As 2009 winds down many of us are making goals for next year. Being the Type A person I am, I am no exception. Because Pocket Your Dollars is a community that we are all part of, I’d like to hear your voice as we shape our focus areas for 2010.
I’ve listed some specific questions below, but also an open-ended one as well. Please leave one or more comments with your thoughts and feedback. I appreciate you taking time to help shape Pocket Your Dollars.
Gift Ideas?
Would you like to know about potential gift ideas throughout the year if I see items that are near 75% off full retail price? Or, does that tempt you to spend more money than you should and you’d prefer not to hear of those deals until closer to Christmas?
Forums or Discussion Board?
Would you participate in a forum or discussion board on Pocket Your Dollars if one was available? I know many sites already have discussion boards and I’m not sure whether providing another one adds value or not.
Additions or Changes?
In a cyberspace full of frugal living blogs and websites, why have you chosen to frequent Pocket Your Dollars? What differentiates Pocket Your Dollars from other similar sites? What do other similar sites have that you wish you could find at Pocket Your Dollars?
What Else?
What other features, bells, whistles or information would you like to see at Pocket Your Dollars?
About Carrie Rocha
I have one big idea that has been simmering in my Type B brain. . . weekly menu planning. I am so bad at this, and really need help. I am often so focused on getting that week’s cheap deals, I forget what that week’s meals will be– and often the two do not coincide. I checked around on various weekly menu web sites, but they all charge money. Can we as a group come up with weekly menus that coincide with specials/stock piles from past week’s shopping list? This is probably a much bigger production that I understand (after all–I am the one NOT menu planning well!) so maybe some of you have some free websites that you can recommend?
Funny you should bring this up Sarah – I’ve been working on just such a project! All the menu sites I’ve run across don’t take into account what’s on sale, and they’re just too expensive to boot. And you’re right – it’s a bit of work to set up and it’s taking me a bit longer than I’d hoped, but it’s getting there!
The thing that’s been the biggest challenge is taking into account the different taste buds out there, so what I’ve been doing is starting with very basic recipes that each family can taylor to their own tastes. For example my husband HATES cilantro, so I never use it, but your family may love it. I’m also not big into the boxed dinner type foods (dry soup mixes also fall into this category), but I make a scratch version of Hamb. Helper that doesn’t have that chemically aftertaste that’s actually less expensive. BUT, it’s not quite as easy as browning ground beef and opening a box.
Regarding open forums: I like that you have Open Mic once a week. When I’ve visited other forums, things seem to get out of date or you have to search forever before you find what you’re looking for. With a once weekly Open Mic, I feel like the questions I have get answered quicker and it’s easier to track because it’s in one week incriments.
Regarding gifts: I could use some help in this department. I shop the clearance sales after Christmas for gifts for two of my children’s birthdays because they are so near Christmas time. However, I find that I end up paying full price for the other gifts because I’m hesitant to purchase gifts for children a year in advance for fear their interests will change. Anyone ideas for that?
I like PYD better than other sites because it’s easier to use, it’s free, it utilizes stores I use, it offers deals on more than just groceries (ie cheap family outings) and it seems to really have our family’s best interest at heart. :)
A possible addition might be a fuller list of rock bottom prices?
Thanks again Carrie for all you do with this site…it has been such a blessing to our family. I’m looking forward to all the new year holds with PYD! :)
I would LOVE a heads-up on gift ideas throughout the year. GREAT idea.
While I think I’ve mastered getting cereal, toothpaste, liquid dishwashing detergent, and a few other items free, but I still have a hard time catching the deals on toliet paper and paper towels. Seems like I always run out and am left clutching a handful of coupons in the paper goods aisle while trying to figure out what’s the best deal. TP and paper towels are something people need nearly all the time, and it would be helpful to include the best price for those weekly on your lists.
I enjoy PYD and make my shopping lists weekly off of your site. Everytime I go to my basement to see my expanding pantry, I think ‘thank you Carrie!’ It’s nice to know you can miss grocery shopping and have enough food on hand to last through a busy or financially strapped week!
