Online: Cyber Monday Deals & More...

Hey, Y'all!

I am not one down for the hunt for Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals.  However, I know some of you were probably bustin' down chains to grab those super deals this weekend. 

I was reading my December AARP magazine and saw several tips that I wanted to pass on to you.

Here are some tips for shopping saavy online and in stores:

1. PricePinx.com to get notified the instant an item you are craving is marked down.
2. Follow your favorite retailer online via Facebook & Twitter for access to sales and markdowns.
3. Buy discounted gift cards at Gift Card Granny  and Card Cash.  You may be able to get gift cards discounted by as much as 35%!!
4. Comparison shop online by using search engines: ShopStyle.com for fashion and home products; Shopping.com and BizRate.com for commodity items like TVs.  PriceGrabber.com compiles items with the lowest prices from across the internet.
5. Overstock.com and 6pm.com are pots of gold at the end of the deal hunter's rainbow.
6. Google the item and add "best price" to it.  For example, "Samsung 6 Best Price"
   
7. "Dynamic Pricing" fluctuates based on your search history and can raise prices by a few cents or $100+.  This has happened to me several times on Amazon.com.  The solution is to browse incognito to avoid site "cookies" that store your search history.  To open a private window <press Control + Shift + N> (in Windows, Linus and Chrome OS); Command + Shift + N (Mac).
8. Amazon Shoppers: Amazon prices change daily and sometimes hourly.  Check Camelcamelcamel.com for the cost history of any item on Amazon.com.
9. Check the "Deals" listed under the black Amazon banner for other great deals.  Don't forget to browse the deals incognito via the private mode (see #7)
   
10. Shop Amazon Warehouse & Amazon Outlet
11. Load these two apps on your smart phone:  Amazon and ShopSaavy.  Snap a photo of an items bar code and automatically compare prices among thousands of real live retail stores​.  The app actually has coupons you can show on your phone for more discounts.
12. Finally, if you have the time, give the online retailer a call or online chat.  Ask for specials, promo codes, discounts, etc. on the item(s) you want to purchase.  Be extra sweet and you may fill your pot of gold with great savings and more deals than you can count.
    

ShaRon :o)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hey, Y'all!

I know you probably thought I had fallen off the edge of the earth and landed on the moon.  But, I have been so busy with my big family and have only now settled into a groove that will soon allow me to get back to my shopping trips and blog posts.  I might even have time to do a coupon class or two.  However, for now, I will be very much Bizzy MiMi in the Kitchen; at the grocery store; at the pharmacy or wherever I find myself.  I want to begin doing more videos, too.  They are quicker and more fun than just sitting and typing and rambling on and on like I am doing right now.

Anyway, I have been teaching a class at my church on budgeting and paying down personal debt. Part of the class assignment is to have one area of their finances as cash only with a fixed budgeted amount.  I chose "groceries" to be my cash only budget item.  I set our family limit at $600 per month.  That is really low for feeding 11 people each month.  However, I have a full pantry, two freezers, and three refrigerators with freezers all full of frozen foods; eggs; veggies, fruit all waiting to be devoured.  So, for now, we are starting with the $600.  My husband has an envelope with $350 and I have one with $250.  He purchases paper and plastic eating utensils, plates, cups, bathroom tissue, paper towels, etc. in addition to groceries. 

I made my first cash only purchase at ShopRite Saturday night.  How did I do?  Look & see for yourself https://youtu.be/HN6-RWZMI2w

 My total before coupons was $98.72; after I swiped my customer card, it dropped to $65.80; after coupons were scanned it dropped to $36.46.  I also received two catalina coupons: $2 off my next fresh meat purchase; $5 off my next grocery purchase that made my bottom line just $29.46 down from $98.72. Haaaay!

I have missed some awesome deals these last few weeks because I have been fulfilling my pledge to prepare meals only from what we have on hand (in our freezers and pantry) for at least a month.  We have been doing just that and have been able to save simply by not going to the supermarket.

We are continuing to eat from our stocked freezers and pantry and supplement our meals with purchases of fresh fruit, veggies, and milk.  I have to reign in my husband's purchases because he will go to the store hungry and come home with stuff we really do not need: cookies, potato chips, brownies, cake, pies, honey buns, etc.  Hopefully, his cash based budget with help him resist his junk food splurges.

Sadly, there's only one insert expected next weekend following Thanksgiving.  Here's the link to PG Insert coupon preview.  The next several weeks in December should prove to be bountiful for couponers.  January will definitely be a wonderful day for couponers.  You can expect as many as four or five inserts the first Sunday in January.

In the meantime, Happy Thanksgiving!

ShaRon :o)