FAQ

Reader Q&A | Why No More Meijer & Walmart Deals?

February 1, 2012

Questions & Answers

Reader Cathy emailed me and asked:

“Hi Andrea! Thanks for posting the Kroger lists last week! I was just wondering why you didn’t post Meijer and more Walmart deals. I also live in KY and shop at both a lot. Thanks for all you do!”

Cathy,

It’s funny you should ask that because I have thought about posting more Meijer deals lately. The closest Meijer to me is in Louisville (about an hour away), and if you have followed the site for a while, you know I only go out once a week. I spend the whole day in Louisville and just doing Target, Whole Foods and Kroger takes me all day. I have toyed around with the idea of partnering with another blogger to do Meijer (as I do the drug store matchups). Bloggers often do this to save time. The matchups are VERY time consuming. So stay tuned…you might see them in the near future

Truthfully, Walmart is not my favorite store to shop or coupon at…I just don’t like it. Occasionally we’ll see a good deal there and I’ll post it, but I just don’t think it has the best deals. I do have a Walmart about a mile from me (literally) so I go often to confirm deals but I’m in and OUT lol. Confirming non-advertised deals is also time consuming so I have to choose my favorite stores. Before I started the site, I followed other blogs and sometimes felt as if I was on a wild goose chase. The prices in the stores were nowhere near what they listed in their matchups. Because of that, almost all of my deals are confirmed by myself or my niece and I do have a few bloggy friends that I swap deals with (that I know have actually confirmed the prices). Another thing that drives me nuts about the Walmart stores in my area is that they have to sign each and every coupon and it takes forever. I actually dread going there. So I can’t promise that you’ll see more Walmart deals but you never know

Have a question? Email me or ask it on our Facebook Page

More Couponing 101 & Help Q&A

· Filed Under: FAQ, Help

Extreme Couponing 101 | How Can A $0.50 Coupon Save Me Money?

September 29, 2011

Questions & Answers

This is a question I hear a LOT, and the answer is very simple: Wait for a sale!

Here’s an example: You find a $0.50 coupon for Rice-A-Roni in the paper. It averages about $1.69 at most stores. After the coupon, you’ll pay $1.19…not bad. BUT, if you wait for a few weeks, it will go on sale somewhere (trust me…it will), and in most cases you can now get for less than a dollar. And if you’re lucky enough to have grocery stores that double, you can usually get it FREE! The Juicy Juice and Speed Stick deals are also good examples of why waiting for a sale maximizes the face value of your coupon.

Beginners:

1) Buy at least two paper a week. If you buy more, buy them in even numbers. You want even numbers because you can use two coupons on buy-one-get-one deals.

2) Clip and organize your coupons by using a box, a binder or an according style coupon holder. Have your coupons ready for you when you need them. I am not a fan of the no-clip method. Having your coupons at home does you no good when you’re at the store and find a hot unadvertised or clearance deal. I take my coupon holder into the store, but my binder is always in my car!

3) Wait for a sale and then pounce!!

Check the site daily for new deals. You can also add it to your favorites for quick and easy reference. My daughter said that making the site her homepage helped her not miss as many deals! You can also get our FREE Daily Newsletter to receive all of the hot deals, coupons, and freebies sent right to your inbox once a day.

· Filed Under: FAQ, Help

Guest Post Submissions, Advertising And PR

June 8, 2011

Questions & Answers

I receive many requests for guest posts, advertising and PR. Here is my updated information:

Advertising:

I am now accepting 125 x125 advertising spots on a month to month basis. Please email me for rates and availability.

Promotion:

If you would like work with Saving Everyday, please contact me to discuss partnership opportunities.

Guest Post Submissions:

If you’d like to submit a guest post for review, here is what I am looking for:

Disney World articles related to how to save for your trip, save at the park, or any other unique tip or advice.
Budget/frugal related articles. This can range from a craft idea, to a household tip, to how to save money on vacations.
I will also accept frugal recipes ($10 or less) that include one high quality photo.

