Saturday, May 14, 2011

Walgreens Deals Starting on 5/15



walgreens logo Walgreens Weekly Deals: 5/15   5/21
Here are the best deal I see for the upcoming Walgreens ad. I’m sure there will be more added as the week gets started so stay tuned!
Mars Single Serve Candy – $.39
Royal Gelatin – 5/$1 with in ad coupon
Hershey’s Bliss or Wonka Exceptionals Bagged Candy – $3
Use $1/1 Hershey’s Bliss (from 5/1 SS)
AND use $1/2 Bliss (from In Store Monthly Coupon Book)
Final Price = $1.50
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars and Nabisco Grahams – 2/$6
- Buy both, Get free Marshmallows
Use Free Marshmallows wyb Both PrintableAND use $1/2 (from In Store Monthly Coupon Book)
Final Price = 2 Hershey’s 6 packs, 2 Grahams, 4 Marshmallows for $11
Starburst Gummibursts or Skittles 6-7.2 oz – Buy 1 Get 1 Free ($2.29)
Use $.50/1 Skittles or Starburst PrintableFinal Price = $1.79 for 2 or $.90 each!
Twizzlers 11 – 16 oz – $1.50
-Buy $15, get $7 off a Movie Ticket
Final Price = if your already planning on a movie, it’s like paying $.80 per package
Werthers 2.75 - 5.5 oz – Buy 1 Get 1 Free ($2.29)
Use $.75/1 Original Carmel Chocolates (if included)
Final Price = 2 for $1.53 or $.76 each
Blue Diamond Almonds 6 oz – Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Use (2) $.50/1 Printable
Or use $.75/2 (from 1/23 SS)
Or use $.60/2 (from 4/3 SS)
Final Price = ?
Atkins Advantage Shakes 4 pk, or Endulge Bars 5 pk – Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Use $2/1 Printable Or use $1/1 (from 3/6 SS or 5/15 SS inserts)
Final Price = ? probably around $4 – $5 for 2 packs
Duncan Hines Brownies – $1
Use $.50/1 Printable (or from 4/10 SS)
Final Price = $.50
Betty Crocker Potatoes – $1
Use $1/2 PrintableFinal Price = $.50
Brute 2 or 2.5 oz Deodorant/Antiperspirant – $.150 w/ in ad coupon
Use $1/1 (from 4/10 SS)
Final Price = $.50
Aquafresh Kids or Training Toothpaste, Advanced Whitening, Extreme Clean - $1.99
Use $1/1 Kids (from 4/17 RP)
Or use various $1/1 and $.75/1 PrintablesFinal Price = $.99
Just For Men Hair Color – $5.99 w/ in ad coupon
Use $2/1 PrintableAND use Free Mail In RebateFinal Price = Free
Hefty One Zip or Storage bags – B1G1 Free ($3.29)
Use $1/2 or $.55/1 (from 4/10 RP)
Or use $1/2 (from 2/20 RP)
Final Price = as low as $2.19 for 2 or $1.10 each
Scotch Magic Tape – B1G2 Free ($1.99)
Use $1/1 PDF PrintableFinal Price = Free!
Register Reward Deals:
Oscar Mayer Deli Creations and Lunchables – $1.50
-Buy 2, Get $1 RR
Use $1/1 Lunch w/ Fruit (if included) Printable (or from 5/15 SS)
Final Price = as low as free after RR!
Electrosal or Jet Dry  – $3.49
-Buy 1, Get $1.50 RR
Use $.75/1  Jet Dry Printable
Or use $1/1 or $.55/1 Jet Dry Rinse Agent (from 4/17 SS)
Or use $.75/1 Finish Powerball or Gelpac (from 4/17 SS)
Final Price = as low as $.99 after RR 
Dove Men Antiperspirant/Deodorant – $3.99
Use $1/1 PrintableFinal Price = free after RR
Garnier Fructis Hair Care – ?
-Buy 2, Get $5 RR
Use $1/1 (from 5/1 RP or 3/6 RP)
Final Price = ? possibly free to very cheap!
Pantene Hair Care – 2/$7
-Buy 2, Get $1 RR
Use $3/2 (from 5/1 PG)
Final Price = $1.50 after RR
Colgate Pro Clinical Toothpaste – 2/$6
-Buy 2, Get $4 RR
Use $1/1 or $.75/1 (from 5/15 or 5/1 SS insert)
Final Price = Free after RR
Gillette Fusion Pro-Glide – $9.89
- Buy 1, Get $5 RR
Use $4/1 (from 5/1 PG)
Final Price = $.89
Gillette, Old Spice, or Zest Body Wash – 3/$10
-Buy 3, Get $3 RR
Use B1G1 Old Spice + $1/2 (wyb 4) (from 5/1 PG)
Or use $1/1 Zest (from 3/20 SS – expires 5/15!)
Or use Free Gillette Deodorant wyb wash + $2/1 Wash (from 5/1 PG and 5/15 RP respectively)
Final Price = varies
Scenario:
Buy 3 Gillette Washes and 3 Deodorants
Use (3) B1G1′s
AND use (3) $2/1
Pay = $4, Get back $3 RR
Final Price = $1 for 6 or  $.17 each!
Pedialyte Liquid, Singles or Freezer Pops – 2/$10.50 
-Buy 2, Get $1.50 RR
Use $1.50/1 Printable (or from 3/6 SS)
Final Price = as low as 6 for 2 or $3 each after RR
Huggies Jumbo Packs or Goodnights – 2/$18
-Buy 2, Get $3 RR
Use the following:
$1.50/1 Any size
$2/1 60 count+
$3/1 Any Size
$3/1 Any Size 
$2.00/1 Pullups
$1.50/1 (from 5/15 insert)
Final Price = as low as $4.50 each after RR
Nova Max Plus Blood Glucose Monitor – $10
-Buy 1, Get $10 RR
Final Price = free after RR
Many thanks to DiscountQueens!

