Monday, July 30, 2012

2 Free CVS Vitamins!

I forgot to post the other day how I got 2 bottles of CVS brand vitamins for free!

When I scanned my card at the coupon scanner, I received a coupon for a free bottle of kid's gummy vitamins.  The value was slightly under $7.  The store was also having a Buy One Get One Free promotion on all their CVS brand vitamins.  The coupon paid for one bottle, and the sale paid for the other!

So, I ended up with 2 bottles for FREE!

If you still have this coupon, be sure to check and see because I am almost certain the sale is still going on!


Frugal Meal!

What did everyone end up having for dinner tonight?  We try to stick with frugal meals, but also try to have a variety.

Tonight, we had chicken burgers.  Not something that we have often, but it ended up being pretty frugal.


We got the chicken burgers for $2.00 on manager's special!  Added some seasoning and then to the pan.

Chopped up an onion - Price matched 4 pounds for .99 - Only used half an onion!
Put it in a pan with some vegetable oil and let it heat up.  


I made some coconut rice.  


This required some rice - I got the rice for only .19 after coupon!


And, some coconut milk that the rice was cooked in... I decided to use the vanilla coconut milk.  Organic, and delicious.  It was only $1 for the carton after sale and coupon.


I heated up some Libby's Naturals corn.  I didn't know that they made a natural kind.  Canned veggies are obviously not as healthy as fresh or frozen, but daughter found the can and begged.  I paid .33 for the can on sale without coupon.


I also picked up hamburger buns for .99 at Fry's the other day.

Overall, the meal cost under $4 for the 3 of us!








Target - FREE Rose Art crayons after sale and coupon!

This week at Target, they have the 24 pack of Rose Art crayons on sale for .25!

Even better yet, we received a $1/3 coupon in the inserts yesterday.

This means that you can get 3 packs of crayons for FREE!

Target does not traditionally give you overage - They are supposed to "adjust the coupon down".  This means that while your coupon is for $1, you are only purchasing .75 worth of items, so they would only take .75 off.  Target will still get reimbursed for the full coupon amount, so they aren't out anything at all.  It's actually better for them!

I have heard reports that there are other Rose Art items that would work, such as .25 glue sticks or a little higher in price glue bottles, markers, colored pencils...

If you did not receive this coupon or would like extras, you can try to trade for them, use a coupon clipping site or search on Ebay.  I purchased 20 of these coupons for about $2 on Ebay.

This is an amazing donation item for kids going back to school or to be made directly to the school of your choice!

*Most of the crayons I am going to get will be donated to local schools through the donation boxes at Fry's.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

My Target steals - Did you use your coupons yet?

Did you use your printable Target clothing coupons yet?  They had some great deals this last week on tank tops, but you can still use those coupons this week on some other sale items or even clearance items!

I found this tank top marked down to $4.  After the $3/1 coupon, I only paid $1!  (Retails: $8.99)



I found this dress on clearance for $5.48.  After the $3/1 coupon, I paid only $2.48!  (Retails: $24.99)





Possible money maker with new Bic coupon!

In this weeks Sunday Coupon Insert, you will receive either a $1/1 or $1/2 coupon on any Bic product!  This coupon will allow for possible overage with all the back to school deals going on.  If you take it to Walmart, you can score free pens or White Out.  Depending on other store's, you may be able to find a moneymaker situation either there, or price matching to Walmart where overage is allowed.

If you want extras of this coupon, you can trade for it with others if you are in contact with others that coupon, or going through a coupon clipping service or Ebay.

This is a great item for back to school, and to also donate to back to school drives or directly to your chosen   school.

Don't forget your Sunday Coupon Inserts!

There are some amazing coupons in the inserts this week, including ones for your back to school shopping!  I encourage you to go through this preview to see if you are going to want to buy a paper, multiple papers, trade for extras, or order extras from a coupon clipping service/Ebay.  

This is definitely the week to buy a paper, if not multiple ones.

My CVS finds!

I went to a couple different CVS stores over the last couple days -

At the first one, I found that they had a lot of their socks, underwear and hosiery marked down 25%-75%!  I never thought to purchase these items from CVS; I never even realized they carried them!

The socks I purchased were on markdown to $2.49 for 10!

The fleece blanket was on clearance for $1.00!

The hosiery were marked down to $1.17 and they all had $1/1 coupons on them!  So, I paid .17 each!

The deodorant were free after the CVS coupon that printed at the scanner!



I also purchased a drink that was free after the CVS coupon that printed at the scanner and a 24 pack of bottled water that was on sale and I used a CVS coupon.

My subtotal was $10.15 after sales, clearance, and coupons -



I saved:  $50.12



*The hosiery is being donated to a domestic women's shelter for when the residents go on interviews.
*The deodorant is being donated for care packages for the troops.

At the second CVS store, I found a lot of clearance cat items!  We do not have a cat, but I recently picked up 10 bags of cat treats from Fry's for the Humane Society.  So, when I found 7 pound bags of cat liter for only .21 each, I got some!  That's right - .21 each, no coupon required!!!  I purchased 4 bags, for a total of 28 pounds of cat liter for only .84 total!  



They also had two cans of cat food on clearance for only .07 each!  

*The cat liter and food will be donated to the Humane Society.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Frugal is such an ugly word...

Do you agree?



