Fuelperks!: Saved $20 at the Gas Pump

May 18, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: fuelperks!

Long are the days of searching for fuel prices under $1. Holding steady around $3 to $3.50 per gallon in our area, I continue to earn fuelperks! via shopping at our Bi-Lo.

Though only one of many grocery store chains offering fuelperks!, Bi-Lo offers bonus savings and ample opportunity to cash in your rewards at the pump.

Using the lessons I have learned about the fuelperks! program, Paul and I drove up to our local Spinx/Sunoco gas station to redeem our $1 off per gallon fuelperks! rewards.

Pumping the maximum 20 gallons into our van and gas container, we paid a total of $43.98 for 20 gallons of fuel which is $2.19 per gallon or a savings of $20.

Thankful for the savings at the pump, I keep track of our fuelperks! as I make purchases at Bi-Lo. Allowing our savings to build, we wait to use our rewards until prior to our rewards expiring.

Having shared the basics of fuelperks! and how to maximize fuelperks! savings in previous posts, I am executing those strategies to save our family money. With summer activities and a family vacation plan in the works, all these savings add up.

As you look to shave pennies and dollars from your budget, using a program like fuelperks! requires no additional time. I shop at Bi-Lo for groceries, and my fuelperks! balance prints at the bottom of my receipt. A quick glance lets me know where I stand.

In using time wisely and stretching our dollars with fuelperks!, our family saved $20 at the gas pump. If you use fuelperks!, please share your successes in the comments. Happy saving at the pump!

Question: How does your family save at the pump?

Start Saving from Scratch – Part 6 of 6

December 6, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

The end of the series has arrived. 😉

Though not as thorough as my food cycle series, covering my menu planning to grocery shopping to evaluating the savings, this Start Saving from Scratch series condensed that information with links back to the original posts.

As a review, the breakdown of the series is as follows:

Start Saving from Scratch

Part 1: Organizing my food supply

Part 2: Creating a menu

Part 3: Compiling a grocery list

Part 4: Gathering my savings

Part 5: Giving groceries a home

Part 6: Taking a Step Back and Repeat

Part 6: Taking a Step Back and Repeat

To learn from my mistakes and improve saving my family money, I take the time to evaluate my shopping trips. I review my grocery lists, store envelopes, and receipts.

Reviewing grocery lists

As I scan my grocery list, I like to review the shopping trip. If I did not pick up an item, then I take a closer look to see if I missed it or made the right decision. In using time wisely to think through my shopping trip, I have learned to check the price per unit to determine the best deal as well as focusing on the buy one, get one free deals over sale prices when stockpiling.

Reviewing store envelopes

At the end of my shopping trip, my store envelopes get stuffed with receipts, lists, coupons, rain checks, coupon policies, and my notes. Upon reviewing my grocery list, I remove, sort, organize, and insert any needed items back into my envelopes.

Reviewing receipts

Though I review my receipt before leaving the store, I review it again at home to take surveys, document my savings, and then file it away. By taking Bi-Lo surveys, I have received coupons for free hand sanitizer, fruit snacks, tissues, cold medicine, and orange juice. In using time wisely to take surveys, I have reduced our grocery spending with these free items.

By documenting my savings, I can track my savings and my spending. Realizing that I am saving 80% on one purchase and 50% on another purchase, I can evaluate the depth of my savings. The best part of keeping track is looking back at the conclusion of the year to see the total amount saved.

Since I use my credit card for grocery purchases, I file the receipts to reconcile my statement once a month.

In completing this series, reviewing my grocery lists, store envelopes, and receipts helps me learn how to increase my savings. This process works for me. As I continue to follow these steps, I can even send someone else to the store with instructions and get the same result.

I was so proud of Paul as I was busy with the kids and needed to get to the store. Paul asked if he could go to help me out. Of course, I gave him what he needed. He returned bragging about purchasing $70 in retail for under $5 after loyalty card, sales, and coupons discounts.

As you continue using time wisely to save your family money while feeding them, find a routine that works for you. As you practice, you will get more efficient. Happy saving!

Question: How do you evaluate your shopping trips?

Start Saving from Scratch – Part 5 of 6

November 29, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Stocked up on crackers, Sprite, and noodle soup this past week.

Thinking that these supplies are good for a distant rainy day, I barely tucked them away before Paul and the girls needed them.

Just thankful we did not need to make an emergency run to the grocery store and pay full price. 😉

In start saving from scratch, I had interrupted my routine, so I hit the reset button. I organized my food supply (Part 1), created a menu (Part 2), compiled a grocery list (Part 3), and gathered my savings (Part 4). With all the groceries purchased, I’m ready to give those groceries a home.

Part 5: Giving Groceries a Home

In accepting help from my children, we unload the van. Now that my children are a bit older, they help carry lightweight items. My son can take the milk into house which is a big help.

Unload Groceries

Once in the house, I unload the groceries onto my kitchen counters. This way, I can see all the items before putting 3 items away only to find a fourth one tucked in another bag.

Put Away Cold Foods

I then organize my refrigerator and freezer putting the new items behind the existing items. This way, I am using my stockpile in the order it was purchased. Otherwise, the older items get stuffed in the back and spoil before use.

