Way back in June I shopped at a Sweetbay Supermarket for a TV show in Tampa, FL. Sweetbay offering varied types of community programs thought a coupon seminar would be another great outreach program for their shoppers. So here I am in Florida visiting 8 Sweebay markets.

We completed 3 seminars so far, but we have 5 more scheduled so I thought I’d list them here and hopefully some of you can find time to attend. Sweetbay is also giving out a $5 gift card for their store to all those in attendance.

• Monday, October 19, 4 PM: Bonita Springs Store: 8951 Bonita Springs Rd. & US 41, Bonita Springs
• Tuesday, October 20, 11 AM: Golden Gate Store: 4995 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples
• Wednesday, October 21, 5 PM: Santa Barbara Store: 4015 Santa Barbara Blvd., Naples
• Thursday, October 22, 2 PM: Estero Store, 10026 Coconut Rd, Estero
• Friday, October 23, 10 AM: Punta Gorda Store, 10175 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda

At the seminars I’ve seen some great coupon organizers and picked up lots of tips about couponing policies here in Florida. If you get a chance I’d love to see some of you too. Come over and say hello.

Slash your grocery bill in half

I enjoy purchasing some of my health and beauty
aids in the many discount drug chains that surround me. Each one has a different loyalty program that affords great savings. The 3 near me are: CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid.

CVS has the Extra Care Bucks program. It works like this. Sign up for the CVS card. Check for sales and ECB on their weekly online or paper flyer. For example Energizer batteries were on sale for $5.99 for the 8 pack. In addition, with the purchase of $15 in batteries you received $5 in ECB. I could still use my Energizer manufacturers’ coupons. I now had $5 to use on any other purchase in the store.

Walgreens savings program. This works very similarly to CVS. Walgreens always has sales, combine with their Register Rewards and you could save a lot. Check their printable coupon section too.

Last, Rite Aid not only has sales but they also have Single Check rebates that can be done online or mailed in. Each time you make a purchase, submit your register receipts online to see what savings you’ve received. At the end of the month with one click all your receipts are tallied and Rite Aid sends your check. No computer, just send in your receipts for your monthly rebate.

It’s a fantastic system and another way to add to your nest egg.

Today I was featured in the New York Times. It is a great article by Stephanie Rosenbloom called “A Clip-and-Save Renaissance“.

I recently found I needed some printing paper, and new security software. I had some Staples coupons, so I scoured their weekly flyer to check for good deals. Here’s what I spotted.

Norton Anti-virus software was on sale for $39.99 with a $20 rebate and Hammermill Paper had a Buy One Get One Free on 2-10 ream boxes up to $38.99. I never did the Easy Rebate via the internet because I’m so used to the mail-in type. But I decided to take the plunge. I made my purchases and returned home with my product and cash register receipts.

I sat down at the computer and fulfilled the sign-in procedure. Next I followed the directions to submit my online rebates. About 2 minutes later I was done, and then received an email confirmation. I couldn’t believe how easy and fast the whole procedure was.

I hope this is the wave of the future. It eliminates so much time because my information was pre-filled, no envelope, no postage and even with my limited internet skills I was successful. I have already received a $20 Visa card for my Norton purchase.

Our media tour continues. On a recent stop in Houston, TX we pre-arranged a shopping trip with the NBC affiliate, KPRC at an H.E.B Store. Courtney Gilmore, the reporter called me in New York before I left to let me know that a coupon clipper friend of hers was going to meet us at the H.E.B. in Cypus, TX.

We all arrived at the store around 9 AM, and Clara was armed with 2 organizers. I had the list, the flyer and my coupons. Clara and I could have talked for hours, comparing notes and deals, but with the cameras at our side we limited ourselves to quick conversations.

We did find some great deals along the way. For example French’s had an on-sticker offer for BOGOF. With my $1 coupon, the cost was $.19 each. We continued to Kraft BBQ sauce on sale for $1.04. The coupon stated, Buy 2 Kraft Items for $2 off your poultry purchase which was already in my basket. The BBQ sauce was a great deal at 2 for $.08. Next, we combined a manufacturers Colgate toothpaste coupon with an H.E.B. free Colgate toothbrush. We continued throughout finding more bargains.

