Saturday, August 29, 2009

WOW Target Cat food trip.

So we had a great family night tonight, just the four of us at our favorite Mexican restaurant plus dessert at a great little boutique. After dinner I went to Target to grab some dry cat food. We were completely out and Target was next door to the restaurant.

Since I was in the pet food aisle and I had my Chef Michael's coupons with me I decided to grab a few transactions worth of that deal.

I got 16 cans of Chef Michael's wet food, 10 bags of Chef Michael's Dry food and 3 bags of Purina Healthful Life cat food.

16 cans @ $.89 each =$14.24
10 bags @ $4.59= $45.90
3 cat food @ $2.14 = $6.42
Total cost with out coupons =$66.56

Total cost after coupons =$4.14
Percent saved 94%

Walgreens and CVS 8-28

Since Captain Obvious has started Pre K, I decided to use my new found freedom on Friday afternoon with a CVS and Walgreens trip. I went to three Walgreens and got 15 Huggies wipes, 15 Character Bandaids, 2 more of the coveted Children's Activity Books and 4 coloring books.

At CVS I was able to get 1 case of Gold Emblem bottled water, two rolls of CVS paper towels, I pack of CVS cookies, 1 bottle CVS liquid hand soap, 3 boxes of Sani Hands for Kids hand wipes, 1 Canister of CVS sanitizer wipes and 4 packs of Kotex Panty liners.

My grand total oop was $19.93.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Kroger Double Day Saturday 8/15

Tomorrow is the big day at Kroger. Kroger stores in Texas will be doubling coupons up to and including $1. This can create some amazing deals. Don't forget to get the Sunday paper on saturday, because there are some great deals in this weeks paper too.

They will only double one like coupon so plan your trip well.

I have been following a blogger in my area who has done all of us a huge favor and created a great Excel spreadsheet of great deals.

http://katycouponers.blogspot.com/2009/08/kroger-doubles-in-txla-saturday-8-15.html

Open the google document and go to file - export- .xls. This will allow you to edit the document in Excel, and print it as large as you need it.

Hope that everyone has a great trip.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Back to School Shopping

I am so excited about back to school shopping this year. Princess Random will be in second grade and she is so excited to get back to school. This year will also be Captain Obvious' first year at the elementary school. I can't believe he has gotten so big.

Tradition in my family was that each kid got a special day alone with Mom to do our school shopping. It was always a special day, I have a lot of fond memories of these shopping trips. I remember how special it made me feel. Every year this special day would end with a Back to School fashion show. Which was always a lot of fun.

This year I will take Captain Obvious first since it is his first time, and I am really stoked about this special time with my son.

But, always trying to save a buck, I am always on the lookout for coupons to make my limited budget stretch a lot more.

My mom got this flyer in her mail this weekend and passed it on to me. There are two 15% coupons for The Childrens Place. We will definitely be using these. I love their jeans, and I have always appreciated that they have very high standards. Their pants last a long time even being worn by a four year old.





I am also going to try to get a great coupon in the weekly Old Navy Coupon Hunt. I have never been lucky enough for a big dollar one, but I would be thrilled to get a 15% off for Old Navy too.

FREE Highlighters and $.04 Huggies Wipes

WOW!!!!
Walgreens is HOT this week.

Remember that I found the $2 off Huggies coupon in a flyer at the front of Walgreens? So even though it says it is a mfg coupon it is a misprint. You can stack it with a mfg coupon since it is a store coupon.




So some Walgreens sell their Huggies wipes for $2.79. So I used my $.75 coupons I posted about yesterday that I found at Marble Slab and stacked it with the Walgreens coupon. Making each box of wipes $.04. WOW!!! Even if you don't have kids in diapers this is a phenomenal item to pick up to donate to a food pantry or the Church Nursery. I know many of mine will be going to Katy Christian Ministries. So many of the food pantries are really hurting right now. More need because of the economy combined with less donations because of the economy.

I also found a coupon for Sharpie Highlighters $1/1. Walgreens has a four pack on sale for $.99 cents this week. I grabbed a small filler item just to make sure it didn't freak out the machine to have overage.

So today's lunch break I spent $1.91 and I got

22- Boxes Huggies Wipes
10- 4pk Sharpie Accent Highlighters
1- Sharpie Permanent Marker

I didn't drive to work today so I don't have a picture of all the wipes I will take one tomorrow when I get them all home.

Good Luck.




Sharpie Coupon. It is a PDF file and while they are not always legit, i have emailed the company and I am assured that they are legit. Here is the link. You can print as many as you want.

http://schoolyearseve.cookiemag.com/pdf/SYE_Coupon.pdf

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

FREE Huggies Wipes


Here is a hot tip for you all...

Marble Slab Creamery had free Huggies Wipes Samples right on the counter. There are also $.75 mfg c/o there as well.

Good luck hope that you are all able to find some.

Please remember to be a responsible couponer and only take a reasonable amount, leave some for others.


