Publix Ad

 
Michelle over at iheartpublix has this weeks Publix ad up. You can find it HERE.
I know I see a few things I'm excited about!

Monday Money Sense- Intro to Credit Reports and Credit Scores

For more Money Sense, click here.

What is a credit report?

A credit report is essentially a history of your use of money. It will include all credit cards, mortgages, student loans, car loans, and any other credit you may receive. It will include your payment history, balances, high balances, and length the account has been open. Your credit report will also include personal information such as addresses, employers, phone numbers, and names, as well as your social security number. It will also include any inquiries of your credit. And finally it also includes any negative information about you such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, collection accounts, etc. 

What is a credit score?

A credit score is essentially a grade on how well you use credit. It ranges from 300-850, with 300 being a bad credit score and an 850 being a good credit score. It can be used to give a brief snapshot into your personal credit worthiness.

Why do I want good credit?

Because credit is used to determine many things in your life, whether we want it to or not. The foremost is credit and loan decisions. While it is sometimes possible to get these things without good credit, it can sometimes come at an expensive and/or time consuming cost. Your credit score/report can also be used to obtain insurance, housing (landlords may do a credit check to make sure you will pay the rent), jobs (some employers believe a person with a bad credit score is more likely to try to steal from the company or will be unable to handle company resources effectively), or even to obtain a cell phone. Good credit also means better interest rates when you need credit.

Join me next week as we learn more about credit reports.

Publix Trip 8/6/10

I spent $24.10 for $115.67 worth of groceries, saving $91.57 or 79%

Check out my original shopping list here.

Added:
(2) Glad Wrap @ 10/$10
       (2) 75¢/1 from Publix Simple Entertaining Booklet
(2) Additional Crystal Light Pure Fitness BOGO $2.99
        -(1) $2/1 Vocal Point mailer
(1) Vitamin B-6 $3.59
(1) Additional Wheat-Thin @ $2.50
     -$1/1 Tear Pad
     -Free wyb (2) Crystal Light Pure Fitness Tearpad 
(2) Vlasic Pickles BOGO $2.69
     -(2) 75¢/1 Blinkies
(1) Berio Olive Oil $3.99
     -$1/1 wyb 2 Ronzoni Healthy Harvest (found on the Healthy Harvest)
(1) Publix Turkey $3.99

Deleted:
(1) Vitamin D (They only had 3 left, so I opted for the Vitamin B-6)
(2) Crest Toothpaste (My P&G did not have the $1 coupon...)

Prices, Price Changes, and Coupon Changes:
Ronzoni BOGO $1.79 not $2.19 (I actually think I might have typed it wrong last time...)
Ragu BOGO $2.59 not $2.19
Juicy Juice BOGO $2.99 not $2.65
Sundown Vitamin D $2.99
Mott's Applesauce $1.89
Publix Applesauce $1.59 (free with promotion)
Chef Boyardee $1.49
Publix Ravioli 99¢ (free with promotion)
Pampers Wipes $2.99 (free!)
    -50¢/1 Homemailer

-$5/$50 Purchase Gordon FoodMarket Coupon (I asked and they take it! I get these all the time...)


So I was super excited about all the overage deals on things I needed/use. For example since the Wheat Thins coupon for the free item was a Publix coupon, I could use the $1/1 manufacturer's coupons. Since I received all of the Crystal Light for free, it was a really great deal! The Sundown Vitamins also netted me $5.44. I also got 50¢ on the wipes. So about $8 total!
I also learned when I got home that inside the wipes package is a $1/1 coupon for the refills! My Sundown vitamins have peelies on the top which will be good when I buy more.
As for the actual trip it was a good one, except I had a very slow cashier. She must be fairly new because she had to ask how to do competitor's coupons and seemed to have trouble looking things up on the screen. I felt bad for the guy behind me who only had a few things (for some reason they didn't have any express lanes open, and both lanes open had people with a lot of stuff and/or coupons...), but once he saw how much I saved he was impressed. Hope you guys had a great week as well!

Friday Fun Change

So I'm excited to say that I am changing Friday Fun into Friday Favorites because I have a lot of things that I think are really great and that I want to share with you. So here is this weeks Friday Favorite: Opinion Outpost!

What is Opinion Outpost?
It is a survey site that pays you to take surveys.

How do they pay you?
After you have collected 50 opinion points you can cash out for a $5 check.

