"Follow Me Monday" Q&A With Collin & Ma!
Well, today’s “Follow Me Monday” video is once again me sitting on the couch, answering questions, being lazy… BUT this time I have a special guest! 😉
As you may remember, I had you all email in questions that you were hoping I could answer. I received a total of 25 pages worth of questions, so just like the previous “Follow Me Monday” video I’m at it again trying to answer as many questions as I can– which is not very many due to my rambling.
Enjoy!
**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.
OMG LOVE LOVE LOVE your grandma’s shirt 😉
I love you videos so much I even head over to you-tube to see if they are on there before you upload them to your site=] Great job to you and your grandma!
oh my. Ma is so precious. that made me smile the whole time. Loves it. Miss my grandma.
Your Grandmas a Gem, I sure you treasure all the time you have with her. This is a great video, thank you for sharing your family.
Ma is awesome, I see where you get your energy and your cute-ness
Loved it! How lucky are you to have an awesome grandmother!! Thanks for posting this! It made me smile 🙂
I love ma! But please take her some of your surplus!! Isn’t it crazy how high things can be sometime.! hahaha!! She is a doll!!
great video!
Ma is ADORABLE!!! What a great video – thanks for this!
I love it! Ma is awesome!
Collin – Your grandmother is adorable! Thanks for sharing her with us! Cherish every moment with her – I lost my grandmother a couple months ago! Watching your grandmom made me happy because it brought back so many happy memories of my own grandmom – thank you!
Here in FL at Publix, when there is a BOGO sale and you have a BOGO Q, you get 4 items for the price of one. I’ve had the manager explain this to me and it was disappointing to hear that we can’t just get 2 free.
How cute is that! 🙂 I love watching all your videos. I am even making the Mango Salsa that you posted on one of your videos for my daughter’s party in May!
Thanks for all you do!
Very cool video Collin and what a super cool grandma!! I love the zebra chair in the background at the end of the video and want one!!!!!!!!!
Ma is so Hip 🙂 Great video, Collin & Ma!!
Awe! This was a great video! Your Ma is such a great lady! I agree with another poster-send your grandma some shampoo! LOL Thanks for sharing and answering questions and I LOVE her shirt!
Your grandmother is too cute! where I live, regular price for cereal can go upto $5 for the family size boxes, so when we can get the cereal for $2 or less…thats a steal!
When starting out couponing, how do you know which store has the best price, I started making a list for CVS (and a few other stores), of the regular price for items we always get, to try and keep track of the best prices. But does anyone have any tips on how to know the best prices for items. I still struggle with WHEN to buy, I’m still in that phase of “i got all these great coupons I want to use them all NOW”!
any tips or advise would be grand!
not sure where you are located, but in north carolina i use southernsavers. com just remove the spaces
Hey Jess, This is funny because I have been at this for about 8 weeks now, and I use to run out all the time. Now I know what I am going to pay and how much per week and I give myself a limit and I have noticed that certain sales come back around again. Sooo once I build my stock pile up then that’s it. I do not buy things that I know we will never use. I hope I have answered your questions. I had a freind that has been doing this much longer and she once said I go for free or as close to free as possible. So now I get it because it is possible but it takes patience, okay that was long…I hope it helps
Keeping a list (pricebook) for a sale cycle (6-8 weeks) is probably the only way to be sure that you’re getting the very best possible price for your area.
When I first started couponing, I went to Wal-Mart and walked around writing down their regular prices for the things we bought most often and made sure I was at least beating that. That’s not the best method but it was a starting point (previously we’d been buying the ingredients for each meal one day at a time based on what sounded good during the drive home so I was really clueless).
I’ve been couponing for about 2 years now, and off the top of my head I have a general idea of what would be a good and great price for most things. I don’t usually have an exact “to beat” number but I have enough of an idea to know if a sale’s worth while.
Disclaimer: I’m not an extreme couponer, especially since my daughter was born, so I don’t fret if I don’t always buy at the rock bottom price. Our budget for grocery, baby and health and beauty items is about $80-100/week for two adults and an 8 month old. It could be better but for now I’m content with the balance between my time and savings.
I don’t know what area you live in. If you share your region, other readers would probably respond with their best prices. I live in Central Florida and here’s what I consider a good but easily attainable price.