Store Grocery Items

With all the cold items put away, I then concentrate on the dry items. As I adjust my pantry’s contents, I make room for the new items. I continue placing the new items purchased behind any existing products. For example, a new bottle of salad dressing is placed behind the Italian and Ranch dressing currently in the pantry.

Prepare for Next Visit

Though all my items are put away, I’m not done cleaning up and preparing for my next visit. To do so, I return all the reusable bags to the car, remove remaining items (i.e., toothpaste, cleaners, medication, etc.), and wipe down the kitchen counters.

As I prepared and choose the savings for my family, I take care to put the items away for easy accessibility at meal time. In start savings from scratch, I have almost completed the process. In next week’s post, I will complete this series with my evaluation process. Keep on saving while using time wisely. Happy organizing!

Question: How often do you organize your food supply areas?

Vacation Savings: Science Membership – Part 3 of 5

October 27, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Fotolia

In stretching our dollars to fund our 2+ week family vacation within a $1,000 budget, we combined savings strategies with patience.

In Part 1 of this series, I posted the cost breakdown of our vacation. The reasons and price tag of our zoo membership comprised Part 2. Today, I will share our most versatile annual pass, our science membership.

Part 3: Science Membership – $35

Researching the Information

Our local science museum does not offer much, but the membership is worth the money for the reciprocal benefits. Unlike the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Association of Science-Technology Centers compiles one list of all the approved science centers.

When you purchase an annual membership with one of the centers on the list, then your annual family membership gives you free admission to all the other centers on the list. Wow . . .what a money saver!

Evaluating the Information

In looking over the science centers on the list, our family has limited options in South Carolina. However, there are a number of science centers in Florida. With our membership, our family could enjoy all the listed science centers paying the one price of $35 for the year. Each of the other centers in Florida offered family memberships starting at $99.

Choosing an Option

Though our family has no plans to visit our local science museum, purchasing this annual family membership is worth every penny. This $35 price is a discount through my husband’s work and does not drop any lower in cost with discounts or daily deal sites, so we purchased our family membership and received two membership cards.

Using our Membership

While we were in Florida, our family attended a multi-building and multi-floored science center as well as a Children’s museum. Other options available were an air museum and an aquatic center which we did not see. My children enjoyed the Children’s museum so much that we visited two different days.

Among the tree house, farm area, large sand box made from bits of rubber – not sand, the fire station, clay creations, grocery store, pizzeria, golf, cafeteria, veterinarian office, and many more areas, my kids had a ball. The best part, our admission was free in Florida because we purchased our science membership in South Carolina prior to our visit.

In researching, evaluating, choosing, and using our science membership, our family enjoyed multiple venues while on vacation and can repeat these activities within the year. In using time wisely to plan for our vacation, we purchased an annual science membership in South Carolina accepted at two additional centers in Florida.

As you plan for your next vacation, spend time researching your science center options. In using time wisely, you might find a science membership your ticket to stretching your dollars. Happy savings!

Question: How often does your family visit a science museum?

Grocery Shopping: Gathering your Savings – Part 3a of 3

November 3, 2011 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Kel Obrien)

As I finish gathering the last items on my grocery list and I head up to the registers, I make note of any rain checks that need to be requested, and I move any coupons that I will not use on this visit to the back of my envelope.

By the time I get to the register, I have the coupons I plan to redeem ready to hand to the cashier. My checkout process takes place in three phases: prior to checkout, during checkout, and after checkout.

Prior to Checkout

1. At the registers, I make the following choices:

Bypass the express lanes. Even if I only have 9 items, I will not use the express lane if I plan to use coupons. The extra time it takes at the register will hold up other customers that need to get in and get out of the store. Now if I am only purchasing “buy one get one free” items without coupons and I have a few items, then yes, I will use the express lane.

Walk pass the self scanners. With coupons, the self scanners require the cashier to take the coupons. Since there is one cashier for four terminals, the cashier will get overloaded with my coupons. In consideration of the grocery store staff, I choose not to use the self scanners while shopping with coupons.

Select my register based on the cashier. Having shopped each week at my favorite grocery stores, I have my favorite cashiers.

Even if I have to wait for an extra few minutes, I prefer the store bookkeeper or customer service representative. If there are customers waiting, these employees will open a register to help out.

The bookkeeper or customer service representative has the authority to override the system. When I use a Publix coupon at Bi-Lo, a manager or customer service representative is needed to override the transaction. If that employee is already running a register, then checkout is quick and easy.

2. After choosing the checkout lane, my son and I unload the grocery cart onto the conveyor belt. In this order:

Reusable bags
Freezer and refrigerated items
Boxed and canned items
Breads, chips, and bakery items
Cleaning items
Rain check and “free with coupons” items

If I am using a rain check from a prior visit, then the cashier will need to override the price of the item. I keep these items at the back of the pack, so I have time to warn the cashier before getting to those items.

Also, if I am using a coupon for one free pack of mashed potatoes, then the cashier will need to enter that price. I hold those items until the end, so that I can get the coupon and rain checks ready while the cashier is scanning the other items.

Prior to checkout, I choose the best lane and place my items on the conveyor belt in order. Having an order and a plan during checkout helps the process to proceed without forgetting or missing an opportunity for savings. As you plan your shopping trip, remember to plan your checkout process as well. Happy savings!

Question: What opportunity of savings have you missed because you were not organized at checkout? Please add your answer to the comments.