Why re-invent the wheel.

There are tons of great websites that list daily deals, current coupons and facebook offers.  It would be silly to take the time just for the sake making it 'mine' to re-invent the wheel.  So here today I am giving kudos to the sites I frequent that list many great deals and who I think do an amazing job at keeping the Canadian world of deal seekers up to date and in the know.   THANK YOU.

http://www.smartcanucks.ca/
http://www.simplyfurgal.ca/
www.mrsjanuary.com

These are my three favorites - these are the ones I try to check daily.  Each of them is chalk full of great information for our Canadian couponing, deal seeking, shopping market.  I would highly recommend marking them as "favourites" so you can do the same.

Happy Saving!

Coming soon, frugal summer ideas

I am not going to lie

These are my favourite kind of coupons to get. (valid to June 20, 2011) And use, I will not buy feminine hygiene products (a.k.a. girlie goodies in our house) with out a coupon - and it is one item I will always have stockpiled.  It is also a product that is easily "planned ahead for"  if you have pre-teen girls in your house, get a jump start on a stock pile.  You will be glad you did.


Image source:  Ubykotex.com

 Free samples are even better.  The sample pack is just perfect for the glove compartment in the car.   It certainly does not hurt to have a back up plan. ( Just for the record, this is one sample I do not send to my husband at work)

With 4 females in the house, there is no surprise there.  Saving even a small amount per box adds up.   I am thankful for the ability to stack at London Drugs (and now hopefully Save on Foods- I just have not tried it there yet!).  That pretty much translates FREE or next to free girlie goodies for this house. 

Potential savings per year: 
1.50 per box - if we go through 4 boxes per month (assorted varieties)  4 x 1.50 = 6 x 12 = 72.00.

Mail fun....

This is just a photo sampling of what came in the mail this week.

The Swedish Fish were a Facebook "Like" offer -Maynards Canada' page where I had to play a little game. You will have to have a Facebook account to play/ like the page. Value 1.99 plus the 1.00 off coupon.  I have received free cereal, hair dye, shampoo, frozen meals & lots of coupons through Facebook offers. 

The Gillette from P&G Brandsaver.  Sample packs are offered 2 or 3 times a year.  Value over $10.00

 

The mega stack of coupons - Well over $250 value was "payment" for filling out the randomly delivered Shoppers Voice .  These come in the mail.  It takes about 20 min to fill out, postage is covered for the return , I do it while Royd is driving or while waiting at doctors appointments or for the girls to come out of school.  The coupons received are geared to the way I answered my survey, so they are products that I would use OR they think I might like to try based on my answers. 

*Note:  I just noticed that there is also an online version of the Shoppers Voice survey.   If you like getting coupons, and do not mind filling out surveys, this might be right up your alley.  Good luck.

The other thing that came in the mail this week was the 2011 Canadian Census - we got "randomly selected" to do the LONG form this year.  35 min later - people will know who we are, what we did, ya da, ya da, ya da.. in  92 years.  Being a bit of a hobby genealogist this is sort of cool to think about. 

Where do you find your coupons?????

Is probably the question I get asked most often when discussing couponing. 

The second FAQ is do you think it is REALLY worth it.. I mean, .50 here and there does it really make a difference.  The answer to the second question is a resounding YES!  My year to date savings is up over 700.00 in coupon savings only.  Add to that $75.00 in gift cards received simply for shopping, points collected on a variety of cards, it is certainly worth it to us.  So back to the first question... where do I get my coupons. 

Many of you know of sites like Smart Canucks, an all inclusive informative resource site that is worth checking you.  Websaver, save.ca and Proctor and gamble are all personal favorites that will mail you coupons on request.   However the grocery store is the one place that I am always keeping my eyes open because you just never know where you will find a great coupon that can actually make you some money.

 

I saw this my last trip to the store.  Do I need Iced tea right now... no, BUT it is something that we will go through by the gallons when the weather turns, AND I had a $1.00 coupon that will expire at the end of May.
So despite the fact that it was not on sale (5.97), because it had $10.00 in coupons on it for frozen pizza I decided to pick it up during this trip. 
1) frozen pizza is something I like to have on hand in the freezer at all times.
2) I have learned that products with coupons such as these are a buy now or never see again (sort of like shopping at Winners or the thrift stores)
$5.97 less the $1.00 coupon = $4.97  Is not a bad price.



When I use all the coupons (which is a pretty sure bet in this house as this is one of the favourite pizza brands) I will have made $5.03 AND the Ice tea will have been free.   For me and my family this was a $5.00 no brainer (I actually bought 2 because I had 2 $1.00 off coupons).  Make sure you keep your eyes open when you are shopping, coupons are lurking in all sorts of places besides the obvious tear pads that often line the shelves. 

Remember however it is only a true deal if the product purchased and the products featured on the product ARE products your family will use.

