We all know you can save money by couponing, but when life gets busy it can be hard to stay on track. One of the best ways to stay motivated is to track your savings. When you see how much you’re saving, it helps you to see that it really is worth your time and energy.
Southern Savers has a great tool to help you quickly and easily track your savings.
You will need to log-in or create a FREE account to access the feature.
How To Use The Savings Tracker:
Step 1: Create an account or log into your account.
Step 2: After you log-in, you’ll be taken to the Dashboard. Click add more receipts. (You can also get here directly by clicking on Savings Tracker in the top menu bar that appears once you are logged in.
Step 3: Select a store from the drop-down menu and click go.
Step 4: Enter the information from your receipt and click save.
Step 5: Enter more receipts, view graphs, and more! Once you’ve entered some information it will show up here.
That’s it! You can enter all of your information in for year to date averages, savings, and more. When all of the numbers are laid out for you, it can be very encouraging.
If you are a social butterfly, you can also share that savings on Facebook and Twitter after you track it.
One of the joys of tracking over time is that if you have a bad week your prior trips help to even it all out. The goal here is save 50-60% off everything you buy, some trips will be much higher and some will be lower. Over time though you’ll really see your savings add up!
In 2014 I’m are adding an “other” store option to let you track stores not covered by Southern Savers. I should have that added within the next weeks.
What is your favorite way to use the Savings Tracker?
See more Southern Savers features.
Is it at the top of your list to start saving money? Some folks have high hopes to start couponing, but never get around to learning. The truth is: it’s not hard at all! It doesn’t matter what your family needs are, there are ways to save on them with coupons! You can even save money on your produce.
Here are 5 simple ways to start using coupons:
1. Understand the Sale Cycle
Just about everything in a store will go on sale at some point, so why pay full price if you don’t have to? The cycle differs a little bit based on where you live: in the South, grocery sales run on 6-8 week cycles, and 12 weeks in other parts of the country.
To save the most, we want to watch for sales and only buy at the low price. An example is cereal, regularly it can cost $4+ for name brand cereal. When it is on a good sale though you’ll catch it for $1.50-$2. You’ve saved 50% and haven’t even used your coupon yet!
I go into sale cycles in some more detail in this Sale Cycles video.
2. Stockup at the Sale Price
Since we just learned that items are only on sale every 6-12 weeks, its important to buy enough at the low price to get from one sale to the next. For some products this only means 1 or 2, and for others a little more stocking up is required. Don’t worry, we’re not talking about hundreds of anything – it will all come on sale again soon (I promise!).
To get an idea of how much you need keep a list for two weeks of what you use then multiply by 3 to get an idea for 6 weeks or multiply by 6 for 12 weeks. (Learn what is a low price by using a Buy Price List).
3. Use Those Coupons
When you are shopping and see that great price, now is the time to use the coupon! You are allowed one coupon per item so that means if you want (5) boxes of cereal and have $1 off coupons you can use FIVE coupons!! (Note that a coupon for $1/2 is the only coupon allowed for both items you buy.) That means your sale cereal mentioned above would be $0.50 to $1 after the sale and coupon!!
To gather coupons:
Buy the Sunday paper each week or ask friends and family for their unused coupon inserts. You’d be amazed at how many people are willing to give up these money-saving gems! Keep an eye out while you are shopping for booklets of coupons in store and get familiar with printing coupons. Having more coupons at your disposal means more opportunities to save! (For more information, watch a short video on finding coupons)
4. Focus on A Favorite Store
Shopping with coupons can be overwhelming if you try to get every deal at every store. Focus on (1) favorite grocery store and (1) drugstore and start paying attention to their sales. Remember you want to use the coupons you’ve collected only when the item is on sale to get the lowest possible price. So each week go in and buy 6 weeks worth of what is on sale. For the first few weeks you’ll also have things you need that haven’t come on sale, so buy one week of those items. Soon though your pantry will become a wonderful little stockpile and you’ll be able to hold off and only buy items when they are on sale!
Southern Savers covers the all of the national drugstores and major grocery stores in the south so you can print out your shopping list and corresponding coupons each week.
Need some help navigating the drugstores? I’m here to help!
A Beginner’s Guide to Couponing at CVS
A Beginner’s Guide to Walgreens
5. Get Coupons on Items You Need Now
Sometimes you really need something right now and waiting for a sale just isn’t going to work. This is where the item search feature comes to rescue. Enter the brand or even just the product (ex peanut butter or Jif peanut butter) and it will show you all of the sales right now. To find a coupon for something try using the coupon database. You’ll be amazed how many coupons are out there!
Want more?
For a more in-depth guide on using coupons check out the Southern Savers learn to coupon section. If all the coupon lingo has you lost get more info on coupons with the coupon facts page.
If you’re still a little lost or just looking for more information, I have an entire workshop full to advice to get you started in the form of a couponing video or you can take a look at a Beginner’s Guide to Saving video series on our Youtube channel.
