Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Frugally Failing Series: Eating Out

Yesterday, I enjoyed lunch with my mother, sister & daughter at one of our favourite establishments. It's not fancy, by any means. In fact, most the time - it's inhabited by old fogies.

Our total bill: $45 & some change. -- OUCH! Talk about not living frugally.

Similarly, the husband & I took Monster Midget out for dinner a week or so ago. We opted for Applebee's since we were still in the appropriate time frame for half price appetizers.

Our total bill: $25 & some change -- OUCH AGAIN!

Let's examine where we went wrong....

* Coupons are for taking off money - not adding on extras:

Don't get drawn into the illusion that because you are saving money - you can spend more. Because we had a coupon for a free lunch or because the appetizers were half-priced, we let ourselves get carried away. Rather then enjoy the savings, we found ways to spend the money we were savings by purchasing more. The point of saving money is just that -- to save money, not to be able to get more for the same amount you would of paid anyway.

* Those little extras add up:

I usually opt for water when eating out. And *WHY* do I do this? -- Because drinks at restaurants are ridiculously expensive. The total amount spent on drinks yesterday estimated around $12 (Yes, I opted for water yesterday & shared my lemon water with Monster Midget so I didn't pay $2.50 for an apple juice for her).

During the Applebee's experience (in which you are required to buy at least one drink), the waitress sneakily mentioned "Anything for the baby? Apple juice?" & the husband took the bait, line & sinker. $2.59 extra on our bill for a child-sized apple juice along with his $2.59 soda that we had to buy in order to get our appetizers half-priced.-- $5 spent on drinks.

* Put the fork down once you aren't hungry anymore:

Restaurants serve you well beyond the portion-sizes you should be eating. They want to make sure you don't feel cheated for the high-prices you are paying. Suggestion: Once the food comes to the table, automatically split it into two servings. Eat one for dinner & save the other for lunch the next day.

Or even better - why not share? Rather then choose two meals for myself & husband, plus an additional one for Monster Midget -- Often times I recommend he gets a large meal, while the kiddo & I just get an entrée without the side. It brings out our cost down. It brings our calories down. And I don't have another cheap Happy Meal toy lingering around my house.

Moral of the Story:

Eating out can be fun. It's a change of pace, a change of environment & if your schedule is busy -- adds one less stress of preparing a from-scratch dinner. But use common sense & save yourself some cents in the end.

And don't take my sister out for brunch -- She's an expensive date.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Q Mail: March 21st

I got spiffy Qs in the mail today!

2 - $5 off any version of Gillette Venus razor
& 1 - Free Puffs with Vicks Scent (48 - 88 CT box)

"How do I get these high value coupons!?" you ask?

All I did was sent a message via the "Contact Us" form on the Gillette Venus site to let Proctor & Gamble know how much I love their Venus series of razors. By spending 10-15 minutes out of my life to let my favourite brands know how much I appreciate & enjoy their product (or once in a while submit a suggestion or complaint) -- I receive coupons.

Last week I also received 3 - $1 off any Tyson product (which I used to bring my favorite, their All-Natural Chicken Breast Filets down from $7.99 on sale from $9.99 retail down to $6.99 & will most likely get 2 or 3 meals out of that one bag). I'm also expecting some from Banquet as well. They were nice enough to e-mail me & let me know I should be expecting them in 4-6 weeks (I've never once had anything delivered in that timeframe... It tends to be earlier).

I do recommend that if you pursue this route....

+ Keep track of who you've email:.
Let's not be selfish here ;) I'd say maybe an email once a year will do ya. If you do decide to email sooner, try using your spouses' name (but be aware that some use the "one offer per household" line) and/or an alternative address (like a PO Box or a *WILLING* relative's address).

+ Be specific:
Sure, it's always nice to hear that your product/company is appreciated & doing a good job. But go beyond that, make them really feel you are in it to give them a good review (or complaint -- Do NOT fake liking them if you had a bad experience. Constructive criticism is better then lying.) rather then just in it for the free coupons.

+ Don't expect coupons:
I've emailed bunches & bunches of companies and gotten not so much as an e-mail back thanking me for my time & appreciating me a customer. Don't take it too personal. They probably get millions of responses a day. Be gracious when receiving coupons in response.

That's really it..
Not sure where to start?

Take a look in your pantries or stockpile. Take note of brands you love & maybe even brainstorm up some you've tried but didn't love, but would be willing to give another try if given a cheap opporunity to do so.

Also, check out CouponingToDisney.com's "5 a Day". Kristen not only has companies she has emailed listed, she has a spread sheet of coupons/samples she's received in return in order to give you an idea of what you may expect back.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Sales & Q's & Saving Money Oh MY!

So, lately I've joined this phenomenon of couponing. I've always used a coupon here or there occasionally once in a while in the past but I've dove head first into it with a binder equipped with coupons in one arm & my shopping list sorted by store, item, sale price & any applicable coupons I may have. Wow. It seems like a lot of work but honestly - I've spent maybe an hour a week getting myself organized & making the weekly menu & comparing sales to coupons.

This week: I took our $100 grocery budget & spent $69 of it on groceries. Usually it's $100 - $120 on groceries & that doesn't even include diapers (which were newly re-added to our budget after a failed attempt at cloth diapering). But nope. $69 on groceries & the rest of the budget I managed to spent $36 at Walgreen's....On the bottom of my receipts from there? "You saved: $27.36" & "You saved: $53.74"

$53.74!?!? Are you kidding?!? All total: I spent $103 on an order that should of been closer to $200! To say I'm hooked, is an understatement.

Here's a recap of my best deals --

Walgreens
2 - Irish Spring deodorants
Sale priced: 2/$6 with a $4 Register Rewards bringing them to 2/$2
Coupons: 2-printable $1 off Irish Spring Qs off Coupons.com & by playing the Walgreen's Irish Spring Feeling Lucky? Contest.
Total: FREE

4 - Packs Walgreen's Diapers (2 - Size 5, 27ct & 2 - Size NB, 42ct)
Sale priced: BOGO at $8.99
Coupons: $2 off any pack of Walgreen's diapers in the Walgreen's Infant Care Notebook (Also used my Register Rewards making them even lower)
Total: $2.50 per pack

2 - Renuzit 18oz Solid Air Freshener Refill Packs
Sale priced: $3.99
Coupons: $3 off from Sunday's Red Plum
Total: 99c each


1 bottle Herbal Essence shampoo & 1 bottle Herbal Essence styling mousse
Sale priced: $2.99 each with $1 Register Reward
Coupons: Buy one shampoo, get one styling product free
Total: $1.99 for both


1 4oz Colgate Total Advance
Clearance Priced: 89c
Coupon: $1 off one from newspaper 2-weeks ago
Total: Free


2 - Purex Laundry Detergent
Sale Price: $2.99
Coupon: $1 off from Sunday's newspaper
Total: $1.99 each


Safeway
1 - Uncle Ben's Ready Made Rice Pack
Sale Priced: 2/$3
Coupon: $1 off one
Total: 50c


Fred Meyer's

Tyson's All Natural Frozen Chicken Tenderloins
Sale Priced: $5.99 (They're usually $7.99-$9.99. Good deal, but not amazing. And certainly not a stock-up-price).

Those were my amazing deals for the week. Let me know if you're "into" seeing this & how I obtain these deals... I'll try to post more if you do. If not, I guess I'll try to take the blog in a different direction.