Tuesday's Tip 48: This Time Next Year

Our year is winding down, so now it's time for an important tip. Sales come and go, but for many there is a pattern. You can typically count on cereal to drop to under $2.oo a box every 3-6 months. But other sales are seasonal.

Every summer hot dog and sodas drop to rock bottom prices as people gear up for cook outs. You can spend this time scooping up sodas at $5.00 for a 24-pack and hot dogs for around $0.70 a package. Fruit is another one. You'll find that fruit is cheapest when it is in season. So watch as all the wonderful sales you snagged last year show up again this year - suntan lotion in the summer, school supplies at the end of the summer/ early fall, barbecue sauces in the summer, soups in the winter, etc...

Do you have a season sale item you always look forward to scooping up cheap? Share and if you have a great money-saving tip, e-mail me or leave a comment!

Tuesday's Tip 47: Don't Procrastinate

I often find coupons that have expired and I forgot to use them! It's sad. Instead of waiting until the last day of the month to look through your coupons and throw out the expired ones, do it a little early. That way if you find a coupon you really wanted to use, you still have time!

Have a wonderful tip that saves you money? Share. Just e-mail me or leave a comment and I'll give you credit!

Freebie Seaker Must-Have: Form AutoFill

If you're like me, you get sick of filling out the same form over and over again, even if you do love getting a mailbox full of FREEbies.

To speed things up, you might consider autofill program for your computer. With many of them you can enter multiple profiles and with one click it will fill out the main part of the information like your name, full address, and phone number. Of course, if there are any survey questions, you'll have to handle those by yourself. Either way, it saves some serious time!


There are many FREE options, but you can also buy one, if you're looking for something more advance that does more of the work for you.

Here are a few FREE ones that I recommend:

• Autofill Add-On for FireFox
• Form Auto-Filler for Internet Explorer, MSN Explorer, or Maxthon
• Google Toolbar w/ AutoFill for Internet Explorer or FireFox (mine pictured)

Tuesday's Tip 46: The Clipping Cheat

I highly recommend if you clip coupons to clip every single coupon from the newspaper. Why? Weeks down the road, there may be a great deal and if you threw the coupons away, you can't take advantage. Of course, clipping 100's of coupon each week can take some serious time. This is one time in life where I recommend cheating!

So many frugal bloggers do the work for you now, so sort through the inserts and clip only the coupons you know you'll use or often use. Store the remaining part of the insert unclipped in a file organizer or binder by date, so when you find a great deal you can simply pull out the coupon, clip it, and add it to your shopping list. This will save you lots of time each week and you'll still be able to find the coupons you use often quickly.

Have a wonderful tip that saves you money? Share. Just e-mail me or leave a comment and I'll give you credit!

Tuesday's Tip 45: Get Extra Coupons

Do I run to the store and buy 5 papers when it's full of good coupons? No, but that doesn't mean I don't get a few extras. Look around you at the people you know who don't necessarily use their coupons, then ask if you can have them. You may be able to snag an extra insert from your co-worker, mother-in-law, or neighbor!


You can also visit stores near you to grab some coupons at a discounted rate right at the end of the day, just before they throw them away.

Have a wonderful tip that saves you money? Share. Just e-mail me or leave a comment and I'll give you credit!

Tuesday's Tip 44: Demand Quality

Ever buy a product, them come home to realize it's less than perfect? Maybe the Velcro on your diapers just doesn't work or the bag inside your cereal box is slightly open. Maybe your crackers are more chewy, than crunchy. Whatever the problem, make sure to call the manufacturer and let them know. Often they'll send you a coupon to get a new one for FREE or check their website for a money-back guarantee to get a full refund.

Have a tip to save money? E-mail me or leave a comment and I'll give you credit!

And Then Comes Cyber Monday

While many rush to the stores the day after Thanksgiving to hit all of the Black Friday sales, but some shoppers don't even know what Cyber Monday is!?!

Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving and Black Friday. It started a few years ago and is like the online version of Black Friday with out the hectic traffic, rush to steal parking spots, endless lines, and shoving through crowds in hopes of grabbing the very last Zhu Zhu pet. Instead you get to sit in the privacy of your own home at your computer and browse they many online sites which will be having some hot deals with extra savings like free shipping and more!

Many are predicting that Cyber Monday will be bigger than Black Friday this year and definitely bigger than Cyber Monday 2008, but we'll have to see as the deals roll out.

Will you be hitting Black Friday this year? Cyber Monday? or Both?

Tuesday's Tip 43: Straight to the Source

Can you think of a product you often can't find a coupon for? How about bananas? Ask Dole!

When you want a coupon for a product you often buy, call or e-mail the manufacturer. Often by simply praising their products and asking them for coupons, they'll send you some. Also, join newsletters for manufacturers of products you buy most often! They are filled with exclusive savings, sales, and more!

Have a great money saving tip? Leave a comment or e-mail me! I'll give you credit.

Black Friday: Survive the Battle of Bargains

Okay, lets do a mini quiz...

I love a good deal and snagging great items for almost nothing, so on Black Friday, I am usually :

A) up at 2:00 AM with my plan of attack in hand to get in line and grab all the best deals before they are gone.

B) moseying out of the house around noon when the crowd has calmed down to snag a few wonderful bargains I can't pass up.

OR

C) hiding out at home hoping that I won't have to leave the house and struggle through the packed roads or crowded stores.

Did you answer C? You'd be correct.

Here's a little secret stores don't want you to know. While there are a few amazing deals at most stores on Black Friday, most deals aren't anything better than what you would see on sale throughout other days of the year.

So, what's the lesson here? If you don't want to deal with major crowds and crazy customers, don't feel guilty about skipping Black Friday. You can still find some amazing deals in time for Christmas in the days to come.

I know many of you love Black Friday though... the crowds, the deals, the hype. It's hard to ignore the call. Even I get excited and start thinking about going each year. And then I change my mind and bunker down. However, I can help you have a wonderful Black Friday shopping trip... and who knows... maybe I really will venture out this year.

Compare: Just because it's on sale and/or advertised, does not mean its the best deal! Compare prices and make sure you know where the best deal really is and also that it truly is a bargain and not a phantom sale!

Plan: Make sure you have a "plan of attack". The hottest items will sale out quickly and most quantities are limited, so you have to hit these first. Plan your day around these items and be there when the store opens. Keep in mind that different stores will open at different times, but lines will form long before the store opens at the hottest stores, like Toys 'R Us. To have a productive Black Friday experience, you MUST plan, plan, plan! The best Black Friday shoppers have a back-up plan for their plan and a back-up plan for their back-up plan!

Sleep: Go to bed early (or completely forgo sleep) to be ready before the crack of dawn. Stores open as early as 4:00 AM, while others let you sleep in a bit and open at 6:00 AM. And, if you plan on shopping Black Friday, do it right! Get out there early (and I mean EARLY), when the best deals are still available. Dress lightly, so you don't overheat and don't worry about the hair. Everyone will be in too much of a rush to notice.

Partner Up: Black Friday shopping is a team sport! Have a partner or partners to help you scope out deals , grab items for you, and pull you through the crowds. You can also have one person stand in the check out line, while the other shops to save you some time getting back out and to the next store. You can trade places to take turn shopping, because some check out lines can resemble amusement park lines. Don't forget your cell phone, so you can keep in contact!

Chill Out: Take it in stride! Black Friday can turn even the sanest person into a complete nut. Emotions run high. Drivers become crankier, shoppers become pushier, and everyone is feeling a bit chaotic, so remember to stop and take a deep breath so you don't find your self among the nuts!

Break: After the early morning rush, slow down! The morning is the craziest time, because everyone is trying to snag the hottest items. As the day goes on, you can take breaks and browse. Many great deals are unadvertised. Don't get too comfortable though. Some stores have late night deals too!

Don't Skip Clothes: Grab some tops and pants too! Clothing is usually one of the best deals on Black Friday, because clothing stores are trying hard to compete with the electronics deals. Keep a list of sizes with you, so you can grab and run.