Happy Hunting!

Cereal obsession part 3 = FREE

Free cereal coupon follow link below to have your free cereal coupon mailed to you.  Please note that it is valid for one day only  June 21st, 2011 - So mark your calendar so you will not forget. 
If you do not have a websaver account you will need to take a minute to sign up - the minute will be worth it once you see all the coupon potential at this site.

https://www.websaver.ca/en_ca/portal/cheerios/?source=gm_email&RNLUserUID=D323924D-A192-4980-A786-AC58A3EC2A52

Cereal obsession part 2

Coupons redeemed....

4l Ice cream on sale for $4.99 (regular $6.49)  FREE with coupons from cereal bought last month (total savings $12.98)

4 boxes Eggo waffles (regular $2.49) FREE with coupons from cereal bought last month (savings $9.96)

Grand total $22.94

Nightmares of a coupon disaster....

 Seriously could it get any worse? 

This is what happened, Saturday morning, just before I was heading out to meet up with some Smart Canucks to do some  trading... I walked by my open binder too quickly, and well, the photo pretty much tells the story.  100's of coupons on the floor.. they were organized, ready to trade and go shopping. UGH welcome to my nightmare!  I had to get them picked up and organized before I went - sigh, this could take hours.  I did not have hours so I devised a quick plan to make due until I had the time to get it all together properly.  It looked like this... 

     

To add insult to injury, sorry no camera for this one, when I was shopping, I dropped all my coupons there too. The ones I was planning on using, the ones I had filed just tin case I found a rocking deal, the ones I chose to pass on 'till next time. Crazy pile of mixed up coupons splayed on the floor yet again.  What a day! I am sure you can use your imagination.....slightly smaller explosion than the display above, but a mess just the same.  At home there was only my family to laugh and roll their eyes, at the store, people were stepping over me, giving me dirty looks, laughing (oh wait that was my daughter) and with the air current in the store they travelled a whole lot further than they did at home.  There I was in the middle of RCSS picking up & re-organizing... Ohi,  glad there were no hidden cameras! It was not my day. 

I think I need a better system.  I am going to have to put on the creative thinking cap on for this one. At least I do not think I lost any under the freezers or produce displays - That might have actually made me cry.

I did manage to pull it together and have a great shopping experience, got some great deals and had 0 hastles at the check out. Thanks to the amazing Carly, my cashier at RCSS -Westwood a painless and actually FUN time checking out.  Looking forward to the 90.00 in gift cards that will be coming our family's way.  Do not freak on me, I will be having the MIR's sent to 3 different addresses, home, mom & mil's (neither of who coupon or care to do the MIR's and are happy to help) so it's all good.  Life is good... Shhh do not tell, but I am saving the gift cards I am collecting to buy (get for free) an new TV for my hubby for Christmas... Should be no problem with deals like this.  ($50.00 already in hand, $90.00 on the way)  Working towards a "FREE" Christmas!

Cereal obsessed...

We eat a fair bit of cereal in our house, both my kids and husband are happy when there are sugar coated varieties in the mix.  I am happy to buy it when there are coupons on the box.  This is a very common site in our cupboards when it comes to cereal, boxes with 1/2 the back cut out.  There are currently 8 boxes at the present time in this condition.  The best part is I have coupons for FREE Eggo's ready to pick up when I have a little more room in my freezer.   Both make me smile.

Kellogs is running a great promotion right now on specially marked boxes of cereal.  Free, Eggo Waffles, Minute Maid Juice, Banana's, Yogurt, or Tasters Choice coffee when you buy specially marked boxes of cereal.  I found my boxes at the Real Canadian Super Store (Lougheed & Schoolhouse) on Sunday afternoon.  There were LOTS, but I suspect that they will be scooped up quickly. Sale price on cereal runs through to close on Thursday.

This is how I worked this deal.  

6 boxes @ 2.97 =17.82 Less $6.00 for coupons ( found in store, save 3$ when you buy 3)

Total paid 11.82 (1.97 per box) Regular price is around 5.00 per box

Total savings 61% 

Add to that the 6 FREE coupons for waffles a $17.94 value

Total out of pocket 11.82 for 47.94 regular priced items.

Grand total savings 75% 

Which is $36.12 still in my pocket! (which is 3 x the amount out of pocket - I like doing math like that!)

New coupons out today....

Just a very quick post today.  One of my favorite coupon sites has new offerings today. 
P&G (Procter & Gamble) Everyday solutions has new coupons out today to order. 
https://www.brandsaver.ca/en_ca/coupons/  follow the link if you have not already set up an account with them do that then order away.  New coupons are offered about every 3months here.

Watch this weekend as their glossy coupons should be coming out in the papers as well. 

Do not forget, watch the sales circulars, match the coupon with a sale price to get the best deals.

