Saving Obsession

New Wal*Mart Coupon Policy!

2011-03-04T18:11:00.000-05:00

Big news in the coupon world....Wal*Mart seems to have come out with a new coupon policy. One that allows overage and use of competitor coupons!

Just go here (must have a Google account to view*) to see the new policy and print it out!

Thank you to Consumer Queen for this amazing bit of information!

*If you do not have a Google account you can read a text overview from Consumer Queen here.

February Savings - Savings Challenge '11

2011-02-28T12:00:00.002-05:00

Photo Credit: o5com

If you're following the Savings Challenge 2011, it's time to check in with your savings for February!

February wasn't my hottest savings month. I saved just around $300.00. I only did a full grocery trip once this month, the majority of my spending was on fresh produce. So I didn't save much, but I didn't spend much either. So I guess that's good enough for me! That makes my year to date savings just shy of $1,000.00.

Read More:
Savings Challenge
January Savings

A Cute Way To Recycle Those Calendars

2011-02-24T09:36:00.000-05:00

I saw this on my sisters Facebook this morning and thought it was really cute and (obviously) decided to share with you guys.

My sister loves Lord of the Rings. Really loves it. She obviously couldn't bear the thought of throwing away the images of her beloved Lord of the Rings characters. So she simply cut out the images and created a collage. That's it. Create a cute border or stick it in a frame and call it a day.

I wish I would have thought of this just a week ago for my middle daughter when I finally took down her Tinkerbell calendar. But now I know better for next year!

Benefits of Ditching Paper Towels For Cloth

2011-02-15T12:32:00.001-05:00

Are you addicted to paper towels? Chances are good that you are. It's seemingly convenient to have them on hand for those little messes, cleaning time, etc. The thing is, to use paper towels is not only not cost effective for you money savers out there, but is so wasteful to our environment. In the United States over 90% of families make the paper towel choice and in turn we throw away 3,000 tons of waste each day.
THREE THOUSAND TONS. I'm sorry but that is ridiculous. So let's talk about what we can do to not only lower on impact on the environment, but on your wallet too.

Monetary Savings To Make The Switch

Let's say you use two rolls of paper towels for your family each week. You're looking at spending almost $20 per month (I know, I know, this price is going to vary one where you shop and if you use coupons or not). That is approx. $240.00 per year that you're spending on money that you literally throw into the trash. What could you do with an extra $240.00 per year? Since I live in Florida, for me that means I could book a few days at a nice resort. And if you use MORE than two rolls each week, then imagine how much you could save! Back when we were just a family of three, I know I easily used at least those two rolls per week. In the past 5 years I have been about 95% paper towel free; saving us over $1,000.00!

Helping The Environment

While I know this isn't everyones main concern (see above reference to dumping 3,000 tons in waste per day), it is one of mine. What kind of world are we leaving behind for future generations with our wasteful choices? Not a pretty one I can tell you that! Have you seen the movie Wall-E? It's a favorite in our house, but the first time I saw it I was so saddened. I fear that that is what our world will turn into. Piles and piles of trash. Before you pick up that roll of towels, think about the true impact using it is going to have. That's all I'm asking you to do.

The Solution

I'm not going to leave you hanging. There are two really great alternatives to using paper towels.

Option #1- Cloth, cloth, cloth!
Make the switch to cloth! Now of course there are plenty of cute towels out there that you can buy, but to get the most for your money head to a local automotive parts store (or that section in places like Target and Wal*Mart). There you'll be able to find 10-15 packs for $10.00 or less of microfiber towels. You should always have at least one pack of microfiber towels on hand. Here's what I love most about microfiber towels:

They are super absorbent
They can be used wet or dry
When used dry, they are perfect for dusting (as the dust clings to the towel and won't fly around everywhere!)
Can be used again and again and again. I am still using towels that I original bought five years ago! Talk about cost effective!
Just throw in with your regular laundry

Ikea has a great sized white cotton towel for just $0.49 each! I love these too and own about 30 of them.

The more towels you have on hand, the better. I seem to use about two per day. One for cleaning around the house, one for the kitchen. (This does not include the hand towels we also keep at each of the sinks.) It really is no extra hassle to just throw them in with the laundry when it's time.

