It looks like a couple of consecutive blah weeks at CVS so I decided to burn through some of the nearly $80 worth of ECBs I've accumulated on various household needs. I ended up getting the following stuff for just over $5 out of pocket:
Jumbo pack of CVS brand toilet paper (24 rolls)
2- 100 ct. bottles of prenatal vitamins (no, I'm not preggers again- just still nursing!)
2- 30 ct packs of Probiotic Acidopholus tabs
1- toddler toothbrush & toothpaste
2 marble composition notebooks
I got more bang for the buck by separating purchase into 3 transactions and using one $5/$25 q and two $2/$10 vitamin autofill coupons. And I earned another $2 ECB by using a raincheck for the marble composition notebooks.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Grocery Deals - week of 9/02
I meant to post this yesterday and make this a weekly Wednesday feature, but Stella's been a bit of a fuss-budget as of late. My apologies! Lots of Labor Day themed specials on meat, paper plates & plastic cups can be found at practically every store. Here are my picks for this week's best deals at Triangle area grocery stores.
Food Lion
Sadly, FL has discontinued their Guiding Stars FLIP (a store specific internet printable) that would allow you to get free or nearly free produce, eggs and other healthy stuff. This was a $1.00 coupon that could be used on any "healthy" item in the store- paired with specials and carefully measured produce, you could get some really wonderful deals on whole foods. I'm hoping they'll bring it back.
I'm not a big FL shopper since they don't double q's but I do stop by on occasion for really good deals.
This week, they'll have free or nearly free Mt. Olive Sweet Relish if you have 50 cent coupons handy from 7/19 or 8/16 insert. If you haven't exhausted your supply of Glade Fragrance collection coupons you can get free or cheap candles since they're on sale B1G1. With the $3 printable or the $3 All You coupon, you can get these for free. If you have $2 insert coupons, you'll pay $1 for each.
Harris Teeter
There's a rumor swirling on HCW right now that HT will alternate between super doubles and triples every other week until the end of year. I don't know about you, but I find this prospect both exciting and exhausting. Guess we'll find out soon. In the interim, they have some good freebies and cheapies this week with their typical doubling of q's.
My personal faves? Sorrento string cheese can be bought for a mere 33 cents each pack when you use the $1 coupon from 8/23 Smart Source. Coke 12 packs are also on sale for a rock bottom 4/$10 ($2.50 each). There's a limit of 8. I've traded for a bunch of $1/2 q's so I'll be stocking up on our beloved Coke Zero for $2 each 12 pack.
You can also get Reynolds Recycled 35 ft aluminum foil for 14 cents with the 75 cent coupon found in 8/16 Smart Source insert.
Both Smithfield Bacon and French's worcestershire sauce will be free with printables (click on each item to find and print!).
Kroger
No big deals going on at Kroger this week- will buy a couple more packs of the Kroger Comforts diapers for our little munchkin but nothing else really stood out for me this week.
Lowe's
Lowe's has an instasave special (sign up on their website) where you can get a 4 lb. bag of sugar for 99 cents (limit 2).
Other standouts this week include Lawry's marinades for 54 cents with 50 cent insert coupon, Kellogg's cereals (selected kids flavors) for 65 cents a box with $2/2 insert coupon, A1 Marinade for FREE with $2/1 insert coupon.
Please feel free to post comments if you spot other good deals at any of these stores, Super Walmart or Super Target!
Food Lion
Sadly, FL has discontinued their Guiding Stars FLIP (a store specific internet printable) that would allow you to get free or nearly free produce, eggs and other healthy stuff. This was a $1.00 coupon that could be used on any "healthy" item in the store- paired with specials and carefully measured produce, you could get some really wonderful deals on whole foods. I'm hoping they'll bring it back.
I'm not a big FL shopper since they don't double q's but I do stop by on occasion for really good deals.
