Wednesday - Another reason to be excited for Hump Day!

Grocery Sale Cycles – When Do Things Go on Sale?

I found this so very interesting.  I always knew

about seasonal stuff, but this adds a whole new

dimension to it.

Grocery Sale Cycles – When Do Things Go on Sale?

Scored big on my matchups today!!

Had a chance to run to town to do a couple of big matchups I came up with last night.
I could hardly sleep.  (I know - crazy huh?). Sure wish I could hit the jackpot more often on big matches more often.

It's a little like searching for gold in an old gold mine, chipping away little by little.
Definitely saving quite a bit in all,  but when you hit the spot with that nugget, Yiiipppeeee!!  Lol.

Ok enough excitement for now.

I had 6 coupons for $1.00 off 2 lb (lg) box of Velvetta.
I also had 6 coupons for $1.00 off 2 jars of Planters peanuts.

So here's what I found:

Edward's Food Giant @ Little Rock has online ad for Velvetta 2 lb loaf for $4.98
Knight's Super Foods in Beebe has online ad for Planter's dry roasted peanuts for $2 for $2.00

Here's the details:

Walmart
Velvetta -$5.98 match down to $4.98 minus $1.00 coupon = 3.98 per box (and each box had a bonus of 4                          
                                                                                                                        added to each = 32 xtra oz.)
Planters peanuts $3.50 -match down to 2/$2 ($1.00ea) minus $1.00 off 2 = $ .50 each jar

Velvetta:          Peanuts:
$5.98.               $3.50
X.   6.               X.  12
--------             ---------
$35.88.           $42.00

My totals

Velvetta.   +    Peanuts
$23.98.             $6.00.    

Total regular prices would have been $77.88

With my matchup and coupons I paid $29.88

A total savings of $48.00.

Wooo hooo!

Now can you see why I could barly sleep last night!  Lol!!

Oops forgot to include the battery deal I found.
It's matched from Walgreen till tomorrow night - Saturday 11.17.

Energizer Max C or D - 8pk for $7.99
                        (Walmart price $11.97)

Times like these make the little chipping away here and there
finally pay off with that "nugget of a deal".

Can't wait to get back at it again!!

Now to figure out how to really keep all these peanuts away from
Larry and Haylee is evening of a challenge.  Lol!!

Happy matchin' peeps!!!

My Price Matching Adventures

The When, Where and How’s. 

(I have had several inquiries as to just how I am able to do all this price matching at Wal-Mart from so many stores so here goes.  Any questions - just let me know.  

It's not perfect by no means, but it great works for me.  

I will try to start a regular blog entry or on facebook posts to keep up with the ones who are interested in following.  You can also follow my blog.  :)

And HAPPY MATCHIN' AND CLIPPIN'  :)

*These are types of rules I try to follow and usually never

have any kind of problem with it working.  I have been

doing this pretty steadily for about 2 years now

and LOVE it.

 I started out like most, trying my best at  the couponing,

and did a good job, but it was so much to keep up with,

to organize and had to have time to sort, staple, cut, file,

then date and REMEMER to use them.

Yikes!!! 

I LOVE coupons and really try to still keep up with them,

but nothing like I use to.

Many times I just concentrate on the price matching.

I can save much more with less effort this way.

Coupons are bonuses to price matching.

If I get both, I just made a touchdown.  Woo Hoo!!

Many will say they don’t have time to do all this.  

NO way you have to “do all this.  Do any little part you

can  - when you can and there is NO way you and your family

won’t  benefit from it.  I don’t think anyone cannot find just a few

minutes during the week to look over a few ads while watching

tv or online with friends.  Would you love a raise this week?  

Who wouldn't!!  So make one yourself.

I hardly every get the chance to leave Heber Springs to do any

shopping from store to store.  Besides I think that is even harder

than price matching.  I know, I too get tired of the Wal-Mart taking

over the small businesses, so I do try to shop at the competing

stores whenever I do get the chance. 

And I try to visit my local ones regularly for their sale items.

I do NOT buy anything I wouldn’t purchase anyway or wouldn’t want to try for something new.

And ANYTHING can be price matched at Wal-Mart!

Produce, meats, generic/store brands – all if it!

Make very sure you have the absolute correct sale dates, item size/quantity to match.  Make sure that the generic or store brand is higher or lower than the brand names on sale. 

I try to use many store and generic brands when I can.  A few cents is a few cents!!

I started out doing this with the mindset that since we are a single family income household, if I can save even $20.00 a week, it is the same as giving my husband a $ .50 cents an hour raise.

Geez,  who wouldn’t love that!!!

