$14.99 oil change + tire rotation


I came across this coupon and thought that I would share. I need an oil change so bad it's not funny!

Money Saving Strategy: Comparing Unit Prices


Sometimes it's not easy to determine if a good deal is really a good deal. I often find myself questioning whether or not somethings a good buy, particularly when it's sold in bulk. Is generic better? Bulk buying better? How about normal price with coupons?


Here's a little something that I've been doing lately- comparing not just the prices but also the unit prices of the products that I purchase. This little technique has saved me many times. I used to get very excited when my local grocery store would run triple coupon sales until I realized that I was still paying more than I would have at SuperWalmart.


Here's some info I found from NY Dept of Consumer Protection:

It's easy to find the unit prices of some items. It may be marked on a sign near the item. For example:
If apples sell for $.89 per pound, you know that 5 pounds will cost $4.45 (5 pounds x 89 cents).
If potato salad sells at the deli counter for $2.59 per pound, you know that 2 pounds will cost $5.18 (2 x $2.59).


Unit pricing is most helpful when the price per unit isn't so clear. Let's look at an example. Your favorite brand of corn flakes is sold in three different sizes.

-The 14-ounce box is $2.52

-The 20-ounce box is $3.00

-The 2-pound (32-ounce) box is $5.12.


Which one is the best buy? Unit pricing helps. (In this case, the unit price is the price per ounce)
To figure the unit price, divide the price by the number of units (in this example, it's the number of ounces):


The unit price for the 14-ounce box is 18 cents per ounce ($2.52 / 14).
The unit price for the 20-ounce box is 15 cents per ounce ($3.00 / 20).
The unit price for the 2-pound box is 16 cents per ounce (2 pounds = 32 ounces, $5.12 / 32).
Compare the unit price of each package. Which costs the least per unit?

In this example, the 20-ounce package is the best buy because it cost less per ounce.
Corn flakes are also sold in the bulk food section for $1.44 per pound (one pound = 16 ounces). Divide $1.44 by 16 and you know the cost per ounce is 9 cents. ($1.44 / 16 = $.09).
How does the unit price of the boxed corned flakes compare with the unit price of the corn flakes sold in the bulk food section? In this example, the unit price shows that corn flakes from the bulk food section are the better buy.

Remember, the larger the package is not always the best buy. It pays to know the unit price.

Here's what I'm stirring up- Deals for 7/13-08- 7/19/08

Here are the deals I am stirring up this week in NC @ CVS:


CVS
Here are the deals that I will be personally doing @ CVS this week. The most amazing deal this week is on photobooks with tons of overage! There are some other good additions as well. I'll be using the $3/15 CVS coupon of course. I plan to break this up into many smaller orders so that the coupon can be used more than once. The details that I'll be working up are here in this chart. You local readers better not beat me to it!

ItemPriceCoupon(s)Total After Coupon/ Extra BucksMentionables

Kodak Photo books

on sale for $7.99

-$3 CVS coupon (found at the photo desk)

-$3 Mfq coupon

-6/8 SS (expires 8/31)
-5/4 SS (expires 7/31)

-$7.99 extrabucks

Free + $6 overage Limit of (2) 6x8 and (1) 4x6
Evian, 1 liter bottle (buy 2)

- $1/2 CVS coupon (printable)

- B1G1 (CVS weekly deal)

Limit 4
Gain laundry detergent liquid 24-32 loads or powder 40 loads on sale for $4.99

- $1/1 hangtag found on Tide detergent

-$2 extrabucks

$2Limit 1
Clairol herbal essence shampoo or conditioner 10.17-12 oz, or styler 5-8 oz 2/ $5

- $3/2 Mfq coupon

-7/6 P&G (expires 7/31)

$1 each
Sally Hansen nail polishes on sale for $0.99 -$3/2 CVS couponFree + $1 (possible) overage
Sure deoderant (buy 2) $2.79 each

- $1/1 Mfq coupon (printable)

- B1G1 Mfq coupon

-6/29 SS (expires 9/30) OR

- B1G1 mail-in rebate

-6/29 SS (expires 9/30)

- $3 extrabucks when you buy 2

with B1G1 coupon:

$5.58- 2.79( b1g1 coupon) - 1off printable q

= Pay 1.79, get $3 Extrabucks back!

with B1G1 rebate:

$5.58- $2 (2x internet printables)= Pay $3.58 , get $3 Extrabucks back!

July Monthly Deal

Check back this Wednesday for what I'l be working up during the extended triple coupon sale at Harris Teeter.

Magazines for Surveys





Rewards Gold is offering magazine subscriptions in exchange for yor participation in surveys. Just for registering on their site (no credit cards or other personal info), you get 250 points. This is enough for a 1 year subscription to Working Mother. I can attest that these magazines do come as I have registered my email with them in the past.


It's okay to say the "c" word



Coupons that is!

I've come to terms with it. I am a coupon lady. I am a young 20 something and I am a coupon lady. I used to sort of be embarrassed when I approached the register or entered a store because I knew that "they knew the secret"... they being the store associates and the secret being that I used coupons, heaven forbid.

I have now come to appreciate my coupon lady status, however. Why? It's simple math. I save money. I just don't mind to clip coupons when I save the kind of money that I do. My informal savings tally just this year is now running into the thousands, thousands! Coming full circle in my coupon lady embrace, I have decided to make the best of my store experiences by doing the following:

  1. I enter the stores prepared. No one likes an absent-minded couponer. I try to always have exactly which coupons I am going to use clipped,organized and ready before I get into the register line. Can I get an amen from the customers that have stood in line behind me?
  2. I make conversation with the cashier & associates. I have overheard store clerks telling horror stories of their coupon customers. Typically, it has to do with someone being rude and adamant about a deal. I have found far more success when I go into a store, learn the names of the associates (since I'm there so frequently), make conversation, and show a genuine interest in people's lives. This helps tremendously when I need a manager's intervention or special deal. Managers have also told me about upcoming promotions and given me coupons before because they recognized me.
  3. I always stay on the up and up. There is a serious difference between someone getting a good deal and someone scamming for a good deal. I am becoming even more conscious about reading the coupon wording and specifics as to make sure that I am within the guidelines set by the stores and manufacturers.


    How about you? Have you accepted or embraced your couponer status? What strategies do you use when in the store?

Stop the Press- a $3/15 CVS coupon


So, CVS coupons have been mighty scarce lately but look what I stumbled upon in a RI newspaper.... This one expires 7/20.

If you're new to CVS or don't know how exciting this is, check back this upcoming week. I'll post a beginners CVS tutorial and some good scenarios for savings that will rock your world!

Yippie, free slurpees today @ 7- Eleven

Thanks to my dear friend Anjie, I found out about a fun freebie happening only today. In honor of 7-11 day they are giving away free slurpees at most locations (check with your local store before you make a trip). We don't have 7-11s in my city, but luckily for me, we snuck out of town today to a city that does- yippie!