Listing Format Key:
Current coupon: Coupon out now.
Also frequently seen: coupons not out now but that I have seen in the past for this product, making it free.
List of products to purchase with this coupon with stores found

THE LIST:
Current coupon: Frank’s red hot sauce $1 off 1 – 10/3/10 SS
Frank’s red hot sauce (SW, W)

Current coupon: Save $3 off any 3 johnson products – 8/01/10 SS – (exp. 11/30/10)
Also frequently seen: Save $1 on any 1 johnson product.
Hello Kitty bandaids, 10 count (T)
Band aids, (8 count ) (T)
Johnson & Johnson travel kits (SW)
Band aids, 20 count, various kids (T) $.60-$.69 after coupon

Current Coupon: $2 off 2 any kotex pads
Also frequently seen: $1 off 1 any kotex pads
Kotex pantiliners, 14-16 count (not in trial size area)
Kotex pantiliners, 2-4 count (trial size area)

Current coupon: $1 off 1 Clean & Clear product – 8/01/10 – (exp. 10/31/10)
Clean & Clear Facial Scrub, trial size (SW)
Clean and Clear facial scrub, trial size (T)

Current coupon $1 off 1 tide
Tide trial size (W, SW, T)
Please note, this does not indicate a size but I have had issues with most stores accepting this coupon on trial size tide.

Current Coupon: $1.50 off 1 Olay Body Wash, any size  9/26 P&G (exp 10/31/10)
Use $1.50/1 from 9/26 Procter & Gamble insert (exp 10/31)
Final price: Money Maker after coupon

Here is an excerpt of the current deals…

Kellogg’s Back To School Event -
Purchase 10 participating Kellogg’s, Keebler, Sunshine, Morning Star or Eggo products (3.8oz+), Receive $10 OYNO Catalina
valid 9/2 – 9/15/10

Purchase three (3) Betty Crocker Skillet Helpers, Receive $1.50 OYNO
Purchase four (4) Betty Crocker Skillet Helpers, Receive $2 OYNO
Purchase five or more (5+) Betty Crocker Skillet Helpers, Receive $3
runs 9/6 – 10/3/10

Purchase three (3) DiGiorno Small Pizzas, Flatbread Melts or 200 Calorie Portions, Receive $2 OYNO
Purchase four (4) DiGiorno Small Pizzas, Flatbread Melts or 200 Calorie Portions, Receive $3 OYNO
Purchase five or more (5+) DiGiorno Small Pizzas, Flatbread Melts or 200 Calorie Portions, Receive $4 OYNO
runs 9/6 – 10/3/10

Purchase three (3) – five (5) Old El Paso, Receive $1 OYNO
Purchase six or more (6+) Old El Paso, Receive $3 OYNO
runs 9/6 – 10/3/10

Purchase four (4) Participating Pillsbury Refrigerated Baked Good Products, Receive $1 OYNO
Purchase six or more (6+) Participating Pillsbury Refrigerated Baked Good Products, Receive $3 OYNO
runs 9/6 – 10/3/10

Purchase two (2) cases waters*, Receive $1.50 OYNO
Purchase three (3) cases waters*, Receive $3 OYNO
Purchase four or more (4+) cases waters*, Receive $5OYNO
* Arrow Head, Deer Park, Ice Mountain or Poland Springs – depends what is distributed in your area
runs 9/6 – 10/3/10

Will our stores participate in these? Here is the poster’s response to others ” honestly do not know Felicia. This is a National List that all stores are offered. Whether or not the store chooses to participate in a particular offer is up to them. Ann”

But either way, it is a great list of possibles.

Frugality and Accumulation
Posted: 03 Sep 2010 07:00 AM PDT

The other night, I watched a couple episodes of the A&E documentary series Hoarders. For those of you who haven’t seen it, Hoarders is a documentary series that focuses on the struggles of people who suffer from compulsive hoarding.

One thing that struck me over and over again was that people were saying things along the lines of, “I can’t get rid of this stuff because I might have a use for it some day.” Of course, they were making this statement in a home that was so full of stuff that they had difficulty even walking through their home.

Frugal people live on an interesting spectrum between minimalism and hoarding. While on the one hand frugal people often move towards minimalism, with fewer possessions and the like, at the same time, two of the most powerful tools for saving money are reusing things and buying in bulk. Both of those tactics result in the pure accumulation of stuff.

Nearly everything we throw away has some sort of value to it. I could save old newspapers for campfire starters. I could save old magazines for children’s art projects and collages. I could save worn-out clothes for our rag bag. A broken piece of furniture could provide pieces of wood and cloth for other projects. Old electronics can often be refurbished and repurposed.

Given that a frugal person often focuses on the maximization of value, sometimes it’s easy to fall into the trap of keeping more stuff than we actually need. We do this all the time – you wouldn’t want to look at our garage, for example. I have a really bad penchant for saving cables and electronic components because I’m so sure that someday, this adapter will have a valuable use or someday, I’ll need this cable.

Add on top of that the value that can be found in bulk buying and you soon see the problem: frugality can easily lead to the accumulation of excess stuff.

Where’s the line between frugality and hoarding?….

For the rest of the article go here.

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I have to say that as a christian who wants to help others and has the income to donate to food pantries and such, I do wonder how much is too much? Currently I probably have 10 to 15 boxes of cereal, about 20 tubes of toothpaste, about 10 shampoo/conditioners, about 5 stayfree feminine pads. At what point do I share some of this, knowing that there will be another sale? I have not answered that to my satisfaction. How do you answer that question?

Late last week when I mentioned that the $1-per-issue deal on All You magazine was ending on August 29, readers chimed in with other ways to get the magazine for $1 or less per issue. It seems like the best deals on this title are through fundraising companies that typically help kids sell magazines as school fundraisers. They are legit offers, but you will find that the first issue is a little slow in arriving (say 10-12 weeks from date of order).

Regardless, these prices are much better than Amazon’s $1.40/issue on a two-year subscription.