Target $19.07

When I was looking for coupons for cat food yesterday I discovers that I had a whole batch of Target coupons that expired the same day. These were some great high dollar coupons that were in a mailer Princess Random found in the parking lot of a Target a while back. I have used several and didn't want the rest to go to waste. So I went through the rest of my coupons to match up what ever coupons I could.

I was able to match several coupons so this is what the transaction looked like

2- Bags Chef Michael Dog Food ($4.49, 2- $3.50 i/p mfg c/o, 2- $1.5o Target c/o)
4- Cans Chef Michael Dog Food ($.89 , 2 BOGO Target c/o)
1- Bag Meow Mix Cat Food
1- Bag Purina Cat Chow Healthful Life (I don't remember the price - Free Target c/o)
1- Bag Hefty Bowls (I don't have the receipt with me right now)
1- Box Bounce Dryer Sheets (I don't have the receipt with me right now)
1- 10 Pack Hanes Underwear For Girls (BTS Promo $5.00, 1- $1.00 Target c/0)

I will update the actual prices of the last few items when I have the receipt.



Monday, August 10, 2009

CVS Weekend shopping

I only did one trip to CVS this weekend so I had to make it count.

I have to remind you to always scan your card at the price checker before you start. It is a fantastic little deal. This time I got 3- Free Hair Coloring up to $10 c/o's and a $5/$25.

I even got a bonus and didn't have to count this trip in my Grocery Budget because my dad gave me money for just this. He encourages my coupon shopping and as he was leaving from visiting us handed me the money to do this shopping.

I got
1- Swiffer Wet Jet Pads Refill
2- 3 Packs of CVS Paper towels
4- Packs of Sour Patch Kids
14- Value Packs of Twizzlers Various flavors
4- Three Packs of Winterfresh Gum
3-Three Packs of Juicy Fruit
4- Three Packs Extra Gum
3- Loreal Preference Hair Color
1- 24 Pack of CVS Toilet Paper
7- Three Musketeers Bars
9- Snickers Bars
6- Twix bars




Unfortunately I don't have my reciept with me to explain the transactions in more detail, but I got a lot a of great deals and I do know that it was seven transactions.

Before anyone asks, No, we won't be eating all of the candy. I will use it for giftbaskets etc.

Another Lunch Break Adventure

I ran to CVS and Kroger today during my lunch break and scored some really great deals.

CVS...

2- Listerine Smart Rinse/ Agent Cool Blue (Clearance $2.85, 1-BOGO mfg. c/o, 1- $1 mfg. c/o)
1- CVS Toothbrush ($1.99, 1 Free CVS Toothbrush C/O)
4- Three Musketeers (2/$1, $1/2 mfg. c/o)
6- Twix (2/$1, $1/2 mfg. c/o)
1- 7 pack CVS Erasers (Rain Check $.99)
2- Three Packs Juicy Fruit (2/$4, 2- $1 mfg. c/o)
2- Three Packs Extra (2/$4, 2- $1 mfg. c/o)
2- Three Packs Winterfresh (2/$4, 2- $1 mfg. c/o)

Oop = $11.30
ECB's $5-$1
Total = $5.30
Savings of 93%



NOT BAD



Kroger...

14- Oral B Indicator Tooth Brushes (10/$10, 7 $.50/2 coupons double)
16- Glade Scented Oil Warmers ($1.99, 8 BOGO mfg. c/o, generates $1 catalins for each one)
1- New York Style Foccacia Sticks ($3.99, Free store c/o)
2- Beamans Gourmet Sausage ($5.39, BOGO sale, Free store c/o)
1- Private Selections Asparagus and Hollandaise sauce ($2.99, Free Store c/o)

The Kroger near my office is having a Grand Re-Opening and sent my mom some great coupons for lot's of free groceries so I went there with the intention of looking for the toothbrushes and air freshener.

Oop = $23.26
Catalinas = $13.00
Total = $10.26

Savings of 77%




This photo also has my Sushi for lunch pictured. No I didn't have a coupon for that. Bummer.

WOW So if I had paid retail price for this stuff today I would have spent $137.85. Not a bad way to spend my lunch hour.

Friday, August 7, 2009

Walgreens $8

I also made a Walgreens run tonight, I had picked up a stack of the new Back to School Coupon Pamphlets earlier this week. I wanted to get some Huggies Wipes with the coupon, so I could pass them on to a friend who had a baby.

Walgreens sells their Huggies Wipes for $2.79 this coupon is a $2 mfg c/o. It is not a Walgreens Coupon so it won't stack.

Still $.79 wipes is a great deal.

I got...

6- Huggies Wipes (1 $2 mfg c/o) It automatically took $12 off with just the one c/o.
1- High School Musical 3 Card Game $2.99 Clearance. This will be a great Christmas gift.

Another CVS trip

I made another quick trip to CVS this evening.

I was looking for the Blink Tears that are an ECB Deal this week. But they are all out. But I got a Rain Check.

