Thursday 12/31/09: The annual/semi-annual sales are coming!

I hope you have some money leftover from Christmas in your household/clothing budget, or some gift cards, because January is one of the best times of the year to buy certain things. The best examples to me are Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works. We buy enough hand soap at B&BW in January to last a whole year, and VS is the only place I like to buy bras, but I don't like to pay the $40+ price tag for them. I also know clothing stores like New York & Company offer significant discounts after Christmas is over. These places are gearing up for their spring lines when there are still two months of winter left, so take advantage of the slashed prices!

Wednesday 12/30/09: Don't buy more than you need

I have a relative who frequently finds things on sale (or not) and decides it's such a good price she'll buy 15 of them. Or, she goes to the store and sees cheese on sale. She doesn't have a plan for the cheese, doesn't remember she has 3 packages in the fridge, so she buys 3 more. And does the same thing 2 weeks later because cheese is a frequently discounted item. My point is to be aware of what you have and what you'll use. Because if you buy something just because it's 60% off, you've still spent 40% of the retail price, and still spent money you didn't need to, which is the manufacturer's point in the marketing. Know what goes on sale often. Know what is a good sale. Know what you have in your supplies. Know how often you go through something. Then you'll be buying quantities smart.

Tuesday 12/29/09: Buy your Christmas stuff now

Again, it's a post-holiday window where all the good stuff isn't quite gone yet and stores are slashing prices on everything. So if you're into keeping candy around the house, decorating all over for the holidays, making cookies, or any other Christmas-season type activity, stock up now while the prices are a fraction of what they'll be next fall when you think "Oh yeah, we wanted to get a pre-lit tree this year..."

My Review of Kolcraft Universal Infant Car Seat Carrier

Originally submitted at Toys R Us

The Universal 2 Infant Car Seat Carrier is the solution to bulky travel systems. This compact and lightweight Carrier is all you need during the time your child is in an infant car seat!

Kolcraft Universal Infant Car Seat Carrier

Skip the travel system & buy this

By Sarita la profesora from KY on 12/28/2009

 

5out of 5

Pros: Lightweight, Easy To Maneuver, Easy to Set Up, Easily Stowed, Smooth Ride

Best Uses: Newborn, Infants

Describe Yourself: First Time Parent

I waited a long time to review this product because when I bought it there were only 2 reviews and I wanted to add one that had some experience behind it. I've been using this stroller with my Graco carseat for almost 8 months. I walk my baby girl about 10-15 miles a week in our neighborhood in it, and our sidewalks are 40 years old. We go across grass, gravel, sticks, everything. Also it goes to the sitter's house three days a week. (I have a RAV4 but it also fits fine in the trunk of my husband's Civic.) It's been durable, a great stroller. I registered for a travel system and then deleted it from my registry and got this instead after reading reviews of the Graco version that said it was so much more convenient. I thought, I won't usually have my husband around when I'm using a stroller so I want the lightest, most convenient thing, and I'm SO glad I got this instead. It really does open and fold with one hand. The basket on this fixed the accessibility problem on the Graco at a lower price--I can pile it high and get anything out without messing with the seat. My only problem is the cupholder is too big to hold a standard bottle--a Dasani bottle topples over with any real bumps. But just a tip, a SOBE Lifewater bottle is exactly the diameter of the holder and will stay put no matter what bumps you go over. After almost 8 months of heavy use I'm a huge fan.

(legalese)

My Review of Playtex Breast Milk Storage Set

Originally submitted at Toys R Us

It's the most convenient way to store breast milk!

Guaranteed to be leak-free

Pump, store and feed in one liner

No pouring, no clean up

Freezer safe
What could be easier? There's no spilled breast milk or extra bottles to wash. Pl...

