Have You Ever Arrived A Day Late

Have you ever arrived a day late for a sale?  I have.  This week I went to Bath and Body Works to buy candles that are normally $20 a piece, but on sale 2 for $22.  However while looking at the different scents that they had to offer I wasn't seeing any sale signs.  This did not stop me from picking two scents that I thought would smell great lit.  I approach the cash register and before I put the candles down I ask if they are still on sale 2 for $22.  The cashier told me the sale had ended the day before.  Man, I was a day late for this.  Maybe that was a good thing since I was thinking $22 for two candles before tax was quite a bit.  I could head to Christmas Tree Shop and get candles for $3.50.  However, they may not have the scents that Bath and Body works does.  Plus I remember seeing a coupon for $20 off $45 at Yankee Candle.  I don't need more candles, but I find that I don't have many or any for the upcoming Spring and Summer seasons.
A candle is only good for however long the wax and wick last.  How much would you spend on a single candle?

Looking Forward to Sunday's Coupons

Sunday is the first Sunday of a new month.  For a couponer, or at least me this is great.  I find that there are normally three coupon inserts in the paper when the Procter and Gamble insert is in the Sunday's paper.  I expect to see 1 Procter and Gamble, 1 Smart Source and 1 Red Plum insert.  Any other inserts that are in the paper are going to be a bonus to me.
I never know when the Procter and Gamble insert will be in.  Some months I receive it in the paper the last Sunday of the month. Where other months it is in the paper that comes the first Sunday of the new month.
I often use some of these coupons.  I especially enjoy seeing the Dawn coupons in the P &G insert.  Pairing this coupon with a sale that month I tend to get Dawn dish detergent for .50 cent a botttle or less.

Speaking of coupons, I can't wait to receive my first issue of the All You Magazine.  I finally gave in and got myself a subscription to the magazine.  I received an e-mail from them today with a refer a friend link.  It's a great magazine to check out at least once.   Here's a link if you decide to subscribe, www.allyou.com/referafriend

What coupons do you look forward to?  Have you seen the All You Magazine?  What do you think about it?

Am I Missing Something???

I took a look at the sales, coupons and final prices for this weeks sales.  I don't see anything worth running out to the store for.  Wait let me correct that Shop Rite has Yoplait Yogurt 20 for $10  this week.  Also part of Shop Rite's 4 day sale they have Botticelli Pasta for .67.  Other than that I don't see anything to run out for.
Am I missing the sales?  Are they staring me in the face, but I don't see it because I don't need anything?
Have you found any good sales this week?  Are there things you are looking for but can't seem to catch a break on it?

First Speaking Engagement

In March I will have a first with couponing, I will be speaking to a great bunch of women about how I use coupons.  Wow.  Who would have thought?  I certainly wouldn't have.  I have never spoke to a group of people before regarding coupons and savings.  This will not be a paid speaking engagement.  Instead my payment will be sharing what I do and hoping others are able to maximize their savings.  Will I be ready for it?  I sure hope so.  

Don't let doubt or uncertainty stop you from trying something you want to do or are passionate about.  You really never know where it will lead.

Couponing a Job???

I feel like I am so behind on blogging, cutting coupons, ugh...filing the coupons.  I am starting to think that couponing itself could be a full time job.  I was doing so good at keeping everything organized, cut and filed, but it seems like winter happened and everything got thrown off.
I feel like the coupons just aren't that great lately.  The manufacturers are changing the size requirements on coupons which makes things I used to get free I no longer do.
We are running low on things and I don't have another one in reserve to take it's place.  I don't remember the last time I used a coupon or got something for free.
I'm loving my savings, but is it really worth it?  I never wanted couponing to be a job.  I always wanted it to be something I do as sort of a hobby.
I need to rekindle that passion I had and start finding them good deals again.  I need to get up a half hour earlier and make that quiet time my coupon time.  I need to remember I'm only going to get out of it what I put into it.

Stockpile

When we were slammed with the blizzard last week I wasn't concerned about what we were going to eat.  I knew we have more than enough of macaroni, steak, tomatoes to make sauce, cereal, fruit, soup, beans, hot dogs, bread, peanut butter, snacks, toliet paper, etc.  As the days crept by and we still didn't see a plow I was still okay.  I knew that we had enough food still.
During the storm and the clean up I had many days to think. I realized that until the show "Extreme Couponing" I had never heard of stockpiling.  Didn't it used to be called a pantry?
My thoughts of stockpiles have changed some since going through the blizzard.  I feel within moderation a little stockpile is good.  It showed me that maybe I head to the store a little to much to catch some great deals.  Then again if I didn't catch them deals would we have had enough food?  Whether you call it a pantry, a stockpile or just food I have come to realize it is okay and even good to have a few of your most used items.  You could buy more than one box of cereal, more than one can of soup.  The problem comes in when you start overbuying.
What are you low on, what did you run out of....take a look and organize your stockpile, pantry or food.

