Sunday, February 3, 2013

Today's highlights at Tom Thumb:

Plum organics baby pouches $.99 - $.50 (FB page) = free after doubling (only first one)
Dannon Oikos Greek yogurt on clearance $.50
Heluva Good Dip $1.79 - $1 coupon on card - $.75 coupon on card - $.75 catalina = $.71 MM

Total coupons used: $8.75
Spent on newspapers: $5

Total for year saved with coupons: $70.58
Total for year spent on coupons: $7.15

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Sprouts

Today at Sprouts Andy used $1.75 in coupons.

Running Total for the Year: saved $61.83
Total Spent on Couponing for the Year: $2.15

CVS Steal!

First Transaction:
2 Advil Caplet 50 ct. $4.99 - $1 = $3.99 ea.

Paid $7.98, get $4 EB back

Second Transaction:
2 Thermacare heat wraps 2 ct. $4.99 -$3 printables on manufacturer's website = $1.99 ea.
1 Simple Pleasures Dark Chocolate $.67
-$4 EB

Paid: $.70, got $4 EB back

Third Transaction:
2 Thermacare heat wraps 2 ct. $4.99 - $3 = $1.99 ea.
-$4

Paid $0, got back $4


This is no joke!  Is there a better total than $0?  I think not.  So, all told I spent $8.68, got back $4 in EB, and will submit these for a $6 rebate.

Total net after rebates:  $1.32
Running Total for the Year: saved $60.08 (simply savings of paper coupons, this does not reflect sale savings)
Total Spent on Couponing for the Year: $2.15

The rebate was in last week's Red Plum insert.  It is buy 3 participating Pfister products and get $6 back.  Both the Advil and Thermacare were participating.  The $4 EB reward is printing up to 4 times for people but you have to do them in separate transactions!

Remember to bring your own bag to CVS and use your Green Bag Tag to get $1 EB on every 4th use!

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Today's Target Trip

I want to start keeping a running total for the year of: a) how much I save with coupons, b) how much I spend on ink, paper, and newspapers = net gain.

Here we go with today's trip!

I was a little disappointed that we didn't have enough money left over after Christmas to hit the 70% off toys sale at Target.  When I went today, though, they had some things left.  Even though the sign said 70%, we found a La La Loopsie hairstyles dolls reg. $69.99 for only $34.99!  I was tempted to wait until it went down from 50%, but figured this deal was too good to pass up.  There's no guarantee that other people won't snatch it up before it goes down.  Now that I think of it, toys go on clearance on Fridays, so if it goes down in price, I have my receipt.  Target has a policy that if the price goes lower than what you paid within 7 days of purchase that you will get a refund for the difference.  Hassle free shopping!

3 Up & Up Baby food pouch $.89 - $.25 Target printable = $.64 (Hint!  These make a quick, healthy snack for adults, too!!!  No one has to know ;) )
Happy Baby organic food pouch $1.14 - $.50 printable = $.64
4 Earth's Best organic baby food pouch $1.25 - B3G1 = $.92 each (These are bigger)
Ragu pasta sauce $1.59 - $.60 Target printable - $.20 1/27 SS = $.79
Chicken of the Sea salmon pouch $.79 - $50 printable = $.29!
Up & Up face tissue $.99 - $.50 Target printable = $.44
Up & Up Printer Paper $3.14 - $1 Target printable = $2.14
2 Barbie (the small ones found at the checkout) $3.99 - $3/2 printable = $2.49 each!
Bobble Water Bottle reg. $13.99, found on clearance for $3.88!!!
8 Huggies wipes $1.97 - $1 printable (FB) - $1/2 Target printable = $.47 each!  (This was the reason for my entire trip ;) )
2 Hormel Chili (my family has a soft spot for chili dogs...) $.99 - $.55/2 man. printable (coupons.com) - $.55/2 Target printable =  $.44 each!
Market Pantry shredded cheese 8 oz. $2.34 - $1/2 Target printable = $1.86 each
Market Pantry Fruit Snack 10 ct. $1.69 - $1/2 Target printable = $1.19 each!
Archer Farms organic Tortilla chips 14 oz. $2 - $1/2 = $1.50 each!
Alexia sweet potato fries $2.78 - $1 printable on their FB page - $1/2 Target printable = $1.28 each
Lean Cuisine Salad Additions $2.99 - BOGO on the Shopkick app - $1 man. q = $.99 for two! These say, "Just add lettuce."  It has everything you need to make a delicious salad!
-$.15 for using reusable bags
-$2 Shopkick promotional gift card

Grand total!  (Drumroll please)  $37.81
I saved $38.08   :)


Spent on couponing:  $2.14 (printer paper)

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Today at Walgreens

Ok, so this trip will take a little more than usual out of pocket, but you will make money eventually and get some pretty quality products in the meantime.

My family and I have been sick with the flu for the past week (with the exception of Andy, God preserve him!).  I read somewhere that in some cases, a strong dose of probiotics works just as well as an antibiotic.  Now, I am not saying that antibiotics don't have their place.  If you try this and still have an infection, go out and get some Omoxycillin!!!  BUT - with that being said, it is certainly worth trying to probiotics first before you have to resort to wiping out your entire intestinal GI track of beneficial bacteria.

