Frugality- Coupon Sources

I don't think a week goes buy where someone doesn't ask me where I get my coupons from. I know I've touched on this before, but I figured a little refresher doesn't hurt.

Newspaper

Redplum- Generally found in the Sunday Paper. Abbreviated RP.

Smart Source- Generally found in the Sunday Papper. Abbreviated SS.

Proctor and Gamble- Found in Sunday Paper usually once a month. Abbreviated PG

General Mills-Found in Sunday Paper occasionally. Abbreviated GM

Parade/USA Today Weekend- Occasionally there are coupons in this Sunday insert.

Other- Be sure to check other ads and sections of the paper as well, you never know where there might be a $X/$XX coupon or a competitor coupon. Sometimes I even find manufacturer's hidden in the paper.

Online

Coupons.com- Printable coupons. You can generally only print two. New ones available all the time.

Redplum- Another source of printable coupons. Again you can print two, and new ones are available all the time. (Also, these are often different coupons then the newspaper version.

Smartsource- Yet another printable coupon site. Similar to both Coupons and Redplum

Cooking with Kraft- Source of printable Kraft Coupons for Publix. Many are store coupons, but some are manufacturer.

Target- Target offers printable coupons on their website. There are Target store coupons and manufacturer's. Unfortunately it can be hard to tell before you print them.

Right at Home- Source of printable SC Johnson coupons.

Tablespoon- Source of many General Mills Coupons

Snackpicks- Source of many Keebler and Sunshine snack coupons.

Company Websites-  Many companies have coupons on their websites. Kellogg's and Betty Crocker are just a couple of many companies that host coupons. 

Product Websites- Check the website of the product you want to buy. Look for words like coupons, offers, or promotions. Sometimes its a picture on the front page. (Don't know the website, just use a search engine).

Newsletters- Sign-up for emails from companies and you may be rewarded with a coupon.

Facebook- More and more companies are using Facebook to give away some pretty great coupons. If you really like a product, go "like" them on Facebook (or at least check their product page). And while you are there go "like" Frugal and Provident.

Mambo Sprouts- Great source of organic coupons.

In Your Mail

Redplum- Redplum sends out a mailer in the middle of the week in some areas. Sometimes it includes store or manufacturer's coupons. Many people mistakingly throw it away.

Homemailers- Many of these will come from signing-up with a website, but sometimes stores/companies will just send them out at random.

Free Samples- When you request a free sample from a company, it may contain a coupon (often high-value). So request those samples when you see them.

Magazines- Some of the magazines you receive have coupons in them. Subscribe to All You and it will definitely have coupons in it. Or check out Nicole's Nickels for a list of coupons in many popular magazines.

Publix Subscription Clubs- Publix offers quite a few subscription magazines and clubs that offer fabulous coupons. If you have a baby, you should definitely sign-up for their Baby Club.

Other- Check with other stores in your area and see if they have a direct mailing list or subscription club. You never know. I know BJ's and Costco send out coupons. Winn-Dixie also has a baby club.

In Your Store

Store-Ad- The store ad sometimes contains coupons.

Booklets- Be on the look-out for booklets throughout the store. They can be in a turn-style at the front, a big display, a little box on the shelf, or even at the customer service desk. These booklets can contain store and/or manufacturer's coupons. 

Blinkies- You will find these in little machines with a blinking light on it. They are most often found in front of the product they are for.

Tearpads- Little tearpads of coupons. Can be located in front of the product, on a display, in the turn-style, or in front of a related product. Keep your eyes out for them.

Peelies- These are found on the product (or a related product). You (or the cashier, make sure to read the  front first) peel them off to use them. 

Hangtags- A coupon hanging from the product. These are most often found on bottles or jars.

Catalinas- Coupons that print with your receipt. Not found at Publix, but they are found at Winn-Dixie and Target.

Other- Sometimes you will find coupons at your store that are "loose." Maybe they were part of a sample or demonstration. Sometimes there are just a stack of coupons in the turn-style. Always keep your eyes peeled for coupons.

Miscellaneous

Inside Products- You never know what may be inside a product you will buy. Sometimes there are coupon books or coupons for that product. I've gotten a lot of good coupons that way.

Mail In Promotions- Some companies will reward you for buying their products by mail in rebates for high-value coupons.

Coupon Fairies- That's when you find a coupon for a product that someone has left on the shelf/product.

Trading/Buying- There are many sites out there devoted to selling/trading coupons.

Other- I never cease to be amazed where I might get a coupon from. I have been to symphony orchestra concerts and seen $X/$XX coupons in the program. You might receive coupons for participating in a marathon or community event. You can win coupons through giveaways. You can contact companies and request a coupon. They can be hidden in papers, junk mail, and bills. Sometimes your insurance company offers them. You might get them from a doctor or hospital. You really just never know.

