I broke down and bought my boys a Wii for Easter. Shhhhhhh. Don't tell them! Today, at Target there is a sale where you buy 2 Wii games and get one free. Of course the free one is the least value game you buy. I also happened to get a home mailer awhile ago with a $5 off any Wii game coupon. I also had a coupon for spend $75 and get $5 off. Well, today's flyer also had $10 off any $100 electronics purchase!
I bought Mario Kart for $49.99, City Folk for $49.99 and got Carnival free (a $39.99 value). But, my $10 off a $100 electronics purchase wouldn't work because the Carnival game rang up for $0. So, I went and found a rechargeable battery for the Wii remote for $10.38 and was able to to use the $10 off coupon along with the other two coupons! My total, after tax, was $95.00!
As a side note, I noticed that the extra Wii remote controls were on sale for $19.99. They are normally $39.99!! I didn't buy one and am thinking that I should.
The other great deal is the Pepsi. They are buy 5-12 pks for $15 and get a $5 gift card. Our local grocery store had a coupon in today's flyer for buy 3 pepsi 12 packs and get a free 12 pack of diet product!
I coupled 5 pepsi and 1 diet sierra mist with 4 boxes of eggos for $2.14 each. I had 4 manufacturer's coupons for $1 off 1 box of eggos and 2 target coupons for $1 off 2 boxes of eggos. I also had a coupon for $5 off any grocery purchase of $25 or more. My beginning total was $26.xx. After coupons, I paid $13 and I got a $5 coupon. Technically I would have only had to buy 4 pepsi, 1 sierra mist and 4 eggos. My total would have been $10 even and I would have gotten a $5 gift card!!
I'm going to be doing the pepsi deal again! I can get more coupons for the pepsi at the store (when I stop there to buy something else on sale) and I have one more $5 off $25 grocery purchase coupon.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Save on Kids Clothes
I think almost everyone has heard about Sears KidsVantage Club. If not, here is a link to some very brief information . . .http://www.sears.com/shc/s/nb_10153_12608_NB_kid+vantage?adCell=A3 The 15% off isn't really my motivation. It's the next paragraph where Sears will replace any clothing or shoes that your child wears out. It has to be the same size though, so you can't keep trading up for a new size.
I've never really shopped much at Sears just because I can get better prices elsewhere (including garage sales). But, my oldest son goes through shoes and pants like crazy. He can trash either one in a matter of months.
Last fall I decided to buy him a pair of Sketcher shoes. I checked out Sears because he has already worn out a million pairs of shoes and decided I'd try their KidVantage Club replacement service.
I picked out a pair of shoes and was a bit disappointed because they were about $10 more than I could get them elsewhere. However, as I was preparing to leave the shoe department, I found a different pair of Sketchers in his size on clearance for $20. Not bad! When I got to the cash register, they rang up for $10!!!!!!! That is awesome.
Well, fast forward six months later and he's got holes in them and they are absolutely falling apart. So, I decided to take them back to Sears yesterday. I took my receipt and was nervous that they'd just offer me the $10 since I'd bought them on clearance.
They didn't even ask for my receipt. They just told me to go find the shoes in the same size. Of course they didn't carry the EXACT same shoe anymore. So, they replaced it with another pair of Sketchers in the same size. The price on the box? $45!!!!
So, now he has a brand new pair of shoes that have a value of $45 for $10. Plus, we've gotton six months of wear out of a different pair.
I love it!
I should have done it with his coat. The zipper broke within 3 months on his coat. I was so upset. Of course I'd bought it on clearance somewhere last year and couldn't return it.
I've never really shopped much at Sears just because I can get better prices elsewhere (including garage sales). But, my oldest son goes through shoes and pants like crazy. He can trash either one in a matter of months.
Last fall I decided to buy him a pair of Sketcher shoes. I checked out Sears because he has already worn out a million pairs of shoes and decided I'd try their KidVantage Club replacement service.
I picked out a pair of shoes and was a bit disappointed because they were about $10 more than I could get them elsewhere. However, as I was preparing to leave the shoe department, I found a different pair of Sketchers in his size on clearance for $20. Not bad! When I got to the cash register, they rang up for $10!!!!!!! That is awesome.
Well, fast forward six months later and he's got holes in them and they are absolutely falling apart. So, I decided to take them back to Sears yesterday. I took my receipt and was nervous that they'd just offer me the $10 since I'd bought them on clearance.
