Current Projects

  • Couponing like crazy!
  • Turning Junk into Treasure!
  • Saving Plastic Bottles from Landfills!

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Ka-Ching!!

 I had to stop at Kmart after the gym today to pick up prescriptions. At checkout, a lovely little "Ka-ching" coupon printed for a FREE pack of Orbit gum. Since I have missed out on the last two that have printed for me (they expired before I got in to redeem them), I went straight to a regular register to grab my pack of gum! No missing out this time!
 I really like Kmart's rewards program. It's nice getting these little FREE surprises. And since I have to buy bazillions of prescriptions every month, my points add up pretty quick. It does no good however, if you don't redeem them on time!




 When they rang up my FREE gum, another coupon printed out. This one, a store coupon, was for -$2 off $10 purchase of Household and/or Laundry Cleaning products. I can of course combine that with mfr coupons to get a better deal. And I've been wanting to stock up on laundry detergent anyway! Love when that happens!
 Out in the parking lot, someone left $3 in their shopping cart, in the form of another Kmart store coupon. This one was for -$3 off $30 or more in Grocery, Health Care and/or Beauty Care products. Again, I will combine this with mfr coupons for a better deal. I will be scouring the Kmart add these next two weeks to maximize my savings on sale items. 
 When I got home, I was happy to receive some really valuable coupons in the mail for Gerber Good Start baby formula. One for -$11.50/1 and another for -$4.50/1. I don't have a nursing baby right now, but I signed up online for FREE baby stuff anyway. This is a great opportunity to help out other mothers in need. Get the FREE stuff and donate to your church group or local food bank. There is ALWAYS someone who can use it!!!!
 If you want a money making, less altruistic reason for gathering these coupons and FREE cans of milk, you can sell them online. All the money you make is straight profit. And I guess since the people who buy it are getting it at a discount, it is still a kind of nice thing to do for other people. :)

30 Minute Challenge!

 What can you get done in just 30 minutes?? You might be surprised!
 Today I challenge all of you, and myself, to set the kitchen timer or the timer on your phone, for 30 minutes. Jump in and get some work done! 
 I plan to start in the kitchen with the floors, sweeping and mopping. If there is time left, I will vacuum. 
 It can get really overwhelming if you think about all that needs to get done in the house! I know it gives me trouble breathing just looking at the disaster that is my house! But we're just talking about 30 minutes here. Do it everyday and I bet you'll see a positive difference, not only in the cleanliness of your home, but also in your stress levels! 
 I am going to try this for one week and see how much I get done. I hope you will do the same and let me know how it goes!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Here comes the Case lot!!!

Have you seen your new grocery ads yet?! The new deals (beginning tomorrow) are amazing! Plenty of coupon opportunities. Let's just jump right in, shall we?!
Macey's

Hunt's Spaghetti Sauce .88 ($10.56 case)
Western Family canned Vegetables .47 ($11.28 case)
WF Cake Mix .77 (9.24 case)
WF Mandarin Oranges .43 ($10.32)
Dinty Moore Beef Stew .88 ($10.56)
-$1/3 hormel products
WF Specialty canned Beans .57 ($13.68)  
WF Choice Tomatoes .50 ($12.00)
WF Macaroni and Cheese .29 ($6.96)
Butterfield chunk White Chicken .99 ($23.76)
128 oz WF Syrup $4.88
7 lb WF Buttermilk Pancake mix $4.88
WF Tomato Ketchup .77 ($9.24)
WF 15 rolls Paper Towels $6.79
25 lb WF Granulated sugar $12.99
Pasta Roni .88
WF Golden chunk Pineapple .99 ($23.76)
WF Soups .49 ($11.76)
Tomato Sauce 4/$1
Chile con Carne .79 ($18.96)
Refried Beans .49 ($11.76)
Green Chiles 2/.88 ($10.56)
Don Julio Tortillas .88
WF Isopropyl Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide 2/$1
Right Guard deoderant 2/$3
-Buy ONE Right Guard deoderant, get ONE Right Guard body wash FREE
Lid lifter $1.49
TJ Farms Frozen, Sliced Strawberries .99   

