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Shoppers who have The LOZO know to always try to use coupons whenever they make a purchase. Some stores are quite stingy with the coupons they offer, so you're happy to get your hands on any of them....  Shoppers who have The LOZO know to always try to use coupons whenever they make a purchase. Some stores are quite stingy with the coupons they offer, so you're happy to get your hands on any of them. But some stores are known for frequently issuing coupons with various discounts and minimum spend thresholds, so you might have several available at your fingertips. So the question then becomes, " how do you maximize your coupons to save as much as possible?" LOZO has the answer!
Most stores have a policy that you can only use one coupon per transaction, so to get the best discount you'll have to split up your purchases. If a store is not busy they are usually happy to ring up the transactions separately at the register, one after another. In other cases you might need to take separate trips or go back in line. Once you figure out what the extra savings will be worth, you can decide whether to go through any extra hassle.
The first thing you need to do is assess the value of each coupon to figure out which is worth the most. That's easy to do when you are comparing coupons like $5 off $25 vs. $10 off $25, but harder when the coupons are in different "flavors".
LOZO recommends first adjusting everything to the equivalent "percentage discount" so you can compare apples to apples.
Then you start by trying to use up the best coupon first. There are a couple of cases when this approach might not be the best strategy for you, so we recommend double-checking before you checkout!
Click on this tip to read more details and see some real examples in action. 
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You've probably seen offers that look something like this: 20% off $25 in merchandise OR 30% off $40, OR 40% off $60. The industry term for this is a "tiered offer" since you have... You've probably seen offers that look something like this: 20% off $25 in merchandise OR 30% off $40, OR 40% off $60. The industry term for this is a "tiered offer" since you have different tiers you can climb to get to each next savings level. Generally speaking it is very worthwhile to try to get to the top tier of these promotions, because your savings rate effectively multiplies on the extra items you add to your bag to hit the tier. For example, the extra $20 in items to get to the highest tier only ends up costing you $8 more -- that's like getting 60% off the extra items! Now it's generally not a good idea to buy something just because you have a coupon or other type of discount. But it helps to do the math so you at least know what the real cost will be for the extra items. In cases like this the extra 60% savings might be too good to pass up. It can be a good opportunity to add an item to your basket that you were going to buy at some point anyway, or one that you know you might have to return. Typically if you return an item in an offer like this, you won't fall back into the lower tier. So if you bought $60 in items and got the 40% off, then decide to return half of the order, you still end up with 40% off the items you hold on to. Check with your store as to whether this violates their policy but traditionally this has been an allowable practice. So how much can you save by maximizing the tiered offers? Suppose you shop three times in Tier 1 (20% off), each time with $75 in your basket. You'll end up paying $60 for those items over the three trips. If you instead buy all $75 at once making you eligible for Tier 3 (40% off) you'll pay just $45 for the same items. That's a 25% extra savings! If you spend $300 annually for you and your family with offers like this, that extra savings adds up to $75 per year!
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Some experts say that August is the best time to buy patio furniture and others say September, and they are both right because it depends on several factors including: the store (and how much... Some experts say that August is the best time to buy patio furniture and others say September, and they are both right because it depends on several factors including: the store (and how much inventory they may have left), the weather (nicer weather may mean they'll try to wait to have more people buy at full price), and the calendar (Thanksgiving is a key holiday, so when it falls earlier in the year things go on sale earlier). If you are in the market for a bargain on patio furniture, the best thing to do is to carefully track the store(s) where you might buy from. Check how much stock they have and what discounts they are offering. Ask a salesperson for the inside scoop which they might be happy to share: how much inventory is still in the backroom, when will they get discounted, and how much. Then check regularly (e.g., call the store each day) to see if the sale has gotten any better. Once it reaches your target price (75% is a great discount to aim for) then act fast to get the item you want.