$0.83 Per Issue. Get 30 issues of All You for $25, which is $0.83 per issue, when you order through MagFundraising. No coupon code required. (This is a fundraiser for Pocket Your Dollars, which we use quite often to help with our Pick’n Save and other store listings, etc. Decide for yourself if you want to support them. Maybe you can find a local school kid doing the sale and support that school. If you wanted you could go to the site and find a group at this url and then see if you can find all you. I see the Elmbrook Humane Society, Marquette Rowing Teams, Waukesha Blazers (sports team?) and Waukesha Wonders (Never hear of).)

$0.90 Per Issue. Order 24 issues of All You magazine for $24, but get 10% off with the coupon code POCKET10.

I mention All You magazine with some frequency because it is a monthly magazine full of coupons. Each issue contains $80-$100 worth of coupons that I often use to get free products. Coupons cover the spectrum from toiletries like toothpaste and toilet paper to drugstore brand cosmetics like Sea Breeze, Neutrogena, Rimmel, Almay to grocery coupons. The coupons in each issue tend to be higher-value than what you’ll find int he Sunday paper for the same brands.

I guess there are articles in it too, but honestly, I never read them (just sayin’…). Coupons are the reason I subscribed to the magazine and they are the reason I’ll continue to get it.

Can I Buy All You Magazine at a Store?

Walmart is the only store that sells All You magazine on their newsstand. If you aren’t sure whether a subscription is worth the investment, buy one or two newsstand copies before buying a multi-issue subscription.

Your turn: Has your investment in an All You magazine subscription been worth it?

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Couponing is more then saving a buck

One of our long time readers just sent this email today. We want to share it with you to hopefully bring more attention to why we should all coupon. It is far more then just saving a few cents on a product. It is a way to build a storage system of both food and storage of money. Couponing is more then saving a buck, it is a means to secure for YOURSELF a way of living. By slowly building a food storage you are more prepared for when a sudden change in life may come. Read what she has to say:

We just found out this morning that for the first time ever, my husband will be laid off. With 5 kids to take care of, it’s scary and we’re hoping that he’ll find a job quickly. What helps me though is knowing that our pantry, storage room and freezer are full thanks to the tips I learned from you and I know that we’ll at least be okay when it comes to food and am hoping that what I’m saving will help with our bills as well. We’re praying and hoping that this is just a short glitch in life that we’ll look back on as a stepping stone for greater things. Thanks again for what you do….you help people in more ways than just saving a little money here and there…you’ve helped us with a bit of security too.

Thanks so much for sharing this with us! I am so sorry to hear what has happened. Unfortunately this is all too common recently and it seems it might be this way for much longer then economist have thought. When Sarah and I first married we lived under the national poverty level. We didn’t use food stamps or welfare, but we did start to position our self to become more self sufficient and independent. We paid off our debt. We paid our mortgage out 6 months in advance. We were still living under the poverty level, but instead of maxing out and buying a home that the bank said we could afford. Instead we lived in a small 900 square foot home. It was a small home but it came with a small mortgage. We also began our food storage collection. Thankfully we had done this, because when Matthew was born we were able to drop everything and go and live in hospitals for months at a time and not worry about paying the mortgage. And then later in life when I was laid off from the car business, and I started my nursing career and schooling, we were able to focus on school instead of the worry of being in debt due to bills and schooling at the same time.

So remember when couponing becomes a chore and isn’t as fun. It is a means to become self sufficient and when the storms in life affect us we are able to bear them easier.

Aug. 26, 2010 11:37 a.m. |(17) Comments

Frugal Milwaukee maintains that reputation by ranking first in coupon use in the U.S., according to a new survey from Scarborough Research.

About 45% of households in the ten-county area clip or download coupons for groceries; 20% use them for non-grocery purchases. Nationally, 32% use grocery coupons every week; 13% use non-grocery coupons at least once a week.

Philadelphia ranks second in grocery coupon use, with 41% of households redeeming them at least once a week; Rochester is third with 40%, followed by Hartford/New Haven in Connecticut and the Harrisburg/Lancaster/Lebanon/York area in Pennsylvania.

Nationally and locally, coupon use has risen during this recession.

48 Things Frugality Has Taught Me
August 17, 2010 @ 8:00 am – Written by Trent

Today, let’s do something a little different. I’m going to list 48 things I’ve learned about myself and the world around me that I only discovered thanks to frugality.

1. I really like sun tea.

2. The patience and effort in teaching yourself something new is incredibly rewarding when you begin to succeed at it (like my piano playing).

3. When you’re sitting around a table with friends, it really doesn’t matter where you’re at.

4. Young children are usually more interested in the free packaging or other freebies than any item you might buy them.

5. A tall glass of pure water is the best first line of defense for many ailments.

6. Going nearly vegetarian when your garden is peaking in productivity is an interesting dietary adventure.

7. You don’t have to go to a dealership to buy a great car.

8. Fixing a toilet isn’t nearly as scary as it sounds.

9. Making a small sample batch of something before you make it in bulk is a really good idea.

10. You disagree with your spouse a lot less if you don’t have a pile of debt stressing you out.

11. YouTube and a pile of old newspapers can entertain a four year old and a two year old for several hours.

12. Real friends keep in touch no matter where your path leads.

13. I used to be ashamed of who I was and bought stuff to cover it up. Then I was ashamed of who I used to be and flaunted my frugality. Now I’m okay with both and I don’t really care at all.

14. You feel pretty good when you’ve fixed a hot water heater problem by yourself without having to call a repairperson.

15. Every time I let go of something I used to like, I have more room for the things I enjoy now.

16. Our local library has more groups going on that I could possibly be involved with.

17. When you’re spending time with people you really care about – and who really care about you – it doesn’t matter what you’re actually doing.

18. Most generics are just as good as the name brands; they’re like getting a $1 off coupon because the label looks funny.

19. Preparing something new in the kitchen and actually pulling it off makes our family dinner incredibly enjoyable.

20. You don’t have to worry about the important stuff if you don’t waste time and money on stuff that isn’t really important to you.

