Frugal Living Tip #42 - Credit Card Rebates

Credit Card Rebates

If you are a Dave Ramsey fan you probably think that I am crazy suggesting a credit card. I am not encouraging you to go out and open up new credit card accounts. I also want you to understand that in order to receive the rebates that I am going to be talking about you need to pay your bill in full each month.

We have two credit cards that we routinely use - an American Express from Costco and a Visa from Old Navy. We primarily use the American Express because we get a rebate check once a year that pays us back a percentage of what we purchased with the card, both at Costco and outside of Costco. We have the Old Navy Visa to use with merchants that don't accept American Express. I get vouchers to use at Old Navy based on the dollar amount charged to the card.

We were recently invited to a dinner for a local charity. I realized when we were getting ready that I was all out of checks, and thought we would have to make a pledge and mail the check later. When we got there we realized that they accepted donations with credit cards. We made a donation with the Old Navy card to help out a local charity, and received a store credit to use for Christmas presents.

Do you use a credit card that you pay in full every month in order to receive a rebate?

Frugal Living Tip #41 - Warehouse Membership

Warehouse Membership

I know that there is a big divide among people who feel that warehouse memberships are or aren't worth the cost of the membership.

I feel that they can be, but like I have mentioned other times, it is important to know the prices for the items that you buy. I have found that I can find items like ground beef and chicken breast on sale at the grocery store for less than the everyday warehouse price. But, if I need a large quantity for a special event and there isn't a sale it is less expensive to buy it at the warehouse. I have found that I can get the best prices on organic milk and Greek yogurt at Costco. I get baking supplies from there along with items like nuts and dried fruit.

There are lots of items available at warehouse stores outside of huge packages of food and gallons of laundry detergent. I personally have found great deals on clothes for my family at Costco. They also have great deals on small appliances. I got a new crockpot for Christmas from there that was comparable to the ones I was looking at in other stores, and less expensive. My siblings and I went in on a Keurig for my dad for Christmas. We shopped around and found the features that my dad wanted along with the best price to be the one sold in Costco.

One of my favorite things to pickup in warehouse stores are gift cards. We have found gift cards worth $100 for only $80 to restaurants such as Ruth's Chris Steak House or Old Original Bookbinders. I have snagged those when I knew we would be having a big date and started our big night out with a 20% savings. They also have iTunes gift cards, movie tickets, and amusement parks.

Do you have a warehouse membership? Do you use it to buy groceries and household items, or do you buy other items?

My last two weeks of grocery shopping

I have been taking pictures of my groceries after my shopping trips to demonstrate what I buy on my shopping trips and also how I build up stockpile items in my pantry.  I haven’t been doing so great with sitting down and posting the pictures.  So, here are the pictures and the totals for my recent shopping trips.  If you have been watching my shopping trip pictures over the last year or so you may notice that I am buying more fresh fruit these days.  I have recently gone back to Weight Watchers in an effort to lose the extra weight I gained and haven’t lost from my last two pregnancies.  I really like the new PointsPlus Program because most fresh fruits and vegetables are 0 points!  I am snacking on fresh fruit throughout the day and my girls who have always enjoyed fresh fruit are eating more also.  I don’t think that is a bad thing for any of us.  :)

Saturday (2/19/11):

• (5) Jif Natural Peanut Butter
• (2) Blueberries
• (4) Ziploc Freezer Bag (2 quart & 2 gallon)
• (2) Smucker’s Orchards Finest Preserves
• (3) Hungry Jack Pancake Mixes
• (3) Bags of Missions Tortilla Chips (I found $1/1 peelies on each bag making them only $0.67 each after sale and coupon.)
• 3.08lbs Bananas
• Light Wheat Bread (Manager Special)
• Dole Italian Blend Lettuce
• Dole Spinach (Manager Special)
• 5lb. bag GIANT White Potatoes
• 3lb bag of Clementines
• Dole Frozen Mixed Berries
• (3) Stonyfield Yogurt
• (2) Dozen Land O’ Lakes Brown Eggs
• 0.73lb. Parmesan Wedge
• (2) Phillips Crabcakes
• Gorton’s Tilapia Fillets

Shelf Total (before sales, coupons, and tax): $107.62

Final Total (after sales, coupons, bag credits, and before tax): $50.56

Total Savings: $57.06 (53%)

I saved $31.91 with my MARTIN’S BONUSCARD and additional $10 from buying 10 items in the “Smucker’s Stars on Ice” Promotion.  I saved $13.80 with coupons and an additional $1.20 with coupons that doubled.  I also saved $0.15 by bringing my own bags to MARTIN’S (that store didn’t ask if I wanted to donate and I forgot about it after she already gave me the credit. 

