Ok, I’m behind. It’s like the eighth week of the year and this is only my fourth update. But, I realized two things:
1) I shop sporadically, and
2) If you’re as bored reading a weekly update as I am writing it…
So, here’s where we stand. After my massive expenditures when the Super Bowl brought Super ads, I’ve been, well being frugal. At last recap I’d recovered $175.21 of that $220 newspaper expense. Since then, I’ve spent $180.20 and saved $96.92 – that’s 35% - which brings my total recovered to $272.13. Woohoo! I’m in the black – paper paid for!!
Best deals? Viva 8 pack of papertowels for $3.03 and $20 back for spending $26. I love the newspaper. I’m thinking by year’s end, I’ll have pocketed a grand or better that I wouldn’t have known about if I hadn’t cut the coupons, read the ads, and matched ‘em up.
By the way, that paper? It’s actually only going to cost $130 this year. Why?
Well, I thought hubby paid the bill because part of being frugal is paying your bills on time so you have great credit and receive the best interest rates and prices (car dealers are so much more amenable when they see Tier 1 credit). But, somehow it slipped by and the paper kindly slipped us a note: Pay up or you won’t have any more coupons, lady!
Which resulted in a phone call to correct this oversight. Which resulted in hubby negotiating. Which resulted in a lower price than we would have paid if not for the oversight!
It’s a shame, but it’s also the way of business. Often, loyal, pay-on-time customers do not receive the same discounts a company will offer new clients. So, if you’ have something coming up for an annual renewal, be frugal. CALL!! See if you can get a better deal. You don’t appreciate being taken for granted at home or work. Don’t let it happen with your purchases either.
Amended Update: We’ve now recovered twice the newspaper cost – $142.13 in the black!
Remember: A Frugal Fiction Book? $3.99. Reading with your child 15 minutes a day? Priceless!