Just kidding!  I love this, though...  Makes me laugh.  To me, being frugal does not necessarily mean that you are doing completely without or not living a "rich" life.  There can be different meanings to being frugal, and some will take it to different lengths then others.

I can only speak for myself - I actually feel more rich now that I am frugal.  Why?  Because I feel like I am more in control of my finances, I have more of a stockpile, I often buy name brand items, and so forth.  I feel like we have more money - Which, we do - And, more items to show for it!

Funny to me how that worked out!

Friday, July 27, 2012

Don't forget to check those gas stations!

This is just a reminder - 

Don't forget to check those gas stations for coupons!  If you go inside the gas station, you can often find "tear pad" coupons!  These coupons are usually on the refrigerator doors or in front of the actual items.  You can then take a couple of those coupons and use them at other store where you will save more money!  It is bad etiquette to take them all, or too many.  Please be considerate of others by only taking a couple.  This is a great way to get your hands on more great coupons!  Pair these coupons with a sale at another store, and you might be able to get some free items!  

My frugal meal!

Frugal meals are an important part of frugal living, but you do have to be creative at times.  My husband and I will often check out the marked down meat section at Fry's, and if there are any good deals, then we will freeze them for frugal meals later.  

Last night, I made a frugal meal of beef steak with green peppers, onions, butter and garlic rice and corn as a veggie.  It was a huge hit!

I price matched the onions for 3 pounds for .99 at Walmart...


I price matched the green bell peppers for 4 pounds for .99 at Walmart...


I sauteed the onions and peppers in oil, browned the steak in another pan...

I paid $3.91 on Manager's Special at Fry's - Froze it for a later date...


I combined everything and let it simmer for a little bit...


I paid .58 for two cans of corn and the Uncle Ben's rice was on sale, and I paid about $1.



I really lowered the total amount this meal cost by price matching, shopping the sale, shopping the clearance and using coupons.  A little bit of everything went into this meal as far as strategy goes.  




Look at my Walmart finds!

I went to Walmart the other day.  I found a shirt and a pair of pants for $1 each!


They actually had a lot of other clothing items on clearance, in all different sizes.  These were the only ones that would fit my daughter.

Clearance usually varies between stores, but I always make it a point to look for clearance items in whatever store I go to.  

So, be on the look out for clearance items if you are headed there!

Who likes Seventh Generation products? AMAZING DEAL!

Does anyone here like Seventh Generation products?

We tried their diapers with my daughter as she has sensitive skin, and we liked them well enough.  However, they have so many other items that are perfect for your home!

Right now, you can get Seventh Generation Auto Dish Pacs 20 count for only $3.99 after Subscribe and Save!  You can cancel the Subscribe and Save after you receive them if you do not want future shipments.

This is a great deal on these!  The normal retail price is $12.27!

Shipping is free with Prime - See my previous post if you do not have Prime and are a student!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Target toy clearance - 70% off!

Be sure to check your Target's toy clearance as they are marking down toys!  There have been reports of markdowns as low as 70%!

Happy shopping!

Attention Students! FREE Prime Shipping on Amazon!

This is an amazing deal -

Students can sign up for an Amazon Student account and receive free Prime shipping and also free 2 day shipping!

This is 100% free!

I personally have a Prime account and love it.  I get a lot of use out of it, especially around Christmas time!

Amazon Student

$1.75/1 Bird's Eye Voila - Great coupon!

This coupon is for $1.75/1 Bird's Eye Voila -


It is a great coupon to print because of the high value!

I'm putting together my list for Walmart!

My price match list, that is!

I love that Walmart price matches.  I rarely shop there unless I'm price matching something.  They do not double coupons, so if I want a coupon to double, I stick with my Fry's grocery store.  However, I am planning on getting some back to school deals, health and beauty and grocery items!

I will let you know what my list consists of as soon as I'm done!


Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Milky Way coupons have reset!

The .75/2 Milky Way coupon has reset on  Coupons.com !

This is a great coupon - Perfect for the sales at Walgreens or CVS.

Yummy!

Free 20 points on Coke Rewards!

If you participate in the Coke Rewards program, you can get 20 free points today!

Coke Rewards


10096071476917
10096122897198


Hope this works for you!  Enjoy!

Tilly's Sale!

Tilly's is having a great sale right now -

There are items marked down 50%, and you can get an additional 20% off all red tag clearance items!

To make this even better, you can get free shipping with no set minimum!

Tilly's

Meal Planning

As I started to go through this weeks grocery ads the other day, I wanted to stop and point out the act of meal planning.

Meal planning is, quite simply, the act of planning your meals ahead of time.  However, when it comes to coupons, this can be taken much further.

You can start meal planning by gathering your store's sales flyer and compare:

-What is on sale.
-What you have a coupon for.
-What you already have in your stockpile, refrigerator, freezer, cabinets...

Then, you plan your meals around this.

By doing this, you can dramatically cut down on your grocery budget.  You do not have to plan what you are going to eat each specific day if you do not want to.  But, if you want to have enough meals for one week, then plan out 7 different dinners and such.

Make sure that you include easier meals if you need them, such as if you will not have that much time to cook or need a break.

Free Visine for the troops!

There are these smaller bottles of Visine at Target and also at Walmart.  They can be found in the trial/travel sized section.



I found some coupons at Walgreens for $2/1, with NO size restrictions.  These small bottles are under $2, so they are free!

