How Do I Coupon ?Save Money While Buying Healthy for You, Your Family, and the Planet!

When trying to maximize savings at the grocery store, one of the best way to do this is to take advantage of Catalina deals. What is a Catalina? A Catalina is a term used for the machines at the registers that provide printed coupons and promotions for products at grocery stores  with your receipt. Most grocery stores have Catalinas including Walgreens. If you take advantage of a Catalina promotion you can often receive money off your next purchase! Combine coupons and sales with the Catalina deals and you often get what is called a Money Maker: you can often get the product for free AND make an overage (or profit)!

Here is a current example of a Catalina Promotion going on at Fry’s:

Purchase Purex (50 oz.) Laundry Detergent between 1/11 and 3/7:Off Your Next Shopping Order)
Purchase (3) or more and get $5 coupon OYNSO.

Purchase (2) and get $4 OYNSO (

So, here is what I would do to take advantage of this promotion at Fry’s:

1. Fry’s is having a Buy 1o, Get $3 off Promotion on certain items this week. One of the items is Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent. Price before Buy 10 Promo is $2.49. Price after Buy 10 Promo is $2.19.

2. So, I would use this coupon: Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent, any .35/1 (2-20-10) RP-1/10. After the Buy 10, Get $3 Promo and the coupon, this would make the Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent  $1.49 ea., which is a great deal by itself!

3. To then take advantage of the Catalina Deal, I would purchase 2 Purex Liquid Laundry Detergent with coupons (part of the Buy 10 promotion) for a total of  $2.98. Then I would receive a printed Catalina for $4.00 OYNSO! That means I made $1.00 AND I received 2 free bottles of Purex!! Isn’t that a GREAT DEAL?!

So, just keep an eye out for the coupons and promos that the cashier gives you with your receipt. Check weekly sales at HowDo ICoupon.com to see if there is ever a match and see your dollars stretch further!

Have any ?s Just leave a comment and I will get back to you ASAP!

Happy Shopping!

Every penny counts, right? I thought I would post a small list of easy ways you can save a little at the grocery store. A little bit here and there does add up to a lot!

 Just some quick tips and hints on how to save  some pennies at the grocery store:

BYOB -Bring your own bags. Most grocery stores offer .5  cents off per reusable bag you bring in. Don’t have any cloth bags? Bring in plastic ones, old purses, and diaper bags. I even use a gift bag that was given to my son for his birthday. It is made of some type of sturdy material and holds quite a bit!

Check the day old section.Normally the day old section is found near the dairy items in the store. Items can include bread, pies, cookies, and cakes. I have seen the area in Fry’s and Walmart and peruse the items often. I typically find at Walmart french bread or a baguette for .59 cents or less! Fry’s often has bakery goods discounted at 50% off. Also, at Fry’s they typically have a discounted refrigerated section with cookie dough, cheese, and yogurt. Combine the discounts with coupons and you can get a really great deal! Just be sure to use or freeze before the expiration date. I know Bashas’ does not offer discounted bakery items because they donate it to the local food bank. Love them!

Use your Grocery Card! This is by far the simplest way to save some $ at the grocery store. You can sign up online and register your card. You can load up e-coupons on the grocery store website along with Shortcuts and Cellfire. By signing up the stores use your shopping info to track trends and whatnot. Typically, you will get paper coupons in the mail as well along with special notices of sales, etc. Also, many grocery stores offer fuel discounts at their gas stations. I save .10 cents a gallon every time I fill up. That adds up for sure!

Here are links to stores that have grocery cards:

Safeway.com

Frys.com

Bashas’.com

Happy Shopping!

One of the three major keys to saving money at the grocery store is coupons. The more coupons you have, the more you save. If you have multiple coupons of the same one you can really make a difference in your spending and stock. For instance, a couple of weeks ago, Downy softener was on sale for $2.99. If you had the $3/1 coupon you would get it for free. Now think about if you had multiples of that same coupon…you could stock up on fabric softener for free!