Now I can at least give him the same as a $1.00 or more raise each and every week.

I have cut our shopping nearly in half, so I use the extra money to buy one or two more of each item I save on to use as a little stockpile for the lean months. Or those months you know you have birthday’s, vacations, Christmas to save for so every little bit helps not to have to spend as much on groceries.

One thing is for sure, get the family to agree with the fact that you will be buying different toothpastes, razors, seasonal fruits and veggies and paper products at times, (maybe even dollar store types when there hasn’t been a sale).

Remember to try to get a little extra with your savings each week, put it back in a spare shelf even in the closet if necessary, then keep looking for deals.  Even a very few extra items will add up quickly when needed.  There are times I have used mainly from my stock just to see how long it lasts and can easily run a month without any shopping except for fresh items needed.  Makes for a happy momma.

I am not one of the extreme ones as on tv.  There is no way you can pull that off around here.  But I will do what I can with what I have.  Shouldn’t we do that anyway?  And do NONE of this on credit.  Cash only for me.  :)

NEVER buy anything at regular price if you don’t have to.  If you do, make sure the “value” size and price is really the best value.

There are many times I find the item I am searching for to match, and there is a cheaper one or store brand one less.  So don’t be disappointed.  Some weeks are better than others. 

I have definitely found out – there are many more items on sale at the first of the month, to get the fixed income people with checks at the first to hit their stores, but not always the best sales.  A lot of times later in the month are the bigger discounts on the items but less of them listed.  Tricky huh.  Yes it is.  Get into the minds of the store sales people and match with them of sorts.  :)

My Rules:

If you want to match, try to make sure that you are approx,

50 miles from these stores.

Little Rock is a bit farther than that from me, but our local Wal-Mart will match them without any problem.

Remember wholesale are not considered fair to Wal-Mart so usually won’t match for those type stores.

Usually all store sales begin on either Sunday and end at close Saturday night, or Wednesday and end at close on Tuesday night.  So really only 2 times a week to have to spend some time on checking out ads.

I usually keep a legal note pad handy to write the key items I see onto so I can go from that “draft” list when making my shopping/matching list.

I also purchased a binder and put my printed ads in clear sleeves with tabs for each name of store so I can access them quickly when I run across something I need to go back and check.  Helps save a lot of time.

Even though Wal-Mart does NOT require you to show the ad when you are price matching, it’s so helpful if there is a question to have it with you or if you think of something else to check on.  Trust me – it’s easier.

The few more minutes you use to make sure you are ready and armed with info, the smoother your shopping trip will go for everyone involved.

Be sure to print out a copy of the Wal-Mart price matching policy and the coupon policy and have with you just in  case you have a problem. And try to learn key parts.

Remember these stores have high turnover in employees and it is very complicated all the “rules and procedures” they have to keep track of.

And probably #1 on this is – be nice.

Joke around.  Keep a smile on that pretty lil face of yours.  And I never blame them for being wrong,

I always act like I am having a “senior” moment and that perhaps we need to check to see

if “I’m” the incorrect one.  :)

These are just people too just like us but have to answer to someone above them on each thing they do.  And yes, some act as if we are taking money out of their pockets, but that’s ok too.  Go along with them!  I have worked this and made many friends out of the grumpiest ones now.

I ALWAYS compliment and thank the cashier for their extra attention on checking me out.  Then the next time they don’t dread ringing up each individual item of 24 cans of green beans.  lol!  :)

I have even had some tell me another ad cheaper that I missed on items, or new places to match at, write some of them down for them to use when they get off work, and even use my prices on the next customer to make up for having them wait a little longer.

It’s all a game and we are all players in it.  Be a fun player.  Get your fair share but don’t dip too much into their pot either or they may end up taking away the challenge of matching.  :)

It’s exciting each Saturday night before Sunday sales come out and on Tuesday nights before Wednesday sales come out.  Can’t hardly sleep.  lol!  I think that is called addict.  Bahaha!!

Big Lots

Cash Saver (only online is in Greenbrier)

City Market (Little Rock)  (Wed- Tue)

Craven Foods (Fairfield Bay)  (Wed-Tue)
Dollar General  (Sun-Sat)

Dollar Tree  (Wed-Tue)

Edward's Food Giant (Little Rock)  (Wed-Tue)

Family Dollar  (Sun-Sat)

Fred's Discount

Harp's Food Stores  (Wed-Tue)

Home Depot

K-Mart

Knight's Super Foods (Beebe)  (Wed-Tue)

Kroger  (Wed-Tue)

Lowe's Home Center

Parker's Big Star@Quitman (Wed-Tue) (only paper)

Sav-a-lot (Wed-Tue)

Sherwood Grocery @Rosebud (Wed-Tue)(only paper)

Staples (Sun-Sat)

Target (Sun-Sat)

Walgreen's (Sun-Sat)

Wal-Mart  (Sun-Sat)
USA Drug (Sun-Sat)

All of the stores I have listed have online sites

to check unless I tagged them different.