21. Our city’s parks and recreation department has more fun stuff going on than our family has time to participate in.

22. Netflix streaming (at $9 a month) combined with free over-the-air digital television provides better television viewing options than a $50 monthly cable bill.

23. Changing your own oil isn’t nearly as scary as it sounds.

24. Life is a lot less stressful when you don’t really care what the people at the grocery store think of you.

25. The flavor of fresh vegetables and herbs from the garden blows away anything you can buy at the store.

26. You don’t need all of the latest and greatest equipment to really enjoy a hobby.

27. A nap is the best free vacation.

28. Vinegar is a spectacular fabric softener replacement.

29. Haggling can be a lot of fun.

30. It’s a lot easier to focus on earning more money and doing something spectacular if you’re not scared to death of the financial apocalypse from losing your job.

31. I like putting beans in a lot of different kinds of food.

32. Being thrifty isn’t bad for the economy – it’s just a different kind of consumption. Money saved and invested helps the economy as much as money spent.

33. Making your own gifts for other people can be incredibly rewarding, both for you and for the recipient.

34. Saying or thinking “I absolutely won’t…” usually costs you money.

35. Getting rid of stuff you don’t use can be painful, but it feels exhilirating once you’ve started doing it.

36. It’s far better to own one thing that works than ten things that only “kind of” work.

37. The fun stuff you enjoy doing isn’t tinged with guilt when you’re not buried in debt while doing that fun thing.

38. Cloth diapering isn’t as scary as it sounds.

39. Sharing a good money-saving tip or two is almost always a good way to start a conversation with a neighbor.

40. The less activities you jam into a vacation, the more enjoyable and relaxing it usually is.

41. The more you talk to children about money and wise money decisions, the more they emulate those decisions with the money they have.

42. If you have the storage space, you’re almost always better off buying in bulk.

43. You are never too old to run through a cold sprinkler on a hot day.

44. Used paperbacks and books from the library are just as fun to read as new books from the bookstore.

45. Taking out your old thermostat and putting in a new one isn’t as scary as it sounds.

46. A bit of patience on any purchase almost always saves you a mint.

47. Time is far, far more valuable than money.

48. Most of the things that genuinely make me feel good – exercising, playing with my kids, holding my wife – don’t cost anything at all.

What has frugality taught you?

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Some of the comments/additions of commentators on the above post…
Frugality has taught me that the Joneses were a figment of my imagination…
Flashy expensive purchases, like new cars, only impress the kind of people who are impressed by new cars.
I’ve learned I don’t like sun tea, but it’s OK because even expensive tea, brewed with heated water is really cheap compared to many other drinks.
I only enjoy owning books that I re-read a lot, lend a lot, or use for reference. Same thing with movies.
One big thing I’ve learned is that what’s good for the budget is also good for the environment — like using less product and better managing my meal plans.
Frugality has taught me that making good choices is less about gut reaction and more about thoughtful introspection.
Also that surrounding myself with people that share my values (over hobbies, ideas or history) makes those good choices require less thoughtful introspection.
That taking the kids to Sonic for $1.59 sundaes is more fun to them than Graeters where the ice cream is $3/scoop
That less house means less house to CLEAN.
The smile on a neighbor’s face when you present them with a home grown tomato is priceless!

Can’t come up with any at the moment, as these are all so good. How about you?

The Challenge of Couponing
August 19, 2010 @ 2:00 pm – Written by Trent

I’ve long been an advocate of using coupons at the grocery store. I often clip coupons for toiletries and household products and, when there are opportunities, for some food items like organic milk (I had a great coupon for this a while back). I’ve also used coupons for bigger purchases as well in the past.

Because of this, I hear almost every day from people who have great coupons or great coupon-offering websites. “You should try this!” they’ll say, or they’ll suggest that I feature the site on The Simple Dollar. A very recent example of this is Groupon; other examples include Coupon Sherpa and Woot – and I won’t even touch on the plethora of “coupon blogs” out there.

I don’t link to these things. In fact, I usually don’t visit them beyond simply adding them as a bookmark to a “coupon” folder in my browser.

Some of you are probably surprised by that (others might already know why). After all, on a site interested in saving money, why wouldn’t I hunt down coupons?

Here’s the truth: visiting coupon sites for the sole purpose of “saving money” will cost you money.

Let’s walk through the reasons for this. Almost every coupon you see requires you to spend some money in order to bring home the “savings.” Any time you spend money on something you don’t need, you’re taking money away from something that’s actually important to you.

If you go to a site that lists nothing but a bunch of coupons (or look at a coupon flyer), you’re not looking at coupons – you’re looking at lists of stuff to buy.

For me, successful coupon use takes a very different approach. Rather than simply looking through lists of coupons and identifying ways to “save” on items I don’t really need, I start with lists of the things I do need or truly want independent of the coupons.

In other words, I do use coupon flyers and coupon sites, but I don’t bother to look through them unless I’m looking for something specific.

So, for example, I’ll look through coupon flyers once I have my grocery list together. I’ll look at coupon sites once I’ve come up with a gift idea or two for a friend or family member or when I’m considering a specific purchase.

Another example: I have a special email address that I use to sign up for coupons from retailers I regularly visit. When I’m considering a purchase, I visit that email account and search through the emails (Gmail makes this kind of searching very easy) for ones that match the item I’m thinking of or the retailer I’m thinking of visiting. Almost always, I’ve got a coupon right there.

Aside from that, the coupon flyers remain unopened and the coupon sites remain untouched. Looking at lists of stuff to buy – even with a nice discount on it – is just spending time thinking of spending my money on stuff I don’t really need and don’t really want.

Let what you actually need lead the way. That way, you’ll never find yourself spending your hard-earned money on stuff that you really don’t want – and you can conserve that money for stuff that you really do need or want.

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Trent has a good point here that I want all couponers to keep in mind, even if I also disagree with him some.

