Frugal Column January 1, 2012

HAPPY NEW YEARS!


According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average American
family of four spends $8,513 per year on groceries- averages out to $709 per
month. That breaks down to $177 per person a month. Many of us blow our budget
even further on restaurant meals. Let’s start 2012 saving on your groceries
along with personal items. Today’s paper has over $200 worth of coupons making
this a big haul to start cutting coupons. I would love to tell you that you can
save $100 of dollars and it won’t take you any time at all. That is not the
case. When starting your coupon journey you need to be organized. When you spend
time cutting your coupons spend time organizing them in an accordion style file
by categories. Remember everyone’s file is going to be different. I don’t have
any babies so I don’t have a baby category but I do have pets so I have a pet
category. What you need to do is make it easy to find a coupon when you need to.
You will get very frustrated if you know you have a coupon for that product on
sale but can’t find it. Do not assume that you won’t need a coupon when you
enter a store. Bring your coupons with you at all times. You will be very
surprised how many times you go to a store and a manager has marked down an item
because they have too many allowing you with a coupon get that item for free. It
is interesting how many people think that something’s wrong with the product or
the price marked must be wrong because the item can’t be that cheap. Is one
store better than other stores? The store I frequent most doubles my coupons up
to 50 cents every day, I feel that is the best value for my coupons. Remember
using a coupon for an item on sale plus being doubled is an added bonus. Don’t
forget about your local pharmacy stores like CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens for
food, cleaning items and personal products. Using loyalty cards along with other
reward programs combined with coupons can give you huge savings on items. Here
are some ways to use your week’s coupons for high value savings.

Check out some Couponing 101 tips.
1. Most stores will let you use a store coupon along with a
manufacturer coupon for one item.
2. To tell a manufacturer coupon the UPC code will start with the
number 5.
3. Check out your store’s coupon policy. Because of the TLC show
Extreme Couponing most stores have posted their policies on their website along
with printed copies at the customer service desk.
4. Maximize the Buy 1 Get One Free deals. You can typically use 2 coupons for a B1G1 deal. For
example, if Quaker Oatmeal is on sale Buy One at $2.50, Get One Free and you
have 2 $1.00/1 coupons, use 2 coupons. You will get 2 boxes of oatmeal for .50.
5. Check out store that price match.
Walmart and Target will match sale prices from other stores. Also ask your store
if they will use a competitors coupons for example Staples will let you use
coupons from Office Depot or OfficeMax.

Is it worth the time to clip coupons? By using coupons and sales you very easily can
get 50% off your shopping trip at your local grocery store. Fayette County
Libraries have partnered with me to help all of you learn how to save money.
Starting with my first class this January 18th at the Village Branch,
2185 Versailles Road at 6pm. The library will have an interpreter that night. In
February I will be at the Tates Creek library on the 5th at 2pm and
in March at Beaumont Branch on the 26th at 6:30pm. Call (859)
231-5500 for reservations also bring your unused coupons for a coupon swap after
class.

CVS DEALS:
FREE $10 CVSCash Card when you spend $30 or more on specially marked items.
One scenario: Purchase 6 Pantene Prov –V shampoo or conditioner at $19.98 plus two 12pk of Charmin at $10.98 for total of $30.96. Use two $3 Pantene Sunday paper coupons and two 25 cents Charmin Sunday paper coupons plus receive $10 CVSCash Card making the final price just $14.49 for all eight items.

Ivory Soap Bars on sale for 99 cents use 35 cents Sunday paper coupon making final
price just 64 cents.

Oral-B floss on sale for $2.99 receive $1 in
CVS extracare bucks along with $1 Sunday paper coupon making final price just 99
cents after extracare bucks.

Olay body wash on sale for $6.99 receive $2 in
CVS extracare bucks along with $1 Sunday paper coupon making the final price
just $3.99.

Purchase four Nivea Lip Care products for $10
receive $5 in CVS extracare bucks along with two $3 Sunday paper coupons making
all four items free plus money maker.

RITE AID DEALS:
Pantene shampoo or conditioner on sale two for $7 receive $2 UPs
rewards along with $3 Sunday paper coupon making the final price just $1
each.

All Olay Skin and Bath Care products buy one get second one for 50% off pair this with Olay Sunday paper coupons for big savings.

Dawn Dish Dishwater Detergent on sale for
99 cents use 25 cents Sunday paper
coupon making the final price just 74 cents.

WALGREEN DEALS:
Tide Laundry Detergent on sale for $5.99 use $2 Sunday paper coupon making final
price just $3.99. Lysol All Purpose
Cleaner on sale for $2.99 use $1 Sunday paper coupon making final price just
$1.99.

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner on sale for $1.99 use $1 Sunday paper coupon
making final price just 99 cents.

Theraflu on sale for $4.99 send in for $5 mail
in rebate making final price after rebate free. http://www.theraflu.com/Theraflu_Rebate_Rules_and_Offer.pdf

Purchase two Lysol No-Touch Hand Soap System for $16 plus one Lysol Disinfectant Spray for $4 receive $6 in register rewards also use two $3 Sunday Paper coupon and $1 Sunday Paper coupon making the final price just $7 for all three.

Get $5 towards your flu
shot when you purchase one Lysol product. Just go to Lysol.com/flufree123 for
moreinformation.

Buy two Nivea Body Wash for $7 receive $2 register rewards use two $1 Sunday paper
coupons making the final price just $1.50 each.

Buy two Head and Shoulder shampoo or conditioners for $9 receive $2 in register rewards use $2 Sunday paper coupon making the final price just $1.50 each.

Herbal Essences Hair Care
product on sale for $2.99 receive $1 in register rewards use $1 Sunday paper
coupon making the final price just 99 cents.