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Freecycle is just what it sounds like ("free" & "recycle"). People donate their unwanted items to other people, for free. If you have something you no longer need, you can donate it and keep it... Freecycle is just what it sounds like ("free" & "recycle"). People donate their unwanted items to other people, for free. If you have something you no longer need, you can donate it and keep it out of the landfill. Likewise, you can search for something you need that others are willing to give for free. No money is exchanged, and advertising items for sale is off-limits. In addition to providing a great service for your local community and the environment, giving away items can sometimes provide a cost savings as well. For example, some communities require you to pay a fee to recycle certain items, such as older electronics, which you can avoid by donating these items to a new home. Trying to move very bulky items out of your house might normally cost you labor, storage and/or transportation, but a Freecycler might be happy to do this for you in return for getting the goods. Freecycle can also be a great way to pick up unique items for free, instead of buying at a garage sale or used goods store. Depending on what's available in your area this could save you $10, $50, or even $500 per year! If you are very handy this is also a great way to pick up quality items (such as furniture appliances) in need of repair, where the old owner didn't want to incur the cost of a handyman. To join Freecycle for free you apply to the group in your local region (there are regions across the country and around the world). You will then get access to the relevant Yahoo! Groups website, and you can view and post messages there for finding or donating goods. There are plenty of alternatives to Freecycle as well for finding and giving away items:
- Local newspaper classified ads are a traditional way to buy and sell goods. Some papers offer free ads for items that are being donated or sold at very low cost. This is also a great place to find items for free or at a bargain in your area.
- Craigslist.org has tons of free listings for everything imaginable, in just about every region of the country & world. Search "free" to find items people might be giving away in your area.
- Donating items to charities not only is a great community service, but it can be a money-saver as well. In some cases you can deduct taxes for the value of the goods you donate. Shop at thrift stores associated with these charities to pick up some bargains for your home.
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Another week, another trip to Staples to save money on back to school supplies! This week, we’ll show you how we got over $50 worth of stuff for about $3!
SUMMARY
The Store:... Another week, another trip to Staples to save money on back to school supplies! This week, we’ll show you how we got over $50 worth of stuff for about $3!
SUMMARY
- The Store: Staples
- What We Got: $50+ worth of school supplies
- What We Spent: about $3
HOW WE SAVED
Identify what you need: As we mention in our recent article, Back to School: 12 Easy Ways to Save Money This School Year, we recommend creating a list of all the supplies you need. With that list in hand, you’ll be ready to prowl for the best deals!
Check the weekly circular: Look at the Staples weekly circular in your paper or online to find the latest deals. See which deals match up with an item on your list and then…
Shop! Based on this weeks circular and the items on our list, here are the back to school items we found that were on sale, available for a rebate or were otherwise a good deal:
- 2 packs paper clips = $0.02 (sale price)
- 10 pocket folders = $0.10 (sale price)
- 2 packs chalk = $0.50 (sale price)
- 6 packs pocket tissues = $0.06 (sale price)
- 2 reams of paper = $13.98 ($2.00 after rebate)
- 3 packs of crayons = $1.50 ($0.50 after newspaper coupon)
- 1 pack Avery inkjet labels = $4.99 (FREE after rebate)
- 2 packs Photo Supreme paper = $29.98 ($2.00 after rebate)
Cost before coupons & rebates: $51.13 + tax (and, if you were paying full retail prices, this would be even higher at $63.50 + tax!)
Add coupons: The coupon in the local circular was $5 off a $50 purchase (and you’ll notice we bought just enough to eek by that threshold… yes, we’re sneaky like that and we recommend you do the same to maximize your savings!). We also had a newspaper coupon on the crayons which knocked off another $1.00. Updated cost: $45.13, before tax.
Use your rewards card: Normally, we'd use our Staples Back to School Savings Pass to save a bit more. However, this week we've skipped it to be fair to our readers who don't have one. If you shop at Staples a lot, we'd recommend picking one up. It'll cost you $10, but you'll save 15% on most Back to School items. In this case, on this particular shopping trip, it would have saved us a couple more bucks, but the savings without it are still really great. Cost after coupons & rewards: $45.13 + tax ($48.29 in my home state of NJ)
Submit rebates: Get a whopping $44.95 back in rebates!