So, how do you get multiples of the same coupon? There are a few ways to do this. Obvious and first one is to get the Sunday paper which has coupons most Sundays of the year. Some couponers subscribe and get several duplicate papers delivered every Sunday. In Tucson, there are a couple of options to choose from. You can get the local paper and/or you can get the Phoenix paper delivered as well. The bonus to getting the Phoenix paper is that there are often more coupons available and at a higher value. One positive to living in a big city, huh? Often I am irritated because a coupon is advertised through various sites and after pilfering my ads I find I do not have it because I do not get the Phoenix paper. I digress . Anyways, getting the multiples of the Sunday paper is a great way to get more coupons whether it is the local paper or the one from a bigger city nearby.

**TIP: Here in Tucson on the NW side you can go to the Dollar Tree and get the Sunday paper for $1.00! I know some fellow couponers who do this especially when there are high value or popular coupons in that week’s paper. How cool is that?! You can stock up there if you want and  pay only $1.00 per paper (as opposed to $1.50). Check out the Dollar Tree near you to see if they offer this as I am not sure if every store does.

Another tip is to always check your local library and your local community paper. We get a community paper delivered every week called the Northwest Explorer and there are coupon inserts in it. How great is that?! I don’t have to pay for them and it is basically money in my pocket. Check to see if yours does too. Also, check your local library. The same paper is delivered to the library and you could pick up a couple copies there gratis!

Here are a couple of printable coupon sites. You can generally print two of each coupon and then you have to wait until it resets:

Coupons.com

RedPlum

Make sure to sign up for grocery cards. Not only will you get the sales the stores offer, there are two great sites that you use your grocery card number and you load coupons onto them to use:

Shortcuts.com

Cellfire.com

The sites above are great. They are easy to sign up to and once you register your card you can load savings with a click of your mouse . I hate clipping coupons so this is a nice bonus – Love it!

I am running on little sleep so I will try and post more as I remember. I will get the best deals up for the week soon too!

I have been sick with a nasty cold but I am feeling better! This week there are some decent deals at Bashas’, Safeway and Albertsons. I don’t know that I will go this week to any as there isn’t anything that I need or really want. I am tapped out from buying Christmas presents .

Grocery stores typically have their sales every Wednesday through Tuesday. If you live within a certain mile radius of a grocery store you should get the ads the day before or on the day the sales starts. On to the deals!

Albertsons ~ Currently doubling, tripling, and quadrupling coupons here in Tucson and accept all grocery competitor coupons.

Albertsons Butter 1 lb.,Limit 2, $1.47 each!!

Pepsi, 12 pk, 12 oz cans or 6 pk, 24 oz bottles; Extra Promo: Final Price 4 for $8 when you buy 4
Limit 1 reward per transaction. Final Price: $2.00 each!

Little Debbie Snacks, 6.7-12.5 oz, $1.50 each, Use Little Debbie Chocolate Cupcakes Box $1/1 (12-31-09) SS-9/27, Final Price: .50 cents each!!

Blue Bunny Ice Cream, 1.75 qt, Limit 2. Sign up HERE and become a member to download $1.00 off coupon. It makes the ice cream .99 each!!

Tombstone Pizza 17.7 -29.5 oz., Limit 2. 2/$5!!!

FREE Albertson’s Butter (1 lb.) when you buy 4 Participating Items including Betty Crocker, Bisquick, and Gold medal Items @ $1.50 each:

Betty Crocker Cookie Mix, 15.5-22.5 oz, $1.50 each, Use Betty Crocker Cookie Mix, any flavor 17.5 oz. or larger .40/1 (12-19-09) SS-10/25 and (1-9-10) Pillsbury-11/15 Final Price: .50 each!!

Betty Crocker Ready to Serve Frosting, 12-16 oz, $1.50 each, Use Betty Crocker Frosting, any flavor/variety tub .50/1 (12-19-09) SS-10/25 and (1-9-10) Pillsbury-11/15, Final Price: .50 cents each!!

I will post Bashas’, Fry’s and Safeway soon. Happy Shopping!

