Kroger and P&G End Partnership

If you've ever used the eSaver coupons for Kroger, (these are loaded electronically to your loyalty card), you won't be able to do it anymore. P&G recently announced they are severing the partnership with Kroger after a successful 2-year run. If you have coupons still loaded, they will expire after Dec. 31st.

This is sad news for those who like to use the eSaver coupons to stack with traditional paper coupons for a good deal. Kroger did mention that they will be expanding the deals available on Kroger.com, so there is hope that more coupons will take the place of P&G.

P&G may partner with another store in the future via their e-Saver program, so be on the lookout for more updates.

Couponing On the Rise

As more and more consumers struggle with debt, lost income and troubled mortgages, couponing has re-emerged as lost art. With the advent of electronic and printable coupons, younger couponers are on the rise. Once primarily restricted to the older population, coupons are now used by young, old and in between.

The recession and shaky economy has reopened the thrifty mindset for many Americans. Shopping the sales with coupons seems to be the best way to reap savings. According to one source, this is the first time coupon use has risen since 1992!

Below is a link to a recent CNN article covering this wonderful phenomenon.

Economic Shock Gives Rise to Coupon Cutting

Why Stocking Up Can Save You Money

Avid coupon-ers know the value of stocking up on items that go on sale. They save money, time and hassle. If you 're new to couponing, here are some things to know about how stocking up can save you money.

1. By purchasing items on sale in bulk, you lower your overall monthly cost in groceries. This tactic does not follow a weekly budget, but rather a monthly budget to allow for spending more when there is a weekly sale. If you spend ten dollars more in week one, and ten dollars less in week two because you are stocked up in an item, you will not go over budget. Since the item was on sale, and presuming you were able to use coupons, the overall cost of the item goes down drastically. For example, Kellogg's Nutrigrain Bars regularly run around $3.49 at Meijer. They were on sale this week for $1.99, and coupons were available for $1.00 off of two, making the final cost $1.49. You just saved $2 per box! If you stocked up for a month or two, you would not have to buy any more of these bars until the next sale.
   
2. Stocking up allows extra savings even if you only purchase a small stock. In the example above, you would still be saving $2 per box, not matter how many you buy!
   
3. Buying in bulk results in less grocery trips. If you buy all of your cereal or another item for a month in one trip, your trips will be shorter and fewer in between.
   
4. Stocking up on items when they are on sale creates a instinct that refuses to pay full price. Lastly. buying items and food in bulk while they are on sale creates an attitude that refuses to pay full price since you are used to buying large sums of the item at discounted rates. You will therefore resist the temptation to buy an item because you think you "need" it, and instead wait for it to go on sale again, which saves you loads of money in the end.
   

CVS Deals 7/12-7/19

Here are some of the best deals going on at CVS this week. Please note that some are only 3 day sales while others are valid for the entire week. Remember to check your local ad for more deals and sales! This is a great week to get started on ECBs if you are new to CVSing.

3 DAY SALE ONLY
Buy (1) Caliber or CVS brand 1-subjet notebook (70-80 sheets) at $0.99, receive $0.99 in ECBs (limit 2)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

Buy (1) Paper Mate grip pens (8 count) at $0.99, receive $0.99 in ECBs (limit 3)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

Buy (1) Caliber or It's Essential 5" pointed or blunt tip scissors at $2.99, receive $2.99 in ECBs (limit 2)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

Buy (1) Caliber or CVS brand school glue (5 oz.) at $0.99, receive $0.99 in ECBs (limit 2)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

Buy (1) Caliber or CVS brand 12" wood or plastic ruler at $0.99, receive $0.99 in ECBs (limit 2)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

ALL WEEK SALE
Buy (1) 10-page 6x8 photo book at $7.99, receive $7.99 in ECBs (limit 1)
- Final price - Free after ECBs

Buy (1) Gillette Fusion manual or power razor at $7.99, receive $4 in ECBs (limit 1)
- $4/1 from the 6/7/09 P&G insert
- Final price - Free after coupon and ECBs

Buy (1) Tylenol Arthritis or Tylenol 8-hour (20-24 count) at $3.99, receive $3 in ECBs (limit 3)
- $2/1 from the 6/21/09 Smart Source insert
- $1/1 from the 6/7/09 Red Plum insert
- Final price - Free after coupon and ECBs

Savings and Coupons This Week

I hope you all have had a wonderful fourth of July. Here's a brief snapshot of the savings and coupon deals this week at various stores. I apologize for the late post- we have been out of town visiting family, and we just recently brought a new kitten home, which requires quite a bit of attention if we don't want our older cat to eat it!