I love using PYD because it is so updated, highlights the stores I shop at also utilizes user comments which are also helpful. Thanks for all your help!! One thing I’d like help with is a timesaving tip or two on how to organize all the coupons!
Thanks, Carrie, for asking for thoughts. I like the features you have and I like that you post a couple of times a day. I am not real keen on forums, just because they have a tendency to get out of hand or be dominated by opinionated people. However, I do enjoy when the Rainbow, Target and Walgreen’s comment sections grow because I get great ideas from PYD’s other users.
I LOVE the weekly menu planning idea! I shop the ads every week but NEVER know what to make!
Carrie,
I love your site it so EASY to understand and follow. Your format for updates on the weekly ads etc. are just great. I wouldn’t change a thing there. I do like to see the 75% off deals – it’s great for gift giving and I don’t find that I am spending money to get a deal just because it is a great deal. That’s up to the individual on making that decision. The open mic’s are great – but sometimes you have to scroll down and read through them – maybe if they were categorized by food, retail, gift giving etc. – I don’t know, just a thought to try to break it down a bit. Again – thank you for this site – it is by far the easiest one to follow and that is why I have stuck with you!!
PS – I had to laugh today I went to Target and picked up 2 packs of the .50 cent batteries and used my 1.00 off of 2 so I paid .07 cents for the tax .. the cashier laughed and said we almost had to pay you to shop today. Love it when I hear that!!!
I would love to hear about gift ideas that would save me money through out the year as we don’t only have Christmas to buy for but birthdays too. And boy it would be nice to be done Christmas shopping ealry and maybe then I wouldn’t spend so much in 1 or 2 months.
Gift Ideas: I really like this idea. I find myself needing gifts throughout the year for birthdays and such and I like to have a little stock pile of things for those “emergency” moments. I found that at first I tried to get every deal out there but now I think I am much better at making sure I only get the things I need and can afford.
Forums/Discussion Boards: I agree with what others have said so far and I like the idea of sticking with the open mic Thursdays. I know that I wouldn’t really get involved in a forum but I do like to add comments to your different posts when I feel it is appropriate.
Additions/Changes: The layout of your site is really what makes it so easy to use and so easy to search so I wouldn’t change that. I agree with the comment about menu planning. That is something that I have struggled with and am trying to conquer right now! Even just a post every week where people can post the recipes they will be making with the deals would be helpful! With everyone posting stuff I think we could get a lot of really great menu ideas! (And it wouldn’t fall on you to come up with them!) :)
The reason I come to your site multiple times a day is because it is easy to read (I really like that you can just click on a store or major topic to find posts), isn’t covered with ads or pop ups, is relevant to me (especially with the local MN deals), covers all areas of saving (from food to gifts to outings), focuses on the best deals and not just all deals (which really helped me the most when I was getting started), explains how the different “programs” work at the stores (again really helpful when I first got started), and I think one of my favorite things about you and your site is the fact that you do it with honor and integrity! Keep up the GREAT work and may God continue to bless you, your family and this site all the way through 2010! :)
Sorry for being long winded but I just can’t say enough about this site!
I frequent a couple of other blogs, but PYD is my favorite because I like the way it is organized. I also love the shopping lists for the stores here in our area. I like the comment threads that grow as people comment on deals that they see at those stores too.
I don’t think that I would use the forums much.
I love the idea of a menu planning section to go along with the shopping lists. I’m not sure how much I would be able to use others recipes, but I would love to try it. I have a child with multiple food allergies and don’t use mixes or many of the prepackaged things. My ideas and contributions would be very simple.
I love PYD because it’s LOCAL! I find that all of the information on here is relevant to my family’s every day life. The format is terrific and the fact that I can get emails whenever it is updated is very helpful. I love the idea of gift giving ideas year round, I like to get my Christmas shopping done early and of course always have birthdays, Mother’s Day, etc to plan for. I love the idea of categorizing posts to the Open Mic section – sometimes there just isn’t enough time to get through all of them. Thanks so much for all your work sharing your ideas with us!
I love everything about your site. It is user friendly and very easy to find up to date information. I think if you added a forum/discussion board things would tend to get kind of muddy and harder to find what I am looking for.
One feature that would be a nice addition would be a search function. There are many times that I remember reading something and then when I go back later to find it again I can’t remember what section it was in.
Thanks for all your hard work!! We all appreciate you and what you do:)
Carrie first off thank you for doing the blog and kudos to you for asking what your readers like and don’t like (I like that LOL).
I would love to see gift ideas through out the year. I know I have birthdays to buy for all year long as well as I like to get ahead, if I can, on holiday gifts. I think that you are right in that some might spend when they should not, but you can not control that. We all need to be responsible and buy what we need and not just buy because it’s cheap or free.
I agree with a forum, the idea sounds nice, but often what happens is you get a few active users and unless it’s very well organized often people spend more time going through finding what they need. I think your blog is well orgaized, but I would suggest you do different pages or sections for each major store (an example would be Pioneer Women’s blog before she went to having a blog for each area). If you want I can explain further (I am a website techy geek as my “other” job).
I use your site for several reasons:
1. I somehow Identified with you and your family. So times the other savings blogs did not have that personal connection for me. I want to know the person giving me tips.
2. I like your attitude about Money — and that is why I follow your blog. I am working on changing our family’s habits and love that you do more then just deals. You give solid advice.
4. The last reason I follow your blog is honestly it was one of the first one’s I found when I wanted to start using coupons effectively last spring. I commented on a few and you were one of the few bloggers who actually read the comments and responded to questions or just let me know you read them. That made me feel welcomed and that this was more then just a blog to make money for you.
I’ve tried some other sites and I definitely like yours the best. It’s much easier to understand and get around. I like that I’m not steering around a million ads and pop-ups so I hope that stays the same. I think they way you do the weekly shopping lists for the main 5 stores or so is great – very easy to follow and find.
As far as forums, I agree with what a couple people have said, I don’t really care for them. At least when a site is monopolized by them. I come to your site because I want to read what you have concisely put together, not what 80 different people are shopping for this week. However, I think it’s sufficient and helpful that there is an option for comments on most things, I have found answers to my questions that way.
The idea of menu planning is completely overwhelming to me but if it was as easy to read and handle as everything else on here maybe it would be a great addition.
Present ideas throughout the year? Yes, for birthdays, mother’s day, father’s day, Christmas,etc.
Thanks for your hard work, it’s made a huge difference for our budget!
I love the menu plannning/sharing recipes ideas.
Carrie – I love your site. Thank you for all your hard work! The only thing I would add is a link at the top for Open Mic – like under Tips and Tricks or something. Sometimes, it gets a little buried under all of the other topics and I enjoy reading what other people have to say.
I love the menu planning idea. I have seen other blogs do it, but it’s for other stores that are not in the Twin Cities. I would love to have some ideas on what to make with some of these good deals. Even just an Open Mic-type discussion area for people to add their recipes/ideas.
I shop for gifts year round, and am actually about done by Thanksgiving. I’d love the heads-up throughout the year! It relieves a lot of stress (shopping and financial) not to have all of the gift buying done during just the month after Thanksgiving.
Gift ideas year-round would be excellent! I shop for gifts for other occasions besides Christmas (birthdays, weddings, etc.), so it’d be nice to have a “heads-up” on the good deals when they come around.
I used to think that forums would be nice to have here, but now that we can subscribe to comments on a specific post, I’m OK with not having them. We can keep up the dialogue through comments pretty well.
I like the idea of having an “Open Mic” link up at the top of the page so we can reference it as needed.
It’d be nice to have a bigger list of rock-bottom prices, too. I’ve kept track over the last few months of the absolute lowest prices we can expect to pay for something, but it’d be nice to have a “decent price” list, too.
As you know, I LOVE your site! I started coming because you highlighted Twin Cities deals, and I continue to come back for the same reason. It’s got a nice local feel while still appealing to people across the country. :)
I love that you are local. That we can talk with you through PYD and see you on our local TV stations. I am addicted to getting good deals, I have always been very frugal but since using your site I have gotten even better. I think the menu plan is great, I have been trying to do that since it seems like we always end up with a lot more side dish items then main meals with the coupons. I would recommend a food saver to anyone who buys more when it is on sale, it is amazing how much longer everything stays fresh, well worth the money. I agree with what a lot of readers are saying about gift giving deals. I like to give something the person wants and know I got a great deal on it. Keep up the great work!
I love the heads up on gift ideas, there are always birthdays and unexpected gift giving throughout the year.
I love PYD because it relates to where I live.
I don’t have much time so I like to look once or twice a day and catch your tips but don’t look at forums. Thanks for all your hard work.
What I’d like to see: I too would like to see some menu planning to go with my savings. I’m having difficult time marrying my menu plan (usually for 2 weeks in advance) and the sales and deals I can find.
What I like about PYD: You lay out just how you got you do it. The “ I used these coupons and bought these specific items” really is quite helpful. And you are able to keep you manners about you. If there is a long line… no more than 2 purchases etc. Keeps us all thinking of others rather than focusing greedily on the deals we can grab.
What I’d like to see: More donations to food shelves. We are all saving so much money on our groceries I’d like to see an equal amount increase in donations to food shelves. Not sure how you can support this effort other than maybe pointing out when you can get a few of something maybe buy 1 and donate the other?
Also I’d like to see more gift ideas. I’m certain many of us buy gifts for people throughout the year. Great gift ideas are helpful.
Thank you! I love saving money and your site makes it much easier. You are local–so we can actually find the deals you post. I also would like a search feature, a section for meal planning, gift ideas…all your ideas are great!
Thank you, Carrie! Love this site! I recommend it to all my local friends. I, too, like the idea of hearing of gift deals year-round–I hate going to the store to buy one birthday gift for a child’s party. I like to have some good ones on hand (that I got a great deal on)! I also like the idea of matching recipes with what’s on sale. However, we make good use of our large freezer, stocking up on whatever meat, etc. is on sale, and then thawing it when we feel like making something with it. One thing I would ask is that you put a place to click at the bottom of each page to return to the top of the page. Sometimes there are a lot of comments, and I feel that would make it easier to navigate your site. Thanks for asking!
Hi Carrie! What a great topic to post, and I’m glad you’re interested in our opinions! (Add this to the reasons I love PYD!)
- I agree with a lot of the others, forums get to be a hassle, the Open Mics are great. Including a link to it at the top of your blog would make it easier to access.
- Menu planning would be a huge addition to the site, and I know since you’re already a busy lady, I don’t think that’s realistic unless you had a volunteer. Dave Ramsey recommends http://e-mealz.com/ It costs some money, but it’s the best site I’ve seen for meal planning and matching to advertised sales (although I don’t use it).
- I agree with the person who brought up giving. Perhaps a monthly “Giving Open Mic” where people can talk about what they were able to give?
- Price lists would be great, have a link at the top of the blog for the most recent price list data, seeing what other people’s lists are would be fabulous. For those of you who are interested I just posted a very extensive Price List series on my blog http://abbyscents.blogspot.com/search/label/Price%20List. (Carrie – you are more than welcome to reference/use/have my list for this site)
- I would love it if there was a “real world” get together for followers of your site. Maybe a few times a year you could host some sort of event where PYD readers could meet and talk savings, show our coupon organizers, talk shop, etc. Perhaps have an entry fee of providing donations to a local food shelf?
- There are very few ads on your site, and that is much appreciated. However, I know that ads are a way for you to make some profit for your hard work. Personally, I wouldn’t mind a few more ads knowing that it puts some more money in your pocket. You put a lot of effort and are very dedicated to this site, and I think you should be rewarded monetarily for that.
Why I love your site:
- It’s local. You’re local, the stores are local, and you are becoming quite the local celebrity. ;o)
- You’re commited to saving money, staying out of debt, and sharing that with the world.
- PYD is not simply a “repost” blog. So many other blogs I’ve seen just re-post all the deals on all of the other blogs. You identify lots of deals and savings that can’t be found anywhere else.
Thanks for all of your hard work Carrie!!
Wow thanks for asking Carrie. Nice that you make us feel like we have a say in it! This website is great and you know I use it. In the big picture of things what about some general ideas on pricing. For example- I know there is a list out there somewhere that says appliances and the best month to buy, best month to buy lawn mowers, cars etc. Maybe you could do a post once a month at the beginning and highlight what to expect this month. Alot or none of coupon circulars,certain sales etc for the month. I know somewhere you have posted about how things go on sale in cycles. I have not caught on to that yet but hope too. It could help as to when we might expect to see something in particular go on sale.What about PYD becoming a ” group” and the members have group discounts purchasing power/discounts?. From insurance to AAA memberships to Sam’s Club etc they all offer “group” discounts. Not sure how to implement that- but it is a thought to collectively take advantage of the group size. Just my two cents…. that I saved from PYD!
I’d love there to be a place for readers to post deals. Today I came across 2 awesome deals, and after I took advantage of them myself, I didn’t know how to pass the info on to people who will take advantage of them, too. My twitter followers and facebook friends are just too varied to care. So even a very simple, straightforward forum along the lines of your Open Mic Thursdays would be great to pass on the deals that you haven’t processed yet.
I love PYD because I’m in MN and so are you! It makes all the difference when you know what coupons I may not have gotten or extras for people in our area.
Also, HANDS DOWN, my favorite thing- I appreciate that you are a rule-follower and that you only post legitimate, fair deals, and not ways to sneak deals past cashiers, etc. I get so depressed seeing other deal-seeking sites and forums suggesting unethical processes to get deals. THANK YOU for giving us info on the most ethical way to do things!
I love this site!!! IF you don’t do a forum please make open mic more easy to find and maybe catorgorize it.
I use your site because I live in MN but I am in rural MN so I do not have all the stores you have so a rock bottom list would be great so when I look at my little towns ad I know I’m getting a good price. Also with the prices about how often an item goes on sale ie…sour cream every two weeks or so cereal every 2 months or something like that so we have an idea on how much to stock up on.
I like the recipe ideas it pinches that dollar a little more. LOve the gift ideas through out the year.
Last thing a list of helpful websites and what you use them for ie…alice.com, coupons.com, redplum.com
Thanks for you hard work.
Carrie,
I love your site and have been hooked since July. The reason I frequent it more than other sites is that 1) it is local 2) the shopping lists are easy to find 3) you are honest and a woman of integrity 4) we can tell that you have our best interests at heart, which goes past a “great deal” and more towards lowering debt 5) you tell us what you think is an “ok” deal or what your rock bottom price is so that we can save our coupons if we want instead of rushing out for what appears to be a good deal **Thanksgiving turkeys taught me this lesson** 6) a real community has begun to grow here and we can ll help each other.
I do not know if I would use a forum. I often search the comments and frequent the open mic so these seem to meet my needs.
My suggestions/request would be a few more links at the top (although I know you don’t want it to become too cluttered). “Carrie’s Picks” and “Open Mic” are the two that would be most helpful to me. Often I’m trying to go back and remember where something was mentioned and having these grouped together would be nice. Another new link that might be helful under “Freebies” would be “Rebates.” Often you mention them but when I try to go back to print it out I forget where it was mentioned. And finally maybe a link for “Other Helpful Sites” such as the coupon schedule and be-centsable.
I also agree that a more extensive “Rock Bottom” price list would be helpful – maybe even a direct link to it under tips.
But I love your site just the way it is and don’t need you to add any more work for yourself if it will only add more stress!
God Bless,
Sarah
(btw: Carrie already has a “search” feature that I use CONSTANTLY. It is at the top right of every page – just type a word like “batteries” and hit “Search Site” and it will give you a list of all the posts where that item was mentioned.)
My two cents:
- Agree with others who say make a more direct link for Open Mic — it does tend to get buried.
- Agree with providing search functionality.
