Savvy How To: Back To School Savings

Savvy How To:

Back To School Savings

It’s almost back to school time again – where did those lazy days of summer go!  Each week as I search the sale ads, I’m reminded that school supplies, clothing, backpacks and lunchboxes will shortly be required for that big yellow bus ride on the first day of school.  The checklist of needed supplies may seem overwhelming and outrageously expensive, but don’t let these purchases give you F’s (Financial Frustration)! 

Inventory Check:  First things first – you need to take stock of what supplies you already have. I buy extra packs of pens and pencils every school season – even notebooks and folders when they go on sale for ridiculously low prices.  I store them in a designated closet for future use throughout the school year and inevitably I always have leftovers.  Scavenge the office supply drawer/closet in your home and check off any items you’ve previously purchased so you don’t spend more than you really need to on supplies you already have on hand.

Recycle:  Rulers, scissors, pencil boxes and the like should not need to be re-purchased each school year.  Recycling as many of last year's purchases as possible will save you a pretty penny.  And recycling isn’t just limited to stationary items.  This will be the third year in a row my daughter has used her cute pink backpack. I bought a sturdy backpack at 75 percent clearance several years ago and just wash it as needed.  It has held up amazingly well and still looks like new! And no one said you had to have brand new pencils, pens, markers or crayons on the first day of school. This is a perfect time to clean out that junk drawer full of pencils and pens.  A pencil is a pencil – as long as it writes and has an eraser it will be sufficient.  If you’re worried your kids will feel badly that they’re using a slightly used writing instrument remember, once they’re sharpened they all look used and no one will know the difference! And, as my mother-in-law says, “Make do or do without.”

Make A List:  Just as in grocery shopping, make sure you take a school supply shopping list with you to the store.  Shopping without a list usually means buying extra items you really didn’t need.  And somehow many of those items never get returned to the store — they just sit around waiting to be used.  Once your list of essential buys is inked out, make sure your kids know you’re sticking to the list and your budget!  With thousands of pop-star themed notebooks and glittery gel pens for sale, it’s almost like taking your kids to the candy store.  Shopping without children is always my preference – it’s always cheaper and less stressful than hearing “Oh – I want that one, can I have that one pleeeeeeeeeease, pretty please?”

No Frills: When I was in school I actually looked forward to cutting up brown paper grocery bags to use as book covers and then decorating them with colored markers.  OK, I think I’ve just dated myself with that comment, but kids really don’t need designer stretchable book covers and a rainbow collection of glitter gel pens. Truthfully, that designer cover won’t make your child any more friends or come close in determining their self-worth.  Money can’t buy everything.  Stick to the basics and save your money for the impending braces! 

Limited Time Sales: Right now is the perfect time to stock up on school supplies! Stores are competing with each other for your business like no other time in the year.  By offering huge discounts on everything from pencils to paper, retailers, and even grocers, are vying for your back-to-school dollars.  Take advantage of these amazing deals and stock up when possible for next year's supplies.  Pencils and paper don’t go rancid or get weevils.  Buy a few extra if it’s in the budget and get a head start for next year.  And don’t forget to check back in September for all the back-to-school clearance sales.  All that extra stock of glue and crayons is quick reduced for up to 75 percent off savings!

Back to school doesn’t have to mean back to being broke!  Saving money on back to school items is as easy as 1+1 = 2.  Try these simply ideas and get back to school without breaking the bank!

Pantry Potpourri: Baking Soda

 
Pantry Potpourri:

The Benefits of Baking Soda

Chances are, you've got a box or two of Baking Soda lying around your pantry just waiting for addition to your favorite cake or cookie recipe. Baking Soda, or Sodium Bicarbonate as it's also named, is most commonly used as a levening agent in doughs and batters. But Baking Soda's usefulness doesn't stop there! There are hundreds of uses for this bubbly powder all around the home.

Deodorize your Fridge: If you want foods to stay fresh and eliminate overpowering food odors put a newly opened box of Baking Soda in your refrigerator every 30-40 days. There are even specially designed packages of vented Baking Soda for double the baking soda exposure and thus double the freshening results.

Liquid Laundry Booster: Add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda to each load of laundry when using liquid laundry detergent to balance the ph and get your clothes cleaner, fresher and brighter.

