On Tuesday, I talked about how to make homemade laundry detergent. Only 3 ingredients were required for that. One of them, is washing soda.
Washing soda is carried at many different stores. Unfortunately, finding it at one store in one area of the country doesn't guarantee that you'll find it at that same store in a different area of the country. Stores that are known to carry it nationwide are Meijer and Ace Hardware. It is carried at many Kroger stores but not all of their other chain names. It has been found at Wal-mart and Target in some areas.
So far, I've not personally found any here. I'm told that an Ace Hardware on the other side of town carries it, but I'm not willing to drive that far for washing soda...especially not when there's an alternative. Washing soda is also carried in many pool stores under the name Soda Ash as well as several brand names. However, it's much more expensive in pool stores and often contains another chemical or two...both of which I'm trying to avoid by making my own detergent.
So what is washing soda? Is there an alternative? Can you make your own? Washing soda is sodium carbonate or soda ash. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Washing soda is actually a very caustic (I didn't know this until I started doing this research. They say you should use gloves when you handle it. Hello! Would have been nice to know!) You can make your own washing soda by cooking baking soda. Cooking baking soda changes some of its chemical properties making it more alkaline (and thus caustic). Those chemical changes while it's cooking turn it into soda ash or washing soda.
If you want to make your own, you simply cook baking soda in an oven-safe container at 300 degrees for 2 hours. The result is washing soda. Washing soda is more alkaline and thus better for getting out really tough stains. Knowing what I know now, I might make a batch and keep it only for the toughest of tough stains...as in the ones that won't come out with regular laundry soap made with regular baking soda.
You can safely use baking soda instead of washing soda in your laundry recipe. Some people will double the amount of baking soda used since it isn't as potent at getting stains out. (In other words, if you made a batch requiring 1/2 cup of baking soda you would instead use a full cup.) I would say this would be more necessary if you have hard water like we do. If you have a water softener or don't have hard water at all, I'd probably just try to substitute baking soda for washing soda in the current proportions first.
I'm actually really excited about learning what I've learned. It means that there's one less ingredient I have to worry about buying. And if I DO want that ingredient; I can make my own! I would give you pictures, but I haven't made it yet! I'm excited to try it soon! Baking soda is much cheaper than washing soda...and as I've learned, much better for you as well!
If you make your own laundry soap, have you made any substitutions? Have you made any additions? Do you wash in cold water or hot water? (I always use cold.)
As always, if you have any questions be sure to let me know! You can comment here, e-mail me, or contact me on Facebook or Twitter.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
SOS Mom Saver: Washing Soda Substitutes? Making Your Own?
Labels:
Frugal Living,
Homemade Products,
Mom Saver,
SOS Radio
Full Disclosure
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
SOS Mom Saver: Homemade Laundry Detergent
You've heard me reference my homemade laundry detergent before. Many of you have asked for my recipe. Your wish is (finally) my command.
The ingredients are fairly simple. You only need 3:
Utilizing these 3 ingredients, you can make a dry or a liquid version. I have not yet tried the liquid version, but intend to in the future. I have been using the dry for two years now with excellent results.
Here’s what you do:
When I do the liquid version (sometime in the ever-elusive future), I will get back to you and let you know how it goes. You will save more money if you use the liquid version, but for me, I needed convenience. I’m still saving money by utilizing the dry version, just not as much.
The ingredients are fairly simple. You only need 3:
- Borax (1/2 cup to 1 cup)
- Washing Soda (1/2 cup to 1 cup) (If you cannot find Washing Soda in your area, listen to SOS Radio this coming Thursday (Sept. 30th) at 4:30pm PST. I'll tell you how to make your own!)
- 1 bar of Ivory (or Fels Naptha) soap.
(The extra bar you see in the pic above is a laundry bar I buy at the local health food store. It works wonders at getting tough stains out.)
Utilizing these 3 ingredients, you can make a dry or a liquid version. I have not yet tried the liquid version, but intend to in the future. I have been using the dry for two years now with excellent results.
Here’s what you do:
- Grate the bar of soap. (I would recommend buying a separate grater for this as it will be very hard to clean it sufficiently enough to use with food again after using it for grating soap. I got mine for 25¢ at a local thrift store. You didn’t really think I would have paid full price, did you?) (Also...The kids really love grating soap so if you don’t feel like grating soap today, call a family project…and let your kids do the “dirty” work!)
- Add grated soap to the Borax and Washing Soda.
- You can make as big a batch as you like and add it to a suitable container.
- You use 1-2 tbs of the mix for each load of laundry.
- The soap will not suds a lot. Don’t expect it to.
- You can use either ½ cup or 1 cup of the Borax and Washing Soda. The amount you use will be totally dependent on your needs. I usually use a mixture with ½ cup each, but I keep a mixture with 1 cup each in a mason jar in my big container for heavier loads (like when my son walks in the door covered in mud).