- Menu ideas would be helpful – I’m not as fussy about ‘tied to this weeks deals’, but am often looking for quick menu ideas with typical on-hand ingredients. (I AM NOT Julia Child ;-))
- I like the idea of a more frequent Open Mic or “Daily Digest” — a place for people to post questions/comments without connection to a specific store. For example, I see a lot of posts under the various stores on how to organize coupons, or “does anyone know the best price for “x” or the best place to buy “Y”. Those questions might be better seen and answered using a forum approach (but I, too, hesitate to call it a forum.) A “Daily Digest” might be a way to start a new forum every day so the comments don’t get to be pages long and hard to read through.
- A “Better Price” indicator. Example, under Rainbow’s list last week, Clementines were 4.99 but Cub had them with a coupon for 3.98. Under the Rainbow list, I think it would be helpful if it pointed us to the fact that Cub had them cheaper.
Why I like PYD:
- The local connection
- Clean, simple and easy to use. Agree with another comment that you (Carrie) tell people in plain words how you do it. (I hate it when there is a lot of assumption that people would just know how to stack coupons, for example).
- Good community of followers. So far, I think the dialouge here has been pretty friendly and helpful. I’ve read a couple of posts that make my eyebrows raise, but they seem few and far between. Some sites have such nasty, negative comments. I also like that the community doesn’t seem to post unnecessarily, for example, I’ve seen some sights where people will fill up pages saying things like, “Thanks, me too”. Although a thanks is nice, 1) there is no context around that — who are you thanking, and for what??!! 2) A lot of those types of responses wastes time/space having to scroll through them.
Another idea I had – what about a way for people to “reply” to certain comments. I have seen this on other sites where AB says something and then CD and EF reply back to AB and the comments are all together. That would bring the comments together and categorize them a little bit better. Sorry if that doesn’t make sense, I don’t really know the technical terms.
I just want to thank you first off for all your hard work.
I like the simplicity of the site. It is so easy to use. The only thing that I can think of that would be nice to see is deals on organics.
This site is clear and so useful that I can’t think of any changes. I like open mic once aweek-seems to be plenty as people can also leave comments at the end of different lists. It’s not overwhelming this way. I prefer to shop-pick the 75%off deals throughout the year as there are always unexpected things coming up and it’s helpful to stay ahead of the money ideas. This site seem more complete to me than other sites I have visited. Also going to one of your classes and understanding your values has also been confirming of my own. Thanks, keep up the good work. Pj
I love your site and agree with so many other comments! It’s local, easy to use, includes more than just grocery coupons, it’s free, and I like you and what you seem to represent.
I have always been cheap (er, frugal), but I’m new at the coupon stacking, so would love some direction in getting started. A rock bottom prices list, or just a more comprehensive guide to what is too much to pay for particular items would be greatly appreciated!
Gift ideas/deals throughout the year would be very helpful.
The meal plan idea was a good one. I like the idea of knowing what I can make for less and gaining some new recipes.
Thank you so much for all you do to keep my dollars in my pocket!
The only thing that doesn’t work for me is when the deal requires multiples of the same coupon i.e. “use ten $1.00 off coupons”. Honestly, it just isn’t realistic. I’d love to know if someone actually does that. I am interested only in the deals that use one or two coupons or else it just tips over into being impractical. I wish deals requiring an absurd amount of coupons weren’t listed because it becomes “clutter.”
I’d love to know ideas for gifts throughout the year. Buying a few things every month is the best way I know to avoid breaking the bank at the end of the year.
I love that you share all sorts of tips – like the title of the book you used in making your plan to get out of debt. You have a warm, wonderful way of communicating that makes me feel like you truly care about your readers. Thank you. I wish you all good things in 2010. .
Thanks for asking, Carrie. I love the site and use is nearly daily. It is what my college professor called a credible source in that I can count on the truth of all postings. You even tell us if a company has compensated you in even a small way. I would like to know of 75% deals you conme across. I try to shop year round for the holidays.
I’m not so into forums. As someone said earlier, they tend to get taken over by folks with strongly held beliefs.
As for suggestions, the only thing that comes to mind right away is that you not take on so much that PYD becomes a burdon and you loose interest in it. If you could find one or two other talented folks to hire for some of the more routine parts, it would free you up a bit. This is a slef serving suggestion because I would hate for PYD to get so big that you would stop doing it. It is an amazing site and a huge help to so many of us.
