Purex deal at Walgreens this week!

Did anyone print out last week's $3 off 2 Purex coupon? If so, 

it makes for a sweet deal at Walgreens this week. I got three 

of the 18 ct Purex UltraPacks for $1.97 + tax! They are 

regularly $4.97 each - but with your Wags card this week 

they are buy one, get two free! Three for $4.97 without 

coupon, or with coupon, 3 for $1.97! Can't beat that deal!  

Definitely the week to stock up on detergent! (Also applies to 

the liquid detergent, but it was $5.97 a bottle)

Deals at Publix this week

This week they had some super deals with their B1G1 sales matched up with my coupons.  This is what I got:

Got 4 boxes of Post cereal, 8 pk juicy juice, 2 power bars, Heinz vinegar, 5 Ken's marinades for steak/chicken, 4 Mueller pastas, Crest toothpaste, 2 packs pita bread, Cascadian organic granola bars, & Mio water flavoring.

Everything had a mfr coupon except the Juicy Juice and the two packs of pita bread. Also I had a store & mfr coupon for the Crest, and a mfr & competitor (Target) coupon for the Mio.

Total spent $16.15,  total saved $40.60.  What was your best deal or total savings this week?
This is my kind of couponing - it may not be extreme, but it works for our family!

Really good week at Publix !

Gosh, I haven't posted a grocery trip in a while here! : )  This was one of my best ever Publix trips - I was able to stock up on so many things!

It is hard to see it all, so I'll give you the lowdown:

3 bags of Sargento shredded cheese

3 bags of fresh veggies

fresh apples

fresh pears

huge bell pepper

2 Crescent rolls

4 Green Giant frozen veggies

3 pizza crusts from the deli

12 cans of Hunt's tomato sauce

1 can mushroom pieces

Dill pickles

Progresso Bread Crumbs

2 cans evaporated milk

12 Yoplait yogurts

2 Land o Lakes spreadable butter

1 greenwise 4 pack toilet paper

2 Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner

Linguini (fresh refrigerated kind)

3 Wishbone salad dressings

2 lb tub of Sorrento Ricotta cheese

Publix brand saltines

2 8-packs Lance Sandwich Crackers

1 loaf fresh french bread from the deli

fresh roll from the deli

Acne Free kit for Katie

Clean and Clear for Katie

ROC complete lift serum for me

total spent: $32.24

total saved $103.47

or 76%

I had some amazing coupons this week: a $5 off $30 purchase from the paper, a $5 off 20 participating items: Hunts, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Progresso, $1.50 off deli bread when you buy Hunts Tomato sauce, $2 off 2 Scrubbing bubbles store coupon paired with $2 off 2 peelie on one of the cans (totally free!), $1.50 sargento store coupons, paired with 40 cents off 2 mfr coupon, and the last 3 face items were clearance ~ and I had $2 or $3 off coupons, so the most expensive item was only $1.75! Most other items had coupons or were B1G1, and I even had a $3 catalina from Kroger to use.  This shopping trip is one example of why I L-O-V-E Publix! Truly!! They make my $100 a week grocery budget streeeeeeeeetch so far!!
What was your best deal this week?  I love hearing them!!

Linking up to these hops this weekend:



 

Two great drugstore deals this morning...

If you bought a paper (or more - I bought 8 today - so many great coupons!)  check out the smaller Smart Source (there are 2) insert.   Ours had Steak N Shake coupons on the back of it, and the last page before the back cover had a $2.25 off 1 Finish Quantum dishwasher detergent.    At Walgreen's this week, these are on sale for $3.49, plus you get $1.50 back in Register Rewards. (RRs)  I bought one today, but will be going back for more.   I got 20 gel pacs for $1.25 out of pocket, plus $1.50 RR! This is a great stockup price, so I'll be getting at least 7 more!!  I won't have to buy detergent for months - and that means the $ I'd spend on it can go towards something else we need.  Timing & bulk buying is how I save the most!
UPDATE:  I have gotten 5 boxes so far: Spent $1.45 inc tax per box, then they gave me the $1.50 in RR... My stores are now out of these, so I'll check back Friday or Saturday for the other 2 boxes I want!!