This week, they'll have free or nearly free Mt. Olive Sweet Relish if you have 50 cent coupons handy from 7/19 or 8/16 insert. If you haven't exhausted your supply of Glade Fragrance collection coupons you can get free or cheap candles since they're on sale B1G1. With the $3 printable or the $3 All You coupon, you can get these for free. If you have $2 insert coupons, you'll pay $1 for each.
Harris Teeter
There's a rumor swirling on HCW right now that HT will alternate between super doubles and triples every other week until the end of year. I don't know about you, but I find this prospect both exciting and exhausting. Guess we'll find out soon. In the interim, they have some good freebies and cheapies this week with their typical doubling of q's.
My personal faves? Sorrento string cheese can be bought for a mere 33 cents each pack when you use the $1 coupon from 8/23 Smart Source. Coke 12 packs are also on sale for a rock bottom 4/$10 ($2.50 each). There's a limit of 8. I've traded for a bunch of $1/2 q's so I'll be stocking up on our beloved Coke Zero for $2 each 12 pack.
You can also get Reynolds Recycled 35 ft aluminum foil for 14 cents with the 75 cent coupon found in 8/16 Smart Source insert.
Both Smithfield Bacon and French's worcestershire sauce will be free with printables (click on each item to find and print!).
Kroger
No big deals going on at Kroger this week- will buy a couple more packs of the Kroger Comforts diapers for our little munchkin but nothing else really stood out for me this week.
Lowe's
Lowe's has an instasave special (sign up on their website) where you can get a 4 lb. bag of sugar for 99 cents (limit 2).
Other standouts this week include Lawry's marinades for 54 cents with 50 cent insert coupon, Kellogg's cereals (selected kids flavors) for 65 cents a box with $2/2 insert coupon, A1 Marinade for FREE with $2/1 insert coupon.
Please feel free to post comments if you spot other good deals at any of these stores, Super Walmart or Super Target!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
New Printables Out Today!
Both http://www.coupons.com/ and http://www.smartsource.com/ have been restocked! Check out each - certain coupons will appear on both sites. Be sure to print out the 2 copies you're allowed for the ones you want.
The Green Giant .50/1 will likely go fast (if they're even still there!) so be sure to get your 4 copies of these (2 from coupons and 2 from smartsource).
The Green Giant .50/1 will likely go fast (if they're even still there!) so be sure to get your 4 copies of these (2 from coupons and 2 from smartsource).
Monday, August 31, 2009
Why I Coupon Shop...
The answer is right in this picture! I coupon shop to help us save $$$ so I can continue to stay home and care for this adorable munchkin. Yes, it takes time & energy to find the best deals but it's totally worth the effort. I've cut our grocery and household items charges in half (at least!) and we actually have more stuff we considered luxuries than we did when I started coupon shopping (free candles & lotions & cleansers!). I'll be back out to take advantage of Walgreens deals shortly but wanted to write a quick blog about my post-library Kroger trip. I did pretty well- bought a gallon of milk, 7 Healthy Choice meals, six Kroger 30 minute Sesame Ginger marinades (these are yummy with chicken and on sale for $1 each this week), 2 Shamrock Farms rocket refuels milk, a jumbo pack of Kroger comforts diapers, chicken bouillon, a 2 liter of Sunkist for the girlies, 2 Purex Naturals laundry detergents (75 cents each thanks to sale price coupled with $1.50/$5 Kroger bonus coupon and 2 doubled 50 cent manufacturer IPs) and a pack of Kroger Reduced Sugar Maple & Brown Sugar oatmeal (super yummy brekkie) for a little over $30.
The diapers in particular were a very good deal. The pack was on sale for $6.99 and there's a $3 internet coupon out there bringing the cost down to a very cool $3.99 - you can print the internt coupon from here, just click on Kroger in the itemized selections to find it. Since you can print this twice, I was going to get two packs while there, but could only use one. So I had them put back the other back and will get it during another trip. We'll need to go back for the Coke deal that's going on once I get all my $1 Coke coupons that I recently traded for in my mailbox.
