Grocery goof-ups

Today I went to the grocery store to cash in on some amazing deals.  I went, against my better judgement, on a Saturday afternoon – the busiest time to go to the store, and it was madness.  Unfortunately, the store (No Frills) was already sold out of most of the products that were advertised in their flyer.  I had also intended on stopping by Food Basics on my way home to grab a bunch of their reduced priced Ristorante pizzas, but I couldn’t find parking – it was a madhouse, too – and I had dairy products in the car, so I never even made it into the store.  Needless to say, it wasn’t the most successful venture, but here is a list of both the great deals I got and the ones that “got away.”

Hits & Misses:

Hit:

JUMBO sized box Special K – on sale for $2.44 – with coupon: $1.44

Crisco shortening – $1.97 – with coupon: $1.22

Miss:

Ristorante Pizzas, $2.99 – with coupon: $2.24

Soft Soap Hand wash (500 ml), 88¢

Oasis Orange Juice, 1.5L, $1.69 – with coupon: 69¢

Fast food coupon alert

Three more ways to get fast food on the cheap:

Go to Arby’s  for a Beef n Cheddar coupon.  Unfortunately this one is not available in Canada but since I have so many American readers I thought I’d let y’all know.

If you haven’t already done so, sign up with Wendy’s by doing a short survey (this one is for Canadians – if you’re American, head here).  I just got *another* coupon in my inbox today – this time for a double cheeseburger! Sweet deal.  Actually, it’s not a sweet deal, it’s a beefy deal. 

Next, if you’re Canadian, head to Shoppers Drugmart on Saturday or Sunday.  If you spend $50 you get a $10 free Subway gift card.  Of course $50 is quite a lot to spend, but if you want to stock up and missed out on last weeks 15x the points, head out this weekend.

Good stuff in the mail!

There was a cute post I noticed recently on at The Finer Things, where the blogger discussed listed some of her favourite things in life that are free. One of my favourite things is getting “good mail.” Getting mail from my international friends is probably my most favourite thing to receive, but coupons and freebies aren’t bad either! Here’s a list of goodies I got last week:

Save.ca coupons, including coupons for a free Campbell’s Healthy Request Soup (sells for $2.47 at Price Chopper) and coupons for Dairy-Oh milk, Best Water Fish, Duracell Batteries, and more.

A Kraft cookbook. Join the “Kraft community” and they will send you a feee cookbook. Unfortunately it didn’t come with coupons like I had hoped, but there are actually a couple interesting recipes, like one for double baked sweet potatoes! And if you are looking for coupons for Kraft products, I recommend you stop by Loblaws for a kraft coupon booklet, with $8 of savings inside. I got a bunch of these last time they were out and saved a lot of money on cheese.

Kotex samples and coupons. I got 2 free samples for Kotex pads and liners and 4 coupons, sent courtesy of Shoppers Drugmart. I honestly don’t know why I got them, so it was a nice surprise! Did anyone else receive these?

An insurance cheque for dental work. If you have benefits through your company at work, don’t forget to mail in for your rebates. It’s worth it! If you have a chronic condition, it’s a good idea to mention it on your rebate sheet, and then save up your receipts and mail them in all at once. If it’s just a one-off, send it in right away. If you made the payment on your credit card, you want to get the cheque before you have to pay the bill – especially if you’re carrying a balance and don’t want to pay interest on it.

Did you get some good mail this week? Let me know what good stuff you got!

Today’s savings

Good products made cheap by coupons!

Today when grocery shopping, I saved $10.75 on coupons alone, not to mention the great deals I got shopping at Price Chopper.  Some of the products turned out really cheap with the coupons.  For example, one box of Catelli Pasta was only 39¢ with the coupon. And the boxes of Muslix only came to $1.44 each (they had many other varieties on sale, too.)  The other box of cereal I got (Organic Flax Plus) is normally too expensive to purchase, but it came with $1 off coupon for SoyNice (one of my favourite brands of soymilk) plus I had a $1 off coupon for the cereal.  So once I deducted $2 in coupons, the cereal was only $1.97. And the Campbell’s Healthy Request soup you see here was free!  I also saved 75¢ off Dairy Oh! omega 3 milk with a coupon from save.ca! I love that I can save on good, healthy products like organic cereal, soymilk, omega-3 milk, and whole wheat pasta.  

