Price Matching At Walmart Trial Run...

So I have price matched at Walmart before, but I have never done fruit and vegetables.  Last week there were some terrific sales at other stores on fruits and vegetables and so I thought I would give it a try.  I decided to start small.  I only used 2 ads and picked a couple of items from each ad to price match. 

Ranchos market had unbelievable deals on produce, so I from that Ad I chose the pineapple for $1.39/each, the strawberries for $0.99/carton and the tomatillos for 3lbs/$1.00.

From Macey's I price matched tomatoes on the vine for $0.89/pound and red peppers for $0.69 each.

The pineapples at Walmart were $2.99 so I saved over half on that.  The strawberries were $1.49 so I bought 2 of those and saved a third on each.  The tomatillos were $2.09/pound at Walmart compared to $0.33/pound at Ranchos market so that was an incredible savings.  Tomatoes were $1.99/pound for the vine ripe, so I saved over 50% on those and the red peppers were $1.99 each so I picked out two huge ones for less than half each.

The girl that checked me out, Alec, was awesome.  She appreciated that I had separated the produce from the other items that I was buying and put the items from each ad together so that I could show her the prices quickly.  (I separated the items in my cart before getting in line so that I could be as quick as possible.)  I was maybe 2 minutes longer than usual checking out and all in all it was a huge success!  Alec did tell me that the cashiers always appreciate organization when it comes to price matching and it's best to look for someone that is smiling to check you out.  I will be looking for her every time I go from now on. :)

A couple of things that I would suggest:

• Circle the things you want to price match in the ad with a black permanent marker so that you can find them easily. 
• Separate the items by ad BEFORE you get in line. 
• Put the price match items at the end of your groceries, slightly separated, and let the cashier know ahead that you will be price matching those items.
• Be ready to show them the ads quickly and know what you are looking for!

Remember, price matching can save you time traveling to lots of different stores to get good prices on groceries as well as money on gas! :)  Also, if you don't have a good cashier the first time, don't give up.  Try someone new next time until you find someone that is easy to work with.  Then stick with them when possible.

Bath & Body Works Free Signature Collection Body Care Item...

Click HERE to print a coupon for a free Signature Collection Body Care Item, (up to $12 value), with any $10 purchase.  Coupon good through September 26, 2010.  Enjoy :)

Dove Ice Cream $1 coupon...

Click HERE to print a coupon for $1 off Dove Ice Cream.  Ever tasted the miniatures?  They are divine!!! :)

Pillsbury Coupons...

Click HERE for 4 printable $1 off pillsbury coupons.  Quantities are limited and you have to create a Pillsbury account but everything is free!  Enjoy :)

50 4x6 prints for $5, that includes shipping!

For today and tomorrow only you can get 50 4x6 prints from Snapfish for only $5, and that INCLUDES shipping.  That makes the prints just 10c each!  Click HERE for details and don't forget to put in the code when you order! :)

All Coupons Worth $1 At Smiths...

For seven whole days, all your coupons under $1 are worth $1 at Smiths. Got a 25 cent coupon? It's worth a dollar! 35 cents? It's worth a dollar! Coupons over a dollar are still face value, but anything under $1 you will get extra money off from today through August 31st, so cut them out and head on over to Smiths. For the best savings, apply your coupons to items that are already on sale! :)

Want to see what is on sale this week?  Go here to the Smiths website to look at your local Ad's for yourself!

Quick Tip: Keep Non-perishable Snacks in the Car...

You are running errands and the kids are screaming they are hungry.  You are tempted to pull in to a drive through to grab them a quick snack but you know you will pay out the nose for that quick fix.  The solution?  Keep crackers, granola bars or other non-perishable snacks in the car with packs of capri sun or water.  Next time the kids are hungry, you will have something to hold them over until you get home, saving your cash and your sanity! :)

Quick Tip: Pay Attention at the Register...

Deals are great, but if you don't pay attention to how things are ringing up at the register you can be paying more than you think you are!  Prices are changing constantly on grocery items and sometimes bargains slip through the cracks and aren't programmed in to the computer properly.  Have your kids unload the basket and keep an eye on the register while you are checking out and make sure everything rings up as it is supposed to.  :)

Quick Tip: Keeping Stocked Up...

When you have a well stocked refrigerator, freezer and pantry you are less likely to spend money on eating out.  Think about it, how often have you ordered pizza or other take-out because you just can't find anything good to eat?

Pillsbury has a article on it's website right now that gives some good tips on stocking your cupboards, refrigerator and freezer.  Check it out HERE and share your best tips with us below!

Combine a stocked pantry with planning meals in advance and you are well on your way to saving some serious money! :)

75% off All Summer Floral and Decor at Roberts...

This week only!  No coupon required... while supplies last through August 14th! :)

Free E-Books To Add To Your Library...

From the Barnes & Noble Website...

Each week from July 16, 2010 - September 14, 2010, Barnes & Noble will make a limited selection of Barnes & Noble Classics eBooks available at no charge. The titles will change weekly and will be determined in Barnes & Noble's sole discretion. To learn more about which Classics are available, go to www.bn.com/freelibrary each week. In order to take advantage of this offer, customers must have a valid bn.com account and BN eReader enabled device. For those who do not have a bn.com account or BN eReader, please follow the prompts to create an account and download the eReader App for free. This offer is for a limited time only, subject to change or discontinuation without notice.