- If you don’t want to bother with 2 separate mixes, you can always just add a little extra Borax to the load. It is a natural laundry booster that many use even with "regular" laundry detergent.
- Yes. You really only use 1-2 tbs with each load. I know it seems like an incredibly small amount. But your clothes WILL be clean. I promise.
- If you have hard water, you might need to use a little extra. I would start with 1 tbs & increase to as much as 3 or 4 tbs per load of laundry if necessary.
- If you have soft water because of a water softener, you probably won't want to use over 1 tbs; but definitely not over 2 tbs.
When I do the liquid version (sometime in the ever-elusive future), I will get back to you and let you know how it goes. You will save more money if you use the liquid version, but for me, I needed convenience. I’m still saving money by utilizing the dry version, just not as much.
Labels:
Frugal Living,
Homemade Products,
Mom Saver,
SOS Radio
Full Disclosure
Friday, September 24, 2010
Another Word About My Coffee-Drinking 8yr Old
I just wanted to set the record on this post straight.
I wanted to remind everyone that I am NOT the reason my son drinks coffee. It is completely, totally, and wholeheartedly my husband's fault. I had NOTHING to do with my son drinking coffee!! It was just a battle I decided not to pick (because I knew I'd never win).
I posted the original coffee story a couple of years ago. I shall let it serve as my proof that it's all Daddy's fault.
Thus I shall retain my title as "Most Delusional Mother of the Year".
I wanted to remind everyone that I am NOT the reason my son drinks coffee. It is completely, totally, and wholeheartedly my husband's fault. I had NOTHING to do with my son drinking coffee!! It was just a battle I decided not to pick (because I knew I'd never win).
I posted the original coffee story a couple of years ago. I shall let it serve as my proof that it's all Daddy's fault.
Thus I shall retain my title as "
Labels:
Kids
Full Disclosure
Thursday, September 23, 2010
SOS Mom Saver: Black Friday...in September
For those who don't know, Black Friday is the massively huge shopping day held the day after Thanksgiving. It got its term because it used to be the first day of the fiscal year (which starts in July) that retailers finally got "in the black" or made money. Every other day until then had been a "red" day...they had lost money.
As many of you know, what started out as a ONE day shopping affair has now turned into a 5 day affair with many "pre-sales" starting Wednesday at midnight, sales being held Thanksgiving day, and of course...the weekend after Black Friday as well.
So what's the big deal? This doesn't start until Thanksgiving!
First...for many of us (myself included) it actually starts in a couple of weeks. The ads start coming in as well as "unofficial" ad drafts. I am one of those who watches the ads like a HAWK! I have learned over the years that there are some things which you can guarantee will be a good deal while others...won't be much cheaper than you'd find at any "regular" sale.
The problem, though, is that far too many people don't plan for Black Friday. They get overwhelmed and often buy too much &/or things that aren't a good deal. Many will also get so lost in the excitement that they don't watch their budget...and swipe a card (or several) without even stopping to think about what they're doing.
If you plan NOW then you can be prepared and prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed. I highly recommend that you sit down with your husband or wife NOW and plan (if you haven't already) what you plan on getting/needing for Christmas &/or the coming year.
Once you've made that list, do a quick internet search at Wal-mart, Target, or Amazon.com to get an idea of what you can expect to pay for the item at regular price. If you see a sale price, mark that down as well. Figure out what your "buy" price is. Is this something you NEED and are going to buy anyway? Or is it something that you will ONLY buy IF it gets to your "buy" price. Determine that NOW and save yourself stress later!
This way, when the ads come, you're not just randomly see what's a good deal. You're looking specifically for the items on your list...and ONLY for the items on your list to see if THEY are a good deal! Make sure that you at LEAST have the money aside for the items you NEED. You've got another 2 1/2 months before then. Figure out how much you need to put aside between now and then to have the CASH (not a credit card) available for that purchase. (Our philosophy: If we don't have the cash, we don't but it! We don't even HAVE credit cards so no cash is a deal-breaker for us!)
In the coming days, I've got some more tips on how to make your Black Friday less stressful should you decide to partake. I'll also let you know what items you can generally expect to get "buy now" sale prices on...and which items you'll usually get just as cheap (or cheaper) another time of the year. To top it off, I've got some ideas on how to make sure you DON'T go over your budget (It is possible!) as well as tips on how to get access to the ads early!
Today, though, I'll leave you with one more Black Friday tip...you don't actually have to go in the store!!! That's right! MOST of the time, you don't have to actually go into a store to get a Black Friday deal anymore! Most stores will now let you order the EXACT SAME DEAL online!! And to sweeten the pot, some stores will "unofficially" open the deals on their website at midnight even though their actual (brick & mortar) store doesn't open until 3 or 4 am!
