2/18 Grocery Deals (Laundry & more!)

So, seeing as my budget is suffering once again I need to get back on the crazy coupon train. I hit up the local Walmart knowing full well everything I wanted would probably be gone. I was pleasantly surprised. The only big thing I could not find was the Benefiber packs at $3.49. I had coupons for $7/2. Oh well, I'll keep looking...

Yesterday's finds:

(8) Ronzoni Smart Taste & Healthy Harvest pastas Reg. $1.58, Sale $1.08

$1/2 coupon1/23 SS

(12) Muir Glen Organic Tomatoes Reg. $1.38

$1/1 coupon Print

(3) Philadephia Cream Cheese Minis Reg $1.58

$1/1 coupon  2/6 SS

(6) Scotch Brite Pads, Reg. $0.84

$0.75/2 coupon 2/6 SS

(2) Palmolive (20 oz) Reg. $2.37

$1/1 coupon 1/30 SS

(5) Borden Cheese Reg. $2.28

$1/1 coupon Print

(5) White Cloud Toilet Tissue Reg. $2.00

$1/1 coupon mywhitecloud.com

(5) Gain Fabric Sheets (80) Reg. $3.12

$3/1 coupon 2/13 RP

(6) Snuggle Fabric Dryer Sheets Reg. $1.87

$2/2 coupon 1/16 SS

(3) Tide Stain Release Reg. $3.97

$3/1 coupon 1/30 P&G

(2) Purina Whisker Lickins Reg. $0.97

$1/1 coupon (NO longer available)

Crunch & Clean Cat Treats  Reg. $1.98

$1.50 coupon (NO longer available)

 

Maruchan Yakisoba Reg. $0.62

$0.50/1 coupon 1/2 SS

Dove Deodorant Reg. $2.47

$2/1 coupon1/30 RP

Spent OOP: $44.61

Original Cost of Items: $113.98

Savings: $69.37

61% Savings!

Some things were more than the 'free' I normally like to get but it was things we needed, like Toilet paper and dish soap. I'm happy with all my finds. Not bad savings for my first time back in months!

Grocery Price Matching

So this week was my first foray into price matching. Finally the paper sent me all the local grocery stores' flyers so I was able to compare and see what to buy. We're used to just buying what we want to eat, not worrying how much it cost, and not waiting to buy something that's on sale. I'm trying to change that. Now, instead of planning meals and purchasing food for them, I'm purchasing food and planning meals around that!

I must mention first that I finally purchased a Foodsaver machine. It is winging its way to me from Ebay as we speak. So for that reason, I felt comfortable buying extra of things, so they can be cut up and frozen for the fall. Now this week's goal is to locate and buy a used freezer for the garage to put all my frozen yummies in! Plus I have pulled my old dehydrator out and we'll see what yummies I can make with it!

Not all purchases are shown. We had already put some up and as you can see from the breads, we ate some as well.

2 cabbages ($3.12 for both)
2 lettuce ($1.38 for both)
2 cucumbers ($1 for both)
2 green peppers ($1 for both)
10 red/orange peppers ($10)
10 lbs apples ($6.90)
11 lbs tomatoes ($8.00)
2 pkgs bath tissue ($10)
20 bags Malt-o-meal cereals ($0.50 ea)
9 Good Life buttery spreads (all free!)
2 artisan breads (1 free, other discounted w/coupon)
4 Barilla pasta ($2.36 all 4)
Mixed nuts (clearance rack $2)
2 ice cream 1/2 gallons ($1.88 ea)

Note: Walmart would not price match on the chicken so I headed over to Sunfresh to pick up the original chicken deal there. Walmart also did not have the smaller bags of cereal so I bought those there as well.

(not all meat shown)

18 lbs chicken breasts ($.88 lb)

10+ lbs pork chops and pork stew meat (discounted prices)

This week's total: $96.07

It's not the low number I want it to be but this is lots more food than we'll eat in a week, might cover two weeks with lots frozen for later. I think I did pretty well! Yay for price matching!

Walmart Weirdness

I went to Wally World looking for things I couldn't find at Target. Couldn't find them there either but I thought I'd use up some coupons I had in the meantime.

