Coupons + Sales + Minimal Effort = Family Vacay

It's difficult to see the long-term effect of saving money at the grocery store. Here are a few different scenarios to show you what a HUGE difference your savings can make:

#1. A single adult

Grocery Budget: $150/month

Dining out Budget: $75/month

If you just saved 20% on your groceries per month and used discounted gift certificates from restaurant.com or other types of coupons when dining out, you could save $30/month on groceries and $30/month when dining out. That's $60/month x 12 months per year. 

That's $720 per year!!!

Now imagine that you get your grocery savings up to 30%. That's $45/month savings on groceries, and $30/month on dining out. That's $75/month x 12 months per year. 

That's $900 per year!!!

#2. A married couple

Grocery Budget: $250/month

Dining out Budget: $150/month

If you just saved 20% on your groceries per month and used discounted gift certificates from restaurant.com or other types of coupons when dining out, you could save $50/month on groceries and $60/month when dining out. That's $110/month x 12 months per year. 

That's $1,320 per year!!!

Now imagine that you get your grocery savings up to 30%. That's $75/month savings on groceries, and $60/month on dining out. That's $135/month x 12 months per year. 

That's $1,620 per year!!!

$3. Family of 4

Grocery Budget: $500/month

Dining out Budget: $300/month

If you just saved 20% on your groceries per month and used discounted gift certificates from restaurant.com or other types of coupons when dining out, you could save $100/month on groceries and $120/month when dining out. That's $220/month x 12 months per year. 

That's $2,640 per year!!!

Now imagine that you get your grocery savings up to 30%. That's $150/month savings on groceries, and $120/month on dining out. That's $270/month x 12 months per year. 

That's $3,240 per year!!!

Get your grocery savings up to 35-45% and the savings will go up even more. This is serious cash, people!!

$3,300... that's a family vacation!! 

This is equivalent to additional income. 

To go one step further,
saving $1,000 over the course of the year on groceries is like making an additional $1,250 at work.
Due to taxes, you would have to earn $1,250 to bring home $1,000.

 See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Tips on Buying Meat and Fish

Buying meat and fish can be very expensive. 

Here are some useful tips to help you save some money and not have to change your diet:

Buy meat and fish when they are on sale and freeze customized portions in individual freezer bags. Take the bag out of the freezer a few hours before you need to cook it. Meat will last in the freezer for upwards of a few months.

 Buy a filet roast and have the butcher cut it into steaks for you. It will be less expensive than buying the pre-cut filets.  

Always look for the package with the longest expiration date to make sure that you are buying the freshest meat that will last the longest. 

Buy top-sirloin on sale and have the butcher grind it into fresh hamburger meat for you. You must buy about 6 lbs. but you will get the best quality meat. Again, freeze into individual bags.

Be familiar with the price range of the meat/fish that you prefer.

Some good prices that we have found are:

• Extra lean hamburger for $1.88/lb (higher fat content will be less expensive)
• Bone-in chicken breast for $.99/lb
• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.97/lb 
• Filet mignon for $7.99/lb 
• Salmon for $6.99/lb

When you see these prices, buy enough to last you for a few months and freeze it. 

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Name Brand vs. Store Brand

Are you afraid to buy the store brand products at the grocery store?

Don't be scared, store brand products are regulated by the FDA! It's not the rejected stuff!!

We have discovered that many store brand products taste just as good and work as well as the name brand.

A few products that we have found of equal quality to name brands are:

butter

sugar
flour

bottled water

popcorn

cheese

juice

eggs

milk

hand soap/dish soap

dishwasher detergent

trash bags

frozen vegetables and fruits

canned foods

pasta

nuts

 Don't stray from products that have a distinct flavor. Sometimes it's not worth buying the store brand if that's not what you like. You might have to experiment a little bit to find which products are worth it to you.

Erin Schwendemann from lifehacker.com posted this article:

"If you're particular about the tartness of A1 Steak Sauce or the exact flavor of Miracle Whip, generic options may not be right for you. Store brands that emphasize value may contain cheaper ingredients, and even when national brands manufacture a different type of product to be sold as a store brand, they make it to the store's own specifications, which could mean a change in ingredients, Consumer Reports says."

What she means is that sometimes the flavor of the store brand and the name brand will slightly differ, but you will find quickly what can and can't be replicated. 

