Throw a Coupon Party (Cheap Fun Week)

Having fun doesn't have to ruin your finances. This week we're exploring the offbeat, new and old means of entertainment. And if these don't do it for you, well you can just take a hike--for free!

It started out as a question on a yahoo group that I belong to and since then it's been building into cheap fun. Some women that I know started trading grocery shopping strategies via the group forum. Now they meet on Sunday afternoons to peruse the grocery store fliers and coupons. Because no one really buys just what is offered in the Sunday circular they openly trade their coupons over coffee at one hostesses home. Some of these families claim that they save 50, 60, 70% or more on their grocery bills by using coupons. And now that they've added the Sunday gathering they're having a good time doing it.

They're also swapping tips such as excel spreadsheets, coupon organizing systems, grocery store shopping strategies...even bagging methods that quicken the unloading time.

Coupons are coming back into fashion. The way my friends formed their group is informal and designed to be fun as well as thrifty. Others have turned their penny saving snipping into businesses such as Be Centsable and the Grocery Game.

To form your own Coupon Party is simple:

1. Gather some friends
   
2. Everybody brings coupons and store circulars
   
3. Share your tips and tricks
   
4. Add some munchies and beverages.

Now for a few coupon tips:

• Say you have a store coupon for $5 off a $20 purchase and you also have some individual product coupons. Hand over the $5 off coupon first while your total is more than $20, then use the other coupons to lower the total even more.


• Shop stores that double coupons.


• Shop stores that match competitor prices.


• Don't just match your coupon to the picture of the item, match up the bar codes, you will often find the coupon is good for less expensive items.


• First you should look for sales. Then check to see if there are coupons for those same sale items.


• Combine the manufacturer's coupon with a coupon offered by the store.

Don't just rely on newspapers. For online coupons checkout these sites:

• CouponMom
• HotCouponWorld
• AFullCup
• Target
• DealCatcher
• Albertson's
• PrintClipCoupons

Happy Clipping!

photo by kyz

Valentine's Day for the Cheap and Unoriginal

photho by tonguetyed

Ah yes, that's me. I rarely think of a creative Valentine's Day gift. Part of me thinks...Why should I? Isn't that his responsibility. Well, but then again if I don't take control of the situation then I'm just setting up unrealistic expectations.

So for all those who can't think of anything and who are cheap...like me...there is Restaurant.com. Eating out isn't that creative but this website definitely appeals to my inner cheapskate. At this site you can purchase dining gift certificates that you can give or use for participating restaurants. You just type in the zip code or area that you want to go to and taadaa lots of places show up. From upscale to sandwich shops.

Usually you'll pay $3 for a $10 gift certificate. A $25 gift certificate goes for $10. Higher amounts are available at comparable discounts. That's a tasty savings.

Some restaurants put restrictions on when they can be used so look carefully. There's no waiting for the certificate to be mailed, you just print it right away and go eat. Very simple.

I think this will be a fun and low-risk way to try some place new. I like that you can glance at the menu before you purchase. Reservations can also be made online, which should be super convenient for the busy cupid day.

It's also great for traveling since restaurants throughout the country are signed up with the service.

But do the restaurants like it? According to the website, yes. It helps promote there business and get diners in, something they are struggling with right now.

Let's Go Shopping: Got Coupons?

I think we can all agree that grocery shopping is a drag. And with prices gone wild it can get downright depressing. But we've all got to eat. So this week we'll examine some ways to save money at the grocery store.

It used to be that newspapers could sell subscriptions by just asking, "Would you like to receive Sunday coupons?" But printed papers are struggling and not even the Sunday coupons are saving them. Why is that? A gallon of milk costs more than a gallon of gas. Cheese costs more than it weighs. Rice is rationed. And flour outprices the cookies we bake it with. Well, the answer is simple--coupons rarely cover the stuff we really buy.

Still we've all heard stories about coupon clipping queens who claim to rack up savings at the price of a few hours of cutting up paper. One clipper, Teri Gault, has turned the hobby into the savvy Internet business, GroceryGame.com. The Grocery Game gives you a list of items that are on sale at the stores you shop. You then buy the newspapers, clip and take them to the store. The premise is that you might not have been able to locate all of the coupons without the Grocery Game list. Well, maybe you could but it might be harder. The Grocery Game list will alert you to what the best deals are and when to use those coupons to get the best savings. Users have said that they can sometimes even get items for free. The cost for this service is $10/month for the first store you signup for and $5/month for additional stores.

Have I tried it? No. You can try out the service for 4 weeks for just $1. But I don't like any service that asks for credit card information upfront and then automatically bills if I forget to cancel--The Grocery Game does just that. It's just a principal that I have. Instead I hunt around for reviews on the Internet. I found a lot of users who suspiciously love the Grocery Game. They were mostly bloggers who ask that you mention them as a referral when you signup with The Grocery Game--read kick back.

I also found one honest blogger who said that the time and money spent clipping, buying papers, and driving to different stores was more of an investment then she was willing to give. That would be my thought as well. But I won't knock The Grocery Game since it may be just what you need to make grocery shopping more fun as many users claim.

Here's a thing to remember and it's what the whole Grocery Game concept is built on. It's also the secret that all successful clippers know. Manufacturer coupons are enticements to try products. You knew that right? They are often for items that you wouldn't normally buy. Store coupons might be for items that the store is trying to move. Either way the coupon is the first indicator that a price cut is coming. The secret strategy is to clip coupons and then save them--for about 4 weeks. The items will then typically go on sale. That's when to use the coupon and that's how Grocery Gamers get free and nearly free stuff.
Serious clippers organize their coupons in categories like "produce" or "meats" and then save them for weeks until the items are on sale. photo by ninjapoodles

Do any stores double coupons any more? I've been hearing this, but haven't seen it locally. Have you?