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: $1.99/lb
Ground beef or ground chuck: $1.99/lb ($1.69 is also possible but that sale happens less frequently)
Cheese: $2.00/8 oz (I’ve seen it for $1.66)
Paper towels: Less than $5 for an 8 pack (or 6 big rolls)
Baby food (4 oz jars): $0.40/jar for organic, $0.15 for non-organic (my best was about $0.07/jar)
Diapers (Huggies or Pampers): $4.00/jumbo
I try to get most prepared and frozen foods during a BOGO sale at Publix and I have a general idea of which ones regularly have coupons and which don’t. Be careful, though, some stores just about double the price when they have a BOGO sale so you’re not always getting 50% off (Winn Dixie).
Regularly have coupons: pasta sauce, flavored rice, cereal, instant oatmeal, Pop Tarts, pizza rolls
Rarely have coupons: noodles (unless you get the premium varities), taco kits, bread
There are other items that are luxury items or that I know will go on sale for 25% of their regular price that I won’t buy unless they’re super cheap. Uncrustables are silly in my opinion but they’re convienent for when DH’s son is visiting and he likes them, so I’ll pick a few up if I can get them for less than $0.95 for a 4 pack. I love the Sara Lee cheesecake bites but they’re regularly $3.99/carton. I wait until they’re 50% off and I have a $1 off coupon. Barber frozen stuffed chicken breasts are expensive, about $5 for a 2 pack but they go BOGO with $1 off coupons so I always wait for that sale and stock up.
Thanks ladies..Im in NY. I have no idea what sale cycle we run on here, is this something I can ask my grocery store? I’ve only been couponing for about a month, maybe less. So I’m definitely still trying to get the hang of it. I’ve started with CVS, only because it’s a block away from me and super convenient, and my first “couponing” trip my purchases rung up at a little over $50, and I payed $33 with tax. Which was HUGE for us since we would always just get “whatever” and pay full price.
Our cereal prices here are EXPENSIVE. Regular price around $4 and up. and that’s not family size.
Laundry detergent is proving to be tough since there’s so many load sizes…its overwhelming!
I think I have the best handle on health and beauty…LOL! I usually pay full price, but I got a shampoo and conditioner for $3, which isn’t AMAZING, but Im learning.
I started writing down the regular prices for things I always get at CVS, and other stores, seems like thats not the best method….any suggestions?
Nicole, how did you get the hang of it so quickly?
Awww! Collin, your grandmother is adorable!
TOOOOOO CUTE!!!!! Made me chuckle!!!
Awe – the video & all of the comments are making me cry! Both my mom’s mom and my dad’s mom have been gone sometime, and I miss them terribly. Collin, thanks for having Ma on the show – love the q&a’s….I’m still learning!
I was thinking the same thing. This is a great, happy video, yet people’s comments are making me sad.
Woops, wrong post…
Cereal can be expensive where I live too. But I usually try to use higher value printables like $.75 b/c my stores double and then pair with a sale. You can’t be too picky about the type of cereal but I can pay nothing to $0.29 to $0.99 max. My favorite cereal is Moms Best Naturals (I get it for $0.29 when I buy it).
Now Quaker oatmeal is a little more difficult to get super cheap around here, but those $1 off coupons that were available before helped a little. easier to get quick oats cheaper than old fashioned.
Loved the video.
I haven’t been able to find any store/grocery store in my area that doubles (NY). I haven’t tried the larger supermarkets like Pathmark or Stop and Shop yet, so Im hoping I can get lucky with those. Otherwise…I’ll be lucky to get at $2.
For things like shampoo, Im still learning, I did snag some shampoo at CVS for 1.50 each, which for me was STEAL, since a month ago I would just pay full price and not even think twice. Haven’t been able to get toothpaste for free yet, but I am kind of hooked on a specific brand so that might be problem ;(
Stop and Shop in MA does double so I would hope they do in NY as well. I actually have a stop and shop near work, but not near home. I went online and filled in a form to have the weekly circular mailed to my home because it doesn’t get sent to me at home (no store near home) so that helps too.
As far as toothpaste goes – try some other brands – I’ve tried some that I don’t always use and find I like them fine. And if I don’t love them my husband will use it (he’s not picky) and worse case scenario is your tossing toothpaste that you paid no more than a quarter for!
Hi Jen!
I live in MA too! Which Stop and Shop doubles coupons for you? I live in Holden, and the closest one to me only doubles coupons with their double coupons they occasionally put out AND you have to spend $15 after ALL coupons…even manu. coup. Let me know! Thanks!
It seems like Stop and Shop does double upto 99 cents! but it may also depend on the specific store if they will honor it. Guess Im going to have to make a trip there!
Methuen MA doubles up to .99. they double higher when they put out the double coupons.
I thought all stop and shops doubles, maybe call corporate and ask them. I think the one in Lynn, MA where my mom is doubles as well. Good Luck! Do you have a Shaws, they double.
Colgate is usually the toothpaste that goes on sale for $0.00-$0.25. I’ve scored some free Crest but not as frequently. I don’t remember seeing Aquafresh or Sensodyne freebies.
I love your grandmother. It was like watching a friend who passed away a few years ago (she was 102). You are lucky to have each other. Just one thing, get her to use coupons for cereal and shampoo! Thanks for the great video.
Thanks Collin and Ma! Love the homemade shirt
Love your grandma!! Very cute!!
“Yay!, More Q&A!” Glad you did another one on Q&A, feel like we are right there with you. Nice to see yor Ma! Cute shirt! How funny!. Makes me really miss my late grandma and pa.
She is adorable 🙂
Your grandma is tooo cute, just like you Collin. Loved the dancing!!!!
OMG your grandmother is so cute. I live in Southern NH, not too far from Cape Cod and I have to say that she does not have to spend that much on cereal and shampoo! Your blog has gotten my price point from $3.50/box of cereal down to $1.25. I’m sure you have some readers on the cape, buddy them up with your grandmother to go over your blog and scoop up the weekly deals. Send her home with a bunch of coupons!! She seems to have so much energy and I bet she would get all giddy like the rest of us when she scores those great deals!!
Loved this video. You and your grandma are so wonderful!
I love your Grandma. She is so adorable. This is my favorite vidoe you have made so far!
Collin, I loved your Ma! She’s darling. I really enjoy hearing what you have to say. Thanks, so much for all you do! Stephanie Dutson
LOVE the dance at the end. Made me giggle as I’m sure it continues to do for you. Thanks for all the hours you put in to the blog. You’re sure helping out a lot of people all over the U.S. That is so cool!!! Your ma is so cute!
I love your Ma! She is so cute and funny. Great video. Keep up the good work and thanks for all you do.
Collin and Ma– this video is absolutely amazing. I am so glad that I was able to watch the video today and the questions you answered were wonderful!! I always look forward to the Follow Me Monday videos and love that you have different ones every week. You are doing an amazing job and Ma just makes everything fun! 🙂
Love it! Love it! Love it!
OMG!!! BEST VIDEO EVERRRR!!!!!!
You grandma is sooo cute!!!! Inspiring!!!!! Gotta love her!!!!
Besitos mama!!!!
Loved the video! Loved your Ma! Loved the kiddos running around in the background too! Cereal here in CA is usually $5 and over range. I don’t pay more than $2 a box – usually I get for around $1.26 and I’m thrilled! Toothpaste – not free unless trial sized, but I can usually get for less than $1 after Q’s. Shampoo ranges from $2.00 generic to $14 bottle stuff. I can usually get for free or a dollar or two for the better stuff.
Shampoo regular price in NY for a popular brand is anywhere from 3.99 to 5.00. Now the higher end ones can go up to $10 and up. Im definitely getting better at the hair care stuff, the laundry prices is another story. Especially since they go by load, and Im not that familiar with the sizes.
Is your Grandma the cutest or what!?! I have come to look forward to the Follow Me Monday vids – thanks so much for all of your hardwork! 🙂
Great video! I love Ma!
Hi Collin and Ma
I loved this video !!!
Collin………..How cute MA is!! What a sponser for you Hip2Save site too!! She is a regular little cheerleader and I know you are proud of her!! Big Smile here in Texas! Thanks!
What a grand idea. Ma is darling. Grandparents are a precious commodity!
My favorite follow me monday yet. You have such a hip grandma!
So cute! 🙂
I love all your follow me Monday videos, but this is the best one! Thank you for all your work.
So I sat and watched this with out Ma, my hubbys mom lives with us and we cracked up sooo hard. thanks for everything that you do, you have helped me soo much!
I mean our ma..not with out ma
So cute! Thanks for all the info!!
love ma’s dance 😛
Is ma looking to adopt by chance?!? She is too stinking cute! Love the questions and answers… I think these are great informative videos.
I really loved your video. Your Ma is adorable! Thank you for all the time you spend doing this site so that all of us can reap the rewards. You are awesome! Love your site.