I received an email from a reader which prompted me to write a post about coupon manners.  There has been an influx of new coupon users recently, so I thought this post would be good for newbies (and veteran coupon users). I need reminders on some of these too. 

We all want stores to remain coupon friendly and to be viewed as assets to their stores.

1. Skip the express lane.  First, remember that the express lane has a limit of 15-20 items depending on the store, don’t count that as per transaction.  Even if you’re just under this limit, consider using a different lane.  Your coupons will take longer to ring up & other shoppers with only a few items could be lining up behind you. 

*Sometimes my store only has the express lane open so that’s just all you have to work with.

2. Let other shoppers go first.  If you have a cart full of items, consider letting the person behind you with 3 items, go ahead of you. 

*I’m not saying let everyone in the store checkout first just because you have coupons.

*If someone comes up after my transaction has started, I tell them that I will be awhile. The cashier may suggest another lane.

3.  Head to the checkout lane prepared for your transaction.  Before you get to the register, find a quiet aisle and get your coupons and purchases in order. 

• Separate transactions and coupons in your cart (sort in reusable shopping bags for even more  accessibility)
• Organize and count coupons
• Consider alternating between printable and insert coupons to avoid the printer paper sticking together
• Confirm your products versus coupons and verify all items if doing a promotion where you need a certain product value or number of items
• Place Free Product coupons on the top of the pile and place those items on the belt last – cashier can find the product value more quickly  

4.  Hand all coupons for the first transaction to the cashier.  You don’t need to hand each coupon individually.  Watch the register to make sure coupons come off

*I count the coupons as they are scanned

5.  Avoid peak shopping hours.  Stores tend to be busy on the weekends and in the early evening when everyone is getting off work.  Shop early in the morning or after the evening rush, if you’re schedule allows.  This will also benefit you, as the customer service line won’t be as long if you have a problem with your order.

6.   Be respectful to cashiers and other shoppers.  Smile and say “good morning” to the cashier.  If there is a mistake with your purchase, you will get further by keeping your cool. 

* If the line backs up due to a problem with my purchase or coupons, I apologize to the person behind me.  This usually goes a long way and the other shoppers are usually impressed with my total instead of irritated that I held them up.

What do you think? 

This post is linked to My Coupon Teacher & Life as Mom!

We just celebrated LuLu’s 4th birthday (sigh), so I thought a post about ways to save on birthday parties was in order. 

Birthday parties have become a more extravagant than when I was growing up.  My parties consisted of  family members and maybe a few friends coming over to my house and enjoying homemade cake with ice cream and opening a few presents.  Today,  parties are a lavish affair costing hundreds of dollars and the need to “one up” other parties attended. 

Ways to save on birthday parties

1.  Location, location, location.  Hold parties at home or at a local park.  Choose establishments without fees to reduce your cost.  Summer parties are a bit easier with the warm weather.  Monkey Boy has had 4 parties at my mom’s pool.

2.  Think simplicity.  All kids love party decorations, but decking out the house with $50 worth of supplies that will just be trashed is unnecessary. Use plain colored streams for $1, a few strategically placed themed decorations or make your own.  My mother-in-law makes the kids a personalized banner every year on her computer.  It’s so much cuter and personalized than anything bought at the store.

3.  Reuse and Recycle.   Purchase party decorations that can be reused such as plain, wipe-off table covers. Get simple “happy birthday” banners that can be reused each year (we have pink and multi-colored for the kids).  You can also use items that you have on hand to decorate. 

LuLu had a My Little Pony party 2 years ago.  We decorated the house with her supply of Pony’s plus I purchased 2 more on sale that I used as part of her gift.  This year Monkey Boy wants a Lego City party.  He has already figured out some of the Lego creations he wants to make to decorate the house.

4.  Time of day. Consider the time of day when planning a party such as mid-afternoon (after lunch and before dinner).  If you plan a party during meal times, you’ll shell out more to feed guests a full meal instead of a bag of chips and a cake.

5.  Make your own cake.  You can save a significant amount of money by making your own birthday cake.  It usually tastes better too!  Cakes can be a simple sheet cake or something a bit more extravagant.  Whatever you decide, the kids (and adults) will enjoy it and won’t think twice about your lack of cake decorating skills.

