About Us 
I am a stay at home mom with four wonderful kids. I have been married for over 10 years to my best friend. I am head over heels in love with him. He always supports my crazy "thrifty adventures". We have a lot of fun together.
I was raised on a small dairy farm. Where I learned very young, the value of hard work and how to be thrifty in all areas of life. Growing up our meals were made from scratch. Only on special occasion would we get name brand cereal, chips, or any other fancy treats. Now that I am a Mom with my own budget, the basic foods always comes first. I too make most of our meals from scratch and take pride in feeding my family a well balanced healthy diet.
I enjoy seeing how far I can make our budget stretch, and when I take the time to match sales with coupons I am able to get all those "fun & fancy" items that would other wise be out of my budget. Being thrifty has always been a way of life for me, but it has also become a real joy.
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Dear A Thrifty Mom,
I am a new couponer (since October) and need a little help. I love your site. I found you soon after starting the coupon adventure and I am afraid that couponing has become a bit more of a bad dream than a joy. I read about the people who spend $400 and save $1500 and am at a loss. I have been pretty hard core couponing for 3 solid months and have yet to see a dip in my spending. I am working on stocking up on items that are on sale, buying meat only on sale, and shopping multiple stores only to feel like I am wasting my time and energy on something that is pie in the sky. I had hopped to save some serious money to help with our one income budget. My husband works hard and I was hopping my couponing could support him and help our family to make ends meet as I stay home with our 3 boys.
I just feel like I am missing some key ingredients. I get 5 papers weekly. I clip them all. The major portion of my time is spent clipping, organizing, looking online for additional coupons, using your site to find match ups. Then I shop at Albertsons, Fred Meyer, Winco, and Walgreens with occasional stops at Pauls and Walmart. I have 2 young children with me most days so shopping and price comparisons are time consuming and often less than pleasant for 2 busy boys. I live in Kuna so a trip to the store is a 20 min drive one way and I don’t want to tote my kids to the store daily.
Do you have any ideas any ways I can make the major savings happen for our family. I am so thankful for the matchups you do. Without it couponing would be even more labor intensive and I am sure I would have given up long ago. I don’t want to give up on couponing, but I am close to deciding it is more stress than benefit.
Any thoughts????
Sincerely,
Jenny
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Dear Jenny,
Well it sounds like you have your hands full, I wish I had the magic answer but I hope a few of these tips will help.
- First there will never be a guide to couponing that will fit everyone’s life. Everyone’s needs, lifestyle, location, stores and habits are so different that you have to just find what works best for your family.
- Couponing is a huge blessing but does take work… so try and stick it out so you can see the rewards!
- Couponing is a learned skill and you will get better with time, and find what works best for you. You will get into a groove that fits your family and their needs. You are just starting out… so do not be to hard on yourself.
- This one might surprise you but, I would suggest cutting back…. I know saving your family money is important, but if you get burnt out you will give up and it will be like a fad diet that was not successful . Instead you need to make couponing part of your life,.. but not take over your life. I suggest to start small, get really good at shopping one or two stores (notice I stick to pretty much 2 stores a week) , and as time and income permit you can try and add another store.
- It is ok to miss a sale…. it is hard to select which deals are the best and which ones to pass up. But if you try and hit them all, you will find your whole life revolves around sales and coupons.
- Take your budget and take 80-90% and shop like you normally would (before you knew about coupons)…. but then take the other 10-20% and have that be your “stock up or coupon money”. Focus on the top deals, and just try and stock up on those items. NO NEED to run to 4-6 stores each week, you will burn yourself out. Each week you will be able to stock up on those hot items, slowly but surely your stockpile will grow and you still have a life. The longer you coupon will be learn how much to dedicate just to stocking up and your normal “must have list”.
- I always say Mom First… Thrifty Mom Second. Dragging your sweet little ones along is never fun, I know you need to take them with you so that is another reason limiting the stores you shop at may be a good idea. You will find a good deal is nice, but quality time with your little ones is better.
