15. November 2008 by Lisa.

As consumers are tightening a grip on the old pocketbook, manufacturers aren’t necessarily raising prices, but they’re skimping on coupons, and changing their packaging which is even more irritating to frugal shoppers like us.  Have you noticed how the coupons have changed over the last six months?  Even worse, though is this new marketing tactic. 

Here is an example (Skippy peanut butter) of how items may still appear the same, but after a close inspection, you will see how we’re still paying the same price, but receiving less product.  Doesn’t that just irritate you?

Starkist is another offender - downsized their 6oz. can to a 5oz. can.

Apple Jacks cereal has gone from an 11oz. box down to an 8.7 oz. box, but the box is actually the same size.

Tropicana OJ has gone from 96oz. to 89oz., and the bottle is still as tall as it was before.

Sparkle paper towels have a Big Roll (90 sheets) and a new Giant Roll (84 sheets).  Since when is Big bigger than Giant?

Breyers ice cream still has the same package size, but instead of getting the old 1.75 quarts, we’re now getting 1.5 quarts.

Tubs of Country Crock still look the same, but they’ve gone from 3lbs. to 2lbs., 13oz.

Bars of Dial Soap for Men have gone from 4.5oz. to 4 oz.

Okay, if this doesn’t chap your hide (no pun intended) nothing will.  Scott brand toilet paper is still 1000 sheets, but the sheet size has changed!  That’s right.  instead of a sheet being 4 inches long, it is now 3.7 inches long.

And don’t even get me started on products which are getting watered down (like the larger size Act mouth wash, packages of cooked ham/pork, etc.).  Who wants to pay for water?

Not all manufacturers are guilty, but the list of examples is far more extensive than what I’ve listed.  Yes, it’s all legal and up to the shopper to realize.  Yes, people will still pay for that which they want, but I’ve got to tell you…it’s irritating!

Sites like mouseprint.org help us remain savvy, frugal shoppers.

That’s enough of my Saturday morning, non-PMSing rant.  You may join in with a comment if you’d like.

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14. November 2008 by Lisa.

There is a store called Terry’s Supermarket that has incredible sale prices. You can go online and look at their weekly sale ads, or stop by their stores and pick one up. If you live in the following cities (or near one), your Walmart should match their prices. Sign up to receive their sale ads via email.

Cities served: Grand Prairie, Ft. Worth, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Lewisville, Irving, Plano, Mesquite

When you look at the ads online, you don’t get pictures.  I’ve gotten great fruit and meat discounts, and have scored some hygiene freebies when coupled with coupons.  Don’t overlook this weekly sale ad.

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4. November 2008 by Lisa.

Mindwareonline.com is my favorite toy buying resource. They help you select toys for children based on age, as do many sites, but this catalog/site also tells you what toys won which awards (Mensa, Mensa Select, Parent’s Choice, Parent’s Choice Gold, Dr. Toy, Games Magazine, Major Fun, National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval, Creative Child Magazine, Learning Magazine Teachers’ Choice, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Oppenheim Platinum, etc.). Many toys list multiple awards. I like to stick with those and have had great success.

We’re a board game family. Here are some of the award winners we love and actually play: Blokus, Quoridor, Sequence and DaVinci Challenge. We still enjoy the classics like MasterMind, Clue, Battleship, Jenga, and of course… Monopoly!

Posted in HOME & FAMILY, TIPS | 3 Comments »

29. October 2008 by Lisa.

Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving - the biggest shopping day of the year. Parking lots are full of cars and the insane camp out at the doors of electronic stores hoping to score the best deals before stock runs out. They have their lists, strategies and teams of family members/friends in order to divide and conquer. This is actually a fun activity for many.

No thank you! A gal like me, who hates to shop, would hurl under the pressure. Wouldn’t it just be me who picked up the item that turned the woman next to me into a drooling, fang bearing, firey-eyed monster? She’d claw at me and I’d come home a bloody, crying mess. That’s how I picture myself shopping on Black Friday. I would rather shop early and shop online to avoid it.

However, I know there are some of you who, because you’re frugal and still enjoy shopping, absolutely love Black Friday. If that’s the case, below are some great sites for all Black Friday 2008 deals. I may sneak down to Half Price Books early, early in the morning (Shhh. I don’t want anyone to know I’m going to be a closet Black Friday shopper this year. Just one store though. Shhh.) Can you believe it’s less than a month away?

BlackFriday.GottaDeal.com
BlackFriday.Info
Black-Friday.net
BFads.net

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24. October 2008 by Lisa.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America’s pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free.  There is NO COST INVOLVED!  Here is their site.

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22. October 2008 by Lisa.

