I know it’s not politically correct, but at least here in Kansas City, almost anything is cheaper at Walmart unless it’s on sale somewhere else. Their Neighborhood Markets have the best prices on groceries. This isn’t hyperbole - they’re known for pressuring suppliers to lower costs. I don’t recommend their fresh meats or produce, but everything else is fine.
I suspect things are going to get bad enough that many won’t be able to afford the luxury of politically-motivated boycotts that raise their cost of living. I gave up boycotting when my job went away and I was forced into early retirement several years before I’d planned back in 2019. I’ve gotten pretty good at this frugal stuff.
Good heads up on the grocery store online/app coupons, which I generally ignore.
With rare exceptions, I only check Ibotta as I'm about to check out, or after. The social engineering/corporate aspect is a bit icky, and I'm not actually saving money if I'm being convinced to buy something I don't really need. The booze discounts are substantial, though less varied than they used to be. I never check Fetch before checkout.
Upside is annoying but good for gas savings, and sometimes small local restaurant chains will have a 10-14% cash back deal on it, which at least covers tax and some of the tip. The app is designed to drive foot traffic to gas stations with large convenience stores, so again, if you save fifteen cents a gallon in gas and then go in and buy snacks you don't need, you're not saving any money.
I do a lot of shopping at Marshall's for almost everything--olive oil, coffee, spices, little fancy beverages, Korean/Japanese skincare, fancy Japanese shampoo in large pump bottles, clothes, outdoor gear, etc. The prices are way better than what I could get anywhere else, and the quality is usually really good.
You know how to REALLY save money on TP? It’s called a bidet.
In 2008 I put in a bidet for about $100 from a mail-order durable medical equipment supply company. Before that we were buying the big Costco “pallet o’TP” pretty regularly (ho ho!).
When I bought the bidet, I also bought a big pack of soft cloth wipes at Costco and a tall plastic lidded trash pail with a foot lever and I put it in the bathroom. Since then, I’ve probably used a six-roll pack of TP since then, generally in the guest bathroom … I use so little TP I didn’t notice the TP crisis during COVID.
And I so greatly prefer the result with a bidet that it actually is a bummer (ho ho!) when I travel.
Once a month or so I wash the cloths and then fold them and stack them in the bathroom on a handy shelf.
After doing my business, I get super clean with the bidet and 99 times out of 100 the cloth is simply for drying.
Anyone who is seriously interested in saving money and reducing wasted materials should try a bidet.
I like my super inexpensive add on (it attaches to the underside of the seat) but nowadays you can also buy them integrated into your toilet from the manufacturer or you can buy bidet seats with heated water and air and all that jazz, including at Costco.
Doesn’t really matter — you will save money, have better health, and reduce paper consumption dramatically.
Not to mention that not flushing a bunch of paper makes you a lot less likely to have stopped toilet troubles.
I did this during the pandemic and I am doing the same thing you are. There's a little trash barrel for the cloths, I've got these little 4x4 cloths from baby goal (same size as a sheet of toilet paper,) and I even made a stand that fits the trash barrel and holds the clean cloths. I just upgraded to a toilet seat with integrated bidet. I've never needed heated water or seat. It isn't really that cold even in winter.
omg WANT! Himself is not persuaded, however....:( We are re-doing both our bathrooms this summer. I shall insist upon a bidet for the master bath. (he'll still buy TP by the short ton. I know him. ) :/
Rebecca, you are a woman after my own heart. I don't have the coupon smarts that you do, but about 18 months ago, I started doing paid surveys online that earned me loyalty card points for a supermarket chain here. In that time, I've redeemed my points for over $1000 worth of gift cards that I've been able to use to buy all sorts of things. Like your coupon-ing, it costs me nothing but some time, and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the rewards built up.
I'm in Australia, and Flybuys (one of the big loyalty programs here) has partnered with a paid survey company, so when I do surveys with them, I get "paid" in Flybuys points. I'm not sure where you're located, but I imagine that there are probably similar systems in other countries? Check the loyalty programs you're a member of and see if they list any other options for earning points besides spending in their store - that's where I found out about the paid surveys option.
Ta, Rebecca. I'll have to come back to this post when I retire. I have a card on my keychain for my local union-staffed market (I'm loath to call it a supermarket, because the whole thing would fit in a couple of aisles of a suburban supermarket, and when we're shopping at the supermarket up here in Undisclosed Location NY, we put in Meccalopolis's old phone number (the landline we no longer have). We don't have kids, and as I said before, unless the coupons are something like BOGO on Temptations kitty crack, they're not for us. We buy bulk beans, grains, nuts, and seeds, and lots of fresh produce, often local. Expanding upon the success of our experimental food garden, we're going to grow as much of our own food as possible. The Dalan baby soap we use is cheap enough, and most of our other toiletries are from ethical and sustainable brands. Happy couponing, Wonketteers.