Purina Kitten Chow (Orig. $3.98)

used FREE up to $2.19 or $2.19 off coupon 5/2/10 SS

Organix Shampoo (Orig. $5.94)

* MAKE SURE TO LOOK for 2-for-1 bottles (see pic, bottom shelf where they're almost gone!) Had a free Conditioner attached to it.*

* has a $5 rebate attached to bottle - when you buy 2 Organix and Alice In Wonderland Blu Ray, which I did here*

(6) Natural Instincts Hair Color (Orig. $5.97)

used (3) $5/2 coupons 7/11/10 RP

*WEIRD! - Cashier took $5 of EACH hair color instead*

Copy Paper (Orig. $3.25, sale $2.50) - needed

Spent OOP: $16.05

Original Cost of Items: $54.93 ( Included the price of two Organix)

Savings: $38.88

71% Savings!

Rebate - Will receive a $5 rebate

All in all this was a very good trip. Don't know why the cashier took $5 off each bottle but I'll take it. What is the coupon etiquette on that? Should I have turned around after I discovered the mistake and gone back? Hmmm, will have to think on that moral dilemma.

Target, CVS & Walmart Dealios

This week wasn't the best in deals (ie: every thing wasn't FREE like I would prefer) but I managed to snag a few more bargains besides the Walgreens deals I posted here.

TARGET VISIT:

The thing I find funny about this visit is the receipt. I'll show you why...

Clean & Clear Cleanser (Orig. 3.69, sale $2.69)

used $2/1 coupon printable here

Spent: $1.38

Original Cost of Items: $7.38

Savings: $6.00

81% of Savings

Here's the receipt.

It claims I saved $10. If the original items were only $3.69 a piece and I paid $1.38, how am I saving $10? I think they're just making things up to sound cool...

CVS VISIT:

This week I had nice deals at CVS. I had $10 in ECB monies to use and the opportunity to get many back. I paid a bit more out of pocket but just because the cashier was having trouble with things not ringing up the correct prices so I was reluctant to try to do separate transactions. It would only confuse her. I have lots of ECBs to spend next time though.

(12) SOBE drinks (Reg. $1.59, sale $0.77)

used B1G1 free coupons I won playing the SOBE game here

(2) Arizona Tea (Reg. $1.50, sale $0.99 & B1G1 free)

(2) Carefree Pantyliners (Orig. $1, sale 2/$1)

Bausch & Lomb Eyecare Solution (Orig. $9.99, sale $7.99)

Biotrue Eyedrops (Orig. $2.99)

(2) Covergirl Lipstick (Orig. $5.99, sale B1G1 free)

used $1/1 coupon 6/27 P&G

used $1/1 coupon 7/4/10 P&G

(2) Degree deodorant (Reg. $3.99)

used $1/1 coupons - printed 2 - found here

Spent: $17.56 (had used $10 ECB before this total)

Original Cost of Items: $57.02

Savings: $39.46

69% of Savings
ECB $20 for next time 

WALMART VISIT:

I've been wanting to use my Nexcare coupons ever since someone posted somewhere that Target had boxes on sale for $1.24 each. My coupons were for $1 off. But alas, I could not find them for that price or even close, until this week at Walmart. So if anyone decides to get hurt in the next 10 years, I have enough bandaids! lol

Nexcare bandaids - bought 12 (Orig. $1.85, markdown $1.50)

use $1/1 6/6/10SS

use $0.55/1 5/2/10 SS

print $1/1 coupon here (can print many)

Spent: $6.00

Original Cost of Items: $22.20

Savings: $16.20

73% of Savings

P.S. If you're heading to Walmart in the next few days they're having great deals on school supplies already (apparently they don't realize that IT'S SUMMER STILL!!! Urgh!) Great time to stock up.

$0.15 Each

• 1 Subject Notebook
• 2 Pocket Folder

$0.25 Each

• Crayola Crayons (24 ct.)
• Elmer’s Glue Sticks (2 ct.)
• Composition Book

$0.75 Each

• 1″ Binders

$1 Each

• Post It Notes (Singles)
• Scotch Tape (Single Rolls)
• Fiskars Safety Scissors
• Plastic Pencil Box
• Zippered Pencil Case
• Bic Ballpoint Pens, $1
• Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils
• Crayola Colored Pencils (12 Ct.)
• Crayola Markers (10 Ct.)
• Sharpie Markers (2 Ct.)
• Pink Erasers (2 Ct.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total savings for these 3 trips:

Spent: $24.94 (- $20 ECBs earned for future trip) = $4.94

Original Cost of Items: $86.60

Savings: $81.66

94% of Savings

July 4th Weekend Savings

I think I did a bit too much shopping in the last few days as my posts and pictures are starting to pile up! In fact, I took so long to take pics of some of my purchases, they were eaten/drunk/used up! The way people devour snacks and drinks in this house, you would think they were starved half to death!