Fresh Market

WF Waterchestnuts 2/.88

Green chiles 2/.88

Mandarin Oranges 2/.88

Mushrooms 2/.88

Specialty Beans .50

Dole Greener Selection salad or Spinach 10/$10

Nissin Top Ramen 10/$10

WF Tomato Sauce 5/$1

WF Frozen veggies select var. .69

Cream Soups .69 ($16.56 case)

Pineapple chunks .99 ($23.76)

Fresh Leaf Lettuce .99 ea

Radishes or Green Onions 2/$1

Mushrooms 8 oz 2/$4

and now....

Smiths
The only thing I don't like about Smiths'  case lot sale is that you have to buy a whole case to get the special price. I will go ahead and do it on a few of them because I use enough to make it worth it. On a few others though, like the evaporated milk, I will probably go in with a friend on a case.
 

Libby's canned Vegetables .48 (w/case purchase $5.76)

Kroger Tomato Sauce 5/$1 (w/case purchase $4.79)

Maruchan Ramen Noodles 10/$1 (w/case purchase $2.40)

Kroger Broth or Chicken noodle soup 2/$1 (w/case purchase $11.99)

Nalley Chili .88 (w/case $21.12)

Kroger Deluxe Ice cream 3/$5

Kroger cheese Singles .88

Tillamook cheese 5lb $9.99

chicken of the Sea tuna 2/$1 (w/case $23.99)

Kroger Mac n' Cheese .29 (w/case $13.92)

Hunt's Pasta Sauce .75 (w/case $8.99)

Maruchan Instant Lunch cups 4/$1 (w/case $3.00)

Evaporated Milk .65 (w/case $15.60)

Seedless Grapes .99/lb

Smith's Buns or Bread 10/$10

Kroger Party Pail Ice Cream $3.99

Post or Quaker Cereal $1.88
-$1/1 Post Raisin Medley

Kroger Sour cream or dip .98

Kroger Candy .88

Pop Tarts $1.68
-$1/3 Kellogg's Pop Tarts

Hot or Lean Pockets $1.98
-$1.25/5 Hot or Lean Pockets (register coupon)= $1.73 ea

Propel Fitness Water .98
-$1/2 any Propel fitness water= .48 ea

Snickers, M&M's, or Twix candy 2/$1
-Buy 2, Get 1 FREE M&M's= .33 ea
-Buy 2, get 1 FREE Snickers, M%M's, Twix or Dove 

Colgate Total toothpaste or 360 toothbrush 2/$5
-$1.50/1 Colgate Total toothpaste
-$1/1 Colgate 360 toothbrush All You mag coupon
-$1/1 any Colgate manual toothbrush except Colgate Plus or Colgate Extra Clean

Avacados .89 ea

 
 

   

Today at Walgreen's!

 The Springville Walgreen's was very poorly stocked on their register reward items today, so I went to the one in Provo and they were definitely better prepared.
 I was able to get my Edge shave gels and my Colgate Total toothpastes. There were plenty of Edge and Skintimate shave gels available, but they were low on the Colgate toothpaste.
 There was plenty of the $1.99 milk available and also the 10 packs of Scotch Clasp Envelopes. I got the last can of Butterball broth they had and grabbed a raincheck since I most likely won't be in again to see if they've restocked this week. 
 I had rain checks on the Comet Cleanser and the Dove bars from last week. They were of course fully stocked.
 What it cost and what I used:
(6) Dove Chocolate Bars .49 ea (rain check)
-.75/2 Dove singles= .11 ea
(4) Comet Cleansers .50 ea (rain check)
-.35/1 Comet cleaning product= .15 ea
2 gal Milk $1.99 ea
(1) 10 pk Scotch Clasp Envelopes $1.99
.99 in ad coupon 
(2) Colgate Total Toothpaste 2/$6
-$1.50/1 Colgate Total toothpaste= $1.50 ea
Earned $4 Register Rewards
(2) Edge Shave Gel 2/$4
-.55/1 Edge Shave gel= $1.45 ea
Earned $2 Register Rewards
I did two transactions. The first was the shave gel and toothpaste. I got everything else on the second transaction, using the register rewards toward the balance.
Here are the figures:
Total Retail Value (w/tax): $35.88
Total Spent (w/tax): $7.75
Just over 20% of retail!       

