(Photo credit: Matthew High)
Since we’ve had so many new readers join us lately, I think it’s time for another Frugal in Virginia crash course. Just a chance to explain what this site is all about, how it can help you, and how you can use it effectively.
What this site is all about: Simply, it’s about helping you live well on less and use your money in better ways. It’s about saving money without sacrificing lifestyle. And yes, that’s possible. I’ve seen it work for my own family. When you cut costs in some areas, it frees you up financially to give more, save more, get out of debt more quickly, and spend on the things that really matter. I help you achieve this by sharing nationwide grocery strategies, coupon clippings, free products, and frugal advice. It’s easier than you think!
Who I am: I hope to share a little me mixed in with the bargains, because there’s more to me than a deal hunter. Getting to know each other is necessary to build a community here. For starters, check out my About page. But please, let me get to know you as I share me.
How to use this site: Each week I share the deals for 15 stores (and adding more frequently!). Just visit the Store Deals page to see the full list, and then click on the stores local to you. You’ll see the store bargains listed by week. Under each of those posts you’ll find the best deals and coupon match-ups. Just a helpful hint: Many of my readers get their coupons from the Sunday newspaper. Instead of clipping each one, my site allows you to just organize each entire insert by date. Then, since I share the corresponding insert dates within each weekly store post, you can simply go through the coupon match-ups for the the given week, just clipping the coupons you will use on your shopping trip. It’s a time saver!
In addition to store deals, I post daily other money saving tips such as coupon information, frugal advice, freebies, and more.
There’s a “print” function under each post, allowing you to print a copy of the deals if you find that helpful.
If you’re new to the couponing scene, I suggest you read the Getting Started section. This should answer many of your questions.
To make sure you don’t miss a single deal, I suggest subscribing to the email or feed reader service. It’s a free and easy way to keep up with the happenings around here.
A few other mention-worthy points:
I love getting comments from readers. Beneath each post you have the opportunity to leave a comment. This is a chance to interact with both me and other readers. There are plenty of other ways for you to interact with me and Frugal in Virginia as well:
Contact Me- I do my best to answer the emails I receive. But if I don’t respond to yours, please know that I always read each and every one!
Follow me on Twitter.
Join the Facebook Fan Page.
Occasionally, my husband shares a guest post. These posts have turned out to be quite popular. If you’re looking for a laugh or some insight into a frugal family, click here to read Ryan’s articles.
Now, since you’ve sat through my spiel, I have a little something fun to offer you. I have one magazine subscription to give away to a reader.* The best part- The winner gets to pick her subscription from the following list: Southern Living (2 years), Coastal Living (2 years), Southern Accents (2 years), Cooking Light (2 years), All You (1 year), Sunset (1 year), Health (2 years), Real Simple (1 year), or In Style (1 year). The winner will receive a redemption code via snail mail that will allow her to order the magazine- for free.
How can you enter to win? You have two ways to win. You can enter in either just one or both ways. Make sure you leave a separate comment for each entry. If you are reading this post from an email, you must click over to the actual post to leave your comments.
1. Leave a comment telling me a little something about yourself. Like I said above, I love getting to know my readers!
2. Subscribe to this blog, and leave me a comment letting me know you’ve done so. Click here to subscribe by email or feed reader or see the right sidebar to sign up. You must remain a subscriber for the duration of this giveaway. If you’re already a subscriber, leave a comment letting me know.
Remember, please leave a separate comment for each entry. And please enter only in the ways listed above. I reserve the right to delete comments not adhering to the above entry guidelines.
You must leave your email address in the designated field above the comment entry. If I cannot find your contact information either in your comment or profile, you will be ineligible to win. The email provided will only be used to contact the winner.
You can enter anytime now through Thursday, October 8th at 8PM EDT. One winner will be selected at random. I will contact the winner by email shortly after the giveaway ends, and the winner will have 48 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within that time frame, a new winner will be announced.
*This is not a sponsored giveaway. Tara graciously provided the prize some time ago. At post time, I do have one sponsored giveaway available- Nature Valley Nut Clusters. Enter here.