 Remember, sometimes the brand name can be cheaper if it is on sale and if you have a coupon.

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Examples of sale + a coupon

As you know, I saved 44% at the grocery store last week. Had a total of $20.40 of on sale savings and $7.00 in coupon savings.

Instead of writing about each thing I bought, I am going to show you examples of what we mean by "on sale + a coupon," which is our favorite thing in the whole world.

Fiber One Bars- Apple Streusel, reg. $3.50, were on sale for $1.74, plus I had a coupon for $.50 off 2 boxes (doubled to $1 off 2 boxes) so I got each box for $1.24.

Progresso Chicken Broth- Reg. $2.79, on sale for 2/$5 and I had a coupon for $1 off, so I got it for $1.50.

Langers Juice- Reg. $3.99, on sale for 3/$5, and I had 2 coupons. The first was $1 off 1 bottle and the other was $1 off 2 bottles. I got each bottle for $1.

Welch's Essentials Grape Juice- Reg. $3.49, on sale for $2.99 and I had 2 coupons each for $1 off 1. I got each bottle for $1.99. I knew that this was a new product which means that it will go on sale a lot at the beginning. I was very patient and kept checking out when would be the best time to use my coupons. It paid off!

 Skippy Creamy Peanut Butter- Reg. $2.69, on sale for 2/$5 and I had a coupon for $.50 off 1 (which was doubled). I got the jar for $1.50.

Palmolive Soap- Reg. $3.99, Super Saver Coupon Price of $1.99, plus I had a coupon for $.40 off 1 (which was doubled to $.80). I got the dish soap for $1.19.

Milk was on sale for $.99 for 1 gallon. I didn't have a coupon for this, but I just wanted to remind everyone to always buy the gallon with the latest expiration date to ensure that you are getting the freshest milk that will last the longest. 

See, it takes no time to save a dime. 

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Chegg.com

Chegg. That's a funny word.

Chegg.com is an up-and-coming website where you can rent your college textbooks. It is currently the #1 textbook rental service.

It is really easy to sign up and find the books that you need. 

You can rent them for the whole semester and extend the length if needed.You can also buy the text book at the end if you want to.

The book comes with post-it notes and Chegg also plants a tree with each order!

The cheapest shipping is $4.99 to get your book in 4-7 days. The best thing though is that you can print out your return label and use the same box that the book came in and send the book back through UPS for FREE!

 

Chegg.com also has a 30-day "Any Reason" Guarantee. If you are not satisfied with the book, if you drop your class, or if you just don't end up needing the book you can return it within 30 days for a full refund minus the cost of shipping.

Chegg is a great way to go green and also save some green. The rental prices are very reasonable. It is a great idea to rent books, especially if you need an older edition because you might not be able to sell it back at the end of the semester. You don't need to worry about that with Chegg.

Another feature of Chegg is that you can sell them your used textbooks.

Go and explore the site and see for yourself just how easy it is.

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Sorry, I'll have to take a raincheck...

I went to the grocery store this evening. I saved 44%. More to post on that later...

More importantly, I got my first raincheck!

"What is a raincheck," you ask??

Well, Tom Thumb had a super saver coupon for Charmin Bath Tissue of Bounty Paper Towels for $11.88, Regularly $15.99. Plus, I also have a coupon for $.25 off one Charmin product. (This will be multiplied.)

So I get to the toilet paper/paper towel aisle at the store, and there he is. An old man grabbing the last package off the shelf. What could I do? I couldn't fight him for it!!

When I got to the check-out counter, I simply told the cashier that they were out of the product that was advertised and he told me to go to customer service for a "raincheck." It took me a total of 30 seconds and now I can go back within the next 90 days and get Charmin Bath Tissue for $11.88!!!

(This isn't my raincheck, but mine looks exactly like it!!)

Just because the store ran out of the product doesn't mean that you cannot still get the deal. That wouldn't be very fair. Grocery stores offer rainchecks so that you will continue to do your shopping with them. I know I'll be back!

See, it takes no time to save a dime. 

xoxo

Lauren

How many do you need to buy??

Reading all the price tags at the grocery store can get confusing. 

Sometimes there's just a price, sometimes it's" 2/$5" sometimes it's "By 1 for $2.49, Buy 4 for $1.49 each," sometimes it's "Buy 2, Get 1 free," sometimes it's "New Low Price!"