Shopping 2/21-2/26/11

I hit several stores this week - MARTIN’S, Costco, and Target.  I don’t have an actual amount for how much I saved at Costco, but because I know my target prices on the things I bought I feel like I purchased things there that are less expensive than what I would pay at the grocery store without a sale.

MARTIN’S 2/21:

MARTIN’S 2/26:

MARTIN’S (Combined):

• (2) Hanover Black Beans
• (2) Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice
• (4) 16oz. Strawberries
• Gerber Rice Cereal
• Nature’s Promise Baby Food
• Dan-o-nino Yogurt (12 ct.)
• (2) Perdue Short Cut Chicken (Both - free after I submit my mail in rebate!)
• (4) Tide Duos (part of $10 prepaid P&G MasterCard promo)
• Pampers Big Box (part of $10 prepaid P&G MasterCard promo)
• Puffs Plus Cube (part of $10 prepaid P&G MasterCard promo)
• Angel Soft Toilet Paper
• Mentos Fruit Chews (free after coupon and a reward for Megan)
• 3lbs. Organic Gala Apples
• 1.85lbs Perdue Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• (2) dozen Land O’ Lakes Brown eggs
• (2) Halls Cough Drops
• Zone Perfect Bar
• (3) Balance Bars

Shelf Total (before sales, coupons, and tax): $120.02

Final Total (after sales, coupons, bag credits, and before tax): $65.20

Total Savings: $54.82 (46%)

If I take off the household items (diapers, Tide, tissues, and toilet paper):

Shelf Total (before sales, coupons, and tax): $73.06

Final Total (after sales, coupons, bag credits, and before tax): $33.25

Total Savings: $39.81 (54%)

I saved $29.57 with my MARTIN’S BONUSCARD.  I saved $22.10 with coupons and an additional $2.90 with coupons that doubled.  I also saved $0.25 by bringing my own bags to MARTIN’S (that store didn’t ask if I wanted to donate and the cashier gave me the credit before I could tell him to donate them).  I am also submitting a receipt for the P&G $10 prepaid MasterCard.

Costco 2/23/11:

• (3) Half-Gallons Organic Milk ($3 each)
• Hydroponic Butter Lettuce ($1.50/head)
• Anjou Pears (5 lbs) ($1.19/lb)
• Dole Bananas (3lbs) ($0.49/lb – the same price as at MARTIN’S)
• Chobani Greek Yogurt (12 pk) ($0.84 each)
• Tangerines (4 or 5 lbs? – $3.99 for the bag)

Final Price (including tax): $34.46

Target:

I didn’t get a picture, it was a bit chaotic when we made it home and since everything needed to go in the freezer it just got put away.  Target had a great deal last week that you got a $5 Target gift card for every 7 frozen food items that you purchased.

• 10 – Market Pantry Steak & Cheese Frozen Burritos
• 3- Market Pantry Frozen Lemonade
• 8 – Bags of Market Pantry Frozen Vegetables (Green Beans, Peas, and Mixed Vegetables)

I earned $15 in Target gift cards and spent $16.91.  If you count the gift cards as cash to spend the next time I go to Target I really only spent $1.91!

Weekly Grocery Shopping – Costco & Ukrop’s Double Coupons

I had a rather good shopping week last week with all of the meat I picked up with the Pick 5 for $25 Meat Sale last week.  Because of my “haul” last week I had a really short list of what we really needed – or that I was willing to bring into the house and find a place for it in my pantry.  The main things that we needed were some produce and paper products.  I hit Costco last night to price check some items for a retirement reception I am in charge of at our church in a few weeks and picked up a few things there (in addition to some really cute Spring & Summer dresses for my girls).

