I paid $2.08 OOP and received $4 in UPs. How? Well the deodorant was on sale for $3.99 at Rite Aid with $1 in UPs per purchase with a limit of 4. I rolled UPs from last week, I used 4 $2.50 coupons and a $5 UP and $2.08 to pay the total. I now have $4 in UPS to use next week.
Super Market Currency
"helping you make sense of cents off"
75% of all coupon users are people who fall into the $20,000-50,000 income bracket.
Click and Print your coupons NOW
Tuesday
Rolling UPs.......
Ok so this is why I make a list, and write down each transaction individually.
I was doing the buy $30 get $10, and low and behold I messed it up. The razor bundle was marked as being part of the deal, yet at the register it was $9.99 with a $4 UP. Well now I need to spend $14.97 to get the $10 UP, no problem, we need replacement blades. Pair that with the buy blades get a razor Q that is out this month.....I would love to score the $10 and another $4 for the free razor.
Anyways, the pads were $3.99, I had the $1Q for both and each printed a $2 UP. I actually have $4 in UPs from this transaction that I will use tomorrow to complete the above $30 for $10.
The body wash was 2/$8 with a $2Q and each printed a $2UP.
All in all, confusing as it seems I spent $42 including tax, I have $4 in UPs to start again. I should have had $32 out of pocket....but things don't always go as planned.
Oh and the pads have $5 in coupons in each box.
Monday
Friday
Every mom's friend......the crockpot
As a mom of four and our last bundle of joy on the way, time is definitely of the essense. I am always stretched for time, but never ingredients. I love my crockpot, especially on workdays, and school days, long days, short days, lol anyday!!
I know that crockpots aren't for everyone so I have something for you guys too! I love a good casserole, how about you?
Thursday
EBT and coupons, WIC vouchers
FYI funds on EBT rollover month to month and remain available for use up to 1 year after your case is closed.
Also use your EBT at Bi-Lo and earn fuel perks, and use WIC vouchers to earn fuel perks......the economy is hard on everyone. If you are receiving assistance, use it to get back on your feet.
Update: Jan 1-7, 2012
This week at Walgreens there is Register Rewards offer on page 3, if you purchase $20 in grocery items you will receive $5 in Register Rewards. You can stretch you budget by meeting the $20 threshhold and using coupons for the items purchased. After you have made the purchase using your EBT card, you will receive a $5 RR, this can be used on person products that your EBT card does not cover such as diapers, soap, paper goods.
Tomorrow is Mega SwagBucks!!!
Swagbucks are digital dollars that you can trade for gift cards to your favorite stores or sites. I use mine to purchase $5 on my paypal account or $5 on my Amazon.com account. Either way I buy my son's clairanet reeds or FREE, I have been doing so for the past two years, at $13 a box plus shipping.....that saves me a lot of money.
Click on this link, sign up and start earning digital dollars.....that turn into to real dollars!!!! ALL FOR FREE!
Stocking Stuffers
Hey folks, remember to get those free gift cards to use for stocking stuffers for nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and coworkers!
If you are eating lunch or dinner and there is a promotion to buy a GC and get a $5 or more GC for FREE! Why not buy the gift card when you put in your food order, pay for your food with the purchased GC and use the FREE money as a gift to someone on your list. $5 may not seem like a lot, but if you are only spending $10 on a co-worker this is half your gift!!
It has been a while.........
Well folks, for those of you that are still following, let me first say THANK YOU. I have had some things to take care of, and well, family has to be taken care of first.
I have missed blogging, I have missed teaching, and I look forward to getting back on track for 2012.
I will be teaching Saving Seminars the remainder of the year for $10/person, no price break for a hostess, sorry. It is never too late to start saving and with the holidays just around the corner I would say lets get started ASAP!!
You may email me for info on Seminars, or to schedule one with me here. I look forward to helping you keep your money in your pocket!
Interview on 13 WLOS tonight at 5pm
Well divas and dudes, times are hard, money is tight and Extreme Couponing has lit a fire that is burning out of control. In a surrounding county here in North Carolina, and I would imagine across the country, there is a wave of theft. Theft of what you ask, Sunday papers......yes Sunday papers directly from newspaper boxes. People are inserting their $1.50 or whatever their area may charge, and instead of reaching in and only taking one, they are taking off with the entire stack. Hmmmmm...I don't know what to say or think. I teach in my Saving Seminar that is a big time NO NO, it is a crime.
