Is Couponing Hard?

     Good morning my friends!  It is so lovely here in Phoenix today, rainy, breezy and cool...my absolute favorite kind of day.  I know many of you are intrigued by couponing and with the popularity of it currently, many people wonder if it is something they could do.  I came across this video made by the company I use to do my couponing and think it is a great example of the process I use.  Why I love Coupon$ense is because it really makes using coupons less time consuming and less overwhelming.

You can try Coupon$ense the first month for $4, just follow these instructions!

Go to http://www.couponsense.com/
Click on Sign Up Now in the upper right hand corner
Scroll down to the heading Sign Up Today
Enter your zip code
Enter Promo Code: SURVIVE (use the caps)
Enter your email address
Referred to Coupon Sense?  Select Friend
In the drop down box enter my name Erin Rathier (unless someone else has referred you)
Click Sign Up
On the billing page, fill in all the necessary information

Click Next
Check the box next to I understand the terms of my Coupon Sense subscription
Click Finish
Your transaction will process; when it says print this page for your records click OK
Now you are ready to save BIG at the store!

WinCo Tips

     So, I promised I would share a few things that will help make your WinCo shopping experience a good one!  This will short and sweet and to the point.

1. The store does not put out a weekly ad, they choose not to so they can pass on more savings to us.  However, there are special prices every week.  In the store, there are signs telling us the prices.  Everyday prices are marked on yellow signs and special sales are marked on green signs to make them easy to spot.
2. When you first walk into the store, you will encounter the "Wall Of Savings" highlights Extra Savings and Price Shockers. These are also located on pallet displays between produce and bulk foods, and the ends of our grocery aisles. These areas are stocked with some of the best deals in town!
3. WinCo does take manufacturer coupons at face value.  
4. You will need to bag your own groceries, however, if you bring your own bags, you will received a $.06 credit for each bag!
5. You can even go here for a map of the store...it is big and busy, so being prepared will be helpful.

 

Let me know how your shopping trip goes!  I would love to hear about all your deals and savings!

Winco Has Come to Phoenix - Trip #1!

     Yippie, yahoo, woo hoo!!  Winco has come to Phoenix and so far it is off to a good start!  Today I decided to take a short trip to Winco, had a few coupons in hand and was ready to see if I could save some money!  If you watch Extreme Couponing on TLC, you know that a number of the people featured, shop at Winco and save a great deal of money, so I wanted to see if I could do it too!  Well, the trip would have been a total success if I did not have four children with me and if the store was not jam packed...however, I guess I suspected both of those things would happen before I went.  Despite it all, I was very pleased with the deals I found, check out the picture!

I bought 6 lbs of pork loin roast, 2 heads of lettuce, 2 heads of cauliflower, 10 cans of S&W Beans, 4 bags of chips, 2 loaves of bread, 3 big cups of noodles, 1 box of breakfast cookies, 1 Velveeta skillet dinner, 1 lb of herb and garlic deli turkey, 1 lb of sun dried tomato deli turkey, 6 large avacados, 2 tubes of Betty Crocker icing, 1 lb of smoked almonds, 2 lbs of strawberries, 6 lbs of grapes, 3 lbs of bananas, 4 lbs of tomatoes, 1 bunch of celery.

Grand total $41.58!  Price before coupons $56.58!

     Bottom line, with or without coupons, Winco has some great prices.  I am guessing some of the pricing was extra special because the store just opened, but you can bet I will be back!  A few things I wanted to point out for this week.  Bananas were $.28 per lb, avacados were $.24 each, grapes were $.98 per lb, lettuce was $.48 per head, the turkey was $3.98 per lb (and I sampled it first).  Tomatoes were $.38 per lb and the bread was $.98 per loaf.  Tomorrow I will post a few things that will be helpful for your first shopping trip, but I couldn't wait to share this trip!

100 Years of Magic!!

     Happy Friday!  What are your plans for the weekend??  If you are unsure, I cannot say enough about the Disney on Ice show that is here in Phoenix this weekend!  Last night we had the pleasure of attending and I must say...true to Disney fashion, there was plenty of magic.
     The show takes a look back at Disney magic through the years, complete with Princes and Princesses, Pinnochio, The Incredibles, Buzz and Woody and of course, Mickey and Minnie!  Mickey and Minnie take us on a trip through Disney history that is exciting, breathtaking, scary, sweet and overall, fantastic.  And that is just my opinion...however, my kiddos fully agree!
     I love that Disney always includes the whole audience, the girls, the boys, the young and not so young!  Throughout the show, there were moments to please the little ladies, filled with beauty and romance, like the Disney Princess Celebration.  Then there were terrific action scenes the little men were sure to love, like the battle between Mulan, Shang and the Hunns!  I have to say, there was nothing like the moment...Nants ingonyama bagithi baba, Sithi uhhmm ingonyama...began to ring through the arena.  The crowd erupted in the largest cheer of the night and you could feel the excitement, as if we were really in the jungles of Africa awaiting the birth of the king!

All that to say...if you can make time this weekend...GO SEE DISNEY ON ICE!