After shopping, we headed for the checkout. The total was $136.84 for a total savings of $120.43. Our planning, coupon discounts, store sales really paid off and I made a new friend.

Degree is giving a $1 coupon

http://www.degreewomen.com/Women/Fine-Fragrance-Collection.aspx

Lever $1 coupon

http://www.lever2000.com/

$3 in Dove Coupons

http://content.dove.us/dimensions/coupons.aspx

$3 in Pledge Coupons

http://www.pledge.com/savings/2009-1/

$6 in Coupons from Eat Better America: Yoplait, Wheaties etc.

http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/coupons/?WT.dcsvid=MzQ4NjY4ODU2NQS2&WT.mc_id=Newsletter_EBA_042909

$7 coupon for Crest White Strips

http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com/pgeds/en_US/jsp/EDS_Page.jsp?pageID=SCSCL&edstempseg=BB&utm_source=BB&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=May09Newsletter

Getting coupons for the products you need is not any easy task. As a matter of fact, while shopping in Pittsburgh today for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that was the comment I heard not only from the shoppers but from the checkers. That was the exact reason we began the Select Coupon Program in 1982.

Our goal was to get coupons into the hands of the shoppers. And not any coupons, but coupons of your choice. When I found the Kelloggs Frosted Flakes and a couple of other varieties on sale 4 for $6, I was able to go right to my coupons and choose 4 coupons for the same sale items. This is our ultimate purpose. Get you the coupons you need so you can save too.

Right now we are offering FREE $25 in coupons of choice at (http://selectcouponprogram.com). At a double store, that would be worth $50. A great deal, so give it a shot, and start those savings.

I recently heard from Tom Carney, he does the family preparation for shopping. Here’s what Tom told me. He created a Spreadsheet on Microsoft Excel. He listed all the products his family uses. Next, he checks the stores flyers and decides on the best place to shop. He checks off the sale items that match his family’s favorites.

He found this system very time saving. He has the one master list, makes his choices by the sales and coupon offerings, and prints it off. Each week his purchases change to take advantage of all the great deals.

He never has to make another list. What a time saver, and what an easy way to prepare for your weekly shopping. He does adjust the list on occasion to allow for change in preferences. One last mention from Tom, he also goes to other stores, discount drug chains etc. to take advantage of their specials.

Lilly has been a long time subscriber to (http://RefundleBundle.com) and she is always willing to share great deals. Here are a couple of Lilly’s best. I’d love to hear from you too. Sharing is what makes this work.

Lilly: A quick trip to Giant Eagle paid off big time. Hunts Manwich was on sale for $1.00 per can. I bought four and used .50/2 coupons. They also featured Ken’s salad dressing $1.00 for the 8 oz bottles. I bought 6 using $1.00/2. Yoplait yogurt was 20 for $10 with an instant $2 taken off the bill. I used (3) .40 off six yogurt coupons. My total was $30.90, less mfg. coupons $5.20, less bonus c/o savings $2.20 and card and store coupons $12.90, for an out-of-pocket cost of
$10.40. A nice compliment from the new cashier saying wow! Nice deals!

Rite Aid offered the following: 15-roll Scott paper towels on sale for $10.99 and has a $2.00 single check rebate with one rebate being the limit. We bought 2 of the 15-roll pkgs and used the $20 Rite Aid Gift Certificate we earned during the Christmas holidays. We paid $2.10 for both but…we still get the $2 back so the final cost is .10. That’s got to be one of the best deals I’ve found for a long time.

I wanted to bake a pear bundt cake but I didn’t have the cake mix so I went onto this site and found a basic cake mix from scratch I’m going to use as I do have these ingredients in the house.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cake-Mixes-from-Scratch-and-Variations/Detail.aspx