So who wants to save a bundle of money?!?

As promised, this blog is my story about something new I started just 6 short weeks ago. I will update regularly, post many photos, and gladly answer any question you may have! I mentioned in my previous "teaser post" that this is not a sales pitch! It's just a new way of looking at shopping. I paid nothing for this information, I just learned how to do it by lots of research and by trial and error. This is just my way of sharing with my family and friends how you can save money, too! If you're interested in learning the tricks of the trade, I'm more than willing to help!! It's FREE!! You don't have to buy anything, there is no book, nothing to order- just information- from me....because I love ya....and want you to have a big fat bank account!

Background- Purex Laundry Detergent!

I've always loved finding a bargain...I think everyone does! There's a certain thrill attached to paying less-than-retail prices for items you use and need in your home. I remember back in the early '90's, I was shopping at a grocery store and noticed a display for laundry detergent (if I remember correctly, it was Purex powder- and before it was all the rage to buy liquid detergent) that had a large sign announcing the sale price as .99 cents each. As I walked past the display, my eyes quickly focused on a little yellow "peelie" (a sticker attached to each box which was actually a coupon) that said .50 cents off. It didn't take but a second or two to remember that the grocery store I was in doubled their coupons.

Before I could think twice, I placed several boxes in my shopping cart and went to the register to pay. The cashier rang them up, scanned the coupons (which doubled at the register) and I made a penny for each box! All I had to pay for was tax, which I think was around .05 cents each. I practically skipped out to my car...not believing the marvelous deal I'd just stumbled upon! But before I left the parking lot, I thought to myself, "You'd better go back in and get some more! Laundry detergent doesn't go bad! When are you going to find another deal like this?" So, back into the store I went- grabbed another 10 boxes or so, just paid the tax, put them in my car...and went back in AGAIN! I can't tell you how many times I did that over the course of the next several days. All I remember is how I ended up with a gigantic stash of Purex powder and didn't have to buy more for at least a year...and the best part was it was practically FREE!

That Purex experience has stayed with me all these years, and I've often found myself looking for a bargain that could compare. I don't think I've come across such a sweet deal since then. That is, until now.

Our economy today

Let's see a show of hands. Who's worried about finances? How many of you are facing tough times and trying to figure out just how you're going to make it? Anybody worried about not having enough money to even cover the basics to care for your family? As I'm writing this, I just heard the heat kick on. Every single time I feel the cozy goodness of warmth on my skin, I begin to wonder how high will the price of natural gas be this winter...and can I afford to have my thermostat set at 70 degrees or should I scale it back to 65 and put on some extra clothes?

We're all worried. I've had stuff like this on my mind for several months now, but just didn't have many ideas as to what to do about it. Thank God we have a roof over our heads, food in the fridge, cars to drive, a steady paycheck, a retirement account (at least what's left of it after recent turmoil on Wall Street, right?).....but it's scary to think that none of these things are "a sure thing". All it takes is the loss of a job and most of us are sunk. I recently read that the majority of middle class Americans are just a paycheck away from being homeless. Does this scare you as much as it does me?

What I "accidentally" decided to do about it.

In September, I was browsing the internet for a recipe I'd once seen on how to make apple butter in your crockpot and then can it in jars. You know how it goes....you're looking for something in particular, but something else catches your attention and the next thing you know, you're off in left-field somewhere reading about something completely unrelated! That's what happened to me that day, and I found myself reading stories and looking at photographs of "stockpiles" of groceries and household products that people were claiming to have paid just pennies on the dollar for or in some cases, the items were free! This interested me so much, and I poured over all of the information I could find. I thought to myself, "Jodie, you can do this. You NEED to be doing this." So I started by writing everything down in a notebook. Armed with all the information I felt I could absorb, I headed off to the store. This was my first "purchase".