Option #2 - Make recycled your choice!

Now if you still insist that you must have some paper towels, consider switching to paper towels made only of recycled paper. By at least using cloth part time, you can offset the small additional cost of using recycled. Even that can make a big impact. "For every ton of 100% recycled paper that is bought, about 4,000kWh of energy and 7,000 gallons of water are saved. It also avoids releasing 60lbs of pollutants into the air". Still don't think you can make a difference? Let's bring it onto a home level - if each family replaced just ONE paper towel roll with recycled paper YOU would be saving 864,000 trees from being cut down and over 3 million cubic feet of landfill space.

What do you think? Are paper towels really worth it?

Photo Credit: Trees; Destruction; Towels; Dump. Collage by SavingObsession.

High Value Gain Coupon

2011-02-13T09:44:00.000-05:00

Alright folks, we have a HOT coupon!

If you're one of the lucky ones (remember, coupons and values vary by region) you may have gotten the $3/1 Gain coupon in todays (2/13/11) paper. If you did, you're in for some cheap or free Gain!!

From what I've read across several blogs, Dollar General, Family Dollar Stores, and Wal*Mart are the best places to use this coupon.

Feel free to comment here or on the fan page where you got the best deal with your coupon!

Heart Attack For Your Kids

2011-02-12T17:01:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Skip To My Lou

When I saw this idea over on How Does She? (one of my favorite sites if you were wondering) I knew that I HAD to do it for my girls.

I really love the simplicity of it and that it's extremely cost effective. You can use construction paper (as pictured); you could print off some super cute hearts from online; or you could use really cute traditional scrapbooking paper or digital papers. No matter which way you choose, you really should be able to do this for less than $5.00, even for multiple children!

Once you have your hearts, grab a marker and write out all the things you love and cherish about your kiddo!

I cannot wait to do this for my girls Sunday night! I'll try to be good and post up pictures on Monday morning of their doors!

Can I Really Save Using Coupons?

2011-02-12T16:46:00.000-05:00

I get asked the same question pretty frequently: Can I really save money using coupons? In one simple word the answer is YES!

Learning to Use Coupons

Almost two years ago I began my journey into coupons due to circumstance. Like so many others, my family was hit hard by the recession. I went from a world of spending $400 PER WEEK on food to not knowing how we would buy groceries AND pay our bills. I realized I would have to do something, and quick. Enter: coupons.
Out of need and sheer desperation I started adamantly clipping coupons and headed to the store. "This would be easy" I thought to myself. I mean, the ladies on the tv just walked in and saved hundreds. So would I. Right? WRONG. I made all the classic mistakes. I bought things I didn't need just because I had a coupon. Not only that, but I bought multiples! Oh the horror! I blew my budget right out of the water...by about three times what my wallet said I could do. So right there, after one trip I told myself (I do talk to myself quite a bit, I know) "This is useless. There is no way I can really be able to save that much money". And I quit.

Using Coupons Correctly

The thing was, I couldn't afford to quit. I HAD to figure this coupon thing out. So I did what I knew how to do best: I started researching. And researching. And researching. Between two children and a third on the way, it took me awhile, but I got it down. All of this to say that every minute of learning how coupons work and how to make them work for you was worth it. Yes, even the horrifying trip was a good lesson learned. This is something I live by everyday. For a family of five (one still in diapers at the time I am writing this) I spend less than $200 per month on food, household and personal care items. That already saves me $1,400.00 every month (in comparison to what I used to spend)!

Big Savings with Coupons

Still doubtful? Thanks to my savings, as a family we were able to regain our footing, to be stable once again. And from our grocery savings alone, we were able to pay THREE times our car payment each month. In June 2010 we were able to pay off my truck and have since then outright bought another vehicle. Since I began this couponing journey almost two years ago, I have saved just over TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($17,000 in 2010 alone)! So I don't know about you, but I think saving that much money means that you really can save BIG using coupons!

The Secret of Saving With Coupons

So how can you do this too? You'll want to following my articles of course! But aside from that start building up your coupon stash, be sure to get them organized, and start paying attention to the sales in your area. We'll build on from there!

