Q & A

Coupon Clipper: Can I go to CVS today spend $25 in P&G products and get the $10 ECB's and then go on Friday, purchase another $25 P&E use the $10 ECB's and will I get another $10 ECB's?

Me: Sorry, no. There is always fine print at the bottom of each Extra Care Bucks offer stating how many times you may collect the ECB's... the P&G offer has a limit of 1... that's per week, not per day.

Before the First Frost

The weather report is threatening our seasons first frost tonight, so it was time for me to clear out the remaining vegetables from my garden. (Last year we had our first frost on October 30th... this year frosting (wink) is a month earlier!!!)

I still had some tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, carrots, herbs and celery growing out back, so I picked what would imminently perish with tonight's chilly weather.

Here is my crop of celery... it smelled delicious!

I sliced and diced and prepped my celery for home made chicken noodle soup later this Fall/Winter.

I picked the rest of my tomatoes and I have them in a sunny location resting on a cake cooling rack to finish ripening. I did the same thing last year with my green tomatoes and I was able to enjoy my harvest for about a month after the first frost!!!

SC Johnson $5 Rebate (Times THREE!!!)

SC Johnson now has a new and informative website for us to visit... and the best part about this new site is that SC Johnson is offering a NEW REBATE that each household can take advantage of THREE times! Woo Hoo!!!

Visit scjohnson.com, click on products, then on coupons and offers. The first offer, 'click here for a special offer' will bring you to the printable pdf. page for mailing in your rebate.

Terms and conditions specify that purchasing 3 SC Johnson products, writing the bar codes in the spaces provided and mailing in the form will earn you $5!!! Just think of the SC Johnson products that we can receive for FREE + REBATE $$$ if we stack store, manufacturer coupons and sales prices!

Like I eluded to before, this $5 rebate request can be submitted THREE times before July 2010!

I'll keep you posted as to how I plan on cashing in on this rebate!!! YTD I have received $596 in rebates... I hope to fit these in before the end of the year!!!

FREE Jennie-O

My new best friend Lacey (20-ish years in the making...) shared a brilliant idea with me! She and I had both gotten in on a Jennie-O home mailer promotion a few months ago (no longer available, sorry)... Jennie-O sent recipe booklets that included a $5 off ANY Jennie-O Turkey Store product. Lacey (Me too, me too!) picked up sliced deli turkey, asking for $5 worth to be packaged... for FREE!

I was holding out for a similar sale that I saw last Fall at Meijer, when fresh ground turkey was buy one get one FREE, but I LOVE to slice a little bit of turkey to put in my salads at lunch... Yumm-O Jennie-O!!!

Thanks again Lacey!

Grocery Shopping at Meijer

Grocery Total: $71.25

Spent: $8.18 & Saved: $63.07

47 coupons spent

37 FREE items

(FREE items include the 1.25 lb of Jennie O deli turkey, 24 Ortega packets, 6 Betty Crocker frostings and 6 Betty Crocker Warm Delights.)

*Beware: some of my Betty Crocker Warm Delight coupons didn't automatically double, watch at the register!

*I had 12 Ortega coupons (I lucked out a few weeks ago and received an extra 6 copies of that particular insert! Woo Hoo!) so I purchase 24 packets since I would make $.12 in coupon overage when I stacked the manufacturer coupons and the Meijer mealbox coupons... giving me almost $3 of FREE money to spend on the other items in my cart!

*I'm excited to invent a summer squash soup recipe with all of the discount squash I was able to pick up at $.29/lb. I'll keep you posted (if it is yummy!).

Today was a TWO cart day!

Grocery Game Plan: Kroger

Here are my favorite items to stockpile this week, September 28- October 4, at Kroger.

1/2 Gallon Kroger brand milk (includes chocolate) $.77
***I recommend purchasing early in the week for your weekly consumption and then purchasing again later in the week for NEXT week's consumption... fill your glasses for TWO weeks by shopping savvily during ONE weekly sale!

Campbell's condensed soups, $.50/can
Spend the $.25/2 Manufacturer's coupon
Total: $.25/can

Barilla pasta (select varieties), $1/box
Spend if applicable:
$1/2 Barilla Plus
$.50/2 Barilla Whole Grain
$.50/2 Barilla Piccolini

Visit macombmoneysavers for the entire listing of sales this week at Kroger for the Metro Detroit area.

**********************************************

Kroger sale prices are available to those who shop with a Kroger Savings Club Card. You will only receive the sale price discounts when you shop with your card. If you don't have a Kroger Savings Club Card, just stop by the Customer Service desk and sign up for a card so that you may begin reaping the discounts immediately.

*Kroger will double Manufacturer coupons up to and including $.50, no limits in number of coupons allowable.

*Rain checks for out of stock items are available at the customer service desk.

*Kroger offers a 'brought my own bag' discount of $.05 per bag.

*If you are headed to SUPER Kroger (108 W. Highland Rd., Howell MI 48843 (517) 552-0126) the most local Kroger that doubles coupons up to and including $1 (up to THREE identical coupons) visit 123Save for the best deals for the current week's promotions.

AND AS ALWAYS, please leave me a comment if I have missed a deal... Thank you!

Grocery Game Plan: Meijer

Here are my favorite items to stockpile this week, 9/27-10/3, at Meijer.

To check out the full Meijer weekly ad online, click here.

KEY: MFC= Manufacturer's coupon, MBC= Meijer Mealbox coupon

Lay's potato chips, 50% off.

Glade candles, The Fragrance Collection, $2.95
Spend the $3/2 MFC
Total: $2.90/2

Ortega foods, 20% off
Spend the $.75/2 MFC
Spend the $1/4 MBC
Total: pricing varies

Fleishman's Yeast (4oz bottles and envelopes), 30% off
Spend the $1/3 MBC
Total: pricing varies

Hidden Valley ranch 16oz bottles, $2.39
Spend the $1/1 MBC
Total: $1.39/bottle

Aunt Millies bread or buns (select varieties), $1.25/each
Spend the $.35 MFC
Total: $.55/each

Betty Crocker Warm Delights, $1.49
Spend the $.50 MFC
Spend the $1/2 MBC
Total: FREE when you purchase 2

Betty Crocker tub frosting, $1.49
Spend the $1 MFC
Spend the $1/2 MBC
Total: FREE when you purchase 2

Lysol Wipes, $1.50/canister
Spend the $1/2 MFC
Spend the $1/2 MBC
Total: $.50/canister when you purchase 2

Hunt's canned spaghetti sauce, $.99
Spend the $1/5 MBC
Total: $.79/can when you purchase 5

Campbell's condensed soups, ???
Spend the $.40 MFC
Spend the $1/4 MBC
Total: $.45 off per can when you purchase 4

Propel water singles, $.59
Spend the $1/5 MBC
Total: $.39/bottle when you purchase 5

Check out macombmoneysavers for the extended version of Metro Detroit Meijer Match-ups!