I do use the digital coupons at my local Publix - and also check their weekly ad specials, particularly the BOGOs. But one thing I've found is that I'll often get things that I wouldn't usually buy if they're BOGOs. so, even tho' I'm saving on the purchase, the purchase itself is something I could easily avoid.
Hooper mentioned how liquor prices are expected to go up, up, UP! If anyone lives near a Meijer they are currently doing their spring alcohol department resets, which equals pretty decent (up to 50%) clearance on discontinued product. Vendors do their sets at different times throughout April ( its usually September for the fall resets). Also, some select stores can be essentially warehouse clearance stores for the vendors, where they can send product from other stores or companies to that location for discount. If you don't mind digging and checking the bottles yourself on the scanners ( vendors don't mark their own clearance product and don't always tell the store when they shove clearance product onto their designated fixtures) you can get some great deals on either fancy pants brands, something you've wanted to try but the price was too much for an experiment, or leftover limited editions.
This is info I feel compelled to share with my fellow Midwest non-commentators. Normally I'd stay lips sealed for the sweet sweet bargains.
When I still had a family I supershopped because three sons and assorted hangers-on made groceries (it's an old fashioned word for many things in a bag) evaporate. Nowadays I rely on Instacart who honors my club card and gives by cute little apply-coupon buttons. I could do better if I did it myself, but I can't.
Anyways I did my needful shopping today - had a deal on huge pump bottles of bodywash/shampoo (I'm a guy - one product is enough) BOGO, so I got 4. Also had good deals on Charmin and Bounty so I have enough to get through summer.
Also, got ginger beer because it's Rum:30 here in sunny mythical western Mass.
Also I use Martie! with the Wonkette link. They're loaded with 4 kinds of Oreos today.
Saved. I may need this.
I know it’s not politically correct, but at least here in Kansas City, almost anything is cheaper at Walmart unless it’s on sale somewhere else. Their Neighborhood Markets have the best prices on groceries. This isn’t hyperbole - they’re known for pressuring suppliers to lower costs. I don’t recommend their fresh meats or produce, but everything else is fine.
I suspect things are going to get bad enough that many won’t be able to afford the luxury of politically-motivated boycotts that raise their cost of living. I gave up boycotting when my job went away and I was forced into early retirement several years before I’d planned back in 2019. I’ve gotten pretty good at this frugal stuff.
Good heads up on the grocery store online/app coupons, which I generally ignore.
With rare exceptions, I only check Ibotta as I'm about to check out, or after. The social engineering/corporate aspect is a bit icky, and I'm not actually saving money if I'm being convinced to buy something I don't really need. The booze discounts are substantial, though less varied than they used to be. I never check Fetch before checkout.
Upside is annoying but good for gas savings, and sometimes small local restaurant chains will have a 10-14% cash back deal on it, which at least covers tax and some of the tip. The app is designed to drive foot traffic to gas stations with large convenience stores, so again, if you save fifteen cents a gallon in gas and then go in and buy snacks you don't need, you're not saving any money.
I do a lot of shopping at Marshall's for almost everything--olive oil, coffee, spices, little fancy beverages, Korean/Japanese skincare, fancy Japanese shampoo in large pump bottles, clothes, outdoor gear, etc. The prices are way better than what I could get anywhere else, and the quality is usually really good.
There are still us holdouts who don't own a cell phone, so coupons available by app aren't much help.
You know how to REALLY save money on TP? It’s called a bidet.
In 2008 I put in a bidet for about $100 from a mail-order durable medical equipment supply company. Before that we were buying the big Costco “pallet o’TP” pretty regularly (ho ho!).
When I bought the bidet, I also bought a big pack of soft cloth wipes at Costco and a tall plastic lidded trash pail with a foot lever and I put it in the bathroom. Since then, I’ve probably used a six-roll pack of TP since then, generally in the guest bathroom … I use so little TP I didn’t notice the TP crisis during COVID.
And I so greatly prefer the result with a bidet that it actually is a bummer (ho ho!) when I travel.
Once a month or so I wash the cloths and then fold them and stack them in the bathroom on a handy shelf.
After doing my business, I get super clean with the bidet and 99 times out of 100 the cloth is simply for drying.
Anyone who is seriously interested in saving money and reducing wasted materials should try a bidet.
I like my super inexpensive add on (it attaches to the underside of the seat) but nowadays you can also buy them integrated into your toilet from the manufacturer or you can buy bidet seats with heated water and air and all that jazz, including at Costco.