This week's featured collection-Uncensored...Books That Were Banned.
 
Collection includes books such as The Scarlett Letter & Uncle Tom's Cabin.  Check out the whole list here. 

Free Printable Recipe Cards...

Another fabulous creation from the makers of HP software.  Printable recipe cards that you can add your OWN photos to!  Imagine having recipe cards that have your personal pictures of the finished product on them... Ingenious!  And there are lots of styles and themes to choose from.  Just click HERE to check it out! :)

Got Zucchini???

Word on the street is that Zucchini is an easy to grow vegetable that many people have growing out of their ears!  Need some ideas on what to do with it?  Martha Stewart has put together 58 recipes that use summer squash or zucchini.

Click HERE to find lots of creative ways to use up your supply from your garden!  Ideas include zucchini gratin, bread, lasagna, soup, salad, tart, cake, pie, quiche and much more.  Every recipe has a picture so you can see what you are making before hand and quite frankly, they all look delicious!  Be sure to come back and let us know if you find one that is amazing. :)

Back To School Photo Projects From HP...

I love HP's site for free printable photo projects.  Right now they are featuring their back to school projects!  Just visit their site and click on the age group you want to browse.  There are pages of projects including school days calendars, teacher appreciation cards, back to school frames, happy monster lunchbox notes, color collage locker posters and much, much more.  Click HERE to check it out! :)

Roberts $10 Off $50 Coupon...

Click HERE for a coupon worth $10 off a $50 purchase today and tomorrow only at Roberts!  There are no product exclusions and coupon is good off sale prices as well as regular prices.  Enjoy :)

Kohls Extra 15% or 20% Off Shopping Pass...

Click HERE to get this weeks 3-day shopping pass for Kohl's that gives you an extra 15% off sale, regular and clearance prices at Kohl's if you spend under $100 and 20% off if you spend $100 or more! (This means it is worth doing one big transaction rather than a few separate transactions to get the extra 5%!) The coupon is good for every purchase you make now through August 8th. On top of all that, you will earn $10 KOHL'S CASH for every $50 you spend in your transaction! (Kohl's Cash is yours to spend at their store at a later date.) What are you waiting for?  Get your butt to Kohl's! :)

BABW 20% Off Coupon...

Get Get 20% off any $25 purchase at Bath & Body Works by printing THIS COUPON!  Coupon expires August 8, 2010. Enjoy :)

Close To My Heart Paper Clearance...

Any scrapbookers out there looking for a great deal?  There is a fabulous paper clearance at Close To My Heart right now for just 8 days as they clear out the old inventory to get in the new.  Level 1 paper kits are only $4, Level 2 paper kits are $6 and the Stickease are only $2.  That's over 50% off paper packets and over 70% off the stickease! 

It's their "$2, $4, $6, for 8... it's you we appreciate" sale.  Quantities are limited to what they have on hand, so the sooner you order the better.

Click HERE to be taken directly to the sale, but be patient... with the popularity of the sale the pages may take longer than usual to load.  Enjoy :)

Taste Test Proves It... Store Brands Can Make The Cut!

Rachael Ray's website put together a panel to taste test lots of ice cream treats from different grocery stores. As I read the results, I was ecstatic to see that a frugal treat that our family has enjoyed quite often actually made the cut.

For Best Cone:

"Great Value Chocolate-Dipped Vanilla Flavored Ice Cream Cones

Tasters marveled at the “supercrispy” chocolate lined sugar cone and the “whipped, frenchvanillalike” ice cream hidden beneath a milk chocolate coating. Chopped peanuts add a salty crunch, and a bargain price sweetens the deal.

($3.97 for eight 4.3-ounce cones; $3.75 for ten 2.25-ounce cones, at Walmart stores)"

Check out the full story here:
Taste Test: The Best Ice Cream Treats - Every Day with Rachael Ray

But even more important, remember... generic brands or store brands can be as good as or sometimes EVEN BETTER than those pricey name brands!  Why not check some out for yourself! :)

Quick Tip: Grocery Store Savings Cards...

It may seem like common sense to most of you, but you would not believe how many people out there do NOT use grocery store savings cards.  The reasons vary from they think their identities are going to be stolen, they can't be bothered to fill out the application, they just don't want the grocery stores knowing what they are buying, they think the store is going to call and hassle them or they think they are filling out a credit card application!

Just so you know, you don't have to hand over your social security numbers or first born children to get a grocery store savings card.  They want very basic information like your address, email address and phone number.  This way they can send you coupons via snail mail and email too! 

Additionally, they most likely DO track what you buy at the grocery store, but this is usually so they can customize coupons that they send to you and see general buying trends in the market.  And really, who cares?  Let them know what I buy!  It's not going to change anything and it's not like anyone is going to send me a letter querying why I bought 100 boxes of cereal with only one gallon of milk.  On top of that, in the YEARS that I have had grocery savings cards, I have never ONCE been called or hassled by a store in any way.

The fact is that the grocery store cards can save you up to 70% on purchases without having to cut a coupon, so get out there and get one for every store you shop at.  Why on earth would you want to pay full price?