Shopping Trip 11/6

8 Toaster Strudel (BOGO @ $2.39) = $9.56
minus 4 1 Box Free coupons = $0

2 cartons of Hood Simply Smart Milk (BOGO @ $3.59) = $3.59
minus 2 $1 off 1 Man Q's = $1.59

2 7.5 oz tub of Country Crock butter spread (BOGO @ $1.69) = $1.69
minus 2 $.50 off 1 Target Q's and 2 $.40 off 1 Man Q's = $.89

2 Schick Quattro Titanium Razors (BOGO @ $8.99) = $8.99
minus 2 $2 off 1 Man Q (10/24/2010 Smart Source Insert) = $4.99

2 16oz Coffee Mate Creamers (4 for $6) = $3
minus 2 $1.50 off 1 Man Q's = $0

2 boxes of Krusteaz Cookie Mixes (BOGO @ $2.19) = $2.19
minus 2 $.55/1 Man Qs (blinkies) = $1.09

2 12 oz cans of Maxwell House Coffee (2 for $5) = $5
minus 2 $1 off 1 Man Q's (9/26 Smart Source Insert) and 1 $2/2 Target Q's = $1

1 50 oz Bottle of Wisk laundry detergent (On sale for $4.49) = $4.49
minus 1 $2 off 1 Target Q and 1 $1 off 1 Man Q = $1.49

2 bags of Rold Gold Pretzels (BOGO @ $2.99) = $2.99

1 Yellow Onion = $.35

1 bunch of Garlic = $.33

1 Bag of Carrot Chips = $1.69

6 eggs = $.79

The total before coupons came to $44.66, so we used a $5 off $20 Publix Coupon and a $5 off $30 Aldi Coupon ($34.66). After subtracting all the coupons listed above, we owed only $7 (plus $.88 in tax).

After all coupons, our grand total (including tax) was $7.88. That gives us a savings rate of 90.5% for this week! Woot!

Publix Trip Tomorrow!

Since we're moving, I'm trying to keep us eating out of our fridge, pantry and freezer for the most part. That being said, I am planning on buying:

8 packages of Pledge Dusters (BOGO @ $3.99) - I will use 4 $2/2 Target Qs and 4 $2/2 Man Qs (9/26 SS)
1 3lb bag of apples @ $1.99
This brings my total to: $1.95 and my savings to over $32. Not too shabby.

I love dust cloths... and we're going to need them with all this moving business.

Free Toaste Strudel

You have the chance to win yourself some free Toaster Strudel! Register to play the game here. I have played four times and yesterday I won four free boxes! Yay! You can play once per day per email address. They mail the coupons to you within 5-6 weeks. Try your luck!

Tonight's Shopping Trip

This is our plan of attack for tonight's shopping trip. We'll be moving in a few weeks, so we're trying to eat down some of our stockpile. On the upside, groceries for $5 is just fine with me. ;)

Grocery Tracking 7/11 to 9/18

Since I "got serious" about couponing, I have been tracking my savings. I wanted to know if all the work was worth it. I began this process on the 11th of July this past year. Each week I log my savings from coupons, store sales, how much I spent, and calculate my total savings in dollars as well as a percentage.

Since that time I have spent a grand total of $211.87, and saved $1,034.72. $540.83 of that savings is from coupons. My savings expressed as a percentage from July 11th through the end of this week comes to 83% even.

Not going to lie - I'm pretty impressed with myself. :)

Shopping Success 9/9/2010!

Alright - I spent more than I thought I was going to. I forgot that we have a birthday celebration coming up and we needed produce for tacos. Also, I needed to get vinegar and baking soda for cleaning purposes. I ended up spending $15.53 including sales tax. I saved $18.91 by shopping sales and $24.45 by using coupons. Total savings: $43.36 or 73.36%.

Grocery Planning 9.9.10

This is what I am planning on buying on my grocery adventure this evening. We'll see how closely I can stick to it. I know that I'll be buying some produce, and maybe some meat (if I can score that awesome B1G2 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast coupon like Esther had). At any rate, I will fall well below my $20 goal unless the sky falls (in which case I have much bigger problems anyway).

