The best way to phase in the habit of using coupons is by knowing where to find them and how to get them. Grocery coupons can be found in the Sunday newspaper, grocery stores, direct emails, individual brand websites, online coupon sites, social networking sites, and even your cell phone. To make sure you get the best possible value, you should review all possible avenues on your road to savings. Coupons are everywhere now, but my favorite place to locate grocery coupons is on the internet.

Online printable grocery coupons are the best, in my opinion. Unlike the Sunday newspaper coupons, the selection seems endless. There are many more coupons available online, often for a better discount, and they are accessible 24-7, not limited to only one day a week. For part one of the blog special on couponing, I am going to focus solely on getting started gathering and collecting your coupons together. We’ll go from there later.

To simplify things today, I am just going to start by listing some major online printable grocery coupon sites that I tend to frequent. Try some, or try them all!

CoolSavings.com

Coupons.com

EatBetterAmerica.com

EverSave.com

RedPlum.com

SmartSource.com

There are numerous additional coupon sites that provide access to printable grocery coupons or that I find helpful in my couponing quest. Again, you’ll want to visit each site to see what works best for you. You may decide to stick with only one, or you may decide to jump in and frequent them all. There’s no one right way, so just find the way that works best for you. The following are some specific brand name product coupon sites:

Betty Crocker 

Box Tops 4 Education 

Food Lion 

Organic Valley 

Pillsbury

Rite Aid 

Stonyfield Farms 

Target

Whole Foods organic

These sites listed below are some additional printable grocery coupon sites that I frequent. They are not specific brand name sites but rather sites that contain a variety of printable grocery coupons and information:

CouponChic  

ABCouponcollection 

A Full Cup

Coupon Mom 

Delicious Living Organic

Flamingo World

Healthy Living Organic

Hot Coupon World 

Mambo Sprouts Organic

Mindful Mama organic

Upons

Upromise 

Wow-Coupons

Look for updates soon as I continue to add to my list of printable grocery coupon sites!

“Offer good at participating stores in the U.S. and Canada. Receive 1 stamp per week when you buy a tall (12 fl oz) or larger size cup of our featured bold coffee. Collect 8 stamps and show barista your completed passport by 5/31/10 to receive a free 1 lb size of Starbucks® whole bean coffee; you must collect one stamp each week to receive gift(s). One completed card honored per person. Lost or stolen cards will not be replaced. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Cash value 1/20 cent. Void where prohibited. Coffees subject to availability. Not valid if reproduced. Barista, use discount code 612.”

Here’s an added perk: Stack (combine) your Passport program with the Starbucks Card Reward program. Basically, when you register any Starbucks’ card and use it to pay for purchases, you get points. Rewards are given based on the number of visits you make, which is one point per visit. Use your card to pay for the Bold coffee drinks over eight weeks, and you will also earn eight points!  Starbucks reward points will score you free Wi-Fi access, beverage customization, refills on brewed coffee, trial offers, a birthday drink, a free drink with every fifteen stars, a personalized Gold Card, offers and coupons, and best of all, you get a free tall beverage of your choice with any one pound purchase of coffee beans. 

One additional offer is the Starbucks Bold Coffee Tour. Sign up for a special set of shipments of Starbucks’ bold coffees, two per month for four months. At the end of the tour, they will also include a FREE bonus pound of bold coffee. That’s nine bags of bold coffee in total. The price, which includes all shipping, is $99 and is tax-free. If you use your registered Starbucks card, you will also score one point towards the freebies mentioned above. Finally, to maximize your savings, be sure to buy through a cashback program like UPromise  to get an additional 7% back!

” Something bold is brewing. Now you can explore Starbucks bold coffees and find your favorite during this 4-month tour. The whole bean coffees featured in this tour are created from the world’s finest Arabica beans and are ethically sourced. Batch roasting ensures consistently rich and bold results.

This 4-month tour includes:

Stay tuned for a series of upcoming posts all about coupons. This is just the start of playing it coupon smart! 