1. A coupon is not money. I have heard some online couponers say that their kids even say coupons are money. I strongly disagree with that. If you buy something because you had a coupon, or because it was a good deal, is it something you will use? If not, you saved no money, you only spent money. How does one save with coupons? Buying things that you will use cheaper than you would normally buy the item. IE my family likes Ragu pasta sauce, so buying that with a coupon and doubling saves money, but say I have a coupon for fruit rollups, something I don’t generally allow my son to eat as it is mostly sugar, and it matches up to a great sale, did I save money? No, not really. Not unless that fruit rollups is something that replaces something else that I would spend more for, like maybe applesauce for packing lunches or something. Now, that is not to say that I don’t advocate spending a little more on occasion with a good coupon and a good deal, in order to enjoy something you don’t normally buy, but admit to yourself that you really aren’t saving $1 if the coupon is $.50 and doubles, if you spent $.50 that you wouldn’t have spent without it.

2. Can one save money by looking at blogs, like this one, even if Trent has a valid point about coupons encouraging you to buy something you wouldn’t otherwise buy? Yes. As long as you consider each coupon and each deal carefully and you track your spending. I advocate that all couponers track their spending, even if they don’t have a set budget. Why? Because couponing and hunting out the good deals or the great deals, can become a hobby or even an obsession. IF you are spending more couponing then you were before you were couponing, unless you are just starting, then you might be buying stuff you don’t need. When you first start couponing though, and have no stock pile at all, you may spend more for awhile to build up a stockpile. Once you get a stockpile, then you will save money, unless you are buying things you don’t need, or can’t use. IE if you have ten boxes of cereal expiring tomorow, you might be buying too much cereal for your family to eat.

So I think in the long run, with careful watching of finances, one can save money couponing and forming a stockpile, but it is incredibly easy to just buy more stuff and spend more money instead of saving.

Know Your Seasons
Shopping Seasons That Is!
Here is another look at how you can specifically plan shopping trips and save month by month. You might want to copy and paste into a word document and print so you have a copy in your coupon organizer.
You all know, that in general terms, grocery sales are cyclical. You can bet if something is on sale this week, in about 4 – 6 weeks it will be on sale again. This is why couponing works so well. You stack your coupons on top of a sale price and poof, you have saved around 50% shopping least. You can’t save 50% at the gas pump or on your mortgage payment or rent, but you can at the grocery stores or drug stores to help pay the other bills you have. Don’t just think about food either! There are shopping seasons for everything!
January:

National Oatmeal Month:
Quaker, Diet Foods including: Healthy Choice, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, Special K, Kashi, Smart Start, 100 Calorie Packs

Annual White Sales: Get all of your linens for the bed, bath or kitchen!

Super Bowl Sunday:
Pepsi, Coke, Chips, Dips, Cheese, sandwich items, crackers, snacks, wings. Clearance items will include party goods, serving dishes, etc.

Seasonal Produce:
Oranges, Pears,Grapefruit, Tangerines, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Cabbage, Spinach

Clearance:
When shopping in early January look for Christmas Decorations, Toys, Wrapping Paper, gift tags, Christmas cards, outdoor decorations, holiday clothing, accessories and winter clothing, shoes, & accessories

Winter Health: Cold Medicines and Vitamins
February:

National Canned Food Month:
Canned Fruit, Vegetables, meats: Tuna, chicken, salmon, pie fillings

National Hot Breakfast Month:
Malt O Meal, Oatmeal, Eggo Waffles, Syrup

Valentines: Chocolate, Hershey’s, KY Lubricant, etc. Also decorations, clothing, cards.

Chinese New Year: Soy Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Noodles, water chestnuts

Seasonal Produce:
Artichoke, Asparagus, Raspberries, Potatoes, Strawberries, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Spinach

Clearance:
While shopping you should watch for the beginning of everything Valentine’s related going on sale.
March:

Frozen Food Month:
Frozen Meals, TGI Fridays, Contessa, Foster Farms Chicken, Eggo, Sara Lee, Healthy Choice, DiGiorno, Freschetta, Breyers, Dreyers, Marie Callendars

St. Patrick’s Day: Anything Irish should be on sale so watch for items while shopping that may not be on sale any other time of the year.

Seasonal Produce:
Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado, Haas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Fennel, Kale, Leek, Lemon, Lime, Mushrooms, Onions, Spring, Orange, Peas, Radish, Rhubarb, Spinach, Strawberries, Tangerine
April:

Easter:
Ham, Eggs, Some Baking Supplies: sugar, spices, baking mixes, chocolate chips

Earth Day: Organic foods, Energy saver items like light bulbs, water filtration & more.

Seasonal Produce:
Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbages, Carrots, Grapefruit, Hass Avocado, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas, Rhubarb

Clearance:
After Easter shopping yields sales to stock up on decorating, baskets, for the next year or for home decor. My daughter loved rabbits so I got some nice items for her room during this time of year.
May:

Memorial Day:
BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
Paper Products: plates, utensils, insect repellant, sunscreen

Cinco De Mayo:
Salsa, tortillas, seasonings and other Mexican foods

Mother’s Day:
Cologne’s, perfumes, handbags, women’s clothes, women’s shoes, small appliances, personal appliances like hair dryers, curling irons; jewelry boxes. This is a good time to do mid-year Christmas shopping.

Seasonal Produce:
Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocado, Beans, Green, Beets, Blackberries, Carrots, Onions, Sweet Vidalia, Peas, Edible Pods, Peas, English/Shelling, Potatoes, New, Raspberries, Strawberries
June:

National Dairy Month:
Eggs, Milk (Free Milk Catalina, wyb cereal), Ice Cream, Cheese, Butter, Yogurt, cool whip, In-store dairy coupons or booklets

Father’s Day:
Men’s clothing, shoes, tools, sporting equipment. This is another great mid-year shopping opportunity for birthday or Christmas gifts.

