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Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Finding New Ways To Save Money

I just found a few new ways to save money this last week! And I'm so excited to share with everyone!

The first is Coupon Swapping!! Okay...maybe it's not such a new concept but after being in couponing for about a year now it's new to me. But I thought, this may be a good way to start out. Think about it maybe you get just 2 papers a week and want to stock up because a great deal is coming up...you just swap some coupons you aren't going to use anyway...and you get to stock up without having to buy more newspapers! There are places online that allow you to get together with other couponers and swap to your hearts content. And don't even forget that you can get together with other couponing friends and swap what you don't like too!

The second is Yard Sales!! Yes...this isn't new either! But how about online yard sales? There may be groups on Facebook for your area. There is for mine...it's one of my new favorite things to check during the day. You can search for things that you need as well as ask if someone is selling whatever you need and they find you. These tend to be a little better price than online ads.

Third, and last is Transferring Prescriptions!! Do you have an ongoing prescription? Why not cash out on it! Check the store that you already shop at, every so often they have specials that if you transfer a prescription they give you X amount to use in the store. Recently I transferred a prescription to the Smith's in my area and received $25 toward groceries. I paid the same amount for the prescription as I did the last time I filled it...so I wasn't out and extra money (I needed the prescription anyway) and I had $25 of FREE groceries...add that to coupons and I made out with a killer deal!

Make sure to always check out new and interesting ways to save money! Let us know if you have any tricks!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Let's Do This!

I went shopping this last Saturday. I was so excited with the purchase I made...I've been telling everyone about it. I wanted to share it with the world. I thought to start a blog so that I can share all my happy shopping moments. Here's my first trip for the blog...

First Store: Smith's

24 Boxes of Hamburger/Chicken Helper
6 Bags of Ruffles
1 Package of Sour Cream
Total Paid: $4.11

Second Store: Walmart

4 Packs of Pampers Diapers
15 Cans of Baby Formula
2 Packs (3 pack) of Ivory Soap
Baby Teething Toy
Oscar Mayer (almost 2 lbs) of ham
Ace Bandage (store brand - not pictured, it got used up before I got the picture taken)
Total Paid: $12.88

Third Store: Target

Carefree Liners
2 packs of Crayons (24 pack)
1 pack of glue sticks (2 sticks)
1 pack of pens (10 pens)
Total Paid: $0.06...That's right! 6 cents!!!

That was OVER $180 retail price for only $17.05. That's a savings of 90%!

Now...I'm not an extreme couponer, even though it may seem like it just from this shopping trip. But  that's the reason I wanted to start this blog. There are plenty of blogs for the extremists, this is for the "I have way too much to do to spend 40+ hours couponing" person. I wanted to break down where the cheap prices came from so I don't discourage someone when they don't get this big of results their first time out.

To start, at Smith's I had transferred a prescription so I received $25 toward groceries. So without transferring a prescription it would have been near $30. Which would have been about a 50% savings (which is usually my goal).

On to Walmart, when I was pregnant with my cute little baby I signed up for every mailer I could. I receive several $5 coupons a month (which have a long expiration time) and I went and used them all at once. Then add that to Walmart's AMAZING coupon policy, I was able to turn around and get paid (YES PAID) 53 cents for each formula can that I got. I had saved enough to have $75 in just those coupons. So just from the formula I made $8, which went towards the rest of my purchase. I also had a Walmart gift card we got as a baby gift (with $9.14 on it).

I hope that together we can so our accomplishments in couponing and inspire each other to keep it up. As well as inspire timid couponers to get into it.