Remember that you have to do multiple transactions at Walgreen's to get your RR on each box of Finish.  And you can't use the Finish RR on the purchase of more Finish.  Well, you can, but they won't give you the RR on that purchase.  So get as many boxes as you have coupons, but ask for them to ring each box up individually, so you get the RR's each time. Save the RR's for upcoming sales at Wags, or do like I do - save them for Publix, as they accept them as competitors coupons!

At CVS this week, they have a great deal.  Buy any 2 Revlon make up items or tools, get $7 Extra Care Bucks. (ECBs) I had $2.50 in ECB already, and I bought 2 pairs of nail clippers at $3.29 each.  That put me at $4.10 plus tax out of pocket, and then I received $7 in ECB to use next time I shop - yay!  I will put these in my donate box so that when David's school does another health box for Haiti drive, I can drop these two nail clippers in and they will be used by folks who really need them!  The $7 can be used for upcoming CVS sales.  I also bought 3 packs of Extra gum for $2 total, and got $1 ECB back.  We love Extra so it was a regular purchase for me. 

What's your favorite sale in the Sunday ads today?

Home Sweet Home + After Christmas deals!

It feels so good to be back home!! Don't get me wrong, leaving snowy, cold Atlanta for cold but sunshine-y Orlando was fantastic! We spent Sunday through Thursday morning there with friends at a wonderful rental house, then headed towards home, with a stopover for one night in Moultrie, GA, my hometown.   There we spent precious time with my 89 year old Nana, whom I ADORE.  It was a great week.  And Friday night we were home and had our traditional Fondue party with my husband.  The kids and I crashed by 10 so we didn't ring in the New Year like usual, but that's ok - we needed the SLEEP!

So, here's my first post of the new year.  I wanted to show some of the great deals you can get shopping for next year's decor now!!

The Walmart in Moultrie had Christmas marked 75% off, so I snagged sets of 2 potholders for 37 cents a set,  3" pillar candles for under 50 cents, and fancy-schmancy sprinkles from Wilton for under 70 cents a bottle! I'll be keeping those in the fridge so they will last and keep their pretty colors!

I did shop before then at the Walmart & Target nearest to us in Florida. I stocked up on boxed Christmas cards, lots of shiny ornaments (large & small balls), I even found super-cute ornaments for the kids for next year.  Also paper plates, napkins,  chip/dip platters, treat bags, plus a lot of things I can send in to David's school.  Every year they ask for items for stockings for the kids - so that means multiples of things - I got erasers, pencils and stickers for next year!!  Plus gift bags, ribbon, kitchen towels, bath hand towels, ziploc bags, mugs, cupcake liners, stocking stuffers and lots of decor items! I am ready for next Christmas already, at least as far as wrapping and decorating goes!!  I probably spent about $45 on everything.

So, did you do some after Christmas shopping? What were your best deals?!

Here are a few shots of the stuff I haven't packed up yet....

There are also a few things not pictured that might end up in my gift box!!  I love shopping the clearance aisles this time of year - so many good deals!!

Do y'all shop the day after Christmas?

I do! I try to get the things I used up this year: Christmas cards, tissue paper, bows, ribbon, gift bags, gift card holders, plus new ornaments, lights, dishes, etc.  I also look for cute stocking stuffers for next year, Christmas-themed things like Kleenex, paper towels, and even candy - red hershey kisses and m&m's can be used for Valentine's Day, the green ones for St. Patrick's Day!  And don't forget cookie tins, ziploc bags, treat bags and other holiday baking products.  They'll also be on sale!   My favorite stores for after-Christmas shopping are Target, Wal-mart, Hobby Lobby & Michaels! Pier One has good stuff too, but they are pricier to begin with, so 50% off isn't really a good deal to me.  (Now at 75% or 90%, I'm in!!)

The dollar store is a treasure trove of Christmas clearance! I get tags, tissue paper and bags here for 50 cents.  Cookie tins too!  Check the clearance section of your grocery store too - chances are you'll find some good Christmas things there.