*******************************************************

To access Meijer Mealbox coupons (MBC): Mealbox Generator to print multiple Mealbox coupons per page. Or visit Meijer online (look for the 'Special's tab in the blue box to the right!) to print a single coupon per page. I offer two printing locations because the Mealbox Generator is not as extensive as the Meijer online site.

NEW!!! Some Mealbox coupons are now stating LIMIT ONE PER TRANSACTION. Please read all coupons carefully!

Keep in Mind:

*Meijer will only double the first TWO identical MANUFACTURER coupons. This may mean that you will need to break your purchasing into ONE large transaction and SEVERAL smaller transactions to ensure that ALL of your coupons are able to double.

*Meijer will never double a Mealbox coupon.

*Meijer allows the 'Stacking' of one Manufacturer coupon and one Mealbox coupon per items purchased unless either coupon states otherwise. For example, a coupon may say save $1 on two items, then you would need to follow the purchasing rules for that specific coupon.

*Rain checks are available at the customer service desk, at the podium in front of the cash register lines or with your cashier. Remember that Meijer rain checks have an expiration date 30 days prom printing along with a limited quantity printed on the rain check. The quantity limited depends on your stores location.

*Meijer offers a $.05 bag credit per bag that you supply for your groceries. You will probably need to ask for your bag credits!

AND AS ALWAYS, please leave me a comment if I have missed a deal... Thank you!

And the WINNER is...

CONGRATULATIONS Becky C, YOU are entrant #12!!!

Becky C said...
"I've been a faithful follower (checking the site several times a day):-) since I hosted a class in the spring. Congrats on reaching $5000!!"

Becky, please send me a quick email letting me know when and where you'd enjoy spending $100 and my coupons!!!

Thank you to each of your who follow Sharpen Your Scissors, who have shared this blog with family and friends and who have offered kind words to me as comments! Thanks for making shopping (and sharing about it) so much fun!!!

August's Stats

DON'T FORGET:

*Enter the YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY $100 shopping spree!

(That's $100 AFTER coupons!!! Just think of the 'damage' we could do together at Super Kroger!!!)

Enter by Noon Monday, September 28th!

I'm kind of embarrassed that it is nearly time for me to add up my September shopping stats and I have just sat down to enter my August receipts... ah, well. Better late than never!!!

Keep in mind that I am a 'hard core stockpiler!' I look for items that my family eats/uses on a regular basis each week to stock up on. I have committed to doing this every single week for the past 18 months. Little by little I have stocked my pantry shelves so that I can 'shop' from my own pantry shelves instead of paying full price when I run out of a family essential.

August 2009

Spent: $146.33

Saved: $567.73

Coupons spent: 271

FREE items: 147 items

***I decided to see how much of my spending was for grocery items and how much was spent on other household items like cleaning supplies, wipes and other items to run our household smoothly.

Grocery items: $117.18

Household items: $29.15

Recent spending:

July 2009 spending: $172.62

June 2009 spending: $293.16

May 2009 spending: $240.18

Groceries from SUPER Kroger

SUPER Kroger never disappoints this seasoned shopper!!!

Grocery Total: $118.81

Spent: $8.24 & Saved: $110.57

73 coupons spent

31 FREE items

Thanks to those who shopped with me today! You ladies were FUN!

Sad Tidings for Oakland County

Well, I guess my title is kind of dramatic... but Oakland County residents will no longer be receiving The Detroit Free Press at a discounted rate of $1 per copy of the Sunday (coupon laden) paper. Our rates will be raised to $1.50 per paper effective next week.

I plan on calling and sharing my price hike (a 50% increase!!!) opinion... feel free to do the same!

Homemade Apple/Pear Sauce

DON'T FORGET:
*Enter the YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY $100 shopping spree!
(That's $100 AFTER coupons!!!)
*Join me at SUPER Kroger this Sunday!

Often, my local Meijer will have a reduced rate fruit and vegetable cart on display around 10 in the morning. I'm happy to spend 33% of what these items would usually cost in return for consuming them quickly.

In the past I have purchased banana's for making banana bread, lettuce for dinner the same night, and even vegetables like pea pods and broccoli that I turned into a stir fry dinner later that evening. With a little bit of creativity and flexibility meals made with fresh ingredients can become much less expensive.

Yesterday I picked up 6 apples and 4 pears... all bruised and pretty ripe. I'm pretty sure that in the state that I brought them home in- that they would not have been consumed...

But after peeling (which was super easy thanks to the fruit being very ripened) and slicing...

And boiling (for 20-30 minutes) the apples and pears with half a cup of brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla (my secret ingredient)...

Then, just mash with your potato masher and serve either warm or out of the fridge.

Viola! and Yummo if I do say so myself!

The dozen apples and pears yielded about 9 cups of apple/pear sauce! If you feel like you can't consume this much sauce (ahem, you have yet to take a bite...) than feel free to freeze some for later! I wish that I could have bottled the aroma from the cooking... it was ridiculously yummy!

***An extra special thank you to my Mother in Law, Pam Webber, for introducing me to this yummy treat!

Q & A

DON'T FORGET:

*Enter the YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY $100 shopping spree!

(That's $100 AFTER coupons!!!)

*Join me at SUPER Kroger this Sunday!

Coupon Clipper: I was at your Clinton Twp class the other day and really appreciate you teaching us all so much!

I do have a quick question for you - when you get store specific coupons, do you find its better to sort them by category (baby, dairy. etc) or by the store itself? I've been going back and forth on this one for myself, and was just wondering if you found that one way works better than the other. Thanks for your input!

Me: It depends... I will clip and file my store coupons with my manufacturer coupons IF I have matching coupons. For example, I would file a Target Colgate coupon with a manufacturer Colgate coupon... I may even paperclip them together!

But, if I have just 'store' coupons (for just store brand items), I place them in the very front of my coupon box, just as a reminder that I have them!

Any insight?

Q & A

DON'T FORGET:
*Enter the YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY $100 shopping spree!
(That's $100 AFTER coupons!!!)
*Join me at SUPER Kroger this Sunday!

Coupon Clipper: I attended your coupon class in Webberville. I have always used coupons, but intend to use them lots more now that I see how much I can really save.

When do you decide to use your coupons on a sale item? Some deals are good, and some deals are great! What if I use all my coupons on a good deal and two weeks later there is an even better deal and my coupons are gone.

For example: I had $1.00 off coupon for Colgate toothpaste. It is on sale at Kroger for 2/$5.00. Since my Kroger doubles my $1.00 coupons, I only paid 50 cents.

However, it sounds like you always get FREE toothpaste. I like that better. Do you always wait for the free deals when it comes to certain items? When and how do you decide to "go for it".

Me: I completely understand what you are thinking! Here is how I handle spending my coupons:

1. If I can match a store sale with a coupon and receive the item for FREE, then I will spend my coupons.

2. If an item is on sale and I have a store coupon and a manufacturer's coupon (yes, you can spend one of each type of coupon on a single item- it is called 'Stacking') then I will definitely purchase that item.

