The Killer Instinct

By Mark Sweetwood

This week, to save money, you are going to avoid using cash.

That's not a contradiction.

Instead, you are going to use two $100 VISA gift cards that you are going
to buy at Giant Eagle. On your way out of the store, fill your tank with
15 gallons at Get & Go with the 40-cent-per-gallon discount you just
nabbed. You just netted a free gallon-and-a-half or $6.

Now, before this trip even began, you properly prepared using the weekend
newspaper's fliers and by using the Internet to visit:

http://www.afullcup.com/upload/cmps_index.php?page=printable_coupons

You downloaded:

 Three coupons for 65 cents each off of a box of Honey Nut Cheerios.
 One $2.50 coupon for Bertolli dinners.

From Giant Eagle, let's head to Walgreens to buy:

 Three boxes of Honeynut Cheerios for $7.
 One Bertolli chicken dinner for 5.99.
 One Breyers ice cream at $6.29 (getting one free).
 Two 100-packs of Original Lipton Tea for $5.

The $24.28 bill will be reduced by $4.45 by using your coupons to $19.83.
As a bonus when you get your receipt, Walgreens will give you $7 to use on
your next visit.

You've spent about $80 in two visits and you saved a bunch. We're just
getting started.

Hit Rulli Bros. next. They have two coupons in their ad in The Vindicator
if you spend $20: One lets you buy a bag of lettuce for 49 cents and the
other a one-half gallon of orange juice for 99 cents. Using their ad like
a ruthless bargain hunter, you eschew name brands and go for the jugular:

 $1.56 for four pounds of bananas.
 $1.78 for two packs of hot dogs.
 $5.56 for four pounds of country ribs
 $4.17 for three pounds of ground beef.
 $4.38 for two pounds of deli turkey breast.
 $1.98 for two pounds of grapes
 $.49 for the couponed lettuce.
 $.99 for the couponed orange juice.

You are out about $22 and you have about $98 left. You are on your way to
the IGA. And you are going to go there Tuesday. Why? Because on the
Tuesday Super Sale, you can redeem your $3 off $25 coupon that you clipped
from their flier.

Here's a good way to spend it:

 $1.76 for two heads of lettuce.
 $2.04 for three pounds of peaches.
 $1.50 for three cucumbers.
 $2.56 for two pounds of tomatoes.
 $4.00 for four bags of frozen vegetables.
 $1.50 for two boxes of frozen spinach
 $6.32 for four pounds of pork chops 17.10
 $2 loaf of wheat bread
 $3.76 for two pounds of strawberries.

That's about $25.44. Minus $3.

Now, in a couple of stops, you have spent less than $130 and have a lot of
staples plus a full tank of gas (and a $7 credit waiting for you at
Walgreens). The cautious reader will point out: Where's the milk? The
shampoo? The chips and nuts?

Well, you still have about $70 left. Grab the Rite Aid flier from The
Vindicator and check out the BOGO's (bargain-speak for buy-one,
get-one's):

 Doritos
 Mixed nuts
 $5 instant rebate on two Finesse shampoos
 $2.69 for a gallon of milk.

You''ll be out of there with two bags of chips, two cans of nuts, two
bottles of shampoo and milk for about $10 (and will really impress me if
you first headed to that coupon site to find Doritos and Finesse coupons
to use without having me prompt you).

How to spend the remaining $60? You tell me.

The point is, like anything in life, shopping is all about having a game
plan and then executing it with ruthless efficiency. Be an informed buyer.
Don't just shop in one place. Make it a game. Save money and have fun.

There are bargains out there and, as I said from the start, armed with a
newspaper and the Internet, you have everything you need to slow down, if
not beat, the high cost of living.

--

Mark Sweetwood is managing editor of The Vindicator.