Receipt Please: Keep an envelope or section of your purse reserved for receipts. In all the grabbing, there is a good chance you'll walk out with something you didn't really want or doesn't fit, so you'll want to be able to return it.

Note: Most stores do not release their Black Friday advertisements until Thanksgiving Day. They've asked us bloggers not to leak them, until they are official, so I'm going to respect their wishes. However, A Full Cup has a great forum watching out for the best Black Friday deals, so join in on the fun and check it out!

Tuesday's Tip 42: Make it Healthier

I often hear from many coupon skeptics that you can only get unhealthy foods cheap. I definitely know since I've been incorporating coupons and searching out deals, our family is actually eating healthier. However, instead of a tip on being frugal, I thought I'd offer a cooking tip today.

I'm still a hesitant cook at time. I often worry about straying too far from the recipe's directions. However, I always look for easy ways to make meals healthier. I'll mix in extra vegetables, add nuts whenever possible, use applesauce instead of oil, etc...

Often when a recipe calls for frying, you can use a bread crumb mixture as a coating and bake it instead. Sometimes, instead of using bread crumbs, crackers, or corn flakes, I throw whole grain Cheerios into my Magic Bullet and grind them into a fine dust to use in place of the bread crumbs. Honey Nut Cheerios taste great on baked chicken nuggets! Baking things like pancakes, waffles, bread, and more at home can also save you money and be healthier than what you'd buy at the store. Snag some recipes HERE.

Even if you aren't a chef or hate to cook, you can make simple meals healthier. Add nuts, diced strawberries, or sliced bananas to yogurt, cereal and milk, or oatmeal. My husband isn't a cook and I can pretty much well count on him to make a Betty Crocker Helper meal when I'm not around. I even make those healthier by buying the tuna or chicken ones. Or I often just use tuna or chicken in the hamburger meals, if it's a meal that takes just as well with the substitution. To make it easier for my husband, I buy the canned white meat chicken breasts, just like a I do the tuna. They often go on sale 10/$10 at Meijer!

What do you substitute or add to make your meals healthier? Leave a comment & share! Plus, if you have a great tip to save money e-mail me or leave a comment. I'll give you credit.

Tuesday's Tip 41: Browse the End

When shopping, always check the end caps of the aisles. This is often where stores place their best deals. Why? It's to entice you to actually go down the aisle. Use coupons on top of great prices to lower your out-of-pocket and snag amazing deals!

Have a wonderful tip to save money? Leave a comment or e-mail me! I'll give you credit.

Tuesday's Tip 40: Teach Them Young

Kids are never too young to start learning to save money. I've taught my children since birth the "rules" of shopping to make trips with them less painful. For example, we stick to the shopping list. If it's not on there, we don't buy it!

I involve my children in the process from the beginning. My oldest daughter looks forward to running out each Sunday morning to grab the newspaper, then she scours the circulars for items on sale that she knows we most likely have coupons for. Of course, she's always looking at the cookies and candy. She's always the first to tell me when Warm Delights are FREE or cheap. Even my 2 year old gets involved by helping wrinkle the coupons and she handles them through out the store, even handing them to the cashier at the end.

No matter what age your children are, get them involved - let them handle the calculator, cross items off the list as you buy them, pick out the perfect peaches, figure out the unit price, find the matching coupons, etc... the options are endless and depend on their age! Plus, it's a great way to weave in some education lessons while on the go!

Have a wonderful tip to save money? Leave a comment or e-mail me! I'll give you credit.

Tuesday's Tip 39: Entice the Children

Shopping with children can be a challenge and if you can't leave them at home for the trip, you need ways to get them to enjoy shopping too. I mentioned the FREE cookie last week, but here is another tip...

Whenever I shop with my kids, I always plan my grocery list with them in mind and try to add one or more items that are just for them. It may handing over my FREE candy bar coupon to them or letting them pick out a box or two of cereal, but I always try to include something somewhat special for them.

Have a wonderful tip to save money? Leave a comment or e-mail me! I'll give you credit.