I hope this is helpful for those of you out there. One thing to keep in mind is just because a coupon isn't listed in the match-ups or in a coupon database, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Those things depend on submissions from it's users. Companies want your business, so you never know where a coupon may show up.

Happy Couponing!

Shopping List for 11/4/10

Blue= Manufacturer's Coupon
Green= Publix Coupon
Red= Competitor's Coupon
(2)Barber Foods Chicken BOGO $4.99
   -(1) $1/1 All You Oct 2010
   -(1) $1/1 All You Nov 2010
(2) Craisins BOGO $2.25
   -(1) $1/1 Peelie (if I can find it in my coupons, it seems to have disappeared... :-/)
(6)Hershey's Bliss BOGO $4.29
   -(2)B2G1 Tearpads
(2)Nabisco Graham Crackers BOGO $3.99
   -(1)$1/2 from 9/26/10 SS
   -(1) $1/2 Target Printable HERE
(2) Finish Dishwasher Detergent BOGO $6.99
   -(1)$1.50/1 from 10/24/10 SS
   -(1)$1/1 HERE
(2) Schick Quattro BOGO $8.99
   -(2) $3/1 Printable (no longer available)
(1)Bush's Grillin Beans 3/$5
   -(1)$1/1 from 10/3/10 SS
(1) Listerine $3.99
   -(1)$2/1 from 9/19/10 RP
   -(1)$1/1 from Green Advantage Buy Flyer
(1)Yellow Onions $1.99
   -$1 off produce HERE
(1) Tangerines 2/$4
   -$1 off produce HERE
(2) Olivia Spread 10/$10
   -(2)$1/1 HERE
(2)Idahoan Flavored Potatoes 10/$10
   -(2)$1/1 HERE
(3)Lipton Cup-a-soup 10/$10
   -(1)$2/3 Peelie


-$5/$25 Purchase Save-a-lot Coupon

NaBloPoMo

I've decided to participate in NaBloPoMo this month, which is National Blog Posting Month.

My month will be a "Month of Money Saving Tips." Each day for the entire month of November, I will give you a quick tip to help you save money!

Tip 3- Plan ahead. We most often give into temptations because we haven't planned. If we have nothing planned for dinner, we might just  go out to eat. If we have nothing planned to do on the weekend, we'll just drive until we find something fun to do. If we don't plan our grocery trip, we'll buy whatever looks good at the store. If you plan ahead for emergency expenses, you won't have to get into debt. Planning ahead saves you both time and money!

How Do I Use it? Beans Part III: Cooking

Beans are a relatively common food, however many of us use the already prepared canned variety. Here is how to work with beans from a dried state.

• Sort and Rinse- Spread beans out on a clean towel or pan. Remove any shriveled beans and/or pebbles. Rinse them in cold water.
• Soak- Almost all dried beans must be soaked. This is vital for them to be digested properly. To soak simply put the beans in a pot and fill with enough water to be about 3 inches above the beans. This is about 4-5 cups of water per cup of beans. In really warm weather, it may be wise to soak in the fridge to avoid fermentation.
• Short Soak/Boil method- Boil beans in water for 3 minutes (preferably a heavy bottom pot). Cover and set aside for 2-4 hours (longer does not hurt). Drain and discard water. Rinse beans and proceed to cooking.
• Long Soak Method- Soak beans for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and discard water. Rinse beans and proceed to cooking.
• Cooking- Using new water (not what you soaked it in), cook beans in a large, covered pot. Use 3-4 cups of water for each cup dried beans, which would be water about 1 inch above the top of the beans in the pot. Cooking time varies depending on the bean, but generally 1-2 hours.
• Seasoning- Do not add salt or other seasonings until the beans have been cooked. You can season 30-45 minutes before the beans will be done. The sky is really the limit on how to season the beans, and how you are going to use them.

Average Cooking Times

• Black Turtle- 1 1/2 hrs
• Black-eyed Peas- 1-1 1/4 hrs
• Garbanzo- aka chickpeas- 3 hrs
• Great Northern- 2 hrs
• Green Split Peas- 1 1/4 hrs
• Lima Bean- 1 1/2 hrs
• Navy Bean- 2 1/2 hrs
• Pinto- 2 1/2
• Red Kidney- 1 1/2
• Soy Beans- 3 hrs

*Some beans can be cooked in a pressure cooker to reduce cooking time.

NaBloPoMo

I've decided to participate in NaBloPoMo this month, which is National Blog Posting Month.