Monday, March 28, 2011

Another Smith's Adventure!

 On the way to dinner tonight (for my b-day!), I made a stop at Smith's to finally pick up the $5 they owed me. While I was there, I of course took advantage of these last days of the big 10 sale! I had $5 to spend right?!?!






 I got 5 bags of Quaker Quakes, 5 bags shredded Kraft cheese, 5 boxes Garden Delight Ronzoni Pasta, 5 bags American Beauty pasta.
Total Value, with tax: $54.22
Total cost, with tax: $5.09
I had another situation where I was so glad to have checked my receipt! I thought the total sounded high at $7.14. I had the cashier make sure I had all of my discounts and that all the coupons had been rung up. He said it must be just the tax. 
After getting in my car, I double checked the receipt and found that he had charged me an extra bag of cheese. I of course promptly went back in and got a refund! Check your receipts!!!!   
Coupons used:
-$2/5 Quaker Quakes register coupon
(5) -$1/1 Kraft Cheese (found on packages of cheese at Walmart)
(5) -$1/1 Ronzoni Garden Delight Pasta
Tomorrow is the LAST day of this amazing deal!! You still have a chance to get in on it! I am going to hopefully hit it one more time with the rest of my Ronzoni Garden Delight coupons. There weren't enough available today unfortunately, for me to use them all. 
This Wednesday, Smith's will begin it's Case Lot sale! I am so excited to see what they have and will of course let you know what great deals I find!  

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Tomorrow at Smith's

 I will finally be getting back to Smith's tomorrow to pick up the $5 they owe me. I will quickly turn my shopping cart right back around and use said $5 in the following manner:
(5) 8 oz bags Kraft Shredded Cheese @ $1.49 ea (w/Big Ten deal)
(5) Quaker Quakes Rice Cakes @ $.79 ea (w/deal) 
-$2/5 Quaker's Quakes register coupon
-(5)$1/1 Kraft Cheese (I found these at Walmart on bags of Kraft cheese)=
$4.40 before tax!
(Retail Value: approx. $30)

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Deal of the Day!

Today's Deal of the Day!
Walmart
McCormick Perfect Pinch Seasoning $1.74
-$1/1 any McCormick product=
$.74!

Friday, March 25, 2011

Smith's and Walmart

 In the middle of a snow storm, the kids and I hit Smith's, Walgreens, and Walmart. At Walgreen's, we just picked up some rain checks on the Dove candy bars and the Comet cleanser. They were the only deals I wanted this week and of course they were all out. Next week's ad is loaded with deals however, so I will get them then!
 Smith's still has the wonderful big 10 deal going on! Here's what I did with it this time:






 I grabbed 11 Powerade at .89 ea. (.39 w/deal).
3 Rice A Roni and 1 Pasta Roni @ $1.29 ea. (.79 w/deal)and used my Buy 3 Rice A Roni, Get 1 FREE Pasta Roni coupon.
7 bags of Kraft shredded cheese @ $1.99 ea. ($1.49 w/deal)
4 Jars of Pace Salsa and Picante sauce @ $2.49 ea. ($1.99 w/deal) and used (2) -.40/2 Pace coupons.
9 Dannon Danimals and Danoninos yogurt multipacks at $1.99 ea. ($1.49 w/deal) and used (9) -$1/1 Dannon Danimals and $1/1 Dannon Danoninos coupons.
5 bags Quaker Quakes @ $1.29 ea. (.79 ea w/deal) and used my register coupon from last time for -$2/5 Quaker Quakes.
I also grabbed a few pounds of Apples on sale for .88/lb.
I earned another gasoline discount and one more register coupon for $2 off 5 Quaker Quakes. I will take advantage of that before the sale ends.
**A quick lesson learned! Always double check your receipts!! As I'm sitting here typing this up, I just realized that they only gave me 3 ($5) credits rather than the 4 that I deserved. I gave the store a call and will have to head back into Smith's to get my refund. From now on, I will check my receipt thoroughly before leaving the store! I advise you to do the same! :)
 So, here are the numbers:
Total Retail Value: $101.29
Total Spent (after I go and get my refund) $34.12
I am frustrated that I'll have to head back into Provo. I might require some kind of peace offering from Smith's because of the inconvenience. It doesn't hurt to ask. :) Remind yourself and them of the gas money it takes to get into town. :)

