Support the Library: Buy a Book

Just a quick note to let you know that Recycled Reads, the book store that benefits the Austin Public Library, is having its grand opening today. All books in the store are priced 50 cents to $2, from what I understand. 

Read more about the store and event here. Happy reading! 

Randalls: success!!

So, yesterday I went to Randalls and watched my total bill go from $63 to $38 after coupons. And I bought only stuff we would use -- including some organics and non-toxic window cleaner. How did I do this?? Well it was a combination of store coupons, manufacturer coupons, and shopping what was on sale. And most of all: taking my time and keeping an eye out for deals. 

Without boring you with every purchase, here are some of the highlights:

• I shopped what was on sale: bread, strawberries, A&W root beer (for a party), yogurt, animal crackers ($1 for the big foil bag). Did not have a coupon for these items. 
• I bought store brands for bread, yogurt, butter, jelly.
• I used a $10 off $50 purchase coupon that is in this week's Randalls store flyer. I knew I was going to spend that much, so why not take the $10 they want to give me?? Thanks, Randall. I will. 
• Nature Valley granola bars were on sale for 2 boxes for $6. I had two $1 off coupons. I bought 2 boxes at $2 each.
• Mini Wheats cereal was on sale for 99 cents with another coupon in the flyer. I also had a 70 cents off coupon, which brought my total down to 29 cents for that cereal.
• Simple Harvest oatmeal (yummy!) was on sale for $2.50 a box, down from $3.99. I also had a $1 off coupon, so final price was $1.50. Not bad for 8 breakfasts! 
• Randalls brand non-toxic window cleaner was on sale for $3. But I had a register receipt (that prints out at the end of your transaction) for $2 off with me, bringing it down to $1. 
• I used some other 50-cent coupons for cereal and pretzels, which DOUBLE at Randalls. 
• I used another coupon in the flyer to get a box of butter for 99 cents. 
• I was in the freezer section and noticed a big display of marked-down items, including Van's waffles (so good) and Cascadian Farms organic french fries (great for veggie burger meals at home). They were marked down to $2 each. I double checked the date -- July and September -- and bought 3 of each. 

Now, this is obviously not everything we are going to eat in a week and is heavy on the breakfast and snack items.  Most of it will last for many months in the pantry, and will surely come in handy to feed all the house guests we are expecting this month. 

So this method admittedly takes a little time and effort. I stock up on things when they are on sale and I can get a good deal. It DOES require more than 1 trip to the store, which is totally unacceptable to people like my husband. And I understand that thinking, completely. But I ran to Randalls on my lunch hour at work and it was no big deal. And now I don't need to buy these items for quite a while. 

I'll got to HEB or Newflower at some point this weekend and fill in what we are lacking in produce and things to make dinners for the week. 

Austin Grocery Deals!

I've been perusing the Austin grocery store circulars online today and thought I'd share some standout deals. And be sure to check the store(s) for even more deals, including meat/fish! See circulars for limits, details and dates.

Newflower:

• Farmhouse large cage free brown eggs, dozen: 2 for $3
• Wallaby organic yogurt, 6 oz.: 59 cents each
• Kashi cereal, select varieties: 2 for $4
• Fresh Express bagged salad or coleslaw: $1 each
• Cantaloupe, bunched greens (turnip, mustard, collard), artichokes, cukes, romaine or iceberg lettuce, ORGANIC celery, ORGANIC red/green leaf lettuce: $1 each
• Asparagus: 88 cents/lb.
• Blackberries (5.6 oz.) or blueberries (6 oz.): 88 cents
• Blue Bell ice cream pints: $1 each
• On the vine cluster tomatoes: $1/lb.
• Broccoli crowns, blood oranges, ORGANIC Gala apples, pears, tangelos, ORGANIC onions: $1/lb.
• Newflower brand organic canned beans, 15 oz., select varieties: 79 cents each
• Tisdale and Crane Lake wines (are those any good??): 2 bottles for $7
• Newflower brand organic salad dressing, 8 oz.: $1.50
• Shop today, Wednesday, to get last week's and the current week's deals!