My Wedding Plans: Themes & Color Schemes

2011-02-10T10:00:00.030-05:00

Photo Credit: StayRAW

It's been a little while, so I thought I'd update on my on nuptials. I don't feel like there's a whole lot to update. One of the lame things about planning a wedding three kids into the relationship is...you have three kids and you're flipping busy!

The most that we've discussed is themes and color schemes. The Mister would like a 40s themed wedding, as would I. At the same time, I don't think it's very suiting to us a couple. We do both love that time frame; it's my very favorite. But I don't know....how about that? I just don't know. Part of me just wants an uber relaxed setting and to have fun. And as soon as I commit to that in my head I get sad about not doing the 40s theme.

Then there's the colors. The colors would be completely different depending on if we did fun (bright colors and lots of them) or 40s (muted and softer hues-not pastels!-of blues, pinks, purples, and greens).

How about that for an update? I didn't do anything but let you see a glimmer of the confliction in my head!

Did you have trouble deciding on colors or a theme? How did you finally decide? Share here or over on Facebook!

Facebook: Where It's At

2011-02-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: Me!

As I continue my quest to have more quality posts instead of quantity of posts. And I've been doing just that. But if you only follow the blog, you may be thinking that I'm letting you miss out on some great deals. That just isn't so. I share good deals and coupons over on my Facebook!
In fact, I will also be taking advantage of a new app and offering some of my giveaways directly on Facebook. (Like sometime this month I will be giving away an iPod over there!)

Aside from that, I feel something that is nice (compared to some fan pages) is that I interact with you guys. I don't want to be some faceless person behind the computer that tells you deals. I much rather prefer to chat with you all on a personal level. I encourage all my fans to ask questions, get involved, and just talk!

Moral of the story: if you haven't done so yet, take a second, and "like" my page!

Free Valentine's Printables, Activities, and Crafts

2011-02-06T08:30:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: FamilyFun.Go.com

With Valentine's Day being just over a week away, I have been scouring the internet for some freebie activities for my kids to do. Here is a list of some of the things I found. There really is a LOT of options out there!!

1. Heart Flakes
2. Valentine's Puzzles & Mazes
3. Coloring Pages & Activities
4. Hand Shaped Valentines
5. Heart Wreath
6. Gnome, Sweet Gnome Craft
7. Printable Word Book
8. More Coloring Pages
9. Lollipop Flowers
10. Heart Bookmark

Enjoy!

Wal*Mart Coupon Policy

2011-02-04T15:44:00.000-05:00

Below is the corporate coupon policy, available online. Just like with any other store policy, you'll want to be sure you print this out and have it with you when you go shopping, especially if you have a binder.

Walmart accepts the following types of coupons (see guidelines below):

Manufacturer coupons (Cents Off)
Free merchandise (or manufacturer's Buy-One-Get-One-Free) coupons
Store coupons
Pharmacy (Advertising and Promotional) coupons
Internet coupons
Soft drink container caps

The following are guidelines and limits:

Walmart only accepts coupons for merchandise we sell and only when presented at the time of purchase.
Coupons should have an expiration date and be presented within the valid dates. Walmart will not accept expired coupons.
Internet coupons should be legible and say "Manufacturer Coupon." There should be a valid remit address for the manufacturer and a scannable bar code.
Only one coupon per item is permitted.
Use of 40 or more coupons per transaction will require approval by Customer Service Manager.

Target Coupon Policy

2011-02-04T15:40:00.000-05:00

The following is the coupon policy for Target. It is available online for one and all! As with any policy, you'll want to be sure to print a copy and keep handy (especially if you use a binder) whenever you go shopping.

Target Stores Coupon Policy

Coupons are a great way to save even more when shopping with us, and it's easy to use them at our stores.

•    Target accepts one manufacturer coupon and one Target coupon for the same item (unless prohibited)
•    Super Target coupons can be used in any Target store if the store carries the item
•    We gladly accept valid internet coupons

Because of the variety of coupons available to our guests, we do have some guidelines for how coupons can be redeemed at Target.