End of June is Fourth or July Sales:
Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips

Seasonal Produce: Apricots, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cherries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Honeydew, Nectarines, Peaches, Potatoes, Raspberries, Red Onions, Squash, Summer, Strawberries, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Tomatoes, Watermelon
July:

National Ice Cream Month:
Ice Cream, Cones, Toppings, Ice Cream Freezers

More 4th of July BBQ Sales: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips

End of July:
Back to School Sales begin: crayons, pencils, folders, binders

Target Toy Clearance – Last Thursday of the month.

Seasonal Produce:
Asian Pears, Bartlett Pears, Beans, Green, *Blueberries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Nectarines, Onions, Red, Oranges, Valencia, Peaches, Peppers, Sweet/Bell, Plums, Potatoes, Squash, Summer, Tomatoes, Watermelon
August:

Back to School: Be sure to watch for tax-free weekends around the country according to state.
Pudding cups, Lunch meat, snacks, etc
Staples and Office Depot school supplies “Penny Items”

College dorm items:
bedding, lamps, desks, computers, calculators

Disinfectant:
Clorox, Purell

Clearance:
Insect Repellent, Sunscreen, charcoal, gas grills, patio furniture, pool chemicals, pool toys, swim suits, summer clothes, summer shoes, lawn care – stick tools to riding lawn mowers. Camping gear!

Seasonal Produce:
Apples, Avocados, Beans, Green, Berries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Grapes, Melons, Onion, Peaches, Pears, Bartlett, Pepper, Bell, Plums, Raspberries, Squash, Summer, Tomatillo, Tomatoes
September:

Back to School Shopping Sales through Labor Day:
crayons, pencils, folders, binders etc. All those over sized display areas will have to sell down to accommodate the incoming Holiday displays.

Diabetes:
Bayer Glucose Meters, Glucerna Cereal. Great stock-up shopping opportunities.

Seasonal Produce:
Apples, Artichokes, Beans, Bell Peppers, Chile Peppers, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Onion, Orange, Valencia, Pears, Asian, Pears, Bartlett, Pomegranate, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes, Winter Squash
October:

Halloween:
Candy, Costumes, decorations

Beginning of the baking sales: Canned pumpkin, evap milk, baking chips

National Seafood Month: shrimp, scallops, talapia, grouper, salmon etc.

Adopt a Shelter-Dog Month:
Most if not all dog foods will be on sale. Watch for opportunities on the national brand websites to sign up for special coupons etc. If you have storage room, this is a great shopping opportunity to shop for your pets.

Seasonal Produce:
Almonds, Apples, Artichokes, Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Chard, Chestnuts, Cranberries, Lemons, Parsnip, Pears, Pomegranate, Potatoes, Potatoes, Sweet, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Winter, Turnips, Yams
November:

Baking Products Sales:
nuts, chocolate chips, evap milk, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, cake mixes, sugar, flour, yeast, frosting and more

Canned foods – soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce
Turkey, canned pumpkin, stovetop stuffing, Betty Crocker boxed potatoes, gravy mixes, Rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, Jello, marshmallows

Meat: turkey, ham, whole roasting chickens, rump roasts etc.

Kitchen Appliances: Ovens, ranges, dishwashers, counter-top appliances all for those holiday meals will be on sale.

Black Friday Shopping:
Everything including the kitchen sink will be on sale for your shopping pleasure. Don’t forget that many stores will price match so know who will and go to the one store where you can get the most merchandise when you price match to save on your sanity.

Cyber Monday:

This is the online version of Black Friday. Typically you can find anything you need online on this day that you didn’t get on the previous Friday. Be ready to shop immediately after midnight on Sunday to find the most items and the fastest Internet connection speed.

Seasonal Produce:
Anjou Pears, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Carrots, Celery, Comice pears, cranberries, kiwi, lemons, orange, potato, squash, yams

Clearance: After Halloween sales are the time to stock up on things for the next year. I like to buy the Halloween candy-alternatives like halloween crayons, erasers, watches, spinning tops, etc. Grab and use as party favors in many cases or for next year’s Halloween loot.

Also after Thanksgiving shopping should reveal immediate clearance items. Grab serving pieces, roasters, napkins, paper plates, decorations, greeting cards and more. Some will make great Christmas gifts.
December:

Holiday Dinner:
Egg Nog, Deli Platters, Instant Potatoes, gravy mixes, Rhodes rolls, frozen pies, , Jello, marshmallows, ham, turkey, etc.

Baking:
Flour, Sugar, Butter, Cream, Cake mix, Brownie mix, Muffin mix, Breads, Pie Crust, Marshmallow, Whipped cream, vanilla, yeast

Canned foods:
Soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce, cranberry sauce

Electronics/Movies:
Every gadget, TV, DVD/Blu-ray player, iPods, iPads, computers, printers, computer storage units, movies, movies, movies, hand-held games, X-Box, Nintendo, Play Station and all the games!

Bicycles/Ride-on Toys:
Every type and kind imaginable will be on sale from Black Friday until Christmas Eve.

