We recently received two Contact Us notifications at Couponfield, worthy of some discussion.

First, a dry cleaning company in Maryland has a coupon on their website, for which Couponfield has a re-direct link. We received a note that the coupon had expired, so we asked the company if there was a current version. They responded that they were still honoring the expired one. This isn’t really that unusual. Many companies will honor expire coupons. It’s more a question of the shyness of the consumer.

If the company has done a good job in crafting a coupon—one that doesn’t give away the store, one that enables them to still retain a respectable profit while making a customer happy—then there’s a fair chance they’ll be happy to honor an expired coupon. The worst that they can do is say No. The expiration date does give them a perfectly reasonable, of course valid, rather comfortable way out… but often, they’d rather not take a way out, but work to make a customer satisfied.

We received a second note from a company that posted a coupon during first couple of months of Couponfield’s existence. The owner wrote to say that he never authorized the coupon. Records proved that someone with the same surname, with an email address of the same URL, claiming authority to post offers, posted the coupon. (Folks, we don’t make up coupons! Why would we? How could that possibly be a good idea?) This was apparently the case of someone—in this case, a family member of the owner who also works FT at the company and handles the marketing—adding an appropriate coupon, but that coupon not being presented to an employer who knew about the program.

This is always a slight risk of presenting a coupon for a business. How many times have you been behind someone in a check-out line, as they worked with management to get a coupon (or stack of coupons?) approved? It happens! If this happens to you with a Couponfield.com coupon, please let us know. Unfortunately, we have to disable comments on our blog*, due to spam postings, but you can always contact us on the Contact Us button.

*The most recent blog posting that was comment-enabled generated over 1,700 spam postings in 2 weeks! It’s too time-consuming to monitor, so we have to rely on the Contact Us button for meaningful feedback, unfortunately. We would love real feedback!

With the TLC show Extreme Couponing gearing up for its second season, there are few couponing fans who have not heard of or watched some of the crazy exploits of these self-proclaimed “Extreme Couponers.” From the man who purchased hundreds of boxes of cereal for nearly nothing (although to his credit, he did donate them to a food bank) to the people who fill entire rooms of their houses with products purchased for pennies on the dollar, it is hard not to get swept up in the desire to save as much as possible at every opportunity.

However, couponing now seems to have been taken to the extreme by ever-increasing numbers of people, and it seems as though we hear new stories every day of men and women who are so desperate to save every last penny that they are taking newspapers and inserts from foreclosed homes, stealing newspapers and inserts from honor boxes (as in the case of the woman who was arrested this week for taking 185 newspapers and inserts from said boxes) and even, in the most over-the top example to date, the people who were caught on CCTV actually stealing the entire newspaper box from outside of a store.

Although it is in no way comparable, it seems that the couponers and the rioters have the same mindset when it comes to feeling that they operate outside of the law. A thirty-four-year-old woman stole 185 newspapers from Arkansas (at a conservative value of $230) and stated that she did not think she did anything wrong.

This brings us to the question of what is and is not legal when it comes to couponing. From stealing inserts and using multiple computers to print extra online coupons, to dumpster diving for inserts and using coupons illegally (as in the extreme couponer who discovered that she could match coupon bar codes and apply them to items they were not intended for), the legalities of couponing have recently become strained. In part this is due to the fact that television shows such as the one shown on TLC have thrust couponing into the spotlight. While there are many people who have couponed for years, shows such as TLC’s  Extreme Couponing have bred a whole new generation of couponers in an incredibly short period of time, and as such, the manufacturers have not yet caught up to the influx of strategies and both legal and illegal practices that shoppers are employing.

As such, manufacturers have started cracking down on their policies in order to try to minimize these extreme aspects. At least two major chain stores have made serious overhauls to their couponing policies, limiting the amount of identical coupons that shoppers can use or the number of total coupons that they can use in a single day. Manufacturers too have started making changes, and savvy couponers may have noticed that brands which used to offer $1 off a particular item are now offering coupons for $1 off two of the same item, possibly in order to limit the number of items that consumers are able to get for free.

While these may seem like harsher measures, what we often forget is that manufacturers do not have to offer coupons on their products, and stores do not have to offer days where they double or triple coupon values. Yes, these practices do increase business and purchases for the stores and manufacturers, allowing consumers to purchase products for lower than the retail price is a privilege, but if the offer is abused, one can only expect it to be revoked or modified. Once coupons disrupt the normal flow of business, changes are likely eminent. One recently observed comment summed this up well: “I just wanted to go to the store for a bottle of sunscreen. I didn’t expect the entire shelf to be empty because extreme couponers had taken everything.”  