Do you usually shop on Black Friday? What have you bought in the past? What are you hoping to buy this year? Will you shop online, in the stores, or both?
As always, I love hearing from you!
As many of you know, what started out as a ONE day shopping affair has now turned into a 5 day affair with many "pre-sales" starting Wednesday at midnight, sales being held Thanksgiving day, and of course...the weekend after Black Friday as well.
So what's the big deal? This doesn't start until Thanksgiving!
First...for many of us (myself included) it actually starts in a couple of weeks. The ads start coming in as well as "unofficial" ad drafts. I am one of those who watches the ads like a HAWK! I have learned over the years that there are some things which you can guarantee will be a good deal while others...won't be much cheaper than you'd find at any "regular" sale.
The problem, though, is that far too many people don't plan for Black Friday. They get overwhelmed and often buy too much &/or things that aren't a good deal. Many will also get so lost in the excitement that they don't watch their budget...and swipe a card (or several) without even stopping to think about what they're doing.
If you plan NOW then you can be prepared and prevent yourself from getting overwhelmed. I highly recommend that you sit down with your husband or wife NOW and plan (if you haven't already) what you plan on getting/needing for Christmas &/or the coming year.
Once you've made that list, do a quick internet search at Wal-mart, Target, or Amazon.com to get an idea of what you can expect to pay for the item at regular price. If you see a sale price, mark that down as well. Figure out what your "buy" price is. Is this something you NEED and are going to buy anyway? Or is it something that you will ONLY buy IF it gets to your "buy" price. Determine that NOW and save yourself stress later!
This way, when the ads come, you're not just randomly see what's a good deal. You're looking specifically for the items on your list...and ONLY for the items on your list to see if THEY are a good deal! Make sure that you at LEAST have the money aside for the items you NEED. You've got another 2 1/2 months before then. Figure out how much you need to put aside between now and then to have the CASH (not a credit card) available for that purchase. (Our philosophy: If we don't have the cash, we don't but it! We don't even HAVE credit cards so no cash is a deal-breaker for us!)
In the coming days, I've got some more tips on how to make your Black Friday less stressful should you decide to partake. I'll also let you know what items you can generally expect to get "buy now" sale prices on...and which items you'll usually get just as cheap (or cheaper) another time of the year. To top it off, I've got some ideas on how to make sure you DON'T go over your budget (It is possible!) as well as tips on how to get access to the ads early!
Today, though, I'll leave you with one more Black Friday tip...you don't actually have to go in the store!!! That's right! MOST of the time, you don't have to actually go into a store to get a Black Friday deal anymore! Most stores will now let you order the EXACT SAME DEAL online!! And to sweeten the pot, some stores will "unofficially" open the deals on their website at midnight even though their actual (brick & mortar) store doesn't open until 3 or 4 am!
Do you usually shop on Black Friday? What have you bought in the past? What are you hoping to buy this year? Will you shop online, in the stores, or both?
As always, I love hearing from you!
Full Disclosure
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Yes. My Son DOES Drink Coffee.
I know, I know. I've tried to stay away from some of the hot-button political topics...or parenting ones. Must be feeling kinda feisty today, though. I'm jumping into a hugely controversial topic head-first!
I'm wondering, though, if I titled this post correctly. Perhaps this one would have been more appropriate: "The Post From Which I'll Lose Lots Of Subscribers". Because I'm certain I will. This post totally proves that I am about the most inadequate parent you'll ever find. Either that or "The Post From Which I'll Be Awarded the Title of "Mother of the Year Worst Mom Ever To Walk The Face Of The Earth"...or something along those lines. Because clearly, I am.
I mean let's face it. I let my son have COFFEE! (Did she just say that she gives her SON coffee!!)
What kind of a horrible mother does that make me? (At least she knows what kind of a horrible, no good, rotten, terrible mother she is! I would NEVER give MY child coffee! I'm perfect. Unlike her.)
Oh. But it gets worse. I know. Hard to imagine worse than giving your 8yr old son coffee. But trust me, it does get worse. MUCH worse. (MUCH worse than giving her son coffee? Where's that number for DHS again? I'm DEFINITELY going to have to call THIS mother in!)
What, pray tell, is SO much worse than JUST giving my 8yr old son coffee?
It's coffee that has been made by his father. I know this doesn't sound THAT bad. Trust me on this one, though. If you were to ever have his coffee you would understand the full impact of that statement.
My husband doesn't just make coffee. He takes an ENTIRE can of Folgers and adds a little water so it's drinkable. And just enough so that it's drinkable. Any less and it wouldn't be drinkable. Any more and it wouldn't be my husband's coffee.
Those with whom he works at SOS Radio would totally attest to the validity of my words.
Alright. I'm putting on my flame-retardant suit. It's a little worse for wear right now because of my migraine, though...so at least be a little nice. K?