What does this all mean???

First of all, at most grocery stores, you can't get the reduced price unless you have a Rewards Card. It is free to sign up and you don't have to carry around all your reward cards. Every grocery store lets you enter your phone number!

If it says "2/$5," you can actually just buy 1 for $2.50. Same with the 10/$10 deals. You can buy as many as you want for $1 each!! It is a marketing strategy for the stores to trick you into thinking you must buy more than you actually need.

"By 1 for $2.49, Buy 4 for $1.49 each," means that if you want 1,2, or 3, each one will cost you $2.49. If you buy 4 or more you get them at an even lower price of $1.49 each. 

On non-perishables, this is a great time to stock up, especially if you have a coupon. :)

"Buy 2, Get 1 free," means that for every 2 that you buy, you get one free. Easy.

"New Low Price!" is such a disappointment. It's just advertising that the store has reduced the price for good. It will stay this way for a long time. It is not just a special deal that only lasts for a few days.

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

... the end of the semester!

Ah! The best time of the year... the end of the semester!!

Here's a little advice when it comes to selling your books and buying new/used ones:

Amazon, Amazon, Amazon!!

Amazon.com is a great way to sell your books to other students and to buy your new ones for next semester. It takes only a few minutes to create a seller account.

There are 2 options.

1) You can sell your book by yourself and set the price
OR

2) You can ship your book to Amazon.com and they will pay you for the book and sell it themselves. Click here for more info.

The money that you earn goes straight into your bank account. Amazon does take a small commission of 6-15%, a variable closing fee, and a $.99 per-transaction fee. The buyer pays the shipping! Trust us, the Amazon fees are worth it! Selling your books back at your University Bookstore will give you only a fraction of the cost you will earn through selling it online.

When buying books, simply search the title or author of the textbook you need and buy whichever one fits your budget and your needs. The cheapest shipping option is $3.99 and you usually get it in 5-10 days. 

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Gift Card Deals Happening NOW!

Numerous stores and restaurants are currently offering special deals and bonuses on gift cards for the holiday season. Take advantage of these deals not only for gift-giving but even for yourself and family. If a business that you're a frequent customer at is offering a special on their gift cards, purchase one for yourself for future use. 

Some examples that we have found are:

• AMC – Buy a $50 gift card and  get $10 in concessions
• Applebee’s – Buy $50 in gift cards, get $10 bonus card.
• Barnes and Noble – Buy a $100 gift card and get a $10 egiftcard
• Ben & Jerry’s – Buy a $10 gift card and get a FREE scoop of ice cream
• Borders – Buy a $50 gift card and get a $10 gift card
• Benihana – Buy $50 gift card, get $10 bonus card.
• California Pizza – Buy $100 gift card, get a $20 bonus card.
• Carraba’s Italian Grill – Buy $100 gift card, get a $20 bonus card.
• Chik-fil-A – Get a 2011 Chic-fil-a calendar for $6, get great Chic-fil-a coupons.  
• Chili's - Get 10% off of $100 gift cards or more
• CiCi’s Pizza – Buy a $20 gift card, get a coupon for a free adult buffet.
• Claim Jumper – Buy $50 gift card, get card for a free slice of Choc. Motherlode Cake & a $10 bonus card.
• CVS - Buy $25 gift card, get a $5 bonus card.
• Denny’s – Buy $25 gift card, get a $5 bonus card.
• DSW - Buy $50 in gift cards and get a free $10gift card
• Fazoli’s – Buy $20 gift card, get a $5 bonus card.
• IHOP – Buy $25 gift card, get a $5 off coupon.
• Incredible Pizza - Buy $25 gift card, get a $5 bonus card.
• Jamba Juice – Buy $25 gift card, get a free sixteen size smoothie.
• Joe’s Crab Shack – Buy $25 gift card, get $5 bonus bucks.
• Maggiano’s Little Italy – Buy $100 gift card, get $20 bonus card.
• Outback Steakhouse – Buy $100 in gift crads. get $20 gift card free. 
• PF Chang’s – Buy $50 gift card, get a $10 bonus card.
• Qdoba Mexican Grill – Buy $25 gift card, get a $5 bonus card.
• Red Robin – Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card FREE
• Restaurant.com - Currently can get a $25 Gift Certificate for $10 and other amazing deals
• Romano’s Macaroni Grill – Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 gift card FREE
• Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse – Buy $250 in gift cards, get 10% back in bonus cards.
• Steak N Shake – Buy $25 gift card, get $5 coupon for 2 entrees on next visit
• Taco Bell – Buy a $10 or $20 gift card, get a free large drink.
• Taco Cabana – Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 bonus card.
• The Children’s Place - Buy $40 in gift cards, get a $10 egift card. 
• TGIFriday’s – Buy $25 in gift cards, get a $5 bonus card.
• Tom Thumb - Buy $150 of participating gift cards and get $15 off your next shopping trip over $50