3. If I find a sale with an item at 40-50% off and I have a coupon for that item, then I will make a purchase.

I need to have multiple discounts in order to make a purchase, otherwise I will purchase ONLY the quantity that is absolutely necessary (1 tube of toothpaste) and keep my fingers crossed for a better sale before my coupons expire!

***Some FREE items are seasonal, but most often FREE items just vary from week to week. Looking for items to stockpile each week means that you are always looking for what is either FREE or inexpensive... bringing down your out of pocket expenses over the long haul!

Target is Next?

Well, according to Hip2Save, Target is now offering a $.05 reusable bag credit when you shop in their store. It may vary from store to store... let me know if your store is participating!

Grocery Shopping at Meijer

DON'T FORGET:
*Enter the YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY $100 shopping spree!
(That's $100 AFTER coupons!!!)
*Join me at SUPER Kroger this Sunday!

Grocery Total: $45.35ish***

Spent: $14.47 & Saved: $30.88

16 coupons spent

*** (The markdown produce is sold at a reduced per pound rate, or 33% of the regular per price rate. I estimated the full price value.)

I was able to snag 4 more Delmonte coupons, so I headed back to Meijer again this morning! I also picked up two jars of pickle chips for $.17/each after coupons (thanks for the heads up in a comment for Meijer's grocery game plan Becky and Sarah).

I also scored this jackpot of mark down produce... I'll post a new recipe tomorrow!!! My house smells A M A Z I N G!!!!

Thought Provoking Thursday

DON'T FORGET:

*Enter the YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY $100 shopping spree!

(That's $100 AFTER coupons!!!)

*Join me at SUPER Kroger this Sunday!

Thought Provoking Thursday.

Thought Provoking Thursday's goal it to offer a new-ish perspective to saving on necessary items aside from our grocery and household needs. Each week I will bring an idea to the table to share how I personally tackle areas of my own family's spending. I am hopeful that my faithful readers will feel the freedom to offer more advice through comments below each post.

Today's provoking thought is rebates. Rebates... hmmm. Purchase an item, clip the UPC and send that along with the purchasing receipt and later receive a dumpy little check in the mail... hardly worth your time and postage?

Think again!

I used to feel the exact same way... until I decided to give 'rebating' a try. (Have you ever noticed that every word turns into a verb with coupon spenders?)

At first I started small. I looked for rebatable products within the coupon insert sections of my Sunday newspapers. Often times the rebate form was accompanied by a coupon (yippee) and all I had to do was wait for a sale to come along.

Rebate checks are written for the purchase price BEFORE coupons... so if I spent my coupons strategically (in a store that would double my coupon) I would not only receive a FREE product, I would actually make a little bit of money as well (my husband would call this 'passive income!).

I found myself very eager to peek in my mailbox each day- knowing that I could possibly be receiving my very small salary for being a savvy consumer.

After awhile, I began to branch out from just purchasing rebatables that came to me (via my Sunday papers) and I began to prowl around to find more money makers for myself.

I learned to keep my eyes open in the stores as I shopped- especially the drug stores. Many health and beauty items like shampoo's and vitamins offer money back rebates. I actually honed my drug store rebating skills by spending my store reward money on items that I would in turn receive a check in the mail for! SWEET!

The grocery store is littered with rebatable items... think cereal, yogurt and even cleaning supplies! The more you actively pay attention while shopping, the more money you can keep in your pockets!

So far this year I have collected $579 back in rebates! (My May, June and July grocery and household purchasing combined was $705.96 -or- just $127 more than my rebates received!)

My family has decided to keep adding each rebate check into a special savings account to pay for Christmas on other various gifts throughout the year. We could just blow each check as we receive them, but it makes far more financial sense for us to lump the checks together to gain purchasing power later on. Your family may want to save your rebate checks for a new washing machine or for spending money on your annual trip to Disney!

You have the choice of becoming one of three different kinds of rebaters:

1. The Recycling Rebater: the recycling rebater will set aside maybe $25 or so per year to purchase rebatable items, and when the checks come in, (s)he will recycle that money into purchasing another rebatable item. Thus recycing the $25 over and over while scoring some FREEBIES.

2. The Loaning Rebater: The loaning rebater allows stores or companies to borrow their money for a short while in return for their money being returned in a few weeks + FREE items. This rebater is willing to shell out all sorts of cash up front.

3. The Budgeted Rebater: the rebater on a budget will look for ways to include rebatable items into their weekly/ monthly shopping adventures. Scoring some FREE products while maintaining enough funds for the rest of the items necessary to run their household.

I'm sure that you probably guessed that I am a Budgeted Rebater!

What kind of rebater are you/ or do you aspire to become?

$5,000

After attending (READ: teaching) 46 classes since January, I finally decided to place my own crisp $10 bill towards raising funds for the amazing work being done through Raincatchers in Haiti. The $5,000 fundraising goal has now been met!!!

$5,000 in the US is a chunk of change, but in a third world country it has the power to be spent like a massive cash winning from the lottery!

As I've mentioned before, it ONLY takes $200 to build a Raincatcher! $200 has the power to change lives FOREVER! The average life expectancy of a Haitian is 37. Life is hard, food is scarce and water sources other than what is provided by a Raincatcher are unclean and hardly consumable.

Raising $5,000 has allowed funding 25 Raincatchers possible! Together we have been able to impact the lives of between 12 & 30 people PER Raincatcher that has been attached to the roofs of Haitian homes by the teams of adults and students who have been drawn to visit and care for some of the poorest of the poor in Haiti. (Houses in Haiti are often built in 2-3 home 'neighborhoods,' so one Raincatcher can serve up to three families)

On the scale of lives impacted through the Raincatchers that we have provided funding for, at LEAST 300 people, and as great a number as 750 people have clean, accessible water. As a Mom, I cannot imagine being choice less and having no other means than to offer my son filthy water to sustain his life. Can you imagine the JOY a parent must feel to have the means to hydrate their children with clear sanitary water? This thought often brings me to tears!

Thank YOU for making it possible for lives around the globe to be forever marked by the love of someone that they will most likely never meet. Without further adieu, let ME thank YOU for journeying beside me in fundraising...

I am thrilled to offer my 'mad' shopping skills, my massive assortment of coupons for spending, my grocery cart driving capabilities (I can even parallel park!!!) and $100 cold hard cashola from my wallet as a thank you YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY!!!

I have decided to offer THREE separate ways to enter this give away:

1. Sign up (or flaunt your current status) as a "FOLLOWER" at Sharpen Your Scissors. Then, write a little comment to me informing me that you are a SYS 'follower!' (Becoming a 'follower' is the greatest compliment that you can give a blogger!)

2. You can earn another entry into the YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY! by introducing your friends/family to Sharpen Your Scissors. For each person that you introduce to SYS that also become a 'follower' of Sharpen Your Scissors you will gain an additional entry into winning the $100 shopping spree with yours truly!!! Again, drop me a comment for each new 'follower' that you have recruited!

3. If you would like to make either a first time (if you have yet to attend a Sharpen Your Scissors class) or an additional monetary gift to Raincatchers, you may write me a little note in the comment section of this post sharing with me that you have decided to give a little bit more to Raincatchers!