Here's how it breaks down:

2 Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash
2 bottles laundry detergent
3 bags of Chex Mix
6 bottles of Robitussin cough syrup
2 packages of razors
2 tubes of Colgate toothpaste

My original subtotal for all products: $58.96
After discounts I paid out-of-pocket: $8.15
$ earned back at end of transaction: $14.50 (to use as cash)

Subtract $8.15 from $14.50: $6.35 profit

I WAS PAID $6.35 TO TAKE THESE ITEMS FROM THE STORE!

Here's a photo taken a few days later. (Notice how the pile is growing)



Now there's body wash, dishwasher tablets, Kashi granola bars, Oust spray, shower cleaners, several bottles of Windex, more toothpaste, mouthwash and razors...and probably more I can't see in the photo...all this IN ADDITION to the first photo. See how the "stash" is growing? Looking back at my notes from my first few shopping excursions, I wanted to mention that at this point I was out of pocket (total for all trips) $11.57. The merchandise total was $133.48 and I had a stack of "to be used as cash" slips that were given to me by the store amounting to $44.00 that I could spend on anything I wanted/needed to spend them on. The reason my out-of-pocket expense is so low is because these "cash slips" were used to "buy" more items. I focused on picking up items that would PAY me more "cash slips". So in essence, I was rolling this store cash from one purchase to the next, paying with their money instead of my own- and earning more store money with each purchase....so the "cash slip" value was accumulating, even when I was coming home with more and more merchandise. Clear as mud? I know it's a concept that takes a bit to wrap your mind around. Just trust me...it works.

Let's take a minute to answer a few questions I know you must have after reading this blog thus far. I anticipate being asked the following:

1. Jodie, what in the world are you going to do with so much "excess"?

When I first started, I wondered, "How much is enough?". After giving it a lot of thought and consideration, I decided it would be great if I could "purchase" enough of the products to last a year. The key point to remember is that WE don't have any control whatsoever over what the stores choose to place on sale on any given week. The important thing to keep in mind is, no matter what the product is, if it's something you and your family will use, buy enough of it to last through YOUR predetermined time. (As mentioned earlier, I chose to buy for a year, if possible. You may only want to do 6 months, or you may choose to look ahead for TWO years. Whatever the case, the choice is yours.)
Since we have no control over what's on sale from week to week, sometimes you're going to come home with the oddest-looking "haul". My husband looked at me as if I were insane when I kept bringing home bottle after bottle of Robitussin. When all was said and done, I had over 30 bottles! Now before you think I'm insane, too....let me tell you why I had that many. One of the sales of the week was Robitussin for $3.99 per bottle. I found a coupon online that I could print off over and over as many times as I wanted to- for $3 off any Robitussin product. Yay! This made each bottle .99 cents. The store I shopped at had a little "bonus" going on during that particular week. For every 3 bottles of Robitussin you buy, receive $10 "cash slip" to be used on your next purchase. So, 3 bottles @ .99 ea. = $2.97. The store GAVE ME $10.00 at the end of the transaction which was a profit of $7.03! I would have been crazy not to have purchased as many as I did! We kept what we felt we could use and then made a donation to The Carthage Crisis Center who were delighted to receive them since the cold and flu season will be here before we realize it.
I was able to take the $10 from the Robitussin transaction and "roll" it into one of the OTHER store's bonus deals which also gave me "cash" back at the end of the transaction. (So, use the Robitussin money to pay for, say, mouthwash- get the mouthwash free plus "bonus money" for buying the mouthwash. Use the mouthwash money to buy more Robitussin, get more free money, buy more mouthwash...you get the idea. It can go on forever!)
In summary, sometimes I buy MORE than I need in order to cash in on the "free money" the store gives me for buying a particular product. In the end, we keep what we think we need for a year and donate the rest.


