with your store to know.
12. Internet Printables- make sure they come from legitimate sources. Do not just stick an internet printable coupon on a copier, they have built in security codes. Many stores do not accept internet prints for free items or high value coupons (usually more than $5/1). Some stores do not allow internet coupons at all.
13. Overages- Some stores allow it, some do not. You need to check with your store to know.
14. $X/$XX purchase coupons. Usually for the value of groceries before coupons. Rarely a store will allow you to use more than one if the combined pre-coupon total is enough for both coupons. For example, you have two $5/ $25 purchase coupons, some stores will allow you to use both if your pre-coupon total is $50.
15. WYB coupons. These can be the trickiest to figure out. It's easiest if you attach the coupon to a product in your head (this works for all coupons actually). So if it says "$1 milk wyb 2 packages of cookies", then it attaches to the milk meaning you can use coupons for the cookies. If it says "save $1 wyb milk and a package of cookies", then it attaches to both the milk and cookies.

The key rule is always when in doubt, ask your manager/customer service desk!

Hopefully that helps some. Feel free to ask me if you have a question about the usage of a coupon.

Next week we'll look at the hot-button issues of coupon etiquette.