The Winners Are...

Congratulations to our giveaway winners Andrea and Shanna! Be sure to contact us within 48 hrs. ladies at jjfrugalfriends@yahoo.com with your mailing address. Thank you to everyone who entered and shared your ideas. Look for new and exciting things coming soon!

1,000 Hits Giveaway

Hi everyone!
We have made it to 1,000 hits!!! To celebrate we've decided to give away some prizes but we need your help. There are 3 ways to enter and if you do all 3 you'll increase your chances of winning.

1: Become a follower on our blog (our current followers are already entered once)

2: Leave a comment below on this post about how we can improve our blog (things you would like to see or what would encourage you to continue coming back)

3: Leave another comment on the next post below with your favorite frugal tips

For your efforts we're giving away 2 prizes by random drawing- $100 in coupons or a surprise frugal gift pack!
Deadline to enter is Friday April 23 @ 12am
We will be posting the winners user names and you will have 48 hours to email us @ jjfrugalfriends@yahoo.com with your name and address. (anonymous user's names must leave a name in their post to qualify)

Good Luck and God Bless

Your Frugal Tips

We can't wait to read all of your frugal tips. Leave them below in the comments. Hope you win one of our fun prizes. Even when the giveaway is over be sure to come back and share more tips!

Four Free Items- Paid No Tax On Two

This week I did really good on getting free stuff.

I bought two rolls of CVS toilet paper, they were on sale 2/$1.00. I had a store coupon for $1 off any cvs paper product. I didn't even have to pay tax! The cashier was surprised too! Yesterday I went to Family Dollar and used my 2 coupons for $3 off Snuggle Dryer Sheets. They are regularly $3 a box for 70 ct. at Family Dollar. I only had to pay tax on the two boxes which was .47 for both of them. I had a young guy cashier and he couldn't believe how cheap I got them. I told him it was what you called knowing how to coupon!

Yard Sale Tips

Do you love shopping for furniture, clothes, and little things for your house? Do you like to buy adorable name brand clothes, unique toys, and useful gear for your kiddos? Are you in need of some kitchen appliances, plates and silverware, or a nice serving dish? Do you also hate the ridiculous price tags attached to these items? Then it looks like you need to learn how to shop at yard sales! If you feel a little overwhelmed about starting a yard sale treasure hunt, here are some tips for a more successful “shopping” trip.

Planning is Key

• Plan what you want to buy - Have an idea of the items that you want or need so that you don’t wander around aimlessly. Sarah at Clover Lane talks about how she keeps an index card in her purse with the items and specific measurements for which she is looking. By doing so, she was able to furnish her whole house for a great price. When buying clothes for children, it might be a good idea to bring the child or one of his outfits along with you to make sure they will fit. Second, know a few name brands before you go. For example, I’m not going to buy second hand Walmart (Faded Glory) clothes even for 50 cents, but I would buy an Ann Taylor sweater for $2. Last, remember that some items should NEVER be purchased second hand, such as breast pumps and car seats. Yard Sale Queen has a great list of items not to buy. Remember that safety regulations are always changing and that many companies recall toys, appliances, etc. that have been proven to be unsafe. Be sure to check the safety and quality of each item before you purchase it.

• Plan what you want to spend - A good budget is important to saving money. You may have only spent $20 on a car load of stuff from yard sales, but if that means you can’t buy groceries later that week, then you did yourself and your family a disservice. If you are searching yard sales for a couch, make sure you have decided beforehand what you are willing/able to pay for one, but try to be fair. It is unlikely that you are going to find a seller willing to let a couch in good condition go for only $10. Make sure that you have enough cash on hand to pay for the item, as most sellers are not willing to accept any other form of payment. Be sure to give yourself a little wiggle room in case you find a deal that can’t be passed up, even if it isn’t on your list.

