How to save $$$$ using Coupons!

I just posted some info on Facebook with a friend of mine and realized it would make a nice post. 

Here is how the post started:  "Saving money is a lot of work!"

Remember this pertains to the stores located in my area of Huntsville, Alabama.  Your stores coupon policies may be different.  Most stores now have posted this information on their website or you can call their corporate headquarters and request a written copy of their coupon policy.

Here is what the post said, "YEP!! And sometimes people have no clue . . . . I have been at this almost 16 years now and even though I save at least 40% on my average grocery bill, it still takes me a good hour or two to prep for a grocery store trip. Now some deals are spur of the moment and all it takes is printing the coupons and visiting the store with the deal or stores if I want more than one deal. But then again even that takes time and gas driving to the various stores. Even when I buy on-line I know the bottom line I can pay for something with a sale price + coupon. I must admit Amazon's Subscribe and Save program saves me at least 40-50% and I don't have to drive and waste my gas - just my time to select items and check prices. Every on-line purchase I make is with a promotion or coupon code too. I look for codes with at least 50% off + free shipping.

Publix doubles up to .50 everyday, Wed or Thu is Senior Day you get an extra 10% off (check the Publix website for details). Publix also has Store coupons which are different from Manufacturer coupons. You can use one of each on a product. For example if I have a Store coupon for Clorox Bleach at .25/1 and a Manufacture coupon for Clorox Bleach at .50/1; I would receive $1.25 off that product (Store coupons do not double). In this scenario making it Free, less taxes. Now you always have to pay tax on the full purchase price of an item regardless of your coupon values. Each Publix store is different but accepts competitor STORE coupons. There is a list at the front of each store near the door stating which competitor coupons they accept. For example Whitesburg Drive one takes them from Star Market ($5/50) (see coupon booklet Enjoy the City), Target (on-line), Fresh Market (sometimes on-line), Kroger (by mail), only Hwy 72 Publix accepts all these plus they accept EarthFare (on-line via e-mail notice) and when Whole Foods arrive they will be included too. I believe Whole Foods put out a mini booklet each month with coupons. Kroger now only takes face value coupons and does not accept any competitor coupons - boo, hiss I don't like them and rarely shop their unless it is for an item Publix does not carry. As the story goes - did you want to talk about saving money with coupons?????

Want to learn more and become your own Coupon Queen - visit www.refundcents.com and tell them Lori McAulliffe is your referral.  This is the very first place I learned about using coupons and saving money over 15 years ago.  Long before the internet was hot - Michele Easter's picture was on a Woman's Day Magazine as I sat in a Tire Store pondering how I was going to save money on my monthly grocery bill.  As a new bride my husband was already yanking the purse strings tighter. 

Blessings to you all - Lori <>< 

It has been a long road

I am going to make this one quick.  Update from 2011.  In 2012 I became even more ill.  In Feb 2013 I was diagnosed with Endometrial Cancer.  I spent the rest of 2013 going through surgeries, hospital stays and finally chemotherapy.  Now that I have been given the green light - CANCER FREE, I am going through the Post cancer recovery stage.  My body is recovering from exhaustion that started in 2006.  I am recovering from medical issues relative to the chemo drugs.  I am thankful for each day and look for the good things in life and thank Jesus Christ that I am alive.

Please check back or better yet support my husband's business by visiting our eBay Store - Rocketcitysales.  He has been a rock and my biggest fan during our 16 years of marriage.  Married me for Better or Worse in Sickness and Health.  No one ever imagines that the sickness would be cancer. 

I believe I am going to use this Blog to track events in my life and create information for other cancer patients. 

6 Months later . . .

I created a blog with high hopes of daily information.
Well that was 6 months ago . . .
I have been struggling with several health issues and been unable to keep up my blog.

Even though I am still struggling with issues I hope to begin posting more frequently.

I have joined an on-line Bible Study for Prayer and look forward to participating and growing in the knowledge of the Lord.