So, in the Walgreens January booklet, there are some nice rebates in the back for FREE items.  The one I sprung for today was the Renew Life probiotic with fiber  (I know... don't judge me.)   I had a $3 coupon (I actually have a bunch more if anybody wants them).  It is usually $34.99, on sale for just $20 with card this week, and there is a $20 rebate for it.  Using the $3 coupon makes it a $3 MM, and if you choose to have your rebate loaded onto a Walgreens rebate card, you get a 10% bonus (+$2) making it a total $5 MM.

The Goody 27 ct. elastics are on sale for $2.99.  There are $.50 coupons in this week's paper.  You get $2 RR back, making them just $.49.

Bioglan Kids Fish Oil (they're cute little fish shaped capsules with a "burst of fruity juice" [Lizzie ate them without crying]).  I'm sorry, but I'm a little scarred from the fish oil capsules I got for free during Wag's Black Friday sale... I can't even eat them, and I eat things just for the health of it.  They tasted like the worst fishy taste masked with a horrible, dark, fake berry flavoring.  (*shudders as she remembers*).  To this day it sits untouched in my pantry, taking up space *sigh*.

WITH THAT BEING SAID - Lizzie tried this stuff and she liked it!  :)

Bioglan Kids Fish Oil 30 ct. $7 with card, get $7 RR back, no coupons required.

So in all, you will spend $26.49 after coupons, get back $9 in RR and $20 in a rebate.  You're actually making money, folks.

Monday at CVS

Sorry I have left this blog rather lost and forsaken lately, but I wanted to share with you all my latest exploits.

CVS had these cardboard play houses (I got a rocket) reg. $19.99 on sale for $4.99!!!!
2 Good n Natural bars free with coupon in 1-6 RP.
Culturelle probiotics (love!) are $10 and you get $10 back.  I was kind of depressed to find out the day after I got this that the magic coupon machine is spitting out (for some people) a $10 off any digestive probiotic... Making it a $10 money maker!  I want to swing by and see if I get one, so that I can get another one for free. :)
Tom's of Maine toothpaste and deoderant 2/$6 - $3 EB back wyb 2 = 2/$3.  This is the best price I've seen for all natural toothpaste/APDO.  I had a $1 coupon but I threw away my coupon binder (yes, I threw it away... It was crazy and taking over my life.  I actually enjoy couponing again!)
2 Colgate toothbrushes 2/$5.98 - $3 EB wyb 2 - (2) $.75 coupons from 1/6 paper = $.74 each (they were actually decent toothbrushes... not the super cheap kind!)

So all of this cost me under $4 (Did the Culturelle and the space ship first and used $10.25 in EB I already had.  Then used the $10 from the Culturelle on my second order), and I got back $6 in EB!!  Yay for making money on stuff my family will actually use!!!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

My trip to Tom Thumb

Ok, so I realize I have not posted in a looooong while!  Couponing requires staying in one place long enough to get acclimated to the stores!  I did some couponing in California but simply didn't have the time to blog about it.  I am happy to say that I am back!


I was happy to see that my local Tom Thumb triples all coupons up to $.39 and doubles coupons up to $.50!  I love doubling, it really makes the game for me.  I will say that if you try to get more than one of the same item with a doubling/tripling deal, it won't work bc they will only multiply the first item.  For example, the Yoplait Simplait yogurts were on sale for $.89, which makes them free after the $.30 printable from coupons.com.  Only the first one, however, will be tripled (I got 5).  The remaining ones will be redeemed at face value.

Here is my recent trip to Tom Thumb, which is in the Vons and Pavilions family of stores:

Pepperidge Farms Jingos! Crackers $1.99 - $1 = $.99

(8) Lucky Charms $1.69 - $1/2 = $1.19 a box!

Progresso Recipe Starters basil $2 - $.50 store q (got in Red Plum mailer) - $.50 = $.50

Knorr Homestyle Stock $2.99 - $1 store q - $1.35 (couponnetwork.com) = $.64!

McCormick spices are having a Buy 2 get 1 Free sale, there are also $2/1 coupons for ANY McCormick spice limit 2 you can add to your card. I got:
Celery Salt $4.29 - $2 = $2.29
Rubbed Sage $5.99 - $2 = $3.99
Bay Leaves $3.79 - $3.79 = FREE
There are also $1.75/2 McCormick coupons from the circulars, but I had already used mine.

I found some good things on clearance 50% off:
Dannon Oikos Greek Yogurt $1.78 - $1.19 (a bit more than 50%!) = $.59

Chobani Greek Yogurt $1.25 - $.63 = $.62

(2) Van's Organic Waffles $3.69 - $2.20 = $1.49 each

(2) Centrum Pronutrients Omega reg. $19.48 - $9.75 (clearance discount) - $5 coupon = $4.73 each!
End clearance deals

(5)Yoplait Simplait $.89 - $.30 (coupons.com) = 1st one Free!  Rest $.59 each

Ground Turkey Jennie-O $3.99

Johnsonville Chicken sausage BOGO $3.49 - (4) $1 coupons = $2.98 for 4, or $.75 each!!!

(2) Johnsonville Cheese Italian sausage Reg. Price  $3.99 - BOGO - (2) $1 coupons = $.99 each!

Gourmet Garden squeezables BOGO $4.99 (got garlic and ginger) = $2.49 each!

Pre-sales and coupons: $147.76
Spent: $51.91
Paper Coupons: -$48.66
Card Savings: -$41.85
Multiplied Coupons: - $1.09
Just for U Savings $4.25
Total Savings: $95.85, or 65%

I also received a $10 off my next order for spending $75 or more in one transaction (pre-coupons, naturally!)

If you're confused about the numbers, some of the prices I have in the list are the sales price.