- Last but not least… never compare yourself to others…celebrate any amount of savings. You are doing a great job, now go hug those 2 busy boys of yours
 !
Question: Dear A Thrifty Mom, why have you not been coupon shopping? I look forward to your shipping trips as they help me plan for my own personal shopping trips, but the last few weeks you have not been listing them as much. Are you not shopping or just not posting them on the site. Should I be taking a break too, I do not want my coupons to go to waste, thank you for your help.
Answer: Well I did go to the store once this week and posted that shopping trip to Albertsons in two posts (one on Monday and one on Tuesday). I did not post a budget review as week, since I only went to the store once and did not use any coupons…. I was just going to list it with this weeks shopping trips (and do a 2 week budget review). I made one trip to WinCo last week and just picked up some things I needed. The store was crazy busy with holiday shoppers and I just wanted to get in and out.
Please know that I am just as excited about couponing as always….BUT I also do not want to fight the holiday crowds to get a free tube of toothpaste (when I have 5 on the shelf at home). I have often said that couponing is part of my life, NOT my life. It is so easy to get so involved in the sales that you miss out on other things. This is one of the most stressful and busy times of year for me, just trying to get everything done. So I am happy to say that my “stockpile” helps take the stress of running to the store away. Instead I can just “shop from my pantry”.
If you need items, and there is a good sale then by all means run out and coupon till your little hearts content. BUT if you are feeling guilty about missing the deals… but do not really “need” those items, and you just do not want to miss a sale. Remind yourself that another sale will always come. But this years memories can only be made once…. one of the best gifts you can give your family is the gift of TIME. And sometimes missing a few sales allows me a little more time with my family.
Total Spent last week 11/27-12/3
Winco $26.19
Bountiful Basket $16.50
Final price = $42.69
I am reposting this, because it seems to be one of the most commonly asked questions.
Question from one of my readers…
I have a question for every couponer out there. Do you ever get sick of couponing? I’m s a stay at home mother of 3 and I’ve been couponing for about a year now and I’m starting to hate it. I have two weeks of inserts not cut and I haven’t even looked through yet. Am I in a coupon funk? I use to love clipping and organizing and seeing all my savings but now I’m loathing going to the supermarket. Has anyone ever gone through this before?
Answer…
YES YES YES!!!! As much as I love couponing even I get sick of it sometimes, here a few tips:
It’s ok to miss a sale- If you are like me you get a little rush every time you get a Thrifty deal. But it is best to take it slow, pick your top “Thrifty Deals” for the week and just try to snag those sale items.
Only shop 1 or 2 stores- It is FUN to get the hot item of the week at each store, but if you run to every store that offers a good deal you may have an awesome stockpile…but you WILL hit coupon burn out way to fast!
Don’t get behind on your clipping- I have to admit that clipping and putting away my coupons is my LEAST favorite job. But it should only take 30-60 min each week to do this. To view my video on how I clip my coupons click here…the only thing I do different now is staple them together before I cut them. If you do get really behind it is OK to just leave those weeks uncut…and start fresh ( you can always go back just clip the ones you need, but that way it is not so overwhelming)
Take a break- Yes I said it is OK to take a break. (but still check in my blog…wink) Before I wrote my blog I would take a few weeks off from couponing when life just got too busy. Live off your stock pile for a bit, that is what is there for right! All it takes is one trip to the store and paying FULL price for a cart of things I know I can get for free to get me excited to coupon again…but the break is nice.
Count your savings- Keep track of how much you are really saving. That is why I do my weekly budget review, it helps me see the big picture of how much I really save. It makes me feel like my hard work is really paying off…and yes proud of what I have done. It gives me the energy to keep it up!
Save for something fun- Take the money you are saving from couponing and put it towards something fun. Like a surprise family trip. Start out saving for something small like going to the movies, or night out with your hubby… so you can reap the rewards of saving.