Carpet Freshener: Did you know that one of the main ingredients in carpet deodorizers is often Baking Soda? If you don't want to pay for all the frills of floor powders, simply sprinkle baking soda on your carpet, let stand for 10 minutes and then vacuum up the leftover residue. You'll get the same results or even better than name brand carpet deodorizers by using pure Baking Soda without all the added scented "fluff".

Shoe Deodorizer: Just sprinkle a little Baking Soda in shoes, boots or slippers to absorb odor causing moisture. Remember to tap out any extra baking soda before wearing again.

Chlorine Bleach Booster: Add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda with a 1/2 cup of bleach (instead of the usual 1 cup of bleach) will boost the brightening power of your bleach and help reduce smelly chemical odors too! www.arm&hammer.com

Bee Sting Soother: Soothe the inflammation and pain of bee stings with a paste of Baking Soda and water and leave it on the affected area for 15-20 minutes.

Hand Cleanser: If you've got onion, fish or other strong odors embedded in your hands from food prep, rub a paste of Baking Soda and water between your hands and eliminate all the smelly traces.

Cleaning Grills: Sprinkle barbeque grills with dry Baking Soda on a damp brush, scrub and rinse clean. For tough, greasy stains, scrub with a wire brush and a Baking Soda paste (3 parts Baking Soda to 1 part warm water). www.arm&hammer.com

Towel, Washrag Cleaner: Can't get the chlorine or sour odors out of towels or kitchen sink cloths? Add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda to the laundry rinse cycle to easily eliminate odors.

Garbage Can Deodorizer: Sprinkle Baking Soda in the bottom of your garbage can and in between garbage layers to minimize odor build up.

Polish Silver: Rub a Baking Soda cleaning paste made with 3 parts Baking Soda to 1 part water onto dulled silver with a clean cloth. Rinse thoroughly and dry. This mixture will also remove scratches and crayon marks from vinyl floors.

Fire Eliminator: You probably already know this tip, but it's definitely worth mentioning. Baking Soda can actually work as an excellent fire extinguisher. For small fires, unplug affected appliances or turn off gas/electricity if safe to do so and throw handfuls of Baking Soda at the base of the flame to help put out the fire. Make sure to also call 911 just to be safe.

Modeling Clay: For a great homemade modeling clay that hardens after drying, try Arm & Hammer Play Clay. Use it to make decorations, ornaments, jewelry, magnets, boxes, and more!

2 cups Baking Soda
1 cup corn starch
1-1/4 cups cold water (can add food coloring to color clay)

Stir together Baking Soda and Corn Starch in saucepan. Add water (and food coloring if desired) and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches consistency of moist mashed potatoes (approximately 10-15 minutes).
Remove mixture to plate and cover with a damp cloth.

When Play Clay is cool to the touch, pat until smooth. Air dry clay shapes on a wire rack (eight hours to overnight). Or, pre-heat oven to lowest setting. Turn off, then place finished shapes on a cookie sheet in over for 10-15 minutes. Protect finished projects with clear nail polish or clear acrylic spray paint (follow manufacturer's directions). Store any unused Play Clay in the refrigerator for up to one week - www.ArmandHammer.com

Baking Soda isn't just for cooking! It really is a household workhorse and can be used almost anywhere to freshen, brighten and clean. For more ideas on how to utilize your pantry staples visit www.savvyshopperdeals.com, your #1 source for savings.

Walgreens Deals

 :: Walgreens Best Deal List ::

• What is Walgreens Coupon Policy?

• What are Walgreens Register Rewards? 

• How do I save at Drugstores?

Get a sneak peek of WALGREENS next weeks ad!

Walmart Deals

:: Walmart Weekly Freebies & Deals List ::

• What is Walmart's Coupon Policy?

• What are Walmart's Price Match Rules?

**Walmart Shopping Tips**  

 #1.  Use near expiration date coupons to get trial size products for free (as long as coupon does not exclude trial sizes).

