Ask the Readers – Smartphone Advice

I thought I’d ask you guys to weigh in on another Ask the Readers question this afternoon. What would you say to a reader who asks the following:

I’m looking into buying a Smart Phone so I can start using some of the coupon apps available to try and save more money. I’m stumped on what to buy. Is the iPhone the best choice or are there others that are just as good and as easy to use? The plans are also very costly, in my opinion, for just an iPhone it will be $120 a month. Any good ideas on cheaper plans and will the savings be enough to eventually offset the cost?

Be sure to leave a comment if you have any tips or suggestions for this reader!

Ask The Readers: How Do You Apply Your Coupon Discipline To Other Areas Of Your Life?

I thought I’d ask you guys to weigh in on another Ask the Readers question this morning. What would you say to a reader who asks the following:

I had one of those “AHA” moments last night while watching The Biggest Loser.

Several years ago my husband had a heart attack, quadruple by-pass surgery and then a traumatic brain injury which required the removal of a sub dermal hematoma. He is now unable to work and on disability. We struggled making ends meet paying medical and everyday living expenses. We even had one grown son move back in with us when he lost his job, bringing us another mouth to feed.

This is when I found I Heart Publix and learned how to coupon. I had no clue that what I considered couponing wasn’t even in the same ballpark with the “real deal.” I wasn’t planning/saving – I was just clipping and using a few coupons on what I was buying. Today I am an avid couponer. I am disciplined each day and schedule in my couponing duties (clipping / filing / deal finding / spreadsheets) while working a full-time job, maintaining a household and taking care of my family. I have a full pantry, refrigerator and freezer and lots of household items. Couponing has helped us make ends meet and begin to pay off the medical bills that have piled up.

Now… back to my AHA moment. Why is it that I can be so disciplined with the couponing aspect of my life but I can’t schedule in time for exercise? I think that I am going to have to do a transfer of discipline… perhaps I can reward myself with a coupon deal only if I get on the treadmill for 15 minutes. No clipping the Sunday coupons until I do 25 sit-ups. How can I be so disciplined in one area and not in another? Anyone else out there have any ideas on how to blend the two?

Be sure to leave a comment if you have any tips or suggestions for this reader!

Ask The Readers: How To Get A Household Member To Use Coupons

I thought I’d ask you guys to weigh in on another Ask the Readers question today. What would you say to a reader who asks the following:

What is the best and easiest way to get the man of the house (or any household member) to use coupons when s/he runs to the store?

I still live at home with my parents, and couponing is one of the ways I pay for room and board while I go to college. When my father ends up being the one to make an emergency grocery run (on his way home from work, for instance; or, more recently, when the rest of the household was stuck at home with a flu), he does two things: he always buys twice the requested quantity of each item (hah!) and, he invariably comes home with the coupons I sent, citing mass confusion at the register regarding the different coupons.

This has happened many, many times now. Because we now buy items with coupons that were previously unaffordable, my father spends a lot more money than intended due to the coupon-confusion. He comes home frustrated at the amount of money that he paid and the problems that arose with the coupons, and I am left confused and frustrated by the same things. I have returned to the store with the receipt and coupons within the following week, and gotten the value of the coupons back in cash, but it’s a tedious task that should be unnecessary.

My question is this: How do I best educate the husband and father (who works full time and has little to no spare time) on how to use coupons? Should I just get the receipt from him each time and return to the store at a later date to get the coupons refunded? Do you have any tips as to how to naturally integrate couponing into his shopping habits?

And, does anyone else have a problem with the Buys-Twice-What-You-Asked-For Mr.Trying-To-Be-Helpful? Gotta love ‘em.

Be sure to leave a comment if you have any tips or suggestions for this overwhelmed reader!

Ask the Readers: Tips for a Smoother Checkout?

I thought I’d ask you guys to weigh in on another Ask the Readers question today. What would you say to a reader who asks the following:

I always feel so overwhelmed when it’s time to check out. I make my list at home, have all my coupons organized, and feel like I’m pretty well prepared but then I get to check out and somehow this overwhelming/panic feeling sets in (it probably doesn’t help that I have two kids under 3 with me at the time). Then I get in the car, drive home and go over my reciept and I see things got rang up twice and/or errors with my coupons. Any tips or tricks to make checking out easier, less stressful or make sure the cashier is ringing everything up properly without taking up too much time?

Be sure to leave a comment if you have any tips or suggestions for this overwhelmed reader!

Ask The Readers: How Much Of Your Budget Is Spent At Publix?

