In addition to SmartSource, Red Plum and P&G Brandsaver inserts, there are already two Christmas inserts in the October 31st Sunday paper. 

Kmart’s Christmas toy inserts highlight 200 toys for under $50, plus $150 in coupon savings on select toys.  The second Christmas insert is from Toys “R” Us.  The Toys “R” Us insert highlights over 50 free offers, a free $10 gift card with qualifying $75 purchase and free shipping at toysrus.com.  It’s time to start (or finish) your holiday shopping!

Heads-up on this Sunday’s inserts in The Roanoke Times!

A few stores are publishing their Christmas toy booklets a bit early; so check out what they’re putting on sale already for the holidays.

P&G has launched “Have you tried this yet?”  You can see user review videos, get free samples and coupons and tips and advice.  I typically don’t spend time on free samples, but this new feature with loadable and home delivered coupons in addition to samples looks very worthwhile!

Have you read about the guy that is living cash and credit free for a year?  He is living solely off an unlimited supply of Groupon coupons. You can read the story and get a few tips from him here.

On my quest to simplify grocery budgeting, last week I told you about how to identify the amount of money you spend on groceries and the ways to define “grocery.”  You can find that at plateup.roanoke.com.  The next step is knowing where to cut spending.  

The easiest, and most obvious categories to cut spending in are convenience/junk foods and alcohol.  We’ve all heard, convenience costs, and it does, wallet and health wise.  It’s easy to say cut the cookies, cakes, chips and dips. . .and it’s a little harder to do so with the holiday season quickly approaching, not to mention the simple convenience when life gets so busy of buying ready-made eats.  Plus, the cookies, cakes, chips and dips cost less than the bag fulls of fresh produce and lean proteins sometimes in dollars, but mostly in time saved.  And if there’s a hormonal pregnant lady in the house, maybe she just needs a few bites of habanero peach salsa and tortilla chips to make her happy.  I’m just saying.

Even when buying produce, the veggies that save us time are not the same as the veggies that save us money (carpal tunnel from cutting carrots anyone?).  One way to save on produce is to buy seasonally.  Websites like www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org and www.wisebread.com can help with identifying what’s freshest now, there’s probably even an app for that!

If you’ve got Thursday, Oct. 28, free (or maybe now you do!), check out this shopportunity.

For $40, get a roundtrip bus ride from Tanglewood Mall to Tysons Corner to shop at Nordstrom, Banana Republic, H&M and more. The bus leaves at 6:30 a.m. and includes a light breakfast with coffee. On the ride back (same day), there will be wine and cheese.

Trip profits will benefit American Cancer Society for breast cancer research.

Interested? Call 797-3310 to make your reservation or for more information.

I’ve recently developed a growing affection for Amazon.com.  Any expert Amazon shoppers willing to share tips/tricks/etc.?

If you’re a Facebook user and like Old Navy you can get a 50% off coupon for outerwear October 26-28 and if you haven’t seen this year’s outerwear, it’s pretty cute.  Click here to print!

Instead of a coupon recap today, you get an online coupon!  Use this code C4XLD4LP for 10% off online orders at Target.  I can’t find an expiration date, so leave a comment if/when you discover it’s expired.

There will be two inserts in your Sunday paper, SmartSource and Red Plum.  In addition you’ll find inserts for fall savings on decorations, clothing and Halloween goodies!

 Have you found the perfect pair of jeans?  I have not. . .yet.  I’m still looking and I always take notice of what other ladies are wearing.  Instead of stalking the ladies I see wearing seemingly perfect jeans up and down the aisles of Target, I go here, The Jean Pocket Project.  Not all brands/styles are shown, but it’s a decent representation.  So, I only have to stalk long enough to get the rear view.

Many mom/coupon/savings blogs are run by women who make it their full-time job to save their family money.  The advice is great, but can get very overwhelming for us mere mortals that are juggling working full-time, blogging part-time, home and family. That being said, I’ve attempted to narrow the process down to three steps and over the next three weeks, I’ll break down the practical steps that have helped me remain sane while trying to save money.

First, know what you spend. Believe it or not, knowing what you actually spend on food is an active pursuit.  Those mid-week runs to pick up milk or a random ingredient to complete dinner add up (and as I type this I realize I forgot soy sauce during my weekly shopping).  Take at least a month to track your grocery spending.  The easiest way is to keep receipts and add them up.  Remember to take into account any non-grocery items you may have purchased as well.  

