3 Store Coupon Policies for Big Savings

by Gina Blitstein · 1 comment

Every store has its own policies regarding coupon redemption. Good couponers know just how important is to be aware of the coupon policies of the stores at which they shop. Knowing the best store to redeem which coupons will help you maximize your savings. Here are three store coupon policies to which coupon users should pay attention:

Double and triple coupons: Many stores entice shoppers to shop with them by offering to double — or even triple — the value of manufacturer coupons redeemed. In these cases, the store not only deducts the coupon’s face value, but the store matches it — or even gives the shopper double the amount the manufacturer offers — out of its own “pocket.” Double and triple coupons represent a huge savings opportunity for all shoppers and especially those shoppers who redeem a large number of coupons.

Often, the store limits the value of doubled or tripled coupons by capping the total you may redeem to $1.00. Even so, turning virtually every coupon redeemed into nearly a dollar can really make a difference in your grocery bill.

The doubling and tripling of coupons is not practiced in every state and sometimes it even varies from town to town or from store to store. Double and triple coupons can either be a regular feature of a store’s marketing strategy or part of a promotion. It can certainly pay to find out if there are stores in your area which double or triple manufacturer coupons.

When you find a store that doubles or triples coupons, check out it’s prices before you shop. Make certain that they are not charging more for products to compensate for their generous coupon policy – otherwise, you may be better off shopping at a more economical store and receiving only the face value for the coupons you redeem.

Coupon stacking: This is the term used for redeeming a manufacturer’s coupon and a store’s coupon in the same transaction for the same item. It may never have occurred to you that you could do this, but since they are offered by separate entities (one from the manufacturer and one from the store), they are considered different, even when they are for the same item. Coupon stacking is not allowed at every store but it is worth checking out a store’s coupon policy to determine which stores in your area allow it. The savings can really stack up!

Expired coupons: Some grocery stores do legitimately accept expired coupons. Often this policy is for a limited time past the expiration date (30 days, for instance). While it is poor couponing etiquette to pass off expired coupons at stores who do not accept them (in fact, it is considered coupon fraud to do so), it is perfectly fine to redeem them at stores whose policies state that they will accept coupons beyond their expiration date. In my area, one chain accepts expired coupons as a concession to local shoppers because in this state it cannot double coupons as its sister stores can who operate in other states.

These three coupon policies carry a common precaution — use reason when bouncing from store to store to take advantage of the savings offered at each. Take into consideration your time, effort and gas which you don’t want to waste in exchange for a few dollars. Plan your shopping according to your local stores’ couponing policies for maximum coupon savings.

What Can You Live Without in Order to Increase Your Frugality?

by Miranda Marquit · 73 comments

There are probably a good deal of stuff you could live without — especially if you want to simplify your finances. Some stuff include stamps, mail and paper checks. It occurred to me that, not only could getting rid of some of these things help you simplify your finances, but getting rid of them could also save you money, contributing to a frugal lifestyle.

I began thinking about other things that I might be able to do without in order to enjoy a simpler — and more frugal — life. Here are some of the things I’m beginning to think that I could live without:

Television programming: I have high speed Internet. I have Netflix. This means that I have access to TV shows the day after they air, and that I have access to movies — some of them using instant play with my TV via my Web-connected PS3. So, why am I paying more than $70 a month for TV service?
Magazines: We are in the process of culling our magazines. Most have online versions, and there is no reason to be paying for magazine subscriptions when so much of what I read in terms of news and commentary is online anyway.
Paper books: I love reading and I love books. But my husband recently pointed out that electronic versions of books for readers like the Nook, Kindle and iPad are much less expensive than buying hard copies. With the amount of reading I do, it would be relatively easy to recoup the initial cost of buying an electronic reader. Plus, electronic books would reduce the clutter in our home.
Clutter: Speaking of clutter, we’ve got more of it than I like. I could definitely live without it. We’ve been practicing more mindful spending, so that we aren’t bringing in more clutter, but we could get rid of a lot of the stuff that we have.
Meat: I’m not saying I’m going vegetarian. But I have found that I don’t need so much meat. Meat is expensive, and it can affect your health if you eat too much of it. We’re looking into preparing more meatless dishes. This should lower health care costs down the road, as well as mean more money in our budget now.
Christmas presents: With the holidays just around the corner, many are already shopping online for the holidays. But do you really need more stuff? You can save money by purchasing fewer, more thoughtful, presents. It’s hard to resist the consumer call of Christmas, but we are trying.