Whether you buy them for yourself, or buy them for a friend, take advantage of these holiday offers. 

Be sure to check your favorite stores and restaurants for other deals!

See, it takes no time to save a dime. 

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Another Shopping Trip

Hey y'all. Lauren here.

I went to the grocery store earlier last week and I saved 38%.

I was making a vegetable soup so I had to buy a few things that weren't on sale.

Ronzoni Whole Wheat Noodles $1.99

Nabisco FiberSelect Crackers- Regularly $3.29 a box, on sale 2/$4 and I had 2 coupons for $1 off 1 box. I got each box for $1.oo

Ore Ida Tator Tots $3.50. I did have a coupon for $3 off 2 bags, but it was expired.

Lucerne Cheese- Regularly $1.99, on sale for $1.50

Hormel Bacon- Regularly $6.99, buy one get one free

Broccoli- I saved $.18

Bananas- $.40

Zucchini- $1.01

Celery- Regularly $1.69, on sale for $.99

Red Potato- $.57

Carrots- $1.99

My "on sale" savings were $10.94

Coupon savings were $2.00

For a grand total of $12.94 savings 

The point is, you don't have to customize your life to what is on sale or what you have a coupon for. Just be smart about your shopping decisions. Compare and monitor prices.

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren

How to Make Your Own Iced Tea

Bottled iced tea is very expensive to buy at the grocery store.

Grocery stores now sell iced tea by the gallon for around $3.80.

Buying individual bottles is even more expensive at around $1.80. 

You are paying for the convenience and the packaging than you are the actual tea. 

What is tea made of? Water, tea leaves, and sweetener.

It is expensive and also unhealthy.

Our solution??... Make your own!

 Pick your flavor and pick the amount of sweetener.

Step 1: Buy a gallon size pitcher. $5-10

Step 2: Pick your flavor of tea. Grocery stores have endless amounts of flavors ranging from $1.50-4 for a box of tea bags. You can get great deals on tea bags at Target or when they are on sale. Regular iced tea is made from Orange Pekoe and Pekoe Cut Black Tea.

Step 3: Boil a gallon of tap water on the stove.

Step 4: Pour it in the pitcher. 

Step 5: Let 4-5 tea bags soak in the water. 

Allow the sit for about 10 minutes depending on how strong you like your tea.

Step 6: Remove tea bags and let the tea cool in the refrigerator. 

Step 7: Sweeten to taste with your choice of sweetener or lemon.

Step 8: Enjoy a cool glass of ice tea for a fraction of the price.

This recipe will take you about 15 minutes! It's so easy and you can customize your tea.

See, it takes no time to save a dime. 

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

"Do you offer a student discount??"

...This is a question we are never afraid to ask!!

Here's a list some things that you can get a student discount on:

• MAC store
• most computer software
• travel: www.studentuniverse.com
• movie theater tickets
• museums
• sporting events
• bowling alleys- on "college night"
• restaurants
• shops near college campuses
• nail salons
• zoo
• amusement parks 

I recently used my student ID at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX to get lower-level hockey tickets for just $25!! 

Where have you used your student ID? We would love to know!

It's so easy to just ask if there is a student discount and the savings really add up. 

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo 

Lauren and Jenna

Costco Update

I saw this link on Yahoo.com today, so I thought I'd share:

Things to Buy/Not Buy at Costco

Louise Tutelian has found 4 things to buy and not buy at Costco.  


See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Fraudulent Coupons and Other Concerns

We received an interesting question from John about the potential of fraudulent coupons:

"Is there any need to worry about counterfeit coupons? Do they exist?  

Do merchants have any discretion on expired coupons?

