ask dsm readers

Photo by Heidi Kennedy

Every week I’ll pose a question for you to share your experiences and tips. If you have a question that you’d like me to post, I’d love to hear from you!

Recently, another Tara asked this question on the Deal Seeking Mom Facebook fan page:

“What’s your position on blinkies & in-store tearpads? Do you think its okay to take a few to use at a later time or another store (for a better deal)? I do this sometimes. My thinking is that they are not store property because they are manufacture coupons.”

She later added that she never takes peelies off one package to use on another but wonders if others do.

What about you? If there is a blinkie or a tearpad with coupons at one store, do you take a few to matchup with a better deal later on? Is there a limit to how many you think is okay to take? Does it matter how many are left? What about peelies? Do you ever take coupons off one product package to use on another?

Join the discussion — add your two cents to previous Ask DSM Readers questions too!

Every week I’ll pose a question for you to share your experiences and tips. If you have a question that you’d like me to post, I’d love to hear from you!

Our family has been invited to attend a Toy Story 3 event at Disney World this weekend, and this will be our first time taking the kids. They’re all beyond excited about meeting their favorite characters and riding the rides, but I know the expenses of a Disney vacation can quickly add up. I’d love to hear your best tips for making the most of our Disney experience without breaking the bank!

What’s your best money-saving tip for Disney? What souvenirs, experiences or meals do you think are worth splurging on? What have you regretted spending money on?

Update: Make sure to check out the Disney discussion on Facebook for more tips. You guys are a wealth of information!

Join the discussion — add your two cents to previous Ask DSM Readers questions too!

Photo by Dhammika Heenpella

Every week I’ll pose a question for you to share your experiences and tips. If you have a question that you’d like me to post, I’d love to hear from you!

Summertime is almost here, and it won’t be long until the kids are out of school. I’m always on the lookout for boredom busters to keep my kids busy throughout the summer without breaking the budget.

A few things our family has planned are “camping out” in the backyard, making our own bubbles, and making homemade ice cream, as well as having the kids help me in our garden. I hope to share some of these activities with you over the summer!

So tell me…what are your favorite summer activities on a budget? What special deals do you take advantage of? What activities do you do at home? In your community?

Join the discussion — add your two cents to previous Ask DSM Readers questions too!

Every Thursday I’ll pose a question for you to share your experiences and tips. If you have a question that you’d like me to post, I’d love to hear from you!

If you’ve been couponing for very long, chances are you’ve come across a tough cashier — one who acts like you’re wasting their time or doing something illegal, who huffs and puffs as they scan your coupons or, worse, says that they can’t accept coupons that you know are valid and acceptable under the store’s policy. Running into too many of these types of cashiers can make couponing an awful experience instead of an enjoyable one, and more than one couponer has quit because they prefer to avoid confrontation.

So how do you deal with tough cashiers? Do you have tips to spot them and avoid them altogether? What do you do to try to “set the mood” before you check out? How do you handle their bad attitudes or refusal to accept coupons?

Join the discussion — add your two cents to previous Ask DSM Readers questions too!