thebudgetqueen's Blog

Re: Has this happened to you?

LOL!!! Go Magylyn!! That is hilarious. It's crazy how some people behave! Good for you for putting your foot down!

Re: BLACK FRIDAY!!!

We are heading out at 11:30pm tonight. Toys-R-Us opens at midnight! Then we will go to IHOP, then Target at 4am, then Walmart at 6am, then possibly Kohls, Home Depot and Wags. You are welcome to join us! We will be looking out for each other! Arasmom(Taffy) and I will be going as a team. I will have a copy of her list and she will have a copy of mine, so that we can grab and go!

Re: BLACK FRIDAY!!!

The Sears ad is already out online and in the newspaper. You can go to www.sears.com to check and see if your appliances will be on sale before you go!

Re: BLACK FRIDAY!!!

Also, all of the Black Friday sites have an option for you to create a shopping list, which I did and printed out today so that I will be ready for my mission.

Re: BLACK FRIDAY!!!

If you know who is doing Black Friday Deals a day early online, please post the,. So far I know that Sam's Club and CVS are doing it. If you know of any others, please let us know asap!!

Re: Target changes (again) Price Matching Policy

I agree. I don't know why they even bother, it is such a waste of time. I would honestly rather go somewhere else to price match! I know that sounds negative, but the experience is terrible. You have to go through the line and pay full price, then bring your receipt to customer service with your sales ad, then one item at a time they refund you. So, it requires several transactions. All the while, the line in back of you is growing and people are getting irritated that they are having to wait. It's crazy.

Re: BLACK FRIDAY!!!

Yes, the digital photo frames are popular, but you should be able to find one for very little. I have seen several online and they may come available online on Thanksgiving morning. Also, check www.froogle.com to see who has the cheapest price. Be sure to choose 'low to high price' in the drop down menu.

Ok, I have quite a list for Black Friday! Here are my plans:
12am - Toys-R-Us
4am - Target
5am - Walmart
8am - Big Lots

Hopefully I will be done after that, but we'll see where the day takes me!! LOL I will try to start my shopping online the day before.

BLACK FRIDAY!!!

It's only 2 days away and many sales start online tomorrow morning! Are you going? What are you buying? And what tricks do you use to get it all done?

Don't forget about the Christmas Coupon Swap on Tuesday!! Everyone gets presents! Hope to see you all there!!

Cheap Secret Santa Idea!

I ran across a fabulous idea for gifts this Christmas! Instead of buying $10 or $20 gifts for Secret Santa this year, have everyone choose an item in their home that they have never opened, don't use, or is just to valuable to throw out. No used pots or old sneakers, but something that would be considered a good gift. We are going to try it out for our BNI Christmas party. I am so excited to see what people bring. It should be a very eclectic and interesting array of presents. I will let you know how it turns out! 

Black Friday Tips

Ok Everyone!!!
Black Friday is less than one week away! I just wanted to give a few tips to make this exciting day go as good as possible. Here are some tips:

1. Make sure the hubby knows that he is watching the kids until you get home.

2. Start making lists of what you want NOW! Look at Black Friday Ads at sites like www.blackfriday.info, www.blackfriday.org, www.bfads.net, or www.black-friday.net.

3. Create a plan of action. Make a route that you plan on using for that day to get you quickly from store to store OR have a friend at each store and each shop one store for each other. Decide which items are most important to you or are the best deals and head to those stores first. 

4. Get ready the night before. Have everything packed and ready to go before you go to sleep the night before: purse, money, phone, sales ads, coupons, granola bar, Pop Tart, etc. Either sleep in your clothes or have them ready to slip on next to the bed. Have your coffee pot set for 3:50 a.m with your travel mug sitting next to it.

5. Wake up at 4am. Most stores open at 5am, so you will need time to slip on clothes and make your coffee before you head out the door. You can skip make-up or do it in the car...or just put on powder, mascara, and lipgloss.

6. WEAR TENNIS SHOES - not only will you be running in some stores, but prepare to be trampled! You do NOT want to be in sandals if someone is plowing over you, trust me. 

7. Get your stuff, go home, and go back to bed. 

8. Most importantly, be civil. Help each other and try to make this a fun and frugal experience, not a bad memory. 

...and if you miss Black Friday, there is always Cyber Monday! That's right! A whole new set of amazing sales come out the Monday after Thanksgiving online at all of your favorite retailer's websites. Last year I bought a fridge 50% off on Cyber Monday and had delivered to my home for free! 

