A few frugal moments

Its a slow frugal news day. However, I did stop by our local Save A lot and picked up some "damaged" cans of off brand pop for 17 cents a piece. The damage consisted of...well, simply being loose from their cardboard boxes. So I got all of these for $2.38 which should last this crew for an afternoon.

My mom taught me from an early age to check out the mark down basket. Sometimes you can even find items on clearance that you can use coupons with. Most of the time things are in the baskets because the package is marked up/broken or because they just bought way too many in anticipation of a big sale that didn't go over very well. Whatever the reason don't forget to check that little section out. You can really catch a good deal.

Using Coupon Codes to save on Online purchases

One of the great things about the web is you can shop around to find the best deal without running yourself rigid. You can also save yourself a little more buy using coupon codes or promo/promotional codes. For those who aren't familiar with these, they are basically codes that you can put into your online checkout cart that will give you a discount. You can sometimes find them on the mailing label of a catalog or retailers you order from frequently may even send you a postcard with the special code. However, if you don't ever receive them or don't get the ones you could actually use, don't despair. As with all things virtual, you can find virtually any retailer's codes on the web. If you're going to buy online, do a little search (google's my personal favorite) for the retailer you're shopping at with the key words "coupon codes", "promo codes", or "promotional codes". i.e. shopping on Amazon.com I search for : Amazon.com coupon codes and end up with sites that have codes such as this one: 4DNW5Q89 FOR $25 off shoes sold by RoadRunner thru Amazon.com or 326465 5% discount on DVDs. Basically, you just look for a code that fits what you are looking for. Some of the places to look that I've found helpful are:

Retailmenot.com

Currentcodes.com

Couponcabin.com

These are just a few of the ones I've used. You can also find them on some of your favorite forums. Some of the ones I've used included:

Hotcouponworld.com

Fishingfordeals.com

Mommysavers.com

All three of these sites are great coupon code resources as well as having a multitude of other savings ideas. Just remember to shop around and look for virtual coupons just like you would a traditional paper coupon or sale. Combining these with some of reward programs like Mypoints.com and ebates.com that give cash back or points for purchases, can really cut your costs on things you buy. It takes a few extra clicks but a few extra clicks can really add up to extra savings.

PAPERS! PAPERS! GET YOUR PAPERS!...

Sunday's papers that is. On a tip from Saving Money Ideas, I've learned that this Sunday's inserts will be a wonderful New Year's gift. With a total of 5 different inserts, three Smartsource inserts and two Red Plum (Valassis) inserts, the possibilities are endless. This basically amounts tons of savings and swaps for the avid couponer. How does she know? She pointed to Taylortown Preview to see a complete listing of the coupons that will be in this weekend's paper. So I ventured over and WOW! What an awesome resource. Her dedication and hard work/time really pays off. She offers a preview of the upcoming weeks insert coupons AND offers them for sale including past inserts. Of course, they are on a "While Supplies Last" basis but if you are looking for a particular coupon, she's more than likely got. Or if you just can't remember when a coupon came out or if there is one for a particular product, she has a search feature that works by pressing ctrl + F to pop up a search box at the bottom of the screen. To see what's coming click here: Taylortown

Yesterday I mentioned Hotcouponworld.com in my quest for free toliet paper. I thought I should tell you a little about hcw. I stumbled across this wonderful virtual community by accident one day and have never turned back. It's a huge resource for the hard core couponer AND the beginner.

At HCW, there's a place for everything - from introduction to couponing and the entire process to get started, to where to find coupons and even suggestions on how to set up a coupon organizing system. Other resources include individual sections for individual stores that list current and upcoming sales, how to handle any problems you encounter, sharing deals people have gotten there, and my favorite, the wonderful ladies (& gents) list coupon match ups to the sales ads. Helping you get the most out of your money.

There are so many resources on this site, you'll find yourself addicted to it. Not only do they help you learn and navigate through the wonderful world of couponing but they also list freebies, have a helping hand program, classifieds, coupon trading, and even a place to blow off steam.

If you are new to couponing or you're a pro and have never stopped by, I highly recommend clicking over there. Hotcouponworld.com is an excellent source of knowledge, encouragement, and just a lot of fun while saving. I learn something new every time I'm there. Go check them out: Hotcouponworld.com