Nearly 2 years ago I bought towels on clearance at Target. Here’ s part of the post here ::

So now my rant for why I am willing to buy cheap towels.  My towels always end up stinking.  Before when I had a top load washer I would add vinegar to take out that sour odor.   Well, I have front load now and you can’t do that.  I am sick of my towels stinking and I have decided that if I can find them cheap enough I need to throw them out when they are that bad.  You also have to remember I have teenagers so they get left wadded and wet.  Now the hard part is going to be throwing away my old towels.  I am so frugal I can barely part with them, but gag when I dry off.  So out they go and NO I won’t donate those nasty things. That’s just mean.

Here I am two years later, and they still look brand new and they are still super soft. I paid just $2.48 for each towel. I made sure to keep them away from my kids. And they don’t smell at all. I do NOT need to throw them out like I thought I might need too. I made sure to hang dry them and I did find a way to add vinegar to my load on occasions.

I guess we don’t need to spend a lot of money on towels or replace them for that matter. Well, actually, I am going to replace some more this year.

In case you don’t know the best times to shop Target, check out the Target Markdown Schedule and plan your trip accordingly.

It’s true, those back to school supplies are already out.  How is that even possible?  Here in the Pacific NW summer is just getting under way, or so it seems.

But they are there and they are ready for the picking.  Some people will see them and jump right in and get it done and move on with summer, others will pretend they aren’t there and wait until the day before school starts.

Then there is the rest of us, how will we do it?  Well something like this:

1.  Watch ads and watch for great sales – this will probably mean you need to pick up items as you see them, but we do have time on our hands.

2.  Watch a few different stores - You don’t need to get everything at Staples or Target, take your time to shop around.

3.  Grocery Stores – When you make your grocery list check your store for school supply sales as well.

4. Don’t get impatient, we have lots of time.

5.  Don’t feel the need to drag it out either – if you see something that is a killer deal, by all means get it.  If you see something next to it at a good price, pick it up too.

6.  Remember to save your receipts, all things can be returned if you for some reason find it at a different store.

7.  Save your receipts for price adjustments.  Check each stores policy.  Target’s is 7 days, where Fred Meyer’s is 14 days.

8.  Get the bare basics - get what you need then wait for school to start and stock up when things start going on clearance.  Yep, I am the mom that showed up on the first day of school with 12 pencils for my kids instead of 48.  They eventually make their way in.

9.  Always be on the look out – I noticed this year in January they had a “refresh your stock” sale.  I didn’t get anything because there were no needs, but then I saw them all go on clearance.  I am well stocked on paper and pens right now.

10.  Coupons and rebates – Yep even for school supplies. You will need to watch for them carefully and I will try and point them out when I see them.  I am currently holding one and had I jumped on the right sale I could have gotten my pens for FREE.

11.  Watch for clearance - even during the whole back to school sale, watch places like Target, they tend to put things on clearance.

12.   Always have your school supply list -  I keep a school supply list with me all year long and I watch for things.  My kids are teenagers and after a while you begin to just know what they need.  When my kids were younger and money was super tight, I had the school send me the list way before they put it out just so I could start watching.

13.  Watch for specials online – I have teenagers, the list changes.  We no longer need crayons we need $100 calculators.  No, I am not kidding.  Watch for online specials at Staples and other supply stores and don’t forget to use Ebates to get cash back on these purchases.

14.  Watch for backpacks throughout the year.  I usually can keep this cost low and rarely do I buy one in July/August.

15.  Don’t Always Look for the Best – these are school supplies that are sometimes shared.  Don’t feel like you need to get your child the top quality, highest rated crayons or pencils.  They will lose them.

I know what you are thinking right now.  Who would have ever thought getting school supplies for cheap would be so much work?  Well, yes it does take some time, but think of it as a game.  I have done this for so many years that I kind of find it challenging.

Need help with the challenge?

Head over to The Coupon Project. She has teamed up with other bloggers from the NW and are giving  you the best deals at many stores.

Last year I couldn’t physically do this method, so I just went in and bought everything at one store.  OMG!  I had no idea how much I was saving until it did it differently.

How much do you usually spend on back to school supplies?

Read on to find out how to save on school clothes shopping.

It’s been awhile since I have shared any deals with you. I am picky and so many of the deals are things that I just don’t eat or use. Plus I do feel like some of the deals I have taken advantage of in the past just aren’t as good as they used to be.