Similarly, what is illegal in the “real world” is also illegal in the couponing world. Stealing is stealing. Using coupons for other items than what they were intended for is fraud. Dumpster diving, while unsanitary, is not stealing. Taking inserts from driveway papers, honor box papers, or store newspapers IS stealing. While TLC’s show may seem to advocate some murky methods, it is important to understand that what consumers see there is not real and is heavily edited. Stores know well in advance (and in fact have to agree to the film crew and couponer using the store in the show) what will be happening, and the key is in the title; “Extreme” does not mean typical, and while they may agree to the admittance of said crew to the store as it will increase their profile and boost profits, there is nothing to say that the store would (or should) extend the same gratuity to everyday shoppers.

So will couponing keep going to the extreme until it explodes? Honestly, it is doubtful. While media attention can be great for boosting the profile of a person, idea, or, in this instance, a craze, it is a double-edged sword. While the profile and the number of couponing devotees increases, so too do the guidelines put in place by the stores and manufacturers. I suspect that the harder it becomes to get the extreme deals that consumers see on the television, the faster the hype will deflate. Whether or not the hype deflation will result in stores and manufacturers relaxing their coupon rules in the future remains to be seen, but one thing that can be said for sure is that there will always be couponers, and there will always be coupons. Just hopefully in a less extreme manner.    

Last week we covered how to make the Atkins diet work while on a budget. This week, we are looking at P90X, which is tailored more towards building muscle and tone.

P90X: How to P90X on a budget 9.30pm

P90X (also known as Power 90 Extreme) is a 90-day diet, nutrition and exercise program that has steadily gained popularity over the last 10 years and has reportedly been used by over 2 million consumers. While it focuses mainly on exercise regimens and the idea of ‘muscle confusion’, (which consists of continually changing exercise methods and target areas), the nutrition factor is also an important aspect and is broken down into 3 stages. Stage 1 is high protein, low carbs, Stage 2 is an increase of carbohydrates and Stage 3 is the high carb “athletes” menu.

An enticing feature of P90X’s nutrition aspect is that users are able to progress through it at their own pace, which allows for somewhat more flexible menu budgeting. The following tips and tricks have been created to enable users to optimize their budget while continuing on P90X’s designated diet, exercise and nutrition plan.

One of the main expenses of P90X occurs as a result of their meal plans and recipes not reusing any ingredients, leading to new items being purchased every time. If your diet plan allows it, try switching to the Portion Approach, which allows for the creation of new recipes based on ingredients you already have on hand.

As with the Atkins diet, bulk buying can save you a lot of money, especially when you’re looking to increase your protein intake and can really make use of those giant bags of chicken or packs of mince. If your budget doesn’t allow for the higher initial expense of warehouse bulk buying, try buying with a friend or a group; you’ll find you are paying what you usually would at the supermarket for 10-20% more food.

During the “fat shredder” stage, users are required only to eat one fruit per day, so rather than purchasing many different fruits, purchase whatever fruit is on sale that week and work it into different recipes for the duration of the week. For example, strawberries can be incorporated into smoothies, salads, popsicles, etc. By limiting your choices while still staying within the diet guidelines, you will find that the more creative you become with the foods you allow yourself, the healthier your budget will become.

Freezing portions ahead of time (ie soups, casseroles, etc) allows users to resist the impulse to eat whatever’s on hand when they get hungry and also helps with the planning of menu plans and grocery lists. If you know exactly what you will be eating and when, you will be less tempted to just grab an expensive pre-prepared store product and to impulse buy.

For a more immediate impact on your budget, calculate what you would have spent on fast food, beverages, alcohol (and anything else you are cutting out) prior to starting your diet. Set that money aside for the following week and you will be surprised how little extra (if any!) you need to add to that to supplement your new diet food plan. Budget changes will be particularly noticeable after a few weeks once it becomes apparent that products purchased post-diet are leading to the creation of many more meals than those purchased pre-diet.

Finally, consider buying protein powders and bars from online bulk retailers (such as Amazon) who frequently offer discounts if you sign up to purchase a certain amount of products every few weeks, months, etc. Many times you will find comparable products for significantly less than buying directly from the diet manufacturers. Also, it’s worth noting that you can sign up for the frequent buyer program, receive the discount and then cancel the program with no repercussions if you don’t want to feel financially obligated every few weeks, months, etc. As a side tip, chocolate milk makes a good substitute recovery drink, for substantially less expense.

