Saturday, February 26, 2011

How to be a coupon sale psychic

Sale Cycles: How to be a Coupon Psychic!
from kcl website:



Everyone knows that produce is seasonal. If you want to make a triple batch of strawberry or apricot freezer jam, the best time of year to do it is during the summer when the fruit is in season, and thereby at it’s lowest annual cost. A savvy shopper waits until a product is on sale and then stocks up! The idea is to create a stockpile that will last you 3-12 months, or until the product again reaches its lowest price.

Packaged Foods are seasonal just like produce! Each calendar month brings a new batch of sales. Here’s the predictable sale cycles for each calendar month:

January:
National Oatmeal Month: Quaker
Diet Foods including: Healthy Choice, South Beach, Lean Cuisine, Special K, Kashi, Smart Start, 100 Calorie Packs
Super Bowl Sunday: Pepsi, Coke, Chips, Dips, Cheese, sandwich items, crackers, snacks, wings
Seasonal Produce: Oranges, Pears,Grapefruit, Tangerines, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Cabbage, Spinach
Clearance: Christmas Decorations, Toys, Wrapping Papers,
Winter Health: Cold Medicines and Vitamins

February:
National Canned Food Month: Canned Fruit, Vegetables, meats: Tuna, chicken, salmon, pie fillings
National Hot Breakfast Month: Malt O Meal, Oatmeal, Eggo Waffles, Syrup
Valentines: Chocolate, Hershey’s, KY Lubricant, etc
Chinese New Year: Soy Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Noodles
Seasonal Produce: Artichoke, Asparagus, Raspberries, Potatoes, Strawberries, Broccoli, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Kale, Kiwi, Avocado, Spinach

March:
Frozen Food Month: Frozen Meals, TGI Fridays, Contessa, Foster Farms Chicken, Eggo, Sara Lee, Healthy Choice, DiGiorno, Freschetta, Breyers, Dreyers, Marie Callendars
Seasonal Produce: Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado, Haas, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chard, Collards, Fennel, Kale, Leek, Lemon, Lime, Mushrooms, Onions, Spring, Orange, Peas, Radish, Rhubarb, Spinach, Strawberries, Tangerine

April:
Easter: Ham, Eggs, Some Baking Supplies: sugar, spices, baking mixes, chocolate chips
Earth Day: Organic foods, Energy saver
Seasonal Produce: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Cabbages, Carrots, Grapefruit, Hass Avocado, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas, Rhubarb
Clearance: After Easter sales are the time to stock up on decorating, baskets, etc for the next year.

May:
Memorial Day: BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
Paper Products: plates, utensils, insect repellant, sunscreen
Cinco De Mayo: Salsa, tortillas
Seasonal Produce: Artichokes, Asparagus, Avocado, Beans, Green, Beets, Blackberries, Carrots, Onions, Sweet Vidalia, Peas, Edible Pods, Peas, English/Shelling, Potatoes, New, Raspberries, Strawberries

June:
National Dairy Month: Eggs, Milk (Free Milk Catalina, wyb cereal), Ice Cream, Cheese, Butter, Yogurt, cool whip, In-store dairy coupons or booklets
End of June is Fourth or July Sales: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
Seasonal Produce: Apricots, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cherries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Honeydew, Nectarines, Peaches, Potatoes, Raspberries, Red Onions, Squash, Summer, Strawberries, Sweet Vidalia Onions, Tomatoes, Watermelon

July:
National Ice Cream Month
More 4th of July BBQ Sales: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, BBQ Sauce, Ketchup, condiments, charcoal, salad dressing, potato chips, dips
End of July: Back to School Sales begin: crayons, pencils, folders, binders
Seasonal Produce: Asian Pears, Bartlett Pears, Beans, Green, *Blueberries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Nectarines, Onions, Red, Oranges, Valencia, Peaches, Peppers, Sweet/Bell, Plums, Potatoes, Squash, Summer, Tomatoes, Watermelon

August:
Back to School: Pudding cups, Lunch meat,
Staples and Office Depot Penny items
Disinfectant: Clorox, Purell
Clearance: Insect Repellant, Sunscreen, charcoal
Seasonal Produce: Apple, Gravenstein, Avocado, Hass, Beans, Beans, Green, Berries, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Figs, Grapes, Melons, Onion, Peaches, Pears, Bartlett, Pepper, Bell, Plums, Raspberries, Squash, Summer, Tomatillo, Tomato