I'm wondering, though, if I titled this post correctly. Perhaps this one would have been more appropriate: "The Post From Which I'll Lose Lots Of Subscribers". Because I'm certain I will. This post totally proves that I am about the most inadequate parent you'll ever find. Either that or "The Post From Which I'll Be Awarded the Title of "
I mean let's face it. I let my son have COFFEE! (Did she just say that she gives her SON coffee!!)
What kind of a horrible mother does that make me? (At least she knows what kind of a horrible, no good, rotten, terrible mother she is! I would NEVER give MY child coffee! I'm perfect. Unlike her.)
Oh. But it gets worse. I know. Hard to imagine worse than giving your 8yr old son coffee. But trust me, it does get worse. MUCH worse. (MUCH worse than giving her son coffee? Where's that number for DHS again? I'm DEFINITELY going to have to call THIS mother in!)
What, pray tell, is SO much worse than JUST giving my 8yr old son coffee?
It's coffee that has been made by his father. I know this doesn't sound THAT bad. Trust me on this one, though. If you were to ever have his coffee you would understand the full impact of that statement.
My husband doesn't just make coffee. He takes an ENTIRE can of Folgers and adds a little water so it's drinkable. And just enough so that it's drinkable. Any less and it wouldn't be drinkable. Any more and it wouldn't be my husband's coffee.
Those with whom he works at SOS Radio would totally attest to the validity of my words.
Alright. I'm putting on my flame-retardant suit. It's a little worse for wear right now because of my migraine, though...so at least be a little nice. K?
Full Disclosure
A "Sticky" Situation
I found this one from 3 years ago on my old blog. Since those blogs didn't get transferred here, I thought I'd post some of the "oldies but goodies".
The postman knocked on my door today. I always wonder if this will be the delivery when I get flowers from my generous husband...or if it's that book we've been expecting from Paperback Swap that we just can't wait to run upstairs and read.
That's not the kind of delivery I got today, though.
Today, I got a stick.
Seriously. He handed me a stick. Ummm...Thanks?
See the BEST job in our house after lunch is running out to check the mail. Apparantly, one (or several) of my children have been adding a little something TO the box when they retrieve our mail...a STICK. My children have been (routinely evidently) adding a stick to the mailbox and putting the little red flag up.
I shake my head in acknowledgement as the postman tells me that he's been finding the sticks in the box and the red flag put up on a regular basis. I'm remembering a couple of months ago when we had the discussion about the little red flag and how if you put it up it meant you had something to mail out.
I neglected to mention you had to place it in an envelope, address it, and add postage. I assumed that was a given. I was talking to a 5yr old boy.
I listened intently as the postman told his story then, attempting to find humor in the situation asked, "So what was wrong with the stick? Was it not properly addressed or did it not have sufficient postage?"
He was not amused.
That's not the kind of delivery I got today, though.
Today, I got a stick.
Seriously. He handed me a stick. Ummm...Thanks?
See the BEST job in our house after lunch is running out to check the mail. Apparantly, one (or several) of my children have been adding a little something TO the box when they retrieve our mail...a STICK. My children have been (routinely evidently) adding a stick to the mailbox and putting the little red flag up.
I shake my head in acknowledgement as the postman tells me that he's been finding the sticks in the box and the red flag put up on a regular basis. I'm remembering a couple of months ago when we had the discussion about the little red flag and how if you put it up it meant you had something to mail out.
I neglected to mention you had to place it in an envelope, address it, and add postage. I assumed that was a given. I was talking to a 5yr old boy.
I listened intently as the postman told his story then, attempting to find humor in the situation asked, "So what was wrong with the stick? Was it not properly addressed or did it not have sufficient postage?"
He was not amused.
Labels:
Kids
Full Disclosure
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
SOS Mom Saver: Quick Migraine Relief
If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, then you know that I have been dealing with a LOT of migraines. I'm working with doctors to try and find out why they have become so bad again so suddenly. In the meantime, I have to manage them and find a way to function despite them.
Nausea is one of the things about migraines that I HATE! A couple of years ago, I found out that sucking on a mint will make the nausea subside and will help some with the headache as well. WooHoo!
As you can imagine, I was pretty skeptical. What migraine-sufferer wouldn't be? Could something as simple as a peppermint really help provide relief?
It does. I don't imagine you could use it as your only form of relief, but it certainly plays a role in helping you function with migraines. And it's simple...and cheap! What could be better? (Besides not having migraines at all, of course.)
Nausea is one of the things about migraines that I HATE! A couple of years ago, I found out that sucking on a mint will make the nausea subside and will help some with the headache as well. WooHoo!
![]() |
| It really works! |
It does. I don't imagine you could use it as your only form of relief, but it certainly plays a role in helping you function with migraines. And it's simple...and cheap! What could be better? (Besides not having migraines at all, of course.)