In the end, it is up to you to examine your financial situation and your needs to decide what you can do without. We managed with just one car for the longest time, but in our current situation, with a rather undeveloped public transportation system in our area, just one car is not feasible for us. However, I look forward to the day when we can get rid of one of our cars, and save money on insurance and other costs again.

What do you think you could give up in the quest for frugality?

Internet Grocery Coupons: The Big 3 for Printables

by Gina Blitstein · 1 comment

With the popularity — and necessity — of living frugally these days, it’s not surprising that there are hundreds of websites dedicated to saving money in general and couponing in particular. In fact, you’re reading one of them now.

Many of these budget-stretching sites provide their own brand of savings advice and resources, user forums, newsletters and email updates. Some detail saving “systems” and offer classes and even instructional materials and DVDs which teach you the fine art of frugal living and shopping. These are all valuable elements to have in your savings tool belt. When the frugality bug bites and you hit the internet to help you gather the resources you need to save, you are sure to find useful information on a lot of these sites.

As an adjunct to their offerings, many of these sites also make printable grocery coupons available to their readers, and they deliver by providing links to other sites which do indeed provide printable Internet grocery coupons. Do realize, however, that these sites — unless they are one of the “big three” — do not provide grocery coupons of their own but rather links to Coupons.com, SmartSource.com and/or RedPlum.com. Those three are the sites where all the other sites promising grocery coupons will direct you. These are independent sites unto themselves which are authorized by the product manufacturers to distribute their coupons. The other sites serve as “gateways,” ushering traffic to those three sites from which you can print grocery coupons.

How do internet coupons work? They are similar to the coupons you clip from newspapers or magazines. In fact, oftentimes, they are exactly the same ones that are offered in the Sunday newspaper. A good strategy is to visit the big three once per week to view the new coupons that are offered. To get coupons from the internet, you have to visit the sites mentioned above and select the coupons you want by clicking a check box. When you are finished making your selections, you will have the opportunity to print the coupons you’ve selected. You then clip and redeem them as you would any coupons.

The first time you print coupons, you will need to download and install a program called a “coupon printer.” It is safe to do so and will enable your computer to print the UPC codes on the coupons which identify the products they are for. It also keeps track of how many times you have printed a particular coupon. Usually you are limited to a total two of each coupon offered. Please note that copying coupons in a copy machine to make multiples is considered coupon fraud and is the major reason why some stores have adopted a policy to not accept internet coupons.

Couponing sites and others promoting savings strategies can be a great help to your frugal lifestyle. Be aware, however, that the printable grocery coupons all come from the big three websites. Unless the information and resources are otherwise helpful, visiting dozens of sites will only serve to complicate your coupon gathering; it will not give you access to new and/or different coupons.

If all you want is grocery coupons, visit the big three directly and save yourself some time as well as money.

Frugal Living: Attitude of Gratitude

by Miranda Marquit · 3 comments

One of the issues that many people have with frugal living is the idea of denying yourself. In a lot of cases, it can seem like frugal living is about telling yourself “no” all the time and sacrificing. Of course, if all you focus on is the sacrifice efforts, and if all you think about is what you’re not getting, you will be miserable and frugality will seem like a chore. One of the keys to frugal living is cultivating an attitude of gratitude.

Focus on What You Have

One of the problems with our consumer culture is that we think about what we can have. And we think about it a lot. We always want more. The problem with always wanting more is that there is always more to have. It’s hard to be satisfied when you constantly worry about have more of something, or getting a bigger (and presumably better) model. In the end, you are unhappy because no matter how much you have, it is never enough.

Change your focus, though, and you have a better chance of feeling better about your situation. This attitude shift requires that you stop focusing on what you don’t have, and contemplate what you have. It also requires that you express gratitude for what you already have. Focus on the things that you have — from your favorite book to the nearby park to your lovely family.