The truth is, I have been SO EXCITED to host this YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY! that I hardly slept last night and I began posting at 5:30 this morning!!! In my sleepless state I have been dreaming about making this a

DOUBLE YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY!!!

If I can double the number of 'followers' on Sharpen Your Scissors by Noon on Monday, then I will draw TWO winners and offer TWO $100 shopping sprees! I currently have 155 'followers,' and I am looking to increase that number to 310+! The more people that I have viewing, taking advantage of the information on this blog and attending classes- the more awareness and funds can be raised for Raincatchers!!!

The winner(s) will be chosen Monday, September 28th at Noon... randomly as usual!

*If you happen to live outside of my teaching radius (the locations of where I have taught my classes) I will send you a $100 gift card by mail, to your store of choice!!!

Kmart's Super Doubles are Back!!!

Starting Sunday 9/27/2009 these Michigan Kmart locations will be doubling up to and including $2 coupons! I know, I know... rumor had been that Kmart would NOT be doubling again in 2009, but magically Super Doubles are back!
*FYI: word around the blogosphere is that Kmart *may* only be doubling Proctor & Gamble coupons... I'll keep you updated as I find out the scoop!

For my non-Michigan readers, click here to see if your local store is participating!

1416 S MAIN ST BLDG 100 ADRIAN MI 49221
1755 WRIGHT AVE ALMA MI 48801
2355 US 23 SOUTH ALPENA MI 49707
215 N MAPLE RD ANN ARBOR MI 48103
760 N VAN DYKE BAD AXE MI 48413
200 CAPITAL AVE SW BATTLE CREEK MI 49015
4001 N EUCLID AVE BAY CITY MI 48706
2095 RAWSONVILLE RD BELLEVILLE MI 48111
1250 PERRY STREET BIG RAPIDS MI 49307
2101 TELEGRAPH BLOOMFIELD HILLS MI 48302
1145 N BELSAY RD BURTON MI 48509
701 68TH STREET BYRON CENTER MI 49315
66 NORTH CHARLEVOIX MI 49720
1131 E STATE ST CHEBOYGAN MI 49721
50700 GRATIOT AVE NORTH CHESTERFIELD TWP MI 48051
41601 GARFIELD CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI 48038
34800 GROESBECK HWY CLINTON TOWNSHIP MI 48035
4290 WEST VIENNA ROAD CLIO MI 48420
2500 E M 21 CORUNNA MI 48817
19990 TELEGRAPH DETROIT MI 48219
801 N LINCOLN RD ESCANABA MI 49829
30800 ORCHARD LAKE RD FARMINGTON HILLS MI 48334
18055 SILVER PARKWAY FENTON MI 48430
4002 S DORT FLINT MI 48507
3083 MILLER RD FLINT MI 48507
29600 FORD RD GARDEN CITY MI 48135
PO BOX 3009 GAYLORD MI 49735
12730 S SAGINAW GRAND BLANC MI 48439
4111 NORTH KENT MALL NE GRAND RAPIDS MI 49525
2425 S I 75 BUSINESS LOOP GRAYLING MI 49738
205 SOUTH GREENVILLE WEST GREENVILLE MI 48838
802 WEST STATE STREET HASTINGS MI 49058
710 CHICAGO DRIVE HOLLAND MI 49423
8171 W HOUGHTON LAKE DR HOUGHTON LAKE MI 48629
1800 SOUTH STEPHENSON AVE IRON MOUNTAIN MI 49801
1400 EAST CLOVERLAND DR IRONWOOD MI 49938
3555 O'NEILL DRIVE JACKSON MI 49202
3001 E MICH AVE JACKSON MI 49202
4620 STADIUM DR KALAMAZOO MI 49008
1025 LAPEER ROAD SOUTH LAKE ORION MI 48360
5400 CEDAR STREET SOUTH LANSING MI 48911
863 SOUTH MAIN LAPEER MI 48446
33400 W 7 MILE ROAD LIVONIA MI 48152
29101 JOHN R ROAD MADISON HEIGHTS MI 48071
1560 US 31 SOUTH MANISTEE MI 49660
6730 S RIVER ROAD MARINE CITY MI 48039
15861 MICHIGAN AVENUE MARSHALL MI 49068
1101 7TH AVE MENOMINEE MI 49858
1820 S SAGINAW RD MIDLAND MI 48640
1290 N MONROE ST MONROE MI 48162
2125 S MISSION ST MT PLEASANT MI 48858
3351 1501 APPLE AVENUE EAST MUSKEGON MI 49442
3730 26200 GREENFIELD OAK PARK MI 48237
9593 P.O. BOX 10 OSCODA MI 48750
1401 SPRING STREET PETOSKEY MI 49770
40855 ANN ARBOR RD PLYMOUTH MI 48170
1179 32ND STREET PORT HURON MI 48060
6355 S WESTNEDGE PORTAGE MI 49002
67300 MAIN ST RICHMOND MI 48062
17580 FRAZHO ROSEVILLE MI 48066
5105 GRATIOT ROAD SAGINAW MI 48603
545 WEST SANILAC SANDUSKY MI 48471
I 75 BUSINESS SPUR SAULT SAINTE MARIE MI 49783
23 MILE RD SHELBY TOWNSHIP MI 48316
16705 FORT STREET SOUTHGATE MI 48195
22801 HARPER AVE ST CLAIR SHORES MI 48080
2119 SOUTH US 27 ST JOHNS MI 48879
2051 18 MILE RD STERLING HEIGHTS MI 48314
315 S CENTERVILLE RD STURGIS MI 49091
21111 VAN BORN RD TAYLOR MI 48180
1712 S GARFIELD AVE TRAVERSE CITY MI 49686
31200 SCHOENHERR RD WARREN MI 48088
66011 VAN DYKE AVE WASHINGTON MI 48095
5100 DIXIE HWY WATERFORD MI 48329
3541 HIGHLAND ROAD WATERFORD MI 48328
2110 SOUTH M 76 WEST BRANCH MI 48661
165 WAYNE RD WESTLAND MI 48186
10951 HIGHLAND ROAD WHITE LAKE MI 48386
6455 US 31 NORTH WILLIAMSBURG MI 49690
19800 WEST RD WOODHAVEN MI 48183
3100 WASHTENAW AVE YPSILANTI MI 48197

This Morning...

This morning, as I was getting myself showered and ready for the day, I was thinking that coupon spenders (yours truly) and non- coupon spenders really aren't that different...

Both breeds of shoppers get themselves ready each day.

Showering:
We all shampoo/condition our hair.
We all shave our legs and pits.
We all slather in yummy smelling body wash.

Getting Ready:
We all moisturize our faces and our bodies.
We all apply various types of make-up.
We all use hair products (I use two since I have unruly curls).
We all apply deodorant.

The ONLY difference between coupon spenders and non- coupon spenders is that I learned the art of getting the items that I use everyday... for FREE!!!