I picked up a few things at Ukrop’s today that I normally wouldn’t but are pregnancy related cravings.  The first is watermelon off the salad bar.  I can’t get enough of it right now.  The other “splurge” was decaf coffee.  I have discovered that caffeine does not agree with me right now (I accept you sympathies) and so I wanted to try some decaf coffee.  I found the Ukrop’s “perfect pot” size bags on clearance for $0.59 each (they were normally $1.49).

Here is a picture of my Ukrop’s purchases from this morning and my Costco purchases from last night. 

Costco:

Bananas (3lb) - $1.32

Organic Baby Carrots (5 lb) - $5.79

Butter (4 1lb packages) - $6.69

Total (before tax):  $13.80

Ukrop’s:

Bounty Napkins - $1.89

(2) Gain Laundry Detergent - $3.99 each

Plumsmart Juice - $2.89

(3) Ukrop’s Decaf Coffee (Perfect Pot Portion) - $0.59 each

White House Natural Apple Juice - $0.99

(2) Zone Nutritional Bars - $0.19 each

Dan-o-nino Yogurt - $1.29

Organic Iceberg Lettuce - $1.59

Salad Bar (Watermelon) - $2.34

Shelf Price (before sales, coupons, or tax): $36.83

Final Price (after sales, coupons, before tax): $20.97

Total Savings: $15.86 (43%)

Total cost of both shopping trips (before tax): $34.77

I will probably pick-up some milk on Saturday with the one day deal at Ukrop’s, but other than that we should be ok until next week.

More rebate checks!!!!

I had a post a few weeks ago about several rebate checks I had received in the mail.  I had even more come in the mail since then and wanted to let you know how I have changed my opinion about the hassle of rebates not really being worth what you get back.

The best rebate I got back was our annual rebate from American Express for almost $600!  I know that there are lots of people out there who argue that credit cards are bad and that they allow you to overspend.  I see where they are coming from, but I truly believe we are in the minority who can really stick to a budget and handle paying for everything with our credit card.  We even go so far, because of the rebate, to pay for our monthly utility bills with our American Express.  There are some payees who don’t accept American Express so for them we just go through our regular bill pay software.  We have our American Express tied to our Costco membership and what really got us interested was two years ago when gas prices were at $4+ a gallon.  We get 2% back just by using the card for gas – something we are going to buy anyway.  The rebate works for items you purchase anywhere – not just Costco.  The nice thing about using the credit card (outside of my annual rebate for paying the balance in full every month) is that it gives us an itemized statement and we have buyer protection from using the card.  I see this as a double check on our spending and budgeting – we can look at our monthly statement from the bank and the American Express monthly statement and see where we spent our money during the month.  (The “catch” to this check is that it is only redeemable at Costco, but you can get cash back for the difference if you don’t spend the entire check in one transaction.)

I got the last of my SC Johnson $5 rebate checks for purchasing Glade candles in the fall.  The rebate is still active and there are lots of items that are eligible like Ziploc bags and candles, air fresheners, and cleaning products. 

I got a $5 rebate from Coors – no I didn’t get it for buying beer (we don’t drink alcoholic beverages).  My friend Judi found a tear pad for a rebate offer from Coors for buying gift cards – that was it.  I just had to submit a receipt showing I had bought a $25 gift card to anywhere or for anything like iTunes gift cards to be eligible for the rebate.  I am still waiting for the $10 rebate for buying $100 worth of gift cards.  These were all gift cards that I used for Christmas presents.  I told Judi thanks for the rebate forms – it was like she gave me $15!

I got a $10 rebate check from Philips for purchasing a Sonicare toothbrush for Steve for Christmas.  I found the toothbrush on sale at Walgreens and was able to combine a friends and family promotion to get it for $42.49.  I then was able to use this with a $10 manufacturer coupon from a Sunday paper insert combined with a Walgreens coupon for $10 off.  In the end I purchased the toothbrush which can run around $100 for $12.49  Not a bad deal and Steve has liked the toothbrush. 

I still have some additional rebate checks that I am waiting for and I will keep you posted as they come in.  I love getting paid to shop!