How many points do you get per survey?
10-50 is what I have seen, with many being 20.

How much time does it take?
That depends on the survey, but generally the points match the time constraint. I don't think I've spent more than 20-30 minutes on any one survey.

Why I like it!
Because I've only been doing it a month and have made enough for $30 (I've received $20, $10 is in the mail). I'm actually only 2 points away from another $5 check. If you don't qualify for a survey after starting it, you have the choice of instant win for $50, entry into a sweepstakes, or donate to charity. You also occasionally get to test products, which is always fun!

Where do I sign-up?
 Click here to sign-up! The link will also be in my favorite places tab for future reference.

Frugality- Get to Know Your Local Store and Manager

For more frugal tips click here.

Here is a list of things to do to get to know your store and the store manager, so you can have the most enjoyable and stress free shopping trips. (These tips are good for any store not just Publix) 

Call your local stores and ask about the coupon policy (if you can talk to the manager this is the best way to know exactly what the policy is). 
Some good questions are:
Do you take competitor's coupons?
Who do you consider to be a competitor? (ask for a list of stores...)
How many coupons can I stack? (a manufacturer's and a store, a manufacturer's, a store, and a competitor?)
Do you take printable coupons? Is there a limit or a value limit? (Some stores won't take coupons for more than $5 off one item)
Do you allow overage?
Do you take expired coupons? If yes, for how long?

When in doubt call to ask or ask when you get there about specific coupons.
Sometimes you have a coupon and you either aren't sure about it's stacking or if it's an acceptable competitor. For example, a couple weeks ago I thought to ask about the Petco coupon and  learned that my store would take it. I also called a few weeks back and found out my Publix takes store coupons a few days expired.

If you don't see something on the shelf, don't be afraid to ask if there is more in the back or if you can substitute. (This applies to booklets too).
For example I went into the Publix on Saturday to buy the Tidy Cat Litter that is currently on sale for $1 a bag after coupons, and there was none on the shelf. The manager of my store was in the aisle checking stock, prices, etc. (which he is often doing) and I asked him if there was more in the back. He went and checked and there wasn't any, but to my surprise he then asked if he could make a substitution for me. I showed him my coupons and said I was planning on buying three, and so he offered me the 30 lb bag (the amount of litter I was going to buy) and then allowed me to use all three coupons on it, so I got 30 lbs for $1.98, $1 less than I was going to pay. I've heard stories from friends about trying to buy a store brand that was out and the store giving them the name brand for the store brand price. It's also wise to ask about booklets too. Sometimes we assume someone took all the booklets, but the reality was they never received them in the first place, or they just haven't set up the display yet.

Don't be afraid to ask to see if you can use a coupon or money back if an item goes on sale a day later or you get a coupon in the mail when you get home. (Or you forgot to use a coupon!)
I know that at my Publix they will let you bring in a coupon that you get that day or the next day (or one you forgot to use) and they will give you the money back. I also learned that my Target will allow you to bring a coupon in if you forgot to use it, as long as the coupon was released before the date of the receipt. Basically it never hurts to ask in these situations because we've all felt that feeling of just buying something and seeing the coupon in your binder when you got home or sticking your hand in your pocket to get the keys and finding some coupons you meant to use in there.

Ask for the manager when there is a problem with coupons (or call or email).
 I cannot stress this one enough. There is no reason for a cashier to be rude to you or for there to be variations in the coupon policy from what you have been told. A couple months ago I went to my favorite Publix, and I was doing a deal that involved a buy this item get another item free, I also had Publix coupons for both the regular and free item. I had asked before and my store does accept overage. The cashier told me I couldn't do that, I told her I could. She tried to argue with me! I told her politely that I wanted to speak to the manager then. She rolled her eyes at me and muttered under her breath "all this for $1!" She then put the coupon through. She also missed a few coupons, and typed in a few for the wrong amount. I have a toddler who was done shopping at that point so I went home and went through the Publix corporate site and sent a message explaining the situation and requesting a coupon or something to account for the missing coupons and the rudeness. The manager called me within a couple of days and told me to see him the next time I came into the store and he would give me a store gift card. I went in expecting $5 or something, but no he gave me $20! That manager earned my business, and as such I almost exclusively shop at his Publix. I also learned from this experience that sometimes the coupon policy is lost in translation because sometimes someone wasn't paying full attention during a meeting or because they couldn't hear correctly. (This is why I suggest getting the coupon policy directly from the manager's mouth)


Be a good couponer.
The reason I say this is simple: stores get bad tastes for coupons and couponers from those that abuse the system. If you are unsure if you can stack certain coupons or if a coupon is accepted, ask instead of assuming they will say something if it is wrong. Sometimes the cashier just doesn't notice you did something wrong, sometimes the cashier is just a teenager who could care less what the stores policy is.