Q & A

Coupon Clipper: I attended your coupon class in Southfield last week, and let me tell you...I've been a coupon freak ever since! LOL! I have to keep reminding myself of what you said during the class, "take it one store at a time"! It's SO overwhelming seeing all the sales papers and all the coupons...geesh! I know it is going to take some time to go from NEVER using coupons to your status!

My "coupon buddy" and I would like to ask you some questions if you don't mind. How do you know if you can use more than one coupon in the same transaction? For example, I have a coupon for $3 off razors. It looks like Target has them the cheapest, so if the razors are $3.99 at Target can I get 5 packs and use my 5 coupons or would I have to do 5 different transactions?

Me: Coupons that limit their spending to one per transaction will specifically state that information right on the coupon. Store coupons (like Target printables) are usually guilty of this type of wording! If your coupon does not limit... spend them all in a single transaction!

Coupon Clipper: What happens if you buy an item with a coupon, and you need to return it? Do you just loose the coupon since you already gave it to the store?


Me: All stores except Rite Aid (those stinkers!) will give you back the value of your manufacturer (NOT store, store coupon money is non-refundable) coupons when you return a product. I recently wrote an in depth post covering returns... but the best thing to keep in mind is to keep your returns to a minimum or it makes coupon spenders look shady!

Coupon Clipper: What's the best way to handle "$1 off when you buy 6" coupons? I know one of the goals is to build up our stockpile, but if I have to buy 3 packs of toilet tissue @ $5.49ea (for example) to get $0.50 off that doesn't seem like a deal. What's the best way to take advantage of those coupons?


Me: I rarely spend these types of coupons (except this week's Delmonte coupon for $1/5). It is perfectly acceptable to skip these types of coupons and hold out for the next round of coupons in hopes of more impressive savings (possibly with another brand).

The real trick to saving extensively is two fold:
1. Purchase items when you have a coupon that matches with a store sale.

2. Purchase in stockpilable quantities.

My rule is to look for 1-5 items every single week to stockpile. Little by little your personal "general store" will brim with all of the products that you use most, and that you were able to purchase for pennies on the dollar!

Thanks for the great questions!!!

THIS Close...

Can you envision me with my thumb and my index finger just BARELY touching? This is exactly how I feel right now!!!

I am a mere millimeter away from unveiling my next YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY!!! (You know, the shopping spree with ME as your tour guide, MY coupons and MY $100 to spend... yep, that one!!!)

Tomorrow night I have a class in Clinton Township, and if I am able to sign up ONE MORE STUDENT- together we will have raised $5,000 for Raincatchers!!!

IF I am able to get at least ONE more student for Wednesday's class, I will announce the YAY! YAY! GIVE AWAY! first thing on Thursday morning!

I've got my fingers crossed!

Grocery Shopping at Meijer

Grocery Total: $143.92

Spent: $19.90 & Saved: $124.02

63 Coupons spent

32 FREE items

(FREE items include: Edy's ice cream (earned last week), Crystal Light to go, M&M's, Jello from old coupons found at a display several months ago.)

I was able to stock up on canned vegetables and tomatoes for soup making this winter by spending $1/5 Manufacturer (MFC) coupons combined with $1/3 Mealbox (MBC) coupons PLUS, these canned items are on sale this week! Stock up, this *may* be the only name brand canned vegetable sale this season!

UPDATE: Coupon has reached its print limit... sorry!) If you would like more Delmonte canned item coupons print more (2) from Red Plum.

Grocery Game Plan: Kroger

My favorite stockpilable items this week at Kroger, September 21-28, 2009

To access the full flyer for this weeks sale, click here.

Kroger is once again running their promotion of purchase 10 participating items and receive $5 off your bill instantly... be careful to purchase participating items specifically in groups of 10 items to receive the lowest advertised price!

KEY: MFC= Manufacturer's coupon

Altoids, $1/tin
*No coupons, but keep your eyes open for the $1 peelies that that offered last fall!

Softsoap, $.89/pump
*No coupons but this is a great price if you are running low.

Colgate (select varieties), $1/tube
*various $1 coupons

Betty Crocker fruit snacks, $1.77/box
Spend the $.40 MFC
Total: $.97/box

There is also a rumor that Buitonia pasta (refrigerated) is on sale for $1.50/package
Spend the $1 MFC & receive the $.50 per item discount when you purchase 10 participating products.
Total: FREE!!!

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Kroger sale prices are available to those who shop with a Kroger Savings Club Card. You will only receive the sale price discounts when you shop with your card. If you don't have a Kroger Savings Club Card, just stop by the Customer Service desk and sign up for a card so that you may begin reaping the discounts immediately.

*Kroger will double Manufacturer coupons up to and including $.50, no limits in number of coupons allowable.

*Rain checks for out of stock items are available at the customer service desk.

*Kroger offers a 'brought my own bag' discount of $.05 per bag.

*If you are headed to SUPER Kroger (108 W. Highland Rd., Howell MI 48843 (517) 552-0126) the most local Kroger that doubles coupons up to and including $1 (up to THREE identical coupons) visit 123Save for the best deals for the current week's promotions.

AND AS ALWAYS, please leave me a comment if I have missed a deal... Thank you!

Grocery Game Plan: Meijer

Here are my favorite stockpilable items this week at Meijer, September 21- 27, 2009

To check out the full Meijer weekly ad online, click here.

KEY: MFC= Manufacturer's coupon, MBC= Meijer Mealbox coupon


Kraft Mac & Cheese, $.39/box

Delmonte canned vegetables, $.69/can
Spend the $1/5 MFC & the $1/3 MBC
Total: $.16/can

Delmonte canned tomatoes, $.79/can
Spend the $1/5 MFC & the $1/3 MBC
Total: $.26/can

Delmonte canned fruits, $.99/can
Spend the $1/5 MFC & the $1/3 MBC
Total: $.46/can

Barilla Plus pasta (elbows), $1.25/box
Spend the $1/2 MFC & the $1/3 MBC
*The best deal is purchasing 6 boxes with (3)MFC's & (2) MBC
Total: $.42/box when you purchase 6

Aunt Millies bread & buns, $1.29
Spend the $.35 MFC
Total: $.59/each

Spaghetti O's, $.59/can

Crystal Light (on the go sticks), $2/box
Spend the $2/2 MFC & the $1/1 MBC
Total: FREE!!!

Breakstone cottage cheese (4 packs), $1.99
Spend the $1 MBC
Total: $.99

Carapelli Olive Oil (17 oz.), $6.29
On sale 30% off
Spend the $1 MBC
Total: $3.40

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To access Meijer Mealbox coupons (MBC): Mealbox Generator

Keep in Mind:

*Meijer will only double the first TWO identical MANUFACTURER coupons. This may mean that you will need to break your purchasing into ONE large transaction and SEVERAL smaller transactions to ensure that ALL of your coupons are able to double.

*Meijer will never double a Mealbox coupon.*Meijer allows the 'Stacking' of one Manufacturer coupon and one Mealbox coupon per items purchased unless either coupon states otherwise. For example, a coupon may say save $1 on two items, then you would need to follow the purchasing rules for that specific coupon.