Publix Trip 9/02

Pepsi products are Buy 2, Get 2 Free so we picked up the following:

2 12 packs of Wild Cherry Pepsi - $4.75
2 12 packs of Pepsi - $4.75
2 12 packs of Mountain Dew (2 $1/1 Target Qs) - $2.75
2 12 packs of Dr. Pepper - $4.75

2 Uncle Ben's Ready Rice (2 $1/1 Man Qs) - $.67

2 20ct bottles of Excedrin Gel Caps (Rain Check for 2 @ $1.49, 2 $1/1 Man Qs) - $.98

2 50oz Bottles of Wisk Laundry Detergent @ $4.49 (2 $3/1 Man Qs, 2 $1/1 Target Qs) - $.98

1# of Ground Chuck (Earth Fare Q: Free pound of ground chuck with a $5 purchase) - FREE

Total Before Couons: $38.29
Used: $10 off a $30 purchase World Market coupon

Total after all coupons and sales tax: $9.40

Success at Publix - 8.19

Purchased:

6 boxes of whole wheat Barilla pasta (3 $1/2 Man) : $1.17
4 Kids Cuisine Meals (4 $1/1 Target, 1 $1/2 Man Q - All You 05/10) : -$0.22
4 boxes Hamburger Helper (2 $1/2 Target, 1 $.75/3 Man Q 8/8 RP) : $1.15
2 boxes Finish Dish Detergent (2 $1/1 Man) : $4.99
2 24ct bottles of Excedrin Tension headache (2 $1/1 Man) : $0.98
2 24ct bottles of Excedrin Migraine (2 $1/1 Man Qs 7/11 RP) : $0.98
2 boxes Pepperidge Farms Crisps (2 $1/1 Man) : $1.49
2 45ct boxes of Hefty trash bags (2 $1/1 Man) : $4.89
2 containers of Planters Peanuts (2 $1/1 Target, 1 $1/2 Man) : $2.89
2 packages of Chips Ahoy! cookies (1 $.75/2 Man 8/8 SS) : $2.94
6 boxes of Honest Kids juice pouches (6 $1/1 Whole Foods, 6 $.75/1 Man) : $10.44
Bartlett Pears $.99/lb : $2.13
Pluto Plums $.99/lb : $.97

Total Before Coupons: $70.02

- Publix $5/50
- World Market $10/30
- 2 Save-a-Lot $5/20
- Rain Check on Honest Kids Drinks (B3, G3): $10.47

Total: $.04 Out of Pocket, Saved $49.14 in sales and $58 in coupons: $107.14 or 99.96%.

We literally paid 4 pennies for all this stuff.

Picture to come...

Planning for Publix: 8/15 - 8/21

This is just my blueprint... A few things usually change before my Thursday night shopping trips. Also, if I can't find the varieties I need for me coupons to be valid I also have to make alterations. This is a start, though. If all goes as planned, my total before coupons will be $58.13, after coupons it should be $4.15. Under $5 for 34 items is okay by me.

I had to cut off the part of my spreadsheet where I list my coupons. I will post them for you later. :)

CVS $5 Challenge 8/15 - 8/21

Transaction 1:

Blink Tears $7.99
- $1.50/1 Manufacturer Q

Spend: $6.49, Earn $7.99 ECBs


Transaction 2:

4 Right Guard Deodorants - B1G1 @ $3.29 - $6.58
-2 $3/2 Manufacturer Q (no longer available)

18 pks Sour Patch Kids - B2G1 @ $.89 - $10.68
-2 $4/6 Various Brands – Gum, Candy or Halls Coupon (8/8 SS)
-2 $2/3 Various Brands – Gum, Candy or Halls Coupon (8/8 SS)

Gillette Pro Glide Razor - $9.99 (Earn $5 ECBs)
- $4/1 (P&G 8/8)

Purex 3-in-1 Sheets $5.99 (Earn $2 in ECBs)
- $3/1 Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets Coupon (8/15 RP)

Total: $8.24 - $7.99 ECBs from above = $.25

Total Spent: $6.74, ECBs for next week: $6, saved $34.49

Totals for the Week of 8/8 to 8/14

Between CVS and Publix we bought $259.46 worth of groceries. We paid (out of pocket) $27.96.

