Armed with info.

A couple of years back, I was going to sell my scrap gold before Christmas, but I was not in love with the estimate I was given. Today, as I have recently changed gears on my life and am trying to get the coupon page up and running, and go forth with being self employed, I figured now was a good time for cashing in the gold. Pure gold is at about $1,875 oz. today. So if you have mismatched 14k sitting around, you will get about half. BUT BEWARE!!

This morning I made a couple local calls. I will not mention names, but one gentleman was going to pay me $24 per “penny weight”. This is an equation that uses the carat of the items, and you have to multiply this and divide that. Bottom line, if any dealer pays you in penny weight, it does not necessarily reflect the daily price of gold per oz. If I had taken him up on it, I would have made about $250. Good thing I know people. I was paid based on today’s rate, which is to say that all my 14k gold necklaces that are 20 years old and missing clasps, and lost earrings, and rings with stones missing amounted to (drum roll please...) $1,090!!!!!

It is the same theory as buying a car. If you want to buy a new or especially used car, bring a grease monkey. If you are selling gold, do the research on the current standard. I almost cried when I found out how badly I could have been taken advantage of.  Thank you good Karma for entering my life today. And now I want to spread the word to you.

Define shelf clearing.

Well, I mean I guess it is just like it sounds. If you have a stock piles worth of any one product in your basket, but there are 2 items left on the shelf, hate to clue ya. That is shelf clearing.  Consider some circumstances before you go on a coupon frenzy.

#1 How many people are in your home? My coupon couth, if you will, would be to NEVER buy more than a two week supply of any one type of item at any one time. 20 mustards, shelf clearing. 40 boxes of cereal, shelf clearing! 100 boxes of pasta, SHELF CLEARING!!!

#2  If you see a great sale, and you REALLY want to stock up, my coupon couth would be to make 1 trip in the beginning of the promotion, and 1 trip towards the end. That way it gives everyone a chance to capitalize. If there are many items to choose from in that promotion, for example this last week’s General Mills deal, please alternate products. I did this promo 3 times this week, but I mixed the order of things so I got a little of everything.

#3  If you think people will look at you funny in line, like you are preparing for a Nuclear Holocaust, chances are good that you are shelf clearing. I personally do not want people to think of me this way.

#4 There will ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS be another sale and more coupons to match. Please don’t get greedy. If you are cutting your spending in half by couponing, that is an AWESOME ratio. I notice that some people tend to get selfish. Like, if they don’t get 75% or better they get testy. This ratio will come in time, and some weeks are better than others. It certainly can’t be achieved by hoarding. If you are noticing a lack of shelf space due to an overage of products that were actually free, or cost you close to nothing, please donate them to a local food pantry. Toiletries are very hard to come by in the food pantries, and are the easiest to get for free in the drug stores.

Couponing can actually make you the most altruistic cat on the block. You give, you get. Trust me.

Um... I think I am done.

This grocery list consists of 10 boxes of cereal, 4 bags of Bugles, 4 bags of Chex mix, and 2 Pillsbury Grands biscuits. Please note that the retail value is almost $50. I paid $13.90. Sadly it will be gone in 2 weeks, but I would rather pay $13.90 than the alternate. Even compared to Market Basket prices on these items, after all applicable coupons that would 'not' double, I still would have paid between $35-$40. Think about a last minute run tonight.

50% or better deals to consider. Quickly!!

*Staples $15 gift card for $8 at Saveology:

https://www.saveology.com/deals/national/staples-gift-card?utm_medium=CJ&utm_campaign=3793694&utm_source=AFF

*Official Nintendo  Wii Wheel $7.96 free shipping

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013B30SY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thefrufin-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=B0013B30SY

*2 Wii games for $20 at Walmart

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Nintendo-Wii-2-for-20-Video-Game-Bundle/15767694?wmlspartner=DCsVsGXU26A&sourceid=18456147062467649884&wmlspartner=NKa3hZyYoHA&sourceid=34150209401967470288

*10 Personalized cards with envelpoes free from Vista Print. Pay shipping only.

http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/ns/studio3.aspx?pf_id=034&combo_id=46388&free_studio_gallery=true&referer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.vistaprint.com%2fvp%2fgateway.aspx%3fS%3d0729057241%26AFFID%3dCD9230&rd=3

*HDMI 10 ft. cable $1.32 from Amazon SHIPPED!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000UHQVOW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thefrufin-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=B000UHQVOW

*Alan’s of Boscawen, $25 Gift card for $10 at Restaurant.com

http://www.restaurant.com/rdc_site2.net/listings.aspx?StateID=&zip=03301&

*Daniels restaurant in Henniker, $25 Gift Card for $10 at restaurant.com

http://www.restaurant.com/rdc_site2.net/listings.aspx?StateID=&zip=03301&

*Burberry Body Free Sample- LAST DAY!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/burberry?sk=app_197184447010295

*20% Gap Outlet Store coupon, good on total purchase of $75, also applies to Labor Day 70% sale.

http://gapoutlet.m.delivery.net/w/webView?cid=20749648852&mid=1977959789&pid=927166&vid=13786&ee=ZGl2YXNiaWdzaXN0ZXJAZ21haWwuY29t&si=&mv=H&bv=H&oc=H&k=1rvKLj&sc=

Last day for General Mills Shaw's run...

Last day of Shaw’s General Mills promotion. Buy 10 qualifying items, get $5 off. Or basically 50 cents off each item. Many of these items are approximately $1 each or even less after promo and coupon.  REMEMBER, only 6 coupons will double.