2. Is this legal? Are you cheating the system?


YES!! This is absolutely legal! NO!! You're not cheating the system, just being a smart shopper! As you know, all major chains have a marketing division. This marketing division within a company decides (based on lots of consumer data) what they're going to place on sale from week to week. Then they create the sale ad/circular that you generally get in your Sunday paper. These marketing agents/reps are very smart people! They work hand-in-hand with manufacturer's of the products we all buy to decide what KIND of sales and discounts will be offered on their products.
When the ads come out- you'll usually find the best buys strategically placed where your eye is naturally drawn to them. Photo enhancements, special lettering, attention-grabbing wording...all these are used to get you to notice that THIS particular product is on sale- and a really good sale at that. Stores expect there will be great turn-out from customers to purchase mass volumes of these super advertised sales. They have studied consumer spending habits and know that in most cases, all they have to do is get you to walk in the store...the rest will happen automatically. If they can get you to walk into their store to buy the current "hot" item, they think they've got you hooked! They think you'll see other things you need or want- and spend more money in the store. And they LOVE it when you bring children into the store!! Nothing screams "impulsive buyer" like a mom dragging 2 or 3 sleepy/cranky/whiney little ones in the store who "want" everything they see. Especially when you're waiting in line for the cashier. It's no mystery why so many items are placed in the check-out line that appeal to children!
If you can discipline yourself to purchase ONLY the items that are going to be free, almost free, or items they PAY you to take....you'll be well on the way to building your wealth!
By stacking the store's sale items along with a manufacturer's coupon, you save more. Additionally, many stores offer their OWN coupons that can be used ALONG WITH the sale, AND a manufacturer's coupon. I've had instances where I can use 4 coupons on one item! In most cases, it doesn't get any sweeter than that! Usually you end up with an overage where they OWE YOU!!!
Yep, it's legal! The manufacturers and stores wouldn't run the specials they do if they didn't want you to take advantage of the deal they're offering. They just count on you purchasing LOTS more other things while you're in there- not just "cherry-picking" the best they have to offer- are you getting it?


3. Since you are concerned about your family's finances and the downward spiral of our nation's economy, why so much in the way of "cleaners" and not very much in the way of food?


Like I mentioned earlier... you've got to take advantage of the specials the stores have advertised from week to week. Sometimes buying cleaners is all you'll be able to do during a particular week. The next week may be a big "grocery" week where you'll hit the jackpot on canned veggies or pop! Like I said, in the beginning you may be bringing home bags of rather unusual items- but in the long run, you'll be glad you took advantage of the Ziploc freezer bag sale, because you're now stocked up for months and won't even have to THINK about buying more for a long time! Buy enough for a year (or more if you have someone/someplace to donate to) and wait for the next sale to see what you're going to bring home next week! In the short time I've been doing this, I've brought home everything from stacks of Quilted Northern bathroom tissue to loads of shampoos and conditioners to a year's supply of Hamburger Helper. I've noticed a CONSIDERABLE decrease in the amount I spend weekly during my normal grocery trips- because I'm not having to purchase the types of items I've already began to stockpile. As time goes on, I'll notice more and more savings weekly. I know I'll always have to buy fresh produce, milk, bread....you know, the perishable items that need replenished on a regular basis.

4. How much time does it take to do this?

At first, it seemed to take me a LONG time to get it figured out and to get my game-plan down on paper before even making it to the store! I wondered if it was really even worth it. But, I quickly figured out how to cut the time spent on "preparing" for the shopping, and now spend more time in the stores. Some weeks are more complicated than others to be truthful. The good thing is, I will help you!! If you want, I could email a list to you when I figure out what I'm going to focus on for the week...a list you can duplicate where you don't have to spend the time figuring it all out! Just let me know! If you live in another area- it doesn't matter. If you have a Walgreen's, Target, or Wal-Mart nearby- you can make this work for you!! Even better, but sadly I cannot take advantage of it, if you have a CVS pharmacy- you've got it made in the shade. Unfortunately we don't have CVS here.


