Some new reasons to call it Black Friday

"Black Friday." It's a well-known phrase, and there are plenty of reasons for the name. If you haven't heard them, then you better check out the PF Blogosphere more carefully, because at least two bloggers covered the subject.


So, we know why it's called "Black Friday," but surely we can think of a few more fun explanations, can't we?


Black is:

1. The sky, because it's not even 5 a.m. and sane people are still sleeping
2. The color of the circles under your eyes from getting up so early
   
3. The bruise on your wallet from your "Oh, but it's so cheap!" spending
4. Your mood as you stand in line and move only incrementally.
   
5. The color of the ink you'll be fingerprinted with. (You probably shouldn't have punched that lady over the last of the $170 netbooks.)

Kidding aside, most of us have a love/hate relationship with Black Friday. The deals are so enticing, but the lines and crowds make us wonder if it's worthwhile.


It was for me -- if only barely. At Wal-Mart, my line took over 90 minutes. (Later, we found out people had been letting their friends in line. And here I thought "cuts" ended in elementary school.)


Then again, I got an HP all-in-one printer for $25. I have missed having a scanner lately -- you use it for a surprising number of things, especially if you mystery shop -- but I didn't want to spend too much. I also picked up some Rubbermaid containers for $7. We don't have a lot of stuff to put the leftovers in.


We also got some good deals at GameStop. I wanted Tim to have a protective case for his PSP, and the store offered one in a travel kit for $9.99. It also comes with a car adapter, which is handy. There was a Dax and Jaxter game for $6.99 that I picked up, as well. Later, Tim used store credit to take advantage of the "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" sale on used games.


So, for $54, we came away with a printer/scanner/copier, 15 Rubbermaid containers, a travel kit with case, adapter, headphones, and 4 PSP games. To me, that's worth a little sleep deprivation and even a bit of claustrophobia as the crowds press in.


What about you guys? Did you make forays into the wilderness that is Black Friday?

Coup-oning

I admit it. I'm a convert.


On Wednesday, I brought home

• 6 Betty Crocker cookie mixes



• 1 Betty Crocker blueberry muffin mix



• 4 boxes of instant mashed potatoes (the good kind)



• 2 boxes of Fiber One bars



• 1 package of Reynold's foil



• 16 10-oz boxes of cereal

for a grand total of $31.85. (Technically $28.86, since Mom sent off for a $2.99 rebate on the foil.)

Thanks to a good sale at Albertson's (on select merchandise, save $4 on every $10 you spend) and some carefully clipped/saved coupons, I was able to get a ton of bang for my buck. For example, the cereal was on sale 4/$10. But, by spending $10, you save $4. So it was really 4/$6. Then I had a $2-off-5 coupon, a $1.50-off-3 coupon, and two $1-off-3 coupons. In all, the 16 boxes were $18.50, or $1.16 each.

Granted, I'm still learning my way. But I think that's not bad for an amateur. Especially since I used to scoff at coupons. Okay, well not scoff at them, per se. More like, I had given up on the idea of my being able to consistently use them.



I always had every intention of using them. Then I would find myself at the store, coupons still at home, under a magnet on the fridge. Mocking me. I'd swear that next time I would remember. Most coupons would be long past their expiration date by the time I finally cleared them off the fridge. It seemed hopeless.



So, while many of you frugal folks out there are probably old hands as the couponing biz, I'm offering up this post to any of you who think coupons and you will simply never work out. Don't give up just yet!





Get organized


This is the essential step. It's what finally turned things around for me. My mom made me a coupon organizer for Christmas. She just grabbed a bag (with a zipper, that's vital!) and some tabbed index cards. She typed out some label names, printed them, cut them up and glued them onto the tabs. Voila!


You can use just about any kind of bag that closes. Be creative! Go to the thrift store and look around, or just dig through your closet.


I wish I had saved the link, but I read a great post by a PF blogger who had made herself a coupon binder:

• In front, a plastic, card-organizer sheet to keep all of her store loyalty cards.


• A calculator in the front pocket, to better compare per-unit prices


• Her price book for quick reference


• Of course, her coupons. I can't remember how she stored these in a binder. I want to say clear pencil pouches? One for each grocery section? It was probably something better and more orderly than that. But you get the general idea.


• I would add one other item to this list: conversions. Other than 16 oz = 1 lb, I can never remember how many of X are in Y. So I would write up a list and stick that in the binder. It will make price comparisons a lot faster.

Other folks use boxes, binders -- one even uses a briefcase. Get some ideas here, at Hot Coupon World. Though I am willing to bet that if you did a search for "organizer" on A Full Cup or Coupon Mom, they would have good suggestions as well!