Randalls:

• Tilapia fillets: $3.99/lb.
• 1-lb. strawberries: $1.50
• Kellogg's raisin bran or Frosted Mini Wheats: 99 cents/box with store coupon found in circular. NOTE: combine with manufacturer coupon for 29-cent cereal!
• Lucerne butter, 16-oz.: 99 cents/box with store coupon
• $10 off $50 purchase (valid 2/25 - 2/28) coupon found on inside flap of circular!
• Lucerne large eggs: 97 cents/dozen (Saturday and Sunday only)

Sun Harvest Farms:

• D'anjou pears, red delicious apples, ORGANIC Fuji apples, large tomatoes: 88 cents/lb.
• Red/green leaf or romaine lettuce: 88 cents/each
• Boneless, skinless "natural" chicken breast: $1.99/lb.
• Power Bars, Heritage organic milk, Newman's Own cookies, Hansen's apple juice, grape or cherry tomatoes (pint), blackberries (5.6 oz. pkg.), Annie's mac and cheese, plus LOTS of other products (see circular, pg. 2 & 3): BUY 1 GET 1 FREE (prices vary)
• Use your coupons for Soy Joy bars, Cascadian Farms products (frozen veggies on sale), and Muir Glen organic soup to "stack" with the sale for even bigger savings!
• Shop today, Wednesday, to get last week's and the current week's deals!

Leave a comment with any other good deals you know of! Thanks.

FREE Kashi Entree

Fill out the form here to receive a coupon for a free frozen entree from Kashi. Worth a few seconds of your time for sure! 

Freebie Roundup: Birthday Deals

Here's a great article from MSN Money listing all the birthday freebies to be had for both adults and kids.

For you grownups, how about a free Red Robin burger or $5 certificate for DSWShoes, or even a beauty item from Sephora?

Have kids? Treat them to a Denny's meal and sundae, ice cream at Baskin Robbins or take them over to Toys R Us for a $5 certificate, crown, balloon and birthday wishes over the loudspeaker.

Stretch out the deals over the birthday month to maximize the celebration. Enjoy!

Double-Deal Wednesdays!

To my Austin friends, just a reminder that Wednesdays are the day that the previous week's and current week's deals are in effect at BOTH Newflower Farmer's Market and Sun Harvest stores.

Shop today and score!

Walgreens Diaper Deal

I'll get into a more thorough discussion of the depth of my love for Walgreens later, but for now I just want to call your attention to a great diaper/wipes deal going on this week.

With the $3 off coupon in this week's store circular (you DO check those coupons, don't you?? They're excellent!), I purchased two 26-ct. packs of Walgreens brand diapers (comfort stretch, jumbo) and one 123-ct. pack of Walgreens brand wipes for a low, low $11.88 total.

We use the diapers all the time and can vouch for their absorbancy and all-around excellence.

If you're in the market for baby stuff this week, stop by and clip that coupon!

3 a.m. Silver Polish

So, I'm a bad, bad insomniac. Between the hours of 2:30 and 4 a.m., my body invariably wakes up as if it's missing out on a really fun party. So this morning, I decided to be industrious and polish the silver bowl I was going to put rice pudding in for my son's school event this evening.

But I didn't get out the chemicals and gloves, ladies and gentlemen. No, no. I relied on some old friends from my kitchen -- aluminum foil, salt and baking soda. Yeah, you read that right.

Here's how to EFFORTLESSLY get your silver tarnish-free, without exposing yourself/household to harsh chemicals.

1. Line a sink or large bowl with a large piece of aluminum foil. (I have a double sink, so used half. For some reason I want to say you should avoid a metal container, but I'm no scientist...)

2. Fill it with hot water.

3. Put your silver pieces in the sink/bowl. Then sprinkle some salt and some baking soda in the water. I use a few tablespoons of each -- just eyeball it.

4. Make sure the silver is touching the foil.

5. Wait 5 minutes; up to 10 for badly tarnished items. Remove the items and rinse under cool water. Towel dry.

You'll be amazed -- the tarnish is removed in the bath without scrubbing!

More Surprising Uses for Common Household Products

Thanks again to Jonette for this link to "Extraordinary Uses for 16 Ordinary Household Items". See what else you can do with ziploc bags, chalk, vinegar, dryer sheets and your hair dryer, to name a few. Innovative!

Entertainment on the Cheap

My friend Katie recently shared with me a list of entertainment ideas that she and her husband have been doing to save money. I think it's a great list -- thanks, Katie! 

Do you have any ideas not listed here? Let us know!