I did find...
2-Listerine Smart Rinse Clearance for $2.29 (1-BOGO mfg c/o)
1- Bag of Cotton Squares
11- Clairol Naturals Loving Care Hair Color (11-$4 mfg c/o)
Minus 1 $5/$25
Minus one $2 ECB

Total Oop $3.43


Thursday, August 6, 2009

Kroger Trip Week of August 4-10

This was my most expensive shopping trip this week.

I spent $60 Oop.

Ouch!
But I got a lot for my money.

4-cans biscuits ($.44)
12 - Crest Toothpaste - 10/$10 ($.50 mfg c/o) Remember Kroger doubles up to .$50 so FREE!
3- Family Packs Chicken Breast (Reduced for quick sell)
1- Family Pack Chicken Thighs (Reduced for quick sell)
1- Pack Ground Beef (Reduced for quick sell)
1- Family Pack T-Bone Steaks (Reduced for quick sell)
1- Pack Honey Ham
2- Loafs of bread ($.79)
1- Bag Red Beans
2- Tide Stain Booster ($.75 mfg c/o) P&G $4/4
4- Herbal Essences Shampoo (BOGO mfg c/o) P&G $4/4
2- Herbal Essences Conditioner (BOGO mfg c/o) P&G $4/4
3- Twizzler Cinnamon (Clearance $.79 - $1/3 mfg c/o)


Pssssst...

A while back I signed up for a consumer panel for General Mills called Psssst. I am so excited about this opportunity.

I just received my first testing assignment from them. I will be going tomorrow to get my free product. Next week I will write my first product review, and I will also be passing out great high value coupons to interested people.

So stay tuned to see what I thought of this product.

CVS Trip this week

This weeks CVS trip was a great success. I received another $5 off $25 from the magic coupon printer to go along with the one I already had. I needed to either create two $25 transactions or one $50.

This is the break down of what I got.

4- Downy Fabric Softener (4- $.50 mfg c/o)
2- Clorox Color Safe Bleach (2- $1 mfg c/o)
6- Listerine Agent Cool Blue (6- $1 Ip c/c + 3 BOGO mfg c/o)
2- 4 Packs CVS Batteries (1 Free AA Battery CVS c/o + BOGO Sale this week)
2- Packs Sour Patch Kids (1 $1 CVS c/o)
1- Venom Energy Drink (1 Free mfg c/o)
1- 8 Pack CVS Paper Towels (1 $1 CVS c/o)
2- Scrubbing Bubbles Instant Shower Cleaner Refills (1 BOGO Mfg c/o)
8- Clairol Natural Loving Care Hair Color (8 $4 mfg c/o)

Total Oop.- $15.63


The Big Question

So I have decided to address the biggest question I have faced since starting my coupon shopping.

Why do you do it? It can't be worth it? You are doing as much as a second job!

I hear these questions a lot. Yesterday I was actually ridiculed by a guy at work because I was working on my coupons at my desk during my lunch break.

His ridicule made me wonder for all of a few seconds. Then I remembered why I do this.

Yes, it does take a lot of work. Yes, it is over whelming sometimes. But, I have said it before, and I will say it again. I am a mom and partner first. The three people who I am responsible for make every minute that I spend couponing worth it.

My coupon shopping allows us to have food on the table, a roof over our head, and the bills paid. Before I started this our grocery spending was in excess of $600 a month. Now I am able to feed all four of us, and all six animals for under $300.

I hope that as I continue to grow in this endeavor I will be able to lower that amount even more.

I thought that this would be a good time to show you what I do each week in order to accomplish this.

These pictures were taken this week on my iPhone so they are not the best quality.

I start on Saturday by reading the coupon preview on Refund Cents. This helps me decide how many papers I am going to want.

This week I learned that there were going to be five inserts in the paper. One Proctor and Gamble Brand Saver, One Kellogg's insert, One Red Plum insert and two Smart Source. Based on this I decided to get 20 papers. This is by far the most I have bought, but I used my ECB's and gift card. So I didn't have to pay out of pocket making it a great start to the week.


This is one stack of coupons, only one quarter of the ones I clipped this week.
The remaining three fourths of the coupons waiting to be clipped.
My recycle bin in my office. I give this a work out when I clip at work.
This is one bag of two of clipped coupons. Time to start sorting.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Swag Bucks

Many people have asked me how I find all of these great deals. I have a great trick for those of you who are online alot.

SWAGBUCKS

That's right we all know what Swag is... we all wish we could get the fab Swag the stars get.

Well here is your anwser. Swag Bucks.com

All you have to do is go to www.swagbucks.com, register your email address, and add me as a friend.

Use Swag Bucks the same as you would any other search engine.

Need a recipie? Need a question anwsered? Just search through Swagbucks. You will earn swagbucks s you search. Redeem your Swag Bucks for giftcertificates and other great Swag.

I like to get the Amazon $5 gift card. I know I will be able to use them (think Christmas) and they are only 45 Swag Bucks.

Give it a try today. Don't forget to add me as a friend and spread the word to all of your friends.