 #2.  Walmart may adjust the redemption price of coupons if there is overage.  Meaning, if you have a coupon for $1.00 and the product is only $0.97, your coupon value may be adjusted to $0.97

 #3.  Price matching fits many shoppers needs, however, if you really need an advertised item on sale at another store, shop the competitor's store 1st!  That way you are guaranteed the product, either because they have a large supply in stock or you can get a raincheck if they are out and come back later.  If you try to price match a competitor's sale item and Walmart is out of the product, they will not give you a raincheck on a competitor's sale price!

#4.  Don't forget to check the Hallmark Card endcaps during holiday clearance!  Stickers, giftbags and novelties are always included in the clearance!

#5. While Walmart certainly has some of the lowest everyday prices, NEVER assume Walmart's prices are the lowest on every item!

Pantry Potpourri: Sliced Bread

Pantry Potpourri:

The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Bread? Sliced Bread!

You may have heard it said before that a new gadget or product is “the greatest thing since sliced bread.” As a self-proclaimed carboholic, I say, nothing is greater than sliced bread itself!  You may think of bread as simply a PB&J caddy, but rest assured this pantry staple is more than just a sandwich maker.  Bread is an inexpensive addition to any pantry and a miracle worker for solving many a household task.  Here are a few of my favorite uses for white bread:

Food Softener:

If you don’t own a brown sugar bear there’s no need to fret.  Your hard-as-a-rock brown sugar can again be as soft as the day you bought it. Put the brown sugar into an airtight container and place a fresh piece of white bread on top of the sugar.  Seal the container and leave for 1-2 days until soft.
This same principle applies to stale marshmallows.  Now, personally, I love stale marshmallows, but if you didn’t let your’s harden on purpose, add a piece of bread to a re-sealable plastic bag filled with hardened marshmallows and let it rest a few days.  Voilá! Newly fluffed mallows!

Fresh Protection:

Add 1-2 slices of white bread to your sealed cookie jar to extend shelf-life freshness for home-baked cookies.

Scorch Remover:

If you forgot to check the rice you made for dinner and now it smells scorched, don’t throw it out, just add white bread! While it’s still hot add a slice of white bread to the pot.  Put the lid back on and wait 10 minutes.  Remove the bread and the scorched odors/taste with it.

Odor Eraser:

Oh, I wish I had learned this as a child!  I would have snuck bread onto every pot of steamed broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussell sprouts when my mother wasn’t looking had I known that adding a piece of white bread to the top of the pot would absorb most vegetable odors. You can add this to the exterior lid or on top of steaming vegetables in the pot. Oh well, I guess I still would have had to eat it – so better to see it coming and mentally prepare myself to swallow them whole.

Oil Absorber:

Too much grease in the ground beef?  Too much grease smoke from the broiler?  White bread is an excellent oil and grease absorber.  Adding a piece of bread to the frying pan or a few slices to the drip pan decreases broiler smoke and removes excess pan grease.  As an added benefit, the less oil in your pan the less splatters and potential burns and the less chance of oven fires!  Remove and discard used bread after cooking.

Floor Cleaner:

If you’ve ever shattered a glass or ceramic dish on a tile kitchen floor you know it can be nearly impossible to sweep up every little shard.  The big pieces are easy to pick up, but it’s the razor thin and almost invisible needle-sharp pieces that remain ominously unseen. You may vacuum and sweep, but invariably someone will step on a stray fragment and get cut or you’ll end up getting poked by fragments in a sock in the dirty laundry. To clean this mess effectively, sweep the floor surface well and then use a vacuum handle attachment to suck up as much of the small remains as possible.  Then simply press a slice of white bread over the entire area and prepare to be amazed at how much glass you’ll still find. Fold used bread in half and discard carefully.

Bee Sting Extraction:

If you’ve been stung by a bee and the stinger won’t come out, apply a bread and milk poultice.  Briefly soak a piece of white bread in milk and then squeeze out any excess.  Apply to the sting site and wrap lightly in plastic wrap and a bandage.  It’s said the yeast in the bread will help draw the stinger out and the cool compress will help alleviate pain and swelling.

Bread may be the staff of life, but it can also be a real household lifesaver! It’s likely your cupboard is rarely without this pantry staple, but just in case, make sure it’s on your shopping list.  Remember, you can freeze bread from the grocery store for up to one month in its original packaging or up to 4 months in freezer quality plastic wrap/bags if all air has been removed.

