COUPON QUEEN: 5 victories to keep budget in line

Stretching your dollar doesn't mean only counting the big wins. Sometimes it's the small, repeatable savings that add up to big money at the end of the year. Here are five little victories that kept my budget in line without feeling like I missed out on anything. First up, the Flashfood app. Sometimes it feels like I'm treasure hunting in the grocery store. This app connects shoppers with discounted groceries nearing their sell-by dates, as well as discontinued or seasonal items. Rather than letting food go to waste, stores offer these discounts to savvy shoppers. This week I scored a box of vegetables and a couple of different cuts of meat for half off. Once I got home, I portioned and froze the meat for future dinners. Not bad for items that otherwise might have gone to waste. Then came a gift-giving errand that turned into a perk-earning moment. I needed birthday presents from a local retailer, but instead of swiping my card there, I stopped at Giant Eagle and picked up gift cards first. The best part? I earned perks on the purchase. So, I grabbed the gifts, and I got a little reward waiting for me on my grocery account. That's the kind of two-for-one I love. It's my birthday month, and with it comes freebies in my inbox. I cashed in on a couple of restaurant freebies and even grabbed my birthday freebie at Sephora. Free lunch, a discounted dinner, and a beauty treat all in one week, suddenly turning a year older didn't feel so bad. I also sent a little love to my son at college. A promo code landed in my email for $5 off a meal at Qdoba. He was finishing up his resident adviser training, so I ordered him dinner online for pickup. No delivery fees, no driver tips, just a hot meal waiting when he walked over. He was happy, my wallet was glad, and we both counted it as a win. Best of all, it gave me a reason to call him, hear his voice, and share a little moment in the middle of his busy week. And finally, there's the quiet hero of my frugal life: the library. This week, I downloaded a new audiobook through the Libby app instead of buying it. It was free, easy, and I didn't have to add another subscription to my list. If you are an avid reader (or listener), this is a must-have app. While you may have to wait a little while for the most popular releases, I always have a book or two on my Libby shelf, so I never go without. It feels like a personal bookstore in my pocket. When I add it up, I've probably saved between $50 and $75 by using the Flashfood app, grabbing gift cards, using birthday freebies and a promo code, and utilizing the Libby app. Not bad for a week of savings. Even small victories can become a big win. This week's deal Here are some deals to grab this week at CVS.Select Kellogg's Cereal - $1.99 Buy 2 = $3.98Use the $1 off 2 coupon found on the CVS website or app= $1.49 each box Rachel Krych is passionate about helping others spend less and save more. In addition to her weekly column, she has a blog, Couponing With Rachel, which earns her compensation from Google for ads it places there, and from entertainment marketers whose promotional codes she touts. She doesn't write about entertainment in her column. Email her at rachelkrych@gmail.com.