From Ginger's Heart

What do you do when things don't go as planned and the store does not cooperate with your coupon deal list? Well, you simply smile!!! It's okay!!!!

Simply state your position, ask for a refund (make sure you get your coupons back!!!) and move on to another day. You can ask for a manager and/or email the company and ask for further clarification and explanation but in the end, you are only accountable for your actions. Keep a cheerful heart!!!! Another deal will come another day!!!

One thing to do is print, if available, the store's coupon policy so you can educate the store as well as yourself. Many stores have their coupon policy on their websites. You can also call their corporate office to clarify any coupon issues.

Be encouraged and keep it simple, Ginger

From Ginger's Heart

Okay, I have got to quit playing with this blog so I can cook and get ready for church tonight!! YEAH!

But I wanted to share what I want this blog to be about. I want to help others who, like me, find the need to cut expenses any way they can. Now, I do this so that I can manage my household on one income which allows me to be a homemaker and homeschool mom. When I first started searching the blogs and sites for coupons and savings, I noticed that some (not all, there are some great blogs out there), but some of the sites were encouraging things that I felt were not proper or right.

Such as:

Sending rebates under family addresses when there is a limit of (1) per household.

Getting (2) or (3) reward cards under different names at certain stores.

Using other computers to clip more (1) per household coupons.

Some things may not be against the rules but, for me, just did not line up with biblical principles to be content, good stewards but not greedy or covetous. Just because you can do it does not mean that you should do it!!! That is NOT keeping it simple.

Also, some of the offers would be for companies or products that do NOT reflect our Christian values and biblical principles.

So I wanted to offer a blog that would KEEP IT SIMPLE and SAVE FROM THE HEART and not from my/our natural tendencies.

This is a CHRISTIAN blog so if you disagree I respectfully encourage you to visit other blogs for your encouragement and information.

I ask my Christian family to help keep me accountable in what I post.

With all love and keeping it simple, Ginger

Winn-Dixie

I told you I love Winn-Dixie!!! UPDATE: THIS DEAL DOES NOT GO THROUGH WHEN COUPONS ARE USED ---- VERY FRUSTRATING. WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM WD. DID GET SOME OF THE BOGO DEALS AND THE MEAL DEAL TONIGHT.

Here is a deal that can be worked up IF you have been sending in for coupons and clipping, at least, for a little while.

Local Ad -- P&G coupon deal

Buy $20 worth of P&G products and get a $7 coupon on your next purchase.
Buy $30 worth of P&G products and get a $10 coupon on your next purchase.

This deal will be worked in several transactions.

Here is what I will do:

1ST Transaction

Gillette Deodorant----- 5.99 (Don't have a fit ---- wait for the coupons) LOL!
Gillette Deodorant----- 5.99
Swiffer Duster kit -----3.99
Swiffer Duster Refill---3.99
Puffs Tissue -----------1.25

$21.21 total with store sale
-3.00 coupon off Deodorant
-3.00 coupon off Deodorant
-1.00 coupon off Swiffer Kit
-3.99 coupon buy Kit get Refill FREE

$10.99 Total to pay out of pocket


-7.00 Will receive $7 coupon toward next purchase. SWEET!!! $3.99 for all that.




2nd Transaction

Tide Degerent------------5.99
Dawn Direct Foam Pump----2.50
Dawn Direct Foam Refill--2.50
Mr. Clean Liquid Cleaner-2.50
Mr. Clean Magic Erasers -2.50
Febreeze Freshner Spray -2.50
Febreeze Freshner Spray -2.50

20.99 Total with store sale
-1.00 coupon off Tide
-1.50 coupon off Dawn Pump
-2.00 coupon off Dawn Refill
- .75 coupon off Mr. Clean
- .75 coupon off Mr. Clean
-1.00 coupon off Febreeze
-1.00 coupon off Febreeze

$11.99 Total to pay
-7.00 Use $7 coupon received in first transaction
4.99 Total out of pocket

-7.00 Will Receive another $7 coupon toward next purchase. I will use this toward my third transaction, which will be my groceries.

I am going to buy this deal today so I will let you know if I have any problems with it.

Coupons listed were from a P&G booklet mailed to me and (2) Febreeze coupons from the Sunday paper inserts (I usually buy (3) papers on Sunday).

Happy shopping and keep it simple.

Semmes/Wilmer

Okay, this is for the local Semmes/Wilmer area shoppers. All match-ups and deals will be for sales in this area only. I will post links to other blogs for Mobile and National promotions and deals.

I thing I found very frustrating when using other blogs for match-ups was that I would have a match-up coupon, go to my local store and realize that the sales were different or that my store did not carry that item. Also, because our stores are smaller than most, there may not be a large quantity on some of the best deals.

Come back often to check for Semmes/Wilmer only deals!

Winn-Dixie

I love shopping at Winn-Dixie. It smells good!!!! They also have great sales and BOGO deals that work up real nice with coupons. My only complaint is that they are a little confused about their coupon policy right now. It seems to change as people are using more coupons. I have asked Winn-Dixie to provide a written coupon policy. Boy would this help for us and the cashiers. Someone did actually leave a message on my machine from Winn-Dixie the other day. They wanted to discuss some coupon issues. I am waiting on a return call. I will post our conversation so you can know too!

In the meantime, one of the things I like to do is go to www.winndixie.com, pull up the sales ad and make my shopping list. After I print the list, I will see what coupons I can match to the sales. If I don't have a coupon, I will then decide whether to keep that item on the list or mark off for another time.

Here are a few match ups that I have for this week:

(2) Wish Bone Salad Dressings BOGO - $2.99
- .75 Printable coupon (www.wish-bone.com)
$1.12 each
I will do the Wish Bone deal twice and stock up with (4) bottles


(2) Oscar Mayer Bologna $5.00 (2)
-2.00 (2) printable (coupons.com)
$3.00 for (2)

(2) Betty Crocker Cake Mix BOGO $1.99
-.75 printable (coupons.com)
$1.24 for (2)

There are lots of great BOGO deals with or without coupons.

Think about the cost per item!!!

Happy shopping and keep it simple!!!

Coupons

Okay, here is my first coupon tip. Keep it SIMPLE!! Yep, that is my deep words of expert wisdom. KEEP IT SIMPLE!!

Remember, anytime you use a coupon --- you are saving money. Of course, there are things you learn as you go.

Things like:

MATCHING coupons to store sales and clearance for great deals!
BUYING the SMALLEST item possible with the coupon for almost FREE or FREE items.
USING store REWARDS programs and purchases with coupons toward other purchases.

These are things you will learn as you began browsing the blogs and actually using coupons so don't sweat the small stuff. Keep it simple. You do not have to be a coupon expert to save money.
Keeping things simple will allow you to incorporate coupon clipping into your life without creating something else to take you away from your family.

Hope this post helps and encourages you to use coupons BUT keep it simple!!!

Winn-Dixie

Winn-Dixie is running a great sale starting today. Some of the highlights are:

Meal Deal

2) DiGorno Pizzas $13.98
1) Dole classic salad FREE
1) Totino's Pizza Rolls FREE
1) Breyers Ice Cream FREE
1) 2-Liter Pepsi FREE

What a great Family night meal for only $13.98! Add some games and have a wonderful family game night this weekend.

I will post Winn-Dixie coupon match ups at a later time!