Aug 6, 201209:50 AMThrifty Mom
Let's be Thrifty Together
Welcome to couponing
Editor’s note: Thrifty Mom welcomes a new thrifty mom! Larissa Newton takes over the blog beginning today. She is bold enough to go where no mom has gone before to find deals, and is known for her keen ability to leave a store with super savings—spending very little or even getting money back! We think you’re gonna love her and we know she’ll help you save money!
Frugality is in my blood. Though my paternal grandmother passed away when I was 10 years old, I have memories of her magically transforming my free water into delicious iced tea at a restaurant. Or of sleepovers where she’d yell at my brothers for not drinking all the milk from their cereal bowls. (I never had that problem.)
Family gatherings often include sweet reminiscences of how my grandma would save money in every way possible, so it comes as no surprise that I love to save a buck—or two—or five.
I’ve been couponing for a little more than a year, and the rush never gets old. Every week at the grocery store, I love to see my percentage savings. When I score something for free, I do a little mental victory dance. Even better? Getting paid to take something out of the store! Yeah, it happens.
My goal with this blog is to share the best deals, tips and tricks. I’ll probably start off with some general tips, followed by a few of that week’s best deals at local stores.
Please feel free to contact me if there’s a store you’d like to see deals for, or if you have a great deal that I missed.
If you’re new to couponing, you’ll soon learn it’s not always easy to get good deals on food. While the snacks at CVS this week aren’t the healthiest, you’ll feel better knowing you spent mere pennies on them. Also great this week at CVS? There’s a fabulous $5 off a $15 beauty purchase coupon printing with the CVS Coupon Machine. Pair that with some ExtraBucks* deals and manufacturer’s coupons and you can get a great deal on makeup. And score some free disposable razors while you’re at it.
Bic disposable razors, 12-count or 10-count
(Online) Price: $3.99 or $3.79 and on sale BOGO 50 percent off
Use two $3 off one Bic disposable razor from Aug. 5 SS
Final price: FREE when you buy two (100 percent savings)
Zantac 150, 24-count, or Zantac 75, 30-count
Price: $8.99
Use $5 off one Zantac product from July 8 SS
Pay $3.99 OOP, get $3 EB
Final price: $0.99 (89 percent savings!)
CoverGirl Flipstick Duo
(Sale) Price: $8
Buy two for $16
Use two $2.50 off one CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipcolor, Blast Flipstick or Outlast Lipstain from July 22 Parade
AND use one $5 off $15 beauty purchase from the Coupon Machine
Pay $6 OOP, get $3 EB
Final price: $3 or $1.50 each (81 percent savings!)
Hershey’s snack-size bars, six-pack
(Sale) Price: $0.99
Buy four for $3.96
Use two $1 off two Hershey’s Milk Chocolate from June 24 SS
Pay $1.96 OOP, get $1 EB
Final price: $0.96 or $0.24 per six-pack (76 percent savings!)
FiberOne bars and General Mills Milk ‘n Cereal bars
(Sale) Price: $2
Buy two FiberOne bars for $4
Use two $0.50 off one FiberOne bars or brownies from Pillsbury.com
Buy three GM Milk ‘n Cereal bars for $6
Use two $0.60 off one Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats, Cocoa Puffs Treats, Lucky Charms Treats, Golden Grahams Treats, Chex Mix Treats or Milk ‘n Cereal Bars from Pillsbury.com
AND use one $0.50 off one Cinnamon Toast Crunch Treats, Cocoa Puffs Treats, Lucky Charms Treats, Golden Grahams Treats, Chex Mix Treats or Milk ‘n Cereal Bars from Coupons.com
Pay $7.30 OOP, receive $3 EB
Final price: $4.30 or $0.86 each (57 percent savings!)
Weis happens to be my supermarket of choice due to the fact that the one closest to my house is never as busy as many of the other supermarkets and I’m a fan of couponing in relative peace.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any great deals at Weis this week. I’ve found with supermarkets and food in general, deals can be scarce. My best tip is to clip coupons for products you regularly use and match them to a sale. While it may not get you spectacular savings, I always say some savings are better than none.
That said, for the past two weeks, my Weis has had quite a few products marked with red “discontinued item” tags, meaning they are on sale for 50 percent off. As far as I can tell, it just means the item is nearing its expiration date. My hubby and I found some good candy deals on Cadbury Fruit & Nut bars, Lindt chocolate bars and a dark chocolate Ferroro Rocher. I also noticed quite a few packets of gum marked down.
Anywhere you shop, be sure to double-check your receipt, though, as I’ve had a few incidences where these discounts are not taken off at the register. They usually show up at the bottom of the receipt tally near the coupons. If the discount isn’t taken off, simply go the customer service.
My husband loves fish; me, notsomuch. But this week I caved due to a 67 percent savings on Mrs. Paul’s ParchmentBakes.
Price: $5.99 on sale for BOGO
Use two $1 off one Mrs. Paul’s seafood product coupons found here
Final price: $3.99 or $2 each (67 percent savings!)
One of the easiest things to stockpile when couponing are toiletries. Get started with a deal on Garnier shampoo and conditioner.
Garnier Fructis shampoo or conditioner
(Sale) Price: $2.79
Use $1 off one Garnier Fructis product from Aug. 5 RP
AND use $1 off one Garnier Fructis product from Target coupons
Final price: $0.79 (72 percent savings!)
Larissa Newton is the copy/Web editor at Central Penn Business Journal, a sister newspaper of Central Penn Parent. She is momma to a 1-year-old girl, and loves to get things for free. Email her with comments, suggestions or tips at larissan@centralpennbusiess.com. Follow her on Twitter, @larissaanewton.
Index:
OOP — Out of Pocket
EB — ExtraBucks (from CVS)
BOGO — Buy One, Get One
SS — SmartSource (insert found in your local Sunday paper)
RP — Red Plum (insert found in your local Sunday paper)
P&G — P&G BrandSaver (insert found once a month in your local Sunday paper)
*ExtraBucks are not deducted from your order right away. They are printed on your receipt to be used on your next visit.
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