Anyone who would like a coupon for a buy one, get one free loaf of bread from Great Harvest Bakery in Cary (Maynard and High House) can email me.
Yummy bread!
Thrifty
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Kroger coupons and Autozone free services
Groceries: Sign up at http://www.kroger.com/mykroger/Pages/default.aspx and receive information on sales and e-coupons. If you would like to try out the e-coupons page before signing up, go to:
http://www.kroger.com/in_store/Pages/savings_offers.aspx for this week's coupons.
DIY Guys
Car tools: If you need a specialty (and usually expensive!) tool to fix your car, go to Autozone and make use of their "Loan-a-tool-service". You leave a deposit with them, use the tool, return the tool and receive your deposit back. For a complete list of tools, go to http://www.autozone.com/in_our_stores/loan_a_tool/loan_a_tool.htm They also offer free testing of certain parts and free battery charging. Vehicle repair guides can be found on their site at http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairGuide.htm and there is a trouble shooting page as well.
Happy saving!
Thrifty
http://www.kroger.com/in_store/Pages/savings_offers.aspx for this week's coupons.
DIY Guys
Car tools: If you need a specialty (and usually expensive!) tool to fix your car, go to Autozone and make use of their "Loan-a-tool-service". You leave a deposit with them, use the tool, return the tool and receive your deposit back. For a complete list of tools, go to http://www.autozone.com/in_our_stores/loan_a_tool/loan_a_tool.htm They also offer free testing of certain parts and free battery charging. Vehicle repair guides can be found on their site at http://www.autozone.com/shopping/repairGuide.htm and there is a trouble shooting page as well.
Happy saving!
Thrifty
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Tax time
It's that time of year again, but there is no need to get stressed out. If you have a simple situation and you're filing your own taxes, remember to go to www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040 for information or if you need help.
There are several online sites where you can e-file your federal return free. Remember though that state filing is not free on these sites. If you choose to e-file and use direct deposit for your refund, processing time is about 10 days. Filing on paper takes about 4 - 6 weeks.
Paying a tax preparer can be well worth the money if your situation is not simple. Always ask for the fee upfront and don't use a tax preparer that charges a percentage of your refund. Stay away from the "rapid refunds", "instant refunds" or "refund anticipation loans". The fees that go with these loans are exorbitant and as I mentioned, you could get your refund in 10 days if you file electronically and choose to have your refund deposited directly into your bank account.
Feel free to contact me with simple tax questions.
Happy filing!
Thrifty
There are several online sites where you can e-file your federal return free. Remember though that state filing is not free on these sites. If you choose to e-file and use direct deposit for your refund, processing time is about 10 days. Filing on paper takes about 4 - 6 weeks.
Paying a tax preparer can be well worth the money if your situation is not simple. Always ask for the fee upfront and don't use a tax preparer that charges a percentage of your refund. Stay away from the "rapid refunds", "instant refunds" or "refund anticipation loans". The fees that go with these loans are exorbitant and as I mentioned, you could get your refund in 10 days if you file electronically and choose to have your refund deposited directly into your bank account.
Feel free to contact me with simple tax questions.
Happy filing!
Thrifty
Monday, January 21, 2008
Timing is everything!
There's a best time of day, month or year to shop for certain items.
Groceries: Most grocery stores discount their goods that are close to the expiration date, first thing in the morning. So, shopping mid-morning gives you a chance to save on meat, fruit and vegetables. To make sure it's a saving, use the meat within a day or two or freeze it. Consume fruit and vegetables within a day or two or cut up and freeze.
Groceries: Most grocery stores discount their goods that are close to the expiration date, first thing in the morning. So, shopping mid-morning gives you a chance to save on meat, fruit and vegetables. To make sure it's a saving, use the meat within a day or two or freeze it. Consume fruit and vegetables within a day or two or cut up and freeze.
Car wash: Some car washes have off-peak prices. Autowash in Apex has $2.00 off from 8am - 9am and 6pm - 8pm.
Eating out: Some restaurants have certain days when kids eat free or at a discount. Ice-cream stores have certain items on special depending on the day of the week. Similarly, some restaurants have drinks specials on different days of the week. Get to know when your favorite places have your favorites on special so you can save without even having to clip a coupon!
Car buying: This can be a complex one, so for more detailed information, go to http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2007/08/car-buying.html
The quick answer seems to be month end. The last two days of the month or the last weekend of the month. The end of the summer is also a good time as the winter months are generally slow, so car dealers try to get rid of inventory before that. If you're buying in the winter, go on a really cold day near the end of the day. My husband recently struck a good deal on a really cold day at about 5pm. This sure was a serendipitous experience!
If you have any tips for our fellow readers, please feel free to email me.
Happy savings!
Thrifty
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Rebates
Rebates can be time consuming and tedious at the best of times, but can save you quite a bit. Just recently I bought a PC with a $200.00 mail in rebate. That's a rebate worth mailing in!
To make sure that your rebate is processed as quickly as possible, follow the tips below:
1. Make sure the rebate offer has not expired when shopping retail and that the cashier hands you the correct coupon (if a coupon is required).
