2026-07 July Frugal Thread

[flemeth]

Do you find couponning difficult?

@cath007 I do not print coupon since I don’t have a printer and it’s not worth the hassle since some stores does not accept printed coupons since people ruined the process by photocopying coupons when you are not supposed to if it has a pin.

As for tear pads I find it’s an easy process once you followed the rules and know the store policy eg GT closest to me would not PM and used a coupon . Also if you are buying 2 identical items you can only used 1 coupon .

I do most of my couponing at RCSS and FreshCo .

Finding coupon is another story . I do a lot of trading for the ones that benefit me.

[SassyAshley]

@cath007 , I agree with what most have said.

The amount of time and effort needed to coupon these days is just not worth it for me.

I am the rare person, I do have a printer and a colour printer since my Mom paper crafts but searching for coupons and I even find, finding coupons for tings we use they don't line up. Plus, honestly, I don't have the patients to deal with printed coupons, I am not even sure of the rules at stores around me anymore but the hassle isn't worth it for me personally, especially since it was usually on something I was trying because I had the coupon.

I find I save more money using points programs and price matching. Or by shopping at Costco, honestly, on some things if Costco puts it on sale it is cheaper than a sale price plus a coupon.

Once in a blue moon, I find a coupon for something we use but honestly, I don't find a lot of coupons for things we buy anymore. The coupon world has changed. Not to mention this Buy X and Y to save drive me insane because usually one of the products we do not buy. Even when the products make sense together for example I believe there was one Buy Silk and Kellogg's Cereal save $1, when we really do not buy cereal it is cheaper for me to just buy the silk on sale.

Couponing is not what it used to be, so if I find a coupon I can use I will but for the most part especially being in a small town it is so hard to find coupons so I have found other ways to keep to our grocery budget.

[SassyAshley]

Good Afternoon Everyone,
Ever have one of those days where you thought you slept really well but all day your tired and struggling to focus. Yep that is me today.

The work day does not stop so I am mainly working on things that are processing information and getting it in the system.

One of my meeting for tomorrow has been postponed, we will see about the others. There is one I do hope happens as that will determine my week for next week as I think I will be headed back to the plant at some point.

Got the phone call for Mom's car, parts are needed, $$$ are needed. At this time we have decided to not fix the AC, not ideal but will make it work as there are other areas those $$$ can go to (I really want to redo out bathroom, it needs it but waiting for Mom to get quotes as now with her mobility our original plan won't work). But we will get the noise fixed, it was the exhaust not the heat shield and the two sensors light. Although I am a little annoyed as one of the sensors is due to an issue the dealership told us about but told it wasn't really an issue just something to keep in mind to be fixed later. Turns out it was an issue and should have been fixed when discovered. We are getting it fixed, now and not at the dealership.

Need to look over the new flyers and see if there is anything I want to grab. I cannot think of much we need but will see what is on sale.

Happy Wednesday Everyone.

[coupon girl]

Sassy i feel that way too a little tired after having the 2 gra ndkids for 2 days and sleeping over.Sebastian is staying one more night til thursday around 12 or 1 pm when his dad is taking him up north with his family for a few days .

Took the grandkids all of them to Adventure Village were they played go carts ,bungee trampoline and lazer tag we treated them $90.00 not cheap but then again what is nowadays.Then to Hutches for lunch ,love that they have a seniors price cant beat small burger fries and a drink for 8.10 .

Just ordered a Walmart gift card 50.00 from RBC rewards the card points was reduced by 20% .

[Arjon]

For me, couponing has been slowly going downhill for years, esp. since COVID. Year by year, I use fewer coupons, primarily for two reasons. One is because I find fewer and fewer for things I buy, the other that the face values of the ones I do use tend to be lower relative to the increased prices of the items.

I also see far fewer opportunities to try things I wouldn't normally buy for (nearly) free.

And what I miss most is the thing that was by far the most fun for me, the big profit makers. They only came along occasionally, but they were so worth it when they did. The last I remember was just before COVID.

[cath007]

Thank you to all of you for yours answers at my question.

I find couponning very hard too,but I need it to survive.

I dont count my savings in spreadsheets but I know I save money.

I dont count as savings because those are just the price I can hardly afford to spend .

I think I will have to redo trades but for stamps because I have no coupons.

Or the only few I have are in french and I need those.

[cath007]

@harbie :
Must be so busy.
She had not been online and post since July 02.

[coupon girl]

My ex son-in-law came today to get Sebastian to sleep over at his nono's.I even got a kiss on the cheek from my grandson ,so nice.
My ex son-in-law gave us a $50 keg giftcard ,i told him he shouldnt have but he said nope a gift for you.

I think i will go to bed and read for a bit to relax.