Most Christmas items will be 50% off on Sunday, and then for the next week or two they will be marked down again and again, up to 90% off! Stock up and save now, and you'll be way ahead of the game come next November!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!!
~ Aimee

Sweet Deal on Inspirational Books

http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/ ~ Save 15% and get free shipping when you use promo code 15ANDFREESHIP at checkout.  Devotionals, fiction, non-fiction, bible studies and more - huge selection to choose from!

Check out the cute winter wear at Bebe Bella Designs:  Children - Adult sizes Hats, mittens & scarves....so cute! Code: winter66 
Offers Expires: TONIGHT! 

Another great shopping trip!

Had another great trip to Publix today! Next week we have to take snack/drinks for 10 hungry little soccer players, so I stocked up on the B1G1 Nabisco multi packs, and the $1.79 Capri Suns for that. I got my husband a Medium Shrimp Platter for 1/2 price (only $6!) thanks to B1G1 sale. 10 cent Buitoni fresh pasta after B1G1 & coupons, $2 Wesson oil, $2 Italian salad blend, $1.99 Propel six pack, and so much more!! Publix actually paid me 21 cents per pack to buy 10 packs of Japanese noodles after my coupons, and they paid me 30 cents for the Hidden Valley Ranch dressing (it was B1G1 and I had a $2 coupon!!) Here's the breakdown:

Spent $23.49
Saved $55.20

Bought 29 items
used $5 off $25 purchase Rite Aid coupon
&
Had mfr coupons for most everything except sweet potatoes, Lysol cleaner, Salad, Propel, Wesson oil & 3 Capri Suns. BUT - all but the sweet potatoes were either B1G1or on sale for great prices.

After this trip I still have $176 in my grocery budget for the next two weeks!!

Warning! Don't leave the store without rainchecks!

This week I was reminded yet again why I love rainchecks SO much. A few weeks ago, CVS ran a sale on Purex 3 in 1 detergent streets. Normally $9.99, they were on sale for $5.99, plus $2 ECB back when you buy one. My store was out, so I got a raincheck for 1. I put it in my CVS envelope with a $3 off 1 coupon from the paper. Last week, they were back in stock again. And by then, I also had a $3 ECB gift card that came in the mail in a flyer, so I took my $3 off coupon, my $3 ECB and I paid all of 21 cents (tax) for 20 detergent sheets that retail for $9.99!! And I got $2 ECB back for it too!

If there is a good deal on something, and your store is out (this goes for grocery or drug stores!) ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS get a raincheck. CVS may only let you get one if there is a limit per card. If there is no limit, you can ask for however many you can use (or have coupons for!). CVS rainchecks never expire, and they are good at any CVS store. Grocery store policies vary, so check their rainchecks for expiration dates, etc. If you are combining a raincheck deal with coupons, remember to keep an eye on the expiration dates of your coupons, too! Don't let them expire, y'all - these are like money!!

Are you brand loyal?

One thing that did change for me when I started my semi-extreme couponing is that I try a lot of new brands. If I can get something for almost free, I'll try it once! But, there are a few things I'm very loyal to the brand. One of those: Hebrew National or Nathan's Beef Hot Dogs. I just can't eat any others! But I've been pleasantly surprised to try & like many other new products, thanks to coupons. And sometimes, even with a sale and coupon, generic produts are cheaper and just as good. (Especially baking products: sugar, flour, baking powder, chocolate chips, etc)

Another thing that makes me more likely to buy one brand over another: Boxtops for Education! My son's school collects these and has been able to purchase so many cool items, like playground equipment! I am a freak about buying these products when I have coupons & are on sale! They are on things the kids love - fruit snacks, cereals, granola bars, and more. And this fall they are showing up on Progresso soups, Land O'lakes butter, and other new products! Yay!

Are you brand loyal to any particular products? Or are you willing to try new ones if the savings are significant enough?

One of my best shopping trips ever!!

