I’m very excited to announce this new feature of Frugal Finders! You can head over and download the brand new Frugal Finders toolbar to help you stay on top of the deals right in your web browser.

This toolbar is compatible with Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, and even Google Chrome! You’ll be able to search my site, see the latest posts, and also browse to the top in-store deals and coupon sites.

Every time I post a new deal, your toolbar will automatically update! To see the full list of items I’ve posted, you can click on the little triangle next to the orange RSS button.

Download the Frugal Finders toolbar now, and let us know what you think of it! I’m all ears for feedback and suggestions.

Photo Credit: qmnonic

The following is a guest post from Nick at SavingStar:

For decades, consumers have relied on the Sunday paper to provide them with a stack of coupons in order to save a little bit on their groceries. Then, a few years ago, the grocery world decided it was time to get competitive. Instead of simply honoring manufacturer coupons, grocery stores figured out ways to offer exclusive savings on groceries to their customers. These new trends have added an interesting dynamic to the whole grocery shopping experience.

Here are some of the latest ways that consumers are finding to save at their local grocery store:

1. Website discounts. There are a number of websites that offer discounts on the grocery shopping experience. There are different models here; some are membership sites where you order items on an ongoing basis at a discount price. Others provide discounts that automatically apply when you use a registered credit card at the grocery store to buy those specific items. Check out some of these kinds of services, and you’ll be surprised just how easy it is to get started (and how fast the savings can add up).
2. Branded loyalty cards. Many grocery stores now offer their own loyalty cards. The basic premise is this: you have the store’s loyalty card, and swipe it during the checkout process. You then receive specific discounts on your groceries, depending on what specials the grocer is offering each week. Some iterations of this system actually let you go online and browse the retailer’s website and “clip” virtual coupons that attach to your loyalty card, in addition to whatever general weekly specials there might be.
3. Web based coupons. There are also some grocers that allow you to print specific coupons from their websites for specific items. These coupons are usually different than the ones that come in your Sunday circular. Many manufacturers also offer these kinds of coupons. Simply check out the websites of your favorite brands from time to time, and you’ll be surprised to see what they’re offering.
4. Social media coupons. Other manufacturers and grocers are utilizing the power of social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook to draw customers. They may offer special discounts available only to their followers on those sites. If there are brands you buy every week, consider “friending” or “following” them on their social media sites to take advantage of these discounts.
5. Text based coupons. Some companies are now taking advantage of the proliferation of mobile devices, as well. You can sign up to receive text messages from some grocery stores that will give you access to specific discounts. In many instances, these work alongside your branded loyalty card; after you swipe your loyalty card, you may be able to enter a special code that will give you access to a certain mobile-only discount or coupon.
6. Discount sites. One of the hottest trends right now in terms of retail discounts is discount sale sites. These include sites like LivingSocial as well as Groupon and many others. The basic premise is this: you purchase a coupon from one of these sites that gets you a greater value in products. So, for example, you might spend $5 to get a coupon for $10 from your local grocer. Many larger retail chains have participated in these discount sites, but there are also many local smaller businesses that participate, as well.
7. Catalina. That machine at the end of the checkout lane that spits out seemingly random coupons is known as a Catalina machine. (It gets its name from one of the more popular versions of the technology, although today there are several different manufacturers and iterations of this device). The truth is that the coupons it presents aren’t random. They’re programmed to respond to specific purchases with specific coupons. For example, at some grocery stores if you spend less than $10, you’re likely to get a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $75 or more. The idea is to get you back into the store for your weekly grocery shop, as well as whatever you bought that day.

While the coupons from the Sunday circular are still worth looking at, more and more the biggest savings are coming from some of these alternative methods. For example, web-based coupons are often as much as 40-50% higher discount for the same item than the coupon that the manufacturer puts out in the paper. Spend some time looking into these trends and you’ll see your grocery savings multiply dramatically.

Nick Simpson is Social Media Coordinator at SavingStar, a leading provider of grocery coupons. SavingStar has pioneered the process of providing grocery store coupons online and has a rapidly growing customer base of happy shoppers that save money with their store loyalty programs.

In case you missed my previous post, I’m having a Savings Nation grocery savings workshop in St. Cloud MN in just a few weeks! Here are the details:

Apollo High School
May 19, 2012
Register Here

If you don’t live in St. Cloud, or have friends in other cities that want to save like a pro too, visit SavingsNation.com to find a class near you. We’re rolling out new classes taught by the top money saving experts all the time! Here are a few of the upcoming classes:

Atlanta, Georgia
Crystal Collins, author of The Thrifty Mama
April 26, 2012
Register Here

Littleton, Colorado
Jennie Sanford, author of Bargain Blessings
May 5, 2012
Register Here

Jacksonville, Florida
Karen Rodriguez, author of Saving the Family Money
May 7, 2012
Register Here

Alliance, Ohio
Sara, author of Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring
May 9, 2012
Register Here

Cincinnati, Ohio
Andrea Deckard, author of Savings Lifestyle
May 12, 2012
Register Here

Arlington, Texas
Rachel Holland, author of Surviving the Stores
May 17, 2012
Register Here

Are you having problems printing coupons on your computer? One of the reasons behind this is an outdated web browser. An outdated web browser can also affect your experience on the site, as well as pose a security risk to your computer.

With that being said, Mozilla Firefox 10 was just released! If you are having unresolved issues, upgrade to Firefox 10 and see if that helps to resolve your problems.