KROGER:

• Kroger Ground Beef, 1.68 LB
• Driscol Strawberries and Blueberries, 1.48
• Jumbo Cantelope, 1.44
• Kroger Eggs, 1.00
• Kroger Milk, 1.98
• Hot, Lean, or Croissant Pockets - $1.88 (- $1/2 from the 5/17/09 Smart Source insert- Final price - $1.38)
• Thomas' English muffins - BOGO free at $2.99 each(- $0.50/1 from the 4/19/09, 5/3/09, and 6/7/09 Smart Source inserts (use 2 coupons). Final price - $0.50 each)
• Herbal Essences hair care - $2.99-( $2/1 from P&G eSaver- Final price - $0.99)

CVS

• Buy (1) Caliber or CVS brand transparent or invisible tape at $1.49, receive $1.49 in ECBs (limit 3) (- Final price - Free after ECBs)
• Buy (1) Caliber or CVS brand No. 2 pencils (10-ct.) or double blade sharpener at $0.99, receive $0.99 in ECBs (limit 3) (- Final price - Free after ECBs)
• Buy (1) CVS brand pantiliners (22-ct.) at $0.89, receive $0.89 in ECBs (limit 1)(- Final price - Free after ECBs)
• Buy (2) Dawn dish liquid at 2/$2, receive $1 in ECBs (limit 1) (- $0.25/1 from the 6/7/09 or 7/5/09 P&G insert (use 2 coupons)- Final price - $0.25 each after coupons and ECBs)
• Buy (1) Colgate Total Advanced or Sensitive Toothpaste at $3.49, receive $2 in ECBs (Limit 1) (- $1/1 from the 6/28 SmartSource insert- Final price $0.49 after coupon and ECBs)

I hope you get a chance to snag a few of these deals. I myself am heading out to CVS today to get some freebies and use my ECBs before they expire. If you haven't already, now is a good time to sort through your stash of coupons and remove any that have expired. Place the ones that will expire within a few days or weeks in the front so you don't forget to use them.

Special thanks goes to Cincinnati Cents for compiling these deals. Remember to check your local ads for more deals and sales.

CVS Savings!

I thought you all would like to see what a typical CVS trip looks like for me and how much I really save using the sales and coupons.

This recent trip cost me $3.23!

Here's how I did it:

Transaction #1:
Gillette Fusion Gamer Manual Razor
On Sale $7.99
Used $4/1 coupon from 6/7 PG insert
Used $4 in ECBs from previous trip
Total out of pocket: .24 (tax)
Earned: $4 ECB

Transaction #2:
(2) Dawn Dish Soap
On Sale 2/$2

(2) Always pantyliner
On Sale 2/$6

Used .25/1 Dawn coupon from 6/7 PG insert
Used $1/2 Always coupon from 6/7 PG insert
Used $4 ECB from previous transaction
Total out of pocket: $2.99
Earned: $3 ECB for next week!

Now, here's the kicker, TOTAL SAVINGS: $19.31 (that's 86%)!

If you count the ECBs I earned with these transactions, I actually only spent 23 cents!

Total Yearly CVS savings: $98.00

How much do you save at CVS?

My Walgreens Cashier Experience

I love getting something for cheap. That's why I participate in the Register Rewards program at Walgreens. Every week, I compile the best deals and post them on Wallet Wise.

If you've been couponing for a while, then you know all coupons have an expiration date. I also try to use mine before they expire, but sometimes it gets down to the day of expiration, and I'm left with a choice to either use it or lose it. This happened to me last night with my register rewards coupons. I had $5.50 that I could use, so I didn't want to see it go down the drain.