Playtex Breast Milk Storage Set

Great if you exclusively use PT bottles

By Sarita la profesora from KY on 12/28/2009

 

4out of 5

Pros: Easy To Use, Safe For Baby, Durable, Easy To Clean

Best Uses: Breastfeeding, Infants

Describe Yourself: First Time Parent

I've used this system to store breastmilk for 7 months and continue to use it. I bought 2 packages so I have 2 adapters that fit my Medela pump, and 12 storage caps that I reuse and reuse. The convenience of being able to pump directly into the liner was not a huge benefit to me, because I don't usually pump enough to store at one time--at the beginning because I was pumping after nursing so didn't pump much, and now because I store 6 oz at a time and almost never pump that much. The convenience is good if you're going to use Playtex bottles exclusively, but someone gave us Walmart bottles, and baby girl decided she also liked Gerber Nuk bottles. If you're using another bottle, don't bother with this--buy the Lansinoh bags. If you freeze the Lansinoh bags flat, they thaw in 3-4 minutes. These store with the milk in a cylinder, obviously, and they're a pain to thaw. They take forever to warm in my experience. But if you pump a lot and only use PT bottles, it's a good system.

(legalese)

Friday 12/25/09: Hold off on seasonal products

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Love Coffemate's Christmas flavors? Me too. I wish they'd sell peppermint mocha year-round. I loooove it. But I hold off and wait until the week after Christmas, and hoard coupons for it, and then the store will discount it at least 50%. I buy enough to last me at least through February. It does have a "best by..." date, but remember that there's not actually any dairy in it so it's good long after that date.

Thursday 12/24/09: Try new flavors

So you have a coupon that's for a specific flavor, and you're going to be careful you use it correctly, as per yesterday's tip. But I want to encourage you to be willing to try new products and new flavors, with those specific-kind coupons. Often, companies who only sell an item during a certain season (pumpkin egg nog) or are launching a new item (Crackerfuls, which fell flat and was soon removed) will publish high-value coupons and severely discount the price in hopes of creating brand loyalty that will pay off later when the product is regular price and you don't have a coupon. Don't buy into that part of it, but feel free to take advantage of their big marketing push at the beginning! You could end up with a special treat you'll love. :)

Wednesday 12/23/09: Watch coupon rules: Specific flavors, etc

When you're buying egg nog and using a coupon for it, make sure that the coupon doesn't say you have to get pumpkin egg nog in order to get the savings, unless of course, you like pumpkin egg nog! Just be sure you're getting the right item so you're not stopped when you get to the register and then you're tempted to say, "Oh well, just go ahead and put it in, I guess." On the other hand...

Tuesday 12/22/09: It might not be a sale tag

While you're checking sale tags, make sure it's actually a sale tag. At Kroger they put tags the same color yellow as a sale tag on some items, but the tag just says "Everyday Low Price." It's the price it's always been, but putting a yellow tag on it makes you think you're getting a good deal. Remember, it's all a ploy to get you to buy more, and it's all based on real marketing research, so you have to be very savvy to make it work for you. But you can do it!

Monday 12/21/09: Check the sale tag

At the store where I do most of my grocery shopping (Kroger), they have an advertisement about how you'll find "those yellow tags" down every aisle and on the items you buy most. And it's true. But make sure you check that yellow tag to see what your actual savings is. I've seen them advertise a sale, and then it turns out that you're saving 19 cents on a 6-dollar item. Really? 19 cents? You call this a sale? I don't.

Sunday 12/20/09: Beware coupons for multiple items

I'm on vacation so I've missed a few days but I'm going to take a minute now to schedule some posts to appear automatically so hopefully that won't happen too much while I'm on vacation.

Today's tip is to choose carefully whether to use a coupon for multiple items. I saw a coupon a couple of weeks ago that was for something like if you bought two of these boxes of cereal, plus this drink, plus this movie, you'll get $5 back. Also, in our paper I frequently see coupons for peanut butter + jelly, or pancake mix + syrup, or canned milk + baking item, and I rarely clip them. Think of all the factors that have to come together to make them useful: both brands have to be on sale or cheap enough to be a comparable price to other brands, the coupon needs to be a high enough value, and you have to actually need and be willing to use all the items on the coupon. This doesn't happen enough for me. Once I did need pancake mix and canned milk, and both were on sale, so I saved a small percentage per item, but that's pretty rare.