Get a coupon buddy- I know lots of people shop with a friend, it is fun to hang out with your girl friends and save at the same time. OR I know some people coupon with a “buddy” ….you shop one week and your buddy shops the next week and share the weeks savings. That way you never miss out on the sale, but you only have to shop every other week.
What are your feelings on this….and what tips do you have? Would love to hear from you all!
We originally posted on this a few months ago and it recently came up in an email and thought it was worth reposting. With the Extreme Couponing shows there are so many more couponers that stores are having to adapt to.
Is your store stocked or cleared out?
 I know some of you new coupon shoppers are feeling rather let down, as you put forth the effort to plan the perfect shopping trip. Only to get to the store and find the shelves empty. I wish I had the perfect answer but unfortunately I do not, but here are a few tips I have learned over the years.
Few reasons the store may not have the items in stock:
More coupon shoppers- TLC ‘s new show Extreme Couponing has really brought a lot of attention to couponing in the last month. I was talking with my local store manager and he said they have seen a dramatic increase. There are more coupon binders in the store than ever before, which they love. They are working hard to order in enough products but do not want to be stuck with overstock either. It is a balancing act, and they will get better at knowing supply and demand as time goes on.
Store has a limited supply- Many stores like Walgreens only get an allotted number of the hot promo items for that week. They are more of a quick-stop-shop store NOT a warehouse. This number is normally based on past sales and earning. Stores that get a limited supply are great to get a good deal at….BUT we do not encourage you to stock up or buy large quantities.
Stores do not know of sales that match with coupons- Most stores are aware of the upcoming sales and what their projected sales may be. BUT what many of them do not know is the coupons that may match up with these sales. Thus turning an “ok sale” into a stock up frenzy. For example a store may know that $.50 for a bottle of Propel water is a good price and they may sell 500 bottles, and order accordingly . But they may not know there is a $1.00 off 2 coupon making them FREE. Which means they now have more people wanting the item and the need goes from 500 bottles to 2,500. Most stores would love to move 2,500 bottles they just need to know ahead of time, so they can order in time. I encourage you to get to know your store managers, tell them about upcoming match ups and help them know what to order.
Some stores value coupon shoppers others do not- Not all stores understand the benefit of having coupons used in their store. I have met personally with some store managers that are clueless as to how coupons work, and the fact they they do in fact get paid by the manufacturer for the full face value of the coupons PLUS an $.08 handling fee. They see it as a hassle, choose not to stock up for sales, and really wish you would shop somewhere else. If this is the case, the only advice I have is to try and educate them with a smile, or if you are a chicken like me shop somewhere else
When to shop- You need to be aware that there are better times to shop than others. The first day of the sale, or the day they restock is normally the best time. Early morning is often a good time, because they restock at night at many stores. Don’t hesitate to ask when the next shipment comes in and plan accordingly. Also do not get upset if you walk in the last day of the sale and find empty shelves, as much as the store would love to have every product you want….. do not take it personally if others get to the items first.
Place and order- Many stores will allow you to place an order, if you are buying in large quantities. This will allow you to get what your family needs but not take away from others. Most of my local stores do NOT do this, but I know many other areas do.
Other coupon shoppers clear the shelves - Yes it is sad but not everyone’s Mommy taught them to “play nice” and some couponers will clear the shelves, and buy many more than they really need. BUT getting upset at others actions, really does not help anything. Do not spend hours mourning the loss of your “could have been deal”. Try to lead by example and show the better way to shop. Also do not be to quick to judge, many people will say all I wanted was one…. and that lady took 6. What you may not know is that lady has 10 kids, and she drove 45 minutes to get to the store. Everyone’s needs are different, and if they really are just being greedy then shame on them… but it does us no good to judge others
Most important rule of all THERE IS ALWAYS ANOTHER SALE- do not let coupons rule your life. Getting a good deal is fun, and helps me provide for my family….. it needs to fit into my life but not take over my life. If you try to hit every sale, and shop every store you will in deed get lots of good deals but at what price? Freebies or good deals are never worth it, if it means my kids do not have time with Mommy. If you miss out on a sale it is ok, another one will roll around……
What tips do you have? I would love to hear them
Here are a few ideas on some tools to build your coupon binder with. The inbox has a question about this at least once a week, and while we enjoy this correspondence, the thought occurs that where there is one question there is bound to be more.