After rushing to the store around 11pm, combing through the aisles and gathering my purchases, I was ready. Everything should have ran smoothly. I was going to buy two Gillette body washes with a 2$ off manufacture coupon and the rest of my soon-to-be expired Register Rewards. The problem? I was told I could not use more than one register reward at a time! Furthermore, I was also told that I could not use them to get another register reward (two Gillette body washes this week earns 2$ in Register Rewards). I was shocked. I had paid with more than one register reward in a transaction before, and it had definitely reaped the appropriate coupons. Apologizing, I went to the back of the line to sort out my options.

The manager, who saw my dilemma, then proceeded to explain to me how the register at Walgreens works. Apparently, if you shop during the DAY, then the register will spit out register rewards coupons no matter how the item was paid for. But if you shop at night, before 2am, then it doesn't work. She said there was no way to fix the problem. Talk about inconsistency! No wonder I had no clue what was happening.

When it was all said and done, I ended up getting a bottle of Head and Shoulders for $1.24 after a $1 coupon and $3 RR. I still got a good deal, but I had to throw away the other two RRs that I had to spend. I didn't feel like doing 3 transactions after the little scene my coupons caused, so I walked away from the $2.50 that was rightfully mine.

What did this experience teach me? Well, I am no longer going to count on "rolling" my RRs, since it doesn't always work. And because of this, I'm not planning on going back to Walgreens weekly. I don't think I can handle another midnight coupon run only to be told I can't use them.

If you use the Register Rewards program at Walgreens frequently, I advise you to become thoroughly familiar with how it works. Since the register doesn't always read the coupons in the same way depending on the time of the day, it really can get confusing. Arm yourself with extra cash in case it does not work out as planned.

Have you had similar experiences with Walgreens? What did you do?

Don't Throw Away Expired Coupons!!

If you use coupons, chances are you have a few expired ones laying around. If you're like me, then you tend to have billions of them at the end of every month. I always feel a tad sad that I didn't get to use them- most of the time they were forgotten about or didn't line up with any sales.

Here's a great reason to keep those expired coupons- overseas military families! When I found out that the Overseas Coupon Program existed, I instantly jumped at the chance to help. For many struggling families, these coupons are little pieces of blessing we can send their way. So the next time you shuffle through your coupons, ship off the ones that are expired and support those fighting and upholding what America stands for.

To find a base where you can send yours, click here.

Budget Wednesday: When Time is Money

Some of you may have noticed the lack of updates recently. This is due to the fact that I will be graduating from college in a week and a half and thereby have been swept with busyness! On Sunday, my husband and I also ran our very first half-marathon (click here to read all about it), so we have been extra tired as well. So please bear with me as I try to update these next few weeks! Guest posts are always welcome- please send me an email if you are interested (sugarloaf10-at-gmail-dot-com). Ok, on to this week's post!

Many times couponing can take more time than it is worth. For example, this week has been extremely busy for me, so I decided not to travel to the 3 different stores I usually do for grocery shopping. Instead, I paid a little more and shopped in one place. Taking the extra time to go to the other stores would have saved me money, of course, but it wouldn't have saved me any time! And at this point in my life, time really is money.

I think it is important to realize that we can't always be the super couponer we aspire to emulate. Life takes over, family takes over, obligations take over. Sometimes, you have to make to decision to spend that extra 10 dollars in exchange for being with your family. After all, what is a dollar saved if a relationship/job/obligation/friendship crumbles? I guess it's all about setting your priorities straight and realizing that sometimes things just aren't going to work out the way you expected.

It's important to have this attitude towards your budget as well. Don't be so rigid that you have absolutely no elbow room. Allow for some leeway during times of stress, emergencies and special events. This can be particularly difficult if you have friends with a much larger budget than you, since saying 'no' to every dinner out is likely to put a strain on the relationship. Give your budget some slack so that once in a while you can 'yes'.

What times do you find it hardest to stick to your budget and/or couponing ambitions? How do you handle it?