Saving outside the grocery box

Good morning saving savvy friends

So often I post about savings at the grocery store, mainly because that is what I shop for most often and it is the largest budget item therefore has the most potential for savings.  Today, I am posting about savings outside the grocery store.

It is a good day.  This is being said AFTER shopping for a bathing suit.  Ugh... next to shopping for a new bra, bathing suit shopping is my least favorite thing to shop for.
There are a number of reasons. . . .

1) I have long body, it is hard to find a one piece that fits well, and I am WAY past the 2 piece stage.
2) you have to take everything off down to the skivvies
3) you usually have to try on so many before you find one that works
4) Modesty for full figures in my book is far from what the swimsuit designers have in mind
5) they are SO expensive
6) Lycra / spandex  is not flattering
7) 3 or 4 min in  poorly lit fitting room is FAR different than wearing it for 3 or 4 hours and in the water
8) you have to be 100% sure because they can not be returned in most cases. Stress! 

True to form, procrastination rules.... I knew I needed a suit, holidays are looming on the horizon, but I so did not want to go suit shopping (see above list). I am sure many of you can relate.  However, having a child in need of a suit is pretty good motivation, yesterday was the day.   

The Sears Clearance Center is my new best friend.  3 min from home, we pass it 5 out of 7 days a week, but we rarely stop there to shop.  Then when we do I think, hmm, I should look here more often. True to most clearance center type stores, it is large, has a TON of stock, no fancy displays,  and you often have to really HUNT for what you are looking for.   If you have time it can be fun to see what you find, but for some it would be frustrating, yesterday was fun.   

I found 4 suits I liked, tried them on and was successful.  3 of the 4 would have worked. I chose one, YIPPEE!!!!

It fits, and it sucks things in at all the right places, supports in all the right places and it is as flattering as a swimsuit can possibly be.  This is a very good thing!!!

Regular price 98.00  sale price 20.00  (Savings 78.00!) YES!!!!!! 

Bonus  1 pair of shorts for 10.00 regular price 49.98 ( 39.98 savings!)

Extra bonus = Christmas gifts.  4 CD's for 10.00 (2.50 each)  regular price 19.98 each (total savings 69.92) 

Total spent tax included  $44.80
Total savings   $214.90  (with tax that would have been 240.68) 

That was just MY savings, my daughter also purchased 2 suits & CD's and saved a bundle.

Now I can relax and know that I will not have to be looking for a swim suit.  Bring on holidays, I am ready!

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.

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 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

Save even more at VV

http://www.valuevillage.ca/Super-Savers-Club.aspx

Shopping at VV is already a great place to start saving, sign up for this super saver club and save an addtional 25% - for even more savings.

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!

10 things I will never pay full price for EVER

I'd like nothing better than to never pay full price for anything ever again. I know that this is not reality, I am however, committed to finding the best deal I can for the things my family needs.  Anyone who uses coupons, or considers themselves a bargain hunter will appreciate that. 

Since my girls were small we have always looked for used before new. Part of that was out of need, part of that was teaching them the value of a dollar, and the truth behind "one man's trash is another man's treasure."  We have truly found some treasures, often finding new, not just new to us, in the second hand stores. The best was the time we found a brand new pair of $60.00 gap jeans for $1.99.  That was just a week after seeing them at the mall and explaining to my soon to enter kindergarten daughter that paying $60.00 for a pair of jeans is insane for a 5 year old, that will out grow them in 6 months. 

Since starting on this coupon journey, my eyes have been opened to a whole new list of things that I will never pay full price for again, heck, even just a sale price is not good enough for this girl on these items.  Anyone who coupons has a list of things they will never again pull pay full price for. For me it is those things that literally either get flushed down the toilet, washed down the drain OR tossed in the trash.

10) Tooth paste
9)   Shampoo / Conditioner
8)   Deodorant
7)   Dish soap
6)   Any cleaning product
5)   Hair Colour
4)   Dental Floss
3)   Razors
2)   Shaving cream

And the # one item in this house I will never buy at full price.

1)   Feminine hygiene products (referred to in our house as girlie goodies)  with 4 females in the house I am sure you can all understand this. The savings are huge on that one item alone for our family.   

All of these items often have easily found coupons.  When you combine coupons and sale prices the savings truly add up and fast.  Knowing what the rock bottom price is on these will net you the best deal possible. 
If I can not get these items free or close to free I will not buy them unless the combined coupon / sale savings is over 60%.  That is just my personal challenge.  There are a few exceptions, the main thing being dire need.  I try never to be in dire need.  Having a small stash helps that along with an inventory list of what is on the shelves.  More on that later.

Here is a link to a coupon to help you save Expires June 2011. 

What do you like to save on?  I'd love to hear from you.

Happy savings to you all.

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!