Remember – HAVE fun at this.  It can be such

a rush to fill your car with almost everything you just purchased that you saved money on.

My matchups for the day. 11.13.12

Some of my deals of the day:  






Energizer Max batteries regular price $11.97 at Walgreens for $7.99 ea. for (9v - 4 pk) or (C or D- 8 pk) (plus I had coupons for .75c off each pkg).  Bringing my price of $11.97 to $7.24 per pkg

Bounty select a size paper towels 6 rolls for regular $9.97 at Walgreens $4.99 (plus $1.00 coupon off).  Making reg price 9.97 ($1.66 per roll) down to $3.99 (0.67c per roll)

Glade candle -  4 oz on special at Walmart for $2.50 ea. and I had great coupon.

Foldger's Coffee (lg can) $8.98 - 12.98 at Walmart - all flavors $7.99 at Walgreen's (plus I had coupons)

Campbells Cream of . . soups and other condensed cooking type soups are on sale at Walgreen's for $0.79c each plus coupons.com has printable coupon for $1.00 for 4 cans.  So Walmart price 1.25 per can down to .79c (match) minus .25c (coupon) per can  down to .54c per can x 4.

Charmin Basic Bath Tissue (20 rolls same as 40 pkg)  $6.99  ($.0.35c./roll) at Knight's Super Foods in Beebe.  Didn't have enough room in basket for this and forgot to price it but know it's gonna be a good one I will get next trip!

Also  Planter's Dry Roasted Peanuts - 16 oz jar - Walmart price $3.50 - At Knight's Super Foods in Beebe 2/$2.00  Yes that's $1.00 per jar.  Less than half price.  Plus I had coupon once again.

(Shhhh!    Gonna have to hide these jars of peanuts from Larry and Haylee - 

they will inhale them before I know it.  hehehe!)

Fun Fun!  Love this fun game of matchups.

It's not hard at all, just a few minutes a couple of times a week when sales come out and keep a
running list and go for it.

For me - price matching is where I can save the most.  Coupons take a lot of time -are a lot of fun to hit them also.  I look at coupons as a bonus on a sale.

I never buy anything I wouldn't already want to buy or try anyway.  So, yes I toss a lot of coupons, but gonna get the best out of what I spend.  Like a game of monopoly only I am always out ahead of the average person on these.  :)  You can be too.

Just think you can use the money you save to spend on those things not on sale, or use toward a little extra stocking for the winter months.  I am about ready for a couple of weeks of feet of snow. (Oh yeah got a deal on cocoa a couple of weeks ago, just in case for that snow I am wishing for.  :)

Follow along on my blog and I will try to start posting my matchup adventures for your amusement.  : P

And any questions on how to get started, just hollar at me and I will be so very tickled to help you
figure it out.  Trust me - it's quite a rush.

My ramblings for the day

If not for a child in the house, I don't think one can appreciate 

how time flies by.  They grow up so very fast.  

Time gets away from you and you see how much you need to use 

that time wisely and to your advantage of sharing with a young one 

as well as older one

I guess we are in one of those "sandwich" family scenario's   

Our granddaughter Haylee, just turned 6 at the end of 

September and my mom will be 83 in February.  

It's refreshing and sad at the same time to be raising a 

grandchild and caring for a parent.  

Especially since we are homeschooling Haylee.  

I am daily seeing one grow in knowledge and the excitement of it all, 

and being able to share this time of growing in knowledge, which I 

wouldn't change for the world  -   then seeing another one seem to know 

less and move less and communicate less almost on a daily basis lately. 

These are the times you have to definitely appreciate the little things in life!

Take nothing for granted!

Which I have to constantly remind myself of.  

I am not really one to really sugarcoat much of anything 

for anyone especially myself.  

I am hoping and praying it's just a spell with mom, but it seems like this past few days are becoming tougher for her to move, to communicate and to know what or where she is to be or do from one moment to the next. Kind of like another little wake up call that life could get even more interesting in just a short matter of time, perhaps.

We have an aide now who is just a sweetheart, that comes in three 

days a week and takes care and sits with my mom which is working 

out so very well.  That does give me time for any errands, and 

definitely time to spend focusing on Haylee 

and working on her homeschooling.

