Guess what my husband and son spent an hour working on today? Counting change! And it turns out that they had a whopping $270 in change that my husband has been saving for about the last year. WOOOHOOO!!!!!

I have to confess, I’m not a huge proponent of the saving your change method (because I usually try to hang onto every single penny to stretch my grocery budget. . . ), but I’m thinking they just proved me wrong. (That’s like two nights in a hotel room . . . yayyyyyy!) So, if you haven’t started hanging on to your change it just might add up to a little nice savings over time. They were pretty happy as they headed off to the bank today, and my husband even gave my son a $10 bonus for sticking with the counting when his sisters both left to go play. Happy happy happy indeed.

Off to my little one’s Kindergarten Graduation this morning. (~sniff, sniff~) Be back with lots of deals in a bit.

Note from Laurie ~ it’s Shannon’s turn for a penny-pinchin’ rant this week, and we’d love to hear your thoughts (just please be considerate of others!)  

Okay, so I have a question for everyone . . . how much is too much when buying an item on sale?  I’ve been so frustrated lately when I hear about someone wiping off the shelves . . . ugh. About a month ago at CVS, I asked the cashier what had happened to all the Tresemme Shampoos which were on sale.  She said someone came in and purchased TEN!  (I wondered if Tangled is living right here in our area. . .  if so, my five-year-old daughter would love to meet her!)

Then I went to Publix this week ready for my trip. I found some good deals and was ready to snag many of the items. Only (even a few hours after the sale began), a few of the items already were out of stock . . . someone had grabbed all of them. This frustrated me because it wasn’t only one empty shelf, but two!

My store is really good about keeping items in stock, however when someone comes in and grabs 15-20 of a specific item . . . well, then there aren’t many deals left for the rest of us.  Our main grocery store typically allows four of each sale item per visit (which usually means 4-8 items if it’s a Buy One Get One Free sale, but you should check with your management to be sure.)  When Laurie and I teach coupon classes we encourage attendees to stick to a reasonable number and consider what your family will really use over the course of the next 4-6 weeks. . . to be honest, I never have enough coupons to buy many more than the limited number!

This doesn’t mean you can never buy a huge amount of a specific item if you have the coupons for it. . . just let your store manager know ahead of time (you can even call and ask him to order extra of an item if you’re planning to purchase a bunch!)  Many stores are great when working with couponers. The managers can order extra for you, plus allow the items on the shelves to go to other customers who’d also like to penny pinch a deal or two.

How do you feel about clearing the shelves, and do you have any tips on how to stock up on more without taking all the deals off shelves? Of course, if you do find the items all gone, remember that  many stores allow you to pick up a raincheck and there are a few ways to use those to your advantage.  And, if you tend to grab twenty or more of a deal every once in awhile, please leave a few for the rest of us, and think about ways you might talk to your manager so that they’ll have extra on hand just for you.

DISCLAIMER: When the Nestle Morsels are BOGO I call the manager and warn him I plan on buying 20 bags. For all who follow PPP I know you were thinking in the back of your mind–Nestle Morsels, we know those girls buy a ton! I know…. I know….

Photo Credit

I had a great comment from a PPP reader yesterday discussing when is the best time to shop, and it got me thinking that there are definitely better times to shop than others!  While I know all of us have gone through (or are in the middle of!) stages of our lives when shopping at naptime with a tired toddler is the best we can do, working to try and plan our shopping around our peak times at the grocery stores can really make life easier for us.  Here are a few tips, and I’d love to know when you shop too:

1. If you’re planning to shop Walmart or other big box stores, try to shop off hours. I typically make my Walmart trips on the way home from the gym (which is usually before 6 AM – yikes!), but there’s always a cashier present, I don’t have to fight any crowds, and I can usually be in and out within fifteen minutes. For me it’s worth waking up 15 minutes early in the morning to save me 30 minutes of stress in the middle of my day!
2. If super early doesn’t work for you, even getting up and shopping before 8 AM will hugely decrease the traffic in the store, so try to get up and out if you can.
3. Avoid shopping close to naptime if you have little ones, and during the evening rush hour if at all possible. ‘Nuf said.
4. Not a morning person? Try shopping in the late evenings once the crowds have died down (and your kids are in bed . . .) and enjoy a little peace at the grocery store!

My buddy Shannon and I have done a lot of shopping this week, so here’s a roundup of all we bought with links to the coupon matchups so you can do it too. Here’s a peek . . .

Spent $1.99 at CVS for $15.12 in Groceries

Spent $30 at Publix for $124 in Groceries

Spent $5.56 at Kroger

Spent $19 at Kroger

Spent $14.65 at Target

I’d love to hear how your grocery trip went this week, and if you were able to purchase an item or two to give please take a minute to share that too! See how other folks are saving on Weekly Totals at I Heart Publix, Addicted to Savings Photo Show & Tell, and Friday Finals at Southern Savers.

New to couponing? Start out by checking out all Publix matchups over HERE, and also take a minute to visit this week’s top Kroger deals and Drug Store Deals. You can also check out my beginners series over HERE, and don’t miss this huge roundup of all the items you can find FREE this week!

Jackson at his 12th birthday with this fun Oreo Cake 

Our son turns 13 this week (meaning I’m officially old. . . ) and I’m trying to come up with some fun party favors and decorations and for he and his guests. I searched Pinterest (you know, the place that’s supposed to have ideas for everything???) and there’s have NOTHING. (Seriously, type in tea party and you get a jillion ideas, but apparently 13 year olds are too old for fun stuff. Ugh.)

Do you have any clever ideas for party favors or decorations that you’ve used for older kids (specifically, boys?) I’d love to hear them, as I’m thinking all the money I saved on Sweet Reagan’s Tea Party will quickly be spent ushering this kiddo into his teen years.   Thanks in advance for any ideas . . . I’m looking forwards to them!