I will post deals for Albertson’s this week if you are in the Arizona region. I think the Albertson’s on the east coast are held by a different company altogether so I am sure sales are different there. Albertsons this week is upping any coupon that is .25 or higher to a $1!! That means great savings for you and your pocketbook. One great thing about Albertsons here in Tucson is you do not need a shopper’s card to take advantage of their sales. When we went on vacation in California you did have to have a shopper’s card at their Albertsons. So check with your store if you are unsure so you don’t miss out on any savings!

I forgot to mention in my last post that if you have not signed up for shopper’s cards for the grocery stores in your town, do it! You will save a bunch of cash by just signing up and being a V.I.P. member. Often you can get fuel discounts and I get coupons all the time in the mail from my local grocery stores just by being a card holder. It is very much worth your time (which is very little). Also, as a new cardholder I am certain they will send you high value coupons and often coupons for free bread or cake, etc.

Also, on my list today there are two new abbreviations for anyone who is not familiar: SS for SmartSource and PG for Procter&Gamble.

On to the deals:

Chicken Breast, Boneless and Skinless, $1.57/lb.

Coffeemate Flavored Creamer, 16oz, $1.99 each – Use Nestle Coffee-Mate Liquid Creamer, any .50/1 (2-1-10) RP-11/1. Final Price : .99 cents!

Farmer John Sausage Links, 8oz., 1.00 ea – Use Farmer John Sausage Links any .75/2 (12-31-09) RP-11/8. Final Price: .50 each!

Betty Crocker Specialty Box Potatoes, 4.6-7.2oz, $1.00 ea- Use Betty Crocker Box or Pouch Potatoes (Except Potato Buds) .35/1 (1-16-10) SS-11/22. Final Price: FREE!!

French’s Worchestershire Sauce, 10oz, $1.00 ea. – Go HERE and get a printable coupon. Final Price: FREE!!

Hefty Foam Plates, 50ct, $1.00 – Use Hefty Plates or Bowls any .50/1 (1-31-10) RP-11/15. Final Price: FREE!!

Idahoan Instant Potatoes, 4-4.1oz, $1.00 – Use Idahoan product, any 4 oz or larger, .40/1 (12-8-2009) GroupB-11/8. Final Price: FREE!! **These are free at several grocery stores this week including Safeway and Bashas’.

Nabisco Snack Crackers, 5.5-10oz, $2.00 ea. – Use Nabisco Crackers or Easy Cheese, any variety 5 – 16 oz. $1/1 DND (12-31-09) SS-11/8. Final Price: $1.00!

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers, 9-12oz., $1.00 ea. – Use Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers frozen vegetables, any variety .40/1 (1-9-10) Pillsbury-11/15. Final Price: FREE!!

Glade Aerosol Spray, 9oz, $1.00 each. – Use Glade sprays, any excluding air infusions .75/2 (12-19-09) SS-11/1. Final price: .50 each when you buy 2!

Hefty Easy Grip Cups, 30-50ct, $1.50 ea. – Use Hefty Easy Grip Party Cups any .50/1 (1-31-10) RP-11/15. Final Price: .50 cents each!

Libby’s Vegetables, 14.5-15.25oz, .50 cents ea.- Use Libby’s Vegetables, any cans $1/4 (12-31-09) RP-9/27; also click HERE and scroll down on the left hand side and there is a coupon for .50 cents off two! Final Price: FREE – .25 cents each!!

Oral B Floss, 55 yard, $1.00 ea. – Use Oral-B Floss Picks, any 45 count or larger, Oral-B Satin Floss or any Crest Glide product $1/1 (12-31-09) PG-11/29. Final Price: FREE!!

Bonus:Sign up and login HERE and you can get $1.00 off Jolly Time Popcorn which would make it FREE at Albertsons this week as well!!

