Bargain Puzzler: Which is the Cheaper Scenario?

Bargain Puzzler of the Week:

 With or Without Coupon, Which is Cheaper?

I need a tattoo that says "Always Follow Your Money".  I seem to post this again and again. But, it is pretty important. There is so much to distract and dazzle us these days, we seem to forget this simple fact. Like when you go to one store and go "WHOA! I am NOT paying $12 for THAT!" But then, we go into a higher end retailer, see the same thing or something similar and it is MARKED DOWN to $12, and suddenly, that same item is a steal... whew. That gets me sometimes!  If $12 is too expensive in one place, it is STILL too expensive in the place that was selling it for $40 originally, you know? Follow the money, lose the dazzle.

Anyway, along the lines of following the money, I present you with the Bargain Puzzler of the Week:

A)  You see an item that was $5 originally, but it is marked down to $2.  AND you don't have a coupon to use to buy it, so it would be a straightforward $2 cost on the item.

B)  You see an item that is $5.  You have a coupon that makes it  $2.  

Which scenario is the better deal? Which one comes out cheaper? Or, are they both the same... you know, 6 of one, half dozen of the other? 

Answer:  A is USUALLY the Cheaper scenario.  Yep. Shopping WITHOUT coupons to get the same price can be cheaper.

Here's why: An item selling for $2 gets taxed on the $2 amount.  So, you spend $2.14 in scenario A.

In scenario B, SOMETIMES and MOST TIMES, you get taxed on the PRE Coupon amount. Your taxable total, even though you got the item down to $2 using a coupon, is $5. You usually will pay tax on the $5 amount.  So, you will pay $2.35 for the same item you would pay $2.14 otherwise.

In this example, it isn't so much of a big deal.  BUT, you just need to stay savvy.

Quick Tip:  See those discount sites like Zulilly and such? There prices seem pretty low sometimes... Then, look at the shipping.  Many times you can go to like Amazon.com or somewhere else and see a higher price, but lower shipping. Then, it actually works out that regular sites can BEAT the discount sites once you add in all the costs.. shipping,etc.  Follow Your Money, Folks!!! :)

Puzzler: What is the TRUE Cost of Free?

What is the True Cost of FREE?

And, How Good is that Deal, Really?

Whether you are working a rebate deal, doing a drugstore freebie, participating in a consignment event, or joining a warehouse discount club, you need to look at the true cost.  Follow the dollar. Then, make an informed consumerist decision.

When I first started couponing and doing rebates, etc.., I made a few rookie mistakes.  I didn't look at the overall big picture on what I was doing and spending to save a buck or even make a buck.

I saw a SC Johnson rebate offer and got super excited. It was buy any 3 SC Johnson items and get a $5 rebate check by mail.  It was my first rebate. I realized that SHOUT! Wipes from the travel section are SC Johnson. I had 55c off one coupons (3) in my binder. AND, the wipes were only $1.09 ea.  We use these all the time.  I had picked up one set of those wipes for something else already. So, I found that receipt. I got so excited I grabbed my coupons and the kids and went to Target. Target is a 15+min drive.  So, I bought two more sets of wipes and got a couple other items I hadn't really needed before next week's Target trip.  I ended up spending $1.73 after tax on the SHOUT wipes for the rebate.  But I was getting a $5 check back! What an awesome moneymaker, right?

No.

Here's why:  

$5.00

-1.73 (cost of the items)

-$2.50 (gas to go there and come back since I ran out when I didn't need to go just to work the rebate.)

- 40c (stamps)

-5c (envelop)

___________

32c moneymaker

Yeah, I got the items free and got paid to own the items. But it was one of those aha moments. To get them free and to make 32c, I had to take an HOUR out of my day to run to the store, get the items, wait in line, and then come home. For 32c and 3 travel packs of SHOUT wipes.

That was not using my time or resources to the best of my abilities. It was a wake up call. Now, I look at the big picture and follow the money.

You can and need to take this philosophy to every deal you do and money you spend to get a better bargain.  My husband takes it to extremes and says "That $1 you just spent on the candy bar could have been $16 in retirement money".  He is right, to an extent. But I wont take it that far.