Full Disclosure
Friday, September 17, 2010
Chuck Norris...Is.
Whitney, our 9yr old saw this in her Daddy's office today and wanted to know who Chuck Norris was.
I told her that you don't know Chuck Norris.
He knows you.
I told her that you don't know Chuck Norris.
He knows you.
She looked incredibly confused.
Sweetheart, there are somethings that you just can't explain. They just are.
Chuck Norris is one of those things.
Or so I'm told.
Sweetheart, there are somethings that you just can't explain. They just are.
Chuck Norris is one of those things.
Or so I'm told.
Labels:
Kids
Full Disclosure
Thursday, September 16, 2010
SOS Mom Saver: Creative Storage in a Bottle
When my son was younger, he liked to get into everything.
And I do mean everything.
This led me to seek out creative storage solutions for things like tacks, paper clips, and safety pins which you really do NOT want a young child getting into & leaving all over the floor and/or putting in their mouth. Just keeping it out of reach wasn't enough for me. I'm short so I really don't want to have to climb to get things that I use on a regular basis. I wanted them down where I could reach them but also wanted them kept secure from curious hands.
I didn't need anything big as I usually don't have large quantities of these items. We were also nearly drowning in medical bills at the time so whatever I found couldn't be expensive.
I had a light bulb moment as I was about to throw an empty bottle of medicine away. Perfect! It was small, secure, and better than cheap...I already had it in the home!
I could have just taken the pill bottle and stuck the stuff in there. I wanted to make it a little prettier, though. I also wanted to clearly distinguish it from a medicine bottle.
And I do mean everything.
This led me to seek out creative storage solutions for things like tacks, paper clips, and safety pins which you really do NOT want a young child getting into & leaving all over the floor and/or putting in their mouth. Just keeping it out of reach wasn't enough for me. I'm short so I really don't want to have to climb to get things that I use on a regular basis. I wanted them down where I could reach them but also wanted them kept secure from curious hands.
I didn't need anything big as I usually don't have large quantities of these items. We were also nearly drowning in medical bills at the time so whatever I found couldn't be expensive.
I had a light bulb moment as I was about to throw an empty bottle of medicine away. Perfect! It was small, secure, and better than cheap...I already had it in the home!
I could have just taken the pill bottle and stuck the stuff in there. I wanted to make it a little prettier, though. I also wanted to clearly distinguish it from a medicine bottle.
I started with an empty bottle.
I peeled the label off of the bottle. As you can see, I was not concerned with getting every last remnant of label off. I pretty much just wanted the outside of it off. (You technically could skip this step, but I found that the paper didn't stick as well to the label if you didn't remove the outside of it. The label itself would also show through any cover without several layers. It's much easier to just take it off.)
Gather the rest of your supplies. Pretty simple.
Cut the paper to size.
Glue the wrapper to the bottle.
As you can see, it's not perfectly cut, but it's good enough for me.
Here, you can see the difference between the two bottles. The one on the left just has the label removed. The one on the right has been re-wrapped with paper to make it look more neat.
Here are two completed bottles. You could make it prettier and decorate it more. I just wanted it to look simple and be clearly labeled.
As always, I love hearing from you. Have you ever re-purposed anything? Would you? Are you trying to find a second purpose for something in your home? Let me know!
On an unrelated note, I am excited to report that Savings Angel is now also offering the weekly deals for Smiths. They right now are posting the deals in the Utah area. I'm browsing their deals and the Vegas area weekly ad right now to see if they are the same. If so...I am going to be incredibly happy (and of course I will let you know)! This will make things WORLDS easier for me on weeks when the Vegas area Smiths stores are doubling!
Labels:
Frugal Living,
Mom Saver,
SOS Radio
Full Disclosure
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Using Coupons & Saving Money On Groceries Part 2: Know the Coupon Policy at Your Stores
In part one of this series, I discussed the importance of NOT being brand-sensitive.
The next step in beginning to save money on groceries is to find out the coupon policy at all of your local stores. I recommend this step even if you don't plan on using coupons at all or very much. This way, should you change your mind in the future and decide to use coupons, the information is already at your fingertips. You don't have e-mails and phone calls to make before you even know how you can use coupons in your area.
The reason I think this is vital is because the situations that would most often throw us into needing to use coupons (as opposed to choosing to use them) are sudden situations that bring on a certain level of stress (an unexpected job loss, accident, chronic illness, or other such situations). At that time, the LAST thing you want to have to do is try to figure out how and where to use the coupons that you need to be using right away.
The BEST thing to do is to print the policy directly off of the store's website. (You can often find it by searching "coupons" or "coupon policy" in the FAQ section of the store website.) If it's not there, you can e-mail them and request a written policy. You'll only get it about half of the time, but that's still worth the effort in my opinion.