Well, this is the longest break I’ve taken from my blog. I needed it though. I’ve been homeschooling, teaching piano, teaching a speech & debate club, getting involved in an international student ministry, driving kids and living life. I will resume posting, but only as time allows. I have a very full plate.

I have been tired of half my grocery bill going to laundry detergent and toilet paper. I’ve been looking for acceptable alternatives for items that needlessly suck money out of my wallet. I have a lot of recipes to share with you, but will only do so after I try them, tweak them and accept them. I refuse to use recipes that are not up to my standards. I currently have 4 recipes on my Houshold Recipes page. If you’re interested, please take a look.

I’ll let you know when I come up with a toilet paper alternative.  No, the Sears catalog, leaves and expired coupons aren’t acceptable. 

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14. August 2008 by Lisa.

For those of you with kids in college, you might try textbooks.com or abebooks.com for new and used textbooks.

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12. August 2008 by Lisa.

I’m not big on credit cards in general, even though I know they have their benefits when used (and paid off) “properly”. Please don’t send me a bunch of emails about the evils of credit cards and the faulty reasoning of posting them on a frugal website. I don’t buy into that either. This post is just a “passing along of info” if you’re interested.

Best Card For Smaller Spenders: Chase Freedom Visa Signature
Users get 3 percent back in the most-used category — like gas, gym memberships or hair salon services. They get 1 percent back on all other purchases, and a $50 bonus after their first purchase.

Best Card For Bigger Spenders: Amex Bluecash
Users get 1 percent back on everyday purchases like groceries, gas and drugstore buys, and half a percent back on everything else. But after they spend $6,500, they get 5 percent on everyday purchases and 1.5 on the rest. Plus, there’s no cap on the rewards.

Best Gas Reward Card: Chase Perfectcard Mastercard
Users earn 6 percent cash back on gas for the first 90 days and 3 percent after that. Other purchases earn 1 percent cash back .

Best Travel-Reward Card: Capital One No-Hassle Miles Rewards

This card lets users earn miles on any airline and has no annual fee. It collects 1.25 miles for every dollar spent — about 25 percent more than most airline reward cards — and there are no blackout dates, seat restrictions or limit on earnings.

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26. July 2008 by Lisa.

I went to Kroger and got my standard 10 Sunday papers. Then, in the car, I quickly clipped the coupons that I needed. Went back in the store and scored the following:

9 packs of Irish Spring soap (3bars/pk)
10 Lady Speedstick deodorants
2 Speed Stick 24/7 deodorants
9 Softsoap liquid hand soaps

My total OOP (out of pocket), papers included = $20.95

My total savings = $71.65

The papers more than paid for themselves. That was just one store! I still haven’t even finished with the coupons I’m going to use this week from those same inserts. Of course there are also many other coupons from this week’s inserts that I will use in weeks to come.

Yes, multiple inserts are worth it.

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25. July 2008 by Lisa.

By now you know I take, depending on how good the coupons are, 6-10 Sunday papers a week. People often ask if it’s worth the time. YES! Excuse the shout. I’ll be taking 10 this week because I went to Taylor Town Preview and looked at the coupons that will be in this week’s insert. I found…

1. There will be a 30c coupon for a 3 pack of Irish Spring bar soap. We don’t use these, but they’re great for our Operation Christmas Child boxes. Through next Tuesday they’re 10/$10 at Albertson’s. They’re also $1 each at Kroger. I’ll get 10 for $1 because the coupons will triple (if I make separate transactions).

2. There will be a 35c coupon for Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap 7.5 or 12 oz. Through next Tuesday Kroger has them for $1 each. When the coupon triples, it will create a 5c overage.

3. Bandaids will be on sale for $1/box at CVS. The 50c coupons don’t double at CVS, but it still makes for some cheap bandaids.

4. Kroger also has Speed Stick and Lady Speed Stick on sale for $1 each. The coupons are 75c for Speed Stick (making those 25c each) and 50c off 2 Lady Speed Stick which doubles (making those 50c each).

My Sunday papers more than pay for themselves immediately. That’s just what I see at first glance for those inserts this week. There will be more sales in weeks to come when I’ll be able to use more of the coupons from these same inserts to score lots of freebies and cheapies.

It’s worth the money to buy the extra papers. It doesn’t take more time to clip because I stack and clip them all at once.

I get my Sunday papers on Saturday at Walmart or Kroger. I love the day early advantage. I’ll get to the stores sooner to get what I want before it’s all gone.

I do have to say the only disadvantage for GroceryGamers is that by the time you are able to print the list, the great sale items are often already off the shelves. I still do the game though because it helps me find the more hidden deals. When I have 6-10 coupons, those hidden deals can really add up to big savings. Happy stockpiling!

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