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.