Clearance: Buy all your Thanksgiving Decorations, extra table settings and turkey carving products now once they’re at least 50% off.

~~~~~
This is by far not the most extensive list but it is a good start. What can you think of that I missed and can be added? Let me know and I’ll get it added as soon as I can. If you are looking for specific info on Target Clearance, I have info on that too.

Thanks – The Krazy Coupon Lady
Enjoy your shopping savings!

shopping

Here is the September list of coupons.

Arm & Hammer Cat Litter $3 (7/31/11)
Armour Frozen Meatballs .55 (11/30/10)
Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breasts $1 (10/7/10)
Carnation Instant Breakfast Essentials $1 (9/30/10)
Cholest-Off $2 (12/31/10)
Colgate Total .75 (10/31/10)
Colgate Wisp $1 (10/31/10)
Country Crock Side Dish .75 (11/28/10)
Digiorno PIzza & Breadsticks $1 (9/30/10)
Dr. Scholl’s For Her Foot Cream or Lotion $1 (10/31/10)
Dr. Scholl’s For Her Smooth My Sole Micro File $2 (10/31/10)
Dream Smooth Mousse $2 (12/31/10)
Edy’s or Dreyer’s $1/2 (9/30/10)
Eight O’Clock Coffee .75 (10/31/10)
e.p.t. $3 (10/31/10)
FoodSaver Vacuum Sealing System $10 (1/31/11)
Gerber Graduates Lil’ Entrees $1/2 (9/30/10)
Glade 4 oz Jar candles $1.50/2 (12/31/11)
Glade 4 oz Jar Candles $1.50/2 (12/31/11)
Glade Automatic Spray refill $1.50 (12/31/11)
Glade Pluins Scented Oil refill $2 (12/3111)
Glade Premium Room Spray $1 (12/31/11)
Glade Sense & Spray refills $1/2 (12/31/11)
Glade Sense & Spray starter kit $3 (12/31/11)
Glade Tough Odor Solutions $2/2 (12/31/11)
got2b Hair Styling products $2 (8/23/10)
Halls Refresh .75 (11/30/10)
Hormel Refrigerated Entree .75 (11/28/10)
Hot Pockets breakfast sandwiches 9 oz $1/2 (9/30/10)
Idahoan Single-Serve Flavored Mashed $1 (11/30/10)
Infusium23 $2 (10/31/10)
Jello Mousse, Pudding and Gelatin Snacks .50 (10/31/10)
Kiwi Shoe Care $1 (12/31/10)
Loctite Control Super Glue $1 (10/31/10)
Miralax $2 (10/31/10)
Nescafe Taster’s Choice .55 (9/30/10)
Nestle Coffee-Mate .55 (9/30/10)
Nestle Drumstick Lil’Drums Cones $1 (9/30/10)
Nestle Juicy Juice 6.75 oz 8 pk Juice Box $1/2 (9/30/10)
Nestle Toll House item .55 (9/30/10)
Neutrogena cosmetics $3 (10/11/10)
Nivea Body Wash or Shower Gel $1 (10/31/10)
Nivea Lip Care $1 (10/31/10)
N.Y.C. New York Color Eye Shadow $1 off item which is $1.72+ (9/30/10)
N.Y.C. New York Color Face product $1 off item which is $1.72+ (9/30/10)
N.Y.C. New York Color lip product $1 off item which is $1.72+ (9/30/10)
Oreo Ice Cream Cake $3 (10/31/10)
Ovaltine $1 (9/30/10)
Purina Beggin’ Strips $1 (9/30/10)
Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner $1 (12/31/10)
Shake ‘n Bake .55 (10/31/10)
Sleep $2 (10/31/10)
Softsoap Body Wash $1 (10/1/10)
Starbucks Natural Fusions $1.50 (11/30/10)
Stouffer’s Corner Bistro Stuffed Melt and Soup $1/2 (9/30/10)
Stouffer’s Farmers Farvest Family Meal $1 (9/30/10)
Stouffer’s Sautes for Two $1 (9/30/10)
Success White Rice $1 (11/24/10)
Taco Bell Home Originals Dinner Kits $1 (10/31/10)
Tom’s of Maine Oral & BOdy Care $1 (11/22/10)
Truvia Natural Sweetener 41 (10/31/10)
U by Kottex $1 (11/27/10)
V8 Soup $1 (12/31/10)
Wellesse Liquid Supplements $2 (2/28/11)
Wet n Wild cosmetics $2 wyb $5 (12/31/10)
Wilkinson Sword Razors $1 (9/30/10)

You can subscribe to this magazine or you can pick it up at Walmart. Amazon has the All You year subscription, it comes out monthly, for $19.95. Often times I can find deals for around $12, or school fundraisers may have it at $10 often times. This really is a great magazine for the coupons and the recipes and articles can be good too, as you will occasionally see references to their articles on our blog.

I used to price match Xerox paper at Office Depot, then they stopped carrying it for awhile and I have not checked to see if they price match anymore.

I have heard that Walmart and Target will price match, do they and who else price matches?

Note
Although neither of these products requires a receipt, we respectfully ask you to avoid sharing UPC codes in the comments section. We will delete any posts that contain that information.

Storage space can be a problem. Maybe you’d like to stock up on nonperishable products when they’re on sale, but you’re limited on space. Be creative and find the hidden storage areas in your home. You don’t have to resort to using a trash barrel with a plywood top covered with a tablecloth. If you’ve got storage solutions, share them with me.
Here are a few ideas.

BEHIND FURNITURE: If your desk is against a wall or your dresser, china cabinet or armoire is in a corner, you have space where you can store goods. One reader, Caitlin from California, shares: “I live in a small apartment. My couch is set up where each end is at a different wall, with a big space in the back where the two walls meet at the corner of the room. I have about 15 boxes of cereal, 6 gallons of water, juice and soda with room to spare. I figure no one is going to be looking behind my couch, and I finally have space on my kitchen counters freed up.” At my house, we have a dry bar that isn’t used. It has built-in shelves, and I stack plastic totes behind it. You can find some extra space behind books on a shelf, too. Simply pull the books closer to the edge of the shelf.

CABINETS: Make the best use of the space you have. Invest in pull-out or over-the-door wire organizers. Many supplies can be placed in under-shelf baskets or caddies, on stepped shelving or in racks for canned goods. Or you can make your own organizers. Try baskets, or reuse baby-wipe containers to hold packets or a shoe box to organize spices. Another reader, Anne from Pennsylvania, adds: “If you have wall space, you have shelf space. Maybe you won’t store stuff on shelves, but you could put certain things (like items in the kitchen) on shelves to make room in concealed areas for storage.”

HANGING: There are organizers that can be suspended from the ceiling. A three-tier hanging chrome kitchen basket can give you added counter space. Or try a round, tiered mesh hanging organizer in a bedroom or laundry room.

CLOSET: Slide a Sterlite drawer organizer on wheels inside a closet. Another reader, Amy B. from New Jersey, shares: “The old owners used our home office as a bedroom, so there is a closet in there that had a hanger bar. We pulled out the hanger bar, found a tall bookcase at a garage sale and stuck it in. Voila! Instant shelving for storage instead of an empty closet because we had nothing to hang.”