Find the Sunday coupon insert preview 1/5 below. This weekend you will have a whopping (6) coupon inserts in your newspaper! It’s going to be a great week to grab some extra copies! Be on the lookout for:
(1) Target PG
(2) Red Plum
(3) Smart Source
Remember there are differences between every city and the coupons you get will vary somewhat. Check back next Wednesday to get the exact list of what came out in your area.
Look at the insert schedule for 2014 if you are curious what is coming in the future.
Click below to see all the coupons: Read More→
What better way to bring in the new year with a huge batch of new coupons! Remember some coupons will not last long. I have a few rules to help me decide what to print and what to wait on (printing coupons does have a cost for paper and ink so please don’t print them all).
What to print (my rules):
1. Any coupon for a brand or product I know we will use in the next month.
2. Vegetable or meat coupons.
3. High value coupons that are bound to make a deal.
If a coupon doesn’t fit one of those rules, then leave it there and if you do end up wanting it hopefully you can print it later.
New Coupons
High Value
$1.25 off any Totino’s Rolls Snacks (zip 77477) printable
$1 off any select Yoplait Go-Gurt, Trix, + more products coupons (zip 77477) printable
$1 off any Yoplait Yogurt Multipack (zip 77477) printable
$1 off any General Mills Big G cereal: Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Chex, or Lucky Charms (zip 77477) printable
$1 off any Progresso Soup (zip 77477) printable
.50/1 any Pillsbury Grands! biscuits (zip 77477) printable
$1.25 off Nature Valley Granola Bars (zip 77477) printable
.55/1 Martha White Baking Mix, (zip 03103) printable
Fruit & Meat
$1/2 Dole Fruit Crisps or Fruit Parfaits printable
$1/2 Dole Fruit in Gel or Fruit Bowls printable
$1/2 Dole All Natural Fruit Jars printable
.75/1 Dole Fruit Smoothie Shaker printable
$1/2 Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh lunch meats printable
$1 off Oscar Mayer Carving Board Meats printable
Fridge or Frozen
$1 off Babybel cheese product printable
.50/2 Immaculate Baking Co. Biscuits/Crescents printable
$1/5 Yoplait Greek yogurt cups printable
$1/2 Litehouse Products printable
.75/2 Yoplait kid products printable
.40/6 Yoplait Yogurt cups printable
.50/1 Good Humor Product printable
$1/2 Popsicle Products printable
$1 off Old El Paso Frozen Entrees printable
.75/1 any El Monterey Taquitos printable
$1/2 El Monterey Supreme printable
.40/2 Pillsbury Grands! Sweet Rolls printable
.40/2 Pillsbury Crescent Dinner Rolls printable
.50/1 Country Crock Simply Delicious printable
$1/2 Red Baron multi-serve pizzas printable
Breakfast
.55/3 Martha White Baking Mixes printable
$1/2 General Mills Big G cereals printable
.50/1 Cheerios cereal printable
.75/1 Cascadian Farm product printable
.75/1 Fiber One cereal printable
.50/1 Cocoa Puffs cereal printable
$1/3 Kellogg’s Special K Cereals printable
$1/2 Kellogg’s Special K Hot Cereals printable
$1.50/2 Kellogg’s Special K Protein Shakes printable
Grocery
.55/2 Herdez Salsa printable
$1 off Monk Fruit In The Raw product printable
.75/2 Betty Crocker Ready to Spread Frosting printable
.50/1 Sweet’N Low 100 Count Box printable
$1 off Stevia In The Raw 9.7oz Baker’s Bag printable
$1 off Monk Fruit In The Raw, Stevia In The Raw printable
.75/2 Betty Crocker Ultimate Potatoes printable
.80/4 Hamburger Helper or Tuna Helper printable
.75/1 Dole Dippers printable
$1.50/2 Nestle or Wonka Valentine’s Candy printable
.50/2 Betty Crocker Fruit Shapes printable
.75/2 any Larabar ALT bars printable
.50/2 Nature Valley Granola Bars printable
.50/1 Nature Valley Greek Yogurt Protein Bars printable
.50/2 Progresso Soups printable
.50/1 Harvest Snaps printable
.50/2 Bugles Corn Snacks or Chex printable
.50/1 Original Bisquick Baking Mix printable
.50/1 Old El Paso Stand N Stuff Tortillas printable
.60/3 Old El Paso products printable
.50/1 Progresso Recipe Starters Cooking Sauce printable
.75/1 Fiber One Meal Bar, box printable
.50/1 Fiber One Chewy Bars, box printable
$1 off South Beach Diet Product printable
.55/1 Weight Watchers Sweet Baked Good printable
.75/1 Welch’s Light Juice Beverage printable
$1/2 Del Monte Fruit Burst Squeezers printable
$1 off Cafe Escapes K-Cup packs, 12 or 16 ct printable
$2/3 Mars Chocolate Brands printable
$1/2 Planters Nut Products or Peanut Butter printable
B2G1 Mars Chocolate Bars printable
Personal Care
.50/1 Pampers Wipes 56 ct + printable
$1.50 off Pampers Swaddlers Diapers printable
$1.50 off Pampers Baby Dry Diapers printable
$1.50 off Pampers Cruisers Diapers printable
$1 off any Garnier Fructis, styling product printable
$1 off any Garnier Fructis hair product printable
$1 off Garnier Fructis Treatment Product printable
$2 off any L’Oreal Paris Preference Hair Color printable
$1 off Perfect Edges printable
$2/2 Colgate Optic White Toothpaste printable
$1 off Scope Dual Blast Rinse, 750mL + printable
$1 off Scope Classic Rinse, 1L + printable
$1 off Scope Outlast, 750mL + printable
$2 off Depend Underwear package printable
Pharmacy
$1 off Robitussin Adult or Children’s Product printable
$3 off AmLactin product printable
$1 off Advil PM product 16 ct + printable
B1G1 50% off Slo-Niacin Product printable
$1 off Afrin product, any printable
Household
$1 off Tetra Tropical TetraMin or Tetra Color Fish Food printable
$2/2 all laundry detergent printable
$1 off Brawny Paper Towels, 6 roll pk. printable
$1.50 off Angel Soft bath tissue, 20-pk. + printable
The Publix Penny Item for Wednesday 1/1 or Thursday 1/2, is:
Publix Raisins Snack Pack, 6 pk.