Even if you get a written policy, I would recommend that you either go in or call the store itself and confirm the policy. This way, you know what to expect from YOUR store when you go in to use your coupons. Ask whoever you talk to what their name is and what department they work in (Guest services, etc).
When you e-mail to ask for a written policy, your e-mail would look something like this:
I have had some customer service people tell me that I had to talk to a front-end manager. I've also had some just offer to copy the policy for me. I'd gratefully accept and then only ask questions on any areas that I felt needed clarifying.
Most stores are just happy that you're clarifying the policy before trying to use coupons in a way that is against their allowed policy and then getting mad about it!
If you have any questions please post them here, e-mail me, or message me on Facebook or Twitter.
Missed old posts in this series?
The next step in beginning to save money on groceries is to find out the coupon policy at all of your local stores. I recommend this step even if you don't plan on using coupons at all or very much. This way, should you change your mind in the future and decide to use coupons, the information is already at your fingertips. You don't have e-mails and phone calls to make before you even know how you can use coupons in your area.
The reason I think this is vital is because the situations that would most often throw us into needing to use coupons (as opposed to choosing to use them) are sudden situations that bring on a certain level of stress (an unexpected job loss, accident, chronic illness, or other such situations). At that time, the LAST thing you want to have to do is try to figure out how and where to use the coupons that you need to be using right away.
The BEST thing to do is to print the policy directly off of the store's website. (You can often find it by searching "coupons" or "coupon policy" in the FAQ section of the store website.) If it's not there, you can e-mail them and request a written policy. You'll only get it about half of the time, but that's still worth the effort in my opinion.
Even if you get a written policy, I would recommend that you either go in or call the store itself and confirm the policy. This way, you know what to expect from YOUR store when you go in to use your coupons. Ask whoever you talk to what their name is and what department they work in (Guest services, etc).
When you e-mail to ask for a written policy, your e-mail would look something like this:
Dear Store,
I am new to couponing in your area. Could I please receive a written copy of your coupon policy? This way, I can ensure that I am following proper store procedure regarding coupons and their usage. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.Here are the specifics that I make sure are answered by a written policy, a return e-mail, phone call, or visit to the store:
Sincerely,
Bob the Tomato
- Do you take coupons? (I know this seems like a no-brainer, but there are some stores like Fresh & Easy here and Aldi in many areas that do NOT take coupons. I shudder at the thought. The rest of the questions of course assume that the answer to this question was "yes".)
- Do you take expired coupons?
- If so, is there a limit to how old they can be? You can expect one of the following answers:
- No. We take any expired coupon regardless of age. (This is, by far, the best answer.)
- We only take them for up to 6 months past the expiration.
- We only take them for up to 90 days past the expiration.
- We only take them for up to 30 days past the expiration.
- We only take them for up to 1 week past the expiration.
- Do you double coupons?
- If they do double coupons then...Which coupons do you double? The limits will usually be one of the following answers:
- All coupons up to & including $.50 (would be worth up to $1)
- All coupons up to & including $.75 (would be worth up to $1.50)
- All coupons up to & including $1 (would be worth up to $2)
- Occasionally (but not often)...All coupons up to & including $2 (would be worth up to $4)
- Do you triple coupons? (Yes...some stores actually do this. Excuse me while I go day dream for a minute...)
- If they do triple coupons then...Which coupons do you triple? The limits will usually be one of the following answers:
- All coupons up to & including $.35 (would be worth up to $1.05)
- All coupons up to & including $.50 (would be worth up to $1.50)
- All coupons up to & including $.75 (would be worth up to $2.25)
- If they don't do regular double or triple coupons then I ask if they hold temporary promotions where coupons are doubled or tripled.
- If they do have temporary double or triple promotions then I ask when and how often they have them and when the next promotion is.
- Regardless of whether they double or triple all the time or just during temporary promotions, I then ask if there's a like-coupon limit. In other words, can I buy 5 of the same product and use a coupon for each item and have each coupon double or triple. (Many stores will limit you to 2 or 3 like coupons when doubling or tripling.)
- Do you accept competitor's coupons? (i.e.-Will you take a Target store coupon for Old El Paso taco shells?)
- Will you allow me to combine a store coupon AND a manufacturer coupon on the same item?
- Do you accept manufacturer coupons that have another store's name on them? (An example would be the coupons that print at the register that are a manufacturer coupon but have "Von's" on them...and you're calling to ask Smith's about their policy.)
- Do you price-match? (This isn't coupon-specific, but I always ask this question when calling about coupons so I know what I can and can't do in each store.)
- If they do price-match, then I try to get specifics on what they price match:
- Do you price-match everything?
- Do you price-match b1g1f offers?
- Do you price-match % off offers?
- Do you price-match loss-leaders?
- Will you price-adjust a coupon if the item is $.99 and the coupon is for $1?
- Will you take 2 coupons on a b1g1f store sale? Do you if the 2nd item rings up as $0 or free?