Walgreens Register Rewards

:: Walgreens Register Rewards Program ::

Walgreens offers a rewards program they call Register Rewards.  These can be a little complicated but also very rewarding! Walgreens issues instant checkout register coupons with your purchase which are good for cash off your next shopping order.

If you're new to Walgreen's Register Rewards program and wondering how it works, here are the rules:

1. You can only get one Register Reward per promotion in a single purchase. You can buy 2 of the same item, but they would have to be rung up separately. You can get multiple Register Rewards in one purchase when you buy products from different promotions.

2. You cannot use the exact Register Reward on the same promotion in a following transaction. Ie.. if you buy Olay and get a RR (Register Reward) you cannot use that RR to buy another Olay. If you do so, you will not receive a second RR. You either have to pay for the soap and accumulate the catalinas for a different purchase, or you'll need to use the catalinas from a different promotion to pay for the second Olay.

3. You have to have as many items purchased as coupons (RR is considered a coupon)! If you bought one Olay and tried to use a coupon and a RR it would not be accepted. You would need to buy one more item so you have 2 products and 2 coupons.

4. Register Rewards and coupons can not be applied towards sales tax. You will always have to pay the full tax amount for every purchase even if the products were free.

Register Rewards can save you a lot of money but are somewhat complicated. Make sure you understand how they work before you get started!

Learn how to save more at Drugstores!

Kmart K'Ching Surprises

It's easy to win!  Every time you shop and present your Shop Your Way Rewards card at checkout, you'll automatically be entered to win a K'Ching Surprise. 

I have won a 3 pack of Cracker Jacks, a 24 ct. box of Crayola Crayons and an 8 oz.  bottle of Hand Sanitizer!  When you win a K'Ching surprise the cash register notifies the cashier immediately.  A prize coupon will print out on your receipt.  Take your receipt to customer service and redeem your prize immediately.

Prizes vary from smaller items up to $2,000 Home Appliance or Entertainment makeovers. (Now, if only I could win those!)

Kmart Birthday Club

Kmart Birthday Club Registration

As a member of the Kmart Birthday Club, you’ll receive:

• A Birthday Surprise Fun Pack

• $5 in Birthday Bucks (redeemable at your local Kmart store) on your child's birthday

• Age-appropriate toy and gift suggestions

• Information on developmental milestones from 6 months through 12 years

• Tips and advice for planning a memorable birthday celebration

Kmart Shop Your Way Rewards

What is Shop Your Way Rewards?

Start earning with every purchase! Shop Your Way Rewards is a free program that you can use at:

• Sears, Kmart, Lands' End and the great indoors stores
• sears.com, kmart.com, landsend.com, thegreatindoors.com, craftsman.com and mygofer.com
• By phone (1.800.MY.SEARS)

Simply use your Member card to earn points every time you make Qualifying Purchases at participating Sears, Sears Grand, Sears Hometown, Sears Home Appliances Showrooms, Sears Hardware, Sears Outlet, Sears Auto Centers, Kmart, Lands' End and the great indoors stores located in the United States and Puerto Rico, plus at sears.com, kmart.com, thegreatindoors.com, craftsman.com and mygofer.com. Then redeem your points on the things your family needs or save them for something special.

• Earn 10 points or more for every qualified $1 you spend
• Earn and redeem points in store and online
• Receive exclusive weekly bonus offers so your points will pile up fast
• Present your card, email or phone number to earn points
• Redeem points for everyday items or save up for something special
• Return items without a receipt

Kmart Shop Your Way VIP Membership:


The more you spend in a year, the higher your status and the more benefits you enjoy. Plus, you get a personalized Member card and a dedicated 800 phone number.

Kmart Deals

 
:: Kmart Weekly Deals List ::

• What are Shop Your Way Rewards?

• What are Kmart K'Ching Prizes?

• What is the Kmart Birthday Club? 

**Kmart Shopping Tips **
Kmart frequently runs double coupon sales!  These events typically last the entire week of the Kmart sale flyer.  Kmart's double coupon event varies slightly at each offering.  Kmart double coupon events can be:

• Limited to a specific department, ie. Health & Beauty products only
  

• Limited by coupon amounts, ie. 5 coupons per household per day

• Unlimited products and coupons

• Regular Doubles, ie. Coupons up to $1.00 will be doubled.

