Using a Coupon Database

In the past few years I have found that I can reduce my grocery bill by using coupons. I also found that using a database like this one at HotCouponWorld is a big help. It took me a little while to get the hang of using it but it is a great tool.

You can search for coupons for a certain item. You can even search by source or store. Searching by store is helpful for those who don't have a lot of stores to choose from and don't want to wade through a lot of information. The coupon database is also helpful in finding where the printable coupons can be found.

You can also trade for coupons that you might need that someone else doesn't. You might wonder why you would want multiple coupons for something. If something that you use is on sale, multiple coupons will help you stockpile that item at a low price. For example, for the last few weeks several stores have had Progresso Soup on sale. Food Lion had it for $1 a can; Walgreens had it for 1.25; even Target had it on sale for 1.40. This is something I stockpile for Lent for my husband's lunch. (He claims that the Lentil soup is THE best he has had. LOL). I had several coupons from inserts that came in my paper and some that friends brought me, plus several printables. I was able to get a bunch of soup for anywhere from 25 cents to $1 a can!!

Speaking of Target and printables, you simply MUST check out the Target Coupon Generator at HotCouponWorld. If you print coupons on-line, you know that some sites print one coupon per page. Or print a coupon on the top and then the bottom has a recipe or ad or something on it. If you print multiple coupons (which you should), you end up with a lot of wasted paper and ink. The Target Coupon Generator prints multiple coupons on one page--you can even print more than one of the SAME coupon!

Using the example of the soup again, let's say that on the Target Coupon Generator there is a soup coupon and I have manufacturer coupons for soup, I can use BOTH at Target. At most stores, you can combine a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon to get even more savings---pair those with a store sale and you are on your way to really saving!!

There are so many resources out there to help you lower your grocery bill. It is a shame not to use them. I am not as good as some people who might be able to feed their families for less than $50 a week but I am getting better! I think that feeding my family of 10 for less than $100 a week proves that! LOL

While you are at HotCouponWorld using the coupon database and the Target Coupon Generator also check out the many resources that they have complied there for you.

Survey Sites that Pay!!!!

In today's economy, I think we are all finding that every little bit counts! One way to earn a little extra cash or gifts is through online survey sites. If you are like me, you cruise a lot of blogs and see people mention this site or that site but you wonder, "How do I know that I won't get a ton of spam?" or "How do I know this site is legit?" Wouldn't it be nice to have a list of tried and true survey sites? And have that list complied by people you can trust? Well, guess what? Now there is!!

HotCouponWorld has made a list of 19 survey sites!! These sites are legit! They are a good way to earn extra money because they really do pay out! And even better, you won't get bombarded by a ton of spam---although some sites still send a little, you won't be overwhelmed.

Something I have done to help with spam and to keep on top of my surveys is create a separate email (from a free site like GoogleMail or Yahoo) just for surveys.

Not only are online surveys a great way to make money or earn points which can be redeemed for gifts but you might also be chosen to test new products!!

Check out HotCouponWorld's list of recommended survey sites and start earning some cash today!!

CVS 1/27/09

Quick trip to CVS this week.

1 Pert shampoo

5 Gillette Shampoo

1 Blade deoderant

3 Listerine Smart Rinse

2 Mentos

3 Bayer (one was a bonus pack)

2 Kids Throat Cooler

Total before coupons: 66.84

Used Coupons: 16.54

Used ECBs: 50.00

Oop: 1.42

Earned: 37.98

ECBs I have now: 53.06

Walgreens 1/24/09

This is the result of actually 2 trips to Walgreens. I don't normally shop Walgreens because everytime I have, I have had problems using coupons or RR or something. There is another Walgreens I could try but it is farther than I would like to drive and is pretty much out of the way for me.



