Smashing Coupon Myths!

I got my start to couponing by finding a group called Coupon Newbies on the website BabyCenter. The group is headed up by Lindsey and she has a blog called Simple 2 Save. Last week on her blog she smashed 5 couponing myths! These are really good and I encourage everyone to read them!

Myth 1-Deals with buying generic
Myth 2-Couponing takes too much time
Myth 3 Finding coupons for items you need
Myth 4 Coupons are only for JUNK
Myth 5 Buying a paper for just coupons is not worth it

Do you believe some of these myths?  I admit I used to fall into the Myth 1 category, but then I started using coupons! We still use generic for some things, but most of the time it's name brand products!

Don't be afraid to ask!

Sometimes your total at checkout will not be what you thought it should have been.  There are a few ways, you can go about this problem.  One would be to just let it go and stew over it. I have done this route before and usually I will get over it...eventually! Another thing is to take your receipt, go off to the side and examine it.  This is usually my preferred way to go since I am not holding anyone else in line up, and I can get my thoughts together.  I know the rules for my coupon usage, the store's policies and I am not afraid to ask questions while standing my ground when I know I am correct.  If looking at my receipt I can figure out what happened I will go to customer service, or get back at the end of the line depending on which store. Usually I will start off sugar sweet and explain to them what happened and ask if there is anything they can do about it.  If this doesn't work, then I bring out my assertive side.  Usually I am pretty timid, but when it comes to coupons I can lay down the law! After all we are talking about money out my family's pocket!

This weekend at Giant Eagle several of my e-offers did not come off.  I looked at my receipt and figured out which ones.  At customer service, I explained to the girl my e-offers didn't come off but I bought the correct items and loaded them the day before (you're supposed to load e-offers at least 3 hours before shopping). The girl admitted she was unfamilar with the program, but took my receipt and Advantage Card and called Customer Service.  The lady at Customer Service pulled up my account and checked to see if the e-offers I had loaded were on there, while the girl in the store checked my receipt.  Of the 3 e-offers I went to them about they agreed with me on 2. Since they were so nice and helpful I just went on my way and didn't worry too much about the additional 0.50....but I am pretty sure it's on my card! They handed me $1.60 in cash and then asked me for a quick lesson on e-offers! I got the girl at Customer Service hooked and she is now going to try and use them with her manufacturer's coupons! (I secretly wished I had blog business cards!)

I could have walked away and not worried about the $2.10 that wasn't taken off my original total, but I asked because I know it would have bugged me all day long. After I received my $1.60 back my total for 53 items was about $50 and some change!

So remember, don't be afraid to ask questions and stick your ground!

Buy One Get One Free Airwick Aerosol!

Did you know when a store is having a BOGO sale and you have a BOGO coupon you get 2 items for FREE?  So check your Smartsource that came in today's paper for the Airwick Aerosol BOGO coupon and head to Rite Aid!

Just a note that this is why you should save all coupons! I don't really buy spray air fresheners, but for free I will definitely get them! 

Thanks For The Mommas

12 Followers, yay!

LOL, I know I shouldn't be so stoked over 12 followers when many blogs have millions, but I am!  Thank you to everyone who is following me, made a positive comment to me, and supported me! I am be no means an expert in couponing but I like to help others with the knowledge I do have!

If you have any questions that you would like me to answer on the blog let me know! A few ideas I have for the future would be to provide recipes for products that are on sale that week (thanks Tara for the idea!) and maybe make my own laundry soap with my girls, taking pics to share along the way!

Tomorrow I will be heading to Giant Eagle, since it's the beginning of the month my 12 month savings will be updated. I am hoping it's in the $1800 range!  Cross your fingers for me! Next time your at Giant Eagle take a peek at your 12 month savings.  Try and make it your goal to have next month's be $200 higher! The 12 month savings includes a breakdown of savings using: Foodperks, FuelPerks, Coupons, and Store Specials!

Old Navy

I was just doing my daily cruise to all my favorite blogs and spotted this at For The Mommas.

Now through March 6, graphic tees are BOGO!! 

You can also print this $5.00 off $25.00 purchase coupon! 

I love Old Navy!! We might head there tomorrow, my husband loves their graphic tee's! Plus if I see any cute ones they could be put inside Easter baskets! (April 24th will be here before you know it!)

Another place to always look while shopping in Old Navy is their clearance racks!  We have bought some really cute cheap clothes there!

Green Giant veggie deal just got better!!!

Green Giant veggie boxes are on sale for $1.00 this week.  To make the most of your money, try this scenerio.

Load the 0.60/3 e-offer from Giant Eagle
Print as many of these 0.50/1 coupons that you can.  (Usually it's 2 per computer)

If you're like me and only have access to one computer, you will have printed 2 of the 0.50/1 coupons plus loaded your 0.60/3 e-offer. Buy 3 boxes and pay 0.40 for 3 boxes of frozen veggies!!

If you already printed the 0.60/3 coupon I mention in my last post it will be worth it to buy more boxes.  I am going to buy as many as I have coupons for.  We go through these like crazy in our house!

Edit to add: Thanks Lady Savings for posting this coupon!

Looking ahead...Giant Eagle deals beginning 3/3

Tuesday is my favorite day of the week!  Teen Mom and grocery store flyer night! I left my coupon binder in my car so I am just matching online coupons, e-offers and my ad. 

You can find coupons for the following prices here. (I use zip code 90210)

• Yoplait is on sale 20/10 and there is a $.40/6 coupon, making them .37!
• Chex Mix is buy 4 get 1 free, so 5/$8.00.  Print the coupon at the website above twice, and also load the 0.50/2 e-offer to get 5 for $5.50 (I am debating if I will do this deal since sometimes I can get Chex mix free at Rite Aid)
• Betty Crocker fruit snacks are 5/$10 and if you buy 5 you earn $3 off next purchase. Use 2 of the .50/2 coupons and pay 5/$5 (Again I am debating this deal, we have a lot of junk food in this house!)
• Nature Valley Granola bars are 4/10. If you print two 0.50/1 coupons, and upload the .50/2 e-offer you will pay $2.50 for 2 boxes.  (There is a possible way to get these free at Target but it's for the small 4 count boxes.)

If you "like" Lance Snacks on Facebook you can print two .55/1 Lance crackers coupons.  These are on sale $5/10 and if you buy 5 they will give you $2.00 off instantly (but I would just buy the 2 you have coupons for, cheaper when you do the math!)

To do the next scenario's you can find coupons here

• Green Giant Boxed veggies are on sale 10/10, love when we can get frozen veggies for cheap! Load the 0.60/3 e-offer and print the 0.60/3 coupon and pay 1.20 for 3 BOXES!
• There is also coupons for the fruit snacks and Chex mix if you need more.

There is no coupons for these but my family likes them so we buy them when they are on sale.  Giant Eagle's pizza shells (in the bakery section) are $1.00 this week.  Their pizza sauce is a $1.00 as well.  Combine that with the Sargento Cheese I am buying tomorrow for $1.50 and we have cheap family fun! Making pizzas and maybe a movie afterwards! I just might check out Red Box for the first time! (There is always free Red Box codes!)

Baby Cut Carrots are only $1.00 a bag next week so I will probably buy a few bags of those. 

I will be back with more deals after I go through my coupon binder, but so far it's looking like there might be a few deals worth checking out!