I of all people understand that times are hard, I have been unemployeed since April, but this is not acceptable. My mind immidiately goes to the financial side of this crime.......are you stealing to clip and save yourself money, or to sell them on a clipping site????? Either way, this is hurting everyone, let me explain how.
Here in Asheville we have only had our coupons back for two weeks, what happened you ask. Well, the insert publishers, Smart Source, Red Plum, etc reserve the right to pull the inserts from the newstands boxes. This means that only home delivery will have coupon inserts.......well I buy from local discount stores that sell our Sunday paper for $1 instead of the box price of $1.50. I told you I don't pay full price for anything.....but I DO NOT steal papers no matter what the situation. Back to the point, the inserts were pulled for about three weeks, and I was forced to either loose out on the savings or order them from a clipping service. The point of the story, I believe they were pulled due to theft. I am so overjoyed that the inserts have returned to the newstand, but if the theft continues I anticipate their absence again.
Please, please, please if you are gulity of reaching in and taking more than you paid for, STOP. If you are in need of the coupons, please ask a convience store, grocery store, etc if you could pick up the Sunday paper on Monday for free or a discounted price. Most often times the store only has to turn in the top page or so of the paper to get credit for those not sold. You can also stop by the recycle bins in your area, there are a lot of couponers that pick up their inserts there. You may not be one for dumpster diving, but it sure beats wearing that orange jumpsuit because you were caught stealing papers.
Wednesday
Sunday
There is a coupon for everything, if you pay attention.
You can use this $5 off coupon in conjunction with othe manufacturer coupons. If you don't pay full price for you food, why should you pay for the dog's??
The best deals are sometimes unscripted......
I found these goodies on the clearance aisle of my local Dollar General. They may not seem like deals to you, but when I stacked my coupons with these prices it was a great combination!
The $5 Fusion razors were stacked with $4 coupons, the Venus was stacked with $2 coupons. I made out with a nice little stockpile for under $7.
Another good turn out at Bi-Lo
All of this for under $32! So when do you want to schedule your Saving Seminar?
Email me today supermarketcurrency@gmail.com
Saturday
The best deals are sometimes unscripted......
I found these goodies on the clearance aisle of my local Dollar General. They may not seem like deals to you, but when I stacked my coupons with these prices it was a great combination!
The $5 Fusion razors were stacked with $4 coupons, the Venus was stacked with $2 coupons. I made out with a nice little stockpile for under $7.
Recession, Budget, EBT
I have always had hands go up in class, can you use coupons with EBT???? The answer of course is yes. However in some areas the customer is required to pay tax on the coupons, so you may have to pay a few cents on the total bill.
I would love to do Saving Seminars with local Social Service groups, if anyone has that contact please pass my information on to them. I would love to help those that need help, we all need help at some point in our lives. I would rather teach a man to fish than feed him for a day.......
Super Bowl doesn't interest me.......
Wednesday
Bi-Lo Deals
Finally made it to HT yesterday $29, liver & wheat germ full price
Monday
I need more followers
Hello divas and dudes! I know you guys are out there, I can tell by my page views. However, the big companies that donate all those great prize packs on other sites, they don't know. In order for my site to offer those giveaways I must show the followers, I must prove the clicks, and right now I have 31 followers. I need comments, if you like the post, leave a comment. If you have a question, then leave it in the comment box. I know you guys are out there, I know you log on and read the post, but I just can't prove it. Help me to continue to help you by providing great info, show your support. Follow the blog, ask questions, leave comments, the future of the site depends on it.
Saving....thinking outside the cereal box
I promise.....do UPromise?
Have you seen the Upromise logo on coupons? In sales ads? Are you award of the program?
Upromise is a free service that helps you to save money for your kids college, your continued education, or whatever you so choose. You are rewarded cash back, the money rewarded is a portion of the eligible purchase from the participating partners of Upromise. Or by loading monthly Upromise coupons onto your loyalty cards, these coupons are available on the website. You will not receive the value of the coupon off the purchase, however if you make the purchase, you will have the value deposited into your Upromise account.
