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NEWSLETTER SIGN-UP
Sign up for my FREE savings newsletter at http://www.joethecouponguy.com/mailinglist/index.htm.
CLASS SCHEDULE
Learn how to save a ton of money at one of my classes! All classes are free unless otherwise noted. Be sure to register for libraries that require registration as some have waiting lists. I hope to see you there! To view my upcoming class schedule as I add classes please go to: https://www.joethecouponguy.com/schedule/index.htm
At my Couponing/Savvy Shopper class learn how to consistently save 70% and more through couponing, sales, and rewards programs on groceries and toiletries. Find out new ways to save money on restaurants, utilities, cell/smart phones, travel, gas, prescriptions, clothes, and much more! Discover the psychological aspects of shopping and saving money. Find out how to beat inflation and tariffs!
At my Travel Affordably class learn how to get the best deals on car rentals, flights, cruises, lodging, and transportation. Find out how to save on entertainment and restaurants at your destination. You’ll learn where to find flights to Hawaii and Europe for around $300, Cruises for 80% off or more, free flights, the best places to economically travel, and travel saving secrets.
At my Cutting the Cord class find out your options to getting rid of cable. Learn ways to cut costs. Discover how to get free TV, including using an easy-to-install antenna or free streaming video services. Find out your options for streaming video devices, including Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire TV Stick and what shows you can access with them, including live TV and sports. Find out which of the many streaming video services from Hulu, Sling, Netflix, to Disney+ and many more are best for you. Make sense of all the confusion of switching from cable to another service and the technical parameters needed to do so. Find out how much you can save!
MAY
Saturday, May 9, 2026 – Travel Affordably Class – Aurora Community Education – 2:00 pm – FEE – Register at https://aurora.activityreg.com/selectActivity
Tuesday, May 19, 2026 – Couponing/Savvy Shopper Class – Aurora Community Education – 7:00 pm – FEE – Register at https://aurora.activityreg.com/selectActivity
JUNE
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 – Cutting the Cord Class – Aurora Community Education – 7:00 pm – FEE – Register at https://aurora.activityreg.com/selectActivity
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 – Cutting the Cord Class – Strongsville Library – 7:00 pm – FREE!
SEPTEMBER
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 – Couponing/Savvy Shopper Class – Strongsville Library – 7:00 pm – FREE!
If you’re interested in booking a class for your organization whether it be a PTA, Senior Center, Business, Church, or Library, please contact me at joe@joethecouponguy.com or 440-227-6223. I can tailor the topics to your organization.
If you’d like for me to teach a class at your local library, feel free to contact your library and request me. Have them get a hold of me at joe@joethecouponguy.com to book me. Thank you!
SAVVY SHOPPER BOOKLET
UPDATED! Get the Savvy Shopper Booklet and learn how to save tons of money! The booklet has over 200 pages with thousands of money-saving tips. Great for someone just starting out or wants to learn more ways to save money. Only $13 plus get FREE shipping! Learn to save thousands and thousands of dollars!
Included in the booklet are ways to save on these topics:
Rules for Saving, Shopping Tips, Money Saving Apps, Negotiating Savings, Budgeting, Consumer Protection, Coupons, Coupon Booklets, Daily Deals, Rebates, Best Price & Service Guarantees/Price Matching, Rain Checks, Mail/Shipping Orders, Clearance Items, Returns, Receipts, Warranties, Store Loyalty/Rewards Cards, Gift Certificates/Gift Cards, Freebies, Buy One Get One Free Deals, Store Closings, Dollar Stores, Thrift Stores, Garage Sales/Flea Markets, Outlet Stores, Shopping Club Memberships (Warehouse stores), Auctions, Clothing, Restaurant/Bar Deals, Food & Beverage Deals, Entertainment Deals, Books/Magazines/Newspapers, Birthday Deals, Travel Savings, International Travel, Gasoline Savings, Car Savings, Parking Savings, Home Purchase/Mortgage, Home Maintenance/Items, Home Heating/Energy, Employer/Local Corporation Savings/Discounts, Banks/Payday Lenders, Credit Cards/Credit Scores, Taxes, Legal, Debt Help, Insurance, Children, Schooling, Weddings, Marriage/Relationships, Health, Sports, Jobs, Retirement, Charity, Social, Pets, Haircuts, New!: Cutting the Cord, Technology/Internet/Computers/Electronics, Etc., Phone Savings, Cell Phones, Miscellaneous Tips/Information, Traits of Savers vs. Spenders, Other Money Saving Web-sites
Click here to order:
https://www.joethecouponguy.com/merchandise/index.htm
MAGAZINES.COM
Save Up to 90% Off Best-Selling Subscriptions
Enjoy BIG Savings with Full Year Subscriptions Just $10 or LESS
$5 Off Sale—Take an EXTRA $5 Off Full Year Subscriptions + FREE SHIPPING
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/Magazines2026
Get 30% Off ALL Accessories on Keurig.com! Use Code ALMOSTSPRING on Keurig.com to Save!