When you’re trying to keep to a budget, you can often find yourself sacrificing quality for quantity and purchasing less-healthy food options in order to make your dollars stretch further. If this occurs too frequently you then come across a new problem; mainly how to stick to diets (some of which can be very restrictive in terms of the types of food you can eat and, often, very specific as to exactly which versions of food should be purchased – i.e. requiring the purchase of more expensive whole wheat bread over plain white.) During this series, we will tackle some of the most popular diets and demonstrate how they can be adhered to within a budget. The first in our series, the Atkins Diet:

The Atkins Diet

The toughest part of the Atkins Diet occurs in the Induction Phase, which is the severe restriction of refined carbohydrates and starch from meals. This generally translates into dieters finding that their weekly food bills are increasing exponentially as they are required to purchase less of the cheaper ‘fillers’ such as bread, rice and pasta and increase their intake of the more expensive red meat, proteins and fats along with fruits and vegetables.

As this Phase can last from days to months, depending on the amount of weight the dieter has to lose, it can quickly put a strain on a food budget and make it harder to stick to the diet. One idea is to pair up with a friend (to split the cost) and purchase meats and proteins in bulk from warehouse stores such as Sam’s, BJ’s and Costco which can then be kept on hand in the fridge and freezer. Frozen vegetables can also be purchased in bulk, but bear in mind that the cost per unit may be higher as the vegetables are pre-prepared and not fresh.

Produce and cheese can be purchased weekly or bi-weekly from farmers markets or food co-ops and many times the prices there are cheaper as you are able to build a rapport with the producers you are buying from and the farmers are able to pass on the savings they make from cutting out the middleman (supermarkets) and sell directly to you. To further increase savings, try growing your own fruit and vegetables in your garden, allotment or window box. Seeds can be purchased for a fraction of the cost of full-grown fruits or vegetables and guarantee that you are getting the freshest produce available.

Coupons and sales too, are a dieter’s best friend. Target frequently offers money-off coupons for their in-store produce, making it either free or significantly cheaper. In-season produce is cheaper than out-of-season and grocery stores frequently sell produce they have overbought at a significant loss (i.e. my local store sold red bell peppers of any size/weight for 50c apiece for a few weeks in August as opposed to the usual $3.59 per pound).

Finally, try making a menu plan. While it may not seem all that useful at first, if you can plan out exactly how the food you are purchasing will be portioned, you will quickly find yourself able to utilize every last part of it and come up with some very creative recipes in the process. If you’re stuck for ideas, try www.allrecipes.com and simply fill in the ingredients you have on hand to see all the user-submitted recipes that include your ingredients.

The following are some of our favorite RRS ideas. Please feel free to let us know what examples of Reuse, Recycle and Save you have come up with:

Original item: Baby crib

New item: Toddler ball pit

Once my baby outgrew his travel crib, I was at a loss with what to do with it until I came across 2 giant bags of ball pit balls ($2 each) at a yard sale. After the removal of the crib bedding and mobile, I was able to fill the crib with the ball pit balls and move it from the nursery into the playroom. The mesh sides of the crib make for a soft, squishy play area and they are too tall for small children to be able to climb out. Note – this RRS could easily be adapted for a “regular”crib or playard.

Original item: Baby bathtub
New item: Anything!

Baby bathtubs are great RRS items because they are so versatile. They can be used for storing toys or bath items, as a giant mixing bowl for homemade bubble liquid in the summer or as a sled in winter (the raised sides give added security against your child falling off). The possibilities are truly endless. And the best thing? Baby bathtubs are fully washable, so it’s incredibly easy to return them to their original state.

Original item: Body & Boppy pillows

New item: Floor pillow

Pregnancy and nursing pillows were my best friends in the months prior to and after my son’s birth. After he moved onto sippy cups, bottles and solid foods, I found the pillows in danger of becoming obsolete until I realized that with a couple of strategically placed stitches (which can easily be cut out if I need the pillows again in the future), I could roll the pillows to form the shape of a comfy floor pillow. I wrapped the “floor pillow” in foam to give it an even surface all around (and to protect the pillows themselves from any spillages) and covered it with an inexpensive fabric. (I matched my fabric to the colors in my son’s room, but you could really let your imagination go wild here.) I don’t own a sewing machine, so I just tied the fabric at either side of the pillow (so it kind of looked like a Tootsie roll J ), so it would be easily removable for washing, but anyone with a basic machine could probably add a zip to their cover pretty easily.

Your child’s first birthday party is a big milestone. It’s a celebration of their first year of life and the beginning of their transition from baby to toddler. The reality is, though, that first birthday parties are a lot more for the parents than the children, and while it’s important to celebrate your achievement as a parent, if you’re on a budget, remember that your child is far too young to understand the significance of the day and will likely only remember it through any photographs and video you take. In truth, your child will enjoy a homemade cake just a much as a fancy store-bought one and many times individual cupcakes are much better suited to the size of a child’s stomach (and much easier to eat with their hands) than a slice of cake. 

It is incredibly tempting to buy every ‘baby’s first birthday’ plate, hat, banner, etc in the party store, but unless you plan on keeping all the decorations for any future children, chances are, you will never use those ‘Baby’s First…’ decorations again. A more economical alternative is ‘Happy Birthday’ decorations which can be used over and over regardless of the child’s age or even designing your own (see Part 2). 

