Sunday 11/8/09: Beware of "buy one get one"

As I look through the paper today, my tip is about looking through sale papers. I know it's hard to believe (lol) but sale papers are designed to get you to spend money. Everything is a ploy for companies to make money. They're counting on you not being one of the few who knows how to turn everything to your financial advantage... which I know you can do! So on the front page of the CVS insert, I find out that Loreal lip color is buy one, get one. Plus there are coupons for $1. I have two because I bought two papers. So I can get 2 lipsticks for $3.99 ($5.99, plus one free, - $2 in coupons). This is a really good deal for Loreal lipstick. If you wear lipstick. I have to admit I'm very tempted by this deal, but I wear lipstick perhaps once a month, and anything I need, my lipstick-addict mom can supply me with. So if I take advantage of this great deal, I've just spent $4 I didn't need to spend.

Don't get sucked in to the marketing ploys!

Friday, 11/06/09: First newspaper of the month

Have you noticed that the first Saturday of the month is the biggest one for yardsales? Well, the same is true for coupons. The first weekend of the month, unless there's a holiday (like Labor Day), is typically the biggest one for coupons. Occasionally there are as many as five coupon inserts that Sunday, but the norm is three for us here, one RedPlum, one SmartSource, and one P&G brandsaver. So on the first Sunday you'll definitely want to buy two unless it's a holiday. The coupon value that day is usually well over $300.

Thursday 11/5/09: Don't buy two newspapers

Does your newspaper tell you how many coupons are inside?

On the outside of our newspaper, the Louisville Courier-Journal, in the top right corner, there's a red box that says "$145 in coupons inside!" or something to that effect. When there are no coupons, no box.

In this tip I'm amending the previous one to buy two newspapers. If there is less than $200 worth of coupons inside the paper, I only buy one, because I can be pretty sure there aren't enough coupons I'll actually use to justify the cost of two papers. If there are over $200, I'll buy two.

Wednesday 11/4/09: Buy two newspapers

Today's tip:

Almost every Sunday, you should buy two of the largest local newspaper. This will get you two of each coupon inside.

Exception:
There are usually no coupons released on holiday weekends, so don't buy a paper. You can view sale papers online so the newspaper isn't worth it for that.