Newspaper Groupon

I noticed yesterday as I was reading my e-mails that there is a groupon for four different newspapers.  You could get up to 73% off a subscription to the Connecticut Post, The News-Times, The Advocate, or Greenwich Times.  There are six different subscription options to choose from.
If your looking to get a subscription this could be a cheaper way to go.  Head over to groupon.com to check it out.  There are only three days left on this groupon, so if you snooze you might lose.

Digging Out

To all my readers on the East Coast, stay safe as you dig out from Nemo!!!

FebruAny at Subway

I realize I get more than humanly possible to read newsletters e-mailed to me.  Subway happens to be one of those that I subscribed to. Some time ago they started to highlight certain subs for a lower price all month long.  If you haven't seen it yet their FebruAny commercial has quite a catchy beat, tune, lyrics.  I will remember it and probably stop and get a sub this month.  Their advertising worked with me and hooked me.    

According to their website this months $5 footlongs are Italian B.M.T, Meatball Marinara, Turkey Breast.  Surprisingly there are also $6 Footlong Specials which are Roast Beef, Chicken and Bacon Ranch Melt and Steak & Cheese.  

There is fine print that says prices and participation may vary.  

Well, after looking at the list my Veggie Delight may or may not cost me $5.  It all depends on which list I look at.  However my son has been enjoying the Meatball Marinara lately which is part of the $5.  

I see Subway for lunch in my near future...

Another Way My Family Saves

As I was putting a log in the fireplace I realized another way my family saves is by using our fireplace.  We have an insert in our fireplace.  Within the insert there is a blower which in my opinion heats the house more than a regular fireplace.
We don't have gas, but instead have oil.  If you don't lock in your oil price the fluctuating price of oil could have you guessing how much per gallon your fill up will cost.
We have had the oil truck come twice since we are on automatic deliveries.  Using the fireplace has greatly cut down on how much they have to deliver.  I believe our oil tank is a 500 gallon tank.  The first delivery they only delivered 88 gallons.  Not bad at all.  The second delivery was a little more than that.
To be honest I am still trying to wrap my mind around how we are really saving, but I know we are.  See you have the cost of the wood, which we get  few cords at a time, but also if there are any oil deliveries you have to pay for what was delivered.  I know overall we make out quite good.  If I saw the figures side by side I would probably be blown away by how much it would cost to heat the house without the fireplace for a whole heating season vs. mainly fireplace heat.

It's the little things that overall make a big difference.

Read the Ads Carefully

I did my usual Saturday shopping at Shop Rite today armed with my coupons, my list and my mothers list.  One of the items on the list was a beef tenderloin.  On my list was to get two.  I know from past times getting these that it is normally limit one to get the Shop Rite card discount. 

I thought I scanned and read the paper really good.  I did not see the limit one anywhere, so I picked up the two and had the butcher cut it into steaks for me.  Finished getting what I needed, checked out and was quite surprised at the total.  Being the highest that I ever have spent I had to quickly remind myself that I got two tenderloins.  I always make it a habit to look at my receipt after I check out whether on the way to the car or in the car.  I was quite impressed with how much I saved.  Upon closer inspection I discovered that only one tenderloin got the Price Card discount.  This had me puzzled and ready to go back into the store.  Before I did I looked at the paper one more time.  Sure enough in very small print it says limit one.  Well, too late now I already purchased it.  If I had seen the fine print before I would have split the transaction into two separate orders.  

Make sure you read the paper and signs carefully, misreading them could cost you more than you originally expected.  

Question for my Readers

I have been toying with the idea of getting paid to blog.  Currently I am blogging for free with my payment knowing I am passing information onto my readers and friends in hopes of helping them save.  I have been researching and asking questions to others with blogs.  I need your input.  I don't want to get away from the point of my blog.  I don't want to have a whole lot of advertising, give-a-ways, reviews that my couponing posts get lost in the mix. 

 

So here is the question:  

Do you like the blog the way it is?  Would you mind advertisers advertising on the right hand side of my blog?  If I had to do a review on a product would you find it helpful?  

All input is appreciated and wanted.  I write for you all.   

Shopping with Others in Mind

Yesterday I set out on a mission.  I was going to do some shopping for my household as well as others.  I used to think that if an item was free I will pick it up and share it with others.  However, my thoughts have recently changed.  I purchased four bottles of Dawn yesterday which my coupons brought down to .49 a bottle.  Now we have more than enough and do not need any more, but I picked them up anyways with the understanding that giving someone some Dawn may go a long way.  

For only $1.28 out of pocket I purchased the above five items.  I saved $7.08 by getting these items on sale and using coupons.

I don't have anyone in mind for these yet.  If I know you and you are need of Dawn let me know I'd be happy to give you a bottle.