Get Coffee People® K-Cup® Pods for As Low as $0.31 Per Pod with Auto-Delivery on Keurig.com!
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/Keurig2026
WINE EXPRESS
Get great values for quality wine at Wine Express!
Connoisseur’s Choice Wine Club
Under $20 Wine Enthusiast #1 BEST BUY 93 Point Method 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon!
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/WineExpress2026
THE AYURVEDA EXPERIENCE
Free Shipping + 30 days money back guarantee on Ayurvedic skincare products
Get any 3 products for $99 USD – Make your own bundle ! LIMITED TIME OFFER !!
Save $47 on the 21-Day Effortless Weight Loss Plan at TheAyurvedaExperience.com
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/AyurvedaExperience2026
TEXTBOOKS
Save up to 90% on new, used and eTextbooks.
50% Cash Back & 100% Guaranteed! Shop Guaranteed Cash Back textbooks now
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/Textbooks2026
BURPEE
Shop all of your seed, flower, vegetable, & gardening supply needs at Burpee!
Returning customers save 20% on orders $60+ with code BURPEE20
Save 10% on your first Burpee purchase with promo code BURPEE10
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/Burpee2026
SAMS CLUB
Presidents' Day Savings are now live. Ends Feb 25.
Shop Shocking Values at SamsClub.com for daily, limited-time savings!
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/SamsClub2026
RESTAURANT.COM
Shop the 3-Month Discount Dining Pass at Restaurant.com Enjoy Savings at Over 170,000 Restaurants and Retailers Nationwide.
Mardi Gras, Let the Good Times Roll in Savings! Take 25% Off Orders of $10+ with code FATUE. Offer valid 02/12 – 02/17
MLB Spring Training, Grand Slam Deals! Take 35% Off Orders of $25+ with code GRAND. Offer valid 02/20 – 02/25
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/Restaurant2026
Buy Pickleball Central Gift Cards Online & Earn 1% Giftcards.com Rewards Discount!
Buy Texas Roadhouse Gift Cards Online & Earn 1% Giftcards.com Rewards Discount!
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/GiftCardSale2026
AUTONOMOUS
Valentine's Day Special: Free Shipping on ALL Orders!
Free office design Get help designing your new office with our interior designers.
New Smart Desk 5 from AUTONOMOUS with only $299
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/Autonomous2026
FLORSHEIM SHOES
Last pairs left! Shop up to 60% off our best prices ever on select items! No code needed.
Shop up to 40% off clearance. Prices as marked, no promo code needed.
We appreciate your business – shop 25% off with code LNKFLFC5
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/Florsheim2026
SHARPER IMAGE
20% off sitewide + Shipping RebateUse code: LOVE
Receive $10 off your order when you spend $100 or more. Enter Coupon Code: AFF10 at checkout.
Receive $15 off your order when you spend $150 or more. Enter Coupon Code: AFF15 at checkout.
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/SharperImage2026
CHEAPFLIGHTFARES
Along with cheap flights, they have compiled a wide selection of flight-saving promo codes and coupon codes for different types of travelers so you can enjoy even more savings on your flights. Our coupon codes range from exclusive discounts and savings for first-class and business-class flights to economy-class flights. Apart from flight class-specific promo codes, their team of travel experts has crafted special coupons for International flights, Round trips and Group travel as well. Find the coupon that will help you save big on your flights and use it while doing online flight booking.
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/CheapFlightFares2026
CUTTER & BUCK
Cutter & Buck creates short sleeve polo shirts, vests, pullovers, button-downs, long sleeve shirts, dress shirts, t-shirts, pants, shorts, sweaters, sweatshirts, hoodies, outerwear, jackets, windbreakers, vests, puffers, quilted jackets, quarter zips and athleisure clothing for men and women and are also offered in Mens Big sizes and Mens Tall sizes. Our clothes are perfect for your active lifestyle, engineered for exceptional versatility so they will be perfect for work, work from home, travel, date night, golf, walking, boating, hiking, entertaining, and for showing your team pride and fan support for your favorite MLB, NFL, or NCAA College or University Team.
Free Shipping on all Orders over $50! Including all NFL, MLB and NCAA
Click here: https://tinyurl.com/CutterBuck2026
RED HAWK GRILLE
Located at 7481 Auburn Road in Concord.
Monday-Friday 3pm-7pm Bar Only!
Double Shots – $0.01 Extra!
All Drafts – $1 Off
All Wine By the Glass – $1 Off
$2.00 Domestic Bottles
Monday
MULE MONDAY! All House Mules $6
Tuesday
$4 Craft Pints
Wednesday
Wine Wednesday! $10 off ANY bottle
Thursday
$6 Golden Margaritas
Friday and Saturday
$5 Long Islands
Sunday
$6 Bloody Mary, or Sangria
ORIGINAL STEAKS AND HOAGIES
New location at 210 E 305 in Willowick in the Shoregate Shopping Center.
Look for BOGO coupon in Max Values coupon magazine mailed to homes.
TEXAS ROADHOUSE
Dinner for 2 special at participating locations for just $49.95 this Friday, February 13 – Sunday, February 15 only.
Choose an appetizer to share:
– Cactus Blossom
– Fried Pickles
– Grilled Shrimp
Choose two entrees:
– 10 oz. Prime Rib
– 8 oz. Sirloin & Shrimp Combo
– 6 oz. Sirloin & Ribs Combo
– 6 oz. Sirloin & BBQ Chicken Combo
WOOD ROOM CASH DISCOUNT
The Wood Room is a martini bar located at 34100 Chardon Rd in Willoughby Hills. They offer a 10% discount if you pay in cash. If you pay with a credit card they charge a 3% service fee, so best to pay cash. Rare for a place to offer such a big cash discount. Many restaurant/bars now charge a 3% service fee for using a credit card. Look for a “service fee” on a receipt to see if there is a credit card fee.
NEW GIANT EAGLE ALCOHOL REBATES
New on Giant Eagle’s website are alcohol rebates! Just click on them to activate them just like digital coupons. Some are $10 rebates, so substantial.
Click here: https://www.gianteagle.com/grocery/alcohol-rebates
KRAZY BINS MENTOR REOPENING
THe Krazy Bins store at 7723 Mentor Ave in Mentor reopened. Locations also in Parma, Kent, and Toledo.
Krazy Bins is the largest Target overstock outlet warehouse in Ohio. They restock every Friday at 10AM. Saturday the bin items are $10, Sunday is $6, Monday is $4, Tuesday is $3, Wednesday is $1.25 and Thursday is $1. On Friday the entire store restocks and everything in the bins goes back to $15. Most items are at least 50% OFF retail prices, some items are discounted as much as 90% OFF of retail prices. Clothing is $5 on Friday and $3 Saturday through Thursday.
Get 10% off on your first visit. Click here for the coupon: https://krazybins.attn.tv/p/obZ/
GIANT EAGLE GIFT CARD DEAL
2/16 Only – Earn 400 Perks for every $100 purchased in gift cards – equates to $8 saving
ASPIRIN DEAL
Marcs brand – 100 ct or 36 ct chewable aspirin – $1.04
Marcs Ibuprofen – two 100 ct – $3.99
FURNITURE STORES CLOSING
Find going out of business sales at Daniel’s Furniture at 2800 Superior Ave and all Value City Furniture stores. Discounts have been minimal. Most furniture store closings tend to drag out their closings. Either way, shop early for the best selection or keep your eye on the discounts until it hits your price point. Some stores may negotiate a deal with you. Doesn’t hurt to ask!
FREE MONSTER TICKETS
Now through February 28th, 2026, purchase a $25 Discount Drug Mart gift card and receive a code to redeem up to four (4) Cleveland Monsters or Cleveland Charge tickets per transaction for free! Gift cards must be purchased in store, and you’ll receive a code on the bottom of your receipt to claim your tickets online. Choose from any available games for the 2025-2026 season.
ORGANIC
Many organic brands are owned by large companies. The following list shows the owners of organic companies:
Coca-Cola – Honest Tea, Suja
Colgate-Palmolive – Tom’s of Maine
Conagra – Alexia Foods, Blake’s
General Mills – Annie’s, Cascadian Farms
Hershey Foods – Dagoba
Hormel – Applegate, Justin’s
Kellogg – Bear Naked, Gardenburger, Kashi, Pure Organic
Keurig/Dr Pepper – Green Mountain, Newman’s Own
Kraft Heinz – Ethical Bean Coffee, Prial Kitchen
Mars Food – Seeds of Change, Tasty Bite
Nestle – Orgain, Sweet Earth
Pepsi – Pure Leaf, Stacy’s
Find organic food coupons at: https://www.organicvalley.coop and https://wholesomesavings.com
SHERWIN WILLIAMS
PaintPerks® Exclusive | February 6 – 23
40% OFF Emerald® Products
25% OFF All Other Paints & Stains
Plus, 10% OFF Paint Supplies
SHELL GAME
In a recent blog I posted I mentioned how proponents of property tax elimination or reductions were pushing to get it passed to lower taxes, but that the effect will be an increase in taxes elsewhere such as sales tax to make up the loss of revenue. The other week the Governor of Ohio raised the red flag to state just the same. His comment was “Sales tax could go up to 17, 18, 19, 20%, sales tax in the state of Ohio on products that you buy,” “So, it would be absolutely devastating.”
In other words, again, the poor and middle class will get hurt more than the rich because doing as such is a regressive rather than progressive tax. A flat tax does the same. A flat income tax would increase taxes for lower income folks and lower the tax for high income earners. Currently, income taxes are less or even zero for the lower class.
An example of this shell game happened when Lake County commissioners in October doubled two existing property tax credits, the Homestead exemption and the 2.5% owner-occupied credit. The move will cause a loss of revenue for the Willoughby-Eastlake Schools of nearly $22 million over the next five years, so good chance they will put out levies to make up the difference.
Asking people behind the reductions about how they would make up for the shortfall brings about simplistic answers, if any at all. None are realistic. Just cut back on spending they say. Ask the same of a person that is trying to make ends meet while prices increase. Not happening. It shows by the total consumer bankruptcy filings jumping 12% from 478,752 in 2024 to 533,949 in 2025. Another example is DOGE stating they were going to save tons of money when in reality they saved less than 5 percent of what they claimed. It’s easier said than done.
BAR RESCUE?
Did you ever watch the show Bar Rescue with John Tapper? He goes into run down bars and restaurants and spiffies them up and after a lot of drama and New York bravado gets the staff to shape up. So what percentage of places he “fixes” up are still operational? You may be surprised. This site keeps track of them. Find out here: https://realitytvupdates.com/bar-rescue-updates/
As you may surmise, the percentage isn’t that great. Once a place gets a bad reputation, it’s hard to turn it around. Complacent staff goes back to their old ways. If the right message isn’t set early on it’s hard to correct it after the fact and put the genie back in the bottle. Kinda like parenting. Workers and kids tend to abuse what they can get away with.
CLOSED RESTAURANTS
Want to find out which restaurants closed in your area. Find them here: https://closeddownrestaurants.com/upcoming-restaurant-closures/
TRADE DEFICIT BOOMS
As I mentioned in the last blog the spurt in economic activity was temporary since businesses were purchasing more to get ahead of the new tariffs. The U.S. trade deficit widened by the most in nearly 34 years in November 2025. The trade gap increased 94.6% to $56.8 billion from $29.4 billion in October (the smallest since June 2009). The percentage change was the largest since March 1992. This is while the dollar is weak too which makes goods from the US cheaper to purchase. The U.S. trade deficit totaled $839.5 billion through the first 11 months of 2025, compared with $806.5 billion in the same period in 2024.
The main point of the tariffs was not to match tariffs from other countries because some countries tariffed didn’t even have or had very minimal tariffs on the US, but was tied to the trade deficit of each country. So the tariffs were meant to lessen the trade deficit. It had the opposite effect.
Countries are now re-establishing trade with countries they shunned to get around the US tariffs. For instance, Canada signed a trade agreement with China and India has a new agreement with the EU. What will hit the US hardest is that trade may never be re-established with the U.S., if other countries step in to provide goods at a cheaper price, not to mention the strained relationships the U.S. caused.
A canary in the coalmine effect of all this is job losses. Preliminary data had indicated that the U.S. economy added 584,000 jobs in 2025. The Bureau of Labor Statistics revised that number after it received additional state data and found that just 181,000 jobs were added in all of 2025, a huge drop from the the 1.46 million jobs that were added in 2024. A good effect is that inflation has gone down as it has been aroud mid-to-high 2% range since mid-2024, but with job losses means people are spending less and that lessens demand which lowers inflation. However, high earners are doing well. According to a Moody’s Analytics report, the top 10% of U.S. income earners accounted for 49.2% of total consumer spending in Q2 2025, a record high. It was 43% in 2020. It highlights a “K-shaped” economy where wealthy households fuel growth while lower-income spending remains stagnant.
WAIT! WAIT!
When we cruise we always get there a day or two early to make sure we get on our cruise ship on time, especially during the winter months when flights tend to get delayed or cancelled. Plus it gives us some time to enjoy the port city. Norwegian recently made it a requirement for guests who book flights through the cruise line to arrive at the embarkation city at least one day before ship sets sail. Apparently, too many passengers weren’t boarding the ship on time. With flights getting ever more sketchier flying on time, it makes it a sensible rule.
Reminds me of a time when we were on our cruise ship in Vancouver, Canada. We were on one of the decks overlooking the city while the ship was leaving the dock when we saw a couple sprinting down the boardwalk yelling, “Wait! Wait!”. Sorry bubs. The cruise ship isn’t going to pull back into the port to get you. See ya in the next port…maybe. At least you’ll have an interesting story to put in your diary for the day.
TASTES LIKE PRESERVATIVES
Costco was sued over its $4.99 rotisserie chicken for falsely advertising that its rotisserie chicken contains “no preservatives”. They allege that Costco’s Kirkland Signature Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken contains two added preservatives, sodium phosphate and carrageenan. Sodium phosphate is a preservative that controls pH and reduces fat oxidation, effectively slowing microbial growth and spoilage. Carrageenan is used to thicken foods, yet has no nutritional value.
Here is a statement by Costco:
“To maintain consistency among the labeling on our rotisserie chickens and the signs in our warehouses/on-line presentations, we have removed statements concerning preservatives from the signs and on-line presentations,” the company said. “We use carrageenan and sodium phosphate to support moisture retention, texture, and product consistency during cooking. Both ingredients are approved by food safety authorities.”
So if you don’t want your recommended daily allowance of preservatives, don’t buy the chicken. If anything, mosh on all the free samples they have to get your fill.
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CONTACT INFO:
E-mail: joe@joethecouponguy.com
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© COPYRIGHT 2026 – Joe Daugirdas
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