These are perfect for donating for care packages to send to the troops!

Got my free back pack!

A new website - Axls Closet - had a promotion recently for $20 off any purchase, plus free shipping.  The promotion has since ended - And, ended early due to abuse of the coupon code - But, I managed to use the code before they stopped it.

This is what I got:



A cute Billabong back pack!  It was on clearance for slightly under $20, so free!  It came super quick too.  Though I didn't like that this website pulled the coupon code early, I can see why they felt they had to.  And, I did get this cute back pack out of the deal!  

I am planning on donating this to a back to school drive - Perfect for a little girl returning to school this year!  :)

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Meijer Deals!


For a change, I thought I would do some Meijer match up highlights!  We don’t have Meijer here, but I know that some of my readers are in Michigan.  I only picked a couple that really stood out for me.

Last time I checked, the Meijer in Dewitt and Lansing would allow 2 like coupons to double per transaction.  I do not know if that has since changed, but if this is still the policy, then you are in for some cheap prices this week!

Are you familiar with MPerks?  From what I can tell, it is something that attaches to your phone number or maybe a loyalty card also?  These are Meijer coupons that you can use along with manufacture ones!  You sign into your account and load them, then use them in the store during check out.

This is based off of sales from July 22 – July 28!

General Mills cereal  4/$10
This is not normally a good price, just an average sale price.  However, we have manufacture coupons on coupons.com, the Pillsbury website, Betty Crocker website and from previous coupon inserts.
There are also some MPerks coupons to go along with the manufacture ones.  When you pair these together, you can save up to $1.50 off a box – Or, pay only $1 a box!

Mott’s Medleys fruit snacks are 2/$4 this week.  We have a .50/1 coupon from a previous insert and on the General Mills website.  There is also a $1/2 MPerks coupon.  You would only pay .50 a box when using 2 .50/1 coupons and $1/2 MPerks if the manufacture ones double!

Kraft Indulgence chocolate cream cheese is 2/$4.  There is a .75/1 coupon on coupons.com.

This deal I am excited about for you:
Ore-Ida bagged potatoes 19-32 oz. are 4/$10 this week.  When you purchase 4 bags in one transaction, you will automatically get $3 off!  So, you will pay $7 for 4 bags!  AND, a coupon will print for $3 off at the checkout, which you can use to purchase MORE Ore-Ida!  So, on your second transaction, you would buy 4 bags, get $3 off automatically for the sale which equals $7, and then use your coupon to get $3 more off your total!  You would pay only $4 for 4 bags, or $1 each!  You should be able to keep “rolling” this coupon, as it should print after each transaction.

Ivory soap is $1.29, and after the $1/1 from the latest P&G coupon inserts, you would pay only .29!

Stayfree is $1.99.  There is a $2/1 MPerks coupon available, and also a $2/1 manufacture coupon from the latest coupon inserts.  Please note that this particular coupon does state only one per person.

Check back later for the Meijer match up!

I am going to be putting together a match up for Meijer for my Michigan friends!  It will be up by late tonight, so be sure to check back later!


Free Papermate Pens at Target!

With the $1/1 printable coupon on Target's website, you can score a free pack of pens!

They are priced at $1 right now in the back to school section - Free pens!

*To find the coupons, you can go to the Target website, click the "coupon" link at the very bottom of the page, and the coupons will come up.  You can click into the "back to school" from the selections on the side, and that should bring it right up.  The print limit is 2 per computer for each coupon.

Wow, great coupon!

This is an amazing coupon!  I can't remember ever seeing a coupon for $3/1 Sorrento or Precious Cheese sticks.

You should be able to find these for free or very cheap after coupon.

$3/1 Sorrento

The site this is sending you to is a great site to print coupons!

Blockbuster Express - $1/2

Have you used Blockbuster Express before?

Love these...  You rent a movie for $1 for one night, and won't get charged anymore if you bring it back before 7 or 9 the next day.  I can't remember the exact time.  And, it might be slightly over $1 with tax now, but it's about that.

We used to rent these all the time because it is so cheap!

Right now, you can use the code  JULYMOVIES  to get $1 off any 2 DVD rental!  Just enter that code as a promo code on the screen.

Enjoy your movies!

*Today is Tuesday, 24th and this code is good today and tomorrow.

Monday, July 23, 2012

New coupons available!

There are some new coupons available on coupons.com!

There is a $1/1 Honey Bunches of Oats cereal coupon that works well with the CVS sale of $1.99.  That equals out to .99 for one box.  Personally, anything for under $1 a box is a stockup price.

Walmart has Glidden paint testers for only $2 and some odd cents.  There is a $2/1 coupon available - Cheap paint testers!

$1/1 Smucker's Uncrustables Sandwiches - This is a great coupon!  These do not come around very often, so I would print this!

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Nursing home donation - Spent $0 on $675 worth of items!

I finally finished getting the items around for my big nursing home donation.  These items will be going to a couple different local nursing homes.  

25 diabetic meters
60 Poise liners
5 packages of Depends

Spent $0 on $675 worth of items!


This is one of my most favorite donations thus far.  Mostly being because of the amount of savings I got, and that it is harder for me to get items for the nursing home.  I often donate items to the food bank, but I can't usually get that much for the nursing homes, especially in this large amount.  