2010 Sunday Coupon Insert Schedule

January
1/3: 2 Smart Source & 2 Red Plum & General Mills
1/10: Smart Source & Red Plum
1/17: Smart Source & Red Plum & Proctor & Gamble
1/24: Smart Source & Red Plum
1/31: Smart Source & Red Plum

February
2/7: Smart Source
2/14: No Inserts
2/21: Smart Source & General Mills & Proctor and Gamble
2/28: Smart Source & Red Plum

March
3/7: Smart Source, Red Plum & Proctor and Gamble
3/14: Smart Source& Red Plum
3/21: Smart Source& Red Plum
3/28:2 Smart Source & Red Plum & Proctor and Gamble

April
4/4: No Inserts
4/11: Smart Source & Red Plum
4/18: Smart Source & Red Plum
4/25: Smart Source & Red Plum

May
5/2: Smart Source & Red Plum & Proctor & Gamble
5/9: Smart Source & Red Plum
5/16: 2 Smart Source & Red Plum
5/23: Smart Source & Red Plum
5/30: No Inserts

June
6/6: Smart Source & Red Plum & Proctor and Gamble
6/13: Smart Source
6/20: Smart Source & Red Plum
6/27: Smart Source & Red Plum

July
7/4: No Inserts
7/11: Smart Source & Red Plum
7/18: Smart Source
7/25: Smart Source & Red Plum

August
8/1: Smart Source & Red Plum & Proctor and Gamble
8/8: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/15: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/22: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/29: Smart Source & Red Plum & Proctor & Gamble Insert

September
9/5: No Inserts
9/12: Smart Source & 2 Red Plum
9/19: Smart Source & Red Plum
9/26: Smart Source & Red Plum

October
10/3: Smart Source & Red Plum & Proctor and Gamble
10/10: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/17: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/24: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/31: Smart Source & Red Plum

November
11/7: Smart Source & Red Plum & Proctor and Gamble
11/14: Smart Source & Red Plum
11/21: Smart Source & Red Plum
11/28: No Inserts

December
12/5: Smart Source & Red Plum & Proctor and Gamble
12/12: Smart Source & Red Plum
12/19: No Inserts
12/26: No Inserts

An online cash back system refers to sites that offer cash back for shopping with stores online, but by going through a cash back site. Each cash back site will list the stores you can shop from through them, as well as how much money you will automatically earn back in return, usually represented by a percentage. Amounts can range anywhere from one percent to the thirties. This is how online stores attract more business and a new market of savvy buyers, realizing that they will win your loyalty by offering a “reward” in return. The money is then either deposited into your bank account, or you can request a check. And the good news is that there are very few stores who don’t offer money back. Almost all do. The stores we normally shop with like Home Depot, Best Buy, Office Depot, Sephora, Travelocity, HSN, Franklin Covey, Bloomingdales, Dell, Sears, and even eBay are just a handful of those who participate. If you have to or want to shop online, why not keep more of your money while you’re at it?

So who are these cash back sites? There are six good sites to shop through that offer cash back. Most have agreements with stores that offer the same amount back, but the percentages can vary, so it is wise to check each to get the biggest bang for your buck back (I love alliteration). I have had excellent good fortune with BigCrumbs,  eBates,  MrRebates,  Cashbaq,  FatWallet,  and Bing. All you have to do is register with the site, then start shopping! It’s really that simple.

Just so you have an idea of what you can expect, here are my total earnings to date for some of the cash back sites I shop through: $262.12, $199.63, $55.16, $31.17, and $7.39. Total = $555.47 (Not including my most recent purchases that are still pending). I don’t know about you, but more than $500 back in my wallet (or better yet, savings account or invested elsewhere) works for me…literally. I was already buying these items and services anyhow. Why shouldn’t I get the most out of it as possible? I go Christmas shopping every year, I love to travel, insurance is required and a good investment, there’s a better variety of clothing, shoes, and cosmetics online, I enjoy the bargains I discover on eBay, and not all department stores are near me, and so on.

Here is an example of  what some of my purchases look like on one cash back site:

It’s easy as pie to keep AND increase your piece of that pie!  Just check out each of the cash back sites, register, familiarize yourself with who offers the most back for each specific store you want to shop from, then just click and shop. There are no fees to register. It does not cost you money to use. It is simply money back for an audience that knows it’s savvy when shopping, and the stores will do anything to aquire and retain your loyalty. Let someone else do the work for a change. You’ve worked hard enough for the money you’ve earned. Now delegate, and put it to work for you, and relax as the savings add up!

UPromise  is a college savings program. It allows you to accumulate wealth over time by doing the ordinary and turning it into something extraordinary. The money accumulated in the savings program can be applied to your children’s future college tuition or your own. It can even be used to pay down exisiting student loans! Prefer a check instead? You don’t have to invest it for college. Just opt for a check instead, forgoing the 529 program. Currently, I only have about $105 saved, but it is $105 that was not there before, and it didn’t cost me anything!