But nonetheless, check this out. Method cleaners are $2.99 a bottle, the shower cleaners are $3.99 a bottle. My total should have been $26, but today I paid $9.

Buy 4 bottles, sale is buy 3 get 1 free, on sale for $2.54 each
use 4 save $1/1 Method coupons from 6/19 SS
Price for 4 is just $3.62

We paid a little bit more because we bought 2 that cost more. Sometimes Target won’t let you use a coupon on the free item, but today they did.

I know there are other cleaners we could probably get for free, but we prefer the ones that aren’t all chemicals. Love seeing these deals!!

It’s been a while since I have shared a Tuesday’s Tip, but I have a good one.

GET YOUR PRICE ADJUSTMENT

First off know how many days you have to get a price adjustment. Off the top of my head I know that Target is 7 days while Fred Meyer is 14. Other places I have to ask, because I just don’t know.

When you see something go on sale take in your receipt and ask for the lower price.

With Target I always throw my receipts away because they can look everything up. Well, today I went in to get a price adjustment and they can’t do it without a receipt.

I was looking at a $16 price adjustment on a comforter I bought. I asked them if it was ok if I went back and purchased another one (on a different card) then returned it on the old card. They told me that would be fine.

I did just that. I asked again if this was cheating the system and they assured me it was ok to do.

I actually knew about this trick, that’s why I asked. That and I knew if I found it, I was going to purchase it then head straight to Customer Service to return it, so they would be on to me.

I appreciate that they are willing to work with you. I know it does take some time, but be willing to ask for a price adjustment. It’s their policy that they have to honor.

Is on sale now at Sears.  Wh0 remembers that jingle from years past?

How many are headed out to look for some after Christmas deals?

There will be deals to be had on the day after Christmas, but be warned they might not be as good as you hope.

Why you ask?

Well, people are out spending gift cards, people are returning gifts and exchanging for something different.  And others got cash that is burning a hole in their pocket.

Retailers are very well aware of this, so they don’t necessarily lower prices right after Christmas.  Give it a few days if you want a great deal.

I have also found that if you can wait until the end of January I have scored jeans rather cheap at places like Aeropostale and I am sure other stores do the same.  That is about the time they are getting ready to start stocking spring/sunny vacation wear for those leaving for Spring Break.

You can head over and look at the Target Markdown Schedule.  Christmas doesn’t follow a schedule, but you can at least get an idea of how soon you should be checking in daily.  You can score some great toys for next to nothing after Christmas.

I just got back from Target and there was a ton of clearance.  I bought socks for 25¢ each, workout shirts for $3.74, a set of queen sheets for $8.71, t-shirts for $4.98, workout shorts for $1.98, and much, much more.

I came home with 14 things and spent $54.  That includes a pair of jeans that were on sale for $17 and then I used my $3 off coupon.  That was the most expensive thing I bought.  There were tons of jeans on clearance, none that I wanted, but you could have easily score a pair of jeans with your coupon for around $6.

There was so much clearance that they had put all clearance towards the front of the store.  Interestingly enough there was not a lot of clearance in the cleaning supplies and health and beauty.

I was a Fred Meyer’s yesterday for their 70% off sale and didn’t do nearly as good as I did at Target.

If you score any deals let me know.

Target has released their new coupons for the month and they have $3 off jeans again.  I love these because I wait for jeans to go on sale or clearance.  We have purchased our last few pairs of jeans for $12 each.

If you want these or any of the apparel coupons from Target print them out now as they go quickly.  You might see me refer back to this post later on how I score a great deal.

Just in today’s paper I saw Men’s jeans on sale for $17, that takes them down to $14.

Print and be patient, you could get an even better deal. These coupons expire November 6th.

There are plenty more coupons to choose from, check them all out and print what you want right away as some do have limits.

Want to know when to shop clearance?  Check out the Target markdown schedule and don’t ever miss a good deal.  Read the 411 on Target so you know how to use coupons and get price adjustments and their Target coupon policy.

Yesterday I ran into Target real quick, got a phone call and had to leave.  I made my way back today because I had some great coupons that were expiring.