Recognizing what you already have, and recognizing that you are grateful to have it, are essential to successful and happy frugal living. Gratitude helps move your attention from things outside yourself to items inside yourself. Instead of looking beyond what you have, gratitude can help you see what you have in a new light.

Cultivating Gratitude

Of course, gratitude is not something that develops spontaneously. If you have spent a great deal of time being resentful about your financial situation, then it can be even more difficult to cultivate gratitude. However, if you keep at it, it is possible for you to develop a thankfulness that can add joy to your life, and make frugality a blessing — not a burden.

Here are some things you can do to help you cultivate the quality of gratitude:

Keep a list of things you are thankful for: One of the easiest ways to begin recognizing what you already have is to make a list. Think of things you are grateful for, and make a list. Include things like your health, the picture your child drew for you, your favorite chair, your morning cup of coffee. Turn the list into a journal. Add two or three things to the list each day. Peruse it often to remind yourself of all the things that you have.
Avoid dwelling on those who appear to have more: Try to avoid comparing your car to someone else’s new car. This goes for other material possessions. Try to focus more on improving yourself in non-material ways, and try to stop comparing what you have to what others have. This can be difficult in a society that equates money with status and “worth.” But you can work at it, and learn to value a simpler life.
Realize that you are more fortunate than others: Recognize that, compared to many others, you are fortunate. Most of the rest of the world gets by on less than $5 a day. Even in your own community there are probably people less fortunate. Don’t let that puff you up, though. Donate to the less fortunate, and volunteer your time, and you’ll begin to feel more grateful for what you have.
Catch the direction of your thoughts: As you go through the above exercises, pay attention when your thoughts start to wander down the paths of envy and dissatisfaction. When you catch yourself thinking negatively, consciously make an effort to find something positive to think about.

This post was included in the Festival of Frugality

Secrets of Super Shoppers

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

There are those of us who use coupons — and then there are the super couponers. Most of us are content to walk out of a store having kept a few dollars in our pocket by deploying some strategically clipped coupons. But those super shoppers who spend so little and get so much: how do they do it and, more importantly, what can we learn from their shopping habits that will help us save big?

The most significant difference between the shopping habits of super shoppers and most other people has to do with their level of dedication to the art of saving. They have a strategy — which actually resembles more of a battle plan — when it comes to the entire shopping experience.

Their plan begins long before they are at the store and continues long after they return home with their discounted booty. Here are some of the things they do that differ from most shoppers:

Super shoppers plan ahead — way ahead. When they walk into a store, they are not buying exactly what their family needs today. Their mission is to take advantage of the bargains that are available today. They take those bargains home to add their pantry (which is full of their previous bargains). As a result, they always have a supply of items they’ve purchased at deep discounts. In the long run, they save because they never need to pay full price for those products.
Super shoppers take advantage of every saving opportunity. While most people would be satisfied with saving a few cents or a dollar purchasing a product when it’s on sale, super shoppers wait until they can take advantage of multiple discounts on a product — a sale price, plus a manufacturer coupon, (perhaps the particular store doubles or triples them), a store coupon and perhaps a Catalina offer as well. Those kinds of big savings take a lot of planning, organization and the ability and willingness to stock up when you can get the best deals.
Super shoppers are willing and able to devote a lot of time and effort to their saving strategy. Some super shoppers not only clip every coupon they come across but they catalog or file them as well. That alone takes time and effort. In addition, they must take the time to find out where items are on sale, match them with coupons and deals and educate themselves on store coupon policies so they know, for instance, who doubles or triples and who accepts expired coupons.

The truth is, we’re not all cut out to be super couponers. Some folks, while they would appreciate the savings, just aren’t willing to do all that it takes to join those ranks. There are, however, tactics to be learned from these savings superstars that will benefit our budgets:

Look for sales and stock up on items you know you’ll use.
Clip coupons for items you use and match them to sales whenever possible.
Compare prices between stores.

Super couponing can lead to super saving if you have the time and inclination to take it on and see it through. But even if you motto isn’t, “I live to coupon,” take heart — there’s a lot to be learned from the habits of the super savers. You can still see significant savings by balancing your desire to super-save with your other priorities.