Here’s how the program works: A person signs up for a free account at UPromise. The next step is to register your grocery shopping cards, drug store cards, and/or credit and debit cards with the UPromise  site. Each time you make a purchase, select brands who have partnered with the savings program give you a percentage back. This can range anywhere from 1% to 25%, but I have seen offers go even higher, especially around the holidays. You can find a complete list of participating brands, such as Domino Sugar, Diamond Crystal, Hefty, Bic, and more on UPromise . Everyone has to buy groceries, so why not get something extra out of it? While it depends on the state you live in, many grocery and drug stores participate. I can rely on Publix, Food Lion, and Winn-Dixie for grocery bonuses, and I use CVS as my drugstore.

Grocery Coupons help, too. UPromise also has a variety of grocery coupons that you can use from home! No printing needed! Simply look at this month’s coupons, check those you are interested in, and they are automatically applied to your registered grocery cards. When you go to your grocery store and present your card at the checkout, the savings will automatically be added to your UPromise  account! Think of the savings alone on paper, toner, and the time to search, cut, and sort! Plus, you can’t forget them at home. Instead of getting the savings at the checkout, the savings go directly into your UPromise  account. Currently, the coupons total almost $30, which I’ll be happy to take. These aren’t whimpy coupons! $2 off paper towels, $1.50 off of cheese, $3 off baby food and products, and more are available. The deals change monthly, so be sure to check back.

Dine Out, and Stay In (Budget). UPromise also has a prefered diner program. Register your credit and debit cards on the site, dine out at participating restaurants, pay with your registered cards, and BONUS!  Most are offering a standard 4%-8% back right now along with an added 10%, plus a $5 bonus. Fourteen to eighteen percent back, not to mention the $5 bonus, is not bad. Think of it as having a tip-free meal, except that you have not stiffed your waiter. It’s nice to go out to eat once in a while, and think how much better you’ll feel knowing that you got something more out of it, other than a too-full belly!

Grocery Shopping, Drug Stores, and Dining aren’t where the only savings are. You can also get money back on gas (Exxon, Mobil and ExxonMobil), or simply by shopping online at a variety of stores. Home, auto, finance, clothing, travel, and more offer money back through UPromise. Not only is shopping online easier and quicker, you’ll get something back in return.

So buy your groceries, use those coupons, go out to eat, fuel up your car, shop online through UPromise, and relax a little more knowing that you’ve spent less and gained some peace of mind while not sacrificing your quality of life! 

CHECK BACK IN MARCH TO SEE AN UPDATE ON MY NEW UPROMISE SAVINGS!

OK, $15,000 is still a lot of money. But if you need something done, and you want it to be good, you have to spend some money. The trick, though, is to spend the least but get the most. Here’s what we did:

Shop around. I decided to go with a big box store eventually (after having a problem with an individual company with our windows) and chose Home Depot. I really liked the designer I consulted with. However, you should still consider and interview other companies in your area for the best deals.

Rethink those appliances. Do they all really need replacing? Do you have to have the top of the line? What features are most important to you that you desire? In our case, we had to replace all of our appliances. We started with our refrigerator. It was small compared to modern versions, the white color was dingy, it was old, and frankly, it was just gross. But refrigerators are expensive, upwards of over $2,000 to $3,000. I’ll pay that when I can drive it. We “compromised” with a more current slightly used model we found using Craigslist. It was a larger size, side by side, stainless steel, had a water/ice feature in the door, it was clean and in excellent condition, and it was only $750. Remember, this was also tax-free, and the gentleman we purchased it from volunteered to deliver it to our home as well…free delivery. What’s good for the goose… I was also able to clean up that old thing and sold it on Craigslist for a $100. Apparently, it will make a good beer cooler. One man’s trash makes my newer refrigerator only $650 now.

The dishwasher and stove were also replaced. We had an old coil stove that had two broken burners and a broken corner, and the dishwasher…well, smoke is just not my idea of clean. I prefer water, personally. Because these items are used in a much different way, we did decide to buy them new. We went midway in the pricing range on each. I did spend more for a stove because it has a warming drawer, but I also knew I would use it, and it was worth it to me. We got the appliances on sale 10% off. We also had to add a microwave to the kitchen since there was none, and they save tons of energy. The microwave brand also had an instant rebate during the store sale, so we were also able to get an additional 10% back. All of our new appliances were also Energy Star-rated, saving us money on future electric bills.

