20.07.2014 Views

Putnam - Southbridge Evening News

Putnam - Southbridge Evening News

Putnam - Southbridge Evening News

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

PUTNAM VILLAGER<br />

Is coupon clipping worth it?<br />

Friday, September 03, 2010<br />

WHAT IS IT?<br />

• A5<br />

Is coupon clipping worth it?<br />

You can probably guess my<br />

answer to this question — of course<br />

it is! Then again, I’m biased, as I<br />

think everyone should use coupons<br />

in some way.<br />

By clipping coupons I’m able to<br />

save hundreds of dollars each<br />

month on grocery and drugstore<br />

items, savings I can apply to other<br />

areas of my budget like vacations,<br />

college funds, etc. While I do see<br />

lots of people out at the stores using<br />

coupons, it still surprises me to see<br />

so many more who are not. Why?<br />

Let’s take a look at some common<br />

objections to coupon clipping and<br />

debunk some myths about the value<br />

of clipping coupons.<br />

• Clipping coupons takes time —<br />

You bet it takes time, but it is time<br />

well spent. If it takes me an hour to<br />

clip coupons to save $40 off my<br />

weekly grocery bill, I consider that<br />

$40 earned. Where else can I earn<br />

$40 per hour, tax free, sitting on my<br />

sofa clipping coupons? Plus, it really<br />

doesn’t have to take that much<br />

time. You can clip coupons while<br />

watching television or relaxing outside.<br />

Get those kids involved, too!<br />

• Most coupons are for things you<br />

neither need nor want — Clipping<br />

coupons for things you don’t want<br />

or need is indeed a big waste of<br />

time. There is no rule that says you<br />

have to clip every coupon you see,<br />

PUTNAM ELEMENTARY<br />

AND MIDDLE SCHOOL<br />

Tuesday, Sept. 7: Hot dog with bun, baked beans, oven<br />

roasted potato, fruit, milk.<br />

Wednesday, Sept. 8: Soft-shelled taco, Spanish rice, corn,<br />

fruit, milk.<br />

Thursday, Sept. 9: Cheeseburger, curly fries, frozen fruit<br />

sherbet, fruit, milk.<br />

Friday, Sept. 10: Pizza, assorted toppings, salad, fruit,<br />

milk.<br />

WICKED<br />

COOL<br />

DEALS<br />

MICHELLE<br />

HOVESTADT<br />

so feel free to introduce unwanted<br />

coupons to your trash can.<br />

However, do keep an open mind to<br />

coupons you see for new products.<br />

New products are often introduced<br />

to the marketplace on sale so it is<br />

very possible you can get them<br />

cheap or even free with a coupon.<br />

Who knows, you may discover a<br />

new product you love!<br />

• Coupons tempt you to spend<br />

more money on things you shouldn’t<br />

— I don’t know about you, but<br />

I’m tempted to spend money I<br />

shouldn’t every day! That’s why I<br />

stay disciplined and have a budget.<br />

A budget is the single best way to<br />

help ensure you do not overspend.<br />

At the end of the month (or year)<br />

it’s not about what you saved, it’s<br />

about what your spent. Find a<br />

monthly budget that works for you<br />

and stick to it.<br />

• Shopping takes longer —<br />

Shopping can take longer, but it<br />

doesn’t have to. I contend that<br />

putting together a weekly menu<br />

plan and shopping around that plan<br />

can actually save you time shopping.<br />

Unplanned shopping trips<br />

always take more time, and let’s not<br />

forget the added stress of running<br />

into the store having little idea<br />

what you need to buy! Plus, you just<br />

know that unplanned trip to the<br />

store is going to cost you more<br />

money.<br />

Funny, the most common objection<br />

to using coupons I hear is that<br />

your coupons have been left at<br />

home, in the car or simply forgotten<br />