When accepting coupons, we use the following guidelines:

•   We accept two kinds of coupons: Target-issued coupons and manufacturer-issued.
•    We'll accept one Target coupon and one manufacturer coupon for the same item, unless either coupon prohibits it.
•    Coupon amount may be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied.
•   We can't give cash back if the face value of a coupon is greater than the purchase value of the item.
•   We can't accept coupons from other retailers, or coupons for products not carried in our stores.
•   All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier while you're checking out.

And here is their pricing policy. The full version is also available online.

Price Matching at Target.com
Pricing for products on Target.com may vary from Target stores and from the Target Weekly Ad. We do not match the price of our online merchandise with the price offered by Target stores or another company, and Target stores do not match the price of our online merchandise.

Price Adjustments
If you see a lower price listed in one of our Target Weekly Ads, we will adjust the price of your online order to match the advertised price if you purchased the item within 1-7 days prior to the ad; you contact us during the Weekly Ad where the lower price is featured; and the lower price is not on a clearance item.

The Off Season Wedding

2011-02-03T23:21:00.000-05:00

Photo Credit: andreanna

The location for your ceremony and/or reception, as well as honeymoon, is likely to take a ginormous chunk out of your entire wedding budget. This is especially true if you insist on having a wedding during peak months: May through September (depending on where you'll be that is). This doesn't just apply to location, it really can apply to all your vendors.

Did you know that by choosing to have your wedding during the off season you could save yourself hundreds (possibly more!) of dollars? You see, the vendors become desperate (for lack of a better word) to get business during that time. All their summer brides have done, and they need something to do, don't they?

Do keep in mind that "off season" can vary based off of location. The off season for Florida would be different than that of Colorado. So be sure do it a bit of research. Remember, Google is our friend! ;) Call around and see if there are any specials you could get for booking at a non-peak time.

It sounds so simple, and that's because it really is! Vendors want our business and you'll get it at a much better rate! The Mister and I chose November, so I'm really hoping this works out for us!

January Savings - Savings Challenge '11

2011-01-31T12:00:00.009-05:00

Photo Credit: o5com

If you're following the Savings Challenge 2011, it's time to check in with your savings for January!

This month I saved right at $620.00! Not a shabby way to start off the year!

Post your January savings here or share over on the fan page!

Just getting started? Read more:
Savings Challenge 2011

Wedding Savers: DIY Projects

2011-01-27T08:44:00.000-05:00

As a Bride On A Budget there are plenty of DIY (Do It Yourself) projects you can do to really cut down the costs for your special day. DIY does not have to be cheap looking though.

I've decided to exercise my crafty muscles and try to come up with as much DIY projects as I possibly can for my own wedding. Really, why should I pay someone else to do a job I know I can do?!

Here are some ideas you could make for your wedding:

Flowers: Everything from the bouquet to the centerpieces
Jewelry: Make those special pieces for your bridal party
Cake: You don't have to be a trained cake decorator to pull off an elegant and classic cake
Cake Topper: If you don't want to make the whole cake, a cake topper can still be fun
Gifts: Whether it be for out of town guests, the parents, the bridal party, or just your wedding favors there is an abundance of easy (and really cute!) gifts that you can do yourself
Invitations: Enough said
Save The Dates: This can be just as easy as the invites

Those are just off the top of my head. And of course each of these can branch into so many different things. Each week I'll break one down and even show you how to make a craft or two! ;)

Want to see something else? Need some crafty inspiration? Comment here, chat on my fan page, or join my Blog Frog Community (the right of this post)!

Save 50% On A Bath & Body Works Groupon

2011-01-27T08:31:00.000-05:00

Groupon is offering a great national deal today for Bath & Body Works! You can get a $20 gift certificate for just $10. Or a $30 gift certificate for $15. Either way, you'll save 50%!

Hurry and snatch yours up now!

2010 Saving Obsession Reader Favorites

2011-01-24T11:04:00.000-05:00

This morning I have a little downtime so I decided it was a good time to pick around behind the scenes here on my blog. I took a gander at the top posts of 2010 and honestly, some really made me giggle. So I thought I'd share them with you guys! Here are the ten posts you all read the most:

10. $2.99 Beauty & The Beast

9. Blogfest Giveaway

8. Coupon Class Info

7. About Me

6. Campbell's Soup Video

5. BlogMania Giveaway

4. Brita Printable Coupon

3. Pet. I.D. Tag

2. Appetizer From Outback

1. Walt Disney World Giveaways

I will say, I'm not surprised about any of those giveaways being in the top ten. They were pretty awesome. ;) But the Outback and Brita coupons are what make me giggle. I guess you guys are pretty serious about good food and water. Anyways, just thought it was interesting and that I would share. Feel free to share your favorite posts!