15% off at Walgreens - TODAY ONLY!
Check out the Walgreen's website today. You can print out a discount card good today, August 31st, only for 15% off (20% off Walgreen's products!). Go to www.walgreens.com to get your discount card. Use it for register rewards items along with manufacturer coupons for even bigger savings!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Drugstore Deals week of 8/29
If you're one of the lucky folks who got a $4 off Natural Instincts coupon in your 8/02 P&G Saver insert, this is a great week for you! Both CVS and Rite Aid are offering specials which turn out to be moneymakers with use of this coupon (see links to each store's sections on Southern Savers below). Alas, us here in Raleigh did not get this valuable coupon and will be missing out- no moneymaking hair dye for me. I was thinking of trying to make a quick trade for it then realized this would be impossible as the coupons expire on Monday. *Big frown*
Oh well, there are still other moneymakers to be had...
The highlights:
CVS
$3-$4 moneymaker with the purchase of Glade Scented Reed Diffuser 1.6 ounce or Soy Candle 4.9-10 ounce (limit 1 per card). I'll be using the $3 off coupon found in August's All You as I don't have the larger $4 coupon that was found in 5/31 SmartSource Insert. Item rings up at $6.99 and you'll get $6.99 back in ECBs.
$5 moneymaker with the purchase of the Bayer Contour Monitor (limit 2 per card). You can get these for free with the use of insert coupons for $20-$30 that are out there as these are on sale for $14.99 this week so you'll spend nothing but tax and get $5 back in ECBs.
As always, you can increase your savings/moneymaking potential by using an autofill coupon ($4/20) or a CRT for $5/$25 if you have these handy.
For all the deals (including the hair color one mentioned above), click here to be redirected to the CVS weekly deals section on Southern Savers.
Rite Aid
Stim-U-Dent Mint Flavor 100 ct will be free after $1.49 SCR. I'm not even sure what these are but if they're gum or mints, I'll be picking one up.
Get a $10 Rite Aid gift card when you buy $30 in P&G Products (the Clairol Natural Instincts would qualify and when you use the $4 coupon and the $5/$25 Rite Aid printable that's out there, you'll be making $$ on this deal!).
Since I don't have the $4 Clairol coupon, I'm going to take advantage of this deal by buying Cover Girl products. Jenny lays out a great scenario involving foundation and face products. Click here for all the details and other Rite Aid deals this week.
Walgreens
There are lots of freebies to be had at Walgreens this week thanks to Register Rewards program. Freebies include Rembrandt toothpaste, Reach products, Carefree pantiliners, men's razors and toothbrushes- since we're pretty well stocked on dental hygiene products etc., I'm probably not going to take advantage of any of these. Rather, I'll just stock up on cheap newspapers while I'm there. I think I'm still harboring major resentment against Walgreens over their failure to keep Huggies wipes in stock this past week.
You can find all the details on deals here if you're up for shopping at Walgreens.
Happy shopping all!
Oh well, there are still other moneymakers to be had...
The highlights:
CVS
$3-$4 moneymaker with the purchase of Glade Scented Reed Diffuser 1.6 ounce or Soy Candle 4.9-10 ounce (limit 1 per card). I'll be using the $3 off coupon found in August's All You as I don't have the larger $4 coupon that was found in 5/31 SmartSource Insert. Item rings up at $6.99 and you'll get $6.99 back in ECBs.
$5 moneymaker with the purchase of the Bayer Contour Monitor (limit 2 per card). You can get these for free with the use of insert coupons for $20-$30 that are out there as these are on sale for $14.99 this week so you'll spend nothing but tax and get $5 back in ECBs.
As always, you can increase your savings/moneymaking potential by using an autofill coupon ($4/20) or a CRT for $5/$25 if you have these handy.
For all the deals (including the hair color one mentioned above), click here to be redirected to the CVS weekly deals section on Southern Savers.
