Okay Canadian couponers...here's my secrets:
Source of coupons:The key to couponing is obviously having lots of coupons! This is a bit hard on PEI, because of the limited sources. In many larger cities, they have a greater number of flyers and weekend papers that include coupon inserts. I have found several online sources to stock my coupon supply:
www.websaver.ca
www.brandsaver.ca
www.save.ca
www.gocoupons.ca
www.thinkcoupons.ca
www.thinkcoupons.ca is actually more of a database, which links you to printable coupons, and new coupons on the other sites. These sites work by allowing you to select the coupons you would like, then sending them to you within 1-2 weeks.
Other valuable coupon sources are:
*In-store coupons
-keep your eyes open for manufacturers coupons in-store. They often have stacks of coupons next to the products you are buying. The best store that I've found to get these is Shoppers Drug Mart. When you see these coupons...take several!
*Product coupons
-check the products you are buying for coupons on the labeling and packaging...many times you grab a product without a coupon, when right next to it is the exact same product, with the coupon....this is great too, because it's obviously a product that you use already!
*Flyers
-Don't just throw out those flyers! They often have a coupon flyer insert inside!
Flexibility
Another key to couponing is being FLEXIBLE!!! I'm not too brand-loyal, I am okay with buying what is on sale. There are afew products that I prefer one specific brand, but most it doesn't matter too much!
If there is a product you do really like, check there website! Many times they offer coupons, you just have to look for them, or ask...send a quick email to ther customer service....never hurts to ask!
Also, don't wait until you need a product to go buy it. For example, the time to buy toilet paper is not when you put your last roll on the dispenser, it's when it's on sale.
Match the sales!!
-Watch for sales on the items you have coupons for, then purchase on sale, with coupons for awesome savings...sometimes even free!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Just call me the Crazy Coupon Lady!
Like everybody, I like to save money whenever possible. I have recently started couponing and have found it to be very beneficial! Let me walk you through some of my big savings today, so you get an idea of how much you can really save!
Here are some of today's purchases:
(sorry I took the picture with my phone)
Regular price of all of these items: $89.54 (before tax)
I paid: (are you ready for this?) $29.66
Which is a savings of 67%. Now I know this isn't as good as you see in the 'extreme couponing' show, but it's about as good as you can get in Canada!
Here's the breakdown item by item, of how I saved:
*Windex: Store offered BOGO + BOGO coupon = I paid for 1 got 2 free (11.97 for 3.99)
*Kandoo: Store offered BOGO (7.98 for 3.99)
*Covergirl Mascara: Store offered BOGO + $2 off when purchasing 2 coupon=(12.78 for 4.39)
* Toilet paper: Store sale price $5.99 + $1 off coupon= (9.99 reg price for 4.99)
*Laundry soap: Reg. 6.99 on sale for 2.97+ $1 off each= (13.98 for 3.94)
*Tylenol: Raincheck from last week sale of BOGO + $4 off when buying 2= (15.98 for 3.99)
*Colgate products: Store sale on Toothbrush for .99 and toothpaste for 2.39 + coupon for $3 off when you buy a colgate toothbrush and toothpaste= (5.38 for .38)
*Ocean Spray: store sale of $2.99 + $1 off each= (7.89 for 3.98)
*Crest Toothbrush: 3.50 value...this was the best deal. This was their 'product of the week' which they offer you when they check out at this 'great price' of 3.50, but if they FORGET to ask if you want it, you get it FREE!!! Many people probably don't really see the sign that says this, ir bother to ask for it if they aren't asked to purchase one, but NOT ME!! I got this one for Free!
So, as you see, I mix the in-store sales with coupons to maximize savings! I'll post a bit later with links to all my coupon sites, where I get most of these awesome coupons!
Thanks!
Heather
Here are some of today's purchases:
(sorry I took the picture with my phone)
Regular price of all of these items: $89.54 (before tax)
I paid: (are you ready for this?) $29.66
Which is a savings of 67%. Now I know this isn't as good as you see in the 'extreme couponing' show, but it's about as good as you can get in Canada!
Here's the breakdown item by item, of how I saved:
*Windex: Store offered BOGO + BOGO coupon = I paid for 1 got 2 free (11.97 for 3.99)
*Kandoo: Store offered BOGO (7.98 for 3.99)
*Covergirl Mascara: Store offered BOGO + $2 off when purchasing 2 coupon=(12.78 for 4.39)
* Toilet paper: Store sale price $5.99 + $1 off coupon= (9.99 reg price for 4.99)
*Laundry soap: Reg. 6.99 on sale for 2.97+ $1 off each= (13.98 for 3.94)
*Tylenol: Raincheck from last week sale of BOGO + $4 off when buying 2= (15.98 for 3.99)
*Colgate products: Store sale on Toothbrush for .99 and toothpaste for 2.39 + coupon for $3 off when you buy a colgate toothbrush and toothpaste= (5.38 for .38)
*Ocean Spray: store sale of $2.99 + $1 off each= (7.89 for 3.98)
*Crest Toothbrush: 3.50 value...this was the best deal. This was their 'product of the week' which they offer you when they check out at this 'great price' of 3.50, but if they FORGET to ask if you want it, you get it FREE!!! Many people probably don't really see the sign that says this, ir bother to ask for it if they aren't asked to purchase one, but NOT ME!! I got this one for Free!
So, as you see, I mix the in-store sales with coupons to maximize savings! I'll post a bit later with links to all my coupon sites, where I get most of these awesome coupons!
Thanks!
Heather
Thursday, January 13, 2011
I will never buy Play-doh again!!
So I was feeling like supermom this morning and decided to try a batch of play-doh for the following reasons:
*Willem LOVES playdoh and plays with it alot
*Adi is wanting to play with playdoh, and I catch her eating it from time to time (if she's gonna get some in her mouth, I'd rather it be chemical free)
*Playdoh isn't cheap....and who doesn't like to save money?