Another FREE Tide giveaway!


tide stain release Another FREE Tide Giveaway!
Tide is offering another giveaway today via their facebook page at 5pm CST. The first 20,000 will get FREE samples of Tide Stain Release!!!
Note – this freebie is available to anyone who has not already successfully requested a Stain Release sample.

Target Coupon Deals: Week of 5/15/2011

 


Buy 2 Schick Razors or Cartridges Listed, Receive $5 Target Gift Card

Schick Quattro for Women $7.49$2.00/1 Schick Quattro for Women Razor or Refill from SS 4/17
Buy 2 Schick Hydro 5 $7.49Use 2 $3.00/1 – Schick Hydro Razor – (facebook.com)
Pay $8.98, Receive $5.00 Target Gift Card
Final Price: $1.99 each when you buy 2


Dasani Water, 8 pk $2.50
B2G1 Free Dasani Multipack Hang Tag on Product
Final Price: $1.66 each when you buy 3 or $0.20 each bottle



Chocolatey Delight Cereal 13.4 oz OR Red Berries Cereal 12 oz $2.95Use $1.00/3 – Kellogg’s Special K Cereal, Target Coupon – (target.com)
$5.00/1 – Women’s Swim Apparel Item WYB (4) Kellogg’s Special K Items, Excludes Trial Serve, Target Coupons – (target.com)
$1.00/2 – Kellogg’s Special K Cereals– (snackpicks.com)
$1.00/2 Kelloggs Special K Cereal from RP 5/1
And Use $1.00/3 Kelloggs Cereal from RP 5/15
$1.00/3 Kelloggs Cereal from RP 4/17
Final Price: $1.37 each when you buy 4