They didn't even ask for my receipt. They just told me to go find the shoes in the same size. Of course they didn't carry the EXACT same shoe anymore. So, they replaced it with another pair of Sketchers in the same size. The price on the box? $45!!!!
So, now he has a brand new pair of shoes that have a value of $45 for $10. Plus, we've gotton six months of wear out of a different pair.
I love it!
I should have done it with his coat. The zipper broke within 3 months on his coat. I was so upset. Of course I'd bought it on clearance somewhere last year and couldn't return it.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Grocery Store Tip
At my local grocery store, they were having a great sale on the generic cheese slices. For a package of 16 slices, the cost was $1. Normally the generic is $2.19, so that's a great savings. I went this morning to grab several packages and was disappointed to find out they had 2 packages left.
I could have gone to the service counter and asked for a rain check. Instead, I found an employee and asked them if there was any more in back. He indicated that he was out of the generic slices, but offered me the Kraft slices for the exact same price. Those are normally $2.49 per package when they are on sale!!
I took 5 packages of the Kraft slices at $1 a piece. It paid to ask! Whenever my grocery store is out of a sale item, I always ask if there are any more in back. Almost every time, if there is no more in stock, they offer me a name brand replacement for the same price. It's worth asking! The worst they can say is no, right?
I could have gone to the service counter and asked for a rain check. Instead, I found an employee and asked them if there was any more in back. He indicated that he was out of the generic slices, but offered me the Kraft slices for the exact same price. Those are normally $2.49 per package when they are on sale!!
I took 5 packages of the Kraft slices at $1 a piece. It paid to ask! Whenever my grocery store is out of a sale item, I always ask if there are any more in back. Almost every time, if there is no more in stock, they offer me a name brand replacement for the same price. It's worth asking! The worst they can say is no, right?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
I Have a Problem
Despite my grocery budget and knowing where I am in this budget (thanks to my sidebar), I can't stop from shopping deals. I just went and spent another $13 today at Target. Grant you that I got over $25.00 worth of groceries, but still . . . I shouldn't have spent the money if I look at my budget. I did buy things that my family uses and needs on a regular basis. Things like waffles ($2.14 per box x 4 boxes- $6.00 in coupons= $2.56 for 4 boxes), macaroni and cheese ($1 per box x 8 boxes= $8), french fries ($2.49 x 2 bags - $1.00 coupon = $3.98 for 2 bags) and chips ($1.75 per bag x 2 bags = 3.50). I then had a $5 off a grocery order of $25 or more.
I struggle constantly between getting these good deals on things we eat/use regularly and trying to stick to my budget. If I buy them, I can go over budget. If I don't buy them, I may end up going over my budget later on.
I struggle constantly between getting these good deals on things we eat/use regularly and trying to stick to my budget. If I buy them, I can go over budget. If I don't buy them, I may end up going over my budget later on.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Setting Financial Goals
I was reading another blog today which talked about financial goals. It occurred to me that I'd never really had financial goals. Heck, I've never really set goals in my life at all. I just go from one thing to the next.
My husband and I have a general financial goal of wanting to retire at the age of 55. We continue to invest despite the continuing falling market. We're hoping that this market will enable us to reach that early retirement goal. While we regularly invest in retirement accounts, I can't say that we've ever sat down and laid out a plan on how we'll get there. We simply sock away as much money into retirment as we can. Really, to the point that we've never had much money saved outside of retirement.
Well, except this year. I sat down at the beginning of the year and decided that we needed to develop an emergency fund of $10,000. I sat down and figured out where that money would come from. I've done pretty good at sticking to the plan. Of course, the plan was simply to stick our entire tax refund, bonuses and money saved from not having to pay daycare over the summer into the emergency fund.
On the other hand, I've thought about spending some of that emergency fund to help offset the cost of building an addition so that we don't need to take such a large loan.
I've also thought about other financial goals, but never written them down and developed a plan on how to achieve those goals. As a result, I think I'm going to try to sit down and develop some financial goals and a plan to achieve those goals.
My husband and I have a general financial goal of wanting to retire at the age of 55. We continue to invest despite the continuing falling market. We're hoping that this market will enable us to reach that early retirement goal. While we regularly invest in retirement accounts, I can't say that we've ever sat down and laid out a plan on how we'll get there. We simply sock away as much money into retirment as we can. Really, to the point that we've never had much money saved outside of retirement.
Well, except this year. I sat down at the beginning of the year and decided that we needed to develop an emergency fund of $10,000. I sat down and figured out where that money would come from. I've done pretty good at sticking to the plan. Of course, the plan was simply to stick our entire tax refund, bonuses and money saved from not having to pay daycare over the summer into the emergency fund.
