Wednesday 101: How To Spend Less On Your Vacation

July 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I hope you’ve enjoyed my Wednesday 101 series about how to save money on your vacation!  Here is the final post in the series:

Tip #5: 

At most vacation destinations, you can find booklets and/or pamphlets with discount coupons for restaurants, attractions, activities, and tours.

 

I’m sure you’ve seen those racks full of brochures in hotels, restaurants, welcome centers, etc. (See picture below.)  The brochures are placed in the racks as a form of advertisement.  Did you know that many of the brochures contain discount coupons?  The next time you’re on vacation, be sure to grab some brochures and check for coupons!!

If you missed the earlier posts in this series, check out Tip #1, Tip #2, Tip #3, and Tip #4.

 

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Wednesday 101: How To Spend Less On Your Vacation

July 11, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I’m continuing my Wednesday 101 series about how to spend less while on vacation!  Check out today’s tip!

Tip #4: 

Use the internet to find the best rates for lodging.

 

Paying for lodging can be one of the biggest expenses of a vacation.  To save money on lodging, do your homework.  I usually spend some time online checking the rates for various hotels at our destination.

While searching online, I can narrow my choices by finding out which hotels offer the amenities we want, such as indoor pool, continental breakfast, laundry services, free wifi, etc.  I can also compare the rates of the hotels we are interested in.

Many people use Expedia, Priceline, Orbitz, and other online travel discount sites to book a hotel.  I want to share with you my favorite site to find great deals on hotels:  www.travelcoupons.com

Maybe you’ve seen the Travel Coupons discount coupon books at gas stations and rest areas.  Those coupons are also available online!  I’ve used Travel Coupons many times to get great rates on hotels.  I always begin my hotel search at the Travel Coupons website, which has thousands of coupons for hotels across the eastern United States.  The only drawback is that you usually cannot use the coupons to make reservations.  These coupons are for walk-ins only.

Let me know how you save money on lodging costs by leaving a comment.  Thanks!

Did you miss the previous posts in this series?  Check out Tip #1, Tip #2, and Tip #3.

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Wednesday 101: How To Spend Less On Your Vacation

July 4, 2012 by Leave a Comment

It’s week three of my 5-week series about saving money while on vacation!  Today, I’m going to tell you how my family saves money on food while on vacation!

Tip #3:

If you want to save money AND time, pack a bag of snacks and a cooler of drinks to take with you on vacation.

 

We have a blue and white tote bag that we call “The Snack Bag”.  Whenever we go on vacation, we always take the snack bag loaded with food and a cooler full of drinks.  Before we leave home, I go to the dollar store and pick up a variety of snacks.  I grab some snack foods from my stockpile, too.  I also stock a cooler of drinks (cans of soda, bottles of water, and Kool-Aid Bursts).  I spend about $30-40 filling our snack bag and cooler.

Let me tell you WHY we save SO much money AND time by taking snacks and drinks.    By having food and drinks in the van, we rarely stop while enroute to our destination.  If someone is hungry, they just grab something from the food bag.  Not having to stop at a gas station/convenience store is terrific, because we all know that you have to walk by tons of tempting snacks just to get to the bathroom.

We NEVER go on vacation without our trusty snack bag!  It has saved us hundreds of dollars over the years!  I’m sure you know how expensive it can be to buy snacks and drinks at a gas station/convenience store.  There are five in my family, so if we made one pit stop for snacks and drinks it could easily cost $15 or more.  Plus, once we reach our destination, the hotel vending machines often charge outrageous prices for snacks and drinks.

 

In case you missed the first two articles of this series, here are the links:

Tip #1 - Research before you leave home

Tip #2 - Packing things you might need to avoid budget-busting emergency buys

 

 

 

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Wednesday 101: How To Spend Less On Your Vacation

June 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

This is the second article in a 101 series that I’m doing about saving money on vacation expenses.  If you missed the first article, you can read it here.