Rite Aid
Stim-U-Dent Mint Flavor 100 ct will be free after $1.49 SCR. I'm not even sure what these are but if they're gum or mints, I'll be picking one up.
Get a $10 Rite Aid gift card when you buy $30 in P&G Products (the Clairol Natural Instincts would qualify and when you use the $4 coupon and the $5/$25 Rite Aid printable that's out there, you'll be making $$ on this deal!).
Since I don't have the $4 Clairol coupon, I'm going to take advantage of this deal by buying Cover Girl products. Jenny lays out a great scenario involving foundation and face products. Click here for all the details and other Rite Aid deals this week.
Walgreens
There are lots of freebies to be had at Walgreens this week thanks to Register Rewards program. Freebies include Rembrandt toothpaste, Reach products, Carefree pantiliners, men's razors and toothbrushes- since we're pretty well stocked on dental hygiene products etc., I'm probably not going to take advantage of any of these. Rather, I'll just stock up on cheap newspapers while I'm there. I think I'm still harboring major resentment against Walgreens over their failure to keep Huggies wipes in stock this past week.
You can find all the details on deals here if you're up for shopping at Walgreens.
Happy shopping all!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Couponing 101- Lesson One
Picture me doing my best Jack Nicholson from Batman impression as I repeat a question often posed by cashiers or those behind me in the checkout lane when shopping as of late..."where does she get such wonderful coupons????"
The answer? Most in my binder come from a couponers bread and butter- that of the Sunday paper inserts. I buy multiple copies of inserts- typically 10-12 each week. Our local Walgreens sell these at 50 cents less than other stores and I've learned that some Dollar Trees will even sell them for $1! Some folks opt to "dumpster dive" for additional newspaper inserts. I am not one of those folks (but no judgments to those of you who are!) Do not bother to scoop up multiple inserts on holiday weekends as you'll find that there are no inserts to be found in a holiday weekend paper.
After couponing for awhile and frequenting various message boards, I've learned that different regions get different coupons- not only for different type of products, but the coupon's face value can even vary from region to region and paper to paper. When super doubles are around, you'll be hoping for $1 and $1.50 coupons for your staple items; when it's triples, you'll be wishing for 50 cent and 75 cent coupon for maximum savings. So how do you get the most bang for your buck? You can hope to get lucky from your paper's inserts...or you can do what I do- trade coupons to get those for the products you need in the most desirable face values!
Trading coupons can be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. There are many sites for which you can trade coupons. There are also sites out there for "clipping services" where you can pay for certain coupons. I don't pay for coupons. Well, that is not entirely true- there are sometimes that I will make a paypal gift as part of a trade- but I don't use clipping services at all. I trade quite frequently on http://www.hotcouponworld.com/. How it typically works is you'll try to work out a trade where it's a dollar for dollar type of exchange- or as close to it as you can come (ie, if you're looking for 10- $1/1 oreo cakester coupons, your trade offer would likely be for $10 worth of coupons). You can also trade with paypal as currency like I mentioned above or for forever stamps- generally these types of trades will work out as 10 cents on the dollar for coupon value (so if you have a trade for $20 worth of coupons, you'd either trade with $2 of a paypal gift or about 5 forever stamps).
I also get coupons online. Typically, you can only print out two internet coupons from your computer/IP address for a specific item. I've grown to use these more and more. I've read that many stores are encounter lots of coupon fraud- so some merchants will not accept these entirely. I haven't yet run across a store that doesn't accept these and I really really hope I won't.
I've recently discovered another great source for coupons at Walmart. It's a magazine that is only sold there entitled "All You." I've started purchasing multiple copies and will likely continue to do so. There are some great coupons you can find in this magazine!
There are other ways of getting coupons- blinkies (those found on the beeping red coupon dispensers along a store's aisles), peelies (those found stuck to the products themselves), hangtags (those found in a hangtag on the neck of a product) and winetags (one of my personal faves as previously discussed in the blog). I'm not a big fan of the blinkie or peelie q's because many of these will not double or triple. You can tell if a coupon will automatically double or triple by looking at the barcode on the coupon- if it starts with a 5, it should double/triple, it it starts with a 9, it will not double/triple.