Take advantage of free services. Home Depot’s ideas and designs for kitchen cabinets are free. I could have hired a designer separately, but why pay? She told me I could meet with her as many times as I wanted until the design she created was exactly what I want. I did eventually pay $120 for professional measurements through Home Depot, but this was also refunded later with my purchase, so measurements were also free (Do you sense a pattern here?). Advice, recommendations, and tips on where you can “cut the fat” can really help you with staying within your budget without sacrificing quality.

Combine sales and deals. We saved copious amounts of money by simply shopping at the right time. When is that? Well, in this case, the store and cabinet manufacturer were working together. If we purchased within a specified timeframe, we could save up to $6400. Because I had been watching the weekly advertisements in the newspaper, I knew this was the best deal. Prior to then, it was up to $5,000. A deal that came out after was only up to $6,000.  Originally, we qualified to save $2,400. However, because we were less than $500 away from the next tier, it actually made more financial sense to spend more because the rebate was $3200. We ended up getting more features and product for less money that the original order! But it gets better: The manufacturer was offering a free base sink cabinet. This alone saved us over $800. As well, if you use their installation company, there is no sales tax.

Features and more…or less. One of the ways you can save money is by choosing your cabinet features wisely. I looked at every cabinet door style Thomasville offered, identified what I liked, and then I looked at the prices. Some of the styles were so similar, yet the prices were so far apart! I really wanted a raised door style, so I went with the prettiest but least expensive. As a result, I saved about 35%. Consider the type of wood you prefer to use. Because our cabinets are painted, we needed to go with Maple. Depending on your desired finish (paint or stain), other woods include cherry, oak, birch, hickory, pine, alder, and more. Veneers and Laminate/Thermafoil are less expensive options if you are interested. I also saved money by getting a partial overlay instead of a full overlay. This was great because I prefer a more traditional style. We did not get the “froo-froo” extras, such as corbels, feet, wine racks, plate racks, baskets, columns, hoods, decorative legs, or appliance panels. These design elements can eat up anyone’s budget in a snap. Choose your options wisely. Glass inserts are a beautiful option. Because I do have a budget to stay within, but I do like glass, I opted to get some glass for the upper cabinetry, but not all. I decided to get glass inserts in two upper cabinets that were next to the kitchen window, which aesthetically is very pleasing, but it also extends the window, making it appear larger than it is. By the way, we found out that it was actually cheaper to add mullions to the glass than to go without. It didn’t make any sense to us (or the designer who looked it up), but I will happily take more for less. Besides, they are removable! We did get moulding above the cabinets, but after looking at several floor models, we decided that we did not need it under the cabinets. Not only would the materials cost have increased, but so would the labor. We also learned that this (and numerous other extras) can be purchased and added at a later date should we decide to change our look. Have committment issues? Then get a floating island! I decided to remove our existing peninsula (which I kept running into) and replace it with a floating island, thereby creating more surface and storage space. And because of the lack of permanence, I can change it out easily if desired. Additionally, after a few phone calls, we discovered that we could order the island without it’s standard butcher block top. This saved us over $180. Now we can add the top of our choice, including granite or other natural stone remnant bargains that abound if you look for them. I could have saved money by getting partial wood where particle board is used, but I opted for full wood construction. After reading an article in This Old House Magazine, I decided to go with their recommendation. The construction is stronger, more durable, and should we ever have an issue with water, the cabinets will not turn to mush.

Do it yourself. I am not a great DIY-er, but I can hang shelves. We were quoted a price for installation labor. I didn’t like it. As it turns out, there were a few things that we can do ourselves, and you can do them, too. First, we saved $800-$1,000 just to knock out the existing cabinets on our own. Now, isn’t that a great stress reliever? Bonus! Next, we found out that they charge for hanging up the glass shelves inside the cabinets. You know, they sit on those metal pegs. They also charge to “install” a bread drawer lid. I checked it out on a store model, and it simply slides in from the back. I’ll do those things myself, thank you.

Got connections? We don’t have a lot of space in the house (1,396 square feet total), so we decided to take advantage of some wasted vertical space. To do this, we decided to knock out the empty soffits above the old cabinets. This costs money, but that’s where our friend “Jimmy” comes into play. Time to return a favor, friend! “Jimmy,” who is in the construction business, will be saving us hundreds of dollars on deconstruction. Further, we will now have more usable space, adding to the value of our house and our quality of uncluttered living, for free!

