I wish I could always write without feeling like I have to edit. Then I also wish that I could edit better. So, since I'm menstruating and therefore feeling bipolar with my moods, I think I'll just play it safe and talk about something I do know about: saving money.
I hate to pay retail for anything. I think when I bought my ipod touch as a brand new commodity back in 2006-7 somewhere around there was the last time I paid retail. I have to pay retail all the time for stuff that doesn't go on sale, milk, bread, eggs. I think those are the only thing that don't really go on sale in the grocery stores. But then, I also make at least 1 trip to BJ's each month in North Haven, who am I kidding, two. And I stock up on the 1.99 milk there, so even where I can't take advantage of sales, I'll drive all over the place...within reason to find the cheapest price.
I almost ever take my gas guzzling kid hauler out of town either, unless I have to. The thing is, I hate to waste money on necessities. You have to have them, and so that's why they charge so much. Take laundry detergent for example, I like Tide, because well, I do...I have sensetive skin and it's the one that irritates me the least. $15.99 per 100
load bottle....insane! Walmart charges 10.96. Still a rip off. You can save
money going to Walmart, but I hate Walmart. Yuck. grocery stores have a 8.99 sale price for Tide as a rock bottom....higher priced items like laundry detergent and OTC medicines have big coupons...I use my $2 tide coupons, I stock up and get 10 bottles for 6.99...most people just pay the $15.99....crazy!
So....I have been doing this for years, I cut some corners. But the principle is basically this: every item (except eggs) goes on sale at least once within a 13 week period, most usually go twice, one's a good deal, the other a great deal. So everytime you shop, you have to wait for the rock bottom price...sometimes they hit lower lows. I only buy what we typically use. I have kids, they're picky about food, so I have a two week menu rotation. That way, when I shop I buy three months worth of everything that can be frozen or will store. Most people don't get that far because who wants to buy or can afford to buy, or has the storage/freezer space for 3 months at a time??!! I do. And it will take you a good 3 months before you get that grocery bill to be tiny like on the show....you gotta stock up, and there will be things you're buying along the way that you need because you didn't have the 3 months supply, and they're not yet on sale....try to get by with generic, if you can, until then.
I am not going to spend hours on end looking for coupons. I like to live life, and I like to save money, but I also like to be able to do fun things. People also need to understand that the whole reason retailers put coupons out there is to get people to buy crap they normally wouldn't. Coupons are not intended for their normal customers, who usually buy their product anyway. They've already got you. The thing is, there are so few of us who are willing to put in the kind of time even that I do (which is much less than dumpster diving couponaholics). There are services who actually make money for clipping coupons. They get paid miniscule amounts of money to find and clip those SOBs for you. And it saves you INK. I use thecouponclippers.com, it's like 10% of the face value of the coupon, and you can get as many as you want. You can't scan a coupon that's been copied. Here's the thing. The coupon saves you $1, it actually only saves me .90, because it's worth the extra .10 to not have to search and find and cut the damn things. Plus, they get loads of coupons and you can generally find the great coupons for one of an item, versus the save a $1 on two. I'd rather get the save .50 on one, because .50 gets doubled at my stores and I save $1 on one. You have to do the math when you look at coupons...where you have to buy two or more, sometimes the coupon isn't that great of a deal, since you're still buying the items only when they're on sale, it's still better than nothing...but you can usually find a coupon that gives you a lesser amount (that will be doubled if it' .99 or less) but for one...that's almost always the better deal, and you can order as many as you need to get your 3 month supply.
Save money on necessities, so you can enjoy it on the luxuries!! LOL...that is funny, because we have to consider the source. Can't think of many luxuries that I enjoy. Oh well. Use it to have fun!
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