{ 102 comments… read them below or add one }
little about me…i love fall and have been so excited to experience it this week! a great excuse to add the favorite sweatshirt back to the daily wardrobe :)
and i’m already a subscriber!
Well, you know me from my Safeway pregnancy picture:) I am a member of a website called Couponsense and they are always using the All You magazine. I’ve just been too cheap to buy a subscription. It would be awesome to win one!
.-= Ashley B´s last blog ..Smile Gavin! =-.
I’m planning a wedding (for me) for next year and trying to do everything for under $5k. I’ve seen it done and done poorly. I want to do it *right*. And I absolutely can’t get enough of Real Simple. I read it at the library or bookstores now because that’s a magazine *I’m* too cheap to buy.
.-= Amber´s last blog ..We Used to Play Here =-.
And, of course, I subscribe.
Hi! I am a full time WOH mom of three kids (3 yo DS and twin 10 month old DDs.)
I am a subscriber via google reader!
I just LOVE your site. I have kids and pets, my husband is starting a business and frugality is my new hobby. I’ve grown to LOVE my couponing. The Sunday paper is the most exciting part of my weekend! Ha!
I subscribe to your feed!
I live in Williamsburg, VA
We live in Chesapeake, Virginia and I tell everyone I know about your site. We’ve been able to significantly save on our grocery bill thanks to your coupon matchups (which are organized by insert and make it far easier to clip out what’s needed) plus donate a very nice amount to our local food pantry. Every week I can take in a good sized box to them and they always want to know how we do it. Even my MIL who is a die-hard frugal and loves the Dollar Store is impressed when I tell her that we can buy shampoo like Herbal Essences and Garnier Fructis for .50 cents. Why pay a $1 for cheaper shampoo when you can get awesome stuff for less?!? I got her enough aspirin for my Father-in-law (for free) to last him the rest of the year.
My husband and I both love Ryan’s posts too and we’d love to see more of them. My husband became a die hard fan of your site the day we went to Harris Teeter and the total went from $76 to $6.13 with coupons.
Started “using coupons” last Sept. after reading the Coupon Queen from library. I think she had a link to couponmom.com which eventually led me to your blog. I think it is great. It is so fun to save money for our family!
I also have a frugal blog and another blog about the adoption of our son from Russia. I live in the Shenandoah Valley of VA. Hope I win!
A little about me….I love scrapbooking! And saving money. :) I live in DC and primarily shop at Harris Teeter because of the great deals and super friendly service.
I’m a new mom, so it’s important for me to try and save money where I can! I just moved to Virginia, and was so excited to have found your site!
I subscribe to your blog via netvibes.
Hi there! My name is Teale. I have been a subscriber for quite some time, but don’t often come out of the shadows!
And a little about me… I live in central IL, am recently married, and a new homeowner. The husband has been off work for several months due to a work injury, so we are pinching pennies any way possible. Your blog helps us out!
Hello Dana!
I’m a Christian stay-at-home mom and full-time wife to a law student! We moved to C’ville VA last year as our first child was born (three days into school). It’s been an amazing adventure and your blog has been a source of help for me as I’ve made some big transitions.
Thanks so much for serving us the way you do!
Jill
I’m new to reading blogs and have gotten super serious about trying to save money! Got to your blog from MoneyWiseMoms and now I’m addicted to reading both your blogs! Love it!
Hi from Franklin County, Va. I found your website just about a month ago, and it was so great to find one written by a “local”. I have to say your husband’s posts are great, and my husband enjoyed hearing from a fellow hubby to a crazy coupon lady. I work just a few hours a week, and coupons help to save money and allow me to stay home with our two boys. As a fellow Christian, coupon loving Mom I just want to say thanks for the time you put into this blog. God Bless!
I subscribe and I tell all my friends and fam to too!
I’m a SAHM of two. :) I love to grow our own food, sew and scrapbook.
Have been reading your blog for about 6 months now — love the free treats (ice cream cones in the spring :)
i’m already a subscriber!