Thursday 12/17/09: Don't buy paper towels

Okay, so this isn't really a coupon or sale tip at all, but it is about saving money (and the environment). I do use paper towels, but at the rate of about 1 roll every 9 months. Kleenex Viva are my favorite so when they go on sale and I have a coupon, I'll buy a roll if I'm almost out, and then that lasts me many months. And I'm a mom with an infant playing with solid foods. I know people who go through one or two rolls a week because they use them for everything, but you really don't need them to clean up spills. A dishcloth will work just as well and you can wash it. Thus you're saving money and the environment. A couple things I do consistently use paper towels for are cooking hot dogs (I wet the paper towel and wrap the dog in it to make it plump up nice & moist in the microwave) and cleaning glass. I can't think of anything else you have to have them for. Think of how you can use reusable products instead of disposable products, and you'll save money every time.

Wednesday 12/16/09: Some stores bonus coupons over $0.50

We traveled to Ohio for Thanksgiving and on our way there we stopped at a Kroger. I decided to get some Gerber juice for my baby since she had drunk the remainder of what we had. I had a coupon for 55 cents off of three, and they were on sale. Not a stellar buy, but still saving money on something I had to buy. When I got my receipt, behold, Kroger had added a 45-cent bonus "coupon" to make it equal a dollar. WHOA. I mean, that's the reason for 55-cent coupons--the store doesn't have to double it. So far I haven't found a store in my area that does this, but be aware that there are some that do, so you can look for one in your area. Ask your store if they're aware of any of their chain that will bonus any coupon to make it worth $1.

Tuesday 12/15/09: It's a marketing ploy: "Limit 3"

Hmm, missed a few days, didn't I?

Today's tip is another in the "It's a marketing ploy" series. Marketing research shows that people will walk by a table with a product on sale, but will stop and buy 3 if there's a big bright sign that says "Limit 3" or however many. The psychology is that you feel like if there's a limit on how many you can get, it must be a really good buy. Don't buy into it--unless it really is a good buy! Just make sure you're getting a good product at a good price... and as an added tip, if you don't need three, don't buy three.

Friday 12/11/09: It's a myth: "Buying bulk is cheaper"

Almost anyone will tell you that it's cheaper to buy in bulk. That is, after all, the thought behind "Value Packs" and Sam's Club and Costco, right? Well, it's not always true. Make sure you're scouting sales and figuring out the cost per item or unit.
Even cheapskates like me have certain things they just won't buy the cheapest version of. One of mine is hot dogs. I will only eat Hebrew National hot dogs. Another is pancake syrup. In our house Saturday morning is Pancake Day. I can't bring myself to buy that cheap syrup that is basically pure sugar with artificial flavorings and tastes like it. I want the pure maple syrup. Yes, I'm aware it's several dollars a bottle, but it's just that good, and we don't go through that much of it. I do buy the store brand, though. Would you believe that the larger size of Kroger pure maple syrup is more expensive per ounce than the smaller size, and has been since I've been buying it. So, I always by the smaller size.
Another example is soda. My husband loves to drink Mt. Dew. The cheapest place to get it, usually, is at Sam's. But occasionally Kroger will run it on sale, plus a buy-three/four/whatever-get-$$-off, and it turns out to be significantly cheaper than Sam's.
Just be sure you're looking to see how much it costs per item or per unit of measure to make sure you're getting a good deal.

Thursday 12/10/09: It's a marketing ploy: "30% more!"

This is the first of an ongoing series I'll have on marketing ploys that are designed to get you to buy items but don't necessarily save you money.

Marketing research as shown that people are more inclined to buy something that has a special label on it such as "50% more!" or the like. Sometimes this means that the product contains 12 ounces instead of 8 ounces and is sold at the 8-oz price, which is a good thing. However, make sure you read the small print on the label! The other day I saw on a product, "30% more!" in big happy letters, and underneath it said in tiny letters "than the 5-oz. size." No price difference, just more product. Beware of this scheme and make sure you're getting a good deal.

Wednesday 12/09/09: If you have $$ off purchase of $$...

So what about those $5 off purchase of $25 like the coupon you can get for Riteaid off of smartsource.com and redplum.com? Can you combine them with other coupons? Absolutely. Not only that, but you should make sure the price before coupons is $25, then hand the cashier the $5 coupon first. Then give the rest of the coupons and they'll come off the remaining cost. That's how I got $28 worth of merchandise (most already on a good sale) for $17 this week.