HAPPY SHOPPING!

If you have any other tips, or past experiences, please post them!!

Re: Have you fallen off the wagon?

NO!!! You cannot miss this swap! I am going to be giving everyone presents!! I will be so sad. 

It sounds like you got some good Christmas shopping done! I just pulled out my list to see what I have left. I'm about to start cleaning out my expired coupons and putting all of the new clipped coupons in my binder. I have a ton of coupons for the next coupon swap!

OH - and I just signed up for The Daily Advertiser to be delivered because it is soooo much cheaper than buying it in the store! It's $4 per MONTH for Saturday and Sunday! Can you believe that? If I would buy in the store I think it would be $8 - $9 per month for Saturday and Sunday....and I save gas too! If there is a coupon I like, I can always get my mom to bring home coupons from the hospital newspaper. YAY!

All of this cleaning and organizing is helping me tremendously! I feel like things are getting better.

Downtown Lafayette's Christmas Event Schedule

11/25 - Downtown Alive, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

11/28 - Movies in the Park - Elf  ...at dusk

12/4 - Festival of Lights in the Oil Center, 5-10 p.m.

12/6 - The Sonic Christmas Parade, beginning at Jefferson St. and E. Cypress            3 pm.

12/12 - Artwalk - 4 - 8 p.m.

12/12 - Christmas Kid's Alive - Main Library 10am - 11:30am

12/12 - Free Museum Day!!! @ Lafayette Science Museum & Alexandre Mouton House Museum!!!

12/12 - Rudolph Run 5k and Fun Run - Parc Sans Souci 3:30pm

Please post any other events that you find!!!

Dollar General Coupons

Dollar General is now offering coupons in their store. If you look on the sales ad rack you should see a page of coupons with about 15 random coupons. Don't forget to pick one up on your way in to shop!

Thought you might need a little smile!

Need a little smile? Just call the Nestle Crunch Hotline at 1-800-295-0051. When you are asked if you want to continue in English or Spanish, just wait quietly for about 10 seconds and you will smile. Promise! Keep going and press 4 ... it gets even better!

$5 off of $25 coupon at Walgreens

Here is a coupon that you can use for the deals that will be coming out this week! Don't forget to print it before you go to the store!

http://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/5off25.jsp?stop_mobi=yes&ec=hn7110s_mainimage&ep_mid=63272888&ep_rid=2967035471

Re: Have you fallen off the wagon?

I have been cleaning my desk and clipping coupons all day. I've decided to take this holiday to catch-up and get organized. It's a breath of much needed fresh air! I feel like I am regaining control of my coupons, deals, and my budget!

Community Announcement from thebudgetqueen

The Budget Queen Christmas Coupon Swap is right around the corner! Join us Tuesday, December 1st at 6pm at the South Regional Library on Johnston St. in the meeting room. It will be a fun filled, potluck, coupon swap with presents and games for all. Please reply asap so that we will have enough goodies and gifts for everyone. You are welcome to bring finger foods (cookies, chips, your specialty, etc) if you like, so that we will have a variety of goodies. Hope you can make it! Can't wait to see you there!

P.S. If you cannot bring a food item, we understand, we want you to join us anyway. Please do not bring gifts, they will be provided by www.TheBudgetQueen.com!

Thanks for another wonderful year!

Re: LANE BRYANT $20 off $40 purchase coupon

Awesome find! You could buy $40 in clearance items, use the coupon, and pay $20 for a TON of clothes!...even if it is for another season.

FREEBIE FRIDAY! November 20, 09

Health & BeautyAlways Infinity (Walmart)Kotex (Kroger)Pampers Extra Protection Size 5 (Walmart)FoodSteaz Organic Iced Teaz (printable coupon redeemable at Target)Kashi TLC Granola barKefir Probiotic Wellness Bar (for Facebook Fans)EntertainmentRobb Report magazine (1 free issue from ValueMags)Wine Spectator magazine (from Rewards Gold)Home & GardenMueller's Pasta Meal PlannerRowenta Art of Ironing DVDTerraCycle Huggies Plastic Packaging RecyclingUpcoming Freebie Events:Please call your local store or restaurant to confirm they are participating in these freebie eventsNOVEMBERBass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland begins (free 4x6 Santa photo)20 - Disney Store Pajama Party storytime, games, snacks 5:30 & 721 - Polar Express Pajama Party at Borders storytime, activities, hot cocoa 11 am21- Lakeshore Learning Kid Crafts make a Terrific Turkey Centerpiece 11-321 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a Snowman 10-1121 - Wahoo's Free Meal print the adDECEMBER5 - The Home Depot Kids Workshop make a wagon 9-125 - Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic make a Gingerbread House 10-11

Re: Have you fallen off the wagon?