If you think an open bookshelf is unsightly, simply add a tension rod and a bit of fabric, or use plastic bins or decorative boxes, baskets or tins to conceal your storage items. Or check thrift stores, antique shops or eBay for retro Samsonite pieces. Specifically, mod round cases (hat boxes) and train cases. Use hooks to utilize wall space, use over-the-door shoe organizers, or move bulky coats out of the closet and onto a free-standing coat rack to give you extra space. You can buy Wardrobe Wizard wonder hangers that will double your closet space. Is your linen closet stuffed with towels? Hang multiple towel rods on your bathroom door to free up space

REGISTER REWARDS:
Seven Rules for Walgreens RR Success
Walgreens for Newbies
Hot Coupon World Walgreens RR Help

ECB’s:
CVS Extra Care Program
Earn Extra Bucks Shopping CVS — Ehow

MENARDS REBATES:
Menards Rebates 411
Menards Rebates on Ehow

1.  Keep an eye out for displays that advertise manufacturers rebates or refunds.  Check your sales slip too; often you’ll find detailed rebate information there.

2.  Get an extra store receipt or make a copy of yours.  Keep an original receipt in your records in case you have to track down or resubmit a claim.

3.  Put your receipts in your purse, not in your shopping bag, to prevent them from getting thrown away.  This is a good idea to put Register Rewards from Walgreens in your purse also.

4.  At home, clip the proof of purchase before you put a rebate product away.  Sit down and do the rebate immediately.

5.  Read the fine print.  Be sure you have your receipt, completed rebate form, UPC code, and anything else the offer asks for.  Make sure you follow the instructions to the letter.

6.  Write clearly.  An illegible form is a common explanation for rejected rebates.

7.  Photocopy the complete form before you send it in, in case the rebate doesn’t arrive and you need to contact the manufacturer.

8.  If you forgot to pick up a refund from the store, check out the manufacturer’s website and the store’s website.  You can sometimes find the forms you need and print them out.

9.  Keep a list of the rebates you sent in, with the numbers to call or websites to visit for information.  Note how long the company says the rebate takes to arrive; check back if it doesn’t show up.  Note on your calendar the last date the rebate is due to you.

10.  For high-value refunds, send the originals by registered mail (request a return receipt) well before the deadline. That way, you’ll have proof you filed on time.

11.  Some businesses let you track your rebates online.  So the next time you need to follow up on a rebate, find out if you can take the electronic route–it may save you time.

12.  Complain.  If you don’t receive your check by the date specified in the offer, take action and contact the company (most rebate forms list a phone number or web site ).  If that doesn’t work, write to the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov) , your state attorney general’s office , and the Better business bureau (bbb.org), and send a copy to the company in question.  It may speed up your payment.

Avoid these common mistakes:

1.    Glossing over fine print.  Read qualifications to make sure you qualify for the rebate.

2.  Forgetting attachments.  Make sure you have everything asked for.

3.  Missing a deadline.  make sure it is sent out by the date specified.

4.  Failing to keep records.

2.  Stock up on sale items your family uses.

3.  Avoid convenience foods.  Packaged foods, mixes and frozen meals cost 4 to 6 times more than making your own food from scratch.  They sometimes taste awful and nearly always have strange additives in there that are questionable to your health.

4.  Avoid eating out.  Make your own lunch at home by making extra at dinner and making homemade “tv dinners” for work.  Or pack a fruit salad or other healthy option.

Thank you to Common Sense with Money for this information! Mine is also supposed to ship around 8/9 according to the email! Woohoo! Been thinking of trying this product with the $1 off one coupons that are out, but this is even better.

• By insert date (using http://www.taylortownpreview.com or other preview sites to search for your coupons).  The insert date can be found in tiny print on margins of coupon inserts and can be written in black marker on cover of insert for ease of finding later.
• By category. This requires organizing things by category.  Like Frozen Foods, Dairy, Condiments, Cereal, Hair Products, Dental Products, Other Health & Beauty (HBA), etc.
• Alphabetical.  This means organizing alphabetical by brand name or item.

My top pick is by insert date as I don’t carry around a mess of coupons.  I look up what I need online when I plan my shopping trip using the FIND feature on taylortown.

Tip #2:
Don’t buy what you need when you need it.  Okay, do a little of that.  But mostly you want to match your coupons and sales to get the best bang for your buck and stockpile things when they are 50% or more off retail using sales and coupons together.  Yes, you can use a coupon on a sale item!!!  When you see a great deal, buy as many extra as you can afford.  Soon you will not need to go to the store very often except for milk and fresh produce!

Tip #3:
Remember, you can “stack” coupons.  You can use a Walgreens sale add coupon with either a manufacturer coupon or a register reward, together on one item.  You can use a Target store coupon plus a manufacturer coupon on the same item at Target.  At CVS, you can use as many extra bucks as you want on one item!

Tip  #4:
In Waukesha area there is a free newspaper called Express News.  In this paper are free smartsource inserts.  You want to seek these out.  Some places they are located:

• Piggly Wiggly in Sussex
• Karls in Menomonee Falls on Silver Spring
• Pick n Save in Pewaukee on Capitol & J
• Pick n Save in Sussex
• Salvation Army in Menomonee Falls on Appleton & Roosevelt
• Many gas stations and stores around Sussex, Pewaukee, Menomonee Falls and surrounding areas

Tip #5:
If you really want to pay for a paper your best bet is Waukesha Freeman.  This paper only costs 75 cents in the store, and is cheaper than the $2 Milwaukee Journal.  The Milwaukee Journal is never worth the money if you want it just for the coupons.  The Waukesha Freeman is worth it if there are lots of coupons you want from Redplum or Proctor & Gamble inserts.  To find out what coupons are in those inserts, check a preview site like http://www.taylortownpreview.com.

Tip #6:
Walmart and Target often have a whole bunch of items that are free or near free based on regular prices, meaning you can use the coupons at those stores until they reach their expiration date!!  Check our coupon matchup sites for current freebies. Above all, if you are not brand fussy, you should never be paying more than tax for toothpaste,dental floss, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and body wash.  And you should be able to get other things for just tax or the next thing to it fairly often using our store lists on this blog.

If you have more tips to share, or things we missed on our shopping lists, please feel free to share!

Grocery
Snack Chips, potato chips, tortilla chips $1 (Preferably at Aldi’s as they are a slightly larger size than my dollar store and I like their flavor a bit better.)

Pretzels $1 or $1.50 for a certain variety (I usually buy pretzels for $1 or just over $1 at Aldi’s but as I am now somewhat tracking my sodium intake, I went looking for lower sodium pretzels and Snyder’s larger bags has some really low sodium pretzels, so those I buy now for $1.50)

Graham Crackers $1.25 (Was $1, but Aldi has gone up over time.)

Frozen Juices Preferrably $1 each, but pay more most of the time for orange juice

Cereal Was trying to $.50 or less a box and tend to run out of the flake cereals that I want, IE I can get enough cheerios types, but not the flakes. So may have to go for $1 per box

Granola Bars Preferrably $1 per box

Pasta preferrably less than $1 a pound, pay a tad more for wheat than regular sometimes

Pasta Sauce as my family eats one variety of Ragu that is not found at Walgreens and such when they have it on sale, under $2 preferrably (I am getting low on these, have about 3 left! But we are trying to make more homemade sauce.) Lisa says $1 for her, as she is not brand specific or flavor specific.

Bread (I try to beat the prices I have at my dayold bread store)
Earthgrains loaf bread $1.50
Bagels $1
English Muffins $1
(But my husband prefers the heavy breads like Earthgrains)
Lisa prefers low carb breads, gets the Healthy Life breads for $1.99 at woodmans and Walmart

Soda 2 liters $1

Soda 12 packs $2 preferred, but $2.50 when low/out. (This is an only name brand.)  (Lisa’s Update 10/10/11 I noticed soda prices seem to be on the rise.  I am unsure if this is still accurate)

Dairy

Milk less than $2 a gallon preferrably (update 10/10/11 $2.50 or less per gallon)

Shredded Cheddar Cheese Preferrably less than Aldi’s $3 per pound (Pick’n Save sale with double coupon or Sentry sale)-

Shredded Four Cheese or Five Cheese Italian $3 a pound preferrably (sometimes I have to spend more, if I just want to make lasagna and I am out. Usually a sale a pick’n save with double coupon on Sargento)

 –Lisa’s price point is $1.67 at the most for 8 oz of block or shredded cheese.Woodmans Meno. Falls has mild shredded cheddar and one other kind I think mozzarella shredded cheese for this price everyday.  and goes on sale various local stores frequently for this. Still can find $1.50 or  $1.25 or so occasionally.

Provolone/Swiss Sliced Cheese $1.99 for 8 oz. (Aldi)

Meat
Honey Ham Slices $2.69 a pound or up to $4 a pound at the deli (Aldi) (Yes, my husband does somewhat prefer deli ham/meats)

Boneless Chicken Breast $2 per pound (Aldi) (Was $5.49 for 3 pounds. Yes, I prefer Aldi’s chicken breast compared to Sentry and Roundy’s brand, lower sodium and less fat on them, or so it seems to me.)  Lisa prefers to pay no more than $1.67/lb.. for this. Piggly Wiggly has it 3 lb bags for $4 and $5 all the time.

Meat in general Preferrably less than $2 a pound for boneless, Lisa says she will sometimes buy t-bones for $4 per pound

Hot dogs cheaper than $2 per pound, or $2 per pound for cheese, for the all beef lean I pay a bit more, sad to say there is only one type of all beef lean hotdogs.  Lisa prefers to pay $1 for hot dogs but is not fussy what she gets.

Turkey, ham buying mostly at thanksgiving and holidays about $1 per pound (After Christmas or Easter my Sentry had this on sale for quite awhile as they bought too much.)

Whole chicken preferrably around $.60 a pound when I can (Pick’n Save had it at this pound) Update 10/10/11 Lisa pays no more than 99 cents/lb. for whole chickens or chicken pieces.

Ground Beef/Ground Chuck $1.99 a pound or less

Bacon $2.50 for 16 oz. Woodmans still has 12-16 oz bacon for this price

Lunch meat (bologna, ham  & cheese loaf, etc) no more than $2.50 for 16 oz.

Other
Ziplock Bags $1.95 for gallon and quart bags, reclosable (30 and 40 pack, I think) (Aldi) 10/10/11 Lisa has gotten a ton of hefty onezip free at one time have not bought in ages however I used to think $1 a box was a good stock up deal.  May have gone up

Canned Cat food $.30 (Aldi)

Auto Dish Detergent $2.49 for a 65 oz. (Aldi)

Toilet Paper (we tend to do name brand) $.20 per single role, so $.40 per double role

Toilet Bowl Cleaner $1 or less (Often times I buy when Walgreens has a bogo sale and there is coupons out. I want cheaper than dollar store, to be honest.)

Produce

Strawberry preferably $1.50 per pound, but will pay up to $2 per pound

Grapes $1.00 per pound or less preferably sometimes pay more

Frozen

Ice Cream Less than Aldi’s $2 a half gallon

Frozen Pizzas (We prefer Jack’s) $3.33 for rising crust, $2.50 for regular (Lisa says not more than $2.50 she buys primarily Jacks and Palermos but Orv’s and Tony’s are this price and also store brand sometimes)

Lean Pockets less than $2

Microwave meals $1.50

Frozen Vegetables $1 per pound (Have had some trouble with this lately.)

Things I won’t Pay for because of them being free after RR, ECB or other deals
Toothpaste, esp. Colgate Total
Shampoo and Conditioner
Cough Drops (Unless I need them.)
Floss and floss picks
Toothbrushes
Body wash
Shavers
Shaving cream

I will add to this on occasion and maybe republish quarterly or maybe monthly? Ideas, opinions on that to add or how often to republish?