Total cost: $3.34!
That's right, we got $50 worth of great back to school stuff for just about 3 bucks. Not too shabby, eh?
So, that’s how we saved money at Staples this week and we hope it’ll help you save money too!
Finally, we’d love to hear from you too. Tell us how your back to school shopping is going. Leave us a comment here, on Facebook,
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Ordering groceries online can be a great convenience, and can also means savings for savvy shoppers. Take advantage of being in the comfort of your home to carefully analyze prices and look to... Ordering groceries online can be a great convenience, and can also means savings for savvy shoppers. Take advantage of being in the comfort of your home to carefully analyze prices and look to stock up on the best deals. Most stores will also offer a range of specials you can only get when ordering online, potentially yielding greater savings than the cost of delivery (especially when you factor in the savings on gas!).
Don't worry about missing out on using your valuable grocery coupons as most stores will still accept them for delivery (the only difference is that you might have a slight processing delay before you get the money credited back).
If you are new to online shopping take advantage of first time buyer deals like these:
And don't forget to check Amazon.com which has a wide selection of groceries and many special coupon offers every month. Read this article from LOZO to learn how to triple up on savings when you shop there.
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These three tips will put you ahead of the virtual pack for your online shopping! Tip #1: Fill your cart (or list) in advance!
With doorbusters online you need to buy fast to get in before... These three tips will put you ahead of the virtual pack for your online shopping! Tip #1: Fill your cart (or list) in advance!
With doorbusters online you need to buy fast to get in before the inventory runs out. Save time by filling your online shopping cart in advance of the sale, and setting up an account with your address & payment info. If you can't add the item to your cart, trying creating a shopping list instead. Check back in once the sale goes live, and the prices should update automatically. Now you can checkout in the virtual express lane!
Filling your cart is also a great way to find sales you might not have even known about. Add any items you have your eye on, then see if the price changes in your favor!
Tip #2: Don't forget cash back & coupons!
In the mad rush to visit each online stores, you might leave some easy cash on the table. Before you visit the site, use one of these links to access your stores. You'll still get all of the same deals, plus a bonus cash back rebate automatically posted to your Ebates account after you purchase.
Here are quick cash back links to three popular stores: Walmart, Best Buy, Sears.
Find all cash back offers here.
And not to sound like a broken record, but ALWAYS USE A COUPON!
Find all the latest coupons here.
Tip #3: Sign up for alerts!
One great way to find out when your treasured item is online and ready for purchase is to setup an email alert (you can find a link on individual product pages of many online stores). Sign up for alerts for all of the doorbuster and other hot deals you're after and get notified when it's available. It's not a perfect system - sometimes the alerts can be delayed by crucial minutes - but a nice alternative if you'd rather not spend hours refreshing the pages by hand!
Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy Shopping!
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If you're a Nascar fan, you're probably tuning into the Friday night Nascar Nationwide race (9/10/10 7pm ET ESPN2) at Richmond International Raceway. The event is headlined by Virginia 529... If you're a Nascar fan, you're probably tuning into the Friday night Nascar Nationwide race (9/10/10 7pm ET ESPN2) at Richmond International Raceway. The event is headlined by Virginia 529 College Savings, a perfect fit with LOZO's mission to help people save money on everything!
In honor of the event and the sponsor, here are some of our favorite money-saving tips on all of these topics: Auto Repair, Event Tickets and College Savings.
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Whitefence.com tool for getting multiple free estimates on residential cleaning, carpet cleaning, installation services, remodeling, lawncare, and more in your area
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Whitefence.com tool for shopping for a home security system, from companies like ADT, Brinks, Broadview and SouthCross
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ShopLocal's compilation of weekly ads and online circulars at stores in your area
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 About.com: "Laundry may be a pain in the neck, but it doesn't have to be painful for the environment as well. Learn what simple steps you can take to reduce energy waste and make your laundry greener... About.com: "Laundry may be a pain in the neck, but it doesn't have to be painful for the environment as well. Learn what simple steps you can take to reduce energy waste and make your laundry greener and more natural."