The first tip I shared was about doing online research before you leave for a vacation.  Today’s money-saving tip is also about doing something before you leave home.

Tip #2:

Before you leave home, think about what things you might need while on the trip.  If space allows, go ahead and pack those things so you can avoid having to spend your vacation budget to buy items that you already have at home.

 

While on vacation, have you ever had an unexpected emergency?  Sometimes on a trip, situations will arise when you have to run to a drugstore to purchase something that you already own – but it’s at home!  Take a look at this list of things you might need on vacation but will probably forget to pack.

 

  • Medicine for that unexpected headache or ailment
  • An umbrella or poncho for rainy days
  • Extra batteries for digital cameras and other electronics
  • Band-aids
  • A jacket for unseasonably cold weather
  • Cell phone charger
  • Goggles, swim floats, beach towels
  • Needle and thread for unexpected clothing repair
  • A thermometer
  • Visine (for after swimming)

Of course, you don’t always have room to pack lots ofextra stuff just because you might need it.  You can’t be ready for every possible scenario.  But, most of the things listed above are very small.  If you can find room for them in a suitcase, you’ll save yourself an additional expense(s) that would cut into your vacation budget.

 

 

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Wednesday 101: How To Spend Less On Your Vacation

June 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

It’s summertime and that means that many families are going on vacation!  For many of us, the high cost of gasoline means that we have to cut corners in other areas of our vacation budget this year!

Since I have many new readers, I thought I’d re-post the series I did last year about saving money on vacation.  I’ll spend the next five Wednesdays sharing my five tips for vacationing on a budget!

I hope these suggestions are helpful to you!

 

Tip #1:

Before you leave home, do some online research about your destination.

 

Before we even leave home, I learn more about our destination by scouring the internet.  Here are some of the things I look for:

  • What lodging options are available and what are the rates
  • Available attractions, hours of operation, and their cost (theme parks, museums, entertainment, recreation activities)
  • Reviews given by people who’ve already vacationed there
  • Package deals (such as hotels that offer discounted tickets to local attractions)
  • Directions and maps

During my web search, I make a list of hotels and attractions.  I also jot down their phone numbers and cost.  By doing this online research, I have a better understanding of what is available to tourists and what the cost will be.  By reading other vacationers’ reviews, I learn what to avoid and what to be sure to do.

It is really helpful to be able to check hotel rates and the costs of tourist attractions online.  I have found that sometimes you get a better rate by booking online in advance.  By checking ticket prices online, we know in advance what each activity is going to cost and we’re able to make an informed decision about which attractions will fit into our budget.

Researching before the trip saves TIME and MONEY.  When we arrive at our destination, we don’t waste time and gas driving to various attractions just to “check them out” and see if we’re interested.  We already have an idea of what interests us and we already have a general itinerary planned.  I also have directions to the places we plan to go.  And I have the phone number if needed.

Some advance planning can save you a lot of headaches and help you stretch your vacation budget!

Be sure to look for another great vacation tip in next Wednesday’s 101 post!


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Wednesday 101: Shopping At CVS – The CVS Coupon Policy

June 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

It is extremely important to know a store’s policy about coupon redemption before you start shopping.  CVS  finally published an official coupon policy just a few months ago!

You can read the entire CVS Coupon Policy online, but here are some of the highlights from their official policy:

CVS/pharmacy does not currently accept coupon bar code images displayed on a Smartphone, iPhone, Droid etc.

CVS/pharmacy accepts one manufacturer coupon and one  applicable CVS/pharmacy coupon(s) per item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.

The coupon amount will be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied. (For example, a $5.00 coupon for a $4.99 item will result in a $4.99 coupon value).

CVS/pharmacy accepts multiple identical coupons for multiple qualifying items as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers, unless a limit is specified. Management reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased.

Two coupons may be used on a Buy One, Get One Free promotion as long as it does not exceed the item total.   Example:  Suave Shampoo is on sale for $2.00 Buy One, Get One Free and the customer is purchasing two shampoos;  customer may use two coupons for $1.00 each and pay the applicable tax.