*Rain checks are available at the customer service desk, at the podium in front of the cash register lines or with your cashier. Remember that Meijer rain checks have an expiration date 30 days prom printing along with a limited quantity printed on the rain check. The quantity limited depends on your stores location.

*Meijer offers a $.05 bag credit per bag that you supply for your groceries. You will probably need to ask for your bag credits!

AND AS ALWAYS, please leave me a comment if I have missed a deal... Thank you!

Chicken Pot Pie

I was talking with my friend Jessica a few weeks ago and she shared a recipe for Chicken Pot Pie. Here are the ingredients that I used. (The blue lidded container is homemade chicken stock.)

I mixed everything in a large bowl, and then spread it between the two pie crusts.

I baked the pie for 15 minutes at 400* and then 45 more minutes at 350*.

I put the equivalent of 1 can of chicken broth into the mix, but I wish that I had only added just half of a can.

This Pot Pie was inexpensive and an absolute hit... I'll definitely make it again!

Grab Your Calendar...

I'm heading to Super Kroger again a week from Sunday (9/27). I plan on arriving between 1 & 1:30 in the afternoon.

Here's the scoop on Super Kroger(FYI the store sign is just like a typical Kroger sign... it will not say SUPER Kroger!): If you have yet to hear about Super Kroger, it is one of the very few Kroger's that double coupons up to $1 every day!!!

Super Kroger does have a few rules- so I'll quickly get those out of the way:

1. You must bring your coupon box with you... no planning just shopping! (Well, you can try to plan ahead if you'd like to, but I never do! The deals are everywhere!)

2. You may ONLY use up to three identical coupons (purchasing 3 products). Previously SK allowed more than one transaction per person, but unfortunately that is a thing of the past!

3. You must wear PINK (OK, this is optional) so that we Sharpen Your Scissors coupon clipping friends can recognize one another...

4. You must be ready to shop kindly... no grabbing, fist fighting or the like! (Just kidding, all of that is unnecessary) But do feel free to share your extra (or nearly expiring) coupons with other shoppers!

Will you join me?

SUPER Kroger:
108 W. Highland Rd.,
Howell MI 48843
(517) 552-0126

Let's get our shop on together! Drop me a comment if you'll be there, and make sure to say "Hi" to me in the store!!! I LOVE SUPER Krogering!!!

Thought Provoking Thursday

I'd like to introduce an new feature that I think could be helpful to many of my readers,

Thought Provoking Thursday.

Thought Provoking Thursday's goal it to offer a new-ish perspective to saving on necessary items aside from our grocery and household needs. Each week I will bring an idea to the table to share how I personally tackle areas of my own family's spending. I am hopeful that my faithful readers will feel the freedom to offer more advice through comments below each post.

1 jacket, 1 hoodie, 6 shirts, 1 vest, 2 sets of jammies, 5 pair of Gap socks, and 8 pair of pants: $19.50!!!


This week, inspired by my friend Jolyn, I'd like to share how I personally save money in the area of kids clothing.


I have been an avid Mom2Mom shopper since I was about 6 months pregnant with my son. Dave and I decided to be surprised at birth by the gender of our child... but I didn't want my child to only be paraded around in green and yellow clothing post birth, so I decided to find out exactly what Mom2Mom-ing was all about.


I was shocked the first time that I stood in line waiting to enter the doors. I had no idea what kind of goodies were waiting for me to bring them home.


Mom2Mom sales are, in my humble opinion, the equivalent of a giant yard sale of all things child related! Big stuff like cribs, strollers and high chairs, all different sized clothing & shoes, and even toys and books. One location houses between 20 and 100+ 'vendors.'


The best place to learn when and where these sales are being hosted is at mom2momlist.com. Gaining entry to a sale is usually $1, although some sales will have an 'Early Bird' special allowing you to pre-shop 30 minutes to 1 hour earlier for an extra $1... go for it!


My personal strategies to effectively shopping Mom2Mom sales include:


1. Shop ALONE. (Or at least with adults). Some M2M's allow strollers (their post on the website will share that info with you!) some do not. Strollers, in my opinion, hinder shopping for everyone- and no kid enjoys it! (M2M's are always crowded!)


2. Wear comfy clothing/shoes.


3. Bring small dollar bills and lots of quarters! (yep, $.25 can actually purchase good stuff!)


4. Bring your own bags! I (like Jolyn) bring my BIG blue IKEA bag with me... I hate, hate, hate trying to shop with a million little grocery sacks hanging up and down my arms.


5. Plan to arrive early!!! You would not believe the lines that will form! (*I went to a M2M in Grand Rapids, MI this spring that hosted 225 vendors. The lines were a couple hundred strong... right Lacey?)


6. Hit the 'Big Stuff' room(s) first. Even when I don't think that I need a large item... something may catch my eye! (The large stuff room is where, obviously, the bigger items are. Each vendor usually has an 8' tables worth of space to sells their goodies... so the big stuff needs its own location. Plus it is nice to comparison shop stroller to stroller all in one spot- and it forces the sellers to price competitively!)


7. Know what kind of a M2M you are heading to. Basically there are 2 types:
1. Traditional style: each table owner does their own transactions.
2. Department style: shop by size and item and cash out at the end of touring all of the items.


Most Mom2Mom sales offer light refreshments like home baked goods for a nominal price, and these funds along with the entrance fee go towards raising money for the sponsoring organization (like a Mom's club).


I like to shop several Mom2Mom sales per season. I try to pick up the items that we are about to need (like long sleeves and pants) and I also try to keep my eyes open for what the next season will hold (last Spring I bought my son his winter jacket/snow pants set for this winter, $8). Some sales are hit and miss... but some sales you just hit the jackpot!


Happy shopping!

Winner Revealed:

I happened to be out on a double date with my son, and a friend with her son, so I asked the Jodi (the guest at the next table) to announce our winner...

#15 Meghan Lombardo CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Please send me your address so that I can pop your FREE Edy's coupon in the mail tonight!

Thanks for playing!

Give Away Reminder

Don't forget to enter to win a little Yay! in your day!

FREE Edy's ice cream!

Winner picked at NOON TODAY!

Home Grown Tomatoes

This is what my kitchen windowsill is adorned with ruby red tomatoes! YUM! I'm actually guilty as charged at snitching a tomato to eat every time I wash my hands... and for those of you who know me well... I eat a lot of tomatoes!

I am more of a creature of habit when it comes to lunch. I eat a salad (hence all of the Romain lettuce I buy) almost every single day. Earlier in the week I noticed that I had a few leftover tortillas from dinner the other night. I decided to sprinkle a little bit of cheese on top of one tortilla, then I diced and spread a layer of (3) Roma's, then layered another thin coating of cheese, topped by the second tortilla. I microwaved this for one minute and then I dipped each yummy bite in sour cream!

Holy cow, this was unbelievably yummy! You've got to try it!

How About a Little Yay! in your Day?

OK, how could I post about receiving TWO Catalinas for FREE ice cream without offering to GIVE ONE AWAY?

