Bargain Queen

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I’ve always admired people that have the time to not only cut coupons and find deals, but then go on to share their tips and tricks with others. Most of you know my affinity for the freebie and have often suggested I do the same, but who has the time to both save and share? Well, I pulled off a deal SO sweet today, that I felt the need to post about it:

My favorite cereal, Smart Start (I found out about it when I was pregnant becuase of the high Iron level and great taste!) happened to be BOGO (buy one get one free) at Winn Dixie. I’m regularly a Publix shopper and though I’m usually not a fan of driving all around town just to get deals at different stores, the Winn Dixie is in the same plaza where Kariss had gymnastics today, so I didn’t waste any gas 🙂 Anyway, in addition to the aforementioned deal, they also had a new type of smart start that was not only BOGO, but had a rebate to try it for free. Couple that with the $1.00 off coupon I found on every box, and I ended up paying about $2 for 6 boxes of cereal that are normally $4.09 each….come on, you have to be excited about that!!!!

While I’m preaching, here are my other tips:
* Whenever there’s a rebate, fill it out the minute you get home so you don’t forget later
* Check frequently with stores like Staples or Walgreens who frequently offer things for free. For example, Walgreens has monthly items you get for free, simply by sending in the rebate. AND when you request your rebate back in the form of a gift card, you get an extra 10%, so you actually make money. So, you have to pay out of pocket the first time, but then you keep using your gift card as the months go on and continue to stockpile the cash for things you really need (not to mention they’re always offering good necessities like medicine, toothpaste and hair products)
* Keep a running list of things you need so it’s easier to recognize what you really need when things are on sale. Plus, when you make lists, especially for grocery shopping, you’re likely to buy less and spend less. If you keep a list of clothes you need to replace, then you’re only buying what’s truly necessary in your wardrobe and then you can get rid of the old piece of clothing.
* Take time before shopping to check out the store circulars to see what’s on sale and plan your menus around it
* Sign up for “point” websites where you can earn points for clicking open emails or answering short surveys that then lead to gift cards for great retail stores and restaurants.
* The key for taking advantage of “free” trials is reading the fine print and keeping a log of what you’ve signed up for and when it needs to be cancelled by.

Ok, well, I think that’s enough for now. If I come across and more hot deals, I’ll be sure to pass them along!