The Domestic Mom

I have to admit that I used to just like my local ShopRite.  It’s was just your average grocery store.  Talk about having a change of attitude … in the past few months, I have grown to LOVE my ShopRite!!!

How can someone love food shopping??  Two words … NEW MANAGER!  Yes, folks you heard me … the new manager, Brandon Brodman!  He has turned the ShopRite in Stroudsburg, PA around!!!

I’m seriously enjoying food shopping … like I needed a reason before to go (you know I love my coupons)!  I love the music they play.  Got to love the oldies!  I actually caught myself starting to sing out loud today!

Here are some reasons why I now love the Stroudsburg, PA ShopRite … it’s clean, bright, friendly & all the sales are easy to find now!  The floors are actually shiny!  The aisles are cleaned up & easy to navigate!  The end-cap displays are organized & appealing to the eye!  The cashiers are quick & the registers accurate!  The ShopRite 4 Day Price Break sales are now in the front of the store by the door (you can still find them in the regular aisle too) … some may call this impulse buying — I call this keeping the customers time a priority!  This ShopRite is coupon friendly & knowledgeable!!

Before I was in this ShopRite 1-2 times a week … taking advantage of the sales with my coupons, but it felt more like a chore.  Now I’m at least 3 times a week (if not more), totally taking advantage of sales with my coupons! You know you’re there a lot when you’re the Mayor on Foursquare!  My friends laugh at how many times I’m there!

If you’ve strayed from the Stroudsburg ShopRite … please come back & say hi to the new manager, Brandon!  He personally saw to it that this ShopRite now carries the Lays Dill Pickle chips!!  (I had to go to another local store for them before.)  Basically, I’m in heaven now … ShopRite & Dill Pickle chips!

I can say great things about this store, but you should go see for yourself!

The Domestic Mom

What if I told you there’s a way to save 30-60%
on your grocery bill?

Come on August 3rd to learn the answer!

I will be holding a coupon class on Wednesday, August 3rd at the East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church! This class will be from 9:30am - 11:00am.

You will leave with:

• the basic knowledge of coupons
• ethical couponing
• how to donate to organizations from your stockpile
• how to be responsible stewards with your grocery budgets
• familiarity with some of the local store policies in the area!

There will also be a table for coupon swapping, so bring coupons you may want to swap/share with others! As a disciple we all need to be good stewards of the blessings we have been given. When we become more aware of our spending, we can give more and help others in need.

Please reserve your seat!  The fee for this class … is FREE and open to the community. We do ask that each person bring two pantry items to be donated to the Salvation Army.

In need of child care during the class?  Your child is welcomed to join our Vacation Bible School event!  The 2010 VBS had about 144 children attend … along with 24 youth & 36 adult volunteers!  This is a great way for your child to have fun & meet new friends, all the while you learn to coupon!  This event is FREE to attend!  Any questions with the VBS program, please contact Sue Randall, Director of Children’s Ministry at ESUMC.

The Domestic Mom

The sea, the sand, the Son … can summer get any better?

Oh Yes it can!

Next Monday, August 1st come have a TON of fun with the Son!!  East Stroudsburg United Methodist church is holding it annual Vacation Bible School week!  This event is August 1st-5th from 9am-12noon and FREE to attend!

Also our next Coupon Class being held during Vacation Bible School on Wednesday, August 3rd!  Please reserve your seat!  The fee for this class … is FREE and open to the community. We do ask that each person bring two pantry items to be donated to the Salvation Army. In need of child care during the class?  Your child is welcomed to join our Vacation Bible School event!  The 2010 VBS had about 144 children attend … along with 24 youth & 36 adult volunteers!  This is a great way for your child to have fun & meet new friends, all the while you learn to coupon!  Any questions with the VBS program, please contact Sue Randall, Director of Children’s Ministry at ESUMC.

The Domestic Mom

This morning I held a coupon class at the East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church … a good time was had!  I meet some really great ladies today!   I would like to just give a big Thank You, to all of you for sharing your time with me!

A huge shout out for over 75 lbs. of pantry items being collected for the Salvation Army food bank, from today’s coupon class!!!

If you have any questions from the coupon class, please feel free to email me!  Remember to follow me on FaceBook … The Domestic Mom fan page!!

Look for our next Coupon Class being held during the first week of August!  In need of child care during the class?  Your child is welcomed to join our Vacation Bible School event!  The 2010 VBS had about 144 children attend … along with 24 youth & 36 adult volunteers!  This is a great way for your child to have fun & meet new friends, all the while you learn to coupon!  Any questions with the VBS program, please contact Sue Randall, Director of Children’s Ministry at ESUMC.

The Domestic Mom

What if I told you there’s a way to save 30%
on your grocery bill?

What if I told you there’s a way to save 60%
on your grocery bill?

Come on July 6th to learn the answers to your questions!

I will be holding a coupon class on Wednesday, July 6th at the East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church! This class will be from 10:00am - 12 noon.  The doors will open at 9:30am.