• Plan when/where are you going to look for it - First, check local papers and the online resources listed below for advertisements. Most sellers will give a quick description of their items in their ad, giving you an idea of which sales you want to be sure to visit. In most cases, neighborhood or church sales are a better option than individual sales. They provide many items in one location, giving you a better selection and saving you time and gas money. Also look for sellers who really want to get rid of stuff, for example moving and estate sales. In planning your arrival time, keep in mind that the best items are available early in the day. Some sellers will even allow buyers to purchase items before they have officially opened for business. However, the best deals are often available later in the day, as the seller is more interested in moving the merchandise. Last, remember that the more you shop the more you will find. Maybe you will make yard sale shopping part of your weekly errand run (during the yard sale season) or maybe you will keep track of your favorite annual sales on your calendar and plan to make a yearly visit. But, even the one stop you make a summer could result in some serious savings. Just go as often as your schedule allows.

But Flexibility Doesn’t Hurt

(The advice here may seem to be the exact opposite of my first point, but every frugal shopper knows that deal seeking requires a delicate balance.)

• Flex on purchases - Just because something is on your list doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy it. You may not be looking for a new tablecloth, but if you find one that you love and it is $1, go for it! Or maybe you stumbled upon a tea cup that will make the perfect gift for a friend, or your next crafting project. Yard sales and their wares are unique, so don’t pass up an opportunity to buy something at an amazing price just because it isn’t on your list. This is similar to the overall principle of Southern Savers. You stock up when the prices hit rock bottom, even if you don’t need the item at the moment. A few words of caution: 1) stay in your overall cash budget, and 2) don’t buy something you will never use just because it is an incredible price. Remember, a clutter free home is priceless! Use your best common sense when making purchases at yard sales.

• Flex on prices - You may have planned to spend $20 on a bookshelf, but find one that is absolutely amazing for $30. Your first option is to barter with the seller. They might meet you in the middle, or they might take your offer. Haggling is acceptable at a yard sale, but remember that you are far more likely to get a good deal if you are cheerful and polite. If the seller will not lower the price, your second option is to try to come back later in the day. You risk someone else buying it, but then again you might find a better one at the next sale. If you seem to hit it off with the seller and feel comfortable leaving your number, you could ask them to call at the end of the day if the item has not sold.

• A word about haggling - It really only applies to higher priced items. It is not considered in good taste to offer a quarter for something that is already marked at 50 cents. (C’mon folks, where else can you take a dollar and actually not spend it all in one place?) However, to work a deal with smaller items, buy several of them. For example, I once went to a yard sale where they had a big bin of matchbox cars for a quarter each. I offered the seller a couple dollars for the whole bin, and she took the offer (it was later in the day), so I got them for my nephew. Another example is lamps. If a seller has two or three identical lamps for $4 each, ask if they will take $10 for all three.

Have Some Fun

Be a serious deal hunter, but don’t make shopping a drag. Just as well planned grocery trip is much smoother than a quick run close to meal time, there are a few things you can do to make treasure hunting more enjoyable. Don’t go when you’re hungry, tired, the weather is bad, or you’re in a rush. Bring some snacks and a water bottle. Leave the kids at home if at all possible. Bring a friend or family member who loves to bargain hunt as much as you do. Do what ever you can to make yourself comfortable and calm so that you can lengthen and enjoy the experience.

Last, as you peruse items spread out over lawns, garages, and church parking lots remember to look past the current state of an object and see its potential. Sometimes an item can be re-purposed for another function, fixed if it is broken, or beautified if it is ugly. A coat of paint can revamp a piece of furniture. A scrap of ribbon or lace can change a boring lampshade into a unique piece. An old galvanized wash tub can become a tub for serving drinks at a cookout (this is an actual deal that I got for $1). There are an infinite number of things that can be turned into unique storage containers. Keep an open mind and be creative!

Thanks Southern Savers

Free Bacon- Paid No Tax!

This week Harris Teeter had Oscar Mayer 12oz turkey bacon on sale for .99. I had a .75 coupon from a few weeks ago off any oscar mayer bacon. I used the coupon and the computer tried to double it, but it was more than the bacon cost so they just subtracted the $1.01 I owed off the coupon! Nothing like free, not even paying tax! I was prepared to pay it but wasn't going to argue with them :)

Buy 1 Get 1 Free Printable For O.J.

