Penny Pinching!
In these tight economic times, we-just like everyone else, have found our incomes drastically cut and searching for ways to cut costs.I noticed that Oprah was having a show on the 'thriftiest family in America' so I DVRed the episode to see if I could get some great cost cutting tips.
Some of the things were as simple as unplugging things when you aren't using them. Apparently 10% of all energy costs go to things that are plugged in but not even turned on! How crazy is that?! So now I go around unplugging anything and everything I can. It's a little tedious...but the woman on there that did it went from a $260 power bill down to a $62 power bill. I like that kind of savings :)
Then there was another woman that was 'the queen of coupons'. Her story was shocking! She had a grocery bill of over $120 and after all her coupons were taking off, it was $37-WOW!!! I have never been a coupon clipper. I figured the effort to save $0.55 was not worth my time. After seeing how her savings added up I rescued the Sunday paper and all it's ads from the recycle bin and started clipping. We picked up some of our Thanksgiving fixin's and after my coupons and special prices, I saved $55.47! While our bill was no where as low as $37 I was happy with my efforts and will be anxiously awaiting this week's Sunday paper. :) Now, if I can just figure out those double coupon days and where that happens at...I will make a killing on my savings!!!!
Well, gotta go. Got some lamps to go unplug!!!!
posted by Angela @ 8:15 AM
11 Comments:
Check out these power strips - great for doing the same thing that unplugging the plugs does!
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/12/smart_power_str.php
And don't forget the ever wonderful programmable thermostat as a great energy saver too!
If you find out about any store doing doubling days let me know as far as I have found no stores in Washington does it.
http://couponing.about.com/od/storesthatdoublecoupons/Grocery_Stores_That_Double_Coupons_by_State.htm
www.thegrocerygame.com - I've been doing it for about 2 years and save a ton.
Washington stores do not double coupons. It's very regional. Like TX does triple coupons and the savings are enormous. At best you can save about 60% here in WA state. I bought another freezer so I could store all the stuff and I also donate an enormous amount of things because we won't eat them. For ex: Wacky Mac pasta will go on sale for $1.00 and there will be a -.55 coupon. We don't eat the pasta, but I'll buy it for .45 and dontate it to NW Harvest or my son's food drive at school.
It's a trip. I love doing it. It's like a game to me.
Right On!!!! Thanks for the tips you guys! Sounds like you all are in doing the same thing as me :)
How great of you Janell to pick up the extra items and donate them...there is lots of good kharma coming your way!!!!
I wish WA state had double coupon days and stuff - sucks.
I always try to find stuff on sale in the Wed. flyers (and Sun. paper) and then see if I have a coupon for it - then you're REALLY saving!
I forgot to add that you can save big by using a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon. So for example, Fred Meyer does coupons every Sunday and will have a coupon for Aquafresh toothpaste for .99 each. If you use a manufacturer coupon with it (they are normally for -.75 off) you can use both coupons and get the toothpaste for .24 each.
You can also MAKE money by using rebates as well. Rite Aid will put Crest toothpaste on sale for $3.49 with a rebate of $3.49 making it free if you actually submit the paperwork (their rebate program is all online so it's super easy.) But if you use the -.75 coupon you will make .75 on the toothpaste because they don't subtract the coupon in the rebate.
You can to this for TONS of heatlh and beauty items. I haven't had to buy toothpaste, toothbrushes, deo, body wash, razors, tampons, shampoo etc for ages.
You don't need a ton of money- The one thing you do need is storage space. Because you need to get the items when they are on special not when you need them. You are essentially getting them for free but you have to take them at the the time when the store offers them to you.
Like I said, I bought another small chest freezer and I my hallway closet it FILLED with shampoo, tampons, deo, toothbrushes, toothpaste etc...from when I got them for free. Then when I need the items, instead of going to the store, I "shop" from my closet.
HTH!
I was wondering about that...we just got toothbrushes for buy 1 get one free, then I have a coupon for $1.25 off. I figured that coupon is a goner since we won't need toothbrushes for a while, but it sounds like you stock up while you can get it cheap!!!
I have the Sunday paper to go through today and plan my shopping list! Gonna sign up for the grocerygame today too and see where that takes me :)
Here's a tip for anyone who (like me) does a lot of shopping online. ALWAYS check google for a coupon code before you checkout.
I was shopping on JCrew.com the other day, was about to check out and googled "JCrew Coupon Code" and found a code to enter that saved me 30%!!!
I'd say 70-80% of the time I find a worthwhile coupon I didn't even know existed.
I've thought about doing grocerygame or some other coupon thing but is it really worthwhile for just 2 people in the house???
It seems like those things are geared towards familys that need 10000 diapers or babyfood or mac n cheese?!
I am one of those coupon queens and we are only a family of 3 (2 now that our child is in college). Last week, I paid $9.30 for my groceries, saving 76% off the bill. Here's a tip that took me a few years to figure out...apply coupons to items that are already on sale. Once you are stocked up on the items you use regularly, you will rarely need to buy items at regular price.
It's totally worth doing with only 2 people in the family. That's what we are!
Like cksknitter said, you use the coupons when the stuff is already on sale (whether you need it or not). It's called stockpiling.
Because you are buying stuff before you need it, you can wait for the best deals rather than pay full price.
I think we have 12 boxes of cereal, because a store had buy 4 for $1.25 each. We will take at least a couple months to eat it all!
The other thing stockpiling does is reduce the number of shopping trips a week you need to make, because you will already have the stuff on your shelves. That's also the downside...you do have to make an area to stockpile your purchases. But finacially it's totally worth it!
Post a Comment
<< Home