Tuesday 12/08/09: If you have $$ off purchase of $$...

Smartsource.com and Redplum.com are both offering coupons from RiteAid for $5 off $25. If you go to use that coupon, make sure the total price of your purchase is as close to $25 as possible (mine today was $28). If you need enough stuff to warrant it, go back later and use the second coupon to get it again. Then you've saved $10 off of $50 as opposed to $5 off if you'd purchased everything at the same time. Better yet, see if the cashier will ring the groups up separately and let you use the coupons at the same time.

Monday 12/07/09: Use redplum.com

Another online source of coupons is Redplum.com. They don't have as many grocery coupons as Smartsource, but they do have several categories of coupons, like restaurants and style.

Saturday 12/5/09: Use smartsource.com

You know about coupons you get in the paper, coupons you get in the mail, coupons you get in your email, but did you know you can also access coupons online? Smartsource.com is one that lets you print coupons (which personally I like better because 1) the store will still double it and 2) I don't have to remember what they are, as opposed to ones loaded electronically to my card). Yesterday I saw they had one that was $5 off a $25 purchase at Riteaid, which I really could have used two days earlier... oh well! Also I was able to print one for a package of coffee filters I was headed to the store to buy anyway, so with the coupon and the sale on them, I was able to save about 65% on that. Lots of stuff out there, just gotta look!

Friday 12/4/09: Like blizzards? Join the fan club.

As part of living healthy after being obese as a teenager, I cannot have ice cream in my house. But I'm not willing to give up ice cream forever. I know it's more expensive, but if I have ice cream, it's by getting it out somewhere. That way it has to be a special occasion as opposed to a pint of Ben & Jerry's calling my name every day in the freezer. So it only made sense for me to join Dairy Queen's Blizzard Fan Club (sign up on the bottom of the page). Once a month I get a coupon in my email to buy one, get one free of the blizzard of the month (the pumpkin one was to die for). One for me, one for my husband, $3.32. And the coupon rule is to be used only once so I get ice cream once a month, at a pretty good price, without overindulging! Everyone wins.

Thursday 12/3/09: Double up on rebates

Yesterday I wrote about the gift of savings from Riteaid, and I also want you to know that you can double up on these rebates. The gift of savings rebate is actually from Riteaid, but Riteaid is constantly offering rebates from manufacturers as well. For example, if you're a parent you go through lots of batteries like we do. Our seven-month-old has to sleep with a noise machine for which we don't have a power cord, so I'm always in the market for cheap AA batteries. This week Riteaid has an offer to purchase $15 in Duracell batteries and get a $5 rebate. They also have a coupon to get a 12-pk for $7.99 (btw, not an impressive deal unless you combine it). Lately the papers have been running 75-cent coupons for Duracell which you can combine with the Riteaid coupon. If there are other similar deals that get you to $25, you'll get the $5 from Duracell and the $5 from RiteAid so you really only spent $15, and better yet if you found another rebate you could use! I'm not a fan of Riteaid's normal prices but this is a way you can get super deals there.

Wednesday 12/2/09: Riteaid gift of savings

Riteaid is running a Christmas gift of savings now that their fall gift of savings program ended. Basically, if you spend $25, you get $5 back, $10 back on $50, and $20 back on $100. The fall program is one of the reasons I got the three packages of Huggies for $7 total. If they have things you need, and you're going to spend the money anyway, this could be a good way to get it back!

Tuesday 12/01/09: Use two coupons on the same item

Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid all tend to include store-specific coupons in their sale ads. What you may not realize, though, is that it's rare for these coupons to be restricted to be used alone. Usually a coupon you clip from the paper will say "not valid in conjunction with any other offer" or "limit one per item per customer" in order to prevent you from using multiple coupons to get an item for free. That's not usually the case with an in-ad coupon. Look at the fine print to make sure it doesn't contain one of those exclusions, and then use both. I did this a few weeks ago to get Softsoap body wash at Rite Aid for 25 cents.