Today I went and purchased 3 Hefty packs of paper plates (150 plates for FREE!), 12 cans of Libby veggies, 2 boxes of BC potatoes (FREE!), 6 packages of Farmer John sausage links, and 4.5 lbs. of boneless skinless chicken breast all for $13.19!! That is a fantastic savings of over $42.00 dollars! I love great deals!

Another good thing to remember is if you find a printable coupon you think you will more than likely use, go ahead and print it. Online printables are often capped and only a certain amount total across the population can be printed. So I print some I know I will use when they are available because the item may go on sale before the coupon expires and they will stop offering them to print. Popular ones go fast!

I will post deals for Fry’s and Safeway too as I go. I am feeling a bit under the weather…ugghhh…so I may be slow going.

So this blog is new and I have not had a chance to explain coupons as well as I need to for the average person and newbie to drastically slashing your grocery budget. So, today I will post deals for one grocery store here in Arizona and explain as I go!

You will want to save your coupons from the Sunday paper. The best system is to NOT clip every coupon. Rather, as you get the inserts take a look on the side of the insert. It will give you the coupon source and the date. For example, Red Plum 11/01/09. Write this on the front of the insert. It will be easier for you to find what you need this way as opposed to constantly clipping coupons (which is time consuming and annoying!). Below in my list you will see the coupon you need for the item that is on sale. Along with the type of coupon you need will be an abbreviation and a date. This abbreviation will tell you which insert and which date to pull. For example, RP 11/15 (this means Red Plum 11/15). Make sense?

Get used to using printable coupons. Some stores do not accept these so make sure to check the stores’ policies and abide by them. The online printable coupons will save you so much money! Keep in mind that most online legitimate coupons will only let you print twice before they reset again. Do not be a tool and photocopy the coupon to get more. That is cheating and stealing. Just sayin’.

Today I went to Bashas’ and spent $11.32 for $48.82 worth of groceries! The key is to buy items that you need, that are on sale, and that you have a coupon for. That trifecta will earn you saved money and great deals on groceries. Stock up on items when they are cheap or free so even if you do not need them now you will have them later. There have been many times where I have bought an item and paid full price on impulse or at the last moment because I did not have a food supply in place.

Below is the list of free or super cheap at Bashas’ this week with sale items and coupons. These are the deals of the week for Bashas’:

Skippy Peanut Butter 15 – 16.3 oz.  $1.58 – Use Skippy Peanut Butter Products, any 15 oz. or larger .50/1 (exp. 1-10-10) RP 11/15. Final Price: .58 cents each!

Challenge Butter 16 oz. $1.99, Limit 4 – Challenge Dairy Product, any, .55/1 (exp. 09-30-2010) from HERE . Make sure to print it twice! Final Price: .99 cents each!

Milk Bashas’ 1 Gallon $1.58

Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta 12-14.5 oz., .88- Use Ronzoni Smart Taste, any two (2) boxes, $1/2 (12-31-2009) GroupA . Make sure to print it twice! Also go HERE, register and get 2 more printable coupons! Final Price: .38 cents each!!

Crystal Farms Cheese Chunks or Shreds, 8 oz. – $1.99- Use Crystal Farms Cheese chunks or shreds 8 oz $1/1 (12-27-09) The coupon is in the monthly ad for Bashas’. You can find the ad when you walk in the store right next to or below the weekly ads. Since it is a 1 per coupon and 1 per visit limit, snag extra copies of the monthly ad so you can take advantage of this great offer more than once. Final Price : .99 cents each!

Shamrock Farms Milk or Shamrockers, 12 oz., $1.00 – Use Shamrock Farms Products any .50/2 @ Group C . Make sure to print it twice! Also use Shamrock Farms Products any .50/2 (1-13-10) RP-11/15. Final Price: .50 cents each!

Idahoan Potatoes 4 to 4.1 oz, $1.00 each- Use Idahoan product, any 4 oz or larger, .40/1 (12-8-2009) GroupB-11/8 Make sure to print it twice! Final Price: FREE!!!