September:
Back to School Sales through labor day: crayons, pencils, folders, binders
Diabetes: Bayer Glucose Meters, Glucerna Cereal
Seasonal Produce: Apples, Artichokes, Beans, Bell Peppers, Chile Peppers, Cucumber, Eggplant, Grapes, Onion, Orange, Valencia, Pears, Asian, Pears, Bartlett, Pomegranate, Squash, Tomatillo, Tomatoes, Winter Squash

October:
Halloween: Candy
Beginning of the baking sales: Canned pumpkin, evap milk, baking chips
National Seafood Month
Adopt a Shelter-Dog Month: Pedigree, Purina
Seasonal Produce: Almonds, Apples, Artichokes, Arugula, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Chard, Chestnuts, Cranberries, Lemons, Parsnip, Pears, Pomegranate, Potatoes, Potatoes, Sweet, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Winter, Turnips, Yams

November:
Baking Sales in full swing: nuts, chocolate chips, evap milk, sweetened condensed milk, coconut, cake mixes
Canned foods – soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce
Turkey, canned pumpkin, stovetop stuffing, betty crocker boxed potatoes, gravy mixes, rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, jello, marshmallows
Seasonal Produce: Anjou Pears, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Carrots, Celery, Comice pears, cranberries, kiwi, lemons, orange, potato, squash, yams
Clearance: After Halloween sales are the time to stock up on things for the next year. I like to buy the Halloween candy-alternatives like halloween crayons, erasers, watches, spinning tops, etc. I mix this in with my next year’s candy bowl and it stretches my loot for all the neighbor kids!

December:
Holiday Dinner: Egg Nog, Deli Platters, Instant Potatoes, gravy mixes, rhodes rolls, frozen pies, cranberry sauce, jello, marshmallows
Baking: Flour, Sugar, Butter, Cream, Cake mix, Brownie mix, Muffin mix, Breads, Pie Crust, Marshmallow, Whipped cream
Canned foods – soup, broth, condensed milk, vegetables, fruits, spaghetti sauce
Clearance: Buy all your Thanksgiving Decorations, extra table settings and turkey carving products now once they’re at least 50% off

Stock up Price List

Stock Up Prices for Fruit:
Strawberries $0.88 per pound
Grapes $0.99 per pound
Pears $0.79 per pound
Apples $0.69 per pound
Oranges $0.50 per pound
Raspberries $1.49 for small flat
Watermelon $5.00 for Seedless
Cantaloupe $0.99 each
Lemons $0.20 each
Peaches $0.99 per pound

Vegetables:
Baby carrots $1 per pound
Lettuce $0.49 per head
Baby spinach, 9 oz bag $0.99
Peppers, Green and Red $0.50 each
Onions $0.39 per pound
Broccoli crowns/ cauliflower $0.69 per pound
Tomatoes $0.99 per pound
Corn on the Cob 8/$1.00
Cucumbers $0.50 each
Potatoes, 10 lb bag $1.00

$0.49 or less:
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Mouthwash
“Cheap” Deodorant like Suave
Maxi pads/ pantiliners
Shampoo and Conditioner
Cleaning Supplies– Lysol Spray, Clorox Cleaners, Windex
Dish Soap
Disinfecting wipes
Men’s Body Wash
Body Lotion
Nail Polish
Floss
Paper Towels
Brownie Mix
Cookie Mix
Cake Mix
Cake Frosting
Juice Boxes
Fruit Snacks
Nabisco Crackers
Boxed Potatoes
Goldfish crackers
BBQ Sauce
Ketchup
Canned beans
Ocean Spray cranberry sauce
Carton of broth
Coffee creamer
Pasta
Marshmallows
Hot cocoa mix, box
Cream cheese, 8 oz
Stuffing mix
Peanut Butter
Pumpkin, canned 15oz.
Soy Sauce
Pillsbury crescent rolls
Hummus
Tortillas, 10pk.
Soda, 2 ltr.
Spaghetti or alfredo sauce