You can purchase 4 tickets for $44 by using the code NALA at ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or send an email to me for a flyer you can use at the US Airways Center Box Office (this would help you avoid most ticket fees).  The code is good for the following performances:  Friday, April 13th 7:30pm, Saturday, April 14th 7:30pm, and Sunday, April 15th 1:30pm and 5:30pm(excluding Front Row and VIP seating). A minimum of 4 tickets is required; additional tickets can be purchased at $11 each. No double discounts. Service charges, handling and facility fees may apply.  

Tickets are already on sale, so do not wait to get yours!!

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events.

Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

Disney On Ice This Week!

     Just a reminder, Disney on Ice Celebrates 100 Years of Magic comes to Phoenix this week!!  Make sure you get your tickets, this is sure to be the best show all year.  You can purchase 4 tickets for $44 by using the code NALA at ticketmaster.com, by calling 1-800-745-3000 or send an email to me for a flyer you can use at the US Airways Center Box Office (this would help you avoid most ticket fees).  The code is good for the following performances:  Friday, April 13th 10:30am and 7:30pm, Saturday, April 14th 7:30pm, and Sunday, April 15th 1:30pm and 5:30pm(excluding Front Row and VIP seating). A minimum of 4 tickets is required; additional tickets can be purchased at $11 each. No double discounts. Service charges, handling and facility fees may apply.  Tickets are already on sale, so do not wait to get yours!!

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events.

Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine. 

Grocery Budget Gone Crazy!

     Well, well, well, I am ashamed to admit that for quite a few months I have been very lazy about my grocery shopping.  I somehow convinced myself that easy and convenient was far more important than money as far as grocery shopping was concerned...well, my bank account is now reminding me of how silly that notion was.  For the last few months, I would guess we have been spending around $800 each month on groceries (yikes) and eating out way too much because I do not always have enough food in the house to cook.
     Fortunately, there was a marathon of Extreme Couponing on the television and I spent a few hours engrossed by the coupon success of my fellow couponers.  I was inspired again to get busy!!!  I keep a stockpile, nothing like the people on the show, but none the less, a small stockpile and this has proven to be a HUGE money saver.  Well, the last two months, my stockpile has been pretty empty and I am feeling the cost of that in a big way.
     So, last week, while watching the show, I organized all my coupons, purged expired inserts, labelled and filed current inserts and began making lists. (I still use Coupon$ense because it really does save me the most time and effort.)  After a small amount of time getting reorganized, I had a list and coupons ready and made successful trips to Safeway and Frys, awakening in me a love for the process and profitability of coupon shopping.  Here is what I brought home!

 Fry's:  Retail Value $55.95, I paid $9.50!

Safeway:  Retail Value $62.38, I paid $16.29!

Beautiful, blond, couponer in training, not included.

     All in all, my first day couponing again was a great success and my stock pile has increased a little.  But most importantly, I have been reminded that a little time and effort is really not much to give up for such huge savings! If you would like to learn how I do this, you can check out all my Grocery Savings blog posts, click here is one specifically on how Coupon$ense helps me!  As always, feel free to send me an email with any questions!

Easter!

     We are four days away from my favorite holiday and I am wondering where you all will be on Easter Sunday!  I thought this would be a great opportunity to post about my favorite place to be right now.  New Life Community Church is our church and we love it!  I know, I know, some of you are not regular church goers, but hear me out.
     I am completely honest when I say church is my favorite place to be and I feel this way for many reasons.  First and foremost is because I love God with all my heart and in the Bible, He tells us we should spend time with other believers, Hebrews 10:25  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.  I am so glad He tells us to meet together and not because I think the church is perfect, but because when we meet together with the common goal of teaching, learning, praying, serving, and worshiping God,  His presence and love is evident.
     Attending church gives my family a place to celebrate all God has done for us the previous week and share His love with everyone we encounter.  Church is a place where I can spend time with God, thinking about all the times this week I did not honor Him and then feel the power of His love and forgiveness before I start the new week.  At church we meet a variety of people, experience great music, hear amazing stories, laugh, cry and just share life.
     A long time ago, God saw our need for a Savior and decided to come to this earth and live amongst us.  As Jesus lived, healed and taught, lives were changed.  When Jesus hung on the cross for the sins of all who will accept His free gift, life was changed forever.  As we get ready to celebrate the day Jesus resurrected from the dead, I hope you experience God's love and forgiveness as you never have.  I hope you not only enjoy Easter baskets, egg hunts and family gatherings, but I hope you make time to gather with others to celebrate Jesus and His gift of forgiveness and salvation. 
     This weekend, New Life Community Church, on 83rd and Thunderbird, will have four services to celebrate the resurrection of Christ and if you do not have anywhere to go, I hope you will join us this weekend.  The teaching will be impacting, the worship moving and the love overwhelming!  Oh...and it will not cost a thing...what a great way to Thrive in this Az Economy!   Mike and I will be attending 9:45 a.m.  Send me an email if you would like to join us!

Saturday, April 7th @ 4:30pm
Sunday, April 8th @ 8:15, 9:45 & 11:15 am.

Video Cafe will meet Sunday at the 9:45 & 11:15 service and Student Ministries (Grades 6-12) will meet during all 3 Sunday services and there will be something for all kids!

If you do not know much about Jesus and the gift God gave to us and you would like to know more, or if life is just too much right now and you need someone to pray with and for you,  please send me an email.  I will be happy to share with you all God has done in my life and how you can have His peace, love and forgiveness as well!