somewhere! Yes, even the dog ate<br />

them along with the kids’ homework.<br />

This is why you need a good<br />

coupon organization system that<br />

you can easily take with you to the<br />

store. It doesn’t have to be perfect, it<br />

just needs to work for you.<br />

So get out those coupons and scissors,<br />

sit back and relax with a good<br />

television show and start saving<br />

more money!<br />

Michelle Hovestadt is an independent<br />

marketing consultant and<br />

owner and publisher of<br />

WickedCoolDeals.com, where she<br />

blogs about coupons, freebies, store<br />

deals and money-saving strategies.<br />

Mrs. Hovestadt lives in Woodstock<br />

with her husband and four young<br />

children and is always on the hunt<br />

for a great deal to share.<br />

PUTNAM HIGH SCHOOL<br />

Tuesday, Sept. 7: Clipper burger, curly fries, baked bens,<br />

coleslaw, frozen fruit sherbet, milk.<br />

Wednesday, Sept. 8: Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad,<br />

garlic bread, fruit, milk.<br />

Thursday, Sept. 9: Chicken fajita wrap, Spanish rice,<br />

peppers and onions, corn, fruit, milk.<br />

Friday, Sept.10: Pizza dippers with dipping sauce, salad,<br />

fruit, milk.<br />

CONTEST ENTRY FORM: Sept. 3, 2010<br />

Deadline: Sept. 9, 2010<br />

My guess is:___________________________________<br />

Answer to last week’s photo: Kioti Tractor, Woodstock.<br />

Who wants $25 cash in their pocket? Anyone?<br />

The Villager has it to give.<br />

Enter ‘What is It?’ now for your chance to win!<br />

Name________________________________________<br />

Address______________________________________<br />

State_______Zip_______ Telephone#_____________<br />

Please mail your entry form to the Villager <strong>News</strong>papers, PO Box 196, Woodstock, CT<br />

06281, attn: Editor, or drop off to the office at Faire Place at 283 Route 169/171 in<br />

Woodstock, in front of the Woodstock Fairgrounds. You may also fax your entry to<br />

(860) 928-5946. All photos are of sights seen in and around Brooklyn, Killingly, <strong>Putnam</strong>,<br />

Thompson, Woodstock, Pomfret and Eastford. Responses must identify the subject and<br />

where it can be seen. Answers will be given the following week in the <strong>Putnam</strong> Villager,<br />

Thompson Villager and Woodstock Villager. At the end of each month, all entry forms with<br />

the correct answer will be included in a random drawing. One lucky winner will receive<br />

$25! One entry per person, please. Good luck!<br />

“Seven new clients,<br />

All I can say is, AWESOME”<br />

Carole Himmer, Carole’s Grooming & Boarding Kennel<br />

508-867-9734<br />

They got GREAT Results, you can too.<br />

Call us today at (860)928-1818<br />

or drop us an email at ads@villagernewspapers.com<br />

Villager <strong>News</strong>papers<br />

"Your local newspaper - the next best thing to word-of-mouth advertising"<br />

www.ConnecticutsQuietCorner.com<br />

TRANSMISSIONS<br />

&AUTO CENTERS<br />

Quality Used Cars<br />

Over 30 years experience in the transmission industry<br />

We Have:<br />

• Synthetic Lubricants & Oils<br />

• Saginaw Racing<br />

Transmissions & Clutches for<br />

Thompson Speedway<br />

• Dodge Cummins Diesel<br />

Hi-Performance Modifications<br />

for Engine & Transmission for<br />

More Power!<br />

Michael W. Smith<br />

Office 860-774-8421<br />

On-Line at: mikesmithtransmissions.com<br />

849 North Main Street, Danielson, CT 06239<br />

Open Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-5:00pm; Sat. 8-12<br />

Licensed<br />

Insured<br />

Roofing~Siding~Windows<br />

*Free Estimates*<br />

Come see us at the Woodstock Fair<br />

To pick up your coupon for<br />

10% off your next project

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!