Special K Fruit Crisps $2.75Use $1.00/2 – Kellogg’s Special K Crisp, 10 ct or Bars 6-12 ct, Target Coupon – (target.com)
$5.00/1 – Women’s Swim Apparel Item WYB (4) Kellogg’s Special K Items, Excludes Trial Serve, Target Coupons – (target.com)
And Use $2.00/2 Kelloggs Special K product from RP 5/1
Final Price: $1.25 each when you buy 2



Dunkin Donuts Coffee, 11 or 12 oz $7.49$1.50/1 Dunkin Donuts Coffee 11 oz or larger from RP 4/17
Final Price: $5.99



Nature Valley Granola Bars, 10 ct $2.50$0.50/2 Nature Valley Granola Bars from SS 5/1
$1.00/2 Nature Valley Granola Bars from SS 3/27
$0.75/2 Nature Valley Granola Bars from SS 3/27
$1.00/1 Nature Valley Granola Thins from SS 4/17
$0.75/1 Nature Valley Granola Thins from SS 4/17
Final Price: As low as $1.50



Ponds Towelettes, 30 ct $4.49Use $1.50/1 – Ponds Skin Care Item, Target Coupon – (Target.com)And Use $1.50/1 – Pond’s Facial Cream, Towelette or Cleansing Product, Except Trial Size – (bricks.coupons.com)
$1.50/1 – Pond’s Cream, Towelettes or Cleaning Product, Excludes Trial Sizes – (ponds.com)
Final Price: $1.49



Lysol, 35 ct Wipes $2.29$1.00/2 – Lysol Disinfecting Wipes – (homesolutionsnews.com)
$1.00/2 Lysol Disinfecting Wipes from SS 4/17
Final Price: $1.79 each when you buy 2



Lysol Cleanser, 22-32 oz $1.99$1.00/2 Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleanser, Any from SS 4/17
$1.00/2 Lysol Bathroom Cleanser, Any from SS 4/17
$1.00/2 Lysol All Purpose Cleanser Trigger from SS 4/17
$1.00/2 Lysol Multi Surface Cleanser Pourable from SS 4/17
Final Price: $1.49 each when you buy 2




Friday, May 13, 2011

My best shopping trip EVER!!!

I spent most of the day shopping and hanging out with my husband who I must say has been very patient with me and my time consuming new hobby. After an exhausting day of running around I decided to swing by Target and do some "couponing therapy", and it turned out to be my very best shopping trip to date!


Here is a list of items I bought:


14 Clean & Clear Body Washes (my new favorite body wash), at Target they are $3.99, but Walgreens is running a deal for Buy One at $5.99 get one free. I had Target match their price and the total came to $56 something. I had 7 BOGO (buy one get one free) coupons from a month ago that brought the total down to $3.05 (tax is all I paid on these!).
2 Lysol No-Touch Soap Systems at $8.49 each (on clearance). I had 2 $3 off coupons that brought the price down to $5.49 each (they are normally $9.99 each). 
7 Care Free Pantie Liners for .99 cents each. I had 7 coupons that made these .01 cent each.
4 John Freeda Root Awakening Shampoos at $5.05 (on price cut) each. Used 4 $3 off 1 manufacturer coupons plus 2 $3 off 2 Target coupons which brought these down to .55 cents each!!! This is an amazing price on any shampoo, but an unbelievable price for a John Freeda shampoo!!!
1 Up & Up nail polish remover at .99 cents on which I used a Target coupon for .50 cents off, so the total 
was .49 cents. 


After you add all this up and add the tax my final out of pocket cost came to $19.24!!!


I can't wait to see what kind of damage I am going to do next week!


Happy Shopping Everyone!!!