As a couponer I do not pass up an opportunity to receive FREE money. Upromise is a program that offers cash incentive for qualifying purchases. You do not have to go out of your way, bend over backwards, or stand on your head. You simply purchase normal everyday things and receive cash back, normally 1-3%. That may not seem like a lot, but, it is more than you are receiving now.
The money you get comes from:
■700+ online stores (such as BestBuy.com, eBay.com, Expedia.com, Apple Store)
■Nearly 8,500 restaurants
■21,000+ grocery and drug stores
■Other companies (like Avis, Century 21®, ExxonMobil)
Of course you will need to click on the above banner, have your debit, paypal (remember that you receive 1% cash back on these purchases as well), or credit card (discover offers cash back) handy, along with your keyring or loyalty cards. The sign up process takes about 20 minutes or so, but is well worth it.
The site is secure, and you will need your payment information so that when you use the cards registered you will receive credit.
I have copied and pasted the info directly from the Frequently Asked Question Section, so that you will know exactly why you are asked to register a CC, and why it is beneficial to you.
What does "registered credit card" or "a card you've registered with Upromise" mean?
A "registered credit card" or "a card you've registered with Upromise" both refer to the same thing: any credit or debit (with a Visa/MC logo) card that you already have and that you have registered in your Upromise account. Whenever you make a purchase with one of these cards at an online retailer who requires use of a "registered card," we can track your purchase and automatically apply your savings to your Upromise account. account. Click here to see the list of online retailers who require use of a registered card. Click here to register a credit or debit card.
I paid with a debit card that I've registered with Upromise, but my college contributions never posted and it's been more than 45 days since the transaction. What happened?
It is important that you remember to always use your debit card as a credit card when making a purchase with an In-Store or Catalog Retailer. Your card must have the Visa/MasterCard logo on it, and when given the option of entering your pin, or signing for the transaction, you must always sign for the purchase. This enables us to track your purchase as a credit card purchase, and we are then able to give you your college contribution.
Do I need to use a registered credit or debit card when I shop with a participating online retailer?
With the majority of our 550+ online retailers, all you need to do is begin your shopping at Upromise.com/shop, click through from a Upromise email, or download the Upromise TurboSaver. You can use any method of payment (some restrictions may apply) and we will automatically track your purchases. However, some retailers may ask you to complete your online purchase with a credit or debit card that is registered in your Upromise account. To learn more about who these retailers are and how to shop with them, please visit the In-Store and Catalog Retailers page.
Can I shop directly at a retailer's website using my registered credit or debit card and still earn college savings?
In most cases, no. For example, Target.com is one of our online-only partners. If you go directly to Target.com and complete your purchase with a registered card, you will not get your savings. To get your savings, you MUST start at Upromise.com and click through to the Target.com site, click through from a Upromise email or download the Upromise TurboSaver.
In general, to ensure that you get your college savings, we recommend that you always start your online shopping at Upromise.com or download the Upromise TurboSaver. With most of our online retailers, we do not track your purchases through your registered credit or debit cards but through your log-in.
However, there are a few online retailers who allow you to shop directly on their site without having to start at Upromise.com. To learn more about these retailers, please visit our In-Store and Catalog Retailers page.
Can I get college savings when I shop with an In-Store or Catalog Retailer and pay with a virtual credit card?
Now offered by several credit card issuers, virtual credit cards are single-use cards which help protect against fraud because they carry a unique code that expires within a short period of time.
You can use a virtual credit card to pay for your purchase and get your college savings when shopping with the majority of our online retailers. However, you will not get your college savings if you use a virtual credit card with an In-Store or Catalog Retailer who requires you to use a credit or debit card that you've registered with Upromise. This is because we cannot match the virtual credit card with your registered card to give you your college savings.
To find which online retailers do NOT accept virtual credit cards as a valid method of payment, please check the terms and conditions for companies that do not accept randomly generated, one-time-use account numbers.