Please feel free to email me and be sure the following guidelines are adhered to:

Must be grammatically correct. I do not have time to fix grammar/spelling errors.
Post should be 500 words or less.
Content should be unique and offer money-saving tips or advice. Please take a moment to check the site and be sure it isn’t already something I’ve already covered.
A genuine interest in my site is preferred. Submissions with the intent to promote your own site will not be accepted. I will include a link back and short bio for you.
If accepted, I require a reciprocal link the day the post goes up.
Please use bullets and paragraphs where necessary. It keeps things easy to read.
Please attach any photos. I will resize them if necessary.
Please include a short bio of 50 words or less and a link to your site.
No affiliate links.

Submission of your guest post does not guarantee publication. I will only accept posts that are relevant and meet the above criteria. Please allow 2-4 weeks for your post to be reviewed. If accepted, I will contact you and go from there. If you do not hear back from me, your post was not accepted.

To submit your guest post, please email me at andrea@savingeveryday.net with “Guest Post” as the subject, and include your name, website, short bio (50 words or less), attached images, and your post idea.

· Filed Under: FAQ

Stepping Up On Soapbox: Missing Out On Coupons & Deals

June 1, 2011

Questions & Answers

I receive emails on a regular basis from readers who have missed out on deals and some have not been so nice.

Many of the deals I post on the site are time sensitive. Coupons and freebies are sometimes very limited. The companies only issue a certain amount, and once that limit is hit, the offer or coupon is gone. I check every offer before I post it but I can NOT control how quickly it is gone. Also, most posts are scheduled before noon and are fed into Facebook automatically throughout the day. By the time it goes up on Facebook, Twitter or in the Daily Newsletter, it could be gone. As I have said many times before, to ensure you never miss a deal, check the site regularly throughout the day.

Please refrain from sending rude emails/comments if you miss a deal. It sucks, but it happens to all of us…even me (all the time). This is my site. I work VERY hard to run it and to help all of you. I love what I do and I love and appreciate all of my readers. If you do not like it, and feel the need to send rude emails/comments, please follow someone else’s.

:stepping down off soapbox now:

· Filed Under: FAQ, Help

Reader Q&A: How Often Do You Go Shopping?

April 22, 2011

Questions & Answers

Today’s question is from Deborah: “I just started couponing a few months ago and feel like it takes up so much time between clipping, sorting and shopping. I am just curious how often you go out shopping and if you could give me any advice?”

Deborah,

If you’re just starting out, go slow. Remember it is about saving money…not driving yourself crazy.

Don’t try to go out everyday and don’t think you need to get every single deal…there will always be more deals! I suggest visiting the site each day, jotting down the deals you want and only going out once or twice a week. I go out twice a week, usually on Tuesday and Friday. This is when I do my shopping and research for the site. Throughout the week, anytime I see a deal I like, I copy/paste it onto a notepad that I keep on my desktop. When I am ready to go out, I print that list and grab the coupons. This is a HUGE time saver. If you try to find all the deals on the day you are going out, it can take hours and overwhelm you. Once I have the coupons I need, they go into an envelope…one for each store. All I take into each store is the envelope I need and my list. This is a very simple and organized method.

If you stay organized both at home and at the store, it will make the whole process more enjoyable. I like to keep my coupons very organized so that I can always find what I need quickly. I use the binder method to organize my coupons, which has been working great for me. Every Sunday I sit down with a pot of coffee, and the Food Network, and clip/organize my coupons. It only takes me about an hour, and in my opinion, is much less time consuming than the ‘clip as you go’ method. That said, there is no right or wrong. Do what works for you. So to summarize:

Take it slow. Don’t try to go out everyday and don’t think you need to get every single deal.
If you miss a deal, don’t sweat it…they’ll be more.
Stay organized and try it keep it simple. This will save time and your sanity!

Hope that helps you! Feel free to email me if you need additional help!