I firmly believe that almost anyone can donate.  It doesn't have to be on a large scale like this.  I sure didn't start out donating like this.  However, those Poise packages?  They each had a coupon right on the package to make it free.  Simple.  The meters and Depends were also very easy to get my hands on.  With the cost of insurance and medicine, diabetic meters are in high demand.  

Your community will appreciate any amount that you are able to donate.  Your community will be better because of it!

My CVS finds!

Be sure to always check for clearance at your CVS!  Sometimes, they have clearance items at the end of different aisles, while others may find the clearance items mixed in with the regular items.

I came across these today:


Dial Lotion - Very large bottle!  On clearance for $1.69


Godiva Gems - On clearance for $1.39
I've been wanting to try these for a while now - So good!


Friday, July 20, 2012

My charity run! Spent $10 - Saved $100!

Most of the items will be donated to either a nursing home (Poise), animal shelter (cat treats), food bank and care packages for the troops!

This shopping trip only cost me about $10, including tax!  That is a savings of $100!  This trip did not take long to plan or to actually accomplish at the store.  Anyone can make small strides to make their community better, even if it's picking up one item to donate or donating an hour of your time.

I used a coupon on every item, except for the apples, eggs and pop.



Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Don't forget to price match at Walmart!

If you have a lot of stores that you want different items at, or don't want to send the gas to get there, try price matching at Walmart!  I recently posted about this, but I did a transaction there tonight, and feel really good about it!

I spent about $5 on produce, that normally would have cost me at least $20!

I got bananas, cherries, cucumber, green bell peppers, nectarines, mushrooms and more!

Free hand sanitizer at Office Max!

This week at Office Max, you can get .5 oz containers of Purell Hand Sanitizer for only .10 each!

By using the below coupon, you can get 3 for completely FREE by combining the sale with the $1/3 coupon!

I am assuming Office Max will not give you overage, and will "adjust the coupon down", meaning they will just take .30 off your order instead of the full $1.  This would mean that you would get the items for free, but not "make money" off of them.

*This is a great idea for a school donation, for your child's back pack, purse, car, diaper bag...

25% off your Michael's purchase!

You can use the below coupon to get 25% off your Michael's purchase:

Michael's

Please read what is excluded just in case as sometimes clearance or sale items are.

Happy Shopping!

Don't forget donations when you are shopping for supplies!

With the Back To School supply deals rolling in fast, don't forget to think about donating some.  This is a perfect opportunity to pick up  a few extra items to donate to local children who otherwise may do without.  I have seen a lot of great deals for under $1, including some items for only .01 at Staples and Office Max!  Some stores will have a set area for you to put the donated items, though you can do a search online for places that are taking donations if your stores are not.

This is a great idea to help some children get their school year started off right!

What are your shelters top needs?

When shopping for your local shelters, it is important to know what they are in need of.

If you do a search online for their website, you may be able to find a list of their most needed items.  Or, you can try calling them to find out.

I know at our local food bank, they really need water, cereal, beans, juice, nutrition bars, canned meat...

This can help to give you ideas of what to buy when you are shopping for them!

Cheap school supplies - Walmart idea

Office Max and Staples have been having some great Back To School supply sales already!  However, for some, this may be too far to drive for just a few cheap items.

Did you know that you can price match these items right to your Walmart AND use coupons along with it?

If you have a Walmart nearby, this might be a better option for you in terms of time and gas.  According to their policy, you do not have to bring the ads with you as they are supposed to have a copy they can refer to when needed.  HOWEVER, when it comes to Walmart, sometimes you really need to be prepared for anything - So, I would recommend bringing the Office Max and Staples ad with you just in case, if you are able to.

Enjoy the savings!

.50/1 Kraft BBQ Sauce = Free Sauce!

Right now, when you "like" Kraft BBQ Sauce on Facebook, you can print a .50/1 coupon from their page!

This is a good coupon to begin with, but if your store's double, this could mean free sauce!

Our Fry's store recently had this sauce for only .49 on sale, so it would have been free after this coupon!

Kraft BBQ Sauce

Not sure how long they will have this coupon up, so be sure to print it soon!

Pampers Gifts To Grow 10-Points

Pampers Gifts To Grow is a program where you submit codes that can be found on their diaper and wipes products, which you can later redeem for prizes.  If you have a little one in diapers, this is a really good program that a lot of people love.  


Right now, you can use the code found below to score an extra 10 points!


SPC717SUM12PAMP

$1/1 Beech Nut Cereal!

Right now, you can get $1/1 Beech Nut Cereal through this link :


The average price of this cereal is $1.50, so you can get it very cheap!  

If you do not have a baby, this is also a great donation item.  Some food banks are more picky about what baby items they will take, so call ahead if you want to go that route.  There are also shelters that will take items like this.  

*My local food bank is very strict and won't take baby cereal that isn't right from the manufacture, but my local domestic violence shelter will gladly take it.  That is where mine is going.

Free Safeguard Soap!

You can score free Safeguard soap at Fry's!  Kroger may have this deal too, so be on the look out if you shop there!

The new price is 10/$10 - With the $1/1 coupon that came out in the latest P&G insert, you can get these for free!

Please pay close attention to the wording on these coupons - You can only use 4 like coupons at a time.

*This is a great donation item!  Mine will be going to a local homeless shelter and/or a domestic violence shelter!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Great activity set for the kids!

I was looking through the $1 and $2.50 bins that Target has near the front of the store, and found these cute little activity sets.  