What about the use of “competitors” coupons?"

--John

 We did some research on the use of fraudulent coupons. According to the Wall Street Journal, only 1/10 of 1% of the 3.3 billion coupons redeemed in 2009 were fakes. Obviously, fraudulent coupons do exist, but they are not something to worry about. 

Our best advice is to be wary of something that seems "too good to be true."

Most scams are passed through e-mail. Most of these e-mailed coupons are scans of a coupon that someone received from the manufacturer directly and have been passed around.

Stick to coupons in print or online from reputable sources. 

Don't intentionally use expired coupons. Always ask the store manager before attempting to use an expired coupon. Some stores, like Bed Bath & Beyond, do allow the use of expired coupons, and competitor's coupons for that matter. 

There's no harm in asking.

Thanks John!

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

'Tis the Season to Save Money

What do you think of when you hear "Thanksgiving"?

Turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, yams, mashed potatoes, green beans, pies, casseroles, bakeware, wine, bread, party trays... and storage for the leftovers.

Well guess what, it's all on sale!

The holidays can get very expensive with the amount of family get-togethers and holiday parties. Shop around now for the best deals on products that you know you will be needing this holiday season. You can save a lot of money and help make the holidays less hectic. 

The circulars that came out this weekend are loaded with great specials on Thanksgiving-type foods and cookware. There were also great coupons to match. Remember, we l o v e a great sale AND a coupon. Clip those holiday coupons now and for the next few weeks in anticipation for these products to go on sale soon. 

Right now you will be able to get really good deals on turkeys, canned foods, side dishes, and baking ingredients. Check online if you forgot to save this week's circulars. Many popular store's links are located on the left side of this page!

Be creative this Thanksgiving with your cooking and baking! 

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Is Costco the best place to buy everything??

 Here's a question we received from one of our readers:

Dear Lauren and Jenna: 

I tend to buy too much at Costco. Their groceries are high quality but the sizes available are often more than I can eat before the sell by date. What do you recommend that I do?

Dear Reader,

Although Costco can have some great deals... buying in bulk is not always the best for everyone.

Costco memberships are a great investment for people with large families and kids on sports teams. If this is not you, be sure to customize your shopping trips so that nothing goes to waste. 

Our best advice for Costco customers is to go occasionally to stock up on non-perishables that you use most often. Check to see if you are running low on your favorite products before you leave the house to ensure that you don't over-buy. 

An easy way to save money is to make sure that you do not throw food away. It is better to buy less and more often than to let things go bad. 

Always make price comparisons because you will find that some stores are cheaper than others on certain products... but don't forget that your time is also important. There's no need to shop at 5 different stores for different products when the prices are fairly similar. Remember what's the cheapest at each location so when you're in the area you can always stop in.

See, it takes no time to save a dime. 

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Do you always follow up on your rebates??

This week we learned a valuable lesson that earned us $200!!!

The lesson learned??... Always follow up on your rebates!

This summer, we moved into a new apartment complex and signed up for AT&T U-Verse. The package that we signed up for included a $20 a month discount and a $200 Visa Gift Card.

We kinda forgot about this $200, until a friend in the apartment complex mentioned that they had gotten theirs. 

We went on the AT&T website to make sure that our package included the rebate, which it did. We then made a phone call to AT&T customer service and after being transferred 3 times and spending 15 minutes on the line, we were told that our account was going to go through an investigation that would hopefully turn up the rebate.

We checked the status of the rebate on-line a week later... and behold... $200!!

We got a Visa Gift Card in the mail just a few days later and used that to pay this months bills. We still have a balance on the card that we are going to split on fun stuff.

There are so many products and services that offer rebates.

Examples include: cell phones, laptops, printers, software, televisions... pretty much all electronics.

It's easy to forget about these rebates, but it's worth the small effort to keep track of these. Some require a simple form to be filled out or a bar code be mailed in.

If you take the 5 minutes it takes to submit these and follow up on it, the payoff is definitely worthwhile.

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Lauren's Grocery Trip- I saved 48%!!!

Y'all! I just got back from the grocery store. I saved 48% today!!

Here's what I bought, and how much I saved:

Swissmiss hot chocolate packets- Regularly $1.99, on sale for $1.50, coupon for $1.00 off. I got it for $.50!