• Break out the board games! Scrabble, Monopoly -- even Pictionary -- can provide hours of entertainment and together time. Nothing wrong with a little friendly competition, either. 
• Plan for year-round fun. Katie bought the Austin Calendar at Book People ($16). It lists all the fun things happening in Austin each month (festivals, marathons, special events, etc.) A lot of those activities are free. If you're not in Austin, I bet there's something similar in your area -- check with your local book store. 
• Dust off that library card. Katie and her husband are avid readers, and by utilizing the local library they can save money, be green and feed their need to read! Don't forget the library as a source of FREE DVD "rentals" as well (just get 'em back on time). 
• Keep fit -- for free. Check for free classes that might be offered at your gym. Katie and her friends like to hit her gym's free yoga class as a way to socialize and maintain good health. And I've recently discovered Exercise TV on Demand -- channel 1431 on Time Warner Cable. They have great workouts -- Pilates, yoga, fat burning, "Biggest Loser", 10-minute, 20-minute -- you name it. All for free (I am paying the cost of cable, but it's nothing additional). Tip: Check out the yoga classes at Ruta Maya coffee shop -- free with a purchase from the cafe. I just checked the calendar and there is a free class 6 days a week! 
• Spice up your dinners at home. Rather than eating out, try some new recipes (millions available for free on the Internet) from your own kitchen. Turn off the TV, sit at a nicely set table and enjoy a meal with your loved one. 
• Eat local. Katie plans to attend the Farmer's Market held on-site at a local area farm. It's a great way to eat fresh, in-season fruits and veggies, while supporting local businesses. Not to mention a nice way to spend an afternoon. 
• Take your kid on a date. This is my suggestion, but Ruta Maya coffee shop hosts FREE kids' shows on Sunday mornings at 10:30. They feature musicians, puppeteers, magicians, etc., that kids love. For the price of a cup of coffee, you can get out of the house for a couple of hours and your kids can enjoy some entertainment and the company of dozens of people their size. Tip: Get there early to get a seat -- these shows are popular! 

[See also the restaurant deals post.] 

Have fun out there! 

The Secret Life of Coffee Filters

I'm a big fan of green/thrifty cleaning products -- like baking soda, white vinegar and club soda (cleans windows/mirrors perfectly!). But I also love finding new purposes for everyday household items, like coffee filters.

I found a list today of 15 Uses for Coffee Filters at the blog Gather Little by Little.

Here are my top 5:

1. Clean windows and mirrors. Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows sparkling.

2. Protect China - Separate your good dishes by putting a coffee filter between each dish.

3. Apply shoe polish. Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

4. Stop the soil from leaking out of a plant pot. Line a plant pot with a coffee filter to prevent the soil from going through the drainage holes.

5. Prevent a Popsicle from dripping. Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

Austin-Area Restaurant Deals

Heading out for a bite to eat or a happy hour cocktail? Check this list first to see the deals to be had. (thanks, Jonette!)

Bringing the kids? Then be sure to check here for a list of free/reduced prices for kids at local restaurants.

Happy eating!

PowerPump Rewards

Just went to Randall's to fill up on gas. Because of my spending, I had earned gas rewards. Now, I can never exactly understand how this works, but somehow the price per gallon for this transaction was dropped 20 cents from $1.82 to $1.62. Filled up the car for $15! Not bad. 

This is just an example of one kind of reward that really is valuable. 

And yes, I swipe my store card every time I shop and Big Brother probably knows what kind of tampons I prefer, but I really don't care. Again, I don't do the bulk of my shopping there, but even with my little occasional trips, the savings add up. 

Good night! 

Grocery Shopping 101

Here's a basic list to help you save on your next shopping trip. Be sure to read the coupon post below as well. 

Again, nothing revolutionary here, but maybe something you haven't thought of. 

1. Plan your meals for the week before you go to the store. This way, you're buying exactly what you need for each meal.
2. Shop with a list. Goes hand-in-hand with #1. Cuts down on impulse buys and more frequent runs to the store. Tip: keep an electronic copy of your list on your computer (Word doc or spreadsheet) populated with the items you normally buy. You can also post a copy to the fridge to mark things as you run out of them -- enlist the entire household to help with this! 
3. Bring your coupons and have them organized by department, so you can quickly see what you have. You can buy a coupon organizer for about a buck at the Dollar Store. 
4. Eat something before you go. You'll be less likely to buy more than you need. 
5. Whenever possible, shop without kids. This will give you more time to pay attention to the deals and cut down on the number of cookie packages you buy and rip into in the store to appease your little one. Not that I have ever done that, personally. 
6. Browse the store circular before you go. Read the ones that are delivered in the mail, and/or check your store's Web site. At randalls.com, for instance, I can view the circular and make a shopping list to print out and take with me. Handy! 