I will take it as far as evaluating our need for a discount warehouse membership.  I have a family of five to cook and provide for. If I say we don't need a discount membership, chances are you are throwing your money away to have one too.  One of my friends is like "BUT you SAVE 50c  a week on milk ALONE!"  Do you know how many gallons of milk you would have to buy to make, say, a $30 annual membership fee pay for itself? More than 60 gallons of milk.  That's BEFORE you start to save on milk. And, you can coupon for milk (Kelloggs and others put out save $1 on milk WYB cereal, etc)  You can use drugstore rewards on milk.  But, you interrupt me, But they sell more than milk.  I get that. That super cheap box of diapers you buy in  bulk? That is about 3 packages worth right? So you just lost the chance to use up to 6 coupons on that box of diapers.  Now, you have to take what the savings on that box of diapers is and subtract out the coupons you could have used. Then, you get a real savings.  Take that real savings and put it towards the membership fee.  I am telling you.. if you would only coupon, it would be more beneficial in most cases.  If you pay $30 for a savings membership.. make sure you are saving MORE than that $30 annually AND more than coupons would have saved as well.  Personally, I like to keep my $30 upfront in an interest bearing account at the bank than hand it over.  **Disclaimer.. you will totally find me in a warehouse savings club from time to time. Our local one has Churros. Hot fresh yummy ones. AND, 87c huge fountain sodas.  BUT, I did NOT pay for my membership. I got it for free.  And I do think there are redeeming qualities to such a club.  Like the $16 awesomely decorated, yummy cakes.  And, the rotisserie chickens are larger and cheaper. Most of the items in such a club are not worth the membership fees. BUT if you are NOT going to coupon and you  get such a membership for FREE.. well.. I will look the other way and munch my churro.

When looking into consignment events, or even having your own yard sale, consider the cost of it all. What are the fees? How much are the supplies to price your items? How much to rent a table for your own sale? Advertising? Signage? Etc.  It all comes with a dollar mark. What are you hoping to make vs how much time you are going to put into getting it ready vs how much you will spend/be charged to make that money?  

What about that pricey family membership to the zoo, waterpark, museum, etc.. even if they are having a sale... How many times would you have to go before it paid for itself? What is the true cost in terms of items you might purchase when there (souvenirs), food, gas, etc to go?  Make sure it will be really worth it before you commit to the money for it.

Beware the FREE:

Once upon a time, my husband did freelance work in exchange for a year of free dance lessons for our child.  We had never done dance before. We did not have the money for such a pricey extracurricular and would not have done dance had this opportunity for a trade out occur.  So, we were like YAY free dance!  By the end of the year, we paid more than $1000 for our naivete. Free dance did not mean Free dance class uniform, free tap shoes, free ballet shoes, two free costumes, free "cheapest" dance class photo package, free souvenir book from the recital, free venue fee, free tickets to the recital or even free teacher gift at the end of the year.  Also, the gas, time and of course, fast food trips after class (I promise my kids love veggies).  No, we paid for each of those things. It was more like we got the monthly tuition waived for the work my husband did.  Had we realized the real cost up front, we would not have done that trade out that year.  $1000 so a 3 yr old can have an extracurricular is too steep for my couponing heart.  Now, if she had been older and begging for class.. that's one thing. And while she did have fun, she didn't become BFFs with anyone in class and doesn't remember a lick of dance now.

The main point here is to follow your money. Follow it and it might lead you down the magical path to moneymaking scenarios.  But don't get hooked on what looks like a good deal upfront.  And, calm down when you see a deal you are excited to work.  Don't waste the gas and time. Work such things into your route.  I have learned that rookie mistake. :)  Work Smarter, Not Harder too!

Bargain Puzzler: Does the Way You Order an Item Make a Difference in The Cost?

This Week's Bargain Puzzler is About Changing Your Perspective.  And How Being a Critical Thinker and Following the Math Can Save You Money Where You Didn't Even Know You Were Over-Spending It

So, you decide to go grab something fast and cheap for breakfast. And, you go for convenience.. so you pick one of those places you don't even have to leave your car... But, you are lactose intolerant. You want that Bacon Biscuit,but without the cheese. 

