Air Miles, PC Points, Clip and Save Coupons

Well I do not know about you but in our household, we or I should say myself. I am a little fanatical about saving money and getting free stuff in the bargain. So as we are on a fixed income like most of the real world. I have a very small Disability Pension that I get each month. Fortunately G. is still working so we get Health Benefits etc from her employer.

We were a two salary family until the Accidents that we both had within 6 months of each other. Since then I have been a house husband and so have been keeping the accounts and always on the lookout for deals.

When we first met and for the first few years of our marriage I did the accounts 6 months in advance. I know I used to get some odd looks from G. as I did this. You know we never had a argument once about money or purchasing stuff. I only do the accounts 1 month in advance now. We have doubled our mortgage payments and I was able get a better interest rate with the bank than we had this time last year. Now we will be mortgage free in a little under 3 years. I am always pitting 1 company against another to get a better deal on Insurance, cable, phone etc. You have to do it , I know you are thinking; I just do not have the time. But believe me it all adds up very quickly so take the time and do some comparison shopping after all it is your money.

Cost of fuel for the car is up so everything has gone up very quickly and of course our income shrinks and does not go up with the cost of living. I just went over to Shoppers DrugMart today and found Thinsations they are cookies only 2 points on weight watchers for a packet. They were on for 1.49 regular 2.99 and I happened to have 8 coupons for 50 cent off each box. I had to walk home about a mile to get them but it was worth it. Hey that was 4.00 I just saved as we buy them anyways they are great for lunches and snacks. Help to keep us on track and not go belly up in the Cookie Jar.

We shop at Shop and Save or any of the Loblaws Chain as we have our bank accounts there and so have no monthly bank charges. It is another way to save our hard earned money.

We get PC Points on our purchases and if we use the PC green bags as well at the check out get more PC points for each dollar we spend. So we do not get any more plastic bags as well so it is a win, win for the Environment. In the course of a year probably get between 100-200 dollars a year in free groceries.

AirMiles we collect them both with the card and our Amex card and we get free stuff like printers, cameras, both digital and SLR ,Ipod, tools, suitcases and free trips all in the course of the last 18 months.

So I reckon because of a little extra time spent comparison shopping, collecting coupons and Airmiles. We are way a head of the game and can afford the little extras now and then without feeling guilty. So if you are a closet coupon collector be proud and hold your head high. When I see coupons that we use. I always take a lot of them as the expiry usually lasts for a while it is money in the bank in the long run.

"Coupon Funerals: 'Let us remember his life, not his expiration date. For we know our Saver (Old Tarf) will redeem him.'


Remember you are saving yourself a small fortune over time. More money for Whiskey and Beer.