After MIRs we will have paid $10.49 net.

This weeks total savings is $307.96 (97.8%).

Below is what we will be giving to charity this week... Remember to share your wealth!

This Week's CVS Purchases - Money Back!

This week I bought:

2 Schick Hydro 3 Razors
2 Schick Hydro Shaving Creams
2 Nivea Shaving Creams
1 Dulcolax Balance (14 dose)
2 Arm & Hammer 14lb boxes of cat litter


I spent $10 even on all of the above and saved $54.73 (84.55%).

I am getting MIRs equal to $17.94, which means...

I EARNED $7.94 on my CVS shopping!

Publix Trip 8.12

We kicked Publix's butt yesterday. Here's how:

4 packages of Del Monte Fruit cups (BOGO @ 2.79) $5.58 - 4 $1/1 Target Qs, 1 $.75/3 Man Q: $.83

2 22ct packages of Stay Free pantyliners $1.99 ea - 1 B1G1 Man Q, 2 $1/1 Man Qs: Free

4 packages of Orville Red. popcorn (BOGO @4.89) $9.78 - 1 $1.50/4 Congara Products Q and 2 $.40/1 Man Q: $7.48

2 Kashi cereals (on sale 2/$5) $5 - 2 $2.50/1 BJs coupons: Free

4 Kelloggs Mini wheats cereals (BOGO @ $4.19) $8.38- 2 $1/2 Man Qs, 4 $1/1 Target Qs: $2.38

1 Kelloggs Granola Bars $3.19 - $.70/1 Man Q: $2.49

4 boxes HonestKidz Fruit drinks -not pictured(BOGO @ $3.49) $6.98- 4 $1/1 World Market Qs, 4 $.75/1 Man Qs: Free

2 bags Tyson Chicken Nuggets (BOGO @ $6.59) $6.59- 2 $2.50/1 BJs Qs, 2 $1/1 Man Q: +$.41

2 Smart Balance Spreads (BOGO @ 3.09) $3.09 - no Qs :(

2 packages Barber Chicken (BOGO @ $4.99) $4.99 - 2 $1/1 Man Qs: $2.99

4 packages Aunt Jemima waffles (BOGO @ 2.39) $4.78 - 4 $1/1 Target Qs: $.78

6 packages of BIC mechanical pencils (3/$3) $6- 3 $1/2 Man Qs, 3 $1/2 Target Qs: Free

2 Pilot Pens ($.99 ea) $1.98 - 2 $1/1 Man Q: $.02

4 packages Papermate pens (2/$1) $2- 4 $.50/1 Man Qs: Free

3 Herbal Essences Products ($1.99 ea) $5.97 - B1G1 (up to $3.28) -$3.28: $2.69

1 Aussie Styler product $3.49 - B1 Herbal Ess, G1 Aussie (up to $3.28): $.11

1 Publix Medicated Shampoo: $4.99 no coupons :(

4 bags Friskies Cat Food (BOGO @ $4.09) $8.18 - 4 $.75/1 Target Qs, 3 $1/1 Man Qs: $2.18

2 bags Purina cat treats ($1.69 ea) $3.38 - 1 B1G1 up to $1.89 Man Q, 1 $1/2 Purina treats Target Q: $.49

Frank's Hot Sauce $2.39 - $.50/1 Man Q: $1.89

Apples ($1.49/lb) $2.07 -$1/1 Produce item Target Q: $1.07
Bananas ($.69/lb) $.81 - $1/1 Produce item Target Q: $.19

6 Eggs: $.75

1 package Perdue boneless skinless chicken breast: $4.01

1 package Chuck Steak: $3.29

1 Half Picnic roast: $4.81

1 $5/50 Publix coupon : $5

1 $10/30 World Market coupon: $10

3 $5/20 Save-a-Lot coupons: $15

Total after coupons: $17.96

But, wait - it gets better. I bought 5 Kelloggs products at one time and have sent a MIR for $5/5 Kellogg products to the manufacturer.