Never a wasted trip to Wags (Walgreens)
As a coupon diva or dude you are probably familiar with the wasted trip, when you finally make it to the store only to find that the product is out of stock. Well, our wonderful Wags has made it a little easier for us. Just because we get gas at $1 per gallon with fuel perks does not mean that we want to run all over town trying to find the RR products.
Now you can go to the Wags website, http://www.walgreens.com/ and look to the top right hand side of the screen. You will see a red search box, there you type in the name of the product that you want to purchase. After clicking Go the results will appear on the screen, to the right of the product image is the product availability. You can either order online or purchase at the store, we of course want the in store purchase in order to get the RR. Click on find a store, a box will pop up and ask for the zip code, all stores in the area will be listed. Included in that list will be the option to contact the store, or a green check mark letting you know that product is indeed in stock.
Now, another option, if you have establishes a good rapport with the cashiers and managers you may ask for a special order. If there is an item that you wish to stock up on, or donate, please ask the manager if it is possible to place a special order. That way you are not constantly clearing the shelves and preventing others from sharing in the deal. We should all play nicely with others, and share.
FSA Accounts
As we welcomed 2011 with open arms, some of us may have wanted to shut the door on new FSA account guidelines. This is not a political post, but what could be a solution.
On New Years Eve I was online, as a mom of four where else would I be, and I noticed a friends status. He had $200 left in his FSA account, it was 9pm and he was on his way to Walgreens. I kind of giggled and quickly commented on his status, because Day-Quil was the RR for the week, to do separate transactions in order to carry that money over to the new year.
There were several other responses posted, but I do not think that anyone knew what I meant. Well let me explain now so that you, my readers, will not find yourself in this bind.
As many of you know, Walgreens offers what we call RR or Register Rewards. These are manufacturer coupons issued at the end of a qualifying purchase. If Day-Quil is on sale 2/$10 and the RR is $5 on a $10 purchase. (We of course know that you would use a coupon on the purchase, and still meet your $10 threshhole in order to get the RR.) You would want to pay with your FSA account Visa or MasterCard, or whatever payment method you may use. Whether your account manager will view the purchase as $10 or the after coupon total, your concern would be the RR that can then be used on most anything in the store.
The purpose of the comment, if the friend had used the $200 in his account to purchase OTC's that offered a RR, he could have easily made that a profitable night. Not only would he have taken home enough medicines to stock his medicine cabinet, but at least $100 in RR's to use on other things or to finance future trips to Walgreens.
If you did this every time that you needed an OTC medicine, think of the possibilities. You could use the RR to fund Christmas. (Just remember that you always need one more item than manufacturer coupon so the register doesn't beep)
Another option, some local grocery stores or super centers that accept competitors coupons will accept the RR's. Think of how those pretax dollars could not only buy your medicines, but fund your grocery trips too.
Friday
Saturday Jan 8th, 2011 @8am
I apologize for the last minute, extreme last minute announcement. Tomorrow morning you can hear me on http://www.wwnc.com/ or 570AM, the show is hosted by Leah McGrath the Ingles Dietitian. I will be speaking with her about.....of course #supermarketsavings!!
In case you miss it, and you may, a podcast should be available in the near future. I will definitely keep you posted.
UPDATE: sorry folks I was bumped.......will keep you posted.
Are you doing Super Doubles??
Thursday
This touches my heart.......
This is a statement from a new Diva, and it truly touched my heart. I smiled when I read it, as a comment on Facebook. I am so happy to know the information I teach in the Saving Seminar is able to change someones financial position.
I teach how to save money in the supermarket, in the mall, on the Internet, as well as at the gas pump. This statement alone should eliminate all rebuttals to the $25 Saving Seminar fee. I am constantly asked "Why should I pay you $25 to show me how to clip coupons?" I would never charge anyone to show them how to clip coupons, however I do charge a small fee to show you how to effectively use coupons. On average, every person that has taken a seminar has saved at least $40 on their first shopping trip. The $25 is not fee, think of it as an investment. An investment in your future, your kids future, and your families financial well being.
We have all made investments, some paid off and some did not. This is an investment that you control, and one that will always be profitable. Depending on your level of commitment, not continued financing, you determine how much of your money you will keep in your pocket. If you are ready to make the commitment and invest in yourself, schedule your Saving Seminar today. email me at supermarketcurrency@hotmail
Tuesday
Saturday
Diaper caker....small $20 choose your colors.