5. How do you know what deals to take advantage of that make your out-of-pocket so low?


Research! I have a "contact" (Oooohhhh that sounds kinds scary, doesn't it?!) that provides me with ads well in advance of the sales. Now I find I can prepare several days before a sale begins and be ready when the doors open! I've subscribed to a few message boards which have members who give great tips on upcoming bargains, sales and bonuses. Some are store employees in other areas who don't mind sharing their "secret information"!!

6. We've been friends for years! Will you teach me how to do this for my family?


YES, of COURSE I will!!! Nothing would make me happier! Just ask me!



I cannot tell you what a sense of satisfaction I have received regarding taking these steps to do something this positive to provide plenty for my family. The savings has been GINORMOUS!!

Here are a few photos I took yesterday of my "pantry". At first I wondered what to do with all of the stuff...where I was going to put it. But then I decided to just use a spare bedroom that was only being used for storage anyway. My husband didn't mind letting me use some shelving from the garage that wasn't really being utilized, and I've purchased another large shelving unit. I can see that I'm going to have to buy even more shelves as time goes on, because the stockpile is growing by leaps and bounds! Remember when looking at these pics, I've only been doing this for about 6 weeks! At the end of the photos, I'll tell you how much I've spent and how much I've saved.

Peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, Hamburger/Tuna Helper, potatoes, Easy Mac, cereal,
canned items, cake/brownie mixes, chocolate chips, etc.
The two bins on the bottom right are full of FREE Halloween candy for the
Trick-or-Treaters!

These Gillette Fusion Razors (for men) regularly rang up $10.49
I ended up paying .49 cents each! But paid with "free" store money!
I brought home 29 of them.
I've given several away to family members, and most of the rest are going to be donated.

This is the shampoo, body wash, soap, facial cleansers, make-up shelf, which seems to be
the most popular with my daughter, Emilee. She likes to "shop" here regularly!

Various drinks, drink mixes, etc. I actually brought more 12 packs home yesterday, so add 5 more to the count!

Toothbrushes/Mouthwash
I had more of the mouthwash- have given a lot away
This is probably a lifetime supply of toothbrushes for 1 person, right?!
There's someone who can use them, I know. I was paid .75 cents for each toothbrush I took out of the store!

Hard to tell, but there are actually 14 tubes of toothpaste- just have some stacked behind.
And the Maalox! Geez, I know that's a lot- and BJ doesn't even have heartburn anymore!
For every 3 bottles I brought home, I made money- couldn't refuse!
It'll be another good item to donate.

Ahhh- Dove bars! Free, of course!

Paper towels & trash bags

Candles & Chocolate!

Laundry detergent, disinfecting sprays

Lots of dishwasher tablets

And this isn't even all of the T.P! It's a good feeling to know we won't
run out anytime soon!

T.P. & various cleaners

So there are the pictures...I'll update from time to time for the whole room- but more often, I'll just snap a pic of the weekly items I'm adding to the stockpile, and how to do them yourself. I'm in the market for a deep freeze, as there are a lot of frozen items I haven't been able to max out on yet, because I just don't have the freezer space. I've been kinda picky about the freezer I buy, so it's taking longer than I would like to get one home and installed!

On a side note, I've read where a lot of people who do this kind of shopping have a couple of "garage sales" per year and rather than donate their excess items, they sell them. I was recently reading about a woman who just had a sale, and she MADE $4,900.00 on items she brought home for nothing. Sound unreal? I believe it, knowing what I know now!

For everything I've shown you I've brought home, here are the numbers:

Total Out-of-Pocket expense:

$78.22

Total saved (at sale prices, not even full retail!!):

$2,768.58

I hope you've enjoyed this information and give some consideration to starting your own stockpile for you and your family. You won't be sorry you did, especially when you begin to see the savings add up. The numbers above show I saved 97.17 % on all of the products...in my wildest dreams I never imagined this would be possible.

Have a great day!