Consider gently used items. You already know that our refrigerator is second-hand. But did you know that you can buy a complete kitchen used? Many people are updating their kitchens now, realizing that in the current market they either need to make their house more sellable, or make it more livable, until matters improve. Because of this, you can go online or look for ads in your local newspapers to find the no longer desired kitchens for sale. My favorite, Craigslist, has posted several today. Some feature only upper and lower cabinets, others include the appliances, lighting, and counters as well! And let me tell you: there is nothing wrong with a used granite counter top. Even if it is the wrong size, if large enough to work with, you can have any countertop dealer cut it to your needs. Chances are that the price for used granite and a re-cut will be cheaper than buying it brand new. Granite is thousands of years old already and was trampled on by the dinosaurs, so what’s a few more years of use? Remember, too, that you are helping the environment by saving items that would normally go to your local dump. Reduce, reuse, recycle!    

On a related note… Consider donating your used items. If they’re not trashed, and you don’t plan to resell them, someone else can probably use them. Some people use old cabinets for their garage and basements. Charitable organizations refurbish items for people in need. Give to your favorite organization, or try a new one such as Global Giving. You might even be able to deduct your donations for a tax write-off. Giving is just good for everyone.

Other options? Unfortunately, our cabinets, faucet, sink, and appliances were pretty far gone. Water should come out of the spout, not the side, and water-damaged cabinets that bow in the middle don’t hold china very well. However, you may be able to do some simple upgrades inexpensively. Try changing out the old hardware for an updated look and better function. I tried that, but to no avail. But I did find several knobs, pulls, and hinges I liked online for cheap. Ebay is just one place to look for hardware and other kitchen items. Try other online stores such as Plumber Surplus , eFaucets , or Kitchen Source . Repaint your cabinets. Paint is cheap, but the look doesn’t have to be. Twenty dollars a gallon can really stretch your buck far. My new cabinets are painted white with an heirloom glaze. You can copy that look with a couple of cans and a couple of brushes. Paint is very forgiving. If you don’t like it, just paint over it. Have you thought about refacing your cabinets? You can get veneers installed right over your existing cabinets. As an alternative, you can also just order new doors. Simply attach the new doors to the existing cabinet space. If the interior is good, this is a perfect choice. Just make sure the doors match the cabinets, or get full-overlay doors to cover them. Is the problem that the interiors just don’t function well for you? You can buy accessory inserts to attach to the insides of your cabinets. Pull-out waste baskets and recycling bins, sliding shelves and drawers, racks that attach to the doors and more are available. Try stores like IKEA and Lee Valley in addition to the big guys.

Got Coupons? By the way, did you know that many of these stores give out and accept coupons? They’ll even take competitor coupons! If you really want to work it, you can even consider getting the store credit card for additional savings. I’ll be talking more in-depth about coupons in one of my upcoming blog posts. I’ll need another week just for that discussion alone.

The major point here is that whatever will make your life easier, simpler, more pleasing, and more organized is worth an investment, but do so by investing the least amount of your money as possible. It’s an investment in yourself, your family, your home, and your future. Do invest, just invest wisely. Looking for sales, rebates, coupons, freebies, using a little elbow grease, and shopping around can help you achieve your dreams.

PICTURES OF THE “BEFORE AND AFTER” WILL BE INCLUDED TO UPDATE THIS BLOG IN MARCH! SUBSCRIBE NOW TO BE THE FIRST TO KNOW!

Rule No. 1:

“Never lose money.

Rule No. 2:

Never forget rule No. 1.”

~ Warren Buffet

Common sense? Where did it all go then (the common sense, and the money)? It’s such a simple, plain piece of advice, yet so many times we do not heed it.

I’m what they call a “penny pincher.” Yes. I am that person who will stop traffic just to pick a penny up out of the dusty cracks of the sidewalk, take it home, and wait for the next forty-nine so I can roll them up for my next deposit at the bank. They laugh at me, but I don’t care. The change I find will pay for a cup of coffee in a matter of weeks (or days when I’m lucky).

I say all this with a giggle though, as this is just representative of how careful we should be all of the time with the money that we already have…the money we DO have to work with. Imagine what we could accomplish and accumulate if we kept a really close eye on our money instead of just “losing” it as Buffett warns.  What would you buy? What would you do? What do you need…and want? How much are we losing, knowingly and unbeknownst to us? Better yet, how do we keep and gain?

That’s what this blog is going to be about: keeping the money we already have, but turning it into more. We don’t need to sacrifice our quality of living or overspend ourselves into debt. We can live well, and I’m going to share with you how I do it.