What are your personal super-saving tactics?

Get Those Scissors Ready: It’s National Coupon Month

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

September is a great month for saving. It’s National College Savings Month. And it’s National Coupon Month. A whole month devoted to coupons.

With the recession still a reality for many, even though it is technically over, it becomes pretty clear that coupons are once again becoming an integral part of our lives. Coupons can help us live more frugally, saving us money on the things that we use regularly (and sometimes enticing us to buy things that maybe we don’t actually need).

The PMA Coupon Council conducted a survey recently, and had some pretty cool statistics about coupons. Here are some of the results from the coupon survey:

Those who use coupons report that they save about 7% on grocery bills with coupons.
89% of the population uses coupons.
Nearly all primary shoppers (97%) use coupons at the grocery store.

Other studies have been done showing that spending about a half an hour a week clipping and organizing coupons can result in savings of close to $1,000 a year. Of course, in order to realize such savings it is important that you plan your coupon use carefully. And, as you might imagine, you get better results when you combine offers, and when you plan your coupon use to coincide with sales. With a little effort, and a system, you could see those coupons for $1.00 really add up over time.

Give Coupons a Try in September

If you have been ambivalent about coupons, worried that they will not provide you with savings that are “worth the trouble”, maybe now is a good time to test them out. National Coupon Month is the perfect time to test out coupon clipping and see whether or not you can actually make your couponing efforts pay off. As you get ready to test out the idea of using coupons, consider the following tips to help you find better success:

Use coupons on items you would buy anyway: Don’t buy something just because you have a coupon. Look for coupons on items you would normally buy anyway.
Go looking for coupons: The Internet has provided us with a way to get coupons without needing to always wait for the Sunday paper. Look online, and even consider signing up for a free service that will alert you to coupons and deals for your favorite products.
Organize your coupons: Use a system to organize your coupons. You should also compare your shopping list to the coupons that you have in your system. Make a note of which coupons are for products that happen to be on sale.

Couponing without a plan and a purpose is most likely to end in frustration. Just like nearly everything else in the world of personal and family finances, it is important to have a plan and a goal. If you just occasionally clip a coupon, without a strategy that can help you maximize the savings, you will be disappointed by the results. However, if you actively look for ways to use coupons and online promo codes as part of an overall strategy of saving, you are more likely to find the results you want.

Coupon Trains: All Aboard for Savings Right to Your Mailbox

by Gina Blitstein · 1 comment

Couponers are well aware that there are many valuable coupons available that they will personally never redeem. The reasons vary: it’s for dog food and you have cats; your children are (finally) out of diapers; your family doesn’t eat potato chips or it is simply for not your brand. Whatever the reason, no matter their value, a lot of coupons pass through your hands that you never use. That doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t a lot of folks who would appreciate getting their hands on those same coupons. Ideally, there would be a way to get desired coupons directly to those who want to use them.

Coupon trains are a method of doing just that — delivering coupons to those who desire them. A coupon train consists of a group of dedicated couponers who exchange coupons among themselves, the goal being to provide more useful coupons to those who can benefit from them.

Here’s how coupon trains work:

A group of coupon users get together, in person or over the Internet. They arrange to send an envelope of coupons via postal mail to each other, constantly rotating from one to another throughout the group. Each participant in the train takes the coupons she wants from the envelope, replacing them with the same number of her unwanted coupons. She then mails the envelope to the next participant who does likewise. Thus, each member of the coupon train receives the opportunity to receive coupons she wants and make her unwanted coupons available to others.

Consult the Internet to find existing coupon trains — or you can start your own. Here are some best practices to follow when participating in a coupon train:

The coupon train envelope should include 30 to 50 coupons and a list of the members in the order in which they are to be mailed the envelope. Contact information for each participant (such as email address or phone number) should also be included in case of last-minute changes or emergencies that could potentially delay the train’s progress to the next participant.
One member should be designated the “engineer.” She is in charge of keeping track of where the envelope is at any given time and making sure it is moving along at an appropriate speed. She is also responsible for seeing that participants follow the established guidelines so that the train remains beneficial for all.
Participants should provide a “wish list” of preferred coupons so that others can accommodate individual needs when possible.
Each participant should courteously discard any expired coupons – and those set to expire within a few weeks so that the next member receives a packet of the most usable coupons possible.
The coupon envelope should move along in a timely fashion. A member should only keep the envelope for a couple days so that the coupons will not expire while on their way to the next participant.
Try to send the most valuable coupons you can for your fellow coupon train “riders” and they will be more likely to do so for you. Avoid sending store or location-specific coupons, unless you know the other participants will want them.
While it sounds like more coupons would be better, stay aware that each participant needs to pay for postage to send the envelope on, so keeping it “lean and mean” is the most advantageous strategy.