P.S. Moving and being really busy has thrown me off too, so don't feel bad. I have had to re-assess my budget. I am always great at getting my menu plan done and shopping under $50, but coupons are always an issue. I have a huge stack on my desk right now. Lately, I have been getting the kids to clip them for me, which works out really well! I also haven't been doing many drug store deals, but I don't need to. I have such a big stockpile, that there is no need for me to chase anything but Pull-Up deals. My biggest problem is my schedule. There is never enough time for everything. I did re-do my schedule, but my new schedule still has it's kinks. I do "time blocking", which is great. (Google it for more info). I have a whole week planned out with blocks of time for self, family, work, deals, church, etc, etc. It's the same every week so that it is routine. I now know, however, that do not have enough time in a week for all of the hats I wear, so it is time to pair down on some of my activities. I have to make coupons & deals one of my priorities in order to make my budget work, so something else will have to give. I am going to re-assess my goals, then adjust my schedule to include only the most important things.

Hope this helps!

Re: Have you fallen off the wagon?

I think it is important to take a step back, or a day off of work, whatever works for you, to get re-organized. Because so much of this is about organization, that is usually the entire problem. If you are not clipping coupons, doing deals, and making menu plans, it is probably because you have not blocked out time in your schedule to do it. Don't forget that there is a weekly schedule under the "tools" section of the site that you can print out. Each day is devoted to one small chore that will help you stay on track. Sunday - get the newspaper and do drug store deals, Monday - clip coupons, Tuesday - circle all of the great deals in the grocery ads, Wednesday - clean your fridge and make a menu plan, Thursday - shopping day, Friday - plan a cheap date with your honey. Check the Times of Acadiana and enlist a free baby sitter, Saturday - do something fun with the family. Use the Times to find a free event or use Zoo memberships, go to the library, picnic at the park, visit friends, etc. Most of the planning/chores can be done while you are sitting in front of the TV at night, and can be adjusted to fit your schedule.

This may also be a good time to re-assess your budget. If you have fallen off of the wagon it may also be because things have changed in your life and you have yet to address them. For instance, a move to a new house can really throw you off. Your budget will have to be re-done to fit the new bills.

Going on a vacation can cause problems especially if you spent the whole vacation buying whatever you wanted. Vacation is about taking a break from it all and I too try not to think about coupons and menu plans when I am on vacation. It is really hard because it is so ingrained in my system, but it is good to take a break from it all. The problem is, that when we come back, we don't want to go back to all of the hard work that we left. But, you have to go back to your job, right? So, you have to go back to your coupons and deals too. Coupons and deals is like having a part time job. It is the equivalent of a part time job in the money you save. If you were not doing the deals, you would have to have a part-time job to make up for the spending. To me, clipping coupons is much easier. So, take a break, revise your budget, and move forward.

Maybe clipping coupons is too much for some people's schedules. Remember that you don't have to clip anything. If you miss a week of clipping, just be sure to put the date on the coupon inserts so that you can find them easily when you are looking through the match-ups. If it is too overwhelming, stop clipping and just date them. Menu plans are a huge money saver, so if it's the least you do, do that. Look through grocery ads and drugstore ads for good sales and deals on the things you need. Make it work for you and your schedule.

Hope this helps. Please ask more questions if you need to.

Chick-Fil-A Kid's Night November 17th

Don't forget that tonight is kid's night at Chick-Fil-A! Both Lafayette, LA locations will be providing board games for your family to play while you eat. Kid's meals are only $.99 with the purchase of an adult value meal! So, if you are too busy to cook, this is an inexpensive option!...And who doesn't love Chick-Fil-A!?!

Re: Target Deals week of November 15th - 21st

P.S. when I say "charity" next to an item, I am suggesting that it is a good item to purchase for a charity drive such as for a Thanksgiving food drive or Christmas drive. 

Target Deals week of November 15th - 21st

Re: WALGREENS FREEBIES: NOVEMBER 15th-21st

THERE ARE A TON OF GREAT HOLIDAY DEALS TO STOCKPILE THIS WEEK: