‘Quick Tip’


2011 Energy Tax Credits

Monday, May 2nd, 2011

Good news!  Tax credits for energy efficiency are available again this year, although the amounts are lower than we saw last year.  Keep in mind, however, that there is a $500 lifetime limit.  If you have not met that limit, here are the credits available to you:

  • 10% credit (up to $500) for energy-efficient roofs, insulation and/or doors.
  • $50 for advanced main air-circulating fan.
  • $150 cap for 95% annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE).
  • $200 cap for Energy Star windows.
  • $300 for air conditioners, air source heat pumps, water heaters or biomass stoves.

For complete information, visit www.energystar.gov/taxcredits.


Extreme Couponing Tip: Learn the Sales Cycles

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Sales CyclesEverything, and I mean everything goes on sale at some point in time or another. Knowing when the prices are lowest and buying to stockpile is important. These are called sales cycles and it takes a while to learn them and fine tune your shopping habits around those low price times. For example knowing that during the summer BBQ and picnic supplies will be on sale this is when you grab your coupons and stock up on barbecue sauce, mustard (not 63 bottles please), mayonnaise, hot dogs, hamburger meat, paper plates and the like.

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Extreme Couponing Tip: Know Your Store Coupon Policies

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Coupon PoliciesCouponing is a game, so to speak, and when you are playing a game it’s important to know what the rules are before you play. So that means that you need to understand the coupon acceptance policies at the stores you shop at. Some stores have conveniently posted their coupon policies online so it is very easy for the consumer (you) to know what the rules are. While other stores like to keep us guessing. When in doubt though we recommend that you contact the store either via email or talk to the manager. Knowing if you can stack store coupons, if you can use a buy one get one free coupon on a buy one get one free sale, or if your store doubles or triples coupons is your key to big time savings!

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Extreme Couponing Tip: Rain Checks are a Couponers Best Friend!

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Target Rain Check RequestSmart couponers know that when they go grocery shopping that there is a good chance that something on their shopping list is going to be out of stock. So what’s a couponer to do? Ask for a rain check. A rain check is a slip of paper that store personnel fills out letting you get the item on sale later, when the sale is over, at the current sale price. Why is this good thing? Because you now have time to get more coupons if you need them and you can stockpile more items at the sale price. Some rain checks have an expiration date of 30—90 days, while at some stores their rain checks never expire, letting you save that slip of paper and that sale price for later. I have used rain checks 2 years after getting them at stores that do not have expiring rain checks. By law, if a store is out of stock on an advertised item and then advertisement does not state something along the lines of “Limited to stock on hand” or “No Rain Checks” the store has to either issue you a rain check OR offer to substitute a similar item at the advertised price.

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Extreme Couponing Tip: Organize Your Coupons

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Coupon BinderIn order to be an effective couponer you need to organize your coupons in a method that works best for you so that you can quickly find the coupons you need and go grocery shopping and find just what you need! Finding a system that works for you is important and we don’t endorse any one organizing method. Some folks find that they like a coupon binder, while some prefer to organize their insert whole and clip just what they need, while others use a box of some kind. Whatever method you choose, dedicate time each week to maintain your system and stay on top of it!

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Extreme Couponing Tip: Shop at multiple stores

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011

Forget Store LoyaltyForget store loyalty if you want to become an extreme couponer. Instead, shop where the deals are. If Wal-Mart has dish soap on sale and Kroger has tuna on sale and Walgreens has deodorant on sale this week then plan one shopping trip (or more) where you can hit those three sales and buy just the items that are free or cheap after coupons. This practice is called “cherry picking” and it just means shopping the loss leaders (items the stores put on the deepest discounts to lure you into the store) and items that are free or super cheap after coupon. What about the other items you need that are not going to be free or cheap after coupons like milk, eggs, produce and meat? Shop at whatever store has these items the cheapest that week.

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