                  $0.25 = $0.50
                  $0.50 = $1.00
                  $0.75 = $1.00
                  $1.00 = $1.00 

• Super Doubles, ie. Coupons up to $2.00 will be doubled

                  $1.00 = $2.00
                  $1.50 = $3.00
                  $2.00 = $4.00

Pantry Potpourri: Lemon Oil

 Pantry Potpourri:

Loving Lemon Oil

If you’re looking for a multi-use cleaning tool for your home, look no further than your pantry for a bottle of good old-fashioned lemon oil.  Beyond its’ luster enriching powers for furniture and other woods, lemon oil is an amazing cleaner and polisher with a variety of household uses.  As one of my pantry staples, lemon oil is an effective cleaner that won’t leave behind any waxy build while restoring that “new” and “clean” feeling to your home.  Here’s  few of my favorite lemon oil tips:

Polish Wood: Obviously lemon oils’ main use is to re-nourish and protect wood on furniture or cupboards.  It does and excellent job of providing a sheen to these otherwise lack luster surfaces in your home. In fact, most cabinets should be oiled at least once a year.  Lemon oil penetrates deep into wood grain surfaces to add moisture back into dried wood. Many lemon oils also now include a “sunscreen” to prevent the sun from fading your furniture. I use an old sock (marked with a black sharpie on the toe with a C for cleaner sock) or cut up old t-shirts to apply lemon oil to designated areas.  Old t-shirts work great for rags and I also save the neck hole and adjoining t-shirt fronts to make bibs for the kids – best bibs ever.  I love to re-purpose and re-use!

Clean Wood: I was thrilled when I received an old and well used piano recently.  I played for years growing up, but had not had a piano in my married life (something about my husband not wanting to move it more than once or was that ever?) So when this piano was offered to us I jumped at the chance.  As you might expect it was well loved, colored on, drawn on and pretty dingy and scuffed up.  However, a few wipes with a lemon oil rag and cleaner and now it looks almost new!  On heavily soiled surfaces lemon oil penetrates deep into the wood to loosen dirt and grime build up.  I simply applied a thin coat of lemon oil on a non abrasive cloth combined with a light spritz of all purpose cleaner/window cleaner and in one wipe my piano looked 10 times brighter in just minutes. If you have heavily soiled or painted surfaces try lemon oil and an all purpose cleaner together. The combination cuts many cleaning jobs in half - just make sure to spot test any questionable areas first to check for staining and do not use on high gloss woods.

Clean Showers: You may have never used lemon oil in the shower, but as the wife of a former tile installer I’ve learned how useful lemon oil can be in the bathroom.  If you’re looking to cut down on hardwater build up and water spots, use a VERY light coat of lemon oil applied after cleaning on shower stalls and fiberglass doors.  You don’t want anyone slipping on this stuff so make sure to wipe the walls and doors with oil and then wipe them again, this time with a clean cloth to remove the bulk of the oil residue. Never use lemon oil on shower or tub floors.  You just need a thin layer to allow the water to bead up and roll off.  Plus your shower will shine like never before!

Clean Sinks:  Do you have a stainless steel sink that has seen better days? Want it to look like new?  It can!  First clean your sink well, I suggest a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to remove stubborn rust and food stains.  Then, wipe down your sink with a light coat of lemon oil and check out your reflection.  Old sinks will look like new with this simple technique.  Plus the added bonus of a reduction in hardwater deposits and water spots as water rolls off the sink walls and down the drain go the stains! Most stainless steel household appliance surfaces will also glisten to new after a light coat of oil and without streaking.  And don’t forget to wipe sealed granite and marble countertops – they need a little shine too. Remember, lemon oil won’t leave any solvent or waxy buildup so it’s perfect for these areas.

Scuff Marks: Removing scuff marks from wood, tile and vinyl floors is a snap with lemon oil in your arsenal. Apply a small amount of oil to a non-abrasive cloth or sponge and gently rub to remove unsightly scuffs.  For difficult stains on non-wood floors, combine oil and all purpose cleaner for an easy and  effective clean – works like magic.  After the mark has been removed, just mop as usual to remove any excess oil.

