GaS Prices!

Angela

I'm a Couponer!

There is nothing more than I like to do when I shop than saving money while I'm shopping. I love the thrill of getting a great deal on something that I would normally buy. Not paying full price is so rewarding to me and if I get it for free that's even better!

A few weeks before Christmas I actually used all of the coupons in the picture above. I did! I couldn't believe how much I actually saved using them. Anyone care to guess how much I saved? Would you guess $5, $10, $20, $25, $50 or more? Well, it was actually the or more! I saved $115.00 using all of the coupons above! I laid them out and took a picture of them on the counter while I was shopping at Target. I believe that was the most coupons I had ever used in one transaction ever.

Now, I'm sure everyone is wondering where I get my coupons at. I will say that I don't get them from the Sunday paper as I don't buy the paper. I actually go to certain web sites and print them on my computer from home. I only print the coupons of the products that I actually use. There is a print limit of 2 coupons per computer. There is also a certain number of coupons in which the manufacture puts out for everyone to print, therefore if you see that a new coupon is out you need to print it as soon as possible before the print number has been reached. Also, that takes me back to the only print the coupons that you will use that way you won't be using up a coupon that someone else might want and need.

There are several great sites to go to print coupons for FREE. Below is a list of the places that I use to print the coupons that I use from:

• Target

• Red Plum

• Coupons.com
  

• All You

There are many other coupon sites to which you can print from, but these are the ones that I find to be a great source for me. I will also at times go directly to the manufacturers site to see if they might have a coupon for a product that I am running low on like say mustard or even ice cream. While you are at the manufacturers site you can usually sign up for their newsletter which usually will have coupons attached to them as well.

When I first started signing up for the newsletters for different manufacturers I used my main email address when I signed up. I have since then gotten an email address account just for the offers from the manufacturers. I highly recommend that you have a separate email just for these types of mailings. I have a very cute and cleaver email address that I use just for my coupons, signing up for newsletters and free products.

I also have a few other great sites that I follow through my blog that give me updates on all of the great deals that they have ran across or know about. They are a great resource of information on the newest deals that are out there and how to get them. Most of these offers will be free things that you can sign up to have sent to your mailbox such as free samples of shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, cereal and even dog food. I love getting these freebies in the mail! They are also great to use for vacations as they are the perfect size to take along. Below is a list of blogs that I follow that give me the links to find these great deals:

• Together We Save

• Money Saving Mom

• Deal Seeking Mom

• The Krazy Coupon Lady

• All You

After you print out the coupons for the products that you use you will need a convenient place to store them. When I first started out using coupons I bought one of those accordion style coupon folders that you find at the Dollar Tree for a dollar. Those are a great way to store your coupons when you are starting out. The folders are set up with handy labels for you to store the coupons for beverages, canned goods, dairy, laundry, frozen, miscellaneous and the such. Just always remember to take it with you to the store when you go shopping!

I have since then advanced my coupon storage into a 3 ring binder! Yes, I take the entire binder full of coupons in the store with me when I am shopping. If you are interested using a 3 ring binder it is very easy to set up. I just took a 3 ring binder that I already had and bought one package of baseball card protector sleeves to put the coupons in. I then took dividers and labeled them. Here is a list of the products that I have labels for:

• Baking
• Beverages
• Cans
• Cereal
• Cleaning
• Cookies
• Dairy
• Deodorant/Soaps
• Frozen
• Laundry
• Medicine
• Miscellaneous
• Pet
• Pasta
• Plastic
• Shampoo
• Toothpaste

This method makes it easier to flip through to find the coupon you would want to use. Here's how I do it. When I'm in the cereal aisle I just flip over to the cereal section in my binder. I look to see what coupons I have for which cereals. I then look to see if they are on sale. If they are on sale than I will usually go ahead and use that coupon that day. If the cereal for the coupon that I have is not on sale that I will look at the expiration date to see when it expires. If it is soon then I'll go ahead and use it regardless if it is on sale if I need that type of cereal in my pantry. I then do the same for each aisle that I go down. That's what works for me!