If your group can work as a team, a coupon train is a great way to share the wealth that coupons represent.

Could your savings strategy benefit from participation in a coupon train?

Live Frugally — Without Depriving Yourself

by Miranda Marquit · 1 comment

One of the issues that many have with a frugal lifestyle is that sometimes it seems as though the focus is on not doing things or buying cheap products in an effort to pinch another penny. This sort of mindset, though, leads to feelings of deprivation, and sometimes even resentment. Instead of focusing on what you can’t do, or worrying about getting the cheapest price, though, it is possible to live frugally without feeling deprived.

Don’t Deprive Yourself. Look for Ways to Enjoy Yourself.

When living a frugal lifestyle, it is possible to enjoy yourself without spending a great deal of money. The key is in realizing that, while you do need some money to live, it isn’t required to have a good time. Here are some things to consider as you live frugally while still enjoying yourself:

Look for public amenities: If you enjoy going to the gym, check to see if there is a public rec center. You can have access to gym facilities at a price that is often lower than what you get at a commercial gym. The same is true of public parks, libraries and museums. You can still enjoy cultural events and outings if you focus on what’s available through public avenues. If you live in a university town, you might find that entertainment options (plays, exhibits and more) are available at reduced rates on campus.
Consider off-peak times: I can’t remember the last time I went to a movie in the evening. Instead, we go to movies during the matinee. That way, we save off the regular ticket prices. Many amusement parks, museums, and other places of entertainment feature discounts at certain times of the day or the year. This principle can also be extended to eating out. Go to lunch instead of dinner and you will save.
Learn to enjoy staying in: Adjust your outlook so that you view quality time at home with your family. You can enjoy doing puzzles and playing games with your partner and/or children. You can also meet with like-minded couples and have rotating evenings where you all get together at someone’s house and socialize, rather than having to go out.
Learn to cook: You can customize foods to your taste, and even learn how to make fancy dishes. Have fun cooking. Make it a family event. My husband and I love cooking at home. Often we work on dinner together. When we have others over, we invite them to come a little early so we can all help prepare the meal. It’s a fun way to try new foods and experiment — all without spending a lot of money on dinner at a restaurant. (Here is how you learn cooking without spending a fortune.)
Buy quality items: Make sure you are getting a good value for your dollar. This doesn’t mean you buy cheap items that disintegrate into uselessness quickly; it means you look for items of reasonable quality. Look for value, rather than just relying on price. That way you won’t feel deprived because everything you own is of low quality.

It really is possible to live a rich, full life without spending a lot of money. If you look at what you have, and show gratitude for that, you are more likely to feel lucky for what you have, rather than deprived due to what you don’t have.

Diary of a Groupon User

by Gina Blitstein · 0 comments

A fairly new coupon trend is the Groupon. A Groupon is a savings opportunity offered daily over the Internet for a discounted service at a growing number of businesses. The name “Groupon” is a combination of the words “group” and “coupon” which describe it aptly. Groupons take advantage of the buying power of a group. People demonstrate their interest in a particular Groupon offer by promising to purchase it on the day it is offered. A typical Groupon opportunity would be, “Pay $25.00 for $50.00 worth of merchandise at Store X.” Each deal is offered for just one day. When enough people take advantage of the opportunity, those who got in on the offer are billed and can print their Groupon.

What constitutes “enough” people? That number is determined by the merchant when the offer is being put together with Groupon along with the amount of the discount and any conditions. Groupons usually offer at least half off the regular price.