Friday
Thursday
Wednesday
Cooking from your stockpile
As you stock your shelves with normal staples and of course those great deals that you stumble upon. There will come a time when you must purge your cupboards and fridge.
I am at that time, I will be purging until the new year. What exactly does that mean? I am not buying anything else, with the exception of milk, bread, and eggs. I wouldn't buy those if I had a deep freezer, but my limited space does not allow it.
The purpose of this purge is to clear the shelves before things reach their expiration date. I normally stock the shelves and rotate all products, however Elizabeth sometimes helps with putting away the groceries. You could also purge by donating to your local food banks, and shelters. The first step is to take an inventory of all food on hand.You will need this inventory in order to make a meal plan for the selected purge time. If you decide to purge for two weeks you will need to decide how many meals you will prepare during that time,be it fourteen or twenty-one. Be creative and try to only use the ingredients on hand, this should include fresh, frozen and dry goods.
I always end up with tons of free yogurt, so I layer fresh granola and to make parfaits. I am stocked on Green Giant antioxidants steamers, I will incorporate them into stir fry. In order to stretch the meat reserve I will have several meatless dinners or hearty soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. If you are more mindful of waste, you will stretch your grocery budget even farther. On Monday I made orange thyme chicken for lunch. I had picked up a ten dollar roaster chicken for six bucks and I was determined to stretch it as far as possible. On Tuesday we had chicken salad sandwiches and on Wednesday chicken noodle soup. not only did I used the meat on hand, but condiments and fresh veggies.
Tonight I was really creative, we had brown sugar ham, fried okra and corn on the cob with a choice of cherry yum yum or cranberry-pineapple minis for dessert. Now you may say, that isn't creative that is just plain Delicious lol. Let me explain, the brown sugar ham was in fact Oscar Meyer Deli Fresh sandwich meat that had been marked down plus a coupon. Of course I grabbed six or so packages and they are on my inventory list, so they must be used.
If you find yourself with an abundance of eggs, think outside the box. Don't just scramble them make a quiche, or egg salad......yum!
You will learn several things during your purge, you will learn what you actually use and what you like to see in your cupboard. The difference is obvious, if you actually use something you will run low immediately. If you have developed a habit of picking something up just because you can get it dirt cheap or free, you will have an abundance.
Enjoy your time, create new shopping list, reorganize your storage area, and plan your next shopping trip it may be a big one!
Free Magazine Subscriptions
In spite of our digital age, I still like to lay on the couch, or sit on the deck and read a good magazine. I am sure that all of you know just how costly magazine subscriptions are now. At this current time I have a two year subscription to Money, Entrepreneur, Essence, Jet, Ebony, Refund Cents, All*You, Humpty Dumpty, Leggo, and I am sure that I missed at least two others. I paid $2 for the subscriptions to everything with the exception of Refund Cents, All*You, and Humpty Dumpty. The Leggo is free, oh how could I forget my Good Housekeeping and Website Magazine that is also free. Oh an MortorTrend for Jared, I think I ended up paying about $3 for a years subscription after my cash back from ebates.
I was able to get the two year subscription by completing an online survey, I believe it was on a survey offered through swagbucks. I was able to choose up to four different magazines out of a list of about thirty, all genres represented. I of course wanted to get more bang for my buck, and choose the higher priced, and longer subscriptions.
If you drink Coke products, you should really collect the myrewardpoints. They come in really handy, and why not use them to pay for your magazine subscriptions. As of today, these are the magazines subscriptions that are available through mycokerewards.com
- O The Oprah magazine
- Bon Appetit
- Martha Stewart Living
- Esquire
- House Beautiful
- Smart Money
- Whole Living
- Gold Digest
- Conde Nast Traveler
- Details
- Town and Country
- Veranda
- Better Homes and Gardens
Monday
Urban Decay Make-Up for $2!!!!
OK so when I told you divas and dudes that I don't pay retail, I think you thought that I was kidding. Well, I don't pay full price, bottom line.