Wow just saved my p.c offers and it would not let me save the P.C coffee ,i guess i have saved it 2 times before .I was waiting for a sale.Uggggg

I didnt find any super great sales this week in the flyers that start on thursday .Corn for a .25 is good at Sobeys .

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Day!!
Started my day off making coffee and went for a walk at the lake. Walked to my vehicle and switched my coffee cup for my water bottle and walked up to the bank and No Frills.
Decided to get 2 x 2pk Lean Ground beef for $8.88 each. 2.5lb apples $4.99 1 lime .49 and 2 bananas.

Dinner tonight is leftovers- so the cooked lean ground beef and onions from last night. Will make sweet potato, steam cabbage and green beans to go with it. Sounds like a good meal to me!

So since I don't have to worry about dinner I will get a few things done around the house and then this afternoon go get gas and go for another good walk.

My brother in law's band is playing tonight near me but I don't think we are going. It will be a mad house and parking will be hard to get and since we are seeing them August long weekend (and have gone to many many shows) think tonight will be ok to miss. Glad the weather will be good for them- this venue has been rained out the past few weeks.

Have a wonderful day!

[lizzie bargain]

I was planning to head to Churchill this week with friends-but we cancelled due to smoky weather. So I guess we are saving money there. I don't think my husband minds me being home although he is recovering well. 1 week after surgery he can cycle and drive and walks very well unaided. So I guess his new hip was a good investment.

[coupon girl]

Still a bit tired ,but went to Walmart this morning on the clearance section i got
Nivea glowy chap lip 3.58
4 kitchen tea towels 5.99=1.49 each cheaper than dollarama
(2) 1% cartons of milk
reduced 2.74 each
(2) foil art kits reduced 3.60 each for the granddaughters to do on their long road trip down east.

Plus another great checkout51 deal was Nivea body wash on sale 3.28-1.00 checkout51=2.28 havent paid that for body wash in a long time
Plus got one deodorant roll on nivea 3.28-1.00=2.28

I was so happy with my haul i didnt feel the need to spend more in shoppers on seniors day ,so came home.

Oh i forgot a plain grey sweatshirt for Sebastian for Xmas 4.00 reduced.

[lilo0003]

DH has 21 offers on his PCO plus a spend 100.00 and get 10000 points. I have 7 offers of which 4 are my saved offers and my spend off is 225.00. Ya big no to that especially since I think I spent 30-50 dollars weekly for the past month. I don’t think we need much and I was in town yesterday so go to Giant Tiger on day one of the sale so that was a bonus. @cath007 I actually keep a spreadsheet of my savings and coupons are not a big part of my savings they really don’t offer much now. It was less than 150.00 last year. I still remember the pre pandemic vector coupon that was on the box, it was for a free product. It’s the only cereal DH eats so that was awesome for us. It kept us in cereal and bananas for months.

[Frugalbigmama]

Good Day! Another beautiful day!

Went for a nice walk around the Bay. Then stopped at $ store looking for whistle and rope. Had to go to Canadian Tire! (Good Ol' CT)
Going to the beach this afternoon with my sister/niece/friend and they want me to bring the kayak so had to make sure I had the needed safety items (been meaning to grab them so this was the push I needed) Have everything needed including more of the clipped bungee cords that make it easy to load and tie up myself.

Just had my oatmeal and will pack my snack for the beach- Hummus and celery for sure and a few other things.

Have 2 bottles of water in the freezer- one just water the other flavoured. Love stainless steel bottles for this!

I bought a tray of BLSL chicken yesterday so that is the plan for dinner tonight (with sweet potatoes/mini potatoes/green beans)

Sometimes I feel guilty that I have so much more time off then my family but it is what it is.....

[SassyAshley]

Good Morning Everyone,
So happy it is Friday, I need this weekend.

I spent most of yesterday in meetings for our new programming, it was a very very long day. Ended my last meeting just after 5:30 and at that point I was done, so it was pizza for dinner.

My in office meeting ran late so I literally just made it home on time to log into my last two online meeting. I had meant to check Costco and see if chicken breasts were on sale and stop if they were. Although I did not have time stop they are on sale so guess I have to make it to Costco this weekend.

Mom's car is done was done early, we were originally told they wouldn't get the parts till today but they called yesterday to say it was done but I was in meetings, so we still need to pick the car up.

I see a few things on sale I want to pick up but we will see if I make it to the stores, might just be a Costco only type of week, we will see.

I am feeling very done but *fingers crossed* I have 2 days off next week and I cannot wait for a 5 day weekend.

Happy Friday Everyone.

[HermanH]

Salvaged a chocolate shake from my Shell station.

Found a pair of Apple chargers and a couple bottles of bubble soap toys, abandoned by a bum at a bus stop. My neighbour's kids will be happy for the toys.