Consider this a mini Yay! Yay! Giveaway!

You've got a hankering for some FREE Edy's ice cream?
Here's how YOU can WIN:

1. Join the ranks of my followers!

2. Drop me a comment with your favorite flavor of the yummy/chilly stuff!

3. Return here at NOON on Thursday (9/17) to find out who the WINNER is!

Note: This FREE ice cream coupon is for Meijer and it expires on 9/22.

Grocery Shopping at Meijer

I LOVE heading out of the grocery store with a cart load of stockpilable items... for $5-ish!!!

Grocery Total: $85.60

Spent: $5.56 & Saved: $80.04

22 coupon spent

28+ FREE items (I spent $18 in store rewards earned two weeks ago)

I was totally digging the purchase 5 items and receive $5 off instantly! I made 4 transactions. The total on my first two transactions were $.01/each, and my third transaction was $.25... so I paid for those in cash! :) The fourth transaction was a whopping $5.29.

The Capri Sun's were subbed for the Kool Aid Jammers since the shelves were bare, and the store still allowed for the $5 discount! That was kind of them!

I also walked out of the store with (2) Catalina coupons for FREE Edy's ice cream (a $5.79 value each!!!) for purchasing the Juicy Juice. Juicy Juice (100% juice) is on sale this week for $2.19. Spend the manufacturer coupon for $.50/2 and the mealbox coupon for $1/4 = $1.44/container. Purchase 3 (or 4 in my case) in a single transaction to receive FREE ice cream! Yum!

Grocery Shopping at Kroger

Here are my favorite stockpilable items at Kroger this week, September 14-20

To access the full flyer for this weeks sale, click here.

Kroger is once again running their promotion of purchase 10 participating items and receive $5 off your bill instantly... be careful to purchase participating items specifically in groups of 10 items to receive the lowest advertised price!

I will leave the coupon match- ups to Andrea at Mommysnacks, since she has an awesome list for this sale! I think I'm skipping Krogering this week...

**********************************************

Kroger sale prices are available to those who shop with a Kroger Savings Club Card. You will only receive the sale price discounts when you shop with your card. If you don't have a Kroger Savings Club Card, just stop by the Customer Service desk and sign up for a card so that you may begin reaping the discounts immediately.

*Kroger will double Manufacturer coupons up to and including $.50, no limits in number of coupons allowable.

*Rain checks for out of stock items are available at the customer service desk.

*Kroger offers a 'brought my own bag' discount of $.05 per bag.

*If you are headed to SUPER Kroger (108 W. Highland Rd., Howell MI 48843 (517) 552-0126) the most local Kroger that doubles coupons up to and including $1 (up to THREE identical coupons) visit 123Save for the best deals for the current week's promotions.

AND AS ALWAYS, please leave me a comment if I have missed a deal... Thank you!

Grocery Shopping at Meijer

Here are my favorite items to stockpile this week, September 13-19

To check out the full Meijer weekly ad online, click here.
KEY: MFC= Manufacturer's coupon, MBC= Meijer Mealbox coupon

Kraft cheese, select varieties, 50% off
Spend: $1/2 MFC (expires 9.15)
Total: ?

6 pack of Andy Boy Romain lettuce $2.99
***Better price than Costco!

Campbell's Tomato/Chicken Noodle soups, $.59/can
Spend: $.40/4 MFC & $1/4 MBC
Total: $.14/can

Super Pretzels 50% off
***Super yummy with cream cheese!

Deal idea for the BUY 5 GET $5 off instantly promotion:
(2) Kool Aid Jammers, $1.69/each
(3) Nabisco 100 Calorie packs, $2.29/box
Spend: $1/2 Kool Aid jammers Meijer coupon found in a booklet near the front door & $1 Nabisco MBC
Total: $1.25 for all 5 item... if you don't have the Kool Aid Jammers coupon: $2.25/5 items!
Thanks Coupon Crazy Chrys for the deal idea!!!

*******************************************************

To access Meijer Mealbox coupons (MBC):
1. Visit Meijer.com.
2. Enter the word "MEALBOX" in the search box in the upper right hand corner of the homepage.
3. When a blue box pops up on the right hand side of your screen click on "Specials."
4. Click and print the various Mealbox coupons.

Keep in Mind:*Meijer will only double the first TWO identical MANUFACTURER coupons. This may mean that you will need to break your purchasing into ONE large transaction and SEVERAL smaller transactions to ensure that ALL of your coupons are able to double.

*Meijer will never double a Mealbox coupon.

*Meijer allows the 'Stacking" of one Manufacturer coupon and one Mealbox coupon per items purchased unless either coupon states otherwise. For example, a coupon may say save $1 on two items, then you would need to follow the purchasing rules for that specific coupon.

*Rain checks are available at the customer service desk, at the podium in front of the cash register lines or with your cashier. Remember that Meijer rain checks have an expiration date 30 days prom printing along with a limited quantity printed on the rain check. The quantity limited depends on your stores location.

*Meijer offers a $.05 bag credit per bag that you supply for your groceries. You will probably need to ask for your bag credits!

AND AS ALWAYS, please leave me a comment if I have missed a deal... Thank you!

Wah-Hoo for GREEN Shoppers

This morning I made my usual trek to CVS to pick up 'my' Sunday papers. Today I picked up 75... (yep, seventy-five!) so when I say MY papers, I actually mean the papers that I need for teaching classes, the papers that I bring to friends and, of course, MY papers!

Every Sunday I load up at least one cart with newspapers... and since those little buggers can get HEAVY, I prefer to bring my own cloth bags. I can pack far more newspapers (lets face it, it is just the coupon inserts and a few weekly ads that I really want) in a cloth bag, and I never have to worry about whether my bag will be able to withstand pressure of holding so many precious money saving coupons... and, OK the weight of all of that paper and ink is quite a bit too.

This morning, as I was filling my cloth bags with newspapers, the lead manager of my favorite store shared a bit of upcoming CVS scoop with me... CVS will be rolling out a new MONEY MAKING opportunity for their Greenest of GREEN shoppers beginning in October!

Wah-Hoo! I like making money- especially while being GREEN!

It seems that CVS does not like me bringing my Rite Aid bags into their store each week to carry all of 'my' newspapers home in (OK, it is kind of embarrassing to bring the competitions bags into another store, but I did get my Rite Aid bags for FREE and I do want to 'save the world... hold on a sec, I'm hugging a tree!).

So CVS devised a plan to bring the Earthy kind of "GREEN" and the spendy kind of "green" together. CVS will be rolling out their recyclable bags ($1/bag currently) with an additional feature... a bar coded tag, similar to the Extra Care cards that we all know and love.

My insider scoop revealed that each bag, post purchase, will link (most likely) to your CVS card and every set of 4 scans of the bag's bar code (limit of one scanning per day per bag) gives loyal CVS shoppers $1 in Extra Bucks! (That's like getting a $.25 bag credit vs. $.05 at the grocery stores!) CVS, once again, is brilliant!

I'm so happy I might just hug TWO trees today!!!