If you are dreading the hassle of creating your own system, eBay has some good deals on organizers (ie, under $7). Just be careful. Some lunatics are, for reasons entirely beyond me, trying to charge $30 for coupon organizers. I think the rationalization is that they come with tons of coupons in them. But I hardly see the point in paying for coupons that other folks thought were worthwhile. Especially with those three couponing sites so accessible.

Pay attention to prices

You probably already have a vague idea as to what constitutes a sale. There are certainly a lot of promotions wherein the savings are almost insulting. I have seen "sales" taking a whopping 20 cents off. And these are the items that no one considers a necessity.

Sure, you can combine that with coupons for better savings. But it makes more sense (cents?) to save those for the better sale prices, to really get a deal.

To do that, you need to get a feel for the cycle of sales. Every grocery store has one. Most are every 3-4 weeks. It's one of the major reasons frugal folks stockpile during sales: It gets us through until the best prices come around again.

I like Coupon Mom's ebook for a good explanation of how to create a price book. There are actually three different ebooks, so check out each one!

Plan it out

I hope that it goes without saying that you should be planning your meals/grocery shopping based on weekly sales. If it doesn't, well, then I just said it. Works out, either way.

Each Tuesday, when the food ads come out, I sit down and circle the items of interest. Based on how many each store has, I decide which I'll actually visit during the week. Because of my energy situation, I also prioritize them. Usually, there are at least a couple items at each of the three stores. But I rarely get to more than two. Some weeks, I only get to one.

Then I pull out a small notebook and list the item, the sale price (so I can find the right one/request a rain check if it's out) and any other notes I need. For Wednesday's little success, I had grouped each set of items into the $10 amounts, figured out the end price, then noted which coupons I'd use, so that I could determine the price I'd actually pay. It can be helpful to do this for complicated sales. Grocery stores are awfully good at making prices sound more impressive than they actually are. So I usually check the math (and usually, at the store, I check the usual price, to find how much I'm "saving.")

Once I know what items we're buying that week, I get online. My first stop is Coupons.com (via MyPoints, since each redeemed coupon gets you 10 points). I print out the ones relevant to our purchases. It's actually worth noting that you can print out a coupon twice at any given IP address.

If I still haven't found as many coupons as I'd like, I do web searches. Usually, there are a few dead ends, such as expired coupons. But I have had success, too. I've found $1-off coupons for Bertolli Oven Bake Meals. I found out that, by signing up at Betty Crocker, you can print out even more copies of coupons. (Which is how I came to have 6 50-cent-off coupons for cookie mixes.)

I need to start making better use of the coupon sites, too. I'm working on it, slowly. If you're just starting out, I would start with Coupon Mom. Her site matches various sales up with the best coupons. You don't have to sit down and do the math. It's done for you. Some of the coupons are printable, others simply reference the day/source. In that case, you need to start saving all of your Red Plum/Smart Source coupons. Yet another good reason to get an organization system going.

When it comes to coupons, though, there are a couple of extra tricks that you may or may not know. The easiest is to make friends with non-coupon-using newspaper subscribers. My aunt gives my mom a second set of Sunday coupons. Most people who consider coupons a nuisance are actually happy to give them out. They seem to feel better knowing that, this way, the coupons will actually see some use.

Another trick is to visit coffeeshops, IHOPs and other leisurely Sunday places. These sites tend to have Sunday papers lying around. And, generally, the coupons are more of a mess and hassle for customers. If you ask, you can usually walk away with free coupons. (I've never heard of anyone doing this at libraries, but I suppose that's an option, as well.)

Often, store circulars will have coupons, but these tend to have limits: 2 lb cheese $4.99, limit 3. Early in the week, most stores will have extra circulars. So go up to the service counter while you're there and ask if there are any. This way, you can buy the limit, drop the items off in the car, and go back in for more. (It's usually best to use a different teller, for discretion.)

If you live in an apartment building like me, you can usually find plenty of extra circulars in the front lobby's trash/recycling bin. This is how Mom loads up on double coupons, when Albertson's offers them.

I think that's about it, as far as my knowledge goes. But I'm sure there are more hints out there. What are your top couponing/sale-searching tips?

Sweet treat time

Jelly Belly is having its Belly Flop Sale event!


For those of you not in the "sugar know," Belly Flops are the misshapen Jelly Belly beans. Weird shape, same great taste -- much better price!



The fab specials?

• Order 3 bags and get 2 more free. (You have to add a total of 5 to your cart, and the system will make two of the bags free.)

• Buy a 12-count box for $50 -- that's nearly half off! (Normally $97.50) Plus you'll get free shipping when your order is over $50.
  

Are Americans really learning?

There's no question that we are in a recession. The job market is ugly. House values are worse. And it's best to not even mention stocks.


And so many articles are offering up all sorts of evidence that Americans have officially learned their lesson (for now, at least) and are attempting to be frugal and struggle out of debt. I can't count how many articles I've seen on this. Anecdotal evidence swoops in, and suddenly we're all back to the hard-hitting Depression-era.