On the other hand, I've thought about spending some of that emergency fund to help offset the cost of building an addition so that we don't need to take such a large loan.
I've also thought about other financial goals, but never written them down and developed a plan on how to achieve those goals. As a result, I think I'm going to try to sit down and develop some financial goals and a plan to achieve those goals.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Get Real or Get Tough?
I've been pondering for a couple months whether I should get real or get tough. On what? On my grocery budget. For the last several months, I've consistently gone over my $300 grocery budget by about $50. Oh, let's get a little bit real. I only just started budgeting in January and I've never stuck to my $300 grocery budget.
So, the question really is if I should simply increase the budget to $350 or if I should buckle down and try harder to stick to $300 per month. I really tend to blow most of my budget within the first week of my month. I find a lot of sales that I think are too good to pass up and then I end up limping along the rest of the month.
Look at March already. I spent $114 in the first week!! It's nearly half my budget. Of course, I did my big shop in the first week, stocked up on soda to last us at least a month, bought diapers (but I still need more), and have enough toothpaste to last me about 20 years (but I give it all away to friends and family).
Fortunately I don't need much this week. Tombstone pizzas are on sale. My husband has been begging me to buy him some. They are just so expensive, even on sale! My goal is to spend around $30 this week so that I'll have spent about $150 which will last us to halfway through the month. That will be right on budget!!
Wish me luck.
So, the question really is if I should simply increase the budget to $350 or if I should buckle down and try harder to stick to $300 per month. I really tend to blow most of my budget within the first week of my month. I find a lot of sales that I think are too good to pass up and then I end up limping along the rest of the month.
Look at March already. I spent $114 in the first week!! It's nearly half my budget. Of course, I did my big shop in the first week, stocked up on soda to last us at least a month, bought diapers (but I still need more), and have enough toothpaste to last me about 20 years (but I give it all away to friends and family).
Fortunately I don't need much this week. Tombstone pizzas are on sale. My husband has been begging me to buy him some. They are just so expensive, even on sale! My goal is to spend around $30 this week so that I'll have spent about $150 which will last us to halfway through the month. That will be right on budget!!
Wish me luck.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Update my Walgreens Scenario
Well, I just found a $.075 off any Colgate coupon. I'm going to raid my mother-in-law's house to see if I can find another one. So, I've updated my scenario below:
#1 Colgate for 3.29 - $0.75/manufacturer's coupon + tax. At checkout I'll get a RR for 3.29 (a RR is a coupon towards your next purchase of anything at Walgreens)
#2 2 12 pks of Mountain Dew for $8.00 - $3.29 RR= $4.71 and I'll get a $3 RR.
#3 Colgate for 3.29 + tax - $3 RR = $0.29 plus tax and I'll get a RR for $3.29.
#4 2 12 pks of Mountain Dew for $8.00 - $3.29 RR = $4.71 and I'll get a $3 RR
#5 Colgate for 3.29 + tax - $3 RR = $0.29 plus tax and I'll get a RR for $3.29
#6 2 paks of diapers for $9.00 - $3.29 RR = $5.71
#7 Colgate for $3.29 - $0.75 manufacturer's coupon + tax and at checkout I'll get a RR for $3.29
#8 2 paks of diapers for $9.00 - $3.29 RR = $5.71
So, with this newest coupon find, I'll be spending $26.50 plus tax. An even better savings!
#1 Colgate for 3.29 - $0.75/manufacturer's coupon + tax. At checkout I'll get a RR for 3.29 (a RR is a coupon towards your next purchase of anything at Walgreens)
#2 2 12 pks of Mountain Dew for $8.00 - $3.29 RR= $4.71 and I'll get a $3 RR.
#3 Colgate for 3.29 + tax - $3 RR = $0.29 plus tax and I'll get a RR for $3.29.
#4 2 12 pks of Mountain Dew for $8.00 - $3.29 RR = $4.71 and I'll get a $3 RR
#5 Colgate for 3.29 + tax - $3 RR = $0.29 plus tax and I'll get a RR for $3.29
#6 2 paks of diapers for $9.00 - $3.29 RR = $5.71
#7 Colgate for $3.29 - $0.75 manufacturer's coupon + tax and at checkout I'll get a RR for $3.29
#8 2 paks of diapers for $9.00 - $3.29 RR = $5.71
So, with this newest coupon find, I'll be spending $26.50 plus tax. An even better savings!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
