Bargain Quest

This is a blatant PSA (Public Service Announcement) to my friends and family who might be attending a baby shower for our new addition in the next month or two: Please don’t pay full price for anything off of our Babies ‘R Us registry

Instead, through 10/14, print off a “15% off any one item” coupon from the Babies ‘R Us website. (Make sure you’re connected to a printer because the print box pops up right away, and you can only print once. If it doesn’t work for you, there’s a PDF version available on Slickdeals.) Also, Babies ‘R Us keeps sending me other coupons with later expiration dates that I plan to pass on to shower hostesses for use or distribution as they see fit.

And yes, I realize I’m breaking about a dozen etiquette rules by implying that I realize people bring gifts to baby showers. I think manners would dictate that I feign ignorance and let family and friends pay more than necessary. Of course this wonderful little baby is worth it. But if you’re looking for an “etiquette-ly correct” blog, you’ve come to the wrong place. I’d rather help everyone save a few bucks on overpriced baby paraphernalia, when possible.

(If you’re reading this on Tuesday, check out LL Bean’s Tuesday Morning Markdown: Infant Sherpa Fleece Coverall for $9 (available in 4 colors, sizes 0-3 months and 3-6 months, Free shipping code 7421910). I’m normally not a sucker for cutesie things, but awwwww)

In addition to changing the self-checkout menus (for the worse, because more steps are required), the Krogers in my region have been implementing a new style of Catalina coupons over the past several months. (Catalinas are the manufacturer coupons that print from a separate machine at the register when you check out.) The old style printed on slick white paper, black ink, red borders at top and bottom, just like the Walgreens Catalinas. The “new and improved” register coupons feel more like regular printer paper and print in light color.

I won’t pretend to care about that switch, but I bring it up because it seems to coincide with a significant improvement in the types and value of coupons printing out. Catalina values used to be on par with the blinkie coupon dispensers around the store, nice if it was a product I already used but not usually enough to alter my spending habits. They also seemed to be triggered by specific products purchased in that transaction. Lately, the average dollar value is substantially higher, and I can’t always trace a particular item causing the coupon to print.

Here are some of the better coupons I’ve received under the new regime:

$5 off $50 purchase
$1.50 off $7 frozen food purchase
$3.25 off 2 boxes of Kudos
$3.25 off any Always pads
$2.00 off Crest Pro-Health toothpaste
$4 off Viva paper towel rolls, 8-pk or larger
$1.50 off Juicy Juice Healthy Harvest
$4.50 off Iams dry cat food
Free Afrin (up to $6.00)

It doesn’t make up for Kroger abandoning Super Double Coupon week, but I’ll take it!

And on the subject of Catalinas, I’m baffled when I look around the Self-Checkout kiosks and see streams of unclaimed coupons left dangling from Catalina machines. It seems that most shoppers don’t even look at them. I don’t have the guts to harvest all the wealth, but I have been known to detour to machines that have the longest leftovers.

And on the subject of groceries, check out Meredith’s “Cheerful Frugality and the Grocery Budget” contribution at Frugal Hacks for “a few ideas for developing a grocery budget that pleases your family - and your wallet.”

I haven’t experienced a lot of the pregnancy stereotypes, like nausea, moodiness, and cravings, but the end of my second trimester has heralded in what could be characterized as a full-blown case of Nesting. My obsession has been channeled into two avenues: Cleaning and organizing. I could write at length about my adventures in cleaning (highlights include scrubbing my tile grout and silverware drawer), but don’t think I can make a case that it’s germane to bargain hunting.

Organizing, however, can get expensive. Specifically, all the enticing organizational accoutrements marketed as magical solutions to our over-cluttered lives. I know I can’t be the only one who finds storage bins sexy because there’s an entire retail chain called the Container Store. And as I’ve been sorting and stacking lately, I’ve reached the conclusion that I’m a long way from owning too many organizing pieces. They are so undeniably useful in keeping my spaces neater and using the space more efficiently.

Here’s the floor of my linen closet, where my personal care bargains were previously piled in shopping bags and roughly sorted (I wish I had taken a “before” picture).

Now I can finally see and access what I have!

So I’m on the hunt for discount organizing strategies. I had a little success at Kroger last week, where a couple of Sterilite storage lines were being clearanced out for 75% off. Besides that, I’ve only explored Target/Walmart and the Dollar Tree for some basics.