You will leave with:

• the basic knowledge of coupons
• ethical couponing
• how to donate to organizations from your stockpile
• how to be responsible stewards with your grocery budgets
• familiarity with some of the local store policies in the area!

There will also be a table for coupon swapping, so bring coupons you may want to swap/share with others! As a disciple we all need to be good stewards of the blessings we have been given. When we become more aware of our spending, we can give more and help others in need. And everyone attending the class will have a chance at some door prizes!

Please reserve your seat!  The fee for this class … is FREE and open to the community. We do ask that each person bring two pantry items to be donated to the Salvation Army.  (child care available)

The Domestic Mom

My answer to this is, YES!

Each store has a different policy! There’s a big difference between Rite Aid and Walgreen’s coupon acceptance policies. The last thing you want is to be embarrassed when you’re checking out and you accidentally make a mistake with your coupons … due to the fact that you were unfamiliar with their policy.  It has happened.  The best thing to do is graciously apologize to the cashier & ask them to explain the store’s policy to you.  They will be very appreciative of your willingness to learn the correct way!

Some store’s only accept a certain amount of “like” coupons.  My ShopRite in Stroudsburg, PA will accept 4 “like” coupons per transaction.  What that means is, if I have 5 of the exact same coupons for a particular deodorant … I can only use 4 of those coupons (while purchasing 4 items).  Please do not ask the cashier to bend the coupon policy just for you!  (because you don’t want to make another trip or don’t have time to do another transaction)  It’s unethical to ask an employee to not abide by their employers policy.  Think about it, how would you feel if someone put you in that situation?

There maybe that situation that you may have to show the cashier or a customer service manager their own coupon policy.  Not all cashiers have the knowledge of their own policies (especially with the hype of that new show), due the fact that coupon policies seem to be changing quite often lately!  It may seem a little embarrassing that you have to show them their own policy, but a calm & cordially attitude will get you a lot farther than giving the cashier a hard time for not taking your coupons.  Yes, this has happened to me twice in that one super center store & the other well know store … well, the CSM & cashier didn’t care what their policy said.  They even said they didn’t care what it said, so I politely thanked them for their time. I did ask for my coupons back and to delete my order.  That was a learning experience for me!

If you do not have a copy of the store’s policy on you … when in doubt, inquire about their coupon policy before you check out!  Remember everyone else that is shopping considers their time, just as valuable as you consider yours.  I have even done this when I had a question in regards to a coupon … go to customer service & ask, instead of during check out when you could get flustered in your shopping plan.  (Yes, that has happened to me too!)

Here it is … bring a copy of the store’s coupon policy with you, so that you are assured that you are following their rules … we don’t want to do unethical couponing!  (That is coupon fraud! Which is a Crime!)

Click HERE to get all the store’s current coupon policies!

The Domestic Mom

This morning I’m wondering around my local Walmart … basically checking out the prices & products to match up with my coupons.  This Saturday my church’s youth group is participating in the 30 hour Famine … and on Saturday morning the kids will be split up into groups to go shopping.  Each group will be given a set amount of money and who ever comes back with the most for their money wins the task.  (wins bragging rights)  The real winner is the food bank that all the items will be donated to!!!  There’s more to this event, but I’m going to save that for when I post after the event!

Anyway, I’m wondering around with my coupon binder open & scoping out the prices … then three ladies say, “She’s one of them!”  Yes, I admit I am one of those coupon ladies, but I wouldn’t consider myself an “extreme couponer” (at least not officially).  I must say these three ladies were absolutely fabulous to talk with!!!  We had a great conversation about couponing & I got to share some great tips with them!  I felt refreshed after talking & sharing with these ladies!  Just think, if it wasn’t for my coupon binder I never would have met them!  As I’m planning my next coupon class for May, I really hope they can come!

Ladies, remember to bring your coupons into the store with you next time!!!

The Domestic Mom

It’s always good to have a copy of the store’s coupon policy on hand … you never know when you may need to reference to it!  Make sure you print a copy out and have it with you when shopping.

Here’s a list of store policies:

ShopRite Policy (may vary by store)

WalMart Policy

Target Policy

Target Coupons

Walgreens Policy

Dollar General Policy

Family Dollar Policy

Family Dollar Coupons

Rite Aid Policy

PA Giant (may vary by store)

I held my first coupon class this afternoon!  I had nine fabulous ladies attend!!  I seriously can’t wait to hear all about these ladies new adventures in couponing!!  One of this ladies is already a seasoned in couponing … Maria!!  Maria shared some pretty great tips with all of us too!  I will be posting all the store coupon policy, just like I promised. (will have to wait until later tonight … after the kids are put to bed, then I’ll have actual time to sit at the computer!)

With all this hype of having a coupon class, now I really have to revamp my site to help get all this info. out to you Fabulous Coupon Ladies!

Thank you again ladies for attending!!!

The Domestic Mom