While we were at the store, Josh noticed a sales clerk taking down a pack of coupons for $2 off Kelloggs cereals, and thought to ask her for them.  She gave us a whole wad!  And they don’t expire until June, 1999.

I also made sure to use my Green boxes and cloth bags, which not only helps the environment, it also saves a few cents off my bill, since I don’t need to buy bags.

Other coupons and deals to check out this weekend: 

Look in your flyer for PC stores (Loblaws, Superstores, and Zehrs.)  They have lots of coupons for baby stuff.  Most of them require at least one other purchase, but you can get free Pampers megawipes, Pampers clean n go wipes, Nestle cereal and save $10 on Pampers club packs of diapers and wipes, Huggies and pull-up products. 

Shoppers Drug Mart is offering 10xs the points this weekend when you buy $40 or more – and 15xs the points when you buy $50 or more.  If you have been saving up for a big trip to Shoppers, now is the time to go.  Unless of course, you can hold out for a 20xs the points sale!

Attention Frugal Wine Lovers

I just ran across this great blog post on Spin the Deal called “Vino on the Cheap”. I thought it would nicely augment my earlier post, “The Grapes of Wrath” since it offers more tips on where and how to access cheap wine.  

I also ran across this wiki: How to Brew Cheap Wine.  Personally, I love wine too much to reduce it down to an “educational project” but I thought I would share it in case any of you are up to the challenge!  

Purrrfect Pet Savings

My kitten, Butternut, is one of my biggest blessings.  Every day when I get home from work, she begs to be picked up and then proceeds to lick my face, just like a dog.  Our pets enrich our lives.  But pets, as much as we love them, can be expensive.  Here are a few tips to save money when caring for your beloved four legged friend.

1. Save with coupons.  Right now there are plenty of coupons for Iams to be found on save.ca and in Canadian Living Magazine. (In save.ca there are coupons for $5 off Kitten and Puppy Chow and $2 off Cat or Dog Chow.)  Recently, I found a number of Purina $1 off coupons at Loblaws and of course grabbed a whole bunch.  Last winter, I registered my kitten with Purina and they gave me a coupon for a free bag of Purina One cat food.  Since the coupon arrived late, they apologized by sending me another coupon for my next purchase of Purina One.  Unfortunately, this great deal has expired, but keep your eyes out for further deals.  (When searching for coupons for pet food, just keep in mind that you should not abruptly or erratically change your pet’s diet.)

For my American friends, you’re in luck – there are plenty of coupons available at Purina.com. You can also subscribe to their newsletters or Snack Club using that same link, and be notified of future coupons or promotions.

2. Use Petsmart’s saving system.  Apply at the register.  You attach your loyalty tag to your key ring and it gives you special deals.  And if you call the number they give you within 48 hours and complete a brief telephone survey, you get $5 off your next purchase!

3. Make your own toys.  There is an abundance of crafts you can use – string, ribbons, toilet paper rolls, and other bits of packaging can be made into cute cat toys with very little effort.  I have done this myself on many occasions.  And like children, sometimes the simplest toys, like cardboard boxes, provide the most fun.

4. Wash cat toys in the machine.  Not all toys will survive but you can usually suss out which ones will be just fine.  This means that you can reuse the toys even when they get terribly dirty.

5. Shop at the Dollarstore – like Dollerama – for pet supplies like food and water dishes (and rubber mats to place under them to keep them from spilling).  They also have toys and treats, all for $1 each!