Tropicana Juicy Rewards is offering another one day only printable coupon for orange juice. Today only use 1 Juicy Reward point to get:

B1G1 Trop50 Juice 59 oz

If you are new to Juicy Rewards you can use these codes when you sign up to start out with some points.

LA73E CL9W4
DOUBL -HTREW
DOUBL -TTKFR

Use your points for discounts to museums, online shopping, printable coupons, or save the rain forest.

A deal this week

Head to Walgreens and get:

$1 RR wyb (2) Tropicana Juices $3 ea

**Deal Idea**
Buy: (2) Trop50 Juice $3
Use: B1G1 printable coupon
-$1 off Trop 50 RP 3/14
Total Due: $2
Get Back: $1 RR, makes it 50¢ ea
****************

Good Rebate, Spend $10 Get $25 In Coupons!

Conagra has a rebate going on now through the end of May. When you buy $10 of their products you will receive a $25 coupon booklet. Remember, with rebates you can pay less with coupons but the $10 will come off the actual shelf price. Some of the brands included are

1. Hunts,
   
2. Peter Pan,
   
3. Hunts Manwich,
   
4. Parkay, Snack Pack,
5. Wesson,
   
6. Pam,
   
7. Banquet,
8. Eggo Beaters
   

Here is the link for the rebate form. It says supercenter receipts on the form but from other bloggers who have done this rebate in the past, you don't have to purchase the items at wal-mart. Also the coupons in the coupon book begin with 9 so they can't be doubled. But I still think it would be a good rebate to do.
http://www.allyou.com/static/pdf/Spring-Order-Form.pdf

P&G Rebate Extended

The Proctor and Gamble Rebate that was going to end April 15th has been extended to May 31st. If you're not familiar with this rebate if you buy $50 of P&G products you will receive a $100 coupon booklet. The $50 is before coupon and sale prices! I'm glad they have extended it because I'm not to my $50 yet!

Tip Of The Day

Have you ever seen a coupon for something,couldn't remember the price, and wondered if it was really a good deal? Well now you can find the price for items at Harris Teeter without ever leaving home. Harris Teeter has a section on their site called the Express Lane. In the left corner you will see categories such as grocery etc. Click here and it will give you departments. You can also find items by brand. It will show you the regular price as well as sale price. This is very helpful when trying to find the best price using coupons.

Go to harristeeter.com go under shopping, and click express lane, then the store nearest you.

Free nursing cover

Promo Code for Free Nursing Cover!

This is a fantastic deal for all our mommies out there and their friends. I got one like this for a gift and it is one of my favorite baby items. The code also works towards their gift sets (they subtract $32).

www.uddercovers.com has a new promotion going where you can get one nursing cover (regular price $32) free.

The code is "babiesonline".

Go to www.uddercovers.com, click on "Shop Now", select the nursing cover of your choice, type in babiesonline and it will bring your product total to $0. All you pay is the S&H! You can use the code more than once - you just have to open a new browser/window to do so. Good Luck!

Sincerely,
Uddercovers.com

Monday Savings

Hope everyone had a good weekend and has gotten to take advantage of triple coupons this week.

I went again this morning to use the many good coupons that were in the paper yesterday. I spent the most I've spent this week but I know it was still a good deal because I got alot of stuff including meat.

My total out of pocket spending was $19.03. My coupons saved me $51.80!

I bought 3 packs of boneless skinless chicken breast, these were on sale Buy 1 Get 2 Free
3 6oz cans of French's Fried Onions
3 60z tubes of Colgate Max White tooth paste (.25 each!)
2 boxes of Uncle Ben's Rice
1 Warm Delight's brownie bowl
1 pack of Solo cups (free!)
3 pouches of Betty Crocker potatoes
2 jars of Skippy Peanut Butter
1 bag of 10 whole wheat tortilla wraps
1 box of 10 whole grain taco shells