Each set comes with a small coloring book, crayons and stickers for only $1! 



I picked up a few for when we need DD to be occupied, such as at the store or on a long car ride.  I meant to hide these, but of course she found them so she got to play with one before bedtime... Haha


Free American Baby Subscription!

If you are pregnant or have a baby, you may want to check this out!  I personally love this magazine.  I received a free subscription when I was pregnant and continued reading it after my daughter was born.  You won't be disappointed!

American Baby

Every once in a while you may find a coupon in it, too!  This is a completely free subscription.  Over the last few years, I have never heard of anyone paying for it.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Summer clearance at Target!

If you are heading to Target, be sure to look for the summer clearance!  I went the other day, and went to a second Target store today.  They still had a good amount of merchandise at 70% off - Cute glasses, plates, decorations, ice trays...

Good luck!

Reminder: Don't forget about those Target coupons!

Target had women's clothing on clearance at 30%, 50% and 70% off - Pair that with the $3/1 various coupons online, and you can score some free-very cheap clothing!

Free Campbell's with peelie coupon...

Right now, Fry's and possibly Kroger have Campbell's Condensed Healthy Kids Soup on sale.  There is a promotion where you purchase 10 participating items, and get $5 off your order.  This soup is on sale with that promotion for only .99!  On some cans, you can find a .75/1 coupon - or, peelie - that you can use to score some cheap or free soup!  



The coupons say Do Not Double, but they automatically did at my register!

I have found these coupons at multiple Fry's stores and also Target!

Good luck!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Free/Money Maker at Fry's

This is what I am getting for free or Money Maker at Fry's -

*Fry's makes all coupons $1, up to 3 like coupons.  If the value of the item is under $1, then the coupon will be whatever the item's value is.  I am very lucky to live in a competitive place with stores around here having great coupon policies.  This not only helps my family out tremendously, but also allows me to donate more often.


Reynolds mini baking cups  $1.00
-.35/1, goes to $1 = FREE

Glade Plug Ins  .99
-$1/1 = .01 Money Maker

Kiss My Face bar soap  $2.19
-$3/1 = .81 Money Maker

Beech Nut Fruities pouch  $1.00
-$1/1 = FREE

Knorr  $1.00
-.25/1, goes to $1 = FREE
*This will be donated to the local food bank.

Oreos  $1.00
-.50/1, goes to $1 = FREE

Sun-Bird seasoning  $.84
-.25/1, goes to .84 = FREE

Haribo gummies  $1.00
.30/1, goes to $1 = FREE

Sambazon, on clearance for $1.40ish
-$1.50/1 = slight Money Maker

Farmland sausage  $1.00
.50/1, goes to $1 = FREE

Temptations for cats  $.99
.50/1, goes to $1 = FREE
*This will be donated to a local animal shelter.

Naked water  $.75
$1/1 = Money Maker

Friday, July 13, 2012

Realistic vs. Extreme Couponing


Due to the show “Extreme Couponing”, there has been a large debate about couponing in general.  Some assume that all couponers go to the extremes that they show in this show.  However, there is a difference between realistic couponing and extreme couponing.

I started couponing about 4 years ago.  Though I started off slow, I soon saw the potential there and how I could really help out my community.  I would not necessarily label myself as an extreme couponer.  I actually do not like that phrase at all, as it gives realistic couponers a bad name.
 
Now, I personally think that a realistic couponer gets enough for their family to get them through until a new sale comes along.  For normal items, it is about 3 months before another sale will come back around.  For seasonal items, such as holidays or back to school items, it is once a year. 

To me, an extreme couponer will gather hundreds of certain items and leave them on their shelves for a long time.  I will admit proudly that I do have a stockpile, and a good one at that.  However, I do see the importance of donating and giving back, so these items do not necessarily sit on my shelf for long.  (I am not saying that extreme couponers don't donate)  There is nothing wrong with having a stockpile and being prepared – But, for my family, we would rather have a good stockpile, and also take some from it every week and donate it.  I do “buy” items in great amounts when it is a good deal, but I still do not feel that I am unrealistic.

If you want to talk about this show specifically, this show can be very unrealistic.  In most episodes, the store has waived the coupon policy just for that one shopping trip.  While on a normal day you can only use 3 like coupons to double, that store will let that person use 100.  Or, whatever.  In the later episodes, the store is letting the person do multiple transactions.  Also unrealistic.  While some stores will let you do multiple transactions, they will usually only let you do two or three.  Not the 30 something some do on the show.

I think that I fall into an area inbetween the two.  And, I think that everyone has their own opinions on what realistic and extreme couponing is.  I know that when I have been in the store buying a larger amount of an item, I have been asked if I am an extreme couponer and if I stockpile.  If I buy 20 items of something, I’m usually donating half if it’s an item that my family will use.  As you can tell by my previous posts, sometimes I will get large quantities of an item strictly for donating, such as with the Poise, Depends and diabetic meters.  In that sense, you could call me an extreme couponer.  However, I don’t feel so.

To me, it is important to have realistic goals for myself and my family.  If that means I’m picking up 20 of something, okay.  Or, maybe I am only picking up 2.  But, for myself, I see the importance of having a stockpile, yet I never want to lose the drive to donate.  You have to find out what is going to work for your family, and pay attention to that.