Safeway brand Juice- Regularly $2.49, on sale for $1.99

Safeway brand canned green beans- Regularly $.75, Super Saver Coupon (in circular).. I got it for $.49

Arm and Hammer Baking Soda- Regularly $.79, on sale for $.69

Mission Tortilla Chips- Regularly $2.99, on sale for $2.29-- the price per unit on Mission is about half the price of Tostitos!

2 liter 7up- Regularly $1.99, on sale for $.88

2 liter Squirt- Regularly $1.99, on sale for $.88

Lucerne 18-count large eggs- Regularly $2.23, on sale for $1.39. Don't ever buy eggs for full price! They are always on sale!

Sargento 8 oz. shredded cheese- I got 2 of these. Regularly $3.49 each, Super Saver Coupon.. I got each for $1.99

Suave Body Wash- Regulary $1.99, I printed out a coupon for $.50 off 1 bottle, so I got it for $.99.

Orowheat Health Full Bread- Regularly $4.19, on sale for $2.99

Large Hass Avocado- Regularly $1.79, on sale for $1 each

I also had a coupon from General Mills for $2.50 off my total order.

This brought my "on sale" savings to $10.10

and coupon savings to $4.50

I saved $14.62 total!

I got all of this food for $15.60

Without the General Mills Coupon I would have saved around 35%!

See, it takes no time to save a dime!

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Ever Heard of Groupon???

Groupon.com is an up-and-coming daily deal site. It easy to sign up for and FREE. Just click on your city and the deal of the day will appear. The deals only last for 24-36 hours, so you must act fast! There are deals for restaurants, spas, entertainment, etc. Detailed terms and conditions are included, as well as important company information (locations, hours, reviews). Try it out and we guarantee you'll find yourself checking back daily. The deals are outrageous!

Another daily deal site is Woot.com. Woot offers specials primarily on electronics and small household appliances. As customers of Woot, we recently purchased a Shark vacuum cleaner for an unbelievable price, over 50% off! All items are brand new unless otherwise noted. Shipping is always $5 no matter the size. There are reviews on the products and all the details you could possibly want to know. The company also has spin-off sites including:

• deals.woot.com/sellout
• wine.woot.com
• shirt.woot.com
• kids.woot.com

Be sure to browse through them all!

Thanks Gregory for writing in:

I've heard of great deals you can get at websites like Groupon.com, Yelp.com, and restaurant.com.  How come you guys haven't talked about those yet!?  What's up with that?!

Your biggest fan in the world,

-Gregory

See, it takes no time to save a dime!

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Why We Love Coupons!

As you know, coupons are one of our favorite ways to save money. Most people don't realize how many coupons are available for the things that they already buy. Here are some helpful tips:

1. Think of coupons as cash

 If you have a coupon that is worth $1, it's like giving the store a $1 bill.

2. Organize your coupons
Get an accordion file and remember to bring your coupons to the store with you. Click here to read more!

3. Does your grocery store double or triple coupons?
Most grocery stores double and triple coupons up to $1. Target and Walmart do not double any coupons.
For example, a if you have a coupon that says "Save $.40" the store will double it so you actually save $.80.

4. Check the weekly circular for coupons
The Sunday paper contains most of your local stores weekly advertisements. If not, they will come in the mail during the week. Don't forget, you can always view circulars online. Pay attention to when these sales end.

5. Get the Sunday paper
Some college campuses, like TCU, give away the Sunday paper for free! Check if your college or university does this also. If not, it is worth purchasing the Sunday paper for all the coupons it has to offer. If used properly, you will easily earn your money back. If you are paying for the newspaper to be delivered to your house, you have no excuse. Clip the dang coupons.

6. Print out coupons from websites
Check with your favorite stores before you do this. Our Tom Thumb doesn't accept online coupons.

7. What is a "good" coupon?
Be sure to read your coupons carefully. How many items must you buy in order to get the savings? $.55 of 2 items is NOT a good coupon. It will not be doubled, so that is only $.26 off each item. Our favorite coupons are ones where you save money just by buying one of something. For example, "Save $.50 off 1 box." The coupon will be doubled at the grocery store and you will get a $1.00 off 1 box. What a deal!

8. We love a sale!... and a coupon!!
This is the ultimate way to save and increase your savings percentage. Take special advantage when things are on sale and you have a coupon... its double the reward. Stock up when you can!