As far as party food goes, the majority of your young guests are likely to still be transitioning between different foods, tastes and textures. Rather than purchasing a lot of ‘typical’ party food (chips, dip, soda, cookies, etc) which most young children will not yet be eating, instead purchase increased quantities of what your child typically eats on a day to day basis. Some favorites include animal cookies, apple juice, cheese cubes, and plain cooked chicken. Assuming you will be introducing your child to one of their first experiences of intense sugar through a slice of cake or a cupcake, there is no need to overdose them on the high amounts of sodium and fat found in typical party foods as well, One new food/taste sensation will have more impact than a multitude of them. 

As tempting as it is to buy a lot of presents for your 1-year old, this can quickly add up in costs. Make the most of the few years while children are still too young to want a lot of presents or character themed gifts (and tend to prefer anything that makes noise or feels interesting) and buy only 1 or 2 store presents and instead use your imagination to create these fun, thrifty presents:

Fun Furry Stacking Cubes

You will need:

A variety of empty plastic food containers and cardboard cereal boxes in all shapes & sizes

A hot glue gun

Brightly colored sheets of felt or textured paper

Scissors

Thoroughly clean out and dry your containers and boxes, then, to help them keep their shape stuff them with newspaper. Draw glue around all the edges & corners of the boxes and quickly place them on your sheets of felt or paper and wrap them as you would a present while the glue is still hot. Trim off or glue down any surplus pieces of material. Once the glue has dried, your baby can enjoy stacking the brightly colored boxes, knocking them down and generally exploring their new toys.

Mess-free Finger Painting Packs

You will need:

A large freezer bag

¼ cup of baby oil & ¼ cup of water, mixed together

Liquid food coloring

Selotape/Duct tape

Pour the water/oil mix into the freezer bag and add a couple of drops of food coloring. Squeeze all the air out of the bag, then seal it up and lay it on a flat surface (i.e. a table, large tray lid or tiled floor). Spread the bag flat and securely tape down each side to the flat surface underneath. Your child will then to be able to use their hands, feet or any other non-sharp tool to ‘paint’ on the floor or table without any mess.

In our current economic times we’re all looking for ways to stretch our dollars, and one great way to do that is with 4-ingredient recipes. These are fantastic recipes that use only 4 main ingredients along with basic staples that you will likely have in your kitchen anyway, resulting in less time and money spent grocery shopping. All recipes have been tried and tested by our team and found to be delicious, and we hope you think so too  

Blue Cheese & Spinach Soup

Ingredients:

150g blue cheese

2½ cups chicken stock (if you don’t have pre-prepared stock, just dissolve 1-2 chicken stock cubes in 2½ cups of boiling water)

150ml single cream

225g chopped spinach (defrost first if using frozen spinach)

To prepare:

Add stock to medium pan and bring to the boil. Add in chopped spinach and reduce heat to medium once spinach is soft. Crumble in blue cheese and simmer for 1 minute or until cheese is blended into the soup. Pour into blender (in batches if necessary) and blend until very smooth. Return to pan and stir in cream. Serve immediately (with crusty bread if desired).

Fruit & Veg Health Drink

Ingredients:

3 carrots

2 apples

1 orange

1 small handful of ice

To prepare:

Wash carrots and apples and peel orange. Cut them all into approximately 1cm pieces. Mix in blender until smooth. If necessary, strain through a sieve afterwards. Add ice to glass, pour drink over it and enjoy!

Note: You can replace the fruit and vegetables with their juice forms and still get a great drink, but you will lose some of the taste and nutrients.

Hummus

Ingredients:

400g can chickpeas, drained

4tbsp tahini
2-3 tbsp minced garlic (or 2-3 fresh chopped garlic cloves)

2-3 tbsp lemon juice

To prepare:

Using a potato masher or fork, mash chickpeas in a medium bowl. For a smoother puree, mix in blender. Return to bowl and add tahini, garlic and lemon juice to mixture. Stir well. If hummus is too thick, add a little water. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.  Alterative toppings: chopped red peppers, parsley, olive oil and paprika.     

Crab and Cucumber Wraps

Ingredients:

½ cucumber

300g crab, chopped or shredded

4 tortilla wraps

8 tbsp hoisin sauce

To prepare:

Cut cucumber into thirds, then cut each third into thin lengths. Put aside. In a small bowl mix crab and pepper (to taste). Heat wraps in a small frying pan until they start to show golden brown marks on each side.  Remove from pan and spread with hoisin sauce down the middle. Place some of the cucumber on top, and add the crab mix to the top of that. Roll up. Repeat with remaining ingredients and enjoy!