My month will be a "Month of Money Saving Tips." Each day for the entire month of November, I will give you a quick tip to help you save money!

Tip 2: Cut it back. You can save a ton of money by cutting back on the amount of something or how often you do something. For example, jeans don't need to be washed after every wear, so wash them every other week. You can also cut back on how much detergent you use for dishes or clothes, since we often don't need as much as we use. Cut back on meat by reducing your portion (most people eat more than the suggested serving size) or eliminate meat entirely once a week. Cut back on how often you get a hair cut. Cut back on how often you go out to eat. All it takes is a little bit to save some money.

P.S. Don't forget to get out and vote today!!!!!!!!!!!

New Uses for Plastic Water Bottles (or Any Plastic Bottles!)

Hopefully, most people are making the switch from pricey and wasteful water bottles to refillable water bottles. In case you haven't kicked that habit, here are some uses for plastic water bottles.

• Refill them with sand or another substance and use them as workout weights
• Refill them and use them as weights for your picnic or beach blanket
• Fill them with something heavy and use as a doorstop or paper weight
• A drip irrigation system for your garden
• Cut in half, drill some holes, and use them to start seeds in
• Cut off the top half and use as a funnel
• Use it as a vase. You could have kids decorate if for a craft project.
• Use them to store used cooking oil, so you can dispose of it properly
• Use the caps for paint for craft time
• Save the caps and color them red and black for checker pieces
• Use them to store small things like beads, paper clips, etc.
• Fly Trap
• Lava Lamps for Kids
• Really there are tons of crafting options (piggy banks and the like)

My only suggestion is to not refill them with something you plan to consume unless it is marked with the label PET (this is usually thicker plastics like soda and juice bottles). If you want a bottle you can reuse there are plenty available at just about every store.

If you have an idea/use for plastic water bottles, please share below and I will add it to the list!

NaBloPoMo

I've decided to participate in NaBloPoMo this month, which is National Blog Posting Month.

My month will be a "Month of Money Saving Tips." Each day for the entire month of November, I will give you a quick tip to help you save money!

Tip 1: Make things homemade, and not just food. Much of the cost of everything we buy is the cost for the company to advertise, produce, and sell that item. If you make it yourself, you don't have to pay for that. Food, cleaning supplies, decorations, and gifts are all wonderful things to make at home.

Publix Ad

Michelle over at iheartpublix has the new ad up, you can find it HERE.

It's a new month, which means lot's of new printable coupons out there.

Monthly Money Sense- Are You Saving for Retirement?

Retirement may seem like a long way away (or maybe it doesn't), but now is always a great time to be saving for retirement. There are also many reasons why it should be a priority. So why is it so important?

• Most of us live far past the typical retirement age. Some people have even been retired for longer then they spent working. You will need much more money then past generations needed.
• Many jobs no longer offer pensions. This means you need to be responsible for funding your own retirement. This isn't to say some companies don't pitch in to your retirement account, it just means it no a pension, guaranteed payout.
• Social security is not your retirement. It was never meant to be. Regardless of how you feel about politics and social security, you should not just assume social security will be your retirement. It is meant to be a supplement to your other retirement money, not all of it. There is also no guaranteed amount or if Social Security will still exist when you retire.
• Your kids can get a student loan, you cannot get a retirement loan. Many people put their kids education at a higher priority than their own retirement. This is a bad idea. There is a plethora of student aid out there, but there is no such thing as retirement aid. If you plan it right, you can even make withdrawals from to help out with college without a penalty (talk to a financial advisor for specific information). 
• Your kids are not your retirement plan. Some people mistakingly think that if they some how can't make it their kids are going to bail them out or let them live with them. That's not fair to you or them.
• Don't think "I'll just get a job if times get tough." Again, you can't depend on the economy to help you out. There are jobs out there for retired people, but you shouldn't count on it as a way to get by.
• Your house is not your retirement. Sure you could sell it or do a reverse mortgage, but what happens when that runs out? Where are you going to live? And of course everyone should remember that home values aren't always great, and selling isn't always an option.

There are so many reasons why you should be saving for retirement. If your employer offers matching on you contributions, you definitely should take them up on that. Your retired years should be a time of relaxing, not a time of worry and anxiety. Plan now, and enjoy your retirement.

Meal Plan Monday

Monday- Bean and Cheese Burritos
Tuesday- Beef and Broccoli
Wednesday- Left-overs
Thursday- Hot Dogs, Mashed Cauliflower, Corn on the Cob
Friday- Steak, Baked Potato, Green Beans
Saturday- Out
Sunday- Breakfast

Please link-up below!