Newbies

There’s going to be a new kind of barcode that you will start noticing on your coupons. The traditional coupon barcode is being replaced by a DataBar barcode that will be on the right hand side of your coupon.

The DataBar barcode is able to contain more information including expiration date, specific sizes or varieties, and more. This will reduce the ability of people to use a coupon on a product or size it was not intended for.

Retailers that utilize DataBar will experience automatic expiration date checking, reduced cashier intervention and improved scan rates. This means your checkout experience should be much less painful and will be faster.

Of course, in order for these coupons to scan, the retailer would need to update their POS system to accommodate the new barcode. Most major retailers like Target and Walgreens already support DataBar barcodes, with other retailers soon to come.

I’ve had a few coupons that aren’t working at Rite Aid lately, and now after finding this out I’m wondering if they had the DataBar and their computers don’t accept them yet?

Thanks, Kristin!

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I LOVE The Talk on CBS! I DVR it everyday if I’m not home. A few weeks back they had an episode all about being frugal. I wanted to share some of those tips with you.

As you all know, I LOVE my stockpile! Well, you can keep your stockpile going straight into your freezer, because there are many items that freeze well and you can stock up on when a good sale comes around. Some ideas are: bread, milk, cheese, veggies, butter, meat, fruits. Right now fruit and veggie prices are up, but when summer comes around, it’s a great time to stock up and freeze some yummy fruits to get you through part of the winter. Frozen grapes are a top snack around my house!

You can save money in the bathroom too! Switching out your shower head for a low flow head will save you some. Also, set a 10 minute timer for showers to keep down the water usage. And filling a 32 oz. water bottles with rocks to put in your toilets tank will save you 32 oz. of water per flush. You can save up to an average of 20,000 gallons of water a year doing these things!

You can also save some money in your medicine cabinet. As your child’s pediatrician for samples. You can get things like pedialyte, child’s ibuprofen, and more. If you have a monthly prescription, ask your doctor for 3 months at a time instead of 1, so that if you have a $10 co-pay, it will be $3.33 a month instead of $10 a month.

In the family room you can save on heating by getting drapes for over your windows. And instead of heading out and buying the expensive ones, you can get them at a good will, yard sale, or even make your own. Using a programmable thermostat and setting the heat a little lower when no one will be home can also save on heating expenses.

While you’re at a good will for your drapes, be sure to check out their furniture too. You can also try yard sales and things like Craigslist for some cheap furniture, too.

Another great way to save money, is TRACK YOUR SPENDING! It’s hard to know how to save, if you don’t remember where you spent it in the first place. So, for one month, I challenge you to write down EVERYTHING you buy! When I say everything, I mean, if you drop a quarter in a gumball machine, write it down! After your 30 days, you will be able to look back and figure out where you think you should lower your spending and how you can save.

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