Tuesday's Tip 38: Free Cookies

Shopping with children can be a challenge and if you can't leave them at home for the trip, you need ways to keep them entertained. Bakeries at the grocery store use to keep out small containers of cookies that were FREE to kids! They aren't gone!

So where did they go? Thanks to so many allergy issues and sanitary concerns, the cookies are now hidden behind the counter. Simply ask a baker for one to entertain your children for a few minutes while they gobble it up!

Have a wonderful tip to save money? Leave a comment or e-mail me! I'll give you credit.

Tuesday's Tip 37: Look High, Look Low

Stores place their most expensive items at eye level, so you'll be more likely to see it and buy it. When shopping, don't forget to look at the lower part and the higher part of the shelves. This is often where store put the less expensive (but not necessarily not as good) products!

Have a wonderful tip to save money? Leave a comment or e-mail me! I'll give you credit.

Tuesday's Tip 36: Take a Break

Trying to keep up on all the latest deals, roll your ECB or RR, and snag all the wonderful freebies can be exhausting! Don't be afraid to to just stop and take a break.

Every so often, I go and spend my ECBs on something that won't get me more back, so that I can sit back for a while without worrying about them expiring. You can't snag every amazing deal, so don't feel bad if a few slide by you. After you're break, you'll be rejuvenated to come back full force!

Tuesday's Tip 35: Extend Your Fruit's Life

Did you know that you don't have to spend tons of money on expensive products that guarantee to extend the life of your fruits and vegetables? Simply wrap fruits and vegetables like lettuce can help your fruits and vegetables stay fresh 2-3 times longer.

Simply wrap it your fruit in a paper towel, then store it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Tuesday's Tip 34: Pay Attention

When you are checking out, watch the cashier and the cash register as items are scanned. Sometimes items on sale don't ring up the way they should, coupons don't double, or some other error can occur. If you're paying attention and catch this, telling the cashier can save you money!
Also, keep your eyes out as you walk through the store! Not all deals are advertised, so you may be able to snag something you didn't expect at a great price.

How do you make sure your total is what you expected to pay?

Have a great tip? E-mail me or leave a comment and I'll give you credit!

Tuesday's Tip 33: What is Unnecessary?

A while back, Money Saving Mom announced she decided to do without paper towels. By reading the responses from her readers, you would have thought she had decided to give up oxygen. Think about it though... what does a paper towel do that some other product can't handle just as well? Cloth towels work perfectly and since you reuse them, they are cheaper than paper towels. You can cover a dish in the microwave with a coffee filter, which is cheaper.

This got me thinking... what could I do with out? Let me ask you, what is in your home that you could do without? Think about it, then save money by simply not buying it any more.

What can you live without? What have you cut out of your life to save money and cut your budget? Share!

Tuesday's Tip 32: Don't Fear Clearance

The clearance section of the grocery store isn't necessarily food that is on it's last leg. Many shoppers avoid it, just because it may be going bad soon. Not long ago, Mylanta changed the name of their Ultimate Strength product to Extra Strength. Due to that one word change, all of their Ultimate Strength product went on clearance and with coupons, you could snag it cheap or FREE.

Stores put foods on clearance for different reasons: it's a holiday item and the holiday is over, the product is discontinued, they have too much in stock, the manufacturer has changed the product, or it's reaching the end of it's shelf life. Often by taking a peek at the clearance section, you can grab some great deals. You can use your coupons on top of clearance items too to save even more. You wouldn't believe how much cheap or FREE Coffemate I get from the clearance section, especially around the holidays.

Sometimes, yes, the product is about to expire. However, if you buy clearanced dairy, fruit, or vegetables, bring them home and cook something up to freeze to extend the life of the product. Turning old bananas into muffins and cheese into a casserole, then sticking it in the freezer will extend the life of the ingredients by up to 6 months. Clearanced meat can no longer be refrigerated, but it can be frozen, so bring it home and stick it in the freezer to extend it's life. Just watch the color, to make sure it's not beyond saving!