Do You:

A. Order a Bacon and Cheese Biscuit, as shown on the menu, and ask them to hold the cheese

B. Order a Biscuit with an add on side of bacon

C. It depends on where you go

D. It doesn't matter and comes out the same anyway

The answer is C. It depends on where you go.  But it almost always matters which way you order, from a financial standpoint.  

A simple way to add a little extra money in your budget is to pay attention to the menu. What do add ons cost? Follow the math. Here is an example:  I went to Mc Burger Place recently during breakfast. I went through the drive thru. I asked them for a "biscuit please, add bacon." They rang up breakfast bacon biscuit, minus egg, minus cheese.  I could tell because I saw the order screen. I politely told them that was not what I ordered and insisted they ring it the way I asked.  Their way would have cost an extra 45 cents for the same item!  They sighed. Then, I heard them (oops on their part) complaining that "she is telling me how to ring up her order like she knows better than I do.."  When I pulled up to pay the rude lady, I smiled sheepishly, apologized, and explained that it was just cheaper to order a plain biscuit and pay the add on price for the bacon.  Then, I pulled to the next window and asked for a manager and explained the situation to them. They apologized, of course, for the rudeness.

My point though, is that it does matter. And, every cent counts.  When I can take that 45 cents to a drugstore and walk out with 3 Gain dish soaps and 1 Crest toothpaste, that overcharge is just too pricey for me.  Call me cheap. But if you start paying attention, you too will see some extra pocket change acruing. The thing is that most folks just don't stop to think about it.

Another good example is when people ignore the current specials at a fast food place.. or any place... and order a value menu because it is "cheaper."  If the location is offering a Large drink for the price of a small, the value menu is not cheaper. Order a la carte. Spend less money and get more...

My husband and I took a rare opportunity to go on a date last month. We went to Applebees.  We wanted the "2 can dine for $20" which includes an appetizer and two entrees. Also, we knew we wanted two appetizers.. boneless buffalo wings and cheese sticks. (We were living it up! Funny...)  We happened to time it just right to hit the "happy hour".  So, the appetizers we wanted were half off.  Both were available as options to be included in the $20 meal deal. I followed the math. Even half off, the boneless wings were the more expensive item. When we ordered, I made sure to order the boneless wings to be included with the 2 for $20 deal. AND, I ordered the cheese sticks to be the half off app. We saved $2 doing it this way. It just takes a moment.

Why would you ever over pay for something if you could take that moment and save money?  It is very interesting to me how folks just don't take the time to think about it a new way. It is one super easy trick to saving a little more money.. think about how you word your order. It really is that simple!

Bargain Puzzler of the Week: When the Cost is the Same, Does it Matter Where You Buy?

Bargain Puzzler of the Week:

Another Lesson in Changing Your Perspective

Let's say you need Pampers. Let's say that multiple places have them on sale for the same price. Does it matter where you buy them?

 

A local drugstore has Pampers for $8. Your fave big store like Target has the same pack for $8. Online has them for $8, shipped.  

Do You:

A. Buy them at the drugstore

B. Buy them at Target

C. Buy them online

D. It Doesn't matter

E. It Depends. 

The answer is E. It depends.  Not all same priced items really are the same price, all things considered.

IF you are truly going to pay the same out of pocket expense at any location, there are a few factors to consider when making your final decision on where to buy.

• Can you use a reusable shopping bag and get 5c back, like at Target?
• What is the convenience worth? If all the places have the same out of pocket expense, why not buy them online and get the dropped at your front door? Or can you go through Ebates, etc and get cash back from shopping online?
• Can you make other purchases at the drugstore and roll your transaction for even less out of pocket?

You have to decide for yourself when it looks like multiple stores have the same price on something you need. Rarely is the same price really the same price when you are a couponer.

My best advice, especially if you want to buy Pampers out right without couponing or dealing?  Buy them at the drugstore.  Why? I have found that drugstores are the place to buy Jumbo pack diapers when they are the same cost BECAUSE I have had great luck finding extra coupons inside the packs of diapers when I buy the Pampers at the drugstore.