MLB Ultra Pro 9 Pocket Pages “Silver Series” (100 pages)
$16.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25, or $.17 per page
20 (Twenty Pages) – Pro 6-Pocket Coupon Page (Tall Vertical Slots)
$8.56 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25, or.42 each page
BCW Pro 4-Pocket Page (100 Ct. Box)
$19.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. that is $.20 a sheet
Case-It Locker 3-Inch Q Zipper Binder, Black (LKR-Q-03 BLK)
$19.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25
While this binder is not exactly what I currently use for my coupons, if I needed to replace mine this is what I would consider.
From the inbox this week:
I am trying to get started couponing and when I checked out the deals for Hy Vee I found the following which has me a bit confused:
Hunt’s Snack Pack Pudding $1.00
- $.45/3 (8/7 SS)
= $.85 each when you buy 3
The (8/7 SS) is what I don’t understand and since I found similar entries on other items I thought I would ask. Could you please elaborate?
Here is a post that was done back in May that best answers this question. We realize there are new readers each day
and some of those are new to couponing and the lingo within the coupon world as well.
If you are new to the couponing world the “coupon lingo” can be a little hard to understand at first. Here is a list of commonly used Abbreviations you may find useful.
B1G1 or BOGO - Buy one get one free
B2G1 - Buy two get one free
Blinkie - In-Store SmartSource coupon dispensed near product, usually from a red blinking box.
CAT - Coupon dispensed at register after purchase, usually has a red border, redeemable only at the store that it printed at or at stores that accept competitor store coupons.
Catalina - Coupon dispensed at register after purchase, usually has a red border, redeemable only at the store that it printed at or at stores that accept competitor store coupons.
DND - Do not double, a coupon with this wording is not supposed to be doubled at stores that double coupons. However coupons that have aUPC code that starts with the number 5 will often times still double, while ones that start with a 9 will not.
Double Coupon - Coupon that a grocery store doubles in value. Only certain stores double coupons, please check the coupon policy of your local stores.
GM - General Mills
Hangtag - A coupon or form found hanging from a tag around the neck of a bottle or jar.
Insert - Booklet of coupons found in the Sunday newspaper, insert coupons.
IP - Internet printable, a coupon or form you can print from the internet.
MIR - Mail in rebate.
MM - Money Maker, a deal where after coupon or rebate you make money with overage of some sort.
MQ - Manufacturer Coupon, a coupon issued by a manufacture (as opposed to a store coupon, which is issued by a store).
OOP - Out of pocket
OYNO - On your next order, wording on Catalina or register reward coupons for which you purchase an item and receive a coupon that is for money off your next order.
Peelie - A coupon that you peel off the package.
PG or P&G - Proctor & Gamble Sunday insert coupon.
POP - Proof of purchase, required for a refund or other offer that is physically taken from a package
Printable - A coupon that you print from the internet and your computer.
RC - Rain Check a slip of paper that a store issues when an item is out of stock allowing you to purchase that item at a later date at the sale price.
RP - Red Plum Sunday supplement coupons (formerly Valassis).
RR - Register Reward, the name of the Catalina promotion at Walgreens.
SCR - Single check rebate, Rite-Aid store rebate program.
SS - SmartSource, a company owned by News Marketing America that issues a Sunday insert, Blinkie coupons, printable coupons and other forms of coupons.
Stacking -When you use an instore coupon along with a manufacturer coupon
Tearpad- coupon found in store, normally on a display case in a tearpad
V - Valassis Sunday supplement coupons, has been renamed Red Plum.