The little one and I went out on Friday for a 'girls day of couponing'. She loves that she was included in my little adventure. She was very helpful as well. 

Yesterday's post showed the visits to Walgreens but we also hit up CVS and Walmart. 

CVS Visit

Transaction #1:

Edge Saving Gel (Orig: $1.99)

Hydro Razor (Orig. $12.99, sale $8.99)

Schick Titanium Razor (Orig. $10.99, sale $9.99)

* Used 3 Coupons for $ off sale prices* 

Final Price: $2.22

Retail Total: $25.97

Savings: $23.75

92% savings!

ECB $10 for next time

Transaction #2:

(2) Xtra laundry Soap (Orig. $1.99, sale 2/$3)

(2) Frapucchino Drinks (Orig. $1.99, sale 2/$3)

Colgate Toothpaste (Orig. 1.99, sale $.89)

(2) Colgate Total Toothpastes (Orig. $2.89, sale $1.99 ea)

(4) Act II Popcorn 3pk (Orig. 1.00)

* Used 8 Coupons for $ off sale prices* 

Final Price: $6.12

Retail Total: $19.73

Savings: $13.61

69% savings!

CVS Spent: $8.34

Original Cost of Items: $45.70

Savings: $37.36

82% of Savings

$10 ECB money for next time

Walmart

Our Walmart visit was one of my favorites because I bought all for practically nothing! I love when that happens! My final price for 7 boxes of cereal is fabulous!

(4) Post cereals (Orig. $3.39, sale $2.50)

(2) Kelloggs Cereals (Orig. $2.99 ea)

(1) Kelloggs Fiber Cereal (Orig. $2.88)

* Used 7 Coupons for $ off sale prices* 

Final Price: $5.50

Retail Total: $22.42

Savings: $16.92

76% savings!

Weekend Totals:  

Spent: $13.84

Original Cost of Items: $68.12

Savings: $54.28

80% of Savings

$10 CVS (ECB) money for next time

If you subtracted the $10 in CVS money from my spent amount, I really only spent $3.84. Not bad for a 21 items and a weekend's adventure!

Late Night Finds!

Remember this post where I was off and running to Wally World at midnight?! (no, I didn't turn into a pumpkin.) The coupon I was desperate to use was for a birthday present. $10 off Alice in Wonderland Blu-Ray & DVD combo pack. The combo can run as high as $34.95 but Walmart had it for $29.95. See details below.

Alice in Wonderland OP: $34.95, SP: $29.95. C: $10. (DisneyRewards.com)

Littlest Pet Shop Toys (bought 4) OP: $6.94 ea, SP: $5, C: B1G1 free (Coupons.com)

Retail Cost: $62.71

Final Cost: $29.95

Savings: $32.76

52% Savings!

I'm loving this saving for a birthday gift! I can spoil my child and still save money! I would have bought the items anyway but would have probably only gotten the DVD because the Blu-Ray is so expensive. 

Another late night find was last night online. Remember this post, I purchased the Schick Hydro Razer on sale with coupons. I ended up spending $0 (that's counting the $4 of ECB). I'm glad I saved my receipt. (Okay, to be honest, I had not. But I was able to retrieve it from the trash bag outside. NOTE TO SELF: Save all receipts! lol) You can get a full refund by sending in for a rebate, found HERE.

You can only do the rebate once but you can do the deal again since there is a new coupon:

Buy 1 Schick Hydro 3 or Hydro 5 Razor at $8.97, Get $4 ECBs
Use $5/1 coupon from the 6/13 SmartSource insert

Plus a possibility of earning $20 if your shaver has a survey inside to take!  

(info from MoneySavingMom)

Because of the rebate notion, I've added 2 extra sections in my inset notebook. One section for receipts, one for rebate forms showing the date I mailed it off.