Buy One, Get One Free promotions may be combined with Buy One, Get One Free Coupons. Customers are responsible for paying applicable tax.  Example:  Suave Shampoo is on sale for $2.00 BOGO and customer has a MFG coupon for Suave BOGO. Customer will receive both items for free but will need to pay any applicable tax.

CVS/pharmacy accepts internet/print at home coupons that include a barcode.

I’d suggest printing out the CVS Coupon Policy and keeping it in your binder.

 

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Wednesday 101: Shopping At CVS – Checking Out

May 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Today, I’m going to share some pointers about how to check out at CVS.  Here are several points to keep in mind when you’re at the cash register!

 

Learn to “Roll” Your Extra Bucks

The main goal is to “roll your bucks.”  That means that you will use Extra Bucks from a previous transaction to pay for the items you are purchasing.  Be sure to purchase items that will earn more Extra Bucks.    Keep rolling your Extra Bucks so you minimize the amount of actual cash you spend.

Plan Your Transactions:

When I first started learning how to shop at CVS, I was so surprised to realize that I could spend less just by planning my transactions before I went to the checkout lane.  You need to plan your transactions so that you spend the least amount out-of-pocket.

Here’s an example:  Let’s say you have $10 Extra Bucks from a recent shopping trip.  You plan to purchase $20 worth of items.  If you do only one transaction, you’ll pay with $10 Extra Bucks and $10 cash.   Break your items into two transactions instead.

In the first transaction, buy $10 worth of products (that will earn more Extra Bucks) and pay with your previously-earned $10 Extra Bucks.  Your only out-of-pocket expense will be the tax!  Then, do a second transaction to buy the remaining $10 worth of products.  Pay with the Extra Bucks you earned in your first transaction.

A word about doing multiple transactions:  Believe me, CVS stores are used to shoppers doing multiple transactions.  I usually do two (no more than three) transactions during one shopping trip. If there is a line behind me, I do one transaction then go to the back of the line.  Don’t be one of those shoppers who lets a long line form while they do nine transactions!

Present Your Coupons in the Correct Order:

When you checkout, it’s important to present your coupons in this specific order:

1.  Extra Care Card

2.  $ off Purchase Coupons (such as $4 off a $20 purchase)

3.  CVS Store Coupons

4.  Manufacturer’s Coupons

5.  Extra Bucks

Notice that a “$ off your purchase” coupon should be scanned before your store and manufacturer’s coupons.  Let’s say you’re using a $4 off a $20 purchase coupon.  If you plan to use several store and manufacturer’s coupons, those coupons could drop your purchase total below $20.  So, be sure to scan that $4 off $20 coupon while your purchase total is above $20.

Extra Bucks should be presented last.  Wait until all your coupons have been subtracted, then pay the final total with your Extra Bucks.

I know from experience that learning how to checkout is a little tricky at first!  My advice is to start with small transactions.  Don’t try to do long complicated trips in the beginning.   Smart small and learn the ropes!  You’ll soon get the hang of it!

If you missed the previous CVS 101 posts, I encourage you to check them out:

The CVS Extra Care Card

More About The CVS Extra Care Card

Earning Extra Care Bucks

Redeeming Extra Care Bucks

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Wednesday 101: Shopping At CVS – Redeeming Extra Care Bucks

May 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

In last week’s Wednesday 101 article, I explained how you earn Extra Care Bucks.  Today, I want to share some information about how you redeem your Extra Bucks!

1.  When you earn Extra Bucks, your Bucks will print out at the bottom of your receipt.  Hang onto that part of your receipt, because you will have to present it to the cashier in order to redeem your bucks.

2.  When you earn Extra Bucks, you can redeem them in a future shopping trip OR you can redeem them immediately.  Most stores will allow you to do a second transaction to redeem the Extra Bucks that you earned in your first transaction.

