Discounts, discounts, and more discounts!!

Ah discounts!!! They always put a smile on my face, if they are for something that I knew that I would use anyway.

There are multiple sources of discounts. For groceries, I previously wrote about “Couponing for Groceries”. One source I didn’t mention was the Valu Paks and other coupons sent via snail mail. Just flip through them when you receive them. Sometimes there are nice surprises. They also usually have restaurant discount coupons, they are a good thing. Save those as well. I put them in a baggy and carry in the car's console or glove box, so when you stop to eat out or plan to eat out, you check to see if you have a coupon for some of your favorite places. There are some restaurant coupons that maybe only you would use with a girlfriend(s), keep those in your handbag or car, not the family car. Then when you are out or with a friend you have some discount options for dining.

We have a favorite pancake house that we visit for breakfast and they frequently put coupons in those Valu Paks. They are usually buy one breakfast and get the lesser meal for a $1. It usually saves us about 30% to 40% on our breakfast meal.

If you are 50 or more find out what the rules are at your favorite store(s) for Senior citizen discounts. Usually there is a certain age requirement and the discounts are on a specific day of the week. Then you can use your coupons, store card and senior discount at checkout. It adds up! Speaking of discount cards, sign up for them if they are free. I have found them at some grocery and drug stores. I keep them in a small zip lock bag in my glove compartment. So they are always handy.

Don't forget to shop store brands. Many people mistakenly think that store brands are not as good as the name brands you buy, are seconds, or there is something wrong with them. This is not true. If you take your brand product and compare its label to the label on the store brand, nine times out of ten, the ingredients will be identical. Also, most of the time you will find that whoever makes your brand also makes the store brand. It is just different labeling for a much less price. What a deal!

When browsing the Sunday paper look at the ads for Drug stores and discount stores. They may not have coupons, but for either a specific number of days or for the upcoming week they may have items on sale cheaper than can be purchased at your regular grocery store. Plus you can use any coupons you have for the product(s). Here again, sometimes these discounted prices are only good if you have one of their discount cards.

Big box shopping store's like Costco, Sam's Club and BJ's Warehouse are good if you have a large family and will use 24-36 of an item within the time you will go shopping again or if you have the space to store them. Otherwise, not a great deal. You can buy in bulk many staple items at your regular grocery store or Wal-Mart, K-Mart, etc. Paper towels, toilet tissue, cleaning supplies, detergent (laundry and dish) soap, napkins, Kleenex, etc. do not go bad. If you have a laundry room, large pantry or storage area buying these items in bulk with a coupon or at a sale can save a bunch! So stock up when you have the opportunity.

Always check your receipts from your purchases when you get home. Some stores now offer a survey you can do online or via phone that takes from 1 - 5 minutes. For participating you are entered to win a Shopping spree at the store, what do you have to lose?! Or at the bottom of the receipt may be a coupon good for your next purchase. If you shop there regularly, that's a deal!

If you are surfing the web late at night or early in the morning Google some of your favorite stores with the words promotion or coupons or discounts. I have found promotion codes good for free shipping and even 30% off. You will be surprised to see what you will find. Not all offer discounts or coupons, but many will have them out there just for the looking and the printing!

Also, check Ebay. Sometimes there are coupons that can be purchased for a minimal fee of .99 cents and that includes shipping sometimes. If you don't look you don't know!

What are some of your tips for finding discounts, or favorite websites for finding discounts? You will be my hero if you can tell me about some new websites or ideas.

Don't forget to Shop 'n Save!!!