I found a great sale, thanks to a link on refundcents, and I will give you a link to that later. The sale, on Urban Decay make-up. This stuff retails for $22 per item.....Oh my!!
Well you have the chance to grab this stuff for $2!! You will need to grab it fast, it is selling pretty quickly, infact half of the inventory was sold out when I logged on tonight.
Take a look at the products and then click here, you will need to click on the Beauty tab, then on Urban Decay. The items will only remain in your cart for 15 minutes due to a low inventory. So pick and choose wisely and move quickly, if you take longer than 15 minutes, the items will be returned to stock.
Friday
CathACharacter for FREE! My gift to you......
What if you could stay up all night and catch Santa Claus in the act? Well now you can....
Tuesday
Yoplait Coupon.....thanks BlogSpark
If you are new or old to couponing, you know that one of your free items will always be yogurt. Well Yoplait has kicked off a national campaign called #YoplaitLightTWTU, yoplait light two week tune up. The details can be found on yoplait.com and the idea is to loose five pounds in two weeks.
If you replace your breakfast and lunch with yoplait light yogurt, a grain and fruit and exercise regularly you will loose five pounds. Yoplait has thirty-three light flavors. so surely you can find one that you like. I invite you to take the challenge and leave comments below, telling of your progress. I am offering a years subscription to Fitness Magezine to the reader that updates their status with their two week tune up.
Hey divas and dudes, thanks to General Mills via BlogSpark I am please to offer this coupon for Youplait yogurt. Print it while you can!
Monday
This could be yours......
If you would like to win this great prize pack offered by General Mills via BlogSpark, please click on the Contest page above.
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Thursday
Asheville. NC :: Special Reports - The Coupon Diva
Have you printed you coupons from the above tool bar? Joined swagbucks, how about ebates, scheduled your Saving Seminar???
Purchase your Groupon with Swagbucks
I ran in Ingles for spices, and happened to walk past the meat case. Always check for great deals on meat!
$60=4 drummettes, 2 wings, 4 skinless boneless breast, 4 ground beef, 3boneless pork chops 7 high priced McCormick spices!
I had planned on stopping by Ingles early this morning to pick up a few spices that I needed, not for today but just to have in my arsenal. Of course I slept later than I had planned, just because I dreaded running in the store, even for a few spices on a holiday. You can imagine the crowd of last minute shoppers, and the long lines, and limited number of cashiers. I walked past the carts and didn't even glance at the baskets, why would I need those, I can carry spices. Yeah right, I was on the phone with Jared and decided to run back to the meat counter to see if anything caught my eye. Well it did! There were $8 packs of boneless pork chops marked down to $4, there were $9 packs of boneless skinless chicken breast marked down to $3! I quickly walked to the front of the store and grabbed a basket, dumped the spices and headed back to pick up my new found treasure. I grabbed what I could carry, remember the initial trip was to pick up spices, and headed for the counter. Being that it is Thanksgiving, of course the store was packed with people grabbing last minute items. That was my reason for being there, to grab a few spices that were on sale 2/$4. As you see in the photo there are 7 McCormick spices shown, however only two were 2/$4. Bummer, but hey, the others were on sale for under $3.50 and that was a pretty good deal. I picked up Pumpkin Pie spice, Ground Allspice, Ground Sage (2) Ground Nutmeg (2) and Ground Ginger. I think that I did very well for an impromptu shopping trip.
The moral of the story, always check your big ticket items, you never know what could be marked down. I would hate for you to miss a deal, just because you didn't look. Every store has it's own schedule as to when it marks down meat and produce. I know that my store marks meats down on Sunday and Thursday, with it being a holiday I completely forgot that it was Thursday. I am so glad that I took a few extra minutes to save lots of money and stock my freezer!
Tuesday
Monday
FREE $10 Restaurant.com gift card
How would you like to give $10 everyday, up to fourty different people per day until the end of the year? Well it is possible if you click here.
Choose a way to send gifts to your family and friends. You can give via Facebook, import your contacts from Gmail, Yahoo!, or enter email addresses manually. You can give up to 40 different people every day until December 31st. Remember, you can only give one gift to each person throughout the program. The gifts will be delivered to your recipient via email or posted on their