I imagine that CVS is finalizing the details as we speak, but I can't wait to get my hands on a new set of CVS GREEN bags!

Store and Manufacturer Coupons

Did you know that coupons are made available because the manufacturer decided to run a campaign?

When a manufacturer wants to get the word out about the products that they stock our stores shelves with they will run an ad campaign... especially if the manufacturer has a new to the market product that they want to introduce to us consumers.

An ad campaign can take on several different forms including TV commercials, Radio spots, online advertising, billboard signs, full page spreads in a newspaper or magazine, strategically placed tear pads and blinkie machines near the products on the shelves, a direct mailing or through a coupon campaign.

Even coupon campaigns differ. Some coupon campaigns are very high in value and are solely for magazine subscribers to benefit. Other coupon campaigns widely publicize specific brands or products through the coupon inserts that are delivered with our Sunday papers. And more recently, we have seen an onslaught of printable coupons available to us with just a few taps upon our computer keyboard.

With so many options available for manufacturers to run a campaign, the need arises for manufacturers to decide where exactly will they receive the most bang for their advertising buck!

Many manufacturers are supplementing the pricier advertising avenues with the far more affordable online coupon campaigns. It is far less expensive for YOU to print coupons on YOUR paper and with YOUR ink, than it is to run a traditional newspaper coupon campaign.

Manufacturers have also found another venue for making printable version of their coupons available to precisely the market of spenders who will use them... store websites like Target and Meijer. Store coupons, like the more familiar online printable manufacturer coupons allow for an even deeper discount for savvy clipping consumers since stacking one manufacturer and one store coupon per item is allowable!

Let me explain, a manufacturer 'rents' space on a store's website as an added advertisement location. Don't get silly and think that the store is over benevolent and happily gives the manufacturer leeway with hosting tempting coupons on their site... these store coupon campaigns also come with a premium, the store always wants their slice of the pie!

It seems that offering to knock down prices is one of the key motivators in moving products from the shelves, into carts, off the end of the conveyor belts, and into grocery bags that will ultimately make their way into our homes and our hearts...well, at least into our homes. Plain old fashioned bargaineering a trick that always works.

Bargaineering, in fact, is a campaign that allows the consumer to obtain a product for FREE. (Have I ever mention that I *heart* FREE stuff?) FREE samples, FREE item coupons and even pricing items so that post coupon spending the product that they manufacture is, you guessed it... FREE!

Manufacturing and marketing products is a multi-billion dollar industry. Stakes are high which is why so many manufacturers are competing for our attention (um, and our $$$ too!). Savvy marketing, unique features and a wide variety of sizing forces us to really need to think if we want to stretch our household budgeting dollars to the extreme.

Tossing a few (hundred... wink) coupons into our thought processes, and coupons really help us to quickly decide where our manufacturer loyalties lay. If I can purchase a product at a discounted rate, I'll give it a shot. If I can try a product, even a trial size, for FREE... I'll take it. Who ever said you can't get anything for FREE? Trial size for FREE? Is that legal? As long as the coupon does not exclude trial size, or isn't size specific. Crazy huh?

Manufacturers are fully aware of all of the products that they market. Someone (most likely many someones who are far up on the company food chain) are paid to be aware of every product on every shelf in America... along with what coupon campaigns have been made public. Manufacturers know what stores are stocked with which products because they have to pay (BIG money!!!) for the 'shelf real estate' at every single store they choose to do business with (another nice little perk for the stores!) So if a savvy coupon clipping consumer matches a coupon with an item and the item ultimately becomes FREE to the consumer... trust me, the manufacturer isn't shocked, just the cashier is!!!

So when I am asked if I feel badly spending coupons... WHAT? Badly? Nope! Spending coupons is like ballroom dancing, a beautiful embrace where the consumer gracefully follows the lead of the manufacturer because ultimately they each depend upon the other.

Grocery Shopping at Meijer

Grocery Total: $77.57

Spent: $9.29 & Saved: $68.28

58 coupons spent (including doubled coupons)

22 FREE items: Green Giant Steamers (8), Velveeta cups (12), and (2) brown and serve sausage as my 11th items.

The Lysol and pasta were super inexpensive with coupons so I had to stock up! They weren't FREE, but close to it! I also decided to spend $8 in store rewards that I earned last week. Otherwise this shopping trip would have been $17-ish.

I picked up more Costco lettuce over the weekend to add our garden cucumbers and tomatoes too. Yum!

***UPDATE: OK, I left the store feeling like my bill was higher than it ought to have been. So I just decided to re-crunch the numbers: All of my Lysol products were FREE (I was thinking that I paid a little bit for each, but I actually received $.32 in overage) ... so there is another 8 FREE items. I also realized that neither of my 11th items were FREE and that one of my $2/4 Velveeta coupons didn't scan. My actual total is $5.29. I wish I would have peeked into this more before I left the store.

Raincatchers

Forgive me, it has been way too long since I last updated the funds raised through my Sharpen Your Scissors coupon classes. Thank you to the many, many students who have made a $10 donation as a part of the class fee, I know that for many of you this was a tough sacrifice when money was tight.

Together we have raised $4,230!!! That's amazing!

Back in January, when I decided to step forth and publicly teach coupon classes to raise awareness and funding for Raincatchers, I secretly tucked my own personal goal of raising $5,000 during 2009 deep into my heart. I'm so excited to be so close to this dream of mine! Thank you for walking this journey with me and (I hope) sharing in my joy!

Lives are changing, yours, mine, and even the lives of people that we will never meet because of our banding together! Thank you for your generosity!

I've decided to host my best (in my humble opinion) YAY! YAY! GIVEAWAY! ever! When $5,000 has officially been raised I will raffle off a grocery shopping trip with ME as your grocery store tour guide, MY coupons available for spending and $100 out of MY wallet... oh ya, and ME pushing your grocery cart! I can't wait!

*For my new-ish readers, Raincatchers is the grass roots organization that I decided to partner with after my husband Dave spent a week equipping some of the poorest Haitian families with the means to gather the cleanest drinking water available.

The beautiful mountainside of Seguin, Haiti is the starting location from where the Raincatcher's volunteer teams venture out across the mountainside. These teams carry all of the items necessary to build a Raincatcher, a rough gutter system that catches the rain water from the tin roof, directs the water through a series of filtration systems and empties the water into a 55 gallon barrel as a holding tank.

Raincatchers change the course of life for the Haitian families lucky enough to receive a Raincatcher. Life without a Raincatcher often means that the children from each family are forced to take a two hour hike (each way) to the nearest source of fresh (non-salt) water. The closest water source is also where animals bathe and where clothing is laundered, this source is not clean water.

Exchanging my shopping skills for a $10 donation to Raincatchers seemed like a win-win situation all of the way around. I enjoy teaching, I could show my husband how much I value his passion for caring for the needs of others and Raincatchers could benefit from the financial support.

If you have any questions about Raincatchers or the Sharpen Your Scissors classes, please feel free to email me at sharpenyourscissors(@)gmail(.)com.