2. Read the fine print and make sure you follow all instructions to the T!
3. The infamous UPC and sales receipt is required for most rebates. Do not send copies, but keep copies of everything yourself. You will need a copy of the receipt and possibly the UPC should you have a problem with the product after mailing off your rebate.
4. Mailing out material and tracking - Depending on the amount the rebate, consider sending all of the rebate information using US Certified Mail. Certified Mail provides you with a mailing receipt. A record is kept at the post office of delivery. A return receipt can also be purchased for an additional fee, although available only with First-Class and Priority Mail. (http://www.usps.gov/ for more information)
5. Checking Your Mail - Some reports say that up to 50% of rebate checks are never cashed. This is because they can look like junk mail when they arrive in your mailbox. Don't throw out junk mail so easily when expecting a rebate - it may not look like money, but it is! Also, ensure you cash your check right away. Most rebate checks need to be cashed within a limited time, some as little as 14 days. Just deposit or cash it right away.
6. Returning a product after the rebate has been sent out - check on the policy of the store regarding this issue.
7. Make photocopies of everything! This warrants repeating. This helps if your rebate does not arrive in time and you need make an enquiry or if you have a problem with your item and need to have it exchanged/replaced.
8. Mark your calendar or set a reminder on your cell phone for a certain date to check if you have received your rebate. Some rebates take up to 8 weeks and by then you may have forgotten that you are due a rebate.
Happy savings!
Thrifty
To make sure that your rebate is processed as quickly as possible, follow the tips below:
1. Make sure the rebate offer has not expired when shopping retail and that the cashier hands you the correct coupon (if a coupon is required).
2. Read the fine print and make sure you follow all instructions to the T!
3. The infamous UPC and sales receipt is required for most rebates. Do not send copies, but keep copies of everything yourself. You will need a copy of the receipt and possibly the UPC should you have a problem with the product after mailing off your rebate.
4. Mailing out material and tracking - Depending on the amount the rebate, consider sending all of the rebate information using US Certified Mail. Certified Mail provides you with a mailing receipt. A record is kept at the post office of delivery. A return receipt can also be purchased for an additional fee, although available only with First-Class and Priority Mail. (http://www.usps.gov/ for more information)
5. Checking Your Mail - Some reports say that up to 50% of rebate checks are never cashed. This is because they can look like junk mail when they arrive in your mailbox. Don't throw out junk mail so easily when expecting a rebate - it may not look like money, but it is! Also, ensure you cash your check right away. Most rebate checks need to be cashed within a limited time, some as little as 14 days. Just deposit or cash it right away.
6. Returning a product after the rebate has been sent out - check on the policy of the store regarding this issue.
7. Make photocopies of everything! This warrants repeating. This helps if your rebate does not arrive in time and you need make an enquiry or if you have a problem with your item and need to have it exchanged/replaced.
8. Mark your calendar or set a reminder on your cell phone for a certain date to check if you have received your rebate. Some rebates take up to 8 weeks and by then you may have forgotten that you are due a rebate.
Happy savings!
Thrifty
Leapfrog sale
http://www.leapfrog.com/ is having a 70% off sale at the moment, while stocks last. It's a good time to grab some fun stuff for the kids!
Watch out for my blog on rebates tomorrow.
Have saving!
Thrifty
Watch out for my blog on rebates tomorrow.
Have saving!
Thrifty
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Airfare specials
Right now a number of airlines are having sales. www.skybus.com is the link to Skybus which flies out of Greensboro for this area. They say they have 10 seats for $10 (plus taxes) on each flight, although I have not found any yet. The other prices start at $40 per ticket, one way.
Jetblue and Airtran also have some deals going albeit not in the same low price range of Skybus.
Happy Saving!
Thrifty
Jetblue and Airtran also have some deals going albeit not in the same low price range of Skybus.
Happy Saving!
Thrifty
Monday, January 7, 2008
Sales and coupons
This week, January 6 - 12, Target is selling GE 13 W compact fluorescent light bulbs for $4.99, buy 1 get 1 free! That's a super saving on these light bulbs. Remember they last 8 - 10 times longer than regular bulbs and use between 70 and 75% less energy!
In this week's Sunday paper, there is a coupon for $2.25 for a box of electrasol tabs. That's a saving of nearly 50% (Harris Teeter sells a box of 20 for $4.99) or up to 78%! These tabs cost $2.89 for a box of 20 at Target. That's a cost of only $0.64 out of pocket before tax!
Happy saving!
Thrifty
In this week's Sunday paper, there is a coupon for $2.25 for a box of electrasol tabs. That's a saving of nearly 50% (Harris Teeter sells a box of 20 for $4.99) or up to 78%! These tabs cost $2.89 for a box of 20 at Target. That's a cost of only $0.64 out of pocket before tax!
Happy saving!
Thrifty
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Triple coupon days
My hot tip today is the triple days at Harris Teeter from January 3 through January 5, 2008. This means that your coupon will be tripled up to a 99c value. Limit is 20 coupons per household per day. A .75c coupon is then worth $2.25! If you stick to items for which you have coupons, you will pay for example $20 for a $60 purchase!
Here’s to triple savings!
Thrifty
Here’s to triple savings!
Thrifty
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