Get it while it lasts!

Just a quick little blog to take advantage of a good deal because you never know when it will end!

 

My hubby and I really enjoy Montanas, but it’s been classified as a treat as it’s expensive. Recently on a trip we discovered that the CAA discount for the restaurant was an amazing 2 can dine for $20.. Essentially making one meal free as any of our favourite choices are 16.99 and up! Their deal included any burgers, salads or sandwiches. Very awesome!

 

 

Well cue the whomp-whomp.. We went there yesterday and our Montanas have replaced this deal with a lousy 10% off instead. It’s better than nothing, but it doesn’t even cover the tip. In our case last night, it made the 2 for $5 desserts free. Montanas will now go back to being a once-in-a-while meal place, which is disappointing.

 

Case in point.. Same “get it while it lasts” mentality goes for great sales, a high value coupon for something you actually use, and totally free dollars to use like my current array of $5 off at Milestones, $5 off at Staples and a free cookie at Subway (which all have expiry dates, but no minimum purchase). If it’s worth your while, jump on them before you lose them!

"Sad coupon day": The monthly binder clean out

Just a quick entry about an important half hour you should spend one day every month: checking your coupon expirations. 

Coupons typically work for around 3 months. If it's a high value or free product coupon, it might be less. In some cases too, a free product or $ value credit (like if you call Nestle to complain about a product, they might send you "$5 to spend on any nestle products" coupon) will last for a year. Fast food coupons tend to be the shortest - the good ones last for only a week. 

There are tips from other bloggers about arranging your binders/boxes/envelopes in order of expiry dates, instead of by products like I do. Maybe experiment and see what will work best for you. 

Regardless though, you should spend about a half hour every month just going through the book and clearing out the old expired coupons or the ones that will expire in a few days. I call it my "sad coupon day" - it almost feels like I am throwing out money! My last batch clean out was the end of 2015 and nearly a completely emptying of my entire binder!

There are opportunities to get these coupons used though instead of throwing them out. I've heard of people going out to a grocery store and placing the coupons that will expire soon on top of the products at the store. You could also jump on local Facebook groups and post about what coupons you have available for anyone that will buy that product. There are also things called coupon trains, where a line of people will place unwanted coupons in an envelope and ship it to the next person in line who will take out any coupons they want and replace them with ones they don't want and ship on to the next. 

In about this same time, it's also good to have a quick look through the pantry and fridge at expiry dates on your packaged goods and cheeses and such. Maybe that will plan the dinners for that week!