3.  The entire Extra Bucks amount must be used at one time (either in-store or online). There is no partial redemption of ExtraBucks Rewards.  If the item you’re buying is $2.00 and you have $3 in Extra Bucks, you should choose a $1.00 item so you won’t lose any of your Extra Bucks.

4.  Extra Bucks DO expire.  They are usually valid for about a month.  No credit or cash will be given back for unused ExtraBucks Rewards.  Some stores will allow you to redeem Extra Bucks within the week after their expiration date.

If you have any questions about redeeming Extra Bucks, leave a comment below!

If you missed the earlier posts in this series, check them out now!

The CVS Extra Care Card

More About The CVS Extra Care Card

Earning Extra Care Bucks

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Wednesday 101: Shopping At CVS – More About The CVS Extra Care Card

May 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

In last week’s Wednesday 101 post, I began a series about how to shop at CVS by introducing you to the CVS Extra Care Card.  This week, I want to share a few more important things to know about the CVS Extra Care Card.

Always take your CVS card with you to the store.  You MUST scan the card at checkout in order to get the sale price.

 

Your card will track your spending.  Each quarter, you’ll earn 2% on every purchase and $1.00 for every two prescriptions filled. You’ll receive your earnings as a pay out on your receipt, at the ExtraCare Coupon Center or through CVS.com® in January, April, July and October.

 

When you get to the store, be sure to scan your CVS card at the red coupon machine.   This machine prints out store coupons (good only at CVS).  After your coupons print, scan your card again.  It will usually print out coupons a couple of times.  Here’s what the machine looks like:

 

Keep reading each week’s Wednesday 101 posts to learn more about shopping at CVS!


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Wednesday 101: Shopping At CVS – Extra Care Card

May 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Over the next few Wednesdays, I’ll be teaching you the basics of shopping at CVS.

You can get lots of FREEBIES from CVS by earning their Extra Bucks Rewards.  I’ll teach you everything you need to know to be a successful CVS shopper.

Let’s start at the beginning:

The CVS Extra Care Card

The CVS Extra Care Card is similar to the Kroger Plus Card.  You must scan your Extra Care Card at checkout in order to receive the sale price.

Don’t have an Extra Care Card?  You can register for the FREE card at your local CVS store or sign up online.

If you create an account at CVS.com, you can “attach” your Extra Care Card to your online account.  This will allow you to check your ExtraCare rewards, current balances, or your balance history online.  You can also print coupons to use for in-store purchases.  While online, you’ll also have the ability to “send” special offers to your card.

You’ll receive a small Extra Care Card to attach to your key ring and a larger wallet-sized card.  I suggest storing the larger card in your coupon binder, so it will be handy.

Keep watching for more Wednesday 101 articles to teach you how to shop at CVS!!

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Wednesday 101: Shopping At Rite Aid – Earning Rebates

April 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Does the word “rebate” conjure up memories of cutting UPC codes off the package, mailing in the rebate form, then waiting months for the rebate to arrive?  Well, here’s some good news:

Earning rebates at Rite Aid is SUPER EASY!!  Keep reading to learn more!

 

1.  Visit Rite Aid’s website and click on the Single Check Rebate icon (pictured above).

2.  Sign up by entering your name and address.  It’s FREE!

3.  View the rebate offers online OR pick up the Rebate Directory in the store.  It’s usually located beside the weekly sale paper.  The Rebate Directory is published monthly because there are NEW rebate offers each month.

2012-03-31_14-31-41_103.jpg


















4.  If you purchase any items that qualify for a rebate, keep your receipt!

5.  Log in to the Single Check Rebate page to enter some information from your receipt. The image below shows exactly where the information is located on your receipt.  It just takes a minute to enter the info!

6.  Enter your rebate info throughout the month.  IMPORTANT:  You can only request your rebate check once per month.  When you are sure you’ve bought all the rebate items that you’re going to buy that month, you can request your check.  They will only issue one check per month, but there is no limit to the number of rebates you can earn.