Lemon oil is definitely a pantry must have!  It’s a great tool for easy cleaning and polishing all over your home, just remember a little goes a long way.  So, the next time you’re looking to add some shine to your home dulldrums, add a little lemon oil and be polish perfect.

Savvy How To: Printable Coupons

Savvy How To:

The Powerful Savings of Printable Coupons

Online printable coupons are an effective addition to Sunday newspaper coupon inserts.  Your grocery and retail savings will dramatically increase with just one click of a mouse.

Adding coupons to your weekly shopping trip can literally shave hundreds of dollars a month off your grocery bill. By cutting out coupons for products you use on a weekly basis and organizing them into an effective storage method, you arm yourself with savings. The best way to get multiple copies of manufacturer coupons is found in your Sunday newspaper each week.  Most newspapers allow readers to subscribe to more than one copy of the paper – often up to five Sunday-only copies.  And, multiple copy subscriptions are typically offered at special rates to save us couponers even more money!

If you're already maximizing your weekly manufacturer newspaper coupons and still want to save more, printable coupons are the way to go.  Printable coupons are free, besides the cost of printer ink and paper, and a great way to add to your savings portfolio.

www.coupons.com

Printable Coupon Sites: Websites like Coupons.com, Smartsource.com and Redplum.com offer a variety of printable coupons free for the taking. These coupons range in products and dollar values, and rotate every month. What’s here today may be gone next month or even sooner.

SavvyShopperDeals.com:  Good deal Web sites, like www.savvyshopperdeals.com, are a great way to find online coupons aggregated in one central location. At SavvyShopperDeals we show you how to best utilize online printable coupons and pair them up with great sales in our Shopping Wizard.  Find the best deals weekly at the stores you shop most! And don’t forget to check out the huge selection of local restaurant and retailer coupons. Before you think of heading out on a date — check with us for some sweetheart deals!

Grocers & Retailers: Most grocers and retailers have jumped aboard the printable coupon train and offer these coupons on their own Web sites. There you can find targeted store- and brand-specific coupons. Many offer coupons like save $5 when you spend $25.

Manufacturers: Is there a product for which you’d love to get a coupon? Just check out their homepage! Many product manufacturers list high-value printable coupons right on the front page of their Web site. It’s as simple as searching the Internet for the product and checking out their site – like the $10.50 in product line printable coupons found at www.armandhammer.com.

Printable Coupon Tips:

Download Coupon Installer: The first time you try to print a coupon online you will be required to download and install a “coupon printer.” This will allow you to print coupons from all printable coupon sites and only needs to be done once.  This printer allows you to print properly as well as prevent fraudulent coupon prints.  Just so you're aware it does this by installing spyware that monitors your cookies.  Nothing to worry about - just a fraud prevention tactic.

Coupon Limits: Most printable coupon Web sites allow a two-print maximum per coupon.  If 25 different coupons are available you may print 50 coupons, but only 2 of each like coupon.

Coupon Printing: Print your coupons in black-and-white and on recycled paper.  Changing your printer settings from color can really save on the cost of ink. Don’t forget to re-use all that computer paper with only a line or two of type.  It’s perfect for printable coupons!

Print Schedules: Don’t print coupons all willy nilly.  Print them when you’re ready to use them so they don’t expire. Once you’ve printed your limit, you’ll have to wait a few weeks to print the same coupons again. So, save the printing for great sales unless a high-dollar value coupon comes your way.  There are limits as to how many coupons are available to be printed in each market area, so these $2-$5 coupons might require an immediate print.

Don’t Photocopy: Though these printable coupons may appear easy to copy, DON’T. It’s illegal! You can actually be prosecuted for fraud if you photocopy coupons and even worse, in my opinion, you won’t be allowed to print coupons any more! There is an imposed limit of two as previously mentioned.  Stick to it — it’s more than enough to save you some big bucks!

Online printable coupons are an effective addition to Sunday newspaper coupon inserts.  Try your hand at printing a few of these offers this week.  Your grocery and retail savings will increase with just one click of a mouse. For more ideas on how to save money using coupons, visit www.SavvyShopperDeals.com and be sure to check out the Shopping Wizard each week for coupon match ups and amazing deals!