Grocery Coupons ? When are They Not a Good Deal?

Grocery Coupons ? When are They Not a Good Deal?

Last Sunday I was scanning the weekly ads hunting for grocery coupons that I could use on our family’s weekly grocery shopping trip when a thought crossed my mind.  When is couponing not a good deal? Could unsuspecting frugal shoppers get carried away with the current “Coupon Craze” and end up spending more money than they actually need to?

It seems like everyone these days are clipping grocery coupons and searching out printable coupons on the world wide web which can save you substantial money on your grocery bill apiece month.  But I believe that clipping coupons isn’t the only answer and, in a worst case scenario, could cause you to spend more money than you need to.

How many of you have actually stopped to think about the prices you are paying at your local grocery store?  Are you loyal to a specific supermarket?  Do you look down at stores like Wal-Mart or discount grocery stores with some contemptuous smirk?   (Don’t laugh… I read a forum post from one coupon mother that refused to step a foot inside a Wal-Mart store due to her political morality!)  The message I am trying to get crossways is that it pays to shop around.

Kimberly, on her Addicted to Costco blog, recently did a great price comparison between three stores.  HEB, Wal-Mart and Randall’s (which is the same as Safeway).  She picked 39 frequently bought items and stuck to leading brands.  Not surprising, the prices from apiece store differed extremely depending on the product with Costco having the ideal prices on 30 out of the 39 items and Randall’s (Safeway) being the most expensive.

While I was surprised at the difference my wife wasn’t at all.  She states Safeway has always been the most costly chain grocery store in our area and that only when you begin using the Safeway rewards card coupled with manufacturer coupons do their prices begin to come down to prices more in line with less costly grocery stores.

So, what’s my advice?  Don’t be loyal to just one grocery store.  Do what Kimberly did and do a price comparison of the grocery stores in your neighborhood.  Once you are armed with this data you will be superior equipped to save money with or without coupons!  You might find that the non-sale prices at your discount grocer are superior than the understanding prices with coupons at the chain grocery stores.  Use your manufacturer coupons at your less costly grocery stores instead of the more costly grocers like Safeway.  Also, ask the manager of your discount grocery store if they accept competitor’s coupons.   It never hurts to ask!

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EZ Saver Accounts Are a Must For The Money Saving Mom

EZ Saver Accounts Are a Must For The Money Saving Mom

Today, perhaps more than ever before, mothers are covering budget challenges that force them to be creative, thrifty, and wise. The fact is that most people are living on a tight budget these days, and crossways the nation mothers are struggling to make ends meet. This is especially true for single moms. Fortunately, some credit unions and other financial institutions have realized this burden and they have stepped up to help out. Many now offer ez saver accounts that can swiftly add up to great savings.

While the process does not happen overnight, the savings do accumulate much faster than with other types of savings accounts. In fact, apiece time money is spent using the debit card provided with these accounts, the transaction is automatically rounded up to the next whole dollar amount, which is transferred regular to an interest-bearing easy saver account.

This is an obvious way to build money into a savings account, without missing the small amount that is rounded up. However, the savings do not stop there; these accounts also wage the advantage of a deposit of 5 percent of the regular round-up amount to the ezsaver statement at the end of apiece month.

Most money experts concur that saving money is important, but, even so, it is also important to enjoy life while saving money. Therefore, ideally money should be saved in a way that has tiny impact on one’s lifestyle. Automatic transfers are another way of building or adding to a savings statement without having to give up small luxuries or change one’s lifestyle. This method of saving grants the client to be in control of the amount that is transferred and how often it is transferred. While some people like weekly transfers, others might like monthly transfers.

By having a small amount of money automatically transferred into your savings statement on a regular basis, your statement will grow at a surprisingly fast rate. Savings accounts are perfect backups for emergencies, holidays, vacations, or simply for the things you want. The interest rates on savings accounts vary, so always check around to ensure that you are getting the ideal rate available.