Be nice to store associates.
If you shop the same time and same store, then you might see the same cashiers every week. Ask them how they want the coupons from you, this can make a huge difference in the amount of time it takes to check out. Sometimes you'll get new cashiers, and they may be slow, don't roll your eyes or get annoyed with them! They are learning. Be nice to the baggers by having your reusable bags ready.  When you are done loading your groceries in the car, if at all possible, return your cart to one of the corrals (and as an extra nice thing to do if you see that they have just collected the carts from the corral and the carts are nearby return your cart to the rest of the carts, I've seen many a thankful face for doing that.)

Follow these tips and you will have much happier trips to the store! Join me next week for more frugal tips.

Shopping List for ?

Blue = Manufacturer's Coupon

Green= Publix Coupon

Red= Competitor's Coupon

(2)Ronzoni Healthy Harvest BOGO $2.19

   -$1/2 from their website HERE.

(2) Ragu BOGO $2.19

   -60¢/2 from 8/1/10 RP

   -$1/2 Publix Smart Start Booklet

(2) Crystal Light BOGO $2.99

   -(2) $2/1 Vocalpoint Coupon

(2) Wishbone Salad Dressing BOGO $2.89

   -$1.25/2 from 8/1/10 RP

(2) Juice Juice BOGO $2.65
   -$1/2 from their website HERE 

(2) Shout Stain Remover BOGO $2.99

   -(2) 55¢/1 from their website HERE (it says color catcher, but prints as "any")

   -$1/1 Publix Baby Club Coupon

  

(2) Pepperidge Farm Goldfish 2/$3

     -(2) 75¢/1 Printable (no longer available)

(2)Crest Toothpaste  $2.19
     -$2/2  TARGET Coupon 6/27/10  

     -$1/1 Crest Toothpaste 8/1/10 P&G

(1) Wheat Thins
        -Free wyb 2 Crystal Light Tearpad
        -$1/1 Printable (I'm not sure where I printed it from, it was in my binder)

(4) Sundown Vitamin D (my doctor told me mine was low :-( )
      -(2) $6/2 Sundown Vitamins Green Advantage Buy Flyer
      -(2)$3/2 HERE

(1) Pamper's Diapers $19.99
     -$2 off home mailer
     -$? off Target coupon found at Target Store (I don't have it in front of me at the moment...)
(2) Pamper's Wipes 
   -Free wyb Diapers 8/1/10 PG
   -Free wyb Diapers In-ad Coupon  

Buy Theirs, Get Ours Promotion:
(1) Mott's Apple Sauce
(1) Publix Applesauce
(1) Chef Boyardee Ravioli
    -$1/1 Target Printable HERE
(1) Publix Ravioli  

As the title suggests, I'm not sure when I will be going shopping, but hopefully tomorrow night or Friday.

Water Storage- Finding Emergency Water Sources in Your Home

Click here for more emergency preparedness information.

A natural disaster takes out water to your house, you have water storage, but maybe not enough, or maybe you need water for non-drinking purposes. Here is a list of places around your home that you may be able to get water from in a pinch. Some of this water may also be used for drinking if proper precautions take place first, mainly shutting off the water supply to the house before any contamination occurs. If you are doubtful about the safety of the water, do not drink it.

• If you know there is a possibility you will lose access to running water (an approaching hurricane, for example) fill your bathtub, washer, sinks, and anything that can hold water with water. For the bathtub you may need to do some extra work and caulk the drain.
• The water heater! Make sure to turn off the water heater first, and then you should be able to drain it with a hose.
• In house filtration systems such as reverse osmosis or through refrigerators.
• Water remaining in pipes in the home. 
• Ice cubes (save this for after the first day or two)
• The tank on the toilet (not the bowl!). (This water should be purified before drinking or better yet used only for hygiene purposes)
• Swimming pools and hot tubs. (This should only be used for hygiene purposes, not for drinking!)

 Next week we will talk about how to purify water for use in an emergency.