7.  Request your check (once you’ve completed all rebate shopping for the month).  If you forget to request your check, Rite Aid will send it to you automatically after the month has ended.

8.  You can receive your check in as little as TWO weeks!


See?  Isn’t that much simpler than clipping UPC codes, mailing in the offer, then waiting for 6-8 weeks?  Rite Aid makes earning rebates really simple!  Don’t forget:  You CAN use coupons when purchasing an item that qualifies for a rebate!

 

Previous Articles in the Rite Aid 101 Series:

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Wednesday 101: Shopping At Rite Aid – Earning Points With The Wellness Card

March 7, 2012 by Leave a Comment

 

Welcome to my new Wednesday 101 series:  Shopping at Rite Aid.  For the next few weeks, I’ll be explaining everything you need to know about shopping at Rite Aid.  Today, my topic is “Earning Points With The Wellness Card.”

Shopping at Rite Aid:  Earning Points with The Wellness Card

If you shop at Rite Aid, you definitely want to sign up for a Wellness card.  This card is similar to the Kroger Plus Card.  You must scan your Wellness card at checkout in order to receive the sale prices.  But, there are lots of other advantages to the Wellness card.

You can sign up for a Wellness card online.  It’s FREE and simple.  You can get a Wellness card in the store, but you’ll want to sign up online to register your card number.

Using your Wellness card, you’ll earn ONE point for every dollar you spend on non-prescriptions.  You’ll earn 25 points for every prescription purchase.  There are four benefit levels that are based on the number of points you accrue.  Here’s an outline of the four levels:

 

  1. Plus Level   (Up to 249 points) -  Use your Wellness card to receive sale pricing, load eCoupons, and earn Register Rewards.
  2. Bronze Level   (250 points)  -  Get 10% off Rite Aid brand products every day for a year.  Get a one-time-use 10% off shopping pass.  (You still get all benefits from the Plus level, too.)
  3. Silver Level   (500 points)  -   Get 10% off the entire store for a year.  Get a free health & wellness reward.  (You can choose a gym membership, magazine subscription, or health screening!)  And, you still get all benefits from the previous two levels.
  4. Gold Level   (1000 points)   -   Get all previous benefits PLUS get 20% off all purchases for a year!

 

So, you can see that it doesn’t make good sense (or cents) to shop at Rite Aid without the Wellness card!  In next week’s Wednesday 101, I’ll discuss how you can load, manage, and redeem coupons using your Wellness card.

 

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Wednesday 101: How To Spend Less By SLOWING DOWN!

February 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment

How To Spend Less By Slowing Down!

If you want to lower your spending, never shop when you’re in a hurry!  Go to the store when you have time to look for closeouts and clearance items.  Go to the store when you have time to compare prices to get the best deal.

When I shop, I take the time to scan the shelves for my options.  Then, I compare prices based on brand and size.  Many times, I’ve found that the smaller-sized product costs more than the larger one.  You just have to slow down and take the time to find the best deal.  I’m not saying that it takes hours to shop.  Just take a few extra seconds to make a smart decision.

Here’s a scene that happens often:  I’m standing in the grocery aisle comparing the products and prices.  Another shopper flies past me and grabs an item off the shelves without even slowing down.  Sometimes, the other shopper doesn’t even look at the price!  I don’t know about you, but we work too hard for our money to throw it away on a poor purchasing decision.

I wrote an article last year called Want To Find The Deals? Slow Down!!   Click on this link to see some pictures and examples of why you should take your time at the grocery store.

 

This is a post in my series “How To Spend Less”.  Here are the previous posts:

 

If this article or series, has helped YOU, please forward it to others who might enjoy it!  Thanks!

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Wednesday 101: How To Spend Less By Menu-Planning

February 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

How To Spend Less By Menu-Planning

I say this often:  Buy the things you use when they are on sale!  I can’t stress enough how important it is to take advantage of the weekly sales.