$0.99 or less:
Men’s 5 Blade Razors
Body Wash
Tampons
“Cheap” Toilet Paper, 4 pack
Deodorant, like Secret or Old Spice
Ziploc Bags
CoverGirl Makeup
Facewash, like Clearasil or Clean and Clear
Vicks Dayquil or Nyquil
Bandaids
Light Bulbs
Hair color
Granola Bars
Tortilla chips
Bagged Candy, like Hershey Kisses
Salad Dressing
Cereal
Shredded Cheese, 1 lb.
Dole canned pineapple
Refrigerated cookie dough
Apple juice, 64oz
Sour cream, 16oz
Canola oil
Flour, 5lb
Brown sugar
Pam spray
Quick/ old fashioned oats, 42oz
Frozen 100% juice
Frozen berries
Coconut milk
Whipping cream, 1/2 pint
Yogurt 4-pk

Meat
Top Sirloin Steak: $3.99/lb
Ground Beef, 90% or better: $1.99/lb
Ground Beef, 85%: $1.69
Chuck Roast: $1.99/lb
Boneless Pork Chops $1.49/lb
Pork Loin, Boneless $1.99/lb
Pork Roast: $1.49
Boneless Chicken Breasts: $1.69-$1.99/lb
Bone-in Chicken Breasts: $0.79-$0.99/lb
Whole Fryer Chickens: $0.79/lb
Chicken Thighs and Drumsticks: $0.79/lb
Sausage: $1.50/lb
Bacon: $1.50/lb
Salmon: filleted: $3.50/lb

Friday, February 4, 2011

how it all began

A short while ago my life changed forever!  While hanging out with my wonderful family (husband and gorgeous dog and cat) I began thumbing thru channels and randomly came across the station TLC.  On the channel was a show called Extreme Couponing.  I watched the show and just became BLOWN AWAY by the things I saw.  That is the night that changed my life forever. People were going to the grocery store, loading their carts with hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of items - good items - name brand items!!! and walking up to the checkout and getting all the items for next to nothing.  That's right, nearly free.  Like $600 worth of items for $9 TOTAL!!!!!!!!!!!!  I was shocked.  Something within me sparked!

The next day I immediately began teaching myself about extreme couponing, reading different blogs on the subject, watching a few youtube videos of the people being featured on the show and even fb friending the guy I saw on the show, the one who ended up building a pyramid of cereal in his driveway, all of which he had couponed for next to nothing and was going to donate to the local charity. 

The first deal I came across that I could understand (it's a VERY confusing adventure when you're new) was to go to Rite Aid which was having a sale and it looked like this:

Rite Aid:
Special K $4.79-$4.99 BOGO
buy 2 and use B1G1 Special K (up to $4.49) coupon
as low as $0.15 each after coupon & BOGO sale

I went down to my local Rite Aid and went to the counter with 4 boxes and 2 coupons and 2 sweaty nervous hands and low and behold the deal worked. Not without a hitch, (video to post soon) but the cashier wasn't too hip to couponing and didn't understand the whole thing, she also kept trying to find a reason not to give me the deal (my coupon was printed on recycled paper etc etc) Finally she called the manager over and he quickly and UUUBER politely put through my deal and sent me on my way-sweating palms and all.  - hey this stuff is totally nervewracking!!! I just spent FIFTEEN CENTS a box for cereal holy wow!

All I can say is the rest is history. I WAS ELATED! I FELT LIKE I WAS PLAYING THE SUPERBOWL AND WINNING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.  It was so strategic and well planned unlike my usual extremely unorganized and EXTREMELY frustrating jaunts to my local grocer.  I basically haven't slept since then, becoming more and more excited, the more deals I come across and the more I attempt to perfect my deals.  Here is where I'll write about them. 

Yes, I started this blog to write about my adventures AND because I couldn't find a blog that was dedicated to couponing in the Seattle city limits.  Go figure!  Are us Seattlelites too busy to coupon or too sophisticated??  I think NOT.  If you want to learn more about couponing I would highly suggest you check out thekrazycouponlady.com and also look for thekrazycouponlady on youtube if u learn visually like me.  She's from the TLC show Extreme Couponing and she's where I got my inspiration and knowledge.  She has a new book I just started reading:




I really love Krazy Coupon Lady's confidence and swagger that she has during couponing.  It too gives me confidence when I go to the store with a million coupons in my hand (not really that many but that's what others are thinking) I'm learning so much from her.  One thing she said that got me was coupons are MONEY--aint that the truth.