That brings my total spending to $13.43! Total Savings on Sales: $84.32, Savings from Coupons: $90.55 for total savings of $195.30 or 93.57%!

Shopping Trip 8/05

The top picture is of our CVS shopping trip. As you can see, we bought 4 Sobe drinks and a bottle of Dawn Hand Renewal dish soap. Sobes were B1G1, and we had 2 B1G1 manufacturer coupons - Free drinks. The dish soap was on sale for $.97 and we had a manufacturer coupon for $1/1 any size. So... we got everything in the first picture for sales tax - $.30. The only other thing I can think of that nears that price is a gumball.

Picture number two is our Publix shopping trip:

8 bottles of Ragu (BOGO at $2.53), we had 4 Publix $1/2 Qs as well as 2 man. $1/2
6 bottles of Mott's Medleys Juice (BOGO at $2.99), we had 6 $1/1 Food Lion Qs
2 bottles of Vlasic pickles (BOGO at $2.89), we had 2 $.75/1 blinkies
1 bag of cat food (on sale for $2.99), we had a $1.50/1 man Q
2 Coffee Mate creamers ($2.50 ea.), we had 2 $.75/1 man Q
2 Progresso broths (BOGO at 2.59) - no Qs :(
4 packs of healthy harvest noodles (BOGO at $1.79) - 2 $1/2 man Qs
2.03 lbs of Georgia peaches (on sale for $.89/lb) $1.81
2 Nabisco variety packs (BOGO at $5.99), we had 2 $2.50/1 BJs Qs, and 1 $1/2 man Q (FREE!)
1 bottle of Publix cocoa butter $3.49, Publix coupon for a free one
1 bottle of Publix rubbing alcohol $1.49, Publix coupon for a free one
6 packs of BIC mechanical pencils (on sale 3/$3), we had 3 $1/2 Target coupons

This brought our total up to $52.42 before Qs

That same day Hubby Dear went to get the mail and came back elated to find a $5/50 Publix coupon in this week's mailer. (He also grabbed 4 other mailers that other people in our complex had thrown away, enthusiastically stating "It's like their throwing away $5 bills!" Ah... I am so proud.) Hubby Dear poured over the mailer to see if there was anything else "good" while I organized the coupons for our trip. Lo and behold, but he finds a World Market coupon for $10 off a $30 purchase. Well! Isn't that nice! We weren't sure if Publix accepts WM as a competitor, but fortune favors the bold and they took it. :)

After Qs we paid $6.94 plus $.67 in sales tax. Oh Beautiful Day!

At Publix we saved : $53.49 by shopping sales
$45.48 by using coupons
_______________________________
$98.97 Total Savings or Savings of 93.44%

Overall (both Publix and CVS) we got $113.24 worth of groceries for $6.94 plus tax.
Grand Savings Total - $106.30 or 93.87%

Our best week yet!

Stockpiling Aspirations

Check this out! I hope to have this (when I have a garage).

Grocery Trip 7.29

Pictured are all the groceries we bought this week, minus 6 packs of 18 ct Playtex Gentle Glide tampons.

I wasn't paying attention like I should have (I met another couponer in line and got to talking) when the cashier scanned the tampons I thought were BOGO at $5.17. It turns out all the cheap tampons were gone and the more expensive $7.99 tampons were moved to their place on the shelf. When everything was scanned and ready to swipe our card the total was $65.34 when we were expecting it to be under $30. I thought I had left some coupons at home, but I knew it would be difficult to figure it out there. By the time we got to the car, I realized the mistake. We went to the desk for a refund of - get this - $51.30! What?! Who spends that much on tampons?!
Anyway, we were able to get a rain check and I will pick them up later this week. But, whew! I was so worried.

We spent $27.17 for $138.90 worth of groceries. Booyah.

We saved $63.48 by shopping sales and $48.25 in coupons. This gives us 80.4% savings this week! The best yet!