*Willem loves to help bake & cook, so I figured he would love to make something that he could actually play with.
Seeing that I'd never done this before, I picked a recipe online, suprisingly that I could make with things I had in my pantry!
The recipe was pretty simple, easy to follow, and quick! And the result was impressive! It's not perfect...the only thing I would like to change is the grainy texture, and the fact that they reccommend storing in the fridge. The site I found this recipe on had several recipes, so I may try another next time!
This guy sure loves it! Especially since it makes so much...not just a little can full!
Here's the recipe, in case you're interested!
Cooked Playdough Recipe
2 cups flour
1 TBSP cooking oil
1 tsp. cream of tarter
2 cups of colored water
1 cup of salt
Directions:
Place all of the ingredients in a medium size pan. Stir well, then cook over medium heat until the dough thickens. Keps best in the fridge in a plastic container!
I'd love to hear your favorite dough recipe...I think I'll try a non-cooked one next time to compare!
*Willem LOVES playdoh and plays with it alot
*Adi is wanting to play with playdoh, and I catch her eating it from time to time (if she's gonna get some in her mouth, I'd rather it be chemical free)
*Playdoh isn't cheap....and who doesn't like to save money?
*Willem loves to help bake & cook, so I figured he would love to make something that he could actually play with.
Seeing that I'd never done this before, I picked a recipe online, suprisingly that I could make with things I had in my pantry!
The recipe was pretty simple, easy to follow, and quick! And the result was impressive! It's not perfect...the only thing I would like to change is the grainy texture, and the fact that they reccommend storing in the fridge. The site I found this recipe on had several recipes, so I may try another next time!
This guy sure loves it! Especially since it makes so much...not just a little can full!
Here's the recipe, in case you're interested!
Cooked Playdough Recipe
2 cups flour
1 TBSP cooking oil
1 tsp. cream of tarter
2 cups of colored water
1 cup of salt
Directions:
Place all of the ingredients in a medium size pan. Stir well, then cook over medium heat until the dough thickens. Keps best in the fridge in a plastic container!
I'd love to hear your favorite dough recipe...I think I'll try a non-cooked one next time to compare!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
New year.....new way
So I've had to face afew bigger decisions lately that will probably affect the future of 'Fresh Mom'. Which has brought me back to why I started Fresh Mom in the first place.
*I love to create things....with character, interest, and things that make people smile
*I wanted to set my own schedule, and spend more time with my kids, instead of being harnessed in by someone elses demands (should have thought about that one before having kids...LOL)
*I want to feel good about doing something for myself, and allow myself to live, create, and inspire through my designs.
*Of course, I want to make an income too....
But when I think about what I have been through in the first year of business, it has not all been as hearts, flowers, and sunshine as the romantic notion of a crafting business sounds. I feel burdened by deadlines and demands....the creative process has been smothered by mass production.
Along the way, I have learned SOOOO much, and do not regret nor would wish to change any part of it, but now that I have nearly a year under my belt, I can start to mold the business into the vision that I always had.
I LOVE all the support, feedback, encouragment, and appreciation I get for every order I am able to supply my wonderful customers with. It has kept me going!
I feel the need to put my very new business through some very big changes. Please stay tuned, and hang on for the ride!
*I love to create things....with character, interest, and things that make people smile
*I wanted to set my own schedule, and spend more time with my kids, instead of being harnessed in by someone elses demands (should have thought about that one before having kids...LOL)
*I want to feel good about doing something for myself, and allow myself to live, create, and inspire through my designs.
*Of course, I want to make an income too....
But when I think about what I have been through in the first year of business, it has not all been as hearts, flowers, and sunshine as the romantic notion of a crafting business sounds. I feel burdened by deadlines and demands....the creative process has been smothered by mass production.
Along the way, I have learned SOOOO much, and do not regret nor would wish to change any part of it, but now that I have nearly a year under my belt, I can start to mold the business into the vision that I always had.
I LOVE all the support, feedback, encouragment, and appreciation I get for every order I am able to supply my wonderful customers with. It has kept me going!
I feel the need to put my very new business through some very big changes. Please stay tuned, and hang on for the ride!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Creativity in every form...
Being a crafter, I try to appreciate creativity in every form. My CD collection (yes, I still use CD's, even though I have an ipod) ranges from Selah, to Tim McGraw, to Black Eyed Peas, to Metalica. I can appreciate every one of them!
I am also trying to appreciate Willem's creativity....even though sometimes it's hard to let him make a mess...it's all in the name of creativity.
Here's afew things he's come up with lately that I just have to smile at.
This is the set-up that occurs almost every day. This day, it was a truck...the chair is the cab, the table the flat bed, and the boxes his 'load'. The set-up also doubles as a pirate ship!
He's also into Lego. He is always making interesting creations...such as this.
After I put him in bed the other night, I walked into the kitchen to find this little group of Playmobil people...he had arranged them nicely as they were having a conversion...about what, who knows?
He's a creativ little guy....I love every bit of it...don't even mind the clean-up(most days)
I am also trying to appreciate Willem's creativity....even though sometimes it's hard to let him make a mess...it's all in the name of creativity.
Here's afew things he's come up with lately that I just have to smile at.
This is the set-up that occurs almost every day. This day, it was a truck...the chair is the cab, the table the flat bed, and the boxes his 'load'. The set-up also doubles as a pirate ship!
He's also into Lego. He is always making interesting creations...such as this.
After I put him in bed the other night, I walked into the kitchen to find this little group of Playmobil people...he had arranged them nicely as they were having a conversion...about what, who knows?
He's a creativ little guy....I love every bit of it...don't even mind the clean-up(most days)
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