So, today I bought 3 Skippy, 6 Ronzoni Pastas, 3 Challenge Butters, 4 containers of Shamrock chocolate milk, and cooking oil (not on sale ::sigh::) for $11.32! Easily a $37 dollar savings! Just by using coupons, catching sales, and only buying what I will use can save me a ton!

I will post more deals for other stores as I go.

Okay, so it is a week before Thanksgiving and it is time to shop! I want to try and get done with shopping this week to avoid the crowds and depleted items.

One thing to remember is Loss Leaders. These are the items listed on sale in your local grocery ads. Normally they are on the front and back page of the weekly advertisement. They are items that are super discounted to get you in the store to buy other products. So, the key is if you have the time and determination, is to go to all the stores to take advantage of the loss leaders. For instance, Safeway in my town is offering 10# bag of russet potatoes for .97 cents! Fry’s is offering deals on produce and cheese. Plan your list and stops accordingly and you can take advantage of these super great deals.

One hint for you super busy working moms: WalMart and Target price match.You should be able to match the prices from your local grocery stores at the big box stores. Two things to keep in mind: 1. Bring the ads to WalMart and/or Target so you can show the cashier and avoid any extra hassle. 2. Neither store doubles coupons and only takes coupons at face value. Often, people think that the big box stores are cheaper but they are not once you factor in coupons and doubling coupon values. Right now stores are in heavy competition to earn your business and often coupons are doubled, tripled and even quadrupled right now! That is some serious savings!

So, my plan is to go to both WalMart and Fry’s this week to get my items for Thanksgiving dinner and save as much money as I can. They are typically the stores in my town with the best deals anytime of the year. If I were to go to just one store my grocery bill would easily double because I would not be able to take advantage of loss leaders and coupons. It is cheaper in the long run to use more gas in my car and go to both places than it is to shop at one place.

Another thing to remember is turkey prices. Right now stores are going to offer amazing deals but, some, if not most,  have catches. For instance, some stores will offer a turkey at a discounted price per pound or even a free turkey. The key to remember is there is often a minimum amount of money you must spend to get the discount. So, while a turkey at .40 cents a pound or even a free one sounds great, are you going to maximize your savings and keep money in your account if you have to spend $50 or $100 dollars to get the turkey? It is really smart advertising for the stores but often ends up being a poor deal for you. This is also often the case in other periodic grocery sales where you have to spend a certain amount to get the discounted savings.

So far my menu has not changed from my last post, however, I will adjust my menu if something comes available (like wild rice for a yummy stuffing!) or remove something if it is too expensive. I try to remember when I shop that I can be flexible on certain items. And, I also remember there are certain things I cannot budge on (hello, real butter!).

One of the smartest ways to save money is to find great products super cheap and then use a coupon. One great way to do this is to keep an eye out for clearance sections in your local stores. Often the clearance sections are in the back of stores closer to the warehouse or on the end caps of the aisles. You can generally find products that have either been discontinued and drastically marked down or damaged packaging where items are again significantly marked down, etc. You should be able to purchase the already reduced items and combine them with manufacturer coupons making for an even better deal!

Today, at Target, I scoured the cleaning section for clearance products. I need more laundry detergent and air fresheners. Voila! I found 2 boxes of Seventh Generation laundry detergent marked 50% off. I then had a coupon for $1 off 2 Seventh Generation products. With the items reduced and my coupon, I paid $3.96 for 2 boxes of laundry detergent which would have been $10.00 ( if I paid full price). That is a 60% savings! Also, I found a Febreze Noticables Scented Oil Freshener on clearance for $3.12 because the packaging was ripped apart. That is a great deal considering they are normally $6+ at regular retail. I had a coupon for $1 off the Febreze Noticeables Scented Oil Freshener so I paid $2.18 for a product normally priced at $6.24! So for a total of $6.08, I was able to buy products worth $16.22!

A good rule that I keep in mind when finding great bargains is to only buy what I will use no matter how good the deal is. It is very tempting to buy something that is so inexpensive simply because it is such a good deal. However, what good does it do me if it sits in my closet? It ends up being a money waster and not a good deal after all.