- Do you require a store card for sale items?
- Do you give a credit or rewards points for using re-usable bags?
I have had some customer service people tell me that I had to talk to a front-end manager. I've also had some just offer to copy the policy for me. I'd gratefully accept and then only ask questions on any areas that I felt needed clarifying.
Most stores are just happy that you're clarifying the policy before trying to use coupons in a way that is against their allowed policy and then getting mad about it!
If you have any questions please post them here, e-mail me, or message me on Facebook or Twitter.
Missed old posts in this series?
- Using Coupons and Saving Money On Groceries Part 1: Why Not To Be a Brand Snob
Labels:
Couponing,
Frugal Living,
Mom Saver,
SOS Radio
Full Disclosure
Friday, September 10, 2010
But I already HAVE underwear on!!!
Yes, son. Yes you do. But you STILL have to put new underwear on. "But mo-om, I didn't have to put new underwear on yesterday." (sigh)
...5 minutes later...
Son...you need to put on a clean shirt. (He looks down at his shirt which is clean on the front.) "But mom, it IS clean." (sigh) Son. You turned the shirt around. It is NOT clean. All of the dirty stuff is now on your back.
...another 5 minutes...
Son, isn't that the SAME shirt you had on earlier? (Looks down at his shirt again.) "Yup! Now it's clean on BOTH the front AND the back! See!" (Points proudly at his shirt.) (sigh) Son. You turned your shirt inside out. You STILL have a dirty shirt on even if you can't see the dirt.
...5 minutes later...
Son...you need to put on a clean shirt. (He looks down at his shirt which is clean on the front.) "But mom, it IS clean." (sigh) Son. You turned the shirt around. It is NOT clean. All of the dirty stuff is now on your back.
...another 5 minutes...
Son, isn't that the SAME shirt you had on earlier? (Looks down at his shirt again.) "Yup! Now it's clean on BOTH the front AND the back! See!" (Points proudly at his shirt.) (sigh) Son. You turned your shirt inside out. You STILL have a dirty shirt on even if you can't see the dirt.
Labels:
Kids
Full Disclosure
Thursday, September 9, 2010
SOS Mom Saver: Get Deodorant Stains Out of Clothes Easily!
It's time for me to admit something really personal. I have a chronic condition called "Deodorant-shirtitis". Unfortunately, many suffer from this same condition.
I usually don't discover that I the condition has struck that day until I'm on my way out the door. I've tried using water...only to have it come back again as soon as the shirt is dry. I've also tried using wipes...the deodorant goes away...and is replaced by the remnants of the wipe.
So I set out to find a better solution!
The easiest way I've found to get the deodorant out is to just rub the shirt together. Seriously. It's THAT easy.
However, that's easier said than done if the stain is on the side or towards the back of a shirt that you're currently wearing.
In this case, you can just rub pantyhose on the stain and it will go away. I was skeptical at first too, but it really does work!
If you suffer from this "problem", I recommend keeping a knee high with you in a desk drawer, the glove box of the car, or a pocket of your purse.
If you don't wear pantyhose, you can buy a small package of knee highs at the store for as low as $.33. Carry one with you and keep the other at home or work.
If you DO wear pantyhose, just cut a small section of one out to keep with you once they're snagged and can't be worn anymore. And if you wear pantyhose...I'm sorry. My condolences are with you.
I usually don't discover that I the condition has struck that day until I'm on my way out the door. I've tried using water...only to have it come back again as soon as the shirt is dry. I've also tried using wipes...the deodorant goes away...and is replaced by the remnants of the wipe.
So I set out to find a better solution!
The easiest way I've found to get the deodorant out is to just rub the shirt together. Seriously. It's THAT easy.
However, that's easier said than done if the stain is on the side or towards the back of a shirt that you're currently wearing.
In this case, you can just rub pantyhose on the stain and it will go away. I was skeptical at first too, but it really does work!
If you suffer from this "problem", I recommend keeping a knee high with you in a desk drawer, the glove box of the car, or a pocket of your purse.
If you don't wear pantyhose, you can buy a small package of knee highs at the store for as low as $.33. Carry one with you and keep the other at home or work.
If you DO wear pantyhose, just cut a small section of one out to keep with you once they're snagged and can't be worn anymore. And if you wear pantyhose...I'm sorry. My condolences are with you.
Labels:
Frugal Living,
Homemade Products,
Mom Saver,
SOS Radio
Full Disclosure
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
SOS Mom Saver: Home Made Febreze
I love the idea of Febreze. What I don't love is the fact that it's loaded with chemicals that I'd rather not spray on every surface that we touch. Not to mention the price of $4+/bottle. Hello! NOT paying that! Surely there's something cheaper...with less chemicals to boot!
What do you know? There IS!