6. Use free invites.  Save yourself the cost of invitations and a stamp by inviting guests over the phone or online.  Cute invitations can be sent for free on sites such as evite. 

7.  Shop ahead. Planning parties in advance will not only save time, but money as well.  I’m always on the lookout for party plates and decorations on clearance.  I also purchase plain paper plates, napkins and cups throughout the year, so I always have something on hand.  I have a stockpile of plates and cups that I picked up for FREE after a sale and coupon.  

8. Shop at The Dollar Tree.  This store is a great source for decorations.  Did you know they sell Mylar balloons?  I bought all LuLu’s balloons there this year, including a huge Princess crown.  That balloon alone would have cost several dollars!

9. Combine an activity with a party favor. Crafts are a great way to keep kids entertained plus you don’t have to buy a bunch of junk to fill a goody bag.  Monkey Boy went to a Pirate themed party where they decorated paper bags for their “treasure”.  The kids had to find golden coins hidden all over the yard and then traded them in for candy.   He had a great time and the cost of the coins was the biggest expense. 

Remember to relax and have a good time!  The kids won’t remember how much money you spent, just the quality time they shared with you and the fun they had.

This post is shared at My Coupon Teacher and Life as Mom

Since we have a new puppy, I thought a guest post on ways to save money on pets was in order. 

We all know that our furry friends are not cheap!  But they are part of the family and we love them so we want to do what’s best to take care of them!

Here are some ways to save on your pet’s needs:

• Take advantage of free rabies shot clinics.
• Keep pets indoors – this prevents injuries and disease which equals no vet bills.
• Check to see if your veterinarian participates in any low cost spay/neuter programs.
• Sign up for the Publix Pet Club!
• Make your own homemade dog food.
• Get a FREE Pet Examfrom Banfield (Petsmart) clinics! (New patients only)
• I try to post EVERY free sample / coupon / rebate on pet products/food I find.  I have a cat, so I’m constantly on the lookout for ways to save on pet stuff!  (Which means, you need to follow this blog!)

Here are coupons, free samples and rebates on pet products!

• Feline Pine Rewards
• Rebates on Pet Medications here and here
• Rebate on Clean+Green Pet Products here
• Free Precious Cat Cat Litter after rebate
• Free World’s Best Cat Litter after rebate
• Free bag of By Nature Pet Food
• Purina printable coupons

This guest post is a reprint with permission from Saving Towards a Better Life

This post is linked to My Coupon Teacher

The warm weather is starting to sneak in.  Spring is finally just around the corner. 

As we head into March, it’s a good idea to start thinking about your garden.  Having your own vegetable garden will add up to huge savings this summer.  Not only will you save money; you will be consuming fresh vegetables with controlled pesticides.  You can’t getting any fresher than walking out to the garden to pick tomatoes for a salad straight off the vine!

Getting Started

1.  If this is your first year for a garden, start watching your yard for the ideal spot.  You want to your garden to get as much sunlight as possible while keeping in mind shelter from harsh wind (I’m currently watching our yard throughout the day & keeping track of the suns movements).  

2.  Once you know where to put the garden, start thinking of the size you’ll need.  If you’re not an experienced gardener, I’d suggest keeping it small the first year.

3.  Determine your soil composition.  If necessary, take a soil sample. This can help determine the pH & any nutrient deficiencies in the soil.   You can find tips on collecting a soil sample in this article from the Virginia Cooperative Extension.  The cost is around $7.

4.  Adding topsoil, compost and/or manure to the garden area is a great way to get the soil ready for planting season. 

5.  During March & April (about 8 weeks before you plant), it’s time to start seeds indoors for vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers.  You could also purchase plants later to be transplanted but they will be more expensive than seeds.

Look for more garden talk as we get closer to spring.  I’ll also be sharing more about our new garden.  We didn’t have one last year as we were still finishing up home renovations.

*If you’re in VA, the Virginia Cooperative Extension has a handy website including the best vegetables and fruits for our area.

This post is linked to Life as Mom & My Coupon Teacher

Do you plant a garden?  What are your tips?