I’m 24 soon to be 25( next month). I live in Southern Md, and I’m a nanny.
I’m a 28 year old mother of 4, living in Carroll County, MD. I love that you do local stuff (Martin’s in particular). I’ve only been really couponing for a few months and I’m loving it. As is my husband when he sees what I’m able to bring home!
.-= Natalie´s last blog ..~ =-.
I also subscribe on Google Reader!
I’ve been a frugal, love to save money, coupon clipping lady for over 30 years!
I am an e-mail subscriber.
I’m a frugal mama who blogs at One Frugal Mama. I live in Michigan and blog about deals here, but used to live in Norfolk. I’ve sent several friends who still live in VA to your blog.
.-= Kristi´s last blog ..Starbucks Taste Challenge Oct 2 – 5 =-.
I subscribe
.-= Kristi´s last blog ..Starbucks Taste Challenge Oct 2 – 5 =-.
I am a mother, wife and love serving Jesus! I love to read blogs and love saving money:)
Michelle
couponfreak at ymail dot com
I subscribe;)
Michelle
couponfreak at ymail dot com
I am a stay-at-home mom to 4 kids ages 9 months, 2, 4, and 7. I try to make my husband’s paycheck stretch as far as possible.
I am an e-mail subscriber.
I’m already a subscriber :)
It is my Birthday month-October 18th is the big day! I love Autumn, my bday, and pumpkin pie!
I am an email subscriber.
I have just recently found your weg site. I use to think that I was frugal. Now that I am really leaarning how to use coupons, I know I am! I am learning so much from your site and a few others. Since I had to stop working a few years ago and we are now a one income family, sites like yours and coupons allow us continue to eat well and still save a few dollars. Thanks for all that you do to help!
I love cooking home made meals for my family. It’s fun to get together with mom, sister and nieces and nephews and eat and enjoy each other.
I am a subscriber. Thanks for the great giveaway. Love you site :)
Hey Dana!
I’ve been following your site since April, and early September we officially became credit card debt free! Woo hoo! It’s greatly because of your site that we were able to take everything we saved on food / health / cleaning expenses and put them towards the principal on our cards. We had been taking on extra work, selling our items, and cutting down as much of our budget as possible… but never did we think we could save so much money each month on groceries! THANK YOU!
… and I’ve been a subscriber since April :)
I am a new reader to your blog and I was so excited to find it since you are in VA – I live in Waynesboro, VA! I am married and have a 9 month old daughter, and as a stay-at-home mom I have totally embraced couponing in order to make our money stretch as far as possible. :)
.-= Tara´s last blog ..October! =-.
Hi! I love couponing and rebating, of course and I also love music and baseball. I have learned so much more about saving since I started following various blogs 2 years ago. Thanks for all you do!
i’m new to the site and loving it so far! thanks for all the deals, i love coupons and getting great deals!
My sister-in-law shared your website with me just about a few months ago. So I am fairly new to whole thing, I signed up to get your emails and facebook. Thank you so much for all you do. I just recently started try to save $ with coupons etc… No it is a challenge for me to see how much $ I can save. My goal is to save more than I pay. I have done it a couple of times but not every time. I am a mother of 3, step son in college, 12 year old boy in middle school and a 6 year old girl in 1st grade. We live in the out skirts of Charlottesville, only about 15 mintues from Harris Teeter, Food Lion and Target. Keep all the wonderful deals coming, its great.
Oops forgot to tell you, I work full time, Girl Scout co-leader, church goer (in charge of the nursery). Lovin life and all of its challenges.
I’m a subscriber!
.-= Lucky´s last blog ..Trick or Treat! =-.
I’m a SAHM of two little ones and I’ve been a subscriber for over a year, I think. I live in Loudoun County, VA and love it here. Even though it’s an expensive place to live, I save a lot of money by using coupons, rebates and by playing the drug store game regularly.
I am a subscriber.
I’ve been a follower for months now. Love your blog!
I live in Fredericksburg. SAHM to a 2 yr old, turning 3 on Sunday! Im super jealous that you have HT, we are growing in our area and recently Wegman’s opened up but I want some HT deals. lol I do various volunteer work in my spare time.
I am a SAHM of a 2 year old boy and 1 month old girl! I love reading your blog because I am from VA too.
I subscribe via google reader.
Hi. I’m Amanda. I live in Santa Barbara, CA and am a SAHM to a 2 yr old girl. We love your site!
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Let’s Get Dirty =-.
I also subscribe to your feed via google reader.
I would LOVE a subscription to All You! I missed the great deal a few months back!
Hi! I just got married last Saturday! My wedding budget was only $2,000, but you definitely couldn’t tell. I’m all about finding great deals, and making every cent count! Love your blog, thanks for the giveaway! :)
Also, I am already subscribed to your blog in my Google Reader!
I live in southern california & have 3 kids, ages 6, almost 4, and 10 months : )
This weekend is our 10 year anniversary
I’m a subscriber : )
I’m a subscriber!
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..On food, guilt and saving money =-.
A little about me: I am a child of God, Chris the farmer’s wife, Helen and Patrick’s stay at home mom and also the family nerd (Dave Ramsey fan? Hubby is the free spirit). We’re living like no one else so later we can LIVE like no one else.
a little about me… I never even considered that I was majorly overpaying for groceries and other items until I heard of your website and started reading it. Now I have a new hobby! You really do a great job!
I am 39 years old,work at a Brewery, have been married just a year and a half, and am hoping to soon become a first time mommy.
I love couponing…It has become such a fun hobby for me in the past few months. T hanks for the deals!
katie
I am a subscriber!
What a great giveaway! A little about me, I have identical 22 month old twin boys.
.-= Jenna @ Newlyweds´s last blog ..Menu Plan Monday =-.
I am a busy mom of four little ones 7-1 and home school the oldest two.
Love to be frugal and get a good deal. As well as take care of my family.
Thanks for all your tips they are very helpful.
I save a lot of money by using coupons, rebates and by playing the drug store game regularly.
I’m a subscriber.
Hi! I am a mostly SAHM of one adorable 21 month old little boy. I also work part time as an RN. I have been married to my hubby for 7 years and we live in Tennessee. I love your blog! It really helps me save money and time! Thanks.
I subscribe via email.
Hey! I live in Christiansburg, VA & love your blog! I actually unsubscribed to all other blogs except yours because it is the most relavent to my area! I just started working again & don’t have as much time for coupon matching, which is just horrible! I’m gonna keep trying!
.-= Christina Horn´s last blog ..Garlicky Shrimp Tacos =-.
I’m also a subcriber to your blog!
.-= Christina Horn´s last blog ..Garlicky Shrimp Tacos =-.
I am a stay at home mother for the past 15 years and now my last two children are teenagers. I have a daughter who is the baby (13) who has already given me more gray hair than raising the three boys . I find my peace of mind by visiting blogs and meeting new people who share the same experiences that I do.
tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com
I am a subscriber by email.
tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com
I recently found your site through a friend from my playgroup. We LOVE your site and I share it to as many people that want to listen. I have caught on to the coupon addiction and the best part is watching my husband Steve’s eyes light up when I show him how much I saved at a triple coupon event. He’s a believer now too! :) I am a subscriber!
Hi Dana,
Thanks for another great giveaway!
A little bit about me: I’m a 20-something Christian wife and mother to a rambunctious 3-year old boy. In the past year I discovered MoneySavingMom.com and then your wonderful site FrugalinVirginia.com. I have saved so much money in the past few months thanks to you and other frugal bloggers! I’ve become an avid couponer and even started my own blog where I can post deals I find for the Northern Virginia area. I enjoy the sense of community among so many frugal bloggers, and love the fact that so many are Christian stay-at-home moms like me.
If I win this contest, I’ll probably get the All You subscription. I love coupons and sadly didn’t sign up for All You earlier when the 2-year subscription through Southern Living At Home was still available :-(
.-= Laura´s last blog ..Kohl’s $5 In-Store Coupon when you sign up for their e-mail list and other deals =-.
I am subscribed by Google reader!
I live in KY and work as a secretary. Love to use coupons and shop sales. :)
I subscribe by email. :)
Already a subscriber
I am a coupon lovin’ mommy of two. I work very hard so that I can stay at home. I think I would get all you, although, Real Simple would be nice. There is a great deal on Amazon right now for All You so maybe I will, that is if I win, get Real Simple. My husband also loves Real Simple. I have you on “live bookmarks” so I can keep up with all your great deals, THANK YOU!! for working so hard so that I can spend a few more minutes with my kids and not trying to figure out the doubles myself.
October is my absolute favorite month of the year. I love that the leaves start changing, the air temperature drops and the time for snuggling by the fire begins.
.-= One Frugal Girl´s last blog ..Honesty in the Checkout Line =-.
I subscribe.
.-= One Frugal Girl´s last blog ..Honesty in the Checkout Line =-.
I am 23 years old and my boyfriend and I just bought a house in Fluvanna, VA. We are also expecting our first child, a little girl, in January. Now saving money, and thinking of creative ways to spend less, is becoming increasingly important to us. We really appreciate all the hard work you put into this because we wouldn’t have the time or resources to find out all of these deals without a blog like this!
I’m a SAHM of 3 boys in suburban Maryland. I visit your site because we have some of the same stores up here. Thanks!
I am a subscriber in Nova.
I really enjoyed and identified with your post on Christmas and fewer toys. My son is 3 1/2 and I am constantly packing away or giving away toys he receives from various relatives, all the time, no holiday involved. This year, we are implementing a one gift per family member rule. If anyone feels a need to spend more, they can contribute to his college fund or donate to a worthy cause.
i’m a new subscriber/follower who really appreciates your information. as a newlywed and new home owner, i’m looking for ways to save and start our new life together. my husband is a full time doctoral student while i work full time. our 1 income only goes so far so we love your frugal tips and deals! thank you!!
I thought I knew coupons.. hahaha…you are the Bomb! I save
so much money that I am not going back to work this year..
I am still going to be a stay-at-home mom for my 4 kids who
still need my full attention. Thank you! And I love the new
Check List.. it saves me loads of time! Just print it out,
fold it in 1/2 and put my coupons inside and off to the store I go!
I am a subscriber of course.. I am kind of addicted now!
I am a NE FL based WAHM to a 2yr old boy. The housing market in FL crashed right about the time my son was born. I was working as a Realtor and My DH was in new-home construction and we were both left jobless! (We learned that we should have diversified our jobs!) Frugality has made life as we know it possible. If I won, I would love to have the ALL YOU subscription because I dearly love their coupons.
.-= Leane´s last blog ..Win, What, Where?!? Blogger Mommies =-.
I am an email subscriber!
Thanks so much for sharing your great frugal finds and for the chance to win a free subscription!
I just subscribed to your blog yesterday.
I am a fairly new frugal deal searcher, and have been reading hip2save’s blog for a few months now. As I was manually searching through Weman’s deals yet again, thinking “there has got to be a deal posting for this…ugg”, it occured to me to search for on…so I found you! I have been married for 2 years, no kids yet. Loving your blog!
I have been following your site for quite awhile. I really appreciate your sharing the deals you find.
I am a mom of 5 girls from the age of 4 to 15. Which needless to say is a little tiring and sometimes I don’t have time to search for deals myself. You save me a lot of time!
.-= Rebecca C´s last blog ..Giveaways – October 8, 2009 =-.
I am a subscriber!
I am a recent subscriber of All You and a devoted follower of your blog here. I’ve just recently started using coupons and have saved TONS already (with a family of 7, it has been a fun and welcome change!) I’m really ready to lunge forward with this new and frugal way of purchasing from now on!
I subscribe through Bloglines, and live in Ashland VA. I’m too cheap to subscribe to any magazines, but “All You” sounds great! I’d love to win it!