Thursday, May 12, 2011

Couponing for Beginners


How to Get Coupons
1. Coupon Inserts that come in the paper: 
th redplum Coupon Basics for Newbies
Start getting all the coupon inserts. There are three main types of inserts: Redplum (RP) (used to be called Valassis), Smartsource(S or SS), and the Proctor and Gamble (PG).
As a general rule, coupons inserts usually do not come in the papers on holidays, but there are exceptions.
To find out what local paper gets the Redplum CLICK HERE
To find out what local paper gets the Proctor and Gamble CLICK HERE
If there is a paper that gets these, it will also have the Smartsource.
Occasionally there are other types of inserts that come in the papers as well. General Mills and Kelloggs have both recently done some extra coupon inserts.
I suggest getting at least two papers every Sunday. More if there are really good coupons. On Sunday, most stores offer two packs for 2.50. But in my area there are guys that stand on corners and sell them for $1 a piece. Some Walmarts also sell them for a $1.

Other ways to get inserts:

Ask your neighbors, friends, and family for theirs.
Check local recycling centers.
Check the trash ( as long as it’s not too gross!)
Keep all the coupons! Don’t get rid of anything unless it’s expired! You never know what will be free or a moneymaker!moz screenshot 2 Coupon Basics for Newbies
2. Blinkies and Tearpads:
Blinkie+Machine Coupon Basics for NewbiesBlinkies are found in these nice little machines on aisles in all types of stores.
Tearpads are coupons found in the store that you tear off of what is usually a whole pad of coupons.
Always be on the lookout for both of these.
3. Home Mailers
These are coupons that are mailed out to your home by companies. You can get these by signing up on a lot of company sites, and you can usually get some by contacting companies yourself. Write or call to tell them how you liked/disliked a product, or just to ask questions. They will usually send out some great coupons.
4. Catalinas
These coupons print on a receipt-like piece of paper at the register. Always watch for these. Sometimes they are item specific coupons, but other times they are $ off off of any in store purchase. When checking out at Kroger, I have actually seen the small trash cans piled high with these types of coupons. Why on earth people throw these away, I’ll never understand.
5. Peelies
These are coupons found on product, that have to be pealed off.

6. Printable Coupons
You can print coupons from all over the internet. Companies have printable coupons on their sites, and there are some main places to print coupons from. 
You can print coupons from my side bar, or from some of these other places:
Smartsource
Coupons.com
Health eSavers

7. Load Coupons to Your Kroger Card
P&G eSaver
Shortcuts
Cellfire
8. Load Coupons to Your Cellphone
Cellfire

9. Magazines, Newsletters, and other Papers.
One of the best magazines for getting coupons is the All You Magazine.
Check out my giveaway for this mag. HERE.
Be on the lookout everywhere for coupons. You’ll be surprised where you’ll find them.
Tricks of the Trade
1. Understand Your Stores
Familiarize yourself with the stores in your area and their coupon policies. You can’t afford to be brand loyal or store loyal, if you really want to save money. 
Coupon policies vary greatly by store, chain and the area of the country. Call or stop by the customer service desk, to find out what the policies are.

Questions to ask:

a. Do you double coupons, and up to how much?
b. Do you take competitor coupons?
c. Do you take Internet Printable coupons?
d. Do you have store coupons, and can I combine a manufacturer coupon with a store coupon?
e. Do you have a frequent shopper card? ie. Kroger Plus Card, CVS Extra Care Card
f. How many like coupons will double in one transaction?
g. Do you ever have promotions where coupons triple?
h. Do you take expired coupons?
Now that you’re familiar with the policies, look at each store’s ad every week. See what’s on sale, and maximize your savings by using coupons with sales (see www.couponmom.com for help with this).
Example:
French’s Mustard is normally 1.89 at Kroger. This week it is part of the 10/$10, making it only a dollar. You have a .50/1 coupon for French’s Mustard. Since Kroger doubles up to 50 cents, then you get your mustard for FREE.
Note: You are not obligated to buy 10 to get the deal. Each item is only $1 each.
2. Doubling
Doubling is done by certain stores. If a store’s policy is that a they double coupons up to .50 cents, then any coupon .50 cents and under will double in the amount. .35/1 becomes .70, and .50 becomes $1.00. But any coupon over .50 will not be doubled. Some stores double up to .60 or even .99, so be sure to find out what your stores do.
3. Rainchecks 
If an item is on sale and sold out, you can get a raincheck for the sale price. Raincheck’s don’t expire! Sometimes getting a raincheck will work out to your advantage, because better coupons will come out. Always get a raincheck on a great deal if the item is sold out. All of the item doesn’t have to be sold out in order to get a raincheck. One flavor/type of that item can be sold out, and you can get a raincheck. For instance: At CVS Dawn was on sale for .99. They did have some on the shelf, but a particular scent was sold out. So I was able to get a raincheck for the sale price, and the cashier just wrote it for any Dawn.