Doesn’t really matter — you will save money, have better health, and reduce paper consumption dramatically.
Not to mention that not flushing a bunch of paper makes you a lot less likely to have stopped toilet troubles.
I did this during the pandemic and I am doing the same thing you are. There's a little trash barrel for the cloths, I've got these little 4x4 cloths from baby goal (same size as a sheet of toilet paper,) and I even made a stand that fits the trash barrel and holds the clean cloths. I just upgraded to a toilet seat with integrated bidet. I've never needed heated water or seat. It isn't really that cold even in winter.
omg WANT! Himself is not persuaded, however....:( We are re-doing both our bathrooms this summer. I shall insist upon a bidet for the master bath. (he'll still buy TP by the short ton. I know him. ) :/
Rebecca, you are a woman after my own heart. I don't have the coupon smarts that you do, but about 18 months ago, I started doing paid surveys online that earned me loyalty card points for a supermarket chain here. In that time, I've redeemed my points for over $1000 worth of gift cards that I've been able to use to buy all sorts of things. Like your coupon-ing, it costs me nothing but some time, and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the rewards built up.
I do surveys--and reviews--all the damn time. I've never been paid! (Or otherwise compensated.) How do you find the paid ones?
I'm in Australia, and Flybuys (one of the big loyalty programs here) has partnered with a paid survey company, so when I do surveys with them, I get "paid" in Flybuys points. I'm not sure where you're located, but I imagine that there are probably similar systems in other countries? Check the loyalty programs you're a member of and see if they list any other options for earning points besides spending in their store - that's where I found out about the paid surveys option.
Rebecca, sounds like you're the Elon Musk of couponing. Do you know the names of all your children?
Ta, Rebecca. I'll have to come back to this post when I retire. I have a card on my keychain for my local union-staffed market (I'm loath to call it a supermarket, because the whole thing would fit in a couple of aisles of a suburban supermarket, and when we're shopping at the supermarket up here in Undisclosed Location NY, we put in Meccalopolis's old phone number (the landline we no longer have). We don't have kids, and as I said before, unless the coupons are something like BOGO on Temptations kitty crack, they're not for us. We buy bulk beans, grains, nuts, and seeds, and lots of fresh produce, often local. Expanding upon the success of our experimental food garden, we're going to grow as much of our own food as possible. The Dalan baby soap we use is cheap enough, and most of our other toiletries are from ethical and sustainable brands. Happy couponing, Wonketteers.
And with the money you save from Robyn's suggestions, SUBSCRIBE! You don't have to use all of it...
Kroger is vehemently anti-Union. Be sure you patronize them, OK? (Not)
I'm not going the copon rout, I am reading up on how yogi's go without eating.
This article is fun. I get fuzzy 90's nostalgia vibes, like when Oprah used to give practical everyday advice
I fully expect we’ll be hoarding toilet paper again very soon.
It wouldn't be a Trump year if we didn't.
I do use the digital coupons at my local Publix - and also check their weekly ad specials, particularly the BOGOs. But one thing I've found is that I'll often get things that I wouldn't usually buy if they're BOGOs. so, even tho' I'm saving on the purchase, the purchase itself is something I could easily avoid.
Hooper mentioned how liquor prices are expected to go up, up, UP! If anyone lives near a Meijer they are currently doing their spring alcohol department resets, which equals pretty decent (up to 50%) clearance on discontinued product. Vendors do their sets at different times throughout April ( its usually September for the fall resets). Also, some select stores can be essentially warehouse clearance stores for the vendors, where they can send product from other stores or companies to that location for discount. If you don't mind digging and checking the bottles yourself on the scanners ( vendors don't mark their own clearance product and don't always tell the store when they shove clearance product onto their designated fixtures) you can get some great deals on either fancy pants brands, something you've wanted to try but the price was too much for an experiment, or leftover limited editions.
This is info I feel compelled to share with my fellow Midwest non-commentators. Normally I'd stay lips sealed for the sweet sweet bargains.
When I still had a family I supershopped because three sons and assorted hangers-on made groceries (it's an old fashioned word for many things in a bag) evaporate. Nowadays I rely on Instacart who honors my club card and gives by cute little apply-coupon buttons. I could do better if I did it myself, but I can't.
Anyways I did my needful shopping today - had a deal on huge pump bottles of bodywash/shampoo (I'm a guy - one product is enough) BOGO, so I got 4. Also had good deals on Charmin and Bounty so I have enough to get through summer.
Also, got ginger beer because it's Rum:30 here in sunny mythical western Mass.
Also I use Martie! with the Wonkette link. They're loaded with 4 kinds of Oreos today.