Josh and Butternut, sharing a tender moment

6. Store pet food in a a plastic container with a good lid – especially if you buy in large quantities.  It keeps food fresher for longer and reduces the smell to boot.  I love Lock n Lock products, but you can reuse containers from around the house.  For example, I recently used an old Epsom salt container to store Butternut’s pet food, after realizing I forgot her Lock n Lock full of cat chow at my parents’ place on the weekend.

7. Buy catnip in large quantities, and then store it in the freezer.  It’s cheaper in large quantities and it stays fresh in the freezer!

8. Consider pet insurance or keep your pet indoors. Butternut is an indoor cat, so her risk is reduced significantly. But if you have an outdoor pet, you might want to consider buying pet insurance, and President’s Choice seems to have pretty reasonable rates.

9. Take advantage of warranty rebates.  If you recently got your pet from a pet store, look carefully about the warranty that she comes with. Some pet stores will claim to refund your vet bill if your pet has contracted a disease at the pet store.  Diseases are rampant at pet stores, so this appears useful.  However, there is usually a clause that states that your vet bill must not only be signed by your vet but must also have a clear diagnosis written on the bill.  Since this is not common practice, you must explicitly ask your vet to do this for you, before you mail it in to make your claim. 

10. The best things in life are free.  Pet products are a big business these days, but I think what your pet really enjoys the most is your love and attention.  They don’t care how much you spend on them.  They just want to be loved and cared for.

TANSTAAFL (but coupons make it cheaper)

That’s right, there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch. But I’ve narrowed it down to $5 or less. Plus, there are lots of strategies you can use to lower your costs of eating out.

So, you’ve heard me preach about the importance of taking your lunch to work or school. But let’s be honest, we can’t always be prepared. There are those days when you forget your lunch or leave it on the streetcar (I have done both of these things) or days when you just feel like having a break. So here are some tips of where to eat when you just want a quick, cheap lunch.

1. Subway. Your best buy: A 6” cold cut sub for $2.09

Subway just lowered their prices, which means that their subs are even more affordable now! Their footlong cold cut sub now comes to – including taxes in Ontario – to $5.18. If you split this with a friend and eat just a footlong, your entire lunch comes to $2.09, including tax. Simply fill up your reusable water bottle at the water cooler. My suggestion is to bring some pop and snacks, like fruit, and keep it at your desk. These drinks and snacks mean you can avoid buying the over-priced chips and fountain drinks.

If you live in the States, go to Subway’s website and you can get updates on promotions sent straight to your cell phone.

2. Wendy’s. Your best buy: Chicken nugget meal for $4.14

At Wendy’s you can get a chicken nugget meal, that comes with 5 nuggets, a side (I suggest the chili as it is one of your more filling and healthy options) and a drink. Plus, if you sign up for Wendy’s survey, you get a coupon! I just got a coupon in my email today for $1 off flavour dipped chicken sandwiches.

3. Pizza Pizza. Your best buy: Use a coupon for a 2-for-1 pepperoni slice! This coupon is only available to “members” but it only takes a second to sign up and you can print the coupon instantly. And lately, Pizza Pizza has been selling slices for $1 for the United Way in Toronto subway stations.

4. Quiznos. Not necessarily your cheapest option but they are currently offering a coupon for free chips and a fountain drink when you buy a footlong sub. Just sign up and they will email you a printable coupon.

5. Any Vietnamese Pho place will offer a delicious, steaming hot bowl of Pho for about $4.50 including tax. Prices will depend on where you go, but you most typically fall under the $5 range.

Other tips:

6. Sit at the bar: If you go to a restaurant during a busy hour, save by sitting at the bar. Some restaurants, such as New Generation Sushi, offer you 15% off for sitting at the bar during peak hours.

7. Go early in the week: Many pubs will have deals on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Seek out these deals and you can treat yourself to beer and wings at half the normal cost.

8. Eat Family Style. If you eat at a Chinese restaurant, for example, order fewer dishes and split them with your colleagues. You waste less, enjoy more variety, and pay less.