My Fry's Find - Formula

Fry's had some store brand formula on clearance the other day -



It was on clearance for $4.89, or about 50% off -



Paired with the coupon they had sent me for $2/1, I only paid $2.89.

*Formula is a great donation item to different shelters and organizations!  This will be going to a domestic violence shelter in my community.

*I received the coupon through a home mailer from Fry's.  When you sign up for store loyalty cards and give them your address, they often send you coupons in the mail.  I receive one booklet of coupons every month or so.  They are not always store coupons - I often receive manufacturer ones from them as well!

Love my deals at Gymboree!

Before I started using coupons, I assumed that there were certain stores that were just too expensive.  I remember when I moved to Arizona, I assumed Fry's was way too expensive.  I also assumed that CVS and Walgreens were way too expensive.  Now that I know more about coupons, these are my favorite stores to shop at!

Gymboree was also one of those stores.  However, you can really get some great deals in there!  I always check the small red "buckets" near the front of the store where they keep clearance merchandise.  Sometimes, they will also have these in the front of the store.

Yesterday, I got a bunch of socks for only .99 a piece and some soft, stretchy shorts for only $1.99 and $2.49 a piece!  This is a great price for their store.  And, the socks all had cute designs and characters, so worth the price to me!

Be sure to sign up for their free loyalty card, as they will send you coupons in the mail and often give you a discount in the store after so many purchases.

New printer!

I finally got a new printer last night!  Ours stopped work properly a couple weeks ago, so I was happy to be able to get one so quickly.

The key to printing coupons is to make sure that you are only printing the coupons that you are pretty sure you are going to use.  If you just start printing a lot of coupons and not using them before they expire, then that is ink wasted and that means more money lost.

When I print coupons, I usually don't print them until I am planning my trip out.  I will print some if they are really good, just so I don't lose the opportunity to.  But, when I sit down to plan my trip out and match the sale items with coupons, that is usually when I print my coupons.  This has resulted in me saving a lot of money on ink, because I am not just printing everything I see.

Also, with the coupons that I print, I almost always make my money back during the FIRST transaction on what I spent on the ink cartridge from what I save by using those coupons.  Very worth it to me to invest in a printer and ink!


Thursday, July 12, 2012

Do you price match to Walmart?

Do you price match to Walmart?

I only shop at Walmart if something is free, or I'm price matching.  Today, I price matched a lot of fresh produce.  I don't remember the exact numbers, but I saved well over 50% by doing this!

I am very lucky that I live in an area where the stores are very competitive, so we see the lower deals often.  This is especially true about fresh produce.

Where I am, we often price match CVS, Walgreens, Fry's, Safeway, Basha's, Albertson's, Sunflower Markets, Food City, Pro's Ranch....

For my family/friends that live in Michigan, you can price match CVS, Walgreens, Meijer's, Kroger...  I'm sure I'm missing some.

This is a great way to lower your bill if you are doing all your shopping at Walmart already, or can't make it to a bunch of stores.

Sears - 18 Gallon Storage Tote $3.45!

At Sears, you can get an 18 gallon storage tote for only $3.45, with free in-store pick up!

Sears

Then, search for this number:   00928115000 

When choosing to have it shipped or picked up, you can do a search based on your zip code for the availability at a store near you.  I went ahead and searched in my area, and then I also searched for my Michigan friends :)  They have a lot available at the Frandor store!  They have about 4 left near me.

These are on sale for $3.88, but when you enroll in the FREE Craftsman Club, you will receive an additional 10% off!

We are moving in a few short weeks and this came at the perfect time!

Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Hanes - Free shipping - Items as low as $2.25!

Today at Hanes, you can score some really cheap merchandise!

They are offering free shipping with the code 87009 when entered at checkout.

I looked over the site, and they have some items as low as $2.25 shipped!

*Hopefully you can score some great items for your family, though you can also consider donating some items!  A lot of the Back To School Drives for supplies also ask for items such as underwear and socks for the children.

Hamburger Helper/Meat Deal at Safeway - Donations!


This week at Safeway, Hamburger Helper is on sale for $1.
We have a .75/3 coupon from the 6/03 Smart Source.  If your store takes all coupons to $1 like many do, then you can do a transaction like this:
Buy 6 Hamburger Helper @ $1 each = $6
Use 2 .75/3 Hamburger Helper coupons 
You will pay $4 for 6 Hamburger Helpers.
Now, this isn't the best deal, but there is a catalina deal to make it even better.
*A catalina coupon is a coupon that prints at the end of your transaction that you can use on your next order.  You get these by buying specific products.
This catalina is valid from 6/11-8/5.
Buy 3, and get $1 off your next order of hamburger, chicken or tuna
Buy 4, and get $1.50 off your next order of hamburger, chicken or tuna
Buy 5, and get $2 off your next order of hamburger, chicken or tuna

When you factor the catalina in, you would be paying $4.00 for the Hamburger Helper, and then receiving  $2.00 for your next meat purchase - More like paying $2 for 6 boxes.
*This is a great donation item to the food bank!

Walgreens - .24 for 2 Uniball Pens!

At Walgreens, week of 7/29, they will have Uniball 207 Gel Pens 2 Count for .99 -

When paired with .75/1 Coupon from Smart Source, you can score the pens for only .24!

You are able to print 2 coupons per computer on this site.

The advantage of printing this early is that you won't run the chance of the site taking down the coupon early.

