Stretching Your $$ :: How To Make It Go Farther

One of our MOPS moms saved around $175 in one trip shopping for groceries. Another MOPS mom regularly snagged items for less than $1. Another MOPS mom saved up to 90% on a single item during a grocery trip. What's the secret?

COUPONS!

Here are some common excuses people have for not couponing & the responses to those excuses:

"I don't have time. It just seems like a lot of work to save $0.75." - Clipping coupons does not take that much time. A single coupon insert can be gone through in under 5 minutes. Most grocery stores, like Giant Eagle, will double coupons that are $0.99 and less. Target accepts manufacturer coupons in addition to their own store coupons (you can use 2 coupons for one item). Spending 5 minutes once a week and then saving tens of dollars (at least) at the store is a good deal! The Grocery Game takes a lot of the work out of coupon clipping by matching up coupons with sale for you! You can even get a free trial. Cancelling is a no-hassle process.

"I only buy generic, so I don't have a need to clip coupons." - It's easy to purchase name brand items for pennies when using coupons. You can even come out cheaper than buying generic! The key is to use coupons when there are sales (watch your local ads) and you can sometime walk out of the store with FREE items.

"I don't get the Sunday paper." - You don't have to get the Sunday paper to start using coupons. Redplum is a coupon circular that is distributed in our mailboxes each week with the Giant Eagle sales ad. Occasionally Proctor & Gamble's Brandsaver is included in this, but not always. Smart Source is included in the Sunday paper. There are also numerous coupon sites where, if you have a home printer, you can print out coupons to use when shopping. Most stores accept Internet coupons just as they would a clipped coupon. Below you can find links to popular coupon sites:

• Coupons.com - http://www.coupons.com/
• Smart Source - http://www.smartsource.com/
• Red Plum - http://www.redplum.com/
• Deal Seeking Mom * - http://dealseekingmom.com/
• Common Sense with Money * - http://www.commonsensewithmoney.com/
• Money Saving Mom * - http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom
• Stretching a Buck * - http://www.stretchingabuckblog.com/
• Target Store Coupons
• and don't forget to visit manufacturer's websites (Pillsbury, Nestle, etc). They usually have coupons for printing available. If they don't, writing an asking if there are any they can mail you is not a bad idea. Most companies are willing to give you some in order to get your business.

If you do get the Sunday paper, or buy it every once in a while for the coupons you should check out The Sunday Coupon Preview. It is a website that lists all the coupons that will be in the Sunday paper from week-to-week, even alerting us as to when no coupons will be in the paper (this happens just a few times a year).

* These sites will list sale offers and then share the coupon you can use in order to get the best bargain. They mainly list the following stores: CVS, Giant Eagle, Target, Walgreens, Walmart. These sites even give you the links to Internet coupons and sometimes have links for FREE products and samples from major manufacturers!

Old Navy Weekly - A Way To Save BIG On Clothes For The Whole Family

You may have already done a lot of back-to-school shopping, but did you know that there is a way you can save lots of $$$ each week at Old Navy?

Old Navy has an interactive site running called Old Navy Weekly. Basically it is a fun ad campaign on-line with hidden coupons throughout the ad. All you do is click around on the adds and, if you are lucky, you can snag a printable coupon for up to $75 off $100. That's right, $75!

The site is updated weekly (usually late Thursdays evenings or the first few hours of Friday). Scroll down the page and click on the Old Navy Weekly Link on the right-hand side of the CEFC MOPS main blog screen to be transported to this magical place.

Happy hunting everyone! Let us know if you snag a big coupon!

Kmart Super Double Coupons - the last one?

Starting August 30, Kmart will be having yet another Super Double Coupon event! BUT this looks like it could be the last one for a while (at least the remainder of 2009), according to Kmart.

Not familiar with the Super Double event at K-mart? It's simple. Here are the guidelines:

1. Kmart will double manufacturers coupons up to $2.00.
2. There is no minimum purchase requirement even though some ads have reportedly advertised you had to spend $25 in merchandise first.
3. Limit 10 double coupons per person per day. No more than 4 of the same item may be purchased using coupons. (These two stipulations may vary from store-to-store, call first.)

Tips for making the most of this event:

1. Use only coupons over $1, as most local grocery stores already double coupons up to $0.99 every day.
2. Watch those prices! Kmart tends to have more overly priced products. Make sure the regular (or sale) price is close to what you usually pay to get the most of your discount.
3. Don't buy it if you don't need it, no matter how good the deal is.
4. Don't bust your budget because it's a "really great deal."

Call your local Kmart or Super Kmart on or around August 30 to verify they are participating before shopping.

Family Fun BOZ Night, only $1!!!!!

Mark your calendars moms! This is an event too good to pass up!

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Friday August 28

6-8 pm

Chippewa Evangelical Free Church, rooms F100/F101

Cost $1

(includes a BOZ movie, play-place, chicken nuggets, drink, snack and dessert)
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Come let your kids play in a safe environment while you get to socialize with other parents! If you have any questions you can call the church at 724.843.6381.

For more information about BOZ visit the official BOZ website.

30% off Coupon at Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic ...

Through August 2 you can use this coupon to get 30% off at Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Banana Republic Factory Stores. You can use the coupon as often as you want between now and then. For each purchase you make, 5% will be given to charity.