This is also my tip of the week: when you are buying diapers, especially Pampers, feel along the sides of the diapers/pull ups.  If you feel something a bit more rigid or card-stocky inside the pack, SCORE! You just might get home to find a $1 off any Kandoo (which makes them about 49c a pack at Target), or $1 off Tide, etc coupon!  The packages are not usually marked that they include a coupon. I am the weird lady at the drugstore feeling up all the Pampers, just in case... But I have had great luck doing so from time to time.  (Other items than diapers can have unexpected coupons, peelies, rebates, etc attached in a drugstore.. I find that to be the case more often than in a traditional store. Keep an eye out!)

Does it matter where you buy your diapers or other items when they are the same price multiple locations? It can. IF you are willing to look at the bucks deals or feel the packaging up in the drugstores. Or if you are willing to look for cash back perks online. Or, if you are tired and want the convenience of buying that item when you are already in a store. That way you wont be tempted to spend more money on other deals you may find if you go to more than one store. The more locations you go to, the possibility of being tempted by more deals.  (which can be good or bad, depending!)

A Different Kind of Bargain Puzzler

Recent Birthday Parties, Holidays, Events, Etc 

Have Me Puzzled:

What is an Appropriate Gift When You Are a Bargainista Extroadinaire?

This is more of an open question without a multiple choice or clear cut answer.  All these holidays and birthdays have me pondering: What is an appropriate gift to present to someone when you are a bargainista extroadinaire and snag very valuable gifts on the cheap?  

One example scenario is this:  

Over the holidays, we had a Dirty Santa gift exchange at our Bunco group.  The idea was to spend about $10 tops to get a (nice, not crummy) gift for the exchange.  I did bargain hunt and take a gift that I "cheated" on.. It was about a $15 gift I spent $10 on.  However, one lady at the exchange, the one that sent me on my couponing path to begin with, really cheated. She is the KNOWN COUPONER of the group. She brought a gift basket FULL of awesome "drugstore" products.. Lady Schick Razors, refills, Olay stuff, etc etc etc. This was like a $60 basket she paid less than $10 for by working her coupon deals, etc.  

That is an interesting and funny example. We got a kick out of that gift. It was stolen the max number of times, even.  

But still. Here's the dilemma:  You are known to be a couponer. You can get $55 Disney Princess costumes for $12 at the outlet. $35 OshKosh Sandals for $1.35.  So... your child gets invited to a birthday party.. what do you bring? Do you pay $15 (more than what you spend on a fancy Disney costume dress) for a gift that looks more in line with what the host might expect? Or do you coupon, save money, and give a nicer gift?  Ok, friends and such don't care about the gift.  That isn't what it is about. I get that. But, if my child walks in with a gift I can afford that has been stashed in my gift closet for 6 months, but looks really nice, that's bad, right? What is a couponer to do??  Don't say gift card. That hurts the heart. LOL! (Although, couponers LOVE to get a modest gift card.. we can stretch those bad boys out!)

OR, what about the flip side? Your in- laws know the deals you get. SO, when you present them with something nice, they are going to know you got it on the cheap. Do you gift them with more to compensate for what you really would have spent on that item??

It really boggles the mind.  I recently put together a gift for a 4 yr old. It was a nice gift. Original value of all the items was more than $30. I spent $8 on all of it, total.  I was like this is a rockin gift. Then, I added up the out of pocket expense. I was like whoa. I only spent $8 on all this? That's great.. but... the friendship there deserved nicer than an $8 gift. My husband walks in and is like WOW, NICE GIFT! He didn't know the out of pocket meagerness. So, I resolved to call that gift "done and good".  And it was.  

SO, how do you balance your deals with the feeling that you are being too cheap.. Or worse, that your deal saving makes you give gifts that are too nice sometimes.. oops.  It is a fine line I walk. 

And I wonder, do I walk that line alone? Are others as gift conscious? When you get a gift from me, untold amount of thought goes into it. Am I alone in that? Do you wonder about your gifts from your Deal Steals Gift Closet? LOL.

My mother loves Pantene Products. I get these free from time to time and gift her with my overstock.. Just thinking of her... and she loves that. But she also knows I am being cheap with those types of gifts! Catch 22!

So, how do you all handle these situations? 

*On the other hand, my neighbor LOVES the freebies gift bags I put together for her every month! She just totally chuckles when I bring her dish soap, paper towels, and toothpaste!