USO teaming up with Fry's!

I went to Fry's last night to do a quick trip, and noticed that at the entrance/exit door, they had a large box set up for the USO.  They had a large list of items they were asking to be donated posted on the box.

I was so happy to see this!  I've been picking up free items to donate to an organization that sends boxes to the troops, and just haven't driven the box over yet.  But, by them putting the box right there, made it so much easier!  I didn't see the box when I entered, but on the way out, I dropped off the boxes of coffee I had planned to donate.

Thank you to the USO and Fry's for making it so easy for shoppers to donate to this cause!

CVS - Moneymaker on Hershey's Simple Pleasures!

This is for the week of 7/22 -  You can look ahead online (Did you know that?  Love this!)

That week, CVS will have Hershey's Simply Pleasures 5.6 oz - 10.5 oz for 2/$6 with $2 ECB's - Limit 1 per household/card.

Use this TWO of this CVS coupon: $1/1 CVS Coupon

And, also use this manufacture coupon:  $2.50/2 Manufacture Coupon

After coupon, you will pay $1.50 and get back $2 ECBS, making this a .50 Money Maker after ECB's!


*Extra Care Bucks, or ECB's, is an in-store program at CVS.  You sign up for a free card, can scan the card in the store for coupons, and earn these ECB by buying participating products.  You can then use those ECB's like cash, paying for almost anything in the store.  Or, you can "roll" them into another product that will produce an ECB for you, thus getting more free or very discounted items.  It may take a little bit to get the hang of this, but you can do it!

*At CVS, you can use a store coupon and a manufacture coupon on the same item.  You can never use two manufacturer coupons on the same item.

**** This deal just got even better for me.  I received a $2/1 coupon in the mail!  If you are signed up for a CVS card already, be sure to check your mail!

Good morning, everyone!

Well, it's good afternoon for some of my readers!  Is everyone ready for some great deals today?

I will be posting some deals throughout the day, so keep a watch for them!

Enjoy!

Be sure to check those Target coupons!

We got more Target coupons today, including ones that can be used on some back to school items, such as backpacks!

Target Coupons

On a side note, I love Target coupons!  They have page after page of coupons that you can print - 2 prints per computer - And, they often lead to free or very discounted items.  I have been getting most of my clothing there with all the clothing coupons they offer, and I love the health and beauty ones!

Even better - You can use these coupons on clearance items!

Enjoy!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Treat.com free congrats card for engagements/weddings!

This is a great freebie -

Treat Congrats Engagement Wedding Cards

They are offering a free congratulations card for engagements or weddings!

Visit the link above to see exactly which cards they are.

Pick one and personalize it however you want.

Then, use the code:  TREATWED when you check out, which will take the price of the card off your total.

If you select to ship it to your own house, it will be free shipping.  Or, if you want to send it directly to someone, it will cost the price of a stamp.

*I love this site!  I have gotten SO many free cards from them the last couple years.

48 Grover Square Keurig K-Cups for $9.57!


Amazon has a great deal on Grove Square K-Cups right now –

You can get 3 12 packs of the Hot Cocoa Variety Pack for $9.57 AND they have promotion where when you buy that, you can get a “sample pack” of 12 for FREE!

For a total of 48 for $9.57, plus free shipping if you have Amazon Prime or spend over $25!


Then, add This "Sample Pack"

The second one should automatically deduct from your total as a special promotional item.

Yummy!

Coldwater Creek - 50% off already reduced merchandise!

Right now, you can get 50% off already reduced merchandise at Coldwater Creek -

AND, you can get free shipping on your order when you use the code:

EMC1427


This is the perfect chance for you to pick up a few things for yourself, or maybe even a couple things for Christmas for those who are thinking ahead...


Hope you find something great!

Free-.24 Ivory!

I posted this deal a few days ago, but wanted to remind everyone!

The three packs of Ivory soap are on sale at Safeway for .99 through the 17th. 

At Walmart, these packs are $1.24.

If you use the coupon from the most recent P&G insert for $1/1, you can get these for free-.24!  This is a stock up price!



*This is a great donation item for homeless or any kind of shelter!

Monday, July 9, 2012

The importance of overage...

Overage is when you have a coupon that is worth more than the actual item costs.

If a coupon is worth $1, but the item is actually only .50, then the extra .50 from the coupon is overage.  

A lot of stores, including Walmart and Fry's, are now allowing you to use that overage towards other purchases.  This is a great way to get items that you don't have coupons for, such as produce or dairy, at a discounted price!

Free Sweet Potato Fries at Red Robin!

You can get free sweet potato fries at Red Robin through 7/13!

Red Robin

Enjoy!

Free Post cereal at Walgreens!

If your store carries the smaller boxes of Post cereal, you can score some for free when using a $1/1 printable coupon that can be found on:

Post Coupon

Yum!


You pay how much for your cell phone?


Had to laugh...

We rely so much on cell phones now, and we pay the price.  Literally.  Is anyone else shocked by how much they are spending on their cell phone bill?  Or, am I alone in this?  I knew how much we were spending monthly, but just thinking about how much that added up yearly, really surprised me.  

And so began my quest to find a way to lower our cell phone bill, without going completely without one.