Win 20k For Your Wedding

2011-01-20T09:30:00.000-05:00

What Bride On A Budget wouldn't love to get $20,000.00 free to create their dream wedding?! Nordstrom's is answering the call. Head on over and "like" the Nordstrom Weddings fan page and fill in the short form on their Sweepstakes tab. One lucky person will be chosen daily to get a $200 Nordstrom gift card. Plus one incredibly lucky person will win $20,000.00 for their wedding!

Contest ends 1/31/11.

Here Comes The Bride...

2011-01-19T19:44:00.000-05:00

In case you haven't heard (which means you're not keeping up with my Fan Page like you should; tsk tsk), I made a big announcement earlier this week.

I'm a nut for "good numbers" and if there was ever a year for good numbers it's this one!

So The Mister and I have decided to go ahead and make it official on November 11th this year.

This is not the first time we've planned a wedding. In fact, I'm leery about planning one. My last one, never became a reality because during the planning our then youngest daughter was diagnosed with a serious rare seizure disorder and all things got put on hold and then forgotten. BUT, it's time so I'll forge ahead. My original budget was $40,000.00. Needless to say, that's not what I'd be willing to spend on a wedding anymore. I have a new goal. How beautiful and close to my dream can I make my wedding for the least amount of money possible? I have no final number in my head for a budget. I just want to see how little I can spend.

So what does that have to do with you guys? Well, I want you all involved. For starters I'm going to start a Brides On A Budget feature. I'll be sharing my own personal wedding savings and deals, as well as any frugal ideas I come up with or across. So if you love weddings, or know someone getting married, send them this way! Subscribe to the blog and become a fan on Facebook. I'd love to host some awesome bridal giveaways too!

Free Subscription To Bridal Guide Magazine

2011-01-19T19:07:00.001-05:00

With my own upcoming nuptials, I decided that I would start sharing some money saving tips for brides on a budget. And what better way then to kick that off with a free one year subscription to Bridal Guide Magazine, thanks to WeddingStand.com!

Thanks Kristin!

Printable Publix Pet Coupons

2011-01-19T18:31:00.000-05:00

Print these Publix Pet Coupons now! They're all good until 2/28/11.

-$1 off 1 Whiskas Variety Pack Cat Food, Assorted Varieties, 30 or 36oz box

(pair with $1/1 manufacturer coupon - home mailer)

-$1 off 1 Purina Dog or Cat Treat, Assorted Varieties, 2.1-32oz package

-$2 off 1 Pedigree Dry Food, Assorted Varieties, 15 to 32lb bag

-$2 off 1 Publix Cat Litter, Multi Cat, Scoopable, 27-lb pail

Walgreens Coupon Policy

2011-01-16T19:33:00.000-05:00

I am so excited that Walgreens has finally posted an official coupon policy! If you shop at Walgreens or think you ever might, print this out and have it on hand with you. The following is their coupon policy exactly as it is on their site:

Guidelines:

General

All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier at the time of checkout.
Walgreens does not accept expired coupons.
Coupons and their face value cannot be exchanged for cash or gift cards.
Competitor coupons are not accepted at Walgreens.
Walgreens cannot accept coupons for items not carried in our stores.
The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register Rewards^TM manufacturer coupons, may not exceed the number of items in the transaction. The total value of the coupons may not exceed the value of the transaction. Sales tax must be paid, if required by state law.
Any coupon offer not covered in these guidelines will be accepted at the discretion of Walgreens management.

Sale Items

Walgreens will accept manufacturer coupons for an item that is on sale.
In the event that any item's selling price is less than the value of the coupon, Walgreens will only accept the coupon in exchange for the selling price of the item. Coupon redemption can never exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is ever provided in exchange for any coupons.