9. Buy in bulk when your favorite things are heavily discounted
Non-perishables are frequently on sale for a great price. Sometimes you have to buy a high quantity in order to get the extreme discount. For example, Duncan Hines Mix and Match Cakes and Brownies frequently goes on sale for "Buy 4 boxes for $.88 each." If you love baking, this is a great time to stock up.

10. Be flexible with your purchases
Keep track of when you are running low on things that you use often, like butter, bread, cereal, eggs, oil, etc. Watch for when they go on sale so you can get them at a discounted price. Always be comparing brands when you are shopping. Sometimes the off-brand may not actually be cheaper if the name brand is on sale and you have a coupon.
 

11. Clip the best and all coupons
Even if you don't need something right away, clip the coupon anyway. You might find that the item is on sale before the coupon expires. Always clip medicine coupons because you never know when someone in the house is sick and you need cold or allergy medicine. (There are always coupons for that stuff!)

12. What is the price per unit??
Always look at the size of the package compared to the price. Higher count packages are a better deal. Read more here.

13. Be on the lookout for coupons around the store
Some products will have coupons attached to them for you to use during checkout. Tom Thumb comes out with a special coupon booklet multiple times a year that is found throughout the store. These are free, so don't be afraid to grab a couple. The Thanksgiving issue just came out a few weeks ago and there were all sorts of fun holiday coupons inside.

14. Keep your coupons with you... MOM!!!!
Most of us clip coupons and then forget to bring them to the store. Keep them in your car for those unexpected trips to the grocery store. A few more helpful tips can be found here.

15. Don't buy something you won't use just because you have a coupon
It is always better to clip more coupons than you will actually use. That being said, just because you have a coupon doesn't mean you need to buy that particular item. Another brand might be a better value even without the coupon. Pay attention, and make smart shopping decisions.

See, it takes no time to save a dime.

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

We got free chips and queso at Chili's today... did you??

Today, we decided to grab a bite at Chili's Restaurant to watch the Horned Frogs dominate the Utes!

What the heck is a Ute anyway?

Before we left, we Google searched: Chili's coupon

and stumbled upon several printable coupons for FREE chips and queso.

We simply brought in the coupon to receive our reward. 

The internet is a great tool for finding great discounts at your local restaurants.

Another of our favs is: www.dininghalfoff.com

Sorry people, it's just for DFW. 

Not only do restaurants have coupons online, there are also coupons available for retail stores. 

Check out: www.couponcabin.com

All you have to do is search for the business you are looking for or view the "most popular" list.

Make sure you take advantage of free chips and queso next time you head to Chili's.

See, it takes no time to save a dime. 

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna

Another Great Question

We have gotten so many great questions! Keep them coming. We will answer them as soon as possible.  Here's the latest question:

Good morning girls....


I am in desperate need of finding a better way to organize my coupons.  What do you girls do?  Do you have a some sort of filing system?  Mine are all in a drawer and it seems very disorganized.  PLEASE HELP!!!

Aunt D

Dear Aunt D.,

The best thing to do to organize your coupons is to purchase a small, plastic accordion file. They come in sizes as small at 4 x 6.

That way you can label the tabs according to what types of coupons you collect most often. 

For example: breakfast foods, snacks, meals, cleaning, toiletries, desserts... etc.. be CrEaTiVe!!

Those tiny coupons are so hard to keep track of without one of these. 

You can purchase one at your local office supply store, or even Target or Walmart. 

I got mine at Target in the Dollar Bin. (Keep your eyes peeled!)

Remember to go through your coupons before you go to the grocery store to make sure you know what coupons you have.

Here's another great tip: Bring your coupons to the store!!!

There are so many people that we know... (Mom...) that clip coupons every week and then forget them at home.

As soon as I unload my groceries, I put my coupon file in my purse. The next time I get in my car I put the file in the compartment on the side of the driver's door.. know where I'm talkin' about?

Of course next to my re-usable bag, which I got for free from Tom Thumb, just by purchasing $40 of groceries. (It was a coupon special they had in their weekly ad last year).

So, every time I get out of the car I see my re-usable bag and coupons and remember to bring them inside the store with me.

Simple right??

See, it takes no time to save a dime. 

xoxo

Lauren and Jenna