This can vary person to person based on how specific your budget is.  If you have a broad budget, then anything bought at Kroger, Food Lion, Fresh Market or the farmer’s market is considered grocery.  But, if your budget is more narrow, you’ll need to deduct beauty/health, cleaning products, beer and wine spending, etc.  to be put in other budget areas.  

Many budgeting and financial advice sources use the envelope method for weekly spending.  Each week a certain dollar amount is put in an envelope.  When you go grocery shopping you only have that envelope with the pre-determined amount (no back up debit/credit card!).  If the envelope method works for you, great!  If it doesn’t, great!  Whatever system you use should be functional in your life and move you toward the goal of staying on budget.

Maybe not, but it’s always 6pm online.  6pm.com, where they slogan is “it’s time to get your brand fix!” has at least one great (75% off) deal a week.  Are  you a 6pm shopper?  I’ve been hearing great things, let me know your take.

With the obligatory pumpkin patch visit out of the way, the Wingate clan is officially in the swing of fall!

If you’re the craft type, then you’re in luck with this weeks inserts!  A.C. Moore and Jo-ann’s both have coupons for up to 50% off this week. Craft mommas can start sewing away!

In addition, here are a few of my favorites:

$3.00/1 Tylenol Precise

$1.00/2 Rice Krispies or Cocoa Krispies

Free Limeade Sparkler at Taco Bell

$0.30/1 Yoplait Greek Yogurt Cups

$0.75/3 Pillsbury Refridgerated baked goods

$1.00/8 or more rolls of Scott Extra Soft bath tissue

$1.50/1 Lysol Neutra Air aerolsol can

There are two coupon inserts in this week’s paper, SmartSource and Red Plum.  In addition, there are over 30 retailer inserts you may receive as well.

Just a reminder, inserts are based on your zip code.  The insert owner determines which zip codes will receive their inserts.  That means everyone receives the same inserts, and sometimes, none at all depending on where you live.  Not a perfect system, but it’s the system we have.

Here’s a great article from MSN Money.  Spending too much on lunch is a thorn in side, but many days I pay the price for convenience.

We’ve all heard the adage, “You are what you eat,” maybe that can be edited to, “You are what you buy.”  How about, “Time is money?”  How we spend our money and time can (arguably) show our priorities for our money and life.

Online budgeting sites like Mint.com (cute name, eh?), as well as apps for your phone will keep track of your spending and help you set monthly budgets and goals.  In addition, you can totally get your geek on with graphs and spreadsheets and breakdowns of where you actually spend your money.  For me, and I assume most families with children, the biggest chunks of the budget go to housing, child care and transportation in that order.  Utility bills/food are ranked pretty high as well.

Sometimes that knowledge is a good thing and sometimes. . .not so much.  It’s a great thing when you’re over budget in the “Shopping” category but can re-categorize a few purchases into “Gifts and Charities” due to the impending holidays making both budgets balance. And on the flip side, it’s not so good when finding out you’re over budget in the “Clothing” category and that the auto sorting for the “Clothing” category didn’t pick up on that specialty store purchase since it’s not hugely well-known.  For example, Mint.com know what Gap and Old Navy are, but not necessarily Toad’ly Kids.

I read awhile back on GRS about a small way to save called $4.00/gallon gas.  Every time you fill up with gas, assume the price is $4.00/gallon.  Based on the number of gallons you need and what was actually spent, transfer the difference into a savings account.  What small savings have you found?

I subscribe to a newsletter from relishrelish.com and received the following this week.  Who knew Bounce had so many uses!

Put A Little Bounce In Your Step
You have possibly received these in your email box several times over the years, like I have, but in case you haven’t here are some fabulous uses for Bounce and a few pithy ideas to brighten your day!
To dissolve soap scum from shower doors, clean them with a sheet of Bounce.
Loosen caked-on food from a pan. Place a fresh sheet in the bottom of a dirty pan, fill with lukewarm tap water, and let sit in the sink overnight. The pan will be easier to clean in the morning.
Tie a Bounce sheet in your hair as a lovely bow and it will keep static electricity from ruining your careful combing.
Freshen the air in your home by placing an individual sheet of Bounce in a drawer or hang one in the closet.
To keep your vacuum cleaner smelling fresh, put a Bounce sheet in the bag.
To keep suitcases from smelling musty, place an individual sheet of Bounce inside empty luggage before storing it.
Bounce sheets can be used as emergency seat stuffing or brake pads.
Freshen the air in your car by placing a sheet of Bounce under the front seat.
Clean baked-on foods from a cooking pan. 
Eliminate odors in wastebaskets.  Place a sheet of Bounce at the bottom of the wastebasket.
De-stink your pet by rubbing a wet dog with a sheet of Bounce.
If you were invited out and don’t have a tie, you can easily make one with tape, scissors, and four sheets of Bounce.
Remove animal hair from furniture and wood floors by rubbing the area with a sheet of Bounce.  It will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.
Kill insects: An insect tied securely in a sheet of Bounce will die within days.
Eliminate odors in dirty laundry.  Place an individual sheet of Bounce at the bottom of a laundry bag or hamper.
Fashion a wedding centerpiece by making “flowers” with pipe cleaners and Bounce. Let guests take them home as a fresh-smelling, static-killing keepsake.