On my first visit, I got the Ragu, Skippy, Pepsi and Kotex. I earned $21 in RR. I told the cashier, "I will be right back to use those in a minute." We took the stuff out to the car and came back in. On the 2nd visit I got the Lipton tea bags, Pantene shampoo, Kotex and Lever soap. I used several q's for all of it. After those my total was $41.xx she then tried to use my RR and they wouldn't work. She said, "You should have used these first." And I am thinking, "YOU should have put them in first since I handed them to you that way." She tried several time and they would not work. *grrrrr* So she handed them back to me. I still save almost $30 on that trip but wanted to use the RR to lower my oop. I also earned another $10 RR.



So from the two trips me oop was about $70 and I earned $31 RR. Frustrated, I decided to just go spend the RR the next week.

I stopped in on Tuesday, the 27th and got this:



6 packs of diapers. They were on sale for 5.99. I have 2 in diapers (one I need to start potty training). So this is helpful and something that I needed. I also got 3 cokes for my shopping helpers. LOL My oop was 11.26 (probably should have only gotten 5 packs but I like things to be even. LOL)

CVS 1/20/2009

I had about $64 in ECBs that were set to expire today. I hate when I do that but there haven't been any decent deals at CVS or rather nothing I wanted to venture out to get. Plus we had all that sickness over Christmas and New Years. So I just held on to them until I HAD to go.

I wrote down a few things to look at but when I got there, of course, no shampoo and a few other things I was hoping to get. So here is how I did...

4 12-pks of Pepsi products
3 bags of chips
1 Clairol Hair Instincts
2 CVS allergy med
3 American Greetings cards
2 Maybelline Mineral Powder
3 Sambucol immune system support

Total before: 95.49
used 2.00 q
used 64.26 ecb
oop 30.58 (more than I really wanted to spend oop but I was flustered and in a rush LOL)

Earned: 65.08 in ECBs plus 4 computer coupons

So I actually ended up with more ECBs than I started with, which I wasn't planning on but is OK by me. Hopefully I won't sit on these ones...come on CVS give us some good deals!!!

Target Toy Clearance

Sorry about the glare on the picture but you get the idea. Target is having its big January toy clearance. I had been real good about not going because we really do not need more toys but today I gave in after reading on one of my favorite messages boards that there were rumors of toys going 90 percent off!!! Anyone who knows/follows Target clearances, knows that this is unheard of! Only holidays go 90 percent off. I still had to check it out.

As my daughter and I made our way to toys I saw standing close to the toys, my favorite mark down lady!! WOOT! We moved a little quicker. I overheard her discussion over time with the manager LOL. When they were done talking, I told her that I love seeing her in the toy department. She told me where they had already been and what still needed done. I asked her about 90 percent off and she denied it. I still will check later this week. LOL

This is what I got today...

Electronic Doodle Pro 5.48

Mad Science Dinosaur kit 3.94

2 Lapdesks with stamps and such 3.74 each

Barbie with 3 puppies 4.98

Breyer Stablemates 4.98

Stormtrooper Potato head 2.74

R2-D2 potato head 2.74

Othello 2.48

Yahtzee Free for All 2.24

Zooreka 2.98

American Girl 300 Wishes 4.98

Monopoly Town 1.98

Horton Hears a Who game 4.98

Thomas the Train engine 1.72

Clipo set 4.98

Vtech smartboard 6.24

King Arthur figures 2.98

Word World Stamp kit 2.38

I also got a few shirts for 1.48 and some cereal for 1.97. So I didn't just get junk. LOL I put most of the stuff away for birthdays or namedays. I am not stupid enough to think I can hold it until Christmas. LOL

This made up a little for the lame Old Navy clearance last week I guess---although we needed pants much more than we needed toys. LOL

I told my girls that most of them are board games because when everything goes digital we won't be able to watch any TV---we will need something to do. LOL

Menu Plan Monday

Monday~Pizza Rolls; Hamburger Helper

Tuesday~Pigs in the Blanket; Chicken and Rice

Wednesday~Fish sticks; Spaghetti

Thursday~(Timothy's Nameday--he picks meals)~chicken noodle soup; Dairy Queen

Friday~Spaghetti O's or mac and cheese; Tuna casserole

Saturday~leftovers

For more menu plans check out orgjunkie.com