They know me as "Mrs. iphone"... My tips for shopping at Joann's

Much to my husband's chagrin, Joann's is about 2-3 minutes from our house and more often frequented than the grocery store. The often reaction of the Joann's clerk is, "oh, it's you again."  As a new sewer (is that what they call one who sews?), successful  at getting at least one friend also hooked on the sport and also getting ready to adopt a baby, I have a lot of stocking and stashing up (and eventually sewing) to do.  Sewing is not an expensive hobby, but it can be.  My initiation into sewing began with a few innocent trips to the store here and there.  But, I soon realized that if I'm going get serious about sewing, I'd better figure out a way to do it without my husband throwing a hissy fit budget-wisely.

Here's my top tips:

#1 DO NOT BRING YOUR HUSBAND:  I learned this early on.  Shopping fabrics take longer than your husband would like.  He will rush you and and will balk at the check-out (instead of rejoicing with you at how much you saved on the most cutest half-yard you get to bring home). However, I have seen husbands there and I know a husband that would do wonderfully there, but not mine.  Let him see the final sewing product and an equivalent product on the market for 300% more. Then he will appreciate it.

#2 NEVER PAY FULL PRICE: I made this mistake early on and will try to never commit this sin again for as long as I shall sew.  With coupons and frequent sales, this should be possible (I realize not everyone enjoys the luxury of frequent trips to a close-range store ...sorry).  

• PAPER COUPONS:  Joann's gives out coupons galore: Sunday newspaper, mailers, and email (sign-up!).  Most are 50% off one full-priced item or 50% off one cut of full-priced fabric, or 55% off custom framing.   When you purchase an item, they lure you back by stuffing another coupon into your bag that is valid a day/week later. Sometimes I ask for another one. 
• IPHONE APP: There is also an iphone app that is SUPER simply because I always have my phone with me.  Like regular coupons, you have to watch out for expiration dates, but at any one time there maybe 3-4 of the above mentioned coupons on the iphone that I can use in addition to the mailers and email.  I always have my iphone out at every transaction.  Too bad there is no barcode, because the checkers have to key in the entire 16-20 digit code.  Oh, and unlike paper coupons, you can keep these coupons in your "iphone wallet" and use it again until expiration.
• MULTIPLE COUPONS: If you have multiple coupons, you can use them on multiple items (like at Bed, Bath and Beyond). You can't double up coupons on one item and although fabric is considered an "item," you can't use a "50%off fabric" coupon on an item.
• 10% of entire purchase: These coupons are great because you can use them on sale items.  So, if a fabric is 50% on sale, then the 10% coupon gives you major savings.
• MICHAEL'S COUPONS:  Yes! you can use michael's coupons (like their 40% off one item) except on things that michael's doesn't sell, like fabric.  So, since I'm not quite into paper or yarn or other craft goods, I don't need this one often.
• COUPON CAVEATS:
• 50% off coupons do not work on sale, red-tag or clearance items.  So, sometimes I will wait for a fabric to go off it's 30 or 40% off sale so that I can use a 50% off coupon.
• 50% off coupons do not work on remnant fabrics.  I finally disabused myself of the error that I could get 50% off already discounted fabric just because it's less than a yard leftover.  So, if you see fabric you like in the remnant bin, and you know the full bolt is still in the store, don't be tempted by it unless you don't have the 50% off coupon.

#2 WATCH FOR SALES

• Fabrics and notions and stuff go on sale quite frequently. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason for when or how much off or for how long (but I haven't been tracking it yet...like a crazy excel spreadsheet).  All I know is that the items on 50% sale are great and the items on 30% sale will eventually go on sale for 50%.  Maybe they rotate applying the 30-40-50 to the cotton-quilt-fleece-flannel-minky-felt every few days/weeks.
• Again, since there always seems to be a 50% off fabric coupon, I would wait for the fabric to go off it's 30 or 40% sale so I can buy it at half-off.
• Firefly Sale!  This sale coincided perfectly with my efforts to sew-er-ize my friend by buying her all sorts of sewing essentials for her birthday.  I am reading it happens usually mid-June. In addition to most things I needed being on sale 50% (thread, cutting tools, notions, etc), there were 10% off entire purchase coupons AND for spending more than $50, I got a coupon for $10 off of $10 or more purchase (which had to be a pre-couponed subtotal greater than $10, but clearance and sale items were ok, but remnants were not).
• Seasonal sales:  Apparently, there are big sales around the holidays (independence, veterants, thanksgiving/black friday, veterans, etc.) but I haven't been sewing long enough to know, but plan to find out.

This blog post highlights her own budget friendly tips for Joann's.  She pays more attention to the actual $ of items, which I plan to do since I want to compare with M&L (a discount outlet near my house), but my sewing repertoire has really expanded beyond fabric into the world of zippers, felt and interfacing and patterns yet.

 

My last tip is...

#3 DON'T KNOCK JoANN's - she does have some cute fabrics.  They don't carry most of the designer fabrics, but just cuz it's not designer, doesn't mean it's not cute.  See...these are some boy fabrics I plan to buy soon. Cute, right?