Social Media and Savings

Sometimes I feel that too much of our lives are put out there through social media.  I have cut back on what I share and have even tried to unplug from electronics.  However I learned I can't stay unplugged for long.
Through social media I am able to see what friends up to and ways they are saving.  It's great to have a circle of friends who share photos of their shopping trip with how much they spent out of pocket for the pictured items.  More and more I am seeing these types of pictures popping up on my newsfeed and it warms my heart.  Knowing others are saving is great.  Whether or not I had some influence on them deciding to check out coupons, savings and ways to save or not doesn't matter.  Although I would love to hear that because of what I do, I inspired someone else to do it.
In my opinion social media could be used to share tips, stories, what worked for you, what didn't and just encourage each other.  Hmm...That gets me thinking.  Maybe I should create a group on Facebook to do just that.
I don't know if I consider myself an expert or not, but I do know that I can learn from what others do.  I am always open for tips and suggestions on ways to maximize my savings and places to donate items to.
What are your thoughts on Social Media and Savings?

Readership is Down

I know that I don't blog everyday.  Sometimes I have a thought, but don't take the time to put the thought to paper or in this case to computer.  I don't know if it is with the lack of blog posts, the topics or what, but I seem to be having less readers.  Why is that?  Those that do read, what can I do to increase my readers?

Carvel Free Jr. Cone Today Only

Did you know at participating Carvel's today(4/25/13) only from 3-8 PM you can get a FREE Jr. Cone?  Well you can!!!  According to their website if you give a two dollar donation you will receive a coupon book with over $20 in savings.  The two dollar donation will help support American Red Cross's Disaster Relief.
I'm thinking a Carvel cone sounds really good today!

Organization is Key

I have been having to play catch up with my coupons for a while now.  I don't have all of them cut and filed.  I do have them neatly in one place waiting to be cut.  I have tried to catch up on it this past week.  Trying and really doing it is two different things, but my motivation has now increased.
As you all know I shop at Shop Rite.  A few weeks back I purchased 15 Yoplait yogurts which caused a $1.25 off your next order coupon to print out.  This coupon had an expiration date of 4/20/13 on it.  I went to Shop Rite on 4/20 and did a little shopping.  I was reminded of the coupon when I walked past the yogurts.  I pull the carriage aside so others could get past me.  I look through my binder to come up empty.  I was hoping that the coupon did not expire that day since it was not with me, but I had a feeling it did.  I come home look in my box (where I put the coupons waiting to be cut and some register coupons waiting to be filed), but I still can't find it.  Where else could it be?  Well the day I got this coupon it was colder out and I had a jacket on.  Hmm...could it be that I just shoved it in my coat pocket and forgot about it.  Yup, sure enough that's what happened.  I was disappointed when I saw that it had expired that day and I could have used it if I had only filed it when I came home instead of stuffing it and forgetting about it.
Now if that wasn't enough, as I am cutting the Smart Source inserts that I am behind on I find a .35 off coupon for Land-O-Lake Eggs.  Gee in that same shopping trip on Saturday I got Land-O-Lake Eggs for .99 with the Shop Rite coupon.  If I had cut and filed this coupon earlier I would have only paid .29 for my eggs instead of .99.  Grrr....
Finding out I had coupons for items I just bought and I didn't use the coupon really bothers me.  I am working on catching up with my cutting and filing of coupons.  I know that organization is the key to saving, and I strive to get better at it.

One Coupon Insert in Sunday's Paper

There is only one coupon insert that will be in Sunday's inserts.  I was shocked to see that there will be a $7.00 off Zyrtec-D coupon in the inserts again.  It was only two weeks ago that the last $7.00 coupon was in the paper.  When looking at the paper we get delivered I discovered it was not part of our insert.  Tomorrow I will venture out in search of the coupon.  I know if my paper does not have a certain coupon I am looking for there are one or two other papers I check.
A tip to you all.  If you are going to buy a paper for a certain coupon, flip through the paper, look at each coupon, make sure the one you are looking for is really in the insert and paper you are going to buy.  In order to cut down on the amount of stores you have to go to in order to find that desired coupon you might want to head to the store earlier.  If you decide to head out mid-afternoon or early evening don't let the time of day stop you just because you think they might not have the coupon or paper you are looking for.  A coupon of value to you might not be a coupon someone else sees as valuable.
Happy Saving!!!