QUALIFYING ITEMS:

*Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks $2.00 - $.50 = $1.50 each after Instant Savings

*General Mills Cereals (Cheerios - yellow box, Trix or Cocoa Puffs, selected Varieties) $2.00 - $.50 = $1.50 each after instant Savings

*Betty Crocker cookie or Muffin & Quick Break Mix $2.00 - $.50 = $1.50 after instant Savings

*Betty Crocker Premium Brownie Mix $2.00 - $.50 = $1.50 after instant Savings

*Betty Crocker Hamburger Helper $1.00 - $.50 = $.50 after instant Savings

*Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes $1.00 - $.50 = $.50 after instant Savings

*Betty Crocker Cake Mix $1.00 - $.50 = $.50 after instant Savings

*Green Giant Vegetables $1.00 - $.50 = $.50 after instant Savings

*Old El Paso Refried Beans $1.00 - $.50 = $.50 after instant Savings

*Progresso Soup $1.50 - $.50 = $1.00 after instant Savings

*General Mills Chex Mix, Cheerios or Gardetto's Snack Mix or Bugles $1.50 - $.50 = $1.00 after instant Savings

*Green Giant Frozen Vegetables (7-10 oz selected varieties) $1.50 - $.50 = $1.00 after instant Savings

*Betty Crocker Frosting $1.50 - $.50 = $1.00 after instant Savings

*Bisquick Pancake & Baking Mix (20 oz box) $1.50 - $.50 = $1.00 after instant Savings

*Totino's Pizza Rolls or Party Pizza $1.50 - $.50 = $1.00 after instant Savings

*Nature Valley Granola Bars $2.50 - $.50 = $2.00 after instant Savings

*Old El Paso Dinner Kits $2.50 - $.50 = $2.00 after instant Savings

*Pillsbury Toaster Strudel $2.50 - $.50 = $2.00 after instant Savings

*Yoplait Multipack Yogurt $2.50 - $.50 = $2.00 after instant Savings

*Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, Cookie Dough or Sweet Moments $2.50 - $.50 = $2.00 after instant Savings

BELOW ARE CORRESPONDING COUPONS AVAILABLE AT: www.coupons.com

*Chex mix- $1.50- Use $.50 Q print. After Q doubles, Chex will be $.50 each.

*Bugles $1.50 – Use $.50 Q print 2. After Q doubles, Bugles are $.50 each.

*Totino’s Pizza Rolls $1- use $.40/2 Q. After Q doubles they are $.60 each

*Pillsbury Grands Biscuits $1.00 each- Use $.30/2 Q. After Q doubles, they are $.70 each

*Nature Valley granola bars $2 ea. – Use $.75/2 Q – After Q doubles they are $1.25 ea.

If you have any existing coupons for qualifying items, bring them just in case. There are also many similar coupons available on Coupon Network, so you can double some of these items like Chex and Bugles.

Rite Aid w/ almost expired P&G Q's (and free flu shot deal)

The following are a few coupons that will expire tomorrow in conjunction with Rite Aid sales and Rewards.




*Gilette Fusion Proglide $9.99 w/ $4.00 Up+ Rewards – Use $4 Q

*Crest Pro Health 473 ml to 1 lite $4.99 w/ $2.00 Up+ Rewards – Use $2 Q

*Duracell AAA or AA 4 pks. Or C, D, or 9volt 2 pks. $5.74 w/ $1 Up+ Rewards – Use

$1/1 Q

*Oral B 3D Action toothbrush $5.99 ($2.99 single check rebate) – Use $3 Q

*****Or  Get a free Flu Shot w/ $50 purchase of these items******

*Centrum products

Use $5/2 coupon on site  http://www.centrum.com/

*Advil Products

Use $2/1 coupon on their site http://www.advil.com/default.aspx?source=Google$Advil$Branded+General$Coupons+And+Advil$advil+coupons$Exact

*Robitussin Pruducts

Use $1 Survey coupon on their site

 https://robitussinflu.wyethcoupons.com/pages/46

*Dimetapp products

Use $2 coupon on their site

https://dimetapp.wyethcoupons.com/pages/11

*Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste 4 oz or 360 manual toothbrush $2.49 each

Use $1/2 from SS this week

CVS Gas card run by tomorrow 8/31

I don’t usually go for the CVS Gas rewards because the ration is not that great for me (in my coupon snobbery.)(Spend $30 get $10 gas card) BUT...

On the weeks that the P&G inserts overlap, and you have a couple days to play with the unused inserts, it is not a bad time to scope out this deal.

*Secret BOGO ½  off - Use (2) $1/1 Flawless Expressions from previous P&G exp 8/31

* Gillette Deodorant BOGO ½  off – Use $3/2 Gillette from previous P&G

*Tide 19-32 loads $5.94 – Use $1/1 off previous P&G

*Duracell AAA or AA 16 ct. C or D 8 ct.or 9 volt 4 ct. $9.99 – Use $1 from previous or current P&G

*Cover Girl (excludes Lip Perfection) BOGO ½ off - Use $2.50/2 from previous P&G

*Gillette Proglide $9.99 – Use $4 from previous P&G

*Vicks NyQuli, DayQuil, 12 oz. or 24 ct. Nature Fusion 8 oz. or 20 ct. 2/$11.88 – Use $3/2 current P&G

*Pringles 4/$6 – Use $1/4 current P&G

OTHER APPLICAPLE PRODUCTS

*Sundown vitamins BOGO Free – Use $1/1 Q from previous inserts or $2/1 CoQ-10 or Fish Oil

*Starbucks 4 pk. Frappuccino $4.99 – Use $2/2 previously available from Smartsource.com (was posted)

There are other qualifying items, some pricey allergy meds. or Dawn dish detergent if you need a filler. Check out the weekly circular at CVS.com