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Debbie Anderson at About.com: "Considering the amount of time you spend in your bed, having a comfortable mattress can make a big difference at bedtime. See what you should think about when buying a... Debbie Anderson at About.com: "Considering the amount of time you spend in your bed, having a comfortable mattress can make a big difference at bedtime. See what you should think about when buying a new mattress."
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Liz Pulliam Weston at MSN.com: "If you're thinking of buying your first home, it helps to have a game plan."
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Consumer Reports: "If you know how to shop, you can save hundreds of dollars on new furniture in store and online."
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From Buxr.com on 05/22/13 Time to get ready for those Summer parties. Through Monday, buy more and save more at Party City. Save $10 on a $60 purchase, save $20 on an $80 purchase, or save $30 on... From Buxr.com on 05/22/13 Time to get ready for those Summer parties. Through Monday, buy more and save more at Party City. Save $10 on a $60 purchase, save $20 on an $80 purchase, or save $30 on a $100 purchase. Sale items are excluded from discount, and it cannot be combined with any other promotion or discount code. Printable in comments
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From Buxr.com on 05/22/13 Time to get ready for those Summer parties. Through Monday, buy more and save more at Party City. Save $10 on a $60 purchase, save $20 on an $80 purchase, or save $30 on... From Buxr.com on 05/22/13 Time to get ready for those Summer parties. Through Monday, buy more and save more at Party City. Save $10 on a $60 purchase, save $20 on an $80 purchase, or save $30 on a $100 purchase. Sale items are excluded from discount, and it cannot be combined with any other promotion or discount code. Printable in comments
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From Buxr.com on 05/21/13 Non-stick interior & exterior
Multifunctional w/ adjustable setting controls
7 built in safety features
Incudes wire cooking rack/trivet, measuring cup, spoon, spoon holder... From Buxr.com on 05/21/13 Non-stick interior & exterior
Multifunctional w/ adjustable setting controls
7 built in safety features
Incudes wire cooking rack/trivet, measuring cup, spoon, spoon holder & condensation drip cup
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From Buxr.com on 05/21/13 Non-stick interior & exterior
Multifunctional w/ adjustable setting controls
7 built in safety features
Incudes wire cooking rack/trivet, measuring cup, spoon, spoon holder... From Buxr.com on 05/21/13 Non-stick interior & exterior
Multifunctional w/ adjustable setting controls
7 built in safety features
Incudes wire cooking rack/trivet, measuring cup, spoon, spoon holder & condensation drip cup
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You've probably seen offers that look something like this: 20% off $25 in merchandise OR 30% off $40, OR 40% off $60. The industry term for this is a "tiered offer" since you have different tiers you can climb to get to each next savings level. Generally speaking it is very worthwhile to try to get to the top tier of these [...] -
Fans of the TLC show Extreme Couponing? LOZO is launching a new service to help you save like an Extreme Couponer without all the hassle! Advanced registration is now open for our free new service. We track the coupons, clip the ones that match your grocery list, and email them to you. It's free and easy! Sign up [...] -
If you're a Nascar fan, you're probably tuning into the Friday night Nascar Nationwide race (9/10/10 7pm ET ESPN2) at Richmond International Raceway. The event is headlined by Virginia 529 College Savings, a perfect fit with LOZO's mission to help people save money on everything!
In honor of the event [...] -
Washing clothes in cold water is a huge money saver. Almost 90% of the energy used to clean clothes can go towards heating the water. This is a simple tip to remember each time you do a load of laundry, and an immediate cost saver. Over the course of a year (and an average of 400 loads of laundry for a typical household) you'll save $150 [...] -
Another week, another trip to Staples to save money on back to school supplies! This week, we’ll show you how we got over $50 worth of stuff for about $3!
SUMMARY
The Store: Staples
What We Got: $50+ worth of school supplies
What We Spent: about $3 HOW WE SAVED
Identify what you need: As we mention [...]
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