Kroger has announced that they will no longer be doubling or tripling coupons in their Houston area stores beginning April 13, 2011.

Here is the announcement as can be found on their website.

Honestly, I have been unhappy since I heard the announcement, simply because the future is unknown. They do mention that they will be starting a new savings program soon, so I will look forward to hearing about that.  Kroger has been my favorite store since I began couponing seriously a few years ago.  I am hoping that this change does not force me to switch to another grocery store, but I'm bracing myself for the change if it becomes necessary.

Here is a picture from my shopping trip last night to wrap up the March to Madness sale that just ended. This is an example of some great deals that I could get using coupons paired with sale prices! All of this has a shelf price of $188.22, and I only paid $69.97. That's a savings of 62%. Now, with these figures being presented, I actually only saved $4 with 'bonus coupons' which are the doubled or tripled "extras", so it might not weigh that heavily on us in the end. Only time will tell.

What do you think about Kroger's announcement? Will you stick with shopping at Kroger? What are your thoughts?

Please share them with me! I would love to hear from you!

Chick-fil-A will be giving away FREE Spicy Chicken Biscuits in the morning from 6:00 AM - 10:30 AM!

Every Thursday, beginning tomorrow, March 24, 2011, they will be handing out a free breakfast item. This is a Houston-only promotion, so be sure to visit your local Cy-Fair area Chick-fil-A to take advantage of this offer!

Perhaps the best way to learn to save money is to be aware of the ways we waste money.

I found this article on Yahoo! a little while ago and found it to be pretty accurate. So today, instead of sharing a money-saving tip with you, I'm going to ask you to please read this article and see how you might be wasting your money. If you decide to change just one of these bad habits, you will probably realize savings without really trying. Easy enough, right?

Here it is: 25 Ways To Waste Your Money

Note: I will disagree with one point - buying generic over brand name at least in groceries, but that will be a topic for another day. Until I show you how to save on brand names, stick with generics.... for now.

Remember to check out my daily blog about money-saving deals at Deals That Make Cents.

My family has been traveling for Spring Break. Being away from home creates its own extra expenses - extra gasoline, eating on the road, plus all the little extras, i.e. souvenirs, forgotten items, etc. A little planning goes a long way in saving money while you are traveling. Of course, eating in usually is the least expensive way to feed your family, but we always enjoy a night out so I can have a night off from cooking, dishes and cleaning up the kitchen!

A great way I have found to save on feeding our family out on a limited budget is Restaurant.com. Restaurant.com offers discounted gift certificates for thousands of restaurants all over the country! Right now, you can save 70% off most Restaurant.com $25 Gift Certificates! Use code SPRING at checkout now through 3/22/11.

 How it works (use the link above to go directly to Restaurant.com):

1. Browse the Restaurant.com website for the area where you will be traveling or here at home.  There are a lot of great choices in the Cy-Fair area. It's also a fantastic way to try new restaurants! (We don't have to be on vacation to give me a night off, do we?)

2. Choose the restaurant where you would like to dine.

3. Purchase a $25 gift certificate for only $3 using the promo code SPRING

4. Print the certificate and take it with you to the restaurant when you go.

5. Present your certificate to your waiter prior to dining, meet the minimum purchasing requirements outlined on the certificate, and pay the difference when your bill comes. That's it!

The last time our family used one of these certificates, we only paid $18.50 (including tax and tip) for a $42 meal! What a deal!

I am always looking for ways to save on gasoline, especially now that prices are rising once again.

First, I like to use GasBuddy.com to price compare in the area to find the best price on gasoline. They have a mobile app now as well which is very helpful if you find yourself out and about and your gas light comes on!

In addition to the lowest price, you can often get discounts. Kroger offers a 3-cent per gallon discount when you use your Kroger Plus Card at the pump. When you accumulate 100 points from grocery or gift card purchases, you can get a 10-cent discount per gallon. Kroger has also partnered with Shell, so you can get your Kroger discount at participating Shell stations.

Lastly, and probably most significantly, your driving habits affect your gas expenses. Some of the top things to do to conserve gasoline is to drive slower, maintain your vehicle, and limit your driving.

If you want to know more ways to save on gas, I found a great list here.

How have you found is the best way to save on your gas expenses?

I want to hear from you! You can email me here at deals@simplycyfair.com.

Here are some of Kroger's best deals of the week. I have listed sale prices along with coupons that should be used to get even lower prices! Remember, you get the most for your money when you combine sale prices with manufacturer's coupons.

These sale prices are valid and Kroger coupons only double and triple when you use your Kroger card.

Note: inserts found in the Houston Chronicle for date specified

Gillette Mens Bodywash - $3.00
- $2.00 from the 2/27 P&G insert
= $1.00 each

Secret Deodorant - $1.99
- $.50 from the 2/27 P&G insert (doubles to $1.00)
= $.99 each

Herbal Essences or Aussie Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styler - $2.70
- Buy 1, Get 1 Styler Free from 3/13 SmartSource insert
= $1.35 each

Tide Stain Release - $5.99
- $3.00  from the 2/27 P&G insert
= $2.99

Duracell Batteries - $2.50
- $.50 from the 2/27 P&G insert (doubles to $1.00)
= $1.50

Totinos Pizza Rolls 15ct - $.99
- $.35  from the 1/30 SmartSource insert (triples up to product cost)
= FREE

Pillsbury Toaster Strudel - $1.99
- $.35 from 3/13 SmartSource insert (triples to $1.05)
= $.94 each

 Bar S Meat Franks - $1.00
- $1/2 from the 1/30 RedPlum insert
= $.50 each when you buy 2

Chex Mix -$1.25
- $.50/2  from 3/13 SmartSource insert (doubles to $1.00)
= $.75 each

Betty Crocker Supreme Brownie Mix - $2.00
- $.50 from the 2/13 GM insert (doubles to $1.00)
= $1.00 each

Hershey's King Size Reese's or Drops - $1.00
- Buy 1 Get 1 Free from the 1/30 SmartSource insert
= $.50 each when you buy 2

For additional tips on how to save money when shopping at Kroger, please visit Deals That Make Cents.

Do you have questions about this post or any other good deals you found at Kroger this week? Please let me know!

Over the next several weeks, I would like to share some tips with you on how to save money. Today we will begin with the Top Five ways I think are the best general ways to save money. In coming weeks, I will focus on ways to save in specific areas of the home, bills, and everyday expenses.

Here are my TOP FIVE WAYS TO SAVE:

5. Don't be brand loyal - You probably have a favorite toothpaste, shampoo or cheese, but have you ever tried other brands that are a better value?

4. Comparison shop - The internet is a fantastic tool to use when shopping for big-ticket items.  

3. Shop by price per unit, not lowest price - Just because the price tag says a lower amount does not make it the cheapest item!  

2.  Use Manufacturer's Coupons paired with sale prices - Maximize your savings by using coupons when items are on sale. 

1. Know your needs vs. your wants - You can start saving immediately by spending less on your wants.   

What are the biggest ways you save? I want to hear from you!

For a more detailed explanation of each of these tips, please visit Deals That Make Cents. 

Hello! Welcome to the Specials page of Simply Cy-Fair. My name is April, and I will be contributing my money-saving know-how to help you save money on everyday things you buy.

I have been a bargain-hunter since I was very young, being "trained" on shopping trips with my mom and grandmother. They taught me early on about the value of a dollar and how to get the most bang for my buck.

I would like this page to become a go-to resource for you to hear about deals in the Cy-Fair community. I also hope you will learn a thing or two about how to save money on your everyday purchases.

I want to hear from you! What kind of deals would you like to see? If you are looking to save money in one particular area, please don't hesitate to ask me, I might have some suggestions for you. You can contact me at deals@simplycyfair.com