Coupons, How I Love Thee!

As I mentioned in previous posts, I'm a big believer in coupons. Some people have a misconception that coupon clipping is too time-consuming and that coupons are only available for junk food or things you wouldn't normally buy. I'd like to refute those arguments!

• A little time investment can yield big savings. Whether you clip them yourself from the Sunday paper or you go online and order from couponclippers.com (I highly recommend this route!), a few minutes spent can save you lots of money. If you go online, you can order (or print) exactly the coupons you want in about 15 minutes. And they generally arrive in the mail 4 days later. Tips: Search for the brands you like on Coupon Clippers and check out the "sale" section, where they organize all the sales/coupons for different stores. A helpful planning tool! 
• You can buy healthy food with coupons. I regularly buy collard greens and salad with coupons, not to mention soy milk, cage-free eggs, and organic cereal, canned tomatoes and frozen vegetables. I never pay more than $2/box for cereal, including organic and name brands. Tip: You can frequently find coupons from Cascadian Farms and Muir Glen, which are two organic lines that most grocery stores stock (including Walmart). 
• BIG savings happen when you "stack" a coupon with a store sale. Let's say you are buying a Duncan Hines cake mix to make cupcakes for your kid's class because you are a busy mom but you want your kid to have a "homemade" treat to share with his friends. (who could this be?) You go to the Randall's (Safeway in other parts of the country) and lo and behold, that mix is on sale 10 for $10 (frequent promotion). BUT, you have a coupon for 50 cents off said mix AND you happen to be at Randall's, which doubles coupons up to and including 50 cents (triples up to 35 cents). You have just got yourself a free cake mix, people. Get it? It really pays off to match up your coupons with whatever might be on sale that you would use. 
• Randall's rules. In Austin, they are the only store I know that will double/triple coupons as I mentioned in bullet above. Generally, they are incredibly expensive and I can't afford to do all our shopping there. But, there is one very convenient to us and sometimes -- with coupons -- I can save a substantial amount by stopping in and shopping the sales. Tip: Check those store flyers that come in the mail for valuable store coupons, which can be used WITH manufacturer coupons most of the time. Be sure to check your store's policy and any fine print.
• Do you have any coupon tips that I haven't mentioned? Share!

Layoff Prep: Some Personal Thoughts

Again, I'm no financial professional, but here are some of my own thoughts and strategies for surviving and preparing for a layoff.

1. Insurance:

• If you're laid off, do you know what your COBRA rates would be?
• Have you looked at other sources of health insurance policies? A good place to start is ehealthinsurance.com
• If you have kids, they might be covered by CHIP here in Texas. There are eligibility requirements that I can't quite figure out (think income), but you should investigate.
• Do you have a supplemental life insurance policy through your job? Is it portable? Check with your HR department and be sure to fill out the required paperwork if you lose your job.
• I plan to investigate other sources of disability insurance as well, as that is a huge benefit to lose if laid off. Oy.

2. Savings:

• If you still have a job, try to sock away as much as possible in the highest yield savings account you can find. [again, see disclaimer]
• My local bank offers a pitiful rate on savings account, but I have an online account (ING) that does much better. Just make sure wherever you put your money is FDIC insured!
• Research bank accounts here.
• Sources of cash to beef up your account: sell stuff you no longer need on Craigslist; have a garage sale; shop for groceries with a list [and coupons!] and eat at home more; bring your lunch to work; cut services you don't need
• Still have a phone? Try making these 5 phone calls that can save you cash.

3. Stock up.

• Besides money, stock up on household, beauty and non-perishable food items. Stack coupons and store sales for big savings [more on this to come]; buy in bulk when you come across a good deal.
• On a few shelves in my garage, I currently have enough deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, dish soap and body wash to last my family a year. Yes, Mike has always referred to me as "Depression Era". That's nice.
• Think pasta, tuna, cereal, oatmeal, canned goods, etc. Just be sure to keep track of the expiration dates.
• TIP: not going to use something by the expiration date? Donate it to your local food bank! More families are in need and could put that food to good use. An added bonus of being thrifty is having enough to help others.