VV- Video Value coupons printed from Rite Aid website
WAGS - Walgreens
WYB - When you buy
YMMV - Your mileage may vary – the success of the attempt may vary at your store.
Thanks Hot Coupon World
Here is a question from the email box:
I am new to couponing and I’m starting to get the hang of it. However I do have a question about the BOGO coupons. If I have a coupon for an item that is simply a BOGO, can I use any other coupons with it? Considering it is two items that you are purchasing? I wasn’t sure how that worked so any information would be wonderful, thank you.
- First of let me just say this a GREAT question and something that takes quite a while to learn and even then policies change and so then the you need to relearn.
- Second, to answer this question is really quite dependent on the store you shop at. The best rule of thumb is to refer to the store coupon policy that you want to shop at, which usually addresses this very complex subject.
- Take case in point Rite Aid where you can use a B1G1 and a ‘cents off’ coupon for the two items you purchasing but don’t try to use a B1G1 coupon on a B1G1 promotion it goes against the coupon policy.
- Walgreens coupon policy states that two coupons can be used on a B1G1 store promotion so you can use a B1G1 coupon and get both items for the tax only.
- If the store you are shopping at doesn’t have a written coupon policy you will need to talk to the stores manager as to how that store deals with coupons, and you might have to plead your case (remember the adage ” you get more flies with honey than vinegar”).
- Just another reason to print the current policy and keep it in your binder so that you can reread policies and make sure everyone is on the same page
 Ingard’s out of pocket for her Fred Meyer shopping was $8.00 before tax, before sales and coupon this would have been $30
This was done in two identical transactions
Tillamook Shredded cheese (8oz packages) 5 for $5
My store was out of stock on the Wisk and so I got a rain check.
Arm and Hammer OR Wisk laundry detergent or dryer sheets $2.99
Some of you may know what I mean when I refer to a rain check but for some that might be a new term. So read on for an explanation. (This is modified from a previous post, found HERE)
A rain check is an assurance to a customer that an item on sale that is sold out or out of stock may be purchased later at the sale price.
If the item is part of a Catalina promo getting a rain check may not work. They can not write you a rain check for the catalina only the sale price. Some catalina run longer than the ad price so it is still worth getting a rain check, and you will just need to pay attention to the end date of the catalina.
If the item is not part of the weekly ad, but on sale you can still get a rain check. I hope to find this time back in stock next time I head over to Fred Meyer before 8/27. Also another little note to make your rain check shopping easier… hand your rain check to the cashier before they ring you up as they do something special to get you your price.
To get a rain check you will need to ask Customer Service or some cashiers are able to write them. Please note that every store does rain checks a little different, it is important to ask your store questions you may have. But Rain Checks are a great way to get a Thrifty Deal.
Albertsons Rain checks expire 30 days from the date written, while Walgreens do not expire, Rite Aid rain checks are good until the product is available, Safeway rain checks expire 90 days from date written (as report by a reader) and Fred Meyer’s are good for 60 days from date written.
I know Albertsons, Walgreens, Fred Meyer, RiteAid, and Shopko give out rain checks….what stores in your area use them?
 Let’s face it shopping at Walgreens can be a little tricky. It takes a bit of time to learn all their weird little tricks and rules. But once you get it down, it is totally worth it because they have awesome deals each week! I happen to have a VERY coupon friendly store, with knowledgeable staff that makes shopping there very easy.
Once of the hardest things is when your Register Reward does not print. I get an email at least once a week from my readers telling me that their local store said the reason there register reward did not print was because they paid with a coupon. This is the the #1 excuse given but never the case.
I encourage you to find this weeks Walgreens ad, and on the back page it clearly shows you can use a MFR coupon and still get back a register reward. If you happen to shop at a store that is not so coupon friendly clip this out and keep it with your Walgreens coupon policy in your coupon binder for future reference if needed.
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