You can also email manufacturers of products you love and request coupons! I'm going to be doing more and more of this as several of our fave products do not typically have coupons issued in Sunday inserts or magazines.
If any of you have any other tips for hunting coupons, feel free to share!!!
There should be lots of drugstore goodies to be had this coming weekend- I will try to post what I feel to be the best finds tomorrow.
Our next couponing lesson will be ORGANIZING- a trouble spot for most of us who have accumulated an obscene amount of coupons....stay tuned!
The answer? Most in my binder come from a couponers bread and butter- that of the Sunday paper inserts. I buy multiple copies of inserts- typically 10-12 each week. Our local Walgreens sell these at 50 cents less than other stores and I've learned that some Dollar Trees will even sell them for $1! Some folks opt to "dumpster dive" for additional newspaper inserts. I am not one of those folks (but no judgments to those of you who are!) Do not bother to scoop up multiple inserts on holiday weekends as you'll find that there are no inserts to be found in a holiday weekend paper.
After couponing for awhile and frequenting various message boards, I've learned that different regions get different coupons- not only for different type of products, but the coupon's face value can even vary from region to region and paper to paper. When super doubles are around, you'll be hoping for $1 and $1.50 coupons for your staple items; when it's triples, you'll be wishing for 50 cent and 75 cent coupon for maximum savings. So how do you get the most bang for your buck? You can hope to get lucky from your paper's inserts...or you can do what I do- trade coupons to get those for the products you need in the most desirable face values!
Trading coupons can be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. There are many sites for which you can trade coupons. There are also sites out there for "clipping services" where you can pay for certain coupons. I don't pay for coupons. Well, that is not entirely true- there are sometimes that I will make a paypal gift as part of a trade- but I don't use clipping services at all. I trade quite frequently on http://www.hotcouponworld.com/. How it typically works is you'll try to work out a trade where it's a dollar for dollar type of exchange- or as close to it as you can come (ie, if you're looking for 10- $1/1 oreo cakester coupons, your trade offer would likely be for $10 worth of coupons). You can also trade with paypal as currency like I mentioned above or for forever stamps- generally these types of trades will work out as 10 cents on the dollar for coupon value (so if you have a trade for $20 worth of coupons, you'd either trade with $2 of a paypal gift or about 5 forever stamps).
I also get coupons online. Typically, you can only print out two internet coupons from your computer/IP address for a specific item. I've grown to use these more and more. I've read that many stores are encounter lots of coupon fraud- so some merchants will not accept these entirely. I haven't yet run across a store that doesn't accept these and I really really hope I won't.
I've recently discovered another great source for coupons at Walmart. It's a magazine that is only sold there entitled "All You." I've started purchasing multiple copies and will likely continue to do so. There are some great coupons you can find in this magazine!
There are other ways of getting coupons- blinkies (those found on the beeping red coupon dispensers along a store's aisles), peelies (those found stuck to the products themselves), hangtags (those found in a hangtag on the neck of a product) and winetags (one of my personal faves as previously discussed in the blog). I'm not a big fan of the blinkie or peelie q's because many of these will not double or triple. You can tell if a coupon will automatically double or triple by looking at the barcode on the coupon- if it starts with a 5, it should double/triple, it it starts with a 9, it will not double/triple.
You can also email manufacturers of products you love and request coupons! I'm going to be doing more and more of this as several of our fave products do not typically have coupons issued in Sunday inserts or magazines.
If any of you have any other tips for hunting coupons, feel free to share!!!
There should be lots of drugstore goodies to be had this coming weekend- I will try to post what I feel to be the best finds tomorrow.
Our next couponing lesson will be ORGANIZING- a trouble spot for most of us who have accumulated an obscene amount of coupons....stay tuned!
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