  • Keep track of your minutes!  This may be obvious to some, but I have personally heard horror stories and I have been known to go over in minutes before we changed our plan.  You can try out Over My Minutes, a free service that will alert you through an email or text message that you are close to going over your minutes.  
  • Does your cell phone company offer a discount when you call another in-network number?  Some companies now offer free minutes when calling in-network numbers, or have a "family/friend plan" where you can pick a certain amount of numbers that you can call for free.
  • If you only use your phone occasionally, you may want to consider going prepaid.  Prepaid can be a great idea for someone who does not use their phone very often.
  • Make sure you are realistic about how much you talk and text.  You want to make sure that you have enough minutes in your plan for how often you talk, while you also do not want to be paying for minutes that you are not going to use.
  • With the price per text extremely high, you may want to consider going unlimited if the price is right.
  • Depending on your company and the amount of minutes you have, you can look into a plan where you will receive roll over minutes.
  • Don't be afraid to ask for a better deal.  You are the customer, and you can always ask for a better deal.  The worst they can do is say no.
Happy talking!  (And, hopefully saving!)

Is it hot in here?

How is everyone fairing in this heat?  



We live in Arizona, where the sun always shines - Almost!  Sun and more sun!  I know back in my hometown, they have been having record high temperatures and it seems like everyone is trying to beat the heat.

We don't spend much during the winter on our electric bill, as it does not get very cold here.  However, our electric bill climbs A TON during the summer months!  August is the worst, so we are still climbing.

While trying to come up with some ways to cut our electricity bill and resist the temptation to touch our thermostat, I found a couple interesting articles.  Some of the suggestions make sense, while some are a little too extreme or not a big deal to me.

Hope these help you out!

Simple Ways To Save On Air Conditioning Costs

Ways To Keep Cool

Try to stay cool everyone!

Saving money on fresh produce!



There is a common myth that there are only coupons out there for processed, junk food and nothing for fresh produce.  I have also heard others say that you can't save a lot on produce, and that it is too expensive to buy fresh produce.

I'm here to tell you that it CAN be done!


  • Start your own garden!  If this is an option for you, you can grow your own produce, which will end up saving you a lot of money.
  • Buying in-season produce.  Produce is cheapest when it is in season, and if you start shopping with this mindset, you will be able to save money.
  • Comparison shopping!  I can't say this enough...  Even if a certain fruit or vegetable is in-season, you would be surprised to see how it can vary in price between different stores.  Always compare stores before you buy.
  • Using catalina coupons.  Catalina coupons are the coupons that print at the end of your transaction, through a catalina machine.  If you receive some for dollar off amounts, such as $1 off your next purchase of anything, for making certain purchases, you can turn around and use this on produce!
  • If you are consistently saving money on other items through coupons, then this might free up some money that you can budget towards fresh produce.
  • Watch the sales!  Be sure to check out the sales ads and see what produce is on sale for that week.
  • Join a co-op.  Do a search to see if there are any co-ops in your area.
  • Use coupons whenever possible!  It is harder to find coupons for produce, but every once in a while, a coupon will come out.  This may be right from the manufacture, or it may be a store coupon.  Keep your eye out for these!
If you have any other ideas, please feel free to comment and let us know!



Final Summer Clearance Blow Out!

The Children's Place is having their Final Summer Clearance Blow Out!  Up to 75% off!

I did a quick search and I saw some baby hats for $1.19, an adorable Chick Cap for $1.99, flip flops for $2.99 and so forth.

Hope you are able to find some good deals!

The Children's Place

Calling all women - Head to Target!

Target posted some new printable coupons on their site -

There are some great women's apparel ones, that you can use on regular priced, sale and clearance items!

There are some tops starting at $6 and when paired with the $3 coupon, you will only pay $3 for a shirt!

But, don't forget to check the clearance racks!  This is how I get so many shirts for free - Pair the coupon with a clearance item for less or the exact coupon amount, and FREE clothing for you!

Enjoy and Happy Shopping!

Pairing a coupon with a clearance item!

Did you know that you can pair a coupon with a clearance item?


You do not have to use a coupon only on a full price item - You can maximize your savings by using a coupon on a sale or clearance item!  Most stores will not give you any issues about doing this, but if you do run into trouble, do not be afraid to respectfully stand your ground.  You are doing nothing wrong by doing this.  


This can be a great way to score some very cheap or even free items!

Look at the coupons I found today!

Yay for coupons! These are a few tearpad coupons that I found today at CVS!

$1/2 Fuze


.50/1 Honest Tea/Ade


BOGO Sobe!



These were on the beverage cases today - I am especially happy about the Sobe one, as those are even harder to find!  

Have you found any great coupons lately?



Sunday, July 8, 2012

A couple good deals at Fry's!

I made a late night shopping trip to Fry's for eggs, fresh produce, water and soda.  But, I found some other good deals!


Brown sugar for .59 on clearance!


Capri Sun Sunrise for .89 on clearance!


M & Ms for Buy Two at .89 Get One Free - 
I used a .50/2 coupon that doubled - 
I paid .79 for three!


Mini Oreos for $1.00 - 
I used a .50/1 coupon that double- 
FREE!


Oh my brother is so happy for candy...
Skittles and Starburst on sale for 2/$1
I used $1/2 coupons -
FREE!

*Please note that I did not only buy sugary items - LOL  I got a lot of fresh items, too.  These were the best deals I did get, though!  And, I used a $2 catalina coupon on some fresh items - Great way to save on those items that may not have coupons as readily available!