Plus, put a Bounce sheet in your sleeping bag and tent before folding and storing them, it will keep them smelling fresh.
Keep dresser drawers smelling fresh and clean by placing a dryer sheet on the bottom of it.
Spelling help. A box of Bounce can act as a handy reminder for how to spell the difficult word “ounce” (“Bounce” = “B” + “ounce”).

I’m guilty of playing favorites anytime there’s a P&G BrandSaver insert.  More of the brands I use are in this insert and since they don’t show up every week it feels like a treat!  Below are some of my favorites.

$0.50/1 Mr. Clean Magic Eraser

$1.00/1 Bounce Dryer Bar

$1.00/1 Febreze product with Gain

$5.00/1 Crest 3D White Professional Effects

$7.00/2 Prilosec OTC

And, a $20 rebate when buying $50 of Olay Professional Pro0X Facial Moisturizers or Facial Cleansers.

This week there are many Columbus Day inserts in your Sunday paper, even a couple for the fellas.  Check out the department store inserts, especially Macy’s for extra savings.

If you’re into fall/holiday decorating it’s worth taking a look at the Michael’s and A.C. Moore inserts and if you can’t make it this weekend, don’t miss the end of season clearance sales!

In addition, there will be three coupon inserts.  SmartSource, Red Plum and another P&G BrandSaver, this time with over $40 in coupon savings.

And finally. . .Try to resist the urge to buy Halloween candy that is mysteriously on sale this early.  It will get eaten then you’ll have to buy more!

 Stonecroft Ministries and its affiliate Women’s Brunch Bunch, which are both non-profit organizations, sent the below for Shoptimist readers:

You and your friends are cordially invited to our Shop Til You Drop Harvest Festival sponsored by the Women’s Brunch Bunch on Tuesday, October 12, 2010, at Hidden Valley Country Club from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m. Cost is $13.50 per person, inclusive.
 
Our feature will be a sale with more than 20 local vendors, all waiting to serve you.  You can actually begin your shopping at 8:30 a.m.
 
Special guest speaker Yvette Perrin from Hampton, VA will inspire us when she tells us about “When Life Becomes a Reality Show.

Reservation deadline is October 7. Child care is available with reservation.  Cancellations are necessary.  Just call Kathy at 540-254-1339 or Sally at 562-4365 or sassysally1492@cox.net.

got to meet fellow Roanoke Times blogger Nona Nelson last week (which was lovely by the way) and we both discovered that we are taking tag-along trips this fall.  Almost every year my husband attends a conference for his industry and I get to piggy back onto his trip, get some “me” time.  Last year he was a tag-along to a work conference of mine and since he can work remotely, he didn’t miss much office time either!

Typically, his work covers his airfare, hotel and a portion of his meals. So that means a very significant portion of our trip doesn’t come from our checking account.  

His working hours are still the same though. He is working attending sessions during the day and we get time in the evening to either attend functions of the conference where he can network or go out and try local restaurants and walk around the city.  And I try to be a good spouse and not interfere with the business side of things. But the best part is. . . The free time I have during the day is spent sleeping, eating, shopping and spa-ing.  And for a full-time working mom and wife, I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Happening October 14-16 and let’s face it, who doesn’t love Fink’s?  Learn more here.

Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic are having a 2-day online sale starting today!

Sale is 30 percent off purchases at each store (enter SAVEBIG at checkout); if you spend $100 or more, you also get free shipping.

Start browsing here. Happy shopping!

There are many local retailers as well as national and online retailers donating a portion of proceeds on certain products this month to the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Awareness cause.  Jenny Boone did a rundown at The Storefront.  What have you seen while you’re out and about?

I missed my coupon preview this week, darn vacation getting in the way of blogging!  But. . .I can pass along today that Kroger has release new digital coupons.  Remember, expiration dates vary and you can’t stack digital and printed coupons.  Below is a sample, download quick as quantities are limited.