4. Buy Smaller

Retailers like to get you with the “bigger size is a better value” hogwash. But this is not always true. With coupons, smaller items sometimes work out to be free or super cheap. Buy smaller items, and use your coupons to buy in bulk. You end up spending less for more.

5. Look for markdown and clearance items.

Coupons can be used on an item even when it is on clearance. This works out in your favor, because in most instances you can get something for free or mere pennies.
6. Stockpile
When something is going to be free or a great deal, stock up! This way you don’t run out of something, and then have to run out and pay full price for it. Try to build up a 3-6 month stash of things you need. Preparing like this also makes you feel more secure. You will have the peace of mind that if something were to happen, you would be able to feed/take care of your family for a while. Some people have a 1-2 year supply of toiletries, paper products, and other non-perishable items. This way each year they are only getting what they can get for free. Just be sure to watch your expiration dates!
Organizing Your Coupons
Different ways of organizing works for different people.

1. Filing all your inserts.

File all your inserts by day and type (8/10 S, 12/14 RP, 8/31 PG, ect…)
This saves you time initially, but I have found that it becomes more of a chore when you are getting ready for your shopping trips. It’s not easy to remember everything you have, and you won’t always have a coupon with you when you see a clearanced item.

2. Binder Method

This method works by clipping and filing your coupons in a binder. I used baseball card sheets when I did this. This method did not work for me either, because I found that the coupons would continue to slide out of the sleeves. This was my binder:
 Coupon Basics for Newbies
3. Coupon Box
This is what I am doing now. I cut the coupons out of the inserts and file them in my handy little bin. I’ve already done better doing it this way, and I’ve got my coupons ready when I find some awesome markdowns. Refund Cents has something similar to this HERE. It’s called the Deluxe Coupon File. You can get it for $22.90 included shipping and handling.
I use small envelopes: Cut the tab off and put an index card with the label for the category in there. I first learned about this from Money Saving Mom, and it has worked really well for me. It fits perfectly in the shopping cart seat. I still file some of my inserts though. Some weeks I just get way too many inserts in order to clip and file all the coupons.
 Coupon Basics for Newbies
 Coupon Basics for Newbies
I have a section for each store I shop at, and I put store specific coupons in there.
I also have Restaraunt and Movies section for those types of coupons.
In the very front I have an envelope for my shopping trips ( I put all the coupons I know I’m going to use ahead of time in there), and an envelope for coupons to file. I put all the coupons I find at the store in there.
Then I have three different main sections. Food, Household, and Baby. In each category I have more specific envelopes. It is my personal opinion that this is the best option.

4. Coupon File

Some people like this method the best because they don’t have something that is big and bulky to lug around. I have so many coupons, that I would not be able to use this system. But if you are just starting out, this might be the best start for you. It’s cheap and easy. You can get this for a $1 at the dollar store, or for a couple dollars at Walmart. Organizing Junkie has a post about how she uses this HERE. Check it out and maybe it will help you!
100 6488 Coupon Basics for Newbies
5. Low Budget Envelope System

This is something that my friend The Messy Mom does. It’s basically like the coupon file, but using envelopes instead. She has a great post and video on it. It might be just the thing for you! Check out her post HERE.
In the end, you have to find what works for you. I tried what other people liked to do, and it just didn’t work for me. Make your life easy and do what works!
Now that you’re prepared, start saving some money! Ready, Set, Go!!!