Multiple Coupons

When purchasing a single item, Walgreens accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable Walgreens coupon(s) for the purchase of a single item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.
The coupon amount must 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).
When purchasing multiple items, Walgreens 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.

Buy One, Get One Free Coupons

When items are featured in a Buy One, Get One Free promotion, up to two coupons can be used against the items being purchased, as long as the net price does not go below zero for the items being purchased.
Sales tax must be paid for any Buy One, Get One Free coupon offers, if required by applicable state laws.

Internet/Print at Home Coupons

Walgreens accepts valid internet/print at home coupons.

Register Rewards^TM coupons

Earning Register Rewards^TM

Register Rewards^TM will only print for in-stock merchandise during the promotional period.
Register Rewards^TM can only be earned for eligible items. No substitutions.
There is a limit of one Register Rewards^TM (RR) printed per offer per customer per transaction.
Customers redeeming a Register Rewards^TM against the same offer may not receive another RR.

Redeeming Register Rewards^TM

Customers redeeming a Register Rewards^TM against the same offer may not receive another RR.
Refer to Register Rewards^TM coupon for expiration date.
The RR coupon value cannot exceed the total purchase amount. No cash back and no cash value for RR coupon.
The number of manufacturer coupons, including RR manufacturer coupons, must not exceed the number of items in the transaction.
Register Rewards^TM must be forfeited if the qualifying merchandise is returned.
Register Rewards^TM cannot be used toward the purchase of gift cards and pre-paid cards.
Register Rewards^TM can be redeemed for eligible items only. Ineligible items include but are not limited to:
- Prescriptions
- Tobacco products
- Alcoholic beverages
- Dairy products
- Lottery tickets
- Money orders/transfers
- Transportation passes
- Special event/entertainment tickets or passes
- Postage stamps
- Gift cards/phone cards/prepaid/Green Dot^TM cards
- Prescription Savings Club" memberships
- Health care services, including immunizations
- Any items prohibited by law

Colgate Toothpaste & Toothbrushes For FREE

2011-01-08T09:00:00.001-05:00

If you're a Colgate lover (and even if you're not), you'll be able to get some cheap to free Colgate starting Sunday Jan. 9th at Walgreens! Here's how:

Colgate Toothpaste and Toothbrushes will be on sale for $1

Use the $1/1 toothpaste coupon to score FREE toothpaste

Use the $0.75/1 toothbrush coupon to score those for just $0.25
(Coupons also available from the 1/2 SS)

If you need to stock up on those coupons, be sure to visit The Coupon Clippers now!

Winner Of The Lunch Tote Giveaway

2011-01-07T21:55:00.000-05:00

And the winner is.....

Comment #17 - MichelleSG!

Congrats Michelle! You will be emailed shortly to claim your winnings. Remember, you only have 48 hours or another winner will be chosen!

Insulated Lunch Tote With Custom Personalization Giveaway

2011-01-04T09:00:00.053-05:00

Winner announced!

This giveaway is being sponsored by Night Sky Kids!

Enter now to win this adorable insulated lunch tote bag! Comes with matching silverware case.

Winner will get their choice of custom personalization or monogram!

Bow Tie Closure * Metal Feet on the Botton * Monogrammable * Open Pockets Inside * Spoon Case Included * Insulated Lining * Carrying your food around will no longer be a hassle with this adorable Lunch Tote bag. The bag has been insulated to keep your food at the proper temperature. It is functional and fashionable! * Materials : Cotton Canvas * Length/Height/Width : 12.0" / 9.0" / 7.0"

This is a simple one today. Like both pages to be entered:

Like Night Sky Kids on Facebook

Like Saving Obsession on Facebook

Once you have liked both pages, leave a comment here (we will be verifying!) and be sure to include your email address. That's it! After winning, you will be contacted about personalization.

Giveaway ends 1/6/11; winner will be announced 1/7/11. If you don't leave your email address, I will choose a different winner. Winner has 48 hours to claim their prize or they forfeit their winnings. Open to US and Canada residents only. This giveaway is fully sponsored by Night Sky Kids. The manufacturer of this bag is in no way affiliated with this giveaway. To read the technical side of this, read the Site Disclosure. Only one entry per household.