You can get the Publix Penny item with any purchase that is $10 or more before coupons. Most stores will require the penny item coupon found somewhere in your Wednesday or Thursday paper.
The Penny Item is for one day only, and will be the day that the ad starts in your area. This is Wednesday for all of SC and AL, and parts of GA, or Thursday for Northern GA.
Get all of this weeks Publix Deals and Coupon Matches!
**Note: FL and some Coastal GA stores DO NOT participate in the Penny Item**
With a Mega Event running this week there’s a ton of great deals to grab at Kroger this week. Here are all the top deals you can grab for a $1 or less!
Make sure you check the Kroger weekly ad and the list of extra unadvertised deals before you head to the store!
Kroger $1 or Less Deals
-
Aussie or Herbal Essences Hair Care, 5.7-14 oz, $1.89
-$1/2 Clairol Aussie hair care, excl trial size, Kroger eCoupon
-$1/2 Clairol Aussie hair care, excl trial size, PG 12/01 (EXP 12/31)
-$1/2 Clairol Herbal Essences hair care, excl hair color and trial size, Kroger eCoupon
-$1/2 Clairol Herbal Essences hair care, excl hair color and trial size, PG 12/01 (EXP 12/31)
-.75/1 Clairol Herbal Essences shampoo, conditioner or styling item, excl color, body wash and trial size printable
-$1.50/2 Clairol Herbal Essences shampoo, conditioner or styling item, excl color, body wash and trial size printable
-$2/2 Clairol Herbal Essences shampoo, conditioner or styling items, excl color, body wash and trial size, SS 12/15
(use $2/2 off, makes it 89¢ ea.) - Butterball Turkey Bacon or Smoked Sausage, 12-14 oz, $1.49
-$1 off Butterball Product (Facebook – when you share) printable
(makes it 49¢) - Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick Deodorant, 1.4-2 oz, 88¢
- Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap, 7.5 oz, 88¢
- Vitaminwater or Zico Coconut Water, 20 oz or 11.2 oz, $1 Read More→
Stay warm this winter with up to 50% off select outerwear from Lands’ End. This sale includes both accessories like hats, gloves and more plus coats and vests too for the whole family.
There are many sizes and styles available but shop soon for the best selection. Outerwear is a necessity in cold weather put it can also get pricey, so make sure to take advantage of this sale.
Deal Ideas:
Women’s Polartec Aircore 100 Gloves $4.99 (reg. $14.99)
Women’s ThermaCheck 100 Fleece Half-zip $24 (reg. $39)
Women’s Regular Featherlight Down Parka $64.99 (reg. $119)
Offer valid thru 1/5.
Shipping is FREE on orders $50 or more.
Read More→
Here are the top deals for the Sweetbay Ad starting 1/1. Lots of meat an produce deals this week, so make sure to check it out!
If you know of additional deals please leave them in a comment below.
Buy One Get Ones
- Frito Corn Chips, 9.25-10.5 oz, at $3.49 ($1.74) 2
- Thomas Original English Muffins, 6 ct., at $4.19 ($2.09), limit 2
Produce
- Florida Strawberries, $2.99
- Mini Seedless Watermelons, $2.99
- Fresh Express Garden Salad, 24 oz, $2.99
-$1.50/2 Fresh Express bags, SS 1/05
(makes it $2.24) Read More→
There’s a new Home Depot coupon out right now for $10 off a $100 purchase! It’s available online only and you’ll enter code NEWYEAR10 at checkout.
This coupon could be great for buying holiday decorations for next year or for buying tools like the Dewalt Cordless Brushless Compact Drill. After the coupon, you can snag this drill for less than $100!
DEWALT 20-V Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Compact Drill $92.88 (reg. $102.88)
This coupon code is good through 1/05.
See more online shopping.