It can at times be a challenge on the strength of the nerves and have to 

just walk into another room and try to re-focus for just a few moments 

then return to take on the next challenge of the next hour or even moment.  

Today has been one of the really pretty rough days.  Mom does not 

seem to be doing that great, and well . . you know kids.  Some days 

its as if they try to really pick on that last little nerve as if they were 

tap dancing on it just for fun. 

I will admit that I yearn for times alone for a few hours, 

for not to have to do for someone else but to have someone 

do for me for a change.  

And on that note, to my darling, loyal husband.  I couldn't ask for a better life partner in all the craziness we have been through for the past 20 years.  

To continually stand by my side through good and bad times is 

an understatement to the umpteenth degree.  

I can always know he will be home and by my side at a moments 

notice if at all possible even from work which requires his dedication.  

He is truly my lifeline in my life.  

My best friend that will fuss back at me if I need him to or give 

me a hug if that's what is needed or even just to take over 

and  make sure that I have just 

that few precious moments to fold clothes in a quiet 

room which may just result in my most accomplished 

thing done for the day.  (still dishes, more clothes, etc, etc.  :) 

I am truly blessed for this man to share his life with me.  

I am also again so blessed to have the opportunity to raise another little girl since I was only blessed to have one of my own children, in which Ashley has turned out to be such a fabulous person and become a best friend.

Haylee, well she is definitely a lively, outgoing, extremely active little lady.  6 going on 16 very quickly.  She loves life so much and is really becoming much more outgoing which is so fabulous to see as she has always been so bashful.  Although at times the bashful would be nice now.  Talk, Talk, and Talk  lol!

She is such a challenge loving child.  She has completed her 3rd belt and 

onto her 4th (camo) in 5 months.  With classes 2 days a week and has 

moved up to the adult class and I think, and many say she is doing super 

in and tries her very best to keep up with the grown ups.  

Also she is back in dance class of tap/ballet/jazz.  She has moved to Judi King and totally loves it there.  They are currently working on 3 different dances one day a week.  

One of the days each week, she has dance for one hour and then Taekwondo for an hour and a half.  And one would think she would pass out on the way home from classes, but I think she is more full of life than the rest of the week.  That is until she sits for just a few minutes, then leans over snoring, sound asleep and Gramps once again has to carry her to bed which she is so big now she will be dragging her feet soon.  :)

Since it's getting late - after midnight now, I will try to get settled in enough to quiet my mind and hope for some rest and begin another day in the challenging life of me.  

I'm Back!

Sorry to have been neglecting my blog for so long.  Kind of like therapy in a way.  Which I could 

ALWAYS use more of that.  hehe!  

Anyhoo.  Let's catch up.  Busy busy busy!  Seems like the older you get - the more time really does fly by.  So many so called - irons in the fire, burns your butt if you drag along very long.  :)  

It's so amazing that when you are young and can't wait for this event or that event or birthday, time creeps by so quickly.  But as you get older, I swear the clocks shaves minutes off while you aren't looking carefully.

My dieting - well not suppose to call it dieting quest, but my "Journey" to healthy lifestyle has had it's ups and downs and my downs got to me and when faced with going up on meds, it was the last straw type thing.  

I have seriously made changes in my "healthy" favor I hope. I have been on it for 4 weeks now and haven't had any serious "mistakes" in all that time.  Probably the worst I have done is a trip to Colton's steak house and had salad, steak, steamed veggies and only one roll.  Their rolls are suburb!  

Since I finally got super serious, cutting out all possible carbs, and sugars - I think my biggest change was the artificial sweetener.  I didn't realize just how much I was using in everything and lots of it.

Boy talk about a headache from a type of withdraw,  OMG the first 2 days was totally miserable!  But after that, it's all gotten better and much easier.  I guess the matter of willpower and determination in the face of increasing meds to try to control glucose once again, was too much.  I told Doc - No - give me 2 weeks. I don't know if she really thought so or not, but when I left the office, that was it!  

Time to grow the heck up and quit playing with fate!  

My sugar levels are fabulous now and are continuing to stay at a great level.  I have lost some - not enough to shout about  - but it's a minus so that's a plus!

Thanks Doc and to our local health food store for which both owners are diabetics so they can sympathize with me and much help.

Also huge thanks to my dear hubby.  Larry is so fab.  I think it's like when we quit smoking many years ago, it finally hits one day and BAM - I'm done.  

Not to say I may have slips here and there as Lord knows, the holidays are coming up fast.  But I think I have met my match with this blood sugar thing and I am gonna try to stay the Boss if me - not it.  

Well, off to start another wild and crazy day in the life of - me.  lol!