Monday is Earth Day, But Stores Are Giving Treats Early

Last year on the Sunday before Earth day I headed to Target and got a good size reusable bag free.  Many times I have folded the bag, stuck it in my pocketbook and saved five cents by reusing a bag.  

This year they are doing the same thing.  Starting at 10 am tomorrow (4/21/13) Target will be giving away reusable bags while supplies last.  If there are multiple entrances to your store and you don't see someone handing out bags at the one you just came in check the other entrance.  It will be worth it.  I have read that some of the bags might have samples in them, but not all.  There might also be a coupon book in the bag or that is being handed out too.   

What time will you be heading to Target?  

Great Finds on Clearance Racks

Lately I have been finding some great finds on clearance racks.  I picked up a pair of men's shorts for my son for $4 and change.  These shorts normally go for 9.99 and up.  Two other finds I recently purchased was a wii game normally $29.99 marked down to $8.98 and a CD which has an original price of $16.99 was marked down to $3.86.  The only reason the CD was marked down was because the item wasn't normally sold in stores, but on their website.  It could really pay off to check out the clearance spots in the stores you shop in.
I love the bargains I find on the clearance racks!  If I am 100% honest with you, my readers, not everything I buy is on clearance or sale.  Seeing the savings though, I love it and want to bargain shop more.

Opening up the Floor for Questions

I tend to blog about the things that I feel would be helpful or interesting to you as readers.  Now though I would like to hear from you.  Send me an e-mail or post a comment with topics you want to know more about, questions you might have, or your savings stories.

Awesome Battery Deal at Shop Rite

Can you ever have enough AA or AAA batteries?  Well you probably could.  Better question is are you running low on AA or AAA batteries.  If you said yes, you might want to take a look at your Shop Rite ad.  I noticed in my ad they have Kodak 20 count AA and AAA batteries on sale for $1.99 with your card.  That is an awesome price!  With an awesome price comes a limit.  You are only able to purchase four per variety.   This sale for me is going on all week and there is no minimum amount that needs to be spent to lock in this price.  How much more awesome could this get?  

Are you heading to Shop Rite to stock up on batteries?

What $1 Flip-Flops Early???

I was reading the paper today and noticed an ad from JC Penney.  On the cover of the ad was a rainbow assortment of flip-flops.  What struck me about this ad was the $1 Family Flip-Flops in every color while supplies last.  Why is that so odd?  Normally I get my flip-flops at Old Navy which normally only offers select colors and is normally not until May or June.  It looks like Old Navy has some competition this year. 

I am not one to match my outfit with my flip-flops, but if I was this would be one sale I would be heading to.  

Apology To My Readers

Hello to all of my readers,

Every day I think about posting something, but I don't.  How can I expect you to continue to check my blog if I am not going to offer you something new.  I apologize for my lack of posting lately.  I am going to try my best to not let other things get in my way of blogging.  I do not get paid to blog.  I would love to get paid to do this, but at the moment my payment is hoping that by sharing my stories and tips that you start saving or maximize your savings.

I vow to do better...

Make Your List and Check it Twice (Tip #3)

On Sunday's I try to make my shopping list for the week.  Normally through the week I will add things to the list and even take things off.  Some of my list might be things that we actually need or are running low on.  Most of the list though will be compiled from Coupon Mom, Hip2save, Krazy Coupon Lady.  Occasionally I will find out about sales elsewhere or I will just look at the ads and see what jumps out at me.  

After I make the list, I don't head straight to the store and shop.  At this point I have no clue what coupons I have that will match up with the sales.  I will put the list aside, more than likely forget about it.  At some point during the week I will get my binder and coupon inserts out along with my laptop to look at the lists I have compiled.  Once I see what coupons I have I decide on what I am really going to buy from that list.  I have been trying to take the coupons out and put them either in an envelope or section of my binder with the corresponding list.  Sometimes I do all this work, head to the store only to find that my store does not have the item on sale for the amount that the website listed.  I have to take a minute to see if this is really still a good deal and something I still want.  Depending on the time of week I go (lately the end of the week) I can't find the clearance item, the right size, other people cleared the shelves, or the store I am at doesn't carry said item.  No big deal. I know I should do my shopping at the beginning of the week, but sometimes schedules just don't permit that to happen.  

Make your list, check it twice and enjoy watching the savings roll in.