I'm not convinced.


Before you start yelling, I know that many Americans did finally wake up and smell the $5 coffee. Certainly Americans are suddenly more conscious of their debt and where, exactly, past excesses have landed them. There are many people out there who are severely cutting down: selling off designer items, becoming a one-car household, and even (gasp) planning meals around what's on sale that week.


But, by and large, has America really into this frugality thing? I think that most citizens grasped onto frugality as a life preserver in their sea of debt. Now, though, they're realizing just how far away the shore is. Don't get me wrong, they'll keep holding on to the life preserver as long as necessary. But not a second more.


For example, the business world decried the holiday season as awful. What was so terrible? Well, total holiday retail sales were down 5% for November, 8% in December, compared to last year.


Remember how many people said they were severely cutting back this Christmas? If even the majority of them had followed through on this intent, wouldn't we have seen double-digit declines overall?


It's pretty easy to do, really. I was catching up with a friend today. I asked what he got/gave for Christmas. Originally, they weren't going to get each other anything, since they are in debt. But his wife told him she had her eye on a $90 present for him. So then he had to go out and find things for her. I'm guessing that was a common story in many households.


Of course, some areas did take major hits, mostly the high-end items.



This looks pretty dismal, but remember that all these negatives average out to around 6.5% ((5%+8%)/2) for the total period. So about a quarter of the would-be iPhone buyers opted out. Fewer cell phones and other gadgets got purchased.


But most of us read stories about the phenomenal season for video games and their consoles. November saw a 10% jump in video game sales. And game console numbers weren't exactly bad, either.


And, today, at the mall for the second time in two days, we had to fight to get a parking space. (I needed new shoes.) The mall was full of plenty of folks. Not all of them had bags. In fact, perhaps every 5th set of people had them. But it's hard to use this as a gauge, since people all enter and leave and different times.


What I do know is that the retailers keep hawking the sales. And it seems to at least be getting people to the mall out of curiosity. Whether they succumb to the temptation, I don't know. Only later data will let us figure that out. But they're there, and that's certainly dangerous enough, given how recently people were charging to supreme excess.


Old habits die hard -- cliche but true. If Americans are so wed to this new frugal lifestyle, they would know to avoid temptation. Malls can no longer offer entertainment, just more debt. Deep down, they probably know this. But the sales are just too alluring.


Of course, there's nothing wrong with bargain shopping. The day after Christmas, Tim and I went to the malls to hit some good deals. We got a silver ornament for $3 and got it engraved with our names and anniversary for $19 more. At the same store, we got four silver frames that we can use as future gifts. At 75% off, we spent under $10 for each.


I think we're already seeing the beginnings of frugal burnout. For upwards of 6 months, people have had to scale back severely and suddenly. Holidays made them chafe under the leash of a budget. But after-holiday sales are just the proverbial straw.


My guess is more and more people will start to backslide. Of course, this is normal. But in this economy, they can't afford to.


Time will tell if my predictions are accurate. And what effect it will have on the economy -- retail sales, credit card companies, and bankruptcy rates.


In the meantime, what trends have you noticed? What sales have you hit and what items did you actually buy?

Dear retailers...

This has to stop. Frankly, it's getting embarrassing for everyone involved.


Look, you know, deep in your hearts, that the relationship is over. That you and consumers haven't really been in sync for awhile now. They're pulling away, cutting back. You barely see them anymore. And when they are there, they don't stay long or spend much.


I can only imagine how scary that must be for you, watching them grow more distant with each passing day (and industry collapse).


And in your fear, you try to lure them in with tawdry promises of discounts and sales. But, stores, even if these ploys do work, you know it's just staving off the inevitable. The consumers are using you. They're buying, yeah, but it's mostly sale items. And it's so obvious that everyone is just going through the motions. They come in only because they know you'll give them what they want: cheap stuff. After they got what they came for, they leave and go find another store all too willing to lower its prices for them.


You're deluding yourselves that you can go on like this. Yes, you're maintaining a relationship, but only in the most superficial of senses. I know it, the consumers know it, and it's time you know it.


Meanwhile, how long do you really think you can keep going like this? You know you paid a certain price for that inventory you're flagrantly discounting. How much lower can you go? How many losses can you afford when the consumers aren't sticking around for the regularly priced merchandise?


We all know that, eventually, you have to hit a stopping point. That's becoming increasingly obvious as your cheap come-ons get more and more transparent. Macy's, you know you do this: You sent out an "After Christmas" sale catalog (four days before Christmas, mind you) that was almost identical to your "Last Days Before Christmas" catalog. Same coupons, same morning discounts, same everything.