4. Network. Now.

• Lots of closed-door meetings at your company? Sense of impending doom? Dust off that resume and get it updated. Now.
• Then start sending it out.
• Use Facebook and LinkedIn to get in touch with prospective professional contacts.
• Get in touch with a headhunter or recruiter.
• Be discreet, but tell trusted friends that you are looking for a job. You never know who they know or what opportunities they hear about...

Nothing revolutionary here, but hopefully some ideas to get you going.

Laid off: the new black

It's everywhere these days -- layoffs. 5,000 at Microsoft, 7,000 at Home Depot. Maybe you or someone in your family has been laid off (like mine!), or maybe you're worried about being laid off (like me!).

Here are some articles to help you deal with or prepare for being laid off:

How to Conduct a Layoff Drill
Laid off? Your Work's Just Starting
A Survival Guide for the Unemployed
Jobless? Can You Get Insurance?
Living with and Learning from Layoffs
What to Do if You're Laid off

Not fun reading, but hopefully helpful. Hugs.

Cheap is good, but FREE is better!

Friends, I'd like to sing the praises of free stuff. With just a few minutes spent on your computer, you can sign up to have free samples sent to you from Walmart, Costco and directly from the manufacturer. TIP: The "autofill" feature on your browser will become your new best friend.

What kinds of stuff, you say? Well, I've received everything from lotion, make up and shampoo samples to dog food, diapers and laundry detergent. Just yesterday I got a cool silver wine stopper in the mail!

The samples are great for travel or for putting in a basket for guests (think lotions, soaps, etc.) or collecting throughout the year to use as stocking stuffers. And the diaper samples are perfect for stashing in a diaper bag or putting in the car for emergencies -- even for those "crap! I forgot to get diapers!" moments that we all have. [Don't we? I DO!]

Some other blogger ladies do a great job of rounding up the deals. Oh, and be sure to enter sweepstakes as well -- I never win anything, but a few months back was 1 of 5,000 winners of a goodie bag from Oprah. It was awesome -- full-size products plus a cool tote bag. Yeah, we're kind of friends now.

Look here to get started:

Freebies 4 Moms blog (she has a 'freebies' and a 'sweeps' tab in the top nav)

Happy to be at Home blog

Walmart free samples

Costco [just search "free samples"; you do NOT have to be a member to request them]

Good luck!

Click Here

Okay, here is a rundown of some links I like to check daily/weekly. I've tried to categorize them as best I can.

Retail Deals, Coupons:
The Bargainist
Slick Deals
Retail Me Not [check here first before making an online purchase]
The Coupon Clippers [grocery coupons made easy! put the scissors down and go to this site NOW!]
Coupons.com [printable grocery coupons]

Thrifty Living Blogs/Sites:
Free 2 Be Frugal [love the RedBox codes]
The Centsible Sawyer [detailed listings of store sales - CVS, WalMart, Walgreens, etc.]
Freebies 4 Moms [sweepstakes and freebies roundups are great]
Smart Spending blog on MSN Money
Living with Less blog on MSN Money
The Dollar Stretcher
The Simple Dollar

Hello and Welcome!

I am obsessed with saving money. There, I said it.

I get excited about great deals I find, and enjoy searching them out and sharing with others. There are already a million thrifty/saving/deal/coupon sites out there, but I wanted a place to share some simple strategies for getting by in this rough economic time. I envision it as a place to share and learn, and hopefully we can all save a few bucks in the process. I'm not sure yet how to organize it exactly, but I'm eager to get started.

Disclaimer: I'm not an economist, accountant, financial planner or anything remotely professionally connected to money. I can't offer advice on stocks, retirement, investments, etc. I don't know exactly what you should do with your money -- I'm just trying to help you keep more of it.

My husband was laid off in October, and he's returned to school to pursue a new career. We have a young son in daycare and I work full time -- for now. But like so many thousands in this country, my job is on shaky ground. So I'm more committed than ever to maximizing my dollars and preparing for these uncertain times, if it lasts a year or 5 years.

But beyond that, I'm interested in strategies that will help over a lifetime. And I not only believe it is possible to cut expenses and save right now, I also believe these economic conditions are going to produce all kinds of brilliant innovations as people find opportunity for new ways of living, working and thinking.

Let's go.