Shopping this week - BJ's & Costco

I wrote a blog on Tuesday about whether or not warehouse shopping is worth the cost of membership. I went to both BJ's and Costco this week. This is a picture of the grocery items I bought at both places. We also bought a bake at home Unos pizza. Steve and the girls ate that for dinner Tuesday night while I was at work. It was so big we finished it for lunch on Wednesday.

BJ's (accepts manufacturer coupons):
Mt. Olive Dill Pickle Chips (2 quarts) - $3.39
Unos Pizza - $6.99
Nestle Chocolate Chips (72 oz bag) - $6.29
(3) half gallons of Organic whole milk - $2.99 each
(3) twin packs (so 6 half gallons) of Silk Plain soy milk - $3.39 each (or $1.69 a half gallon)
Final Price (before tax): $35.81

Costco:
50 pound bag of bread flour - $14
4 pounds of butter - $5.89 (1.47 a pound)
1 dozen Einstein bagels - $4.99
10 whole vanilla beans - $11.99
Final Price (before tax): $36.87

Is it worth it to have a warehouse membership?

I have read numerous debates about whether or not having a warehouse membership is worth the cost of joining. We actually have a membership to BJ's and Costco. I think that they are worth it.

I had a membership to Costco through my first employer. I found that there were several things that I liked to get there, so when I left that job and we moved to Richmond we got our own membership. We live less than 5 minutes from Costco.

BJ's just opened also less than 5 minutes away from us last winter. I found a coupon in the paper for a free day 60 day trial and thought I would give it a try. I actually compared prices with some of the things that I get from Costco on a regular basis. Some things were less expensive, some were about the same, and some were more expensive. I can't really say that surprised me. When it was about time for my 60 day trial card to expire Steve found out that his company was offering a discount membership for employees, and that we would be able to sign-up for 15 months at the 12 month price. I decided to keep the membership.

Which do I like better? They both are different. There are some items that are less expensive at BJ's or Costco - so I go there for that item. I do like that BJ's accepts manufacturer coupons and that their bulk sizes aren't as large. BJ's has Pampers diapers (Costco doesn't) so I figured I have saved the cost of membership by just buying diapers there. Both stores have a good selection of books, seasonal items, and clothes. They both also have a fuel center. Costco carries furniture and wall art, which I haven't seen at BJ's.

You may be surprised that the warehouse price may not be the least expensive price. I have found that things I used to swear by buying only at Costco, such as Chinet plates, paper towels, toilet paper, and laundry detergent, are actually less expensive if I pay attention to the sales cycles and match-up the sale with the coupon. It is also a lot easier to manage a container of laundry detergent that is for 32 loads than one that is for 132.

Both BJ's and Costco send out monthly coupon books to their members. I have recently found out that you can combine the coupons in the BJ's book with your manufacturer coupons. The other nice thing is that if the item is a multi-pack item you can use a manufacturer coupon for each item (that has a barcode) in that package. I have tested this several times and it works!


I think the bottom line is that you have to be aware of how much an item cost. When you are looking at warehouse prices you have to be aware of the unit price and what that unit is. Some items it is per pound, and some are by the ounce. It is also important to look at the item and make sure that you really will use it. The 144 packets of instant oatmeal, may not be worth the savings for you if you don't have the storage and you only eat oatmeal every once in a while.

I have read about several people who say that they share a membership with a friend or family member. That may be an option for you as well. I know that BJ's will let you shop there without a membership you just have to pay a fee. I also read somewhere (I don't remember where) that it is not unusual for BJ's to offer the free 60 day pass in the fall - so take advantage of it if you are interested in BJ's.

So, what do I normally buy at Costco or BJ's? It depends, right now BJ's has the lowest price on organic milk and on plain soy milk. I usually buy gas and diapers from a warehouse club. I don't buy lots of perishables from them, but I do usually buy baby carrots because that is a regular snack item at our house. I will shop at either place for food for church socials. I can find great deals on clothes at both places. (I went to BJ's last night and got 2 pairs of Levi's for myself for $24.) We bought our Wii at Costco and the games are reasonable at both places.

I think that what it all comes down to is that you can never go to one store (warehouse, mass merchandiser, grocery, drug, or department) to find the lowest prices on everything. You have to be willing and able to shop around and keep track of what size and price the item is in each individual store. Yes, it takes time to do that, but you will be surprised at how much you can save.