9. Order simple items. For example, you can order toast or a bagel at an all-day-breakfast place, with peanut butter and jam. It might not be a very filling lunch, but if you bring your own snacks to supplement your hunger, it just might get you through the day on under $1.

Fantastic Coupon Sightings!

I just wanted to draw your attention to a few amazing coupon websites.  I’ve checked them all recently and have pleasantly discovered that there are new coupons to be printed and clipped.

I’ve mentioned it before, but visa has some great deals – check them out at www.visaperks.ca.  I didn’t know that you can save this much money just by using your visa card.  Saving opportunities include 50% off at Via Rail, 20% off at Carlton Cards, $10 off at The Gap, and so much more.  I learned about this deal through a flyer that came along with my credit card bill.  This just proves my point that you should go through your junk mail and bills, because you can often find hidden treasures admist other useless advertisements.

Also, flyerland.ca has recently posted coupons on their site.  Not all of them are good, but Michaels is offering 50% off until October 17th.  If you enjoy DIY, scrapbooking and crafts, Michaels can be a fun place to shop.  But these coupons are especially valuable if you are an artist – I wait for opportunities like this to buy my large canvases.  A large canvas can go for $100 easily – so you’re looking at saving $50!

Proctor & Gamble has great coupons on its website right now, including $1 off Tide and $10 off Gillette Fusion Power Razor. Even better, visit Brand Saver and enjoy all kinds of amazing coupon savings!  I just ordered $55 of coupons!

Discover more great coupons off groceries, household products, restaurants and loads more at Frugal Shopper.

Last but not least, there has been a Rexall/Pharmasave coupon floating around the internet from an e-newsletter, that encouraged customers to take advantage of $5 of freebies.  Of course, there turned out to be a printing error.  The coupon was meant to read, “$5 when you spend a minimum of $25!”  It’s still a good coupon though, which you can print at the Rexall site.

I actually counted up the amount of money in my coupon collection and found the number was at $135. After today I will be close to $200.  Just a reminder though, to only use coupons on products that you regularly buy anyway, or when the coupon makes turns the product into a really fabulous deal.  Some people, (see Centisble Savings, for example) even make money when using coupons!

Canadian Living Coupons

As mentioned in a previous post, I recommend subscribing to Canadian Living because of it’s recipes, crafts, and coupons, not to mention the fact that it’s a fun magazine to receive in the mail every month – and it’s dirt cheap!  (I used my HBC points, so I got my subscription for free!)

I thought I’d let you know of some good coupons in this month’s issue (November), in case you are interested in purchasing one:

$5 off Loreal Paris Revitalift

2000 Shoppers Optimum Bonus Points when you buy any two Aquacurent Science Products

$1 off Oasis brand juice

60 cents off Kleenex Lotion Facial Tissues

75 cents off any variety of Creama (coffee cream)

75 cents off any purchase of Kotex pads or lightdays liners

75 cents off a GUM Activital purchase

$2 off IAMS Cat food

$2 off IAMS Dog food

If you subscribe, the magazine arrives in a plastic bag with even more coupons inside!

While I’m plugging Canadian Living, I might as well mention that there is a great article on Trimming your grocery budget on Canadian Living online.

Happy clipping!

The Top Ten List

Lately I’ve been focusing on providing recipes or small crafts that promote frugality, but today I thought I’d focus on the really big money savers: The Top Ten things you can do that will reduce your expenses – fast. 

1. Sell your car.  Instead, rely on public transportation, car-pool, use a bicycle and when you need to, rent a car.  Calculate the annual cost of your car payment, insurance, repairs, parking, and parking tickets (we often forget that one!) Surprised with the amount you come up with?  Ask yourself, is it really worth it?  If you choose not to get rid of your car completely, simply cut back.  For example, two of my colleagues at work live relatively close to each other, so they take turns each week driving each other to work.  This literally cuts in half the cost of parking, gas, not to mention the miles they put on the car commuting each day.