I’d love to get some frugal input and hear about:
-Any favorite organizing websites that can provide continuing inspiration
-Any “secret”/not immediately obvious sources for affordable organizational equipment
-Any creative tips you’ve used or know about for low or no-cost organizing solutions

22 free issues of Parenting magazine and/or 12 free issues of Better Homes & Gardens? Both offers are currently available by registering with StartSampling.com. Registration is pretty painless, and then ordering the magazines only takes a click. There are a number of other coupons/offers available as well once you register.

(Direct links to Parenting and BH&G sample pages)

I hope they come! I’m usually reluctant to jump on these magazine freebies, because I don’t always trust the site, or sometimes there are a lot of hoops to jump through, or frankly because the magazines are lame. But these I’d actually like to read. And even though it’s new to me, StartSampling seems widely used by online bargain hunters and worth checking periodically for new free sample offers.

(I started this post as a draft a week or two ago, and as it turns out, the theme of this week’s “Works for Me Wednesday” at Rocks in My Dryer was discussing what brands we’re loyal to! In case you haven’t already, go over and read up on some other bloggers’ picky picks. This isn’t an official WFMW contribution (today being Friday and all), but here’s my two cents on brand loyalty…)

It’s an occupational hazard of bargain hunting - I find lots of brand name items at great discounts, and sooner or later, we find some brand we can’t live without. Obviously, this is the basic premise behind a lot of the promotions I utilize - Companies want consumers to try their (usually new) products in hopes that they get hooked and continue to buy them at full price. Usually, I’ll just bounce around to whatever line I can find the cheapest or even free.

But we have officially switched from Angel Soft to Cottonelle toilet paper. I picked up a supply of cheap Cottonelle during some deal ages ago, and my husband has decided he doesn’t want to go back. Fortunately, Cottonelle still gets in some great sales, so I just stock up when I can. To even things up, I’ll admit I like the convenience of Swiffer wet cloths for general floor mopping. (Generic versions are OK, too).

I’m perfectly comfortable sticking with some brands when for which we have strong preferences, although I’ll always try to find them on sale. Sometimes the generic or bottom shelf version or even another comparable brand just doesn’t taste/work right for the needs we have. Personally, this is a frugal versus cheap line. By getting the minimum where possible, we finance the habit of indulging in certain consumption habits that give us greater utility.

I also look at it this way: By bargain hunting, I get to try lots of products for very little cost. If we find something we particularly like, great! No money wasted on all the latest and greatest to discover the few products that actually improve our lives.

Here’s a sample of some of our other “must-have” brands:
Tabasco - To my husband the Tabasco nut, Tabasco and hot sauce are two different things, not to be used interchangeably! Fortunately, I’ve accumulated a huge supply for very little cost, combining Kroger $1 sales with doubled coupons.
Diet Dr. Pepper
Healthy Choice Fudge Bars
Oral-B Satin floss - This is what our dentist gives samples of.
Nature’s Own 100% Whole Grain Sugar Free bread - Not cheap.
Quaker Granola Bars
Tostitos Baked Tortilla Chips - Unfortunately, they discontinued the regular kind and we’re stuck with scoops
Degree deodorant (me) & Old Spice (DH)
Bounty Select-A-Size paper towels - They’re sturdy, and I like being able to use just a small sheet.

We’re wafflers when it comes to lawn care. Every year, September finds us debating whether it’s worth attempting to grow/maintain our mostly-shady front yard. Until now, the final verdict has either been “no” by default or a very half-hearted “yes.” This year, however, we’ve decided we’ll make an effort to properly aerate, fertilize and plant seed.

(For your viewing enjoyment, here’s a photo of one section of our yard. Pretty pathetic. It’s not all this bad, but it’s close)

Therefore, in the interest of “doing things right,” I’m ordering two soil tests to give us a more accurate picture of how we should handle our particular situation. In Virginia, the Virginia Tech branch of the VA Cooperative Extension will provide soil sample analysis for the reasonable fee of $7 a sample. I just had to pick up approved sample boxes from the local library or county Extension Office, and pay postage.

And as it works out, I’m getting both samples analyzed for free. Apparently, the Henrico Extension Office provides vouchers for up to 2 free soil tests per county resident, as an incentive program to residents to avoid overfertilization and associated runoff problems through accurate testing. This is only a relevant tip if you live in Henrico County, but I’m sure lots of other localities sponsor similar offers. Additionally, the branches of the Virginia Cooperative Extension provide a number of other free/cheap resources and programs for better lawn care and gardening, which you can learn about by just giving your local office a call.

Verdant, lush lawn, here we come!… maybe