May you have a blessed day,
Lori McAulliffe
Girls Raised in the South

The First of Many

Hello. Today I created my 1st Blog. Whew . . . I am nervous, anxious and excited all at the same time. My name is Lori, I am a Girl Raised in the South (Grits) and a self-proclaimed junkie for knowledge (Wisdom).

I hope to write about my personal experiences as well as pass along and share information about several areas that also interest me.

My passions include:

eBay Seller - I have a passion for selling on eBay and have been working with my husband
on eBay since 2000. Our eBay ID is rocketcitysales. About 80% of our inventory consists of books (new and old), and the other 20% consists of brand new items to thrift store goodies, auction tales, estate sales and yard sale finds.
I have spent years learning about what to buy that sells and how much it will sell for. More to come on this along with blogs I follow, websites I keep bookmarked and frequent, along with people I love to learn from!! (Suzanne are your ears burning?) Each week I hope to pass along some tip, hint, trick or interest story/adventure about selling on eBay. We are also in the process of diversifying our business so you may hear about this also.

Cooking - I love to cook from scratch and constantly search to improve an old dish, find an old recipe (from my hundreds of new and antique cookbooks) or scan the internet for ideas to tweak my own recipe. I am not sure I would classify myself as a foodie, but I love food, good food, especially organic and healthy food. I prefer foods that are pesticide-free, hormone free, antibiotic free, nitrate & nitrite free, you get the drift. Each week I will try to pass along a favorite old recipe or a new recipe I tried or created.

Thyroid Disease & Disorders - I have been dealing with hypothyroidism for over 15 years and in November 2009 had a complete thyroidectomy as well as managing various off-shoots of this medical condition. Right now I am recovering from Adrenal Fatigue/Exhaustion. While I am not a medical expert, I have spent years researching this condition focusing on homeopathic, natural and alternative medical therapies and treatments. This is an area I may share more of about than others as it is most prevalent in my life at this time.

Professional Mystery Shopper - I have been a Mystery Shopper since November 2000 and became a Gold Certified Mystery Shopper in 2000. One thing I can tell you right off, NEVER PAY ANYONE to become a Mystery Shopper. This is one of the biggest lies I have seen on the internet. Now I can tell you paying for someone else's knowledge of Mystery Shopping, Tips, Techniques for writing a great report and locating companies to work for is acceptable, however with a little elbow grease and hard work you too can obtain this same information for free. Being a Mystery Shopper is how I fund travel several times each year. Each week I will try to pass along one new hint/tip about the Mystery Shopping world.

Coupon Queen Diva - Another one of my many areas of wisdom surrounds saving money at the Grocery Store using Manufacturer Coupons, Store Coupons, and much more. There is a wealth of information on the internet about becoming your own self-proclaimed Coupon Queen or Coupon Diva, Frugalista or whatever title you would like to give yourself. I hope to share some of my saving experiences, favorite blogs and websites for you to check out here also.

Cat Lover - I have been the mama to 4 cats in my lifetime and have rescued two 3-week old kittens (once) and rescued 2 others (grown) and have adopted 3 others. We currently have 2 cats that run (or is that ruin) our lives. I may digress about their antics here periodically.

Secretary - I have spent over 25 years working as an Executive Assistant keeping meetings straight, ensuring flowers are sent to Mother and Wife, juggling dental appointments with work priorities, writing papers, being a liaison with organization staff, managing budgets and providing locations for the closest US Hospital and US Embassy when traveling to a foreign country. This is the "job" I hope to retire from very soon.

Jesus Freak - follower of Christ since Dec 19, 1993 - believe in the Holy Trinity and keep in touch with the Almighty through His Word, His People, prayer, fasting, and praise. My life experiences are viewed through these eyes and I hope I can inspire and bring hope to even one person. I am always here to pray. Just send me an e-mail with your specific need or request.

See you soon, Lori