Here’s a scenario:  Suzy is at the store on Saturday (the last day of the weekly sale).  She notices that milk is on sale for $2.49/gallon.  She remembers that she has a gallon in the refrigerator, so she doesn’t buy any milk.  The next week on Wednesday, Suzy finishes the gallon of milk that was in her fridge.  She doesn’t really need anything from the store, but she’s forced to make a grocery run for milk.  When she gets to the dairy case, she sees that milk is $3.79/gallon.  Eeeek!  Suzy must pay that exorbitant price!

What she should have done:  Suzy should have bought the milk when it was on sale even if she had a gallon in the fridge.  Whenever milk is on sale, pay close attention to the expiration date and purchase as much milk as you can use before it will expire.  Then, you won’t be stuck paying a high price for milk.

Okay, so what does all that have to do with menu-planning?  You will spend much less if you plan your menus around the weekly sales!  If chicken is on sale this week, serve chicken for several dinner meals.  You can still have variety.  Think about the options:  fried chicken, chicken noodle soup, chicken casseroles, chicken fajitas, etc.  Also, buy some chicken to put in the freezer for upcoming weeks when chicken is not on sale!

If pot roast is on sale, buy a big one.  Have pot roast on Monday, then use the leftover beef for a soup or stew later in the week.  Shred some of the beef to make BBQ sandwiches.  And, again, freeze some for later.

You should also plan your side dishes around the produce sales.  Serve your family the produce that is on sale each week.  If lettuce is on sale, plan to have a salad one night and tacos on another night.  When broccoli is on sale, serve steamed broccoli one night and make a broccoli casserole on another night.  Recently, I wanted to purchase a head of cauliflower, but it was almost $4.00!!  I decided to wait.  The next week it was on sale for less than $2.00.

It just makes sense (and cents) to buy meats and produce when they are at a sale price instead of their full price.   Browse the sale paper, then write down a menu plan for the week.  Just by making this simple change, you’ll soon discover that you’re spending less!

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Wednesday 101: How To Spend Less By Comparing Price Per Ounce

January 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment

For the past few weeks, my Wednesday 101 posts have been about HOW TO SPEND LESS!  Today, I’m going to talk about how important it is to compare the prices of items per ounce.

Many items can be purchased in various sizes.  The other day, I was going to purchase some dried pinto beans.  The beans were sold in 4-lb bags AND 1-lb bags.  We often assume that it is cheaper to buy the bigger size, but that is not always the case!  The 4-lb bag was $4.96.  The 1-lb bag was $.99.  Therefore, if I wanted 4 lbs of beans, it would be cheaper to buy four 1-lb bags than one 4-lb bag.  Buying four 1-lb bags would cost $3.96.  That’s a $1.00 savings!

Here’s another example with a picture.  My sons LOVE beef jerky.  They often buy the tall sticks at convenience stores for around $1.00.  I was going to buy them some beef jerky at Kroger recently when I noticed that you can buy them in two different sizes.  The tall stick (.97 oz.) sells for $1.00.   The package of 16 small sticks (4.48 oz.) was on sale for $3.29.

The price of the tall stick averages out to be $1.03 per ounce.  The package of 16 small sticks averages out to be only $.73 cents per ounce.  Therefore, it is cheaper per ounce to buy the larger package.  (Even at its regular price of $3.79, the larger package averages out to be only $.84 per ounce.)

I know that it takes a few seconds to compare the various package sizes to see which one is the better buy, but it is certainly worth your time.  Usually, the shelf tag lists the price per ounce.  That makes it easy for us to see which package is the best buy.  You’ll be amazed at how much money you will save just by taking a little extra time to scope out the best deal.

SIDE NOTE:  Has anyone else ever realized that you can buy a pound of New York Strip for less than a pound of beef jerky?  Something is wrong with that!

 

I hope you’re enjoying this series.  If you’ve missed the previous posts, check them out:

How To Spend Less By Buying On Sale

How To Spend Less By Using Coupons

How To Spend Less By Buying Closeouts and Clearance Items

How To Spend Less By Comparing Store Brands Vs. National Brands

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