· Filed Under: FAQ, Help

Reader Q&A: Do You Always Use Coupons?

March 13, 2011

Questions & Answers

Today’s question is from Crystal: “Hi Andrea! I just started using coupons about a year ago (thanks for all your help) and it is very addicting. I was wondering how often you buy items without coupons. I feel guilty if I do, especially if I know I had a coupon at home. I also find myself feeling guilty when I go through my coupons and take out all the ones I let expire. How do you deal with this?”

Crystal,

I love this question and get asked this a lot. I absolutely do NOT always use coupons. It is my personal goal to save 75% or more on all my shopping, both grocery and retail. That said, I don’t obsess about it and buy things without coupons all the time. This just happened today actually. I ran into Target to do a few of the Up & Up deals and ended up buying quite a few things without coupons, even though I knew I had them at home. I just don’t stress out about it. Your personal shopping style also plays a big role here. I do NOT like to spend money (I’m a money hoarder), so you will never see me buying a cartload of stuff I don’t need…ever. There are also people who will buy it just because they have a coupon, and this a big no-no. The bottom line is, you should never be buying things you don’t need, coupon or not. And remember, even if an item is free, you’re still paying tax. So if your family will never use it, even freebie deals should be kept to a minimum. If you’re feeling guilty about unused coupons, simply donate them to military families overseas and you’ll never feel that way again

Reader Q&A: Finding The Time To Coupon

September 9, 2010

Questions & Answers

Today’s question is from Marcy: ”How do you balance a full time job, running your website and still fit in time for couponing? I try to do this but feel like there are not enough hours in the day. Any words of wisdom would be very appreciated”Marcy,

I wish I had some magical words for you, but I am not sure my life is balanced at all LOL! As the site continues to grow, so do my obligations and hours at the computer and I struggle to find extra time. Here are a few tips that help me stay on top of my coupon game:

Keep Your Coupons Organized: This has always been my #1 tip! Clip and organize your coupons every week. It only takes 20-30 minutes and is essential for making small quick trips. If you don’t keep your coupons clipped and organized, it can be very time consuming to find your coupons when you need them. I clip my coupons while I watching TV and find it very relaxing. While I don’t expect everyone to enjoy it like I do, this is a great time to work on your coupons. Riding in the car (as a passenger of course), while you are on the phone or while the kids are playing are also good times to clip.

Small Trips: Don’t try to do too much at once. I am a fan of making small trips using the envelope method. I write my list on the front and put the corresponding coupons inside. This goes along with #1 because quick trips require your coupons to be ready to go when you need them.

Remind Yourself Why You Do It: ”A penny saved is a penny earned” is a motto that I live by. I say it all the time and it encourages me to make the time. A dedicated couponer can save anywhere from $50 to $100 a week (or more) with 1-2 hours of preparation…that’s like making $25-$50 a hour!

The more you do it, the easier it becomes and the less time it takes…I promise. When I first started, I was a hot mess! Now that I found a system that works for me, it is quick and easy.

Hope that helps

Reader Q&A: How Many Papers Do You Buy

August 28, 2010

Questions & Answers

I have had many readers ask me if I go out and buy the paper every Sunday, and if so, how many?

Answer: The answer is MOST of the time I go out and buy them, but sometimes (when I am feeling lazy), I just order the inserts off of Ebay. I can usually get the inserts from Ebay for less than what the papers cost at the store. I buy 4 papers/inserts every week unless there is a smokin hot coupon (like the free beef jerky last year) and then I will buy more. If you order off of Ebay and need any of the coupons for sales that week, be sure to order them no later than Monday morning. Many insert sellers have their listings up by Saturday. I recommend buying an even number of papers since you can use 2 coupons on buy one get one free sales.

I also try to process all the coupons within a day or two of receiving the inserts. I like to keep all my coupons clipped and organized so when I want to make a quick trip to the store they are ready to go (more on this coming soon)

Hope this helps! Click HERE for more reader Q&A