I thought I’d ask you guys to weigh in on an Ask the Readers question this morning. I know I’m curious about this one – and I bet you all will be too!

How much of your weekly budget is spent at Publix?

I’d love to hear what you guys have to say about this one. If you care to share, you can also let us know where else you shop and how much of your grocery budget goes to each store.

Personally, I’d say that 90%+ of my weekly budget is spent at Publix. The other 10% (or less) goes to Kroger…you guys know I really heart Publix the most!

Ask the Readers: How Do You Transition From ‘Savings’ to ‘Savings Account’?

I thought I’d ask you guys to weigh in on an Ask the Readers question. What would you say to Marie, who asked the following:

I have been couponing for a few years and save quite a lot…at least 50% each trip and usually more. Over the years I’ve been couponing, our finances have stretched thinner and thinner and I am often grateful that I know how to coupon so that we can continue to stock the pantry and cabinets with the items we need.

My question is this: Because I started couponing when we didn’t *need* to save the way we do now, I never really had the need to take a portion of that savings and put it anywhere else (like a savings account). Now that I *have* to coupon to be able to afford the basics, I am at a loss for how to actually start to SAVE some of that money for emergencies, etc. Do you have any suggestions for how to start this? It seems like it should be easy, but I’m really struggling with it.

I’d love to hear what you guys have to say – so leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Ask the Readers: Donate Or Leave It For Another Shopper?

This afternoon I thought I’d ask you guys to weigh in on an Ask the Readers question. What would you say to April, who asked the following:

I am wondering if it is a smarter idea to donate or leave items for other shoppers. I am not talking about shelf clearing – just a great sale…for example Sunlight dish detergent.

Here are the two sides of the argument that I struggle with:

• Donate so others who are having a hard time are able to get help from food banks. In my area, it is limited to 6 times per year, per family, and the bank is eligible for funding from the church, community, and Publix donates to them

OR

• Leave stock for other area families to purchase who are also having a hard time and are not eligible for assistance.

If I buy items to donate, am I really taking it off the table of neighbors who can’t get assistance and are struggling?

Maybe I am over-thinking it but I would be curious to hear what others think.

I’d love to hear what you guys have to say – so leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Share Your Opinion – Publix Digital Coupons

I am getting massive emails and messages on Facebook about the new digital coupons available at Publix. I have tried to post as much as possible about how the coupons generally work. There is also a big FAQ on the Publix site you can access once you have signed up (bottom of page where you load the coupons).

As a reminder, all stores will be participating by 3/15. You can see my post HERE for details on the program.

The biggest question I am getting is really just folks wanted to hear other user’s experiences and thoughts. So, I would love for you guys to leave a comment on your experience so far…the good, bad and ugly! I will then be able to direct folks who email to this post so they can read what you guys think about the coupons.

I thought I would start us off…here is my take on Publix Digital Coupons:

I look at them as my 3rd or 4 th line of savings. I will always go with printable coupons first. They are quick, typically a higher value and easily accessible. I then look to my inserts and other coupons (blinkies, tearpads, etc..) Digital coupons will be the last option for savings. I will not load any coupons where I plan to use a paper coupon. I just don’t want to deal with them interfering with each other. I see them as another option for savings but they will likely be a very small percentage of savings for me.

So…let’s hear it – what do you guys think or what has been your experience so far?

 

Ask the Readers: How Do You Save On Paper And Ink?

This morning I thought I’d ask you guys to weigh in on an Ask the Readers question. What would you say to a reader who asked the following:

I would say a little more than half of the coupons I use, I print from my computer. What is the best way to save on ink and paper? I seem to be shelling out quite a bit for it (worth it, though!) and I just know there has to be a better way to do it!

I’d love to hear what you guys have to say – so leave all your tips for saving on paper and ink in the comments!

Ask the Readers: How Do You Find the Best Bath Tissue Deals?

This morning I thought I’d ask you guys to weigh in on an Ask The Readers question that many of us may wonder about from time to time. What would you say to a reader who asked the following:

I have been couponing for quite a while now, but I have one product that I find very confusing to buy: bath tissue!

Leaving all the gussied-up features aside, as well as brand names, I can’t seem to figure out what is the best deal. Do I compare rolls (“big” versus “double”), square foot vs size per sheet or something else? When I purchase, I never feel confident I am making the best, most economical selection.

Can you share any techniques you might have for assessing the multitude of features in bath tissue and finding the best buy?

I’d love to hear what you guys have to say – so leave your thoughts in the comments!

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