I'm especially proud because, included in our purchase was zucchini, squash, peaches and steak. Produce is always the killer of our savings ratio but we made it out okay this week. :)

Grocery Planning 7.29

#	Item	Price Per	Price	$Qs	Total	Qs
8	Pop Tarts	$2.39	$9.56	$4.00	$5.56	4 $1/2 Man
2	NatureV Bars	$5.49	$5.49	$2.75	$2.74	1 $.75/2, 2 $1/1 T.
2	Hunts Ketchup	$1.75	$1.75	$2.00	-$0.25	1 $1/2 Man, 1 $1/2 F.L.
2	GoGurt	$2.79	$2.79	$2.00	$0.79	2 $1/1 Man
4	Old Orch. Juice	$1.50	$3.00	$1.00	$2.00	1 $1/4 Man
6	Playt. Tampons	$4.25	$12.75	$5.00	$7.75	4 $2.50/1 Man
1	Sabra Hummus		$2.50	$1.00	$1.50	1 $1/1 Man
1	Bleach		$1.50	$0.00	$1.50
1	Ammonia		$1.50	$0.00	$1.50
1	12 Eggs		$0.99	$0.00	$0.99
2	Tony's Pizzas	$1.00	$2.00	$1.00	$1.00	1 $1/2 Man
2	Lactaid Milk	$2.19	$4.38	$4.00	$0.38	2 $2/1 Man
2	Cascadian Farm Bars		$3.99	$4.00	-$0.01	2 $1/1 Man, 2 $1/1 W.F.
2	Power of Fruit Bars		$3.39	$2.00	$1.39	2 $1/1 Man
	Check out:
	Whole Chicken ($1.19/lb)
	Fruit
	Veggies
	Publix Coupon		1 $5/50	$5.00
	Save-a-Lot		2 $5/20	$10.00
			$55.59	$43.75	$11.84
Peelies to look for:		$2/1 Nature Valley Bars

Shopping Trip 7/22

Another decent shopping week. Our total ended up at $22.88. We saved $40.25 by shopping sales and $36.80 by using coupons. That gives us a grand total of $100 worth of groceries and a savings rate of over 77%.


Some of our best buys were:

2 Lysol Cleaners - BOGO @ $2.69, we had 2 $1/1 Lysol trigger cleaners so we got both of them for $.69

2 Tombstone Pizzas - BOGO @ $5.79 - Used 2 $2/1 facebook coupons to get them for less than $.90 each.

2 Lactaid 1/4 Gallon Milk - $2.19 each - Used 2 $2/ any 1 Lactaid milk Blinkies that were right there which enabled us to by a half gallon of milk for $.38.

Smart Balance Milk - on sale for $2.50 - Used a $2/1 coupon to score a half gallon for $.50

1 Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce - $2.29 - Used a $2/1 coupon and got it for $.29.

4 Right Guard Deoderants - BOGO at $2.79 - Used 2 $2/2 coupons for a final price of less than $.40 each.

4 Crest Toothpastes - 10 for $10 - used 2 $.75/1 coupons, 2 $.50/1 coupons, and 2 Target coupons for $2/2 Crest products -- we ended up making $.5o!

Grocery Trip 7.15

Hubby and I just returned from our weekly Publix excursion. We did pretty well this week. We spent $25.85 and saved $63.95. So, we paid $25.85 for $89.80 worth of groceries. That gives us a savings rate of 71%.

I find it helpful to review my receipt after the trip to help make it clear in my mind what the best deals were and how we got them. We found that my best deal was the four packs of free razors I mentioned in an earlier post. A close second was the Finish dish detergent that is BOGO for $6.99. We had two $2.50/1 coupons, allowing us to purchase 2 boxes of detergent for $1.99. I would much rather pay $2 than $14!

The Bayer aspirin in the picture is on sale 3/$5. I had a $1/1 coupon and got the 30ct bottle for $.67... not too shabby.

All in all, we saved $36.76 by shopping sales and $25.50 in coupons. Those coupons can really add up, so keep clipping (and printing)!