2.  Avoid eating out in restaurants and take your lunch to work.  Since “$10 is the new $5 lunch” you could be spending nearly $3200 a year on lunch (after tax).  Compare that to the cost of eating up leftovers or preparing sandwiches, and you’re looking at serious savings.  And that’s just lunch – if you eat out twice a week at an average of $25 a dinner, you’re spending an additional $3200, (again after factoring in taxes).  That’s savings of $6400 a year!  Stock your desk with snacks, bring your lunch, and eat at home.

3. Avoid buying some of the most highly marked up products around – coffee, water, pop, and beer. Take your own coffee to work in a travel mug, buy a reusable, good quality water bottle, buy pop by the case when it’s on sale and bring it to work with you (or go without) and avoid buying beer whenever you can. Sound trivial?  If you buy a coffee in the morning, a pop with your lunch, and another coffee in the afternoon, you could be spending about $850 a year – and that’s a modest figure, assuming each beverage is costing you $1.50 each, including tax. If you buy a pop at a restaurant, or visit a higher end cafe like Starbucks, you could potentially double that amount.

4. Avoid stores, avoid spending.  We are incredibly affected by the power of suggestion.  I personally have noticed a substantial drop in my own spending ever since I moved to the Beaches, which means that instead of walking down Queen Street West or through the Eaton Centre to get home after work, I get straight on the streetcar and get dropped off practically at my doorstep.  If you avoid the stores, you won’t be tempted. 

5. Switch grocery stores. If you live in Ontario, shop at No Frills, Price Chopper or Food Basics and avoid the higher priced stores, especially Dominion and IGA.  You’ll notice a substantial drop in your grocery bill.

6. Shop wisely and consciously.  Plan your meals (and other purchases) using flyers, sales, coupons and in-season-items.  Buy generic brands and always look at the unit cost before making a purchase.  Don’t wait until you’re in the grocery store to figure out what you need.  Plan ahead, and make strategic shopping decisions. And if you sign up with President’s Choice no-fee-banking, you earn points that give you oodles of free groceries.

7. Cancel your cable, phone, and internet.  Yes, you really can do that.  We cancelled our cable and subscribed to a newsgroup.  Now we download our favourite shows (or watch them for free on websites such as Slice and HGTV online.) You can also rent movies for $4 from itunes (and no late charges!) We also cancelled our landline since we use our cell phones. Using Skype is another option for those of you making long-distance phone calls. Finally, you can split the cost of the internet with a neighbour, if you live in an apartment.  If you’re spending $175 a month on these purchases you could save $2100 over the course of a year.  If you don’t want to cancel completely, call and ask for a bargain.  Threaten to change companies if you must.  I’ve seen my bills significantly reduced through effective bargaining methods.  And don’t let that early cancellation fee frighten you – the savings might still be worth it.  You’ll have to do the math to find out.

8.  Consider moving. It might sound extreme, but we saved $500 a month by moving from downtown to the Beaches (the east end) – and we get to enjoy the pleasures of the beach!  We have slightly higher expenses (increased transportation costs, for instance) but we are also less tempted to eat out and go shopping, and more inclined to take a moonlight run by the lake, and we are saving $6000 a year.

9. Pay less tax. Many deductible expenses are hidden in the CRA’s Tax and Benefit Guide.  Did you know, for example, that you can deduct moving expenses (when you move to be closer to work or to a new job or school), the interest on your student loans, the cost of your tuition, education and textbooks, public transit passes, medical and dental expenses, donations and gifts (this includes gifts in kind such as canned goods).  If you haven’t done this in the past, you can carry over at least some of these benefits.

10. Avoid Bank Fees and Interest. Overdraft, credit card interest, cash-advances, visiting ATMs that are not your home branch, and simply paying regular bank fees – this is all money “down the toilet” as Gail Vax-Oxlade would say!  If you carry a monthly balance, reduce your interest rate.  Call the credit card company and ask them to reduce your rate, or switch to a lower interest card and make a balance transfer, and switch to a no-fee-banking account like President’s Choice or ING.