Here's a few extra tips:

• You can use a manufacturers coupon with a store coupon to score extra savings
• Always check the end caps of the stores for the clearance items and check to see if you have a coupon to match that product
• Look for signs in the aisles (Target) which state that you will receive a gift card if you buy 3 of such product or something like that
• Look for coupon peelies on products and use them
  
• Don't forget to take your coupons with you

There you have it! It is easy to save money when you are organized. The reward is not only more food in the pantry, but also more money in the bank!

Angela

Procter & Gamble Freebies

I just discovered that Procter & Gamble is giving away freebies! Who doesn't want to get a sample product for FREE? I know I just love getting those freebies in the mail! They also have a few good coupons to sign up for on their web page. Just go here and it will take you to where you need to go to sign up for some free stuff! Quantities are limited so you won't want to wait!

Angela

How I Save Money Shopping

I thought I would share with you how I save money when I shop. I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I do spend money when I shouldn't but for the most part I do consider myself as a good thrifty shopper. I sometimes will call myself a Power Shopper! lol My definition of a Power Shopper is someone who basically only buys things on sale which is what I mostly do~ some products never go on sale! When I do find a product that we use regularly that is on sale I will buy several of them. I call it stocking up so I won't need to buy it again until I find it on sale again! Here are some tips to help you become a Power Shopper also!

First, coupons are your best friend especially if they are for the products that you use on a regular basis. There are several places to go to get those all so important coupons. One place is to go to the manufacturer's web page and sign up to receive their newsletter. The newsletter's email is usually packed with lots of coupons with more savings on them than the ones from your local newspaper which is another great source for coupons. Another source for my area and I'm sure it would be good for you is to go here.

http://print.coupons.com/CouponWeb/Offers.aspx?pid=14161&nid=10&zid=xc06

Next would be to go to the store's web page if they have one. I do know that Target has one and they have their own coupons on their web page. You can even access their web page coupons at the store on those little computer things where you print out baby and wedding registries. The bonus about looking at the coupons at the store is that you can print them out at the store which saves you paper and ink for your printer!

I have more tips on shopping at Target. The end aisles are where they usually put the things on clearance at. Target is really good at clearancing seasonal things out. I buy Summer things in the Winter and Winter things in the Summer. Just last week I bought new curtains for my dining room on one of those end aisles for the price of $7.00 a pair! I couldn't buy the material and sew new curtains for that price!!!

After Holiday sales are also a great bonus for me. That is when I buy most of my decorations and crafts for Christmas, Halloween, Easter, 4th of July, etc..... Now girls, I shop year round for Christmas!!! Doing it that way saves me lots of money and I don't end up spending hundreds and or thousands in the month of December.

Now, when it comes to shopping for clothes, I basically do the same thing. I usually buy my Summer clothes in the Winter and my Winter clothes in the Summer when they are clearancing them out. I have actually paid $1.00 for shorts and $1.00 for shirts for the kids at Kohl's around Christmas! You know they are going to need shorts and shirts in just a few short months so why not buy them at the bargain price of a dollar a pair? Kohl's also has a great deal where if you sign up to receive their email sales at the Customer Service Desk they will send you a coupon to get $5.00 off your next purchase at their store.

If you are like me and don't go to the movie theatre to see the newest movies on screen and you wait for them to release the DVD, the first week that they release the new DVD's are when they are at their lowest price. I have found that Target again is the best place for me to purchase those new releases.

This past Thanksgiving I found Green Giant can foods on sale at WalMart for .50 a can! I bought a buggy full! They don't expire until 2012 so why not?

Now, go out there and clip those coupons and go to the manufacturers web pages so you can save a lot of money like I do when shopping and you can call yourself a Power Shopper too!!!

Angela