Publix Ad and a Deal on Sonicare

Michelle over at iheartpublix has posted this weeks Publix ad (sorry I'm a day late), you can find it here.
I see a few things I am excited about, however I'm sad because I have another youth thing this week, but it is on Thursday, so I'm not sure if I will get to go shopping then or not.

I also got a great deal this week on Sonicare Toothbrushes at Target, specifically the Sonicare Essence.
Check it out:
Sonicare Essence on sale $49.99 (down from $69.99)
    -$10/1 Manufacturer's Coupon from 8/1/10 SS or HERE
    -$10/1 Target Printable HERE

Also, when you register your product they will email you a MIR for $10 off a future Brush purchase, and a MIR toward brush heads.  (So if you wanted to buy two, wait for the email to buy the second...) I think it's a pretty good deal considering how much they want to charge you at the dentist for one of these things. I will also attest that I can tell a difference in their cleaning (and I was previously using a battery operated toothbrush).
Happy Couponing!

New Uses for Cat Litter

Let me just say right off the bat that I mean clean unused cat litter, lol! Anyway here are some wonderful new uses for kitty litter, some of these might even give you reason to pick up a bag even if you don't have a cat!

• Put some in a small container to get rid of unwanted odors in the fridge.(I kind of like this idea, so I can keep my baking soda for baking!)
• To get rid of smells from books, seal them in a container with litter. (Great for books you buy secondhand on Amazon or at a yard sale)
• Use it to absorb liquids. 10lbs can clean up more than a gallon of liquid. This is an especially good idea for things like oil or paint thinners, or other garage messes.
• Pack a sock full of litter in with a tent to avoid mildew and mold.
• Make a face mask! Ok this one is kind of weird, but ya never know. Mix 100% clay, all-natural, unscented litter with water in equal ratios and crush with a pestle and mortar. Apply to face.
• Keep a bag in the back of your car to use in case you need some traction if your car gets stuck.
• Use it as a de-icer, or at the very least to add traction to ice.
• Put some in the bottom of trash cans to deodorize it.
• Dry flowers on a bed of cat litter in an air tight container for several days.
• Use it like damp rid, in moist places to keep mildew from forming (like in closets and basements)
• Dispose of medicines. (Used litter can also be used for this one...)

Do you have any uses for cat litter? Share them below and I will add them to the list. Also, be sure to check out past weeks for more new uses by clicking here.

Monday Money Sense- Emergency Fund

How Much Money Do I Really Need?

Today we are going to look at how to calculate how much money you need to have in your emergency fund. But before I start that I would just like to remind people if they are still in debt pay-down mode, it would be wiser to put money toward debt than to build 8 months of savings, however you should have a small emergency fund of $1000 or one month's income to cover things like a deductible on insurance. So without further ado, the steps to calculate how much you really need. 

1. Pull Out Your Budget. After all, your budget should give you a very good indication of how much money you use every month. Write down the amount of expenses you have every month.
2. Look for Things that Go Away with Your Paycheck. For example, if you are now living off of your emergency fund because you have no income, you won't be putting money into it. You may also not be making donations. Subtract these items from your expenses.
3. But Remember Some Things May Cost More. For example, if you choose to keep insurance coverage through your employer you may be paying more to have COBRA. If you know exact amounts for these then add them to your expenses, if not I would add 10% of the amount in #2 for things that may cost more.
4. Multiply Multiply this number by the number of months of emergency fund you want. 

Other Things to Consider

1. Do You Have Food Storage? If you do you can reduce money going toward groceries, I wouldn't eliminate it completely because you may find yourself needing to pick up some fresh items, etc. depending on how much food storage you have and other self-reliance techniques you have mastered.
2. What Can You Do Without? Cable? Internet? Dining Out? There are lots of things that are probably wants... However, only eliminate these things if you truly believe you will cut them out if necessary. Be realistic about it, don't eliminate a cell phone completely if you have no other phone because how will a future employer contact you? You'll also need to look at contracts for these items because while you may be ok with giving them up, the company may smack you with a big fee to do so.
3. Are There Any Life Changes in the Near Future? If you are about to have a child, you will have more expenses. Did you buy a house? You might want to save more to cover any expenses for your house.

Hopefully this gets you thinking about how much you need. It's not an exact science, and there is no magic formula. 

For more in the Monday Money Sense Series, click here.