FREE Subscriptions to American Baby and Baby Talk Magazines

Click here to sign up for a free subscription to American Baby.

Click here to sign up for a free subscription to Baby Talk.

2-year Free Subscription to Parents Magazine

Click the link below to sign up for a FREE 2-year subscription to Parents Magazine. There are no strings attached. It will take 6-8 weeks to get your first issue. Not too shabby!

Sign up here.

(FREE) $15 For You From Giant Eagle

If you go here and watch the short video (just a couple of minutes) Giant Eagle will credit your Advantage Card with $15 good to use in $5 increments over your next three shopping trips to the store. This is for real, but hurry. The offer may not last very long.

Free KFC 2pc. Meal

Click here to print a coupon for a FREE 2pc. KFC meal. The meal includes two pieces of KFC chicken, two sides, and a biscuit. Make sure you print the coupon before May 9, 2009. Coupon expires May 19, 2009 and cannot be used on Mother's Day.

Mark Your Calendars

Kmart is having their Double Coupon Event April 19-25! Below is the list of participating stores (contained in an email directly from K-mart):

2000 Scott Blvd - Moon Township, PA 15108

825 Beaver Grade Road - Coraopolis, PA 15108

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2652 Ellwood Rd - New Castle, PA 16101

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2660 Constitution Blvd - Beaver Falls, PA 15010

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300 Brighton Avenue - Rochester, PA 15074

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Promotion Details:

1. All manufacturers coupons up to $2 will be doubled.
2. Kmart and Kmart Pharmacy coupons not eligible for doubling.
3. No copies of coupons accepted.
4. Limit 25 coupons per customer per day.

Free Stuff

Print out this $5 off $25 purchase coupon for Babies R Us - click here.

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Earthbound Farms is giving away 10,000 reusable shopping totes every week during the month of April. To get yours hop on over to their site {click here} and take their Earth Day Pledge. The first 10,000 people to do this every week will get a free tote!

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The Home Depot will be giving away 1 million CFL bulbs in support of our environment on Earth Day 2009. Receive a free EcoSmart 14w CFL bulb from participating The Home Depot stores on April 19, 2009. Quantities may vary by store. Limit one per customer while quantities last. No purchase necessary. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotional offer or discount. No credit if offer refused.

Super Coupon Craze at K-Mart This Week!

Disregard the Kmart coupon craze. Our K-mart stores in the area are not participating at this time. Check future sale papers for any coupon crazes.

FREE Thomas Train Cars at Toys R Us March 22!

Rub your eyes if you want, but this is real. Click here to print a coupon for a FREE Thomas train car at Toys R Us today only, March 22. There are four different cars being offered, so take your pick. One coupon per guest.

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Enjoy!

25 Free 4x6 Prints @ Giant Eagle

Get 25 free 4x6 prints at Giant Eagle's Online Photo Center now through April 14. To redeem your free prints enter MARCH25 during checkout.

Kids Eat Free (Or Almost Free)

Below are some chains that offer free or discounted meals for kids. Meals are free unless otherwise noted. And as always, call ahead to confirm that things have not changed first.

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Sundays

Souper Salad (kids 0-4 eat free, 5-12 eat for $2)

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Mondays

CiCi's Pizza

Fuddruckers ($0.99, from 5-9 pm)

Texas Roadhouse

TGI Fridays

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Tuesdays

Chic-fil-A

Denny's (4-10 pm)

Fuddruckers ($0.99, from 5-9 pm)

Lonestar Steakhouse

Perkins

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Wednesdays

Applebee's ($0.99)

Rainforest Cafe

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Saturdays

Joe's Crab Shack ($0.99)

Lonestar Steakhouse (11-4 pm)

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Everyday

IHOP ($0.99, from 3-9 pm)

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Do you have something you want to add to the list? Leave a comment!

Save $75 Off $100 Purchase at Old Navy

This is not a typo.

Old Navy has launched a new site called Old Navy Weekly.

Each week, special sales are advertised on the site. Your job is to "hunt" for store coupons (5% off purchase, 15% off single item, $75 off $100 purchase, etc) by clicking on the advertised specials. You are guaranteed to find something.

Once you find a coupon, you print it and take it with you on your next shopping trip. How fun is that?! Be sure to check the site out - Old Navy Weekly.

(SITE IS UPDATED WEEKLY - SO CHECK IT OFTEN!)

Hold That Dollar

Use your local library as a way to "preview" movies and books.

If there is a title you are eager to check out, check the library first. Being able to view the item for FREE sure beats paying for it, especially in these hard economic times. If you find that the book/movie isn't what you had hoped it would be then you can return it to the library. A free preview can help you decide to buy or not to buy, or even to just be content to borrow for a short time.

DID YOU KNOW? If your local library does not carry a particular title you are searching for, they can help you locate it in another library ... and then get the book shipped to your branch for you to check out. And it's all FREE!

Tap into the great FREE source of entertainment today! Memberships are FREE. It's a win-win situation. Your local library gets used and you get to read books, watch movies, etc. for FREE!

PS - It's a great place for a playdate!

Toy Links

Simplemom has two great articles regarding quality toys for children. Be sure to check them out

11 Cheap (and free!) Toy for Young Children

Classic Toys That Are Worth The Money