Thanks, Carrie, for all you do! I love PYD and tell all my friends and family about it. I would love more features on how you got out of debt, stay out of debt, and manage your budget. Cutting back on groceries and household items has saved us a lot of money, but I feel like there is so much more involved in order to truly live on less. Thanks for all you do!
Rachel
I would love to see a listing of rock bottom prices on items. Not specific brand names, but in general.
Ex: This is a rock bottom price on paper towels or cheese or shampoo…
BTW – I’m only 6 weeks into your site, but am loving every bit of it! Thanks for all you do!!!
I love this site! I have only been on for a couple months but have become OBSESSED! I agree with all the posters above about all the great things. One of my fave things, though, is that you post only the best deals and not all the deals of the week. I would also be interested in you making a weekly shopping list for Festival Foods. I know that they are usually more expensive, but sometimes there are good deals and I have one right next door to my house :)
Hi Carrie!
I just LOVE your site! It’s like a treasure hunt for me! I really like the ideas of meal plans with all the special deals, but another thing that I thought about is ways to preserve foods. I like to stock up so I have things on hand, but what a bummer if it goes bad. I love when you give us tips (like buying a huge bag of potatoes and cooking them all up, and freezing them in meal size porportions). I would love if you could add little tips like that as we go (I never knew that you could freeze cream cheese) so that we all could make it last a little longer. Thats for all that you do!
I love your site. It is clearly laid out and easy to navigate. I really appreciate your deal ideas- great explanations of how to get the best use of sales/coupon combos.
I think rock bottom price list would be incredibly helpful. All the sites talk about making a price book and learning about the sales cycles. I have been trying to do this for the last five weeks, focusing on about 35 items I frequently buy. It is getting to be overwhelming though. It would be fabulous if the community could find a way to create a shared price book. Maybe using google docs or google wave? Something that could be contributed to and edited by members, so that it wouldn’t all fall on Carrie.
Thanks for all of your hard work, Carrie. I too am concerned that added expectations and features will burn you out.
Follow-up question: Apart from seeing printable coupons within the shopping lists do you prefer to see printable coupons in a round-up type post (less descriptive title, but fewer posts so things don’t get cluttered) or one printable coupon per post (this allows for a more descriptive title, but more posts overall so things can get buried)?
A lot of people are saying that they would like a search feature, but there is a search feature on your site. Maybe it just needs to be made more prominent? I have used it several times. Also, a lot of times if I am interested in something specific that you have written on your site I will copy and paste the link into my email and send the email to myself so that I know that I will find it again when I need it.
I love that you have deals like the $8.99 Happenings Book, that was great! I love free stuff, like the internet security software and the Leap Frog Book for example.
I think that it would be great to have the gift idea’s as I am shopping for Christmas and other occassions year round.
I wish that I could figure out why my printer won’t print coupons! I know that you have an area for help, but nothing works. The website says that it is sending to my printer and my printer just never prints them. So I miss out on many deals!
I don’t know if there is an area on your site that talks about this, but I would love to know more of the details & tips of how you got $50,000 out of debt in just 3 years. I have emailed you a couple of times to see if you could email me some more information on what you did, maybe my emails haven’t gone through to you? I know that you aren’t a financial planner either, but I am sure that you would have good suggestions or tips since you have been through it. I would appreciate that! I appreciate everything that you do for us and this website!
Honestly, no preference here!
I would love a list of more “rock bottom prices” of items to keep on hand.
I would love to hear more ideas for gifts at 75% off. I tend to buy a few things right after Christmas, and watch for sales throughout the year. It’s hard to buy it all right after Christmas because my kids’ birthdays are in Oct and Dec and I want to make sure that what I’m buying (albeit 75% off or so) is something they’ll still want in 8-10 mos.
I enjoy your site because you are local to the Twin Cities, where I live. You have an easy to navigate site that is very informative!