All you need is 3 simple ingredients:
If you want to add a little scent, you can add a tablespoon or two of lemon juice and/or some essential oils (tea tree oil is a great disinfectant, but isn't safe for use around pets).
To speed up drying time, add a couple tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to your mixture.
(What I do if I add lemon juice, essential oils, or alcohol is add those things FIRST, add water to fill 1/2 the bottle then add the vinegar to fill the rest of the way. Basically, I have the other ingredients take up water space.)
Remember to shake your bottle before each use.
What do you know? There IS!
All you need is 3 simple ingredients:
- Vinegar
- Water
- A spray bottle (which you can get at discount and dollar stores for $1 if you don't have one to reuse).
- Fill the bottle 1/2 way with vinegar.
- Add water to the top.
- Shake...and spray on the desired surfaces.
If you want to add a little scent, you can add a tablespoon or two of lemon juice and/or some essential oils (tea tree oil is a great disinfectant, but isn't safe for use around pets).
To speed up drying time, add a couple tablespoons of rubbing alcohol to your mixture.
(What I do if I add lemon juice, essential oils, or alcohol is add those things FIRST, add water to fill 1/2 the bottle then add the vinegar to fill the rest of the way. Basically, I have the other ingredients take up water space.)
Remember to shake your bottle before each use.
Labels:
Frugal Living,
Homemade Products,
Mom Saver,
SOS Radio
Full Disclosure
Thursday, September 2, 2010
SOS Mom Saver: Freebies!!!
I know you want more freebies because you've e-mailed me asking for them!
Your wish...is my command:
Albertsons/Jewel/Stop-n-Shop...depending on your area...Super-Valu Chain Stores:
Full Disclosure
Your wish...is my command:
Albertsons/Jewel/Stop-n-Shop...depending on your area...Super-Valu Chain Stores:
- Cool Whip (8oz) $1 (buy 5) - ($5) oyno cat = Free (You can freeze this until Thanksgiving time.)
- Kraft Cheese (5-8oz, shredded or chunk) $2 (buy 5) - ($5/5) ip - ($5) oyno = Free (You should be able to print 2 coupons to do this twice.)
- Kraft Cheese (5-8oz, shredded or chunk) $2 (buy 5) - 2($1/2) ip - ($5) oyno =$.60/each item...or you could this deal THIS way to save even more money:
- Kraft Cheese (as above) $2 (buy 4) AND Cool Whip (8oz) $1 (buy 1) - 2($1/2) ip - ($5) oyno = $.40/each item (Again...you should be able to print two of the above coupons to do this deal twice.)
- Kellogg's Cereals (various kinds...get ones that are on sale @ $2.50 for best deal) $2.50 (buy 10) -various coupons...listed below - ($10) oyno = $.75 - $1/box (without coupons...you pay $1.50/box. Here are your coupon options:
- Frosted Mini Wheats ($1/2) 8/29 SS
- Frosted Mini Wheats ($1/2) ip
- Various Kelloggs cereal ($1/2) 8/29 SS
- Various Kelloggs cereals ($1/2) 7/25 RP
- Various ones in 8/15 RP, 8/8 RP, and 8/1 RP
- Apple Jacks, Fruit Loops, &/or Corn Pops ($1.50/2) ip
- Various Kelloggs cereal on Kelloggs Website
- Apple Jacks, Fruit Loops, &/or Corn Pops ($1.50/2) or ($1/2) blinkies
- Various Kelloggs cereal ips on Redplum
- A note about the Kellogg's cereals...look for the cereals that have the Toy Story promotion listed on the front of the box. Collect 3 boxes & you get $5 off concessions at the movie theater. Collect 6 & you get a free ticket to a Disney or Touchstone movie.
- Little Emerald nuts $1 - ($1) 8/15 rp = Free
- High Octane Energy Chews (3ct) $1.99 - ($1.99) ECB = Free
- Breathe Right Strips (10ct) $4 - ($1.50) 4/11 RP - ($4) RR = Free + $1.50
- Carmex Moisture Plus Lip Balm (.07-.075oz) $2 - ($2) RR = Free
- Colgate Total Advanced or Enamel Strength Toothpaste (4 oz) $2.99 - ($1) DAY pg 41 - ($2) RR = Free + $.01
- Colgate Total Advanced or Enamel Strength Toothpaste (4oz) $2.99 - ($1) 8/8 SS - ($2) RR = Free
- Irwin Naturals Healthy Skin & Hair Plus Nails Supplements (60 ct) $10 - ($10) RR = Free
- Walgreens Perfection Tampons (8 ct) $1.99 - ($2) RR = Free + $.01
- Post-it Super Sticky Note Pads 3×3 (single pack) - ($1) 8/15 ss = free
Full Disclosure
Labels:
Free Products,
Frugal Living,
Mom Saver,
SOS Radio
Full Disclosure
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)