Oh, last post I forgot to tell the best part of when I first started my couponing. I had no coupons, no nothing. Then I saw someone's post about how they 'dumpster dive' into the local paper recycling bin. Well, I threw on my shoes, grabbed the teen and went up the street to mine. Being the short (and roundish) person I am, I'm glad I brought the teen. There is no way I would have gotten inside. I threw her in there and she sifted for a 1/2 hour. I came away with I think 6 weeks of different coupon inserts. I'm all set now! Yay! She was happy to grab all the crossword puzzles to do. That was her payment. That and a hot fudge sundae. :)

Danger Zone!!

This is how bad the couponing obsession has become... I was sitting at the computer writing a post for this blog which reminded me I had an important coupon expiring in 35 minutes. What did I do???

Threw on my trusty flipflops and hopped in the car, off to Walmart. Appropriately playing in my CD player was 80's hits, and I belted out the whole way there 'Highway To The Danger Zone!'

I think I've created a couponing monster! ME!

June 12th Deals

This weekend was my first experience with couponing in a long time. It's kind of like planning a battle. You have to have a strategy (buying what you need), armed with the proper tools (paper/ads) and secret weapons (coupons). Once you get the hang of it, its like a fun game to play!

Saturday 6/12/10

I went to two stores: Hyvee and Walmart.

Hyvee

I took advantage of several sales in the ads but didn't use coupons on those so I won't note those here. But just to mention, the sale on chicken was fabulous! $0.88 per lb for chicken breasts w/rib bone. I just made the most delicious chicken tortilla soup in the crockpot from it! Makes me want to run back and buy more! Original price of chicken: $2.29 a lb. Good deal I'd say. So always check the ads for the meat deals.

OP= Original Price

SP= Sale Price

C= Coupon

SC= Store Coupon (usually found in their ad paper or website)

Specific Coupons: In the paper there are 3 different coupon sets.

P&G - Proctor & Gamble booklet comes in the paper the beginning of each month.

SS - Smart Source

RP - Red Plum

If I write something like (SS 5/16) it means I got the coupon from the May 16th Smart Source.

(note: not all deals shown in pic)

Marcal Bath Tissue (4 pk) OP=2.99, SP=2/$4. (I bought 1) C=$1 off (SS 5/16)

Final Cost: $1.

Post Honey Bunches of Oats (buy 2) OP= 3.88 ea, SP= 2/$4, C=$1/2 bxs (SS 5/16)

Final Cost: $3 ($1.50 ea)

Pepsi Products (buy 4) OP= $4.88 ea, SC= 4/$10

Final Cost: $10 (this is a good deal for us since we drink a lot of soda

Bic Comfort 3 Advance Razors 4 ct (bought 5) OP= 5.98 ea, SP= 3.99, C= $3. ea (S 5/2)

Final Cost: $4.95 ($0.99 ea)

Hillshire Farm Deli Select Hearty Slices Lunchmeat (bought 6) OP= 4.28 ea, SP= 2/$5, C= $0.55 ea (RP 6/6)

Final Cost: $11.70 ($1.95 ea)

Final Price: $30.65

(Retail Total: $85.85)

Savings: $55.20

64% savings!

On things I would have needed anyway and now we have extras.

Walmart

This was the fun one. I barely paid a thing and got lots for free!

Carefree Pantyliners (22 ct) OP= $1.79, SP= $0.99, C= $1 (SS 4/25)

Final Cost: They paid ME $0.01 to buy them

Purina Kitten Chow (16 oz) OP= $2.29 C= 1 free bag (SS 5/2)

Final Cost: FREE

Xtra Laundry Detergent (45 oz) OP= $2.50 SP= $1.98 C= $1 (SS 6/6)

Final Cost: $2.94 (I bought 3, $0.98 ea)

Pampers Wipes (72 ct) OP= $4.29 ea (bought 6), SP= $1.97, C= $2 (PG 6/6)

Final Cost: They paid ME $0.03 ea box to buy them

Final Price: $2.75

(Retail Total: $37.32)

Savings: $34.57

92.6% savings!

Now that's what I call FUN FUN FUN!

TODAYS TOTALS:

Paid: $33.40

Saved: 89.77

74% savings!!