MOPs

MOPs

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Shopping on a Budget - November 2010

Ladies, ladies, ladies..... if you weren't able to make it to our October meeting, you missed a great meeting!!  We were privileged to have Diane Ma aka The Coupon Lady join us and provide some very useful information!

There were so many great tips.  Diane gave tips on everything from where to shop, to how to stack coupons (I didn't even know such a thing existed!).  A good way to get started is to look at some of the online sites and blogs that blog all about coupons.  The websites, often tell you who has what on sale, and where to find the coupon to use in order to get the best price.

Here are some highlights from the meeting:
- if you do not currently get the newspaper, check with your neighbors and see if they are willing to give you the coupon section.
- you have to think small to get the bigger and better deals. Buying in bulk is not always the best way to go.   For example if you have a coupon for a $1 off, and you purchase a trial size (if they don't have the size you really want, or the kind you really want), and since most trial sizes do not cost more than $2, you get it for a dollar or sometimes almost completely free.
- if you bring your own bags to Target you get 5 cents off of your order.
- Target will price match, if you can show them the item at another store at a cheaper price.
- if the store has a coupon kiosk make sure to scan your shopper card to receive your personalized coupons.
- if you have the Wegman's coupons (the ones they mail to your house), and they are getting ready to expire (its the end of the week) - they will allow you to use the coupons even if you are not purchasing the item that the coupon is for.  For example the coupons expire on Saturdays, you go in Saturday afternoon and you have a coupon for a $1 off a health & beauty item, but you don't buy any health & beauty items - normally you would just toss the coupon into the recycling when you got home; now you don't have to; give the coupon to the cashier and they will still take $1 off off your order!  Now all of those coupons can be used.
- Wegman's also gives 2 free item coupons each week as long as you spend more than $10, normally if its not something we use, I would just toss the coupon, however you can take those free items and store them in your pantry and then make a donation to a local food bank!
- Bed, Bath & Beyond will accept expired coupons.
- Bye, Bye Baby will accept Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons.
- use the coupon blogger websites, they have done most of the work for you!  They often will tell you which stores are offering the best deals, and even where to find the coupon sometimes.


Check-out Tips:
There are a lot of cashiers that do not like deal with coupons, or multiple orders. Here are some tips for checking out without much hassle.
- look for someone who is smiling, generally they are already in a good mood and won't mind.
- weekend or evening shopping look for a young male (teenager/college age); most times they don't care, they just ring up your items and move along, no hassle.

Couponing Websites:
Here are some of couponing websites and blogs that are worth checking out
- http://hip2save.com - has great posts one of Diane's favorites
- www.forthemommas.com - has a great post for Giant each week
- www.momsneedtoknow.com - has good Acme post each week
- www.coupons.com - printable coupons
- www.smartsource.com - printable coupons

There are many more blogs and websites out there.  Diane Ma will be leading a small group that goes over the fine art of saving.  If you would like more info please contact Alyssa Dourte - Director of Group Life at Christ Church of the Valley.

Have a blessed day!!

Danielle Verwey
on behalf of the MOPs/MOMs Steering Team

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