Today I went shopping for two weeks worth of groceries - mostly needed lean proteins, veggies, dairy and snack stuff for lunch boxes and school snacks. I had a pile of coupons, and a list made for Kroger's mega sale. They are having the buy 8 participating items, get $4 off instantly promotion. So I bought 40 of those items, used a coupon on every single one, plus e-coupons on several, and got $20 off right at the top of my receipt!!

The total before he scanned my Kroger plus card was as follows: purchased 115 items, total was $290-something. After the Kroger sales, ecoupons, mega promotion discounts, and paper coupons came off, my total out of pocket was $157! The receipt says I saved $135. And, I got a certificate for 25 bonus boxtops for D's school, and a $3.50 catalina for next weekend. I'm getting ready to email the Catalina company about not getting the Progresso soup Catalina - that should bring me more $ back, too!

I had to replace my coupon box again. This is #4. Luckily, I get them on sale, so it's not such a big deal! It's kind of fun, like changing your purse after a while!

What's your best shopping trip deal so far? I have to admit, my goal is to have one of those trips where you get $200 or $300 worth of groceries for $20! I'll keep clipping and using coupons til I get there! : )

Cheap Cereal!!

If you have a Kroger nearby, check out their sale today and tomorrow on cereal!! I went earlier to restock before school starts Monday. I got two huge boxes of Cheerios (the 1 lb 2 oz box, regularly $4.49) for $1.24 and 74 cents, respectively, a box of Fiber One Caramel Clusters for 74 cents, and a box of Cap'n Crunch for 44 cents. I saved enough to get my favorite magazine - Woman's World! Total spent: $5.04. Here's how this worked out:
Cheerios #1 - $2.24 (1/2 off $4.49)
used 55 c off Cellfire e-coupon
used 50 c off coupon, doubled to $1 off

Cheerios #2
$2/24 (1/2 off $4.49)
used 50 c coupon, doubled to $1 off

Fiber One - $2.14 )(1/2 off $4.29)
used 75 c shortcuts e coupon
used 75 c coupon

Cap'n Crunch $1.44 (1/2 off $2.89)
used 50 c coupon, doubled to $1 off

Woman's World - $1.79

total: $5.04
savings $13.14 or 73%

Such a GREAT deal!! I try to keep 18-20 boxes of cereal in my stockpile for variety ~ they all expire next year. My kids can finish 2 boxes a week between meals & snacks, so we will use it all!!

** check out the ecoupons at cellfire.com and shortcuts.com - I recommend loading them all on at the beginning of the month - you never know what deals may come up! Honestly, I had forgotten about both of my e-coupons! They came off when the clerk scanned my Kroger card!!

Always read that fine print!

I learned a valuable lesson this week!! I was in Charlotte visiting my Dad, and was so excited to shop at Harris Teeter. HT used to be in Atlanta, about 10 years ago, but Publix pretty much ran them out of town. I LOVE the upscale, elegant design of their stores, and have missed them! So when I'm in Charlotte, I try to make a quick stop in there for a few things we love (Like their deli's egg salad - yummm!).

Anyway, last night I got out all the sale papers for the local stores - Bloom, Food Lion, Lowes & HT. One thing I had heard about HT was that they double coupons up to 99 cents. That's unheard of here!! So I was making a list, but the prices in the ads seemed very high. I started looking at prices I've written down in my "price book" of the best prices on certain items that I buy regularly. Well, NC prices are HIGH! (much higher than they are here!!)That is why they run double up to 99 cent coupons, because it doesn't affect the bottom line by much when you are charging $4.50 for a pack of bacon, or $5.99 for a 12 pack of Coke!! It's very comparable to double coupons in Atlanta, where they double up to 50 cents.

Needless to say, after looking at the prices, and the fine print on each of the ads (some stores said BOGO applies only when you buy 2, but only use one coupon per BOGO, or no competitor coupons, no double coupons, etc - different rules for every store!) I decided to wait and shop at home!

That is why spending some prep time at home before you shop, looking online & at sale ads, then matching your coupons to the sales will prepare you for a fruitful shopping trip that will save you money! Hope y'all are having a super week!