Groupons are available in major cities and their range is rapidly expanding. To get started with Groupon, visit the Groupon website. Sign up online by choosing your city and submitting your email address. Every morning, you will receive an email detailing the Groupon offer of the day for your city.

Groupon deals are eclectic. They range from a few dollars to hundreds. They range from ice cream to skydiving. Not every deal will appeal to you. It’s exciting to know that a new and different deal will be waiting in your email in the morning.

Are Groupons complicated? Jessica Grauer, 30, has been a Groupon user in both Boston and Denver for a couple years, having participated in 15 to 20 deals. She finds Groupons to be convenient and simple to use. Jessica says, “If you’re Internet savvy, it’s super easy. I sign up for a daily email, and then if there’s a deal I want, I purchase it and print the coupon. The businesses know what’s up when you bring them in — you’re probably not the first Groupon-wielding customer they’ve had, and they’re the ones who offered the deal in the first place! I also have a Groupon app on my phone, so I don’t even have to print them out all the time.”

Why use Groupons? They offer the opportunity to try something new for half price or enjoy a discount on something you already like. Either way, if you can justify the expense, they do deliver savings right to your inbox.

Use good judgement. Keep the cost in mind — even if it sounds like an unbeatable bargain, you are spending money upfront. Remember to actually use the coupon once you have it! Another caution is not go get caught up in a frenzy. Perhaps $200.00 off a weekend getaway is a great price but it’s still a considerable outlay of cash.

Jessica’s overall impression of Groupon is, “I think it’s a great idea, which is why I stick with it even though a lot of the deals aren’t up my alley. I love learning about what’s out there, too. I didn’t know a lot of these places existed, so it helps me feel more connected to the city too.”

The benefits of Groupon are that they offer significant savings on services you know or want to experience. You may find a new favorite spot – or be glad you didn’t pay full price to discover a dud. Groupons can help stretch your dollars for the things you want to do.

Are you a Groupon user? On what services have Groupons helped you save?

Start Your Holiday Planning Now — And Save

by Miranda Marquit · 0 comments

August may not be over yet, but it is the perfect time to start your holiday planning. Not only can you get great seasonal sale prices on holiday travel, but you can have a much more organized holiday experience — while saving money.

Planning Ahead for Holiday Expenses

One of the best things you can do is plan ahead for your upcoming expenses. Living a frugal lifestyle requires that you think about possible expenses and look for ways to save up for them. This means that if you do not want your holiday spending to break your budget, you should sit down and estimate how much you are likely to spend. Here are some of the expenses you are likely to incur during the holiday season:

Gifts (especially for the children)
Food
Entertaining
Decorating
Overnight guests

If you have access to your records from last year, this is a good time to look through them and see how much you spent. Last year’s spending makes a great starting point for figuring out this year’s probable expenses. List the gifts you plan to buy for others, as well as the food and drink you might need for entertaining, and to feed guests. You should also make a list of the decorations you already have, and figure out which need to be replaced.

Now that you have an idea of what your holiday expenses will amount to, you can begin to make plans. If you know that you will likely spend $1,000 this holiday season, you have September, October and November to save up. That’s three months. That means you need to set aside $333 each month to prepare.

You can also begin by buying things slowly. Armed with a list of what you need, you can keep an eye out for sales and for appropriate gifts. This spreads out your spending so that you are not dropping the entire amount at once. Planning ahead in this manner also ensures that you have more choices and the ability to take advantage of sale prices, saving you money on your holiday shopping. You might not even spend your entire allotted amount if you can get early discounts on some items!

Planning Even Further Ahead

If you really want to minimize the impact of holiday spending on your finances, you can plan a year in advance. If you divide that $1,000 by 11 months, you can set aside $91 each month for holiday spending. Plus, if you are organized enough to keep track of decorations and other accessories, you can take advantage of the post-holiday discounts on some items. This can be a real help as you plan for the next round of holiday spending. Not only that, but if you put the money in a high interest savings account, you can earn a little extra.

Even though it may seem like overkill to prepare now for the holidays, it really is a good idea. Holiday spending often puts a big strain on the budget because it represents large expenditures out of the ordinary. If you plan ahead, though, building holiday spending into your budget over a periods of months, you can reduce the stress that can come with holiday spending.

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