When I was there yesterday this rug caught my eye.  It was regularly $34, marked down to $22.  That was just too steep for me.  I was walking by it again today, so I checked again, just in case. They had marked it down to $8.74.  House wares was full of mark downs and had I gotten more I could have used a $5 off $50 coupon that printed last time I was at Target.

I also picked up a few other rugs for $1.24 each for my kitchen.  Not as cool, but something I needed.

Our store had a ton of clothes on clearance and even the 75% off rack was full.  Also all backpacks for kids were 75% off.  All other school supplies were 30% off.

Want to know what day things get marked down, check out Targets Mark Down Schedule.

On the way out I saw one of the managers.  A couple weeks ago she commented on how good I did with coupons.  I handed her a $3 off denim coupon that day.  Today when I saw her I asked if she used it, she said yes and was thrilled.  I showed her the accessories one, $2 off.  She asked me if she could us it on clearance, which I said yes.  She laughed, because here she was an employee asking a customer how to use their coupons.  I had an extra and told her there was a wallet over there for $2.48, after coupon it would only be 48¢.

Mama Kat has encouraged us to write about a time that we have saved a ton of money. Well, as you can tell by my blog name this is right up my alley.

I am frugal. I love finding things I can save money on, only to be able to spend on things I truly enjoy. Which for me tends to be a great meal out.

Just last week I had a great saving week. I bought (can I use that word) 12 boxes of pasta for FREE. I also got gum and Welchs grape juice for FREE, well actually they paid me a penny to take the juice out of the store. I was also picking up Colgate toothpaste for 13¢ a tube and stashing it away.

Now if you too are not familiar with the “saving community” out there then you too will wonder why I purchased/got 12 boxes of Pasta in one week.  It’s the whole concept of Stockpile shopping vs. Plain Ole’ shopping.

It doesn’t stop there, I got $20 jeans at Target for my daughter for $12 and they hadn’t even hit the clearance rack yet.  This price was even cheaper than what I had seen at resale shops.  Are you aware that Target has coupons on their site?  That’s right I got the jeans by using a $3 off denim coupon that Target had.  Those coupons go fast, so you have to print them right away. (They are currently out)

I guess it’s hard for me to pick just one time that I saved a lot of money since I am always looking for ways to save.   So if you are new to the concept, take time to find local deal blogs in your area.  For instance, here in the Pacific NW, I follow Frugal Living NW.  They match all the sales with coupons, all I do is go pick them up.  You didn’t really think I was organized enough to do it on my own did you??

If you haven’t already, take the plunge and see if couponing is for you.  Not interested in couopns, that’s ok too.  Check back every Tuesday as I share a tip on how to save money that doesn’t use coupons.

Not only do I love saving money, I love sharing with others how to do it.

Linked to Things I love Thursday

We are trying real hard this year to stay on pretty tight back to school budget.  My kids are ok with getting more clothes in January, so stocking up a little right now is all we are really doing.

Last week we went to Target.  My daughter found 2 pairs of jeans each $20.  I told her to sit tight one more week. Sure enough this week they went on sale for $15.  I hope you all printed the jeans coupon I told you about, because it’s gone, but we printed a few and we got an additional $3 off each pair.

Juniors Skinny Jeans on sale $15
use $3 off denim
$12 each – needless to say, she got 2 pairs and last week she was trying to choose which pair she was going to get.

That’s not all.  The Hanes stuff is on sale this week.  I know for sure that coupon is still available.   This is the stuff I hate to buy, it’s just not fun.

Men’s boxers are $6.79 for a 4 pack
$1.00 off Hanes Coupons
$5.79 final price

Men’s t-shirts
$7.89 for 6 pack
$1.00 Hanes Coupon
$6.89 final price or $1.15 each

Kids socks
$3.79 for 7 pairs
$1.00 Hanes Coupon
$2.79 final price

Womens socks
$8 for 12 pairs
$1.00 off Hanes coupon
final $7

For me I think $20 is a good price for jeans.  Rarely do I go over.  If something is priced at $20 though, just wait for a sale.  It’s the $30 jeans that I wait for to come down to $20, and they eventually do.

Best time to buy jeans is July and January.  July because they are getting rid so stuff that never sold last year finally at summer sales.  January because all school clothes shopping is over, as is Christmas, and they are gearing up for spring clothing.

What is your ideal price for jeans?

For more back to school savings on supplies check out the list over at Frugal Living NW.