As for a couple suggestions or ideas…I would love to see the Rainbow shopping list on Sunday or Monday if possible, as that is when I typically try to sit down and get my “clipping” and “list-making” done. However, I’ve been having to wait for the Rainbow list to pop up (although I did see it up tonight!! Yay!) I would also love to occasionally see your Rainbow, Double-Coupon transaction posted after you go on a Wednesday. I’d like to see it during the day, so if there’s things that you do/get with a transaction, I could duplicate them that evening when I go. I’m just starting out and find that there are times I go and am proud of myself, to come home and see what you got the next day and am so bummed because I didn’t even think about it or realize I could/should divide it into that many transactions, etc.
Thanks for all you do – I absolutely LOVE your website!!! :)
@Jean – most people have one of three ways of organizing coupons:
1. Clip them all (or the ones you think you’ll use) and put them in some kind of accordian file that you take with to the store(s). I didn’t like this way because my little coupon holder got WAY too full and ended up ripping. Also a bit easy for me to forget in my shopping cart!
2. DON’T clip but save the whole inserts and write the date on them. File by date and use one of the great sites available to match up the sale with the coupon and clip only the ones you intend to use imminently. I don’t prefer this method as I like to have ALL my coupons with to take advantage of clearances or unadvertised sales that I come across while shopping.
3. For Christmas, my hubby got me a pretty binder full of loose leaf paper, plastic page protectors and 4×6 photo protector sheets. This is my organization method of choice! I can divide my coupons into as many sections as I want. I also use the different compartments on each sheet to divide coupons by expiration date to try to make use of as many coupons as possible. I can also keep my RRs, Extra Bucks, etc. in the zippered pockets so that I am not constantly digging through my purse trying to find them. The only drawback to this way of doing it, is that you have to be prepared to take that binder with you on your shopping excursions! Or at least have it handy in the car….
Carrie, I love your site!!! I like that you are in the general area and that you solicit your readers’ feedback!!!!!!!!
Something that I would like to see is a list of about 10 or so staples each week and the best deal for each of them. The list would be things that the average person typically buys on a weekly basis. The items on the list would stay the same, but the best place to buy per week would change.
Example:
Milk – Best deal at Cub $1.75
Eggs – Cheapest at Rainbow $0.45
Yogurt – Supertarget (Yoplait) $0.05 each
Cereal – Cub (General Mills) FREE
Bread – Best sale at Rainbow $0.45
Etc.
I LOVE your site! I appreciate that it’s local and FULL of great ideas, tips and discount information. The only request I would have on my “wish list” would be to possibly share out a list of common items and what you’ve seen as a typical “Rock Bottom” prices. I shop a lot at Sam’s Club and would like to know if I’m better off stocking up on certain items when they’re at a “Rock Bottom” prices at Cub/Rainbow or if I’m OK buying them at Sam’s. Also related to that, sharing information about what types of “trends” you see or expect to see (i.e. baking supplies are cheapest in November). Thanks again for all that you do!
Carrie,
Just wanted to say that I love your site because it is easy to use, local, and that I can look at only the stores I shop at, since each store is listed as its own link. Also, you find so many additional coupons all over, I have gotten about 8 new blu-rays for under $6 each due to all the deals and coupons you have found for me. THANKS!
I think the best thing to be added/changed would be saying if there is a better deal at another store, like Brianna mentioned. Sometimes it is a lot to compare, especially when moving from link to link.
Thanks for all you do!
I forgot to add I would like to have a meet up where those who want to can get together and share coupons. For example I have soy joy’s and we don’t use them but someone has Special K bar coupons and I can trade for those. It would also be a way to have an outing and still be productive with our time!
I wouldn’t change much on PYD; love the fact there is no pop-ups, love the fact that it is FREE (some sights charge for membership, leaving visitors with just a bit of what is on their site), weekly forum is perfect, wouldn’t change that at all. BUT, the one thing I would like to see changed is on the “free stuff”. Often the offers are expired, but still on the section to sort through. Sometime they are marked Expired if it goes fast, but not always when it is just expired. Now that I am a daily visitor, it doesn’t bother me, but when I started up I found it discouraging to find a fun freebie and then look further and found the offer was expired. OTHERWISE, love it all! Thanks for all you do to help all of us keep our dollars right where they belong.