These are my favorite to stack at London drugs....  I foresee much happy shopping in my future!

Have fun!

N.F.F.F

No Frills Friday Fun

I LOVE No Frills -  If you are not familiar with No Frills - it is a relatively new grocery store in our area (well in Coquitlam - which is 14 min down the road for me) and it lives up to it's name.  No Frills - no fancy displays, no fancy lighting, no in store bakery or butcher (those things are EXPENSIVE to operate) what it lacks in those fancy things it makes up for in deals!  They are a member of the Loblaw family (as is Extra foods & Real Canadian Super Store) so they are no stranger to the grocery shopper and the grocery shopper who loves to get value and quality without the high price. Every week, there are new deals to be had.  I do not get the flyer delivered to my home so Thursday night at midnight it is No Frills flyer check time I check out their current flyer and start making a list.  Then I go check my coupons and double check my list.

 Just a F.Y.I. side note; Flyer Land is an awesome place to be able to see all those fliers that you do not get to your door.

I especially love the No Frills sale this week. 
It's their $1, $2, & $3 sale!  ( I like easy math )
I was hoping that cake mix would be on as we are running low, sadly it is not but there were other great sales to take advantage of. 

Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice  950 ml $1  or FREE with coupon printed from here
http://www.oceanspray.ca/coupon.aspx?id=2331

Select zip lock bags $2 each or get 2 FREE with the coupon printed  from here
http://rightathome.ca/default.aspx?sC=1   Note: you will need to take a moment to register at this site,  then follow the link in the upper right hand corner of the home page then you can print the coupon.

Seasoned boneless skinless chicken breasts $2 lb.  These are frozen and in small packages which is great, no having to break up a big block of frozen chicken to get a meal sized portion.

Those are the items that caught my eye.  Though I did not end up buying the juice as I had forgotten my coupon at home on the printer.. sigh I really should have double checked that thing in the morning. 

Here is a quick rundown of my purchase

Milk  1 x 4L, (1 x 1L not in pic as it was for my mom)

3 pkgs chicken breast (each around 3.50 per pkg)

6 boxes assorted zip lock bags (coupons used = FREE)

1 loaf of bread

2 lean cuisine (1 for us 1 for my mom to try - if we like it will be buying more)

1 package frozen cubes

HST     1.44

Total   24.36

Less $20.00  (gift card received in mail a couple of weeks ago for a Proctor and Gamble mail in rebate)

Total out of pocket $4.36 -  Yippee!

Which was covered with the $5.00 my mom gave me to pick up milk for her. 

MY PERSONAL OPP....0 Dollars and 00 Cents. 

Total coupon savings this order $12.00!

Free Groceries make my day!

20 Dollars CAN get you all this.....

Acctually    $18.93 to be exact.

With  $8.02  of that being tax.

Regular price total would have come in at $85.83

                     (0% savings)

Sale price total with out coupons would have been $75.89

                     (a 12% savings)

With a coupon savings of  $56.96

                     (a 78% savings)

I'd say that is not too shabby.  All in a days fun!

B.C. Braces for hikes in food prices....

Yikes!  That was the headline on the front page of yesterday's Province  newspaper. Does that worry you?  It worries me just a little, however it is not as scary as it would have sounded this time last year.  What is the difference?  Coupons baby!  Yes I mean those save .50 off here and .25 off there, or the awesome BOGO (buy one get one) or even better the sought after FPC (free product coupon), that you see in stores, come in the local papers or even in the mail!  Coupons, it's all about the coupons!  These often neglected,  and frequently tossed in the trash little bits of cash in your pocket goodness.  Tossing them in the trash is insanity. Would you toss a quarter in the garbage?  I think not.

So how do you make those .50 & .25 cent savings add up?

It is actually quite simple -  USE them!  You will be surprised at how quickly they can add up. 

Use in combination with products already on sale. 

Stock up when items are on sale - having a stock pile to pull from can save big time. 

Be willing to wait so you can get the best deal.

Always shop with a list, mark items you have coupons for on your list so you do not forget to use them.

Be organized - keep all your coupons in one place, and attach them to your list as you shop.  (a good paper clip will be your best friend)

Keep your eyes opened when shopping, coupons are often available on store shelves. Take them when you see them on the shelves at the store.  You man not need the product now, but sometime before they expire you may, and likely the coupons will be gone next time you are at the store.

Know the coupon policy of the stores you shop at.  They do vary from store to store.
 
A little planning and smart shopping will easily save you that 5 - 7%, in many cases you will save even more.  My personal goal is 30%, coupon & sale savings.  I working towards shaving our grocery bill from 700+ dollars per month to around $500.  It will not happen over night, but it is slowly happening and that is a good thing. 
5 - 7 % increase though not the best thing it simply sounds to me like the perfect time to kick up the coupon use.   Happy savings.

Next up: See how far you can stretch $20.00.