How long do you think you can keep fooling the consumers into coming back? Eventually, you won't be able to do anything more for them. They'll realize that they've already gotten the best you have to offer. And then they'll move on.


You think you can't survive without these sales-vultures? You were fine before everyone got so power-drunk with credit cards. You'll be okay again. It won't always be pleasant. You will probably have to cut staff. But you can't expect people in foreclosure to go deeper into debt. You'd just be fooling yourself.


I know it's far from your ideal scenario. I know it's not what you want to hear. But it's the truth. And the more you play this degrading charade, the faster consumers will see through it. So stop now, while you still have some dignity left. Don't be that cloying ex who calls every hour of the day, hoping to get back together. No one wants to encourage that kind of behavior. It's annoying and a little creepy.


No, retailers, you're better than that! Play it cool. Let them know you have sale prices sometimes. But they don't have to come. Ya know, whatever. You'll be around, and, hey, if they stop by, great. But you know what you're worth. You know eventually they'll want to come back for some new clothes or the latest shoes they've saved up for. They need you. It's just a matter of keeping your cool. Of not panicking.


And if none of this letter convinced you, then at the very least STOP CLOGGING MY MAILBOX WITH NEW SALES CATALOGS.


Sincerely,

A sales-vulture before sales-vulturing was cool,

Abigail Perry

Oh, yeah, that's why I don't drink much...

This is not going to be an award-winning post. Currently, I'm having trouble forming whole words. And my mouth is like the Sahara, despite my periodic gulping of water.


Here's the deal: My mother-in-law has a practically-family friend Judy. They grew up together and are best friends. This is true to the extent that Judy's kids are considered 'cousins' of Tim and his brother.


So when Judy's mom had an 85th birthday party (though I questioned the idea of a surprise party for an 85-year-old woman, since it's practically the start of a bad joke) we needed to be there.


But the additional treat (besides getting a whole table of food laid out for us for the second time in three days) was that Judy's daughter Patty was able to attend at the last minute. Tim never gets to see her, so we naturally decided we should go out.


As you can guess from the title of this post, we whooped it up. It ended up being me, Tim, Patty, her boyfriend, Shannon (Judy's oldest daughter) and Shannon's husband. And since I wasn't driving for a change, I decided to go ahead and do some drinking.


We found some affordable well drinks, so that we could have fun without going overboard on cost. All this would have been fine except:

1. Since I am usually driving, Tim hasn't really seen me really, really drunk.
2. The earlier party was at 2 p.m. And since we woke up late, we didn't have breakfast. And since the party ended around 5 p.m., we didn't really have dinner either. After the party, we scooted back up to the in-laws' place and got ready to go out, thereby skipping supper.
3. Tim didn't know that, if someone keeps handing me drinks, I'll keep drinking them and forget to keep track.

I think you see where this is going. Things got a little hazy toward the end of the night. I know we did a very badly organized group rendition of Love Shack, which is the first time I have ever actually agreed to do karaoke. So I must have been plowed!


I will spare you lurid details about Tim and I getting sick, given that it was rather well deserved. We finally passed out a bit before 4 a.m. Then I woke up at 9 with a painfully dry mouth but also a head apparently set on "spin" cycle.


Every time I moved my head, I was distinctly uncomfortable. Thinking it was dehydration, I gulped a couple of mugfuls of water for as long as I could actually remain vertical. Then I went back to bed, only to be reminded that alcohol exacerbates Restless Leg Syndrome something nasty.


So I ended up out in the living room, still chugging water whenever I could get to my feet, and watching TV. Eventually I even had enough brain power to realize that, since water wasn't working, a completely empty stomach might be to blame.


I felt better enough to drive home, but after getting home, I started getting dizzy again. Being a bright girl, this time I ingested water and food. (I was an honors student, you see.) Luckily, Tim came to the rescue and walked down to the corner store to pick up some Gatorade.


I'm finally about back to normal. Still woozy, though, and reminded why I don't drink heavily anymore. Always good to remember these sorts of things.


Meanwhile, I'm back in Seattle. Presents were well received by all, except for the three items that didn't arrive in time thanks to the crummy weather. Sigh.


The other big present missing was our gift for Tim's parents. The $50 gift card didn't arrive in time. I had a $25 gift card, so we decided to just eat the cost. Then I found out that pretty much every store near us and his parents had the things sold out.


Wasn't this going to be the Christmas where no one was buying? There were a few different items I was looking at right before the 25th, all of which were practically sold out.


Some people think the stores underestimated the demand. I think that once again people's consumerism got away from them. I read an awful lot of PF blogs by frugal folks gleefully hitting the stores' desperation sales.


In the end, I printed out a picture of the device and wrote "Coming soon..."


Did anyone else have to do the IOU thing for presents?


I'm going to toddle back to bed, after another glass of water. Hope everyone had a good holiday. Now back to work -- for two and a half days.