 Now here's Walmart:





 Some of these items made me cringe when they rang up. Sadly, sometimes there are things we have to buy and just have to go with the best of the worst prices available. Produce this week has been really expensive! Hopefully all of the freebies and other savings make up for it!
 What I got:
5 boxes of Quaker Chewy Granola Bars on clearance @ $1 ea
2 boxes Zone Perfect Bars @ $4.34 ea
(2)-.55/1 Zone Perfect bar or bars
2 Boxes Slim Fast Shakes multi pack @ $4.98 ea
-$1/1 Slimfast (found inside the last ones I bought)
9 pk Utility Cloth $3
(3) 2 pack Kitchen Towel Sets on clearance @ $2 ea
8 Yakisoba Noodles @ .58 ea
(8)-.50/1 yakisoba noodles
Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing $3.48
-$1/1 Hidden Valley Ranch
Lender Bagels $1.43
Country Crock Spread $2.44
-$1 wyb 1 Lenders Bagels & 1 Country Crock Spread
Star Kist Tuna pouch .78
-.50/1 Star Kist Tuna pouch
3 (3pk) Fleishshman's Yeast @ 1.04 ea
(3)-.40/1Fleishman's yeast
Fructis Hair Care travel size .97
-$1/1 Fructis Hair care item 
5 Pert Plus 2 in 1 Hair Care travel size @ .97 ea
-$1/1 Pert Plus 2 in 1 Hair care
Celery $1.14
2 Mangoes @ .78 ea
Roma Tomatoes $1.44/lb
Almond Accents $2.98
-.55/1 Almond Accents
1 Bag Salad @ .94
Here are the numbers:
Total Retail Value: $105.07 (w/tax)
Total Spent: $47.68 (w/tax)

I know we are always shooting for FREE, but as long as you can hit at least 50% of retail, pat yourself on the back and be proud of what you have accomplished for yourself and your family. :) 
 
   
   

Thursday, March 24, 2011

This week's grocery deals

 I am pretty disappointed with this week's grocery ads. I scoured them pretty thoroughly though, and here's what I've come up with:

Smith's
Smith's is definitely the winner this week! Just wish they had some produce deals.

Buy 10 participating items, get $5 off at checkout, which will give you the following prices:

Vitamin Water .49

Bumble Bee Tuna pouch .49

Sunny D  .89
-.25/1 Sunny D= .64

Rice or Pasta Roni .79
-Buy 3 Rice-A-Roni, Get 1 FREE Pasta Roni

Capri Sun or Kool Aid Jammers 1.49

Quaker's Quakes rice cakes .79
-$2/5 register coupon

Kraft 8 oz bar or shredded cheese $1.49

Powerade .39

Classico Pasta Sauce $1.49
-$1/2 Classico Pasta Sauce=  .99 ea

Pace 24 oz Salsa $1.99
-.40/2 Pace Salsa or Picante sauce= $1.79 ea

Hershey's Drops or Minis $1.99
-$2/2 Hershey's Minis= .99 ea

Suave shampoo or conditioner .75 ea

Advil $2.49
-$1/1 Advil= $1.49

The following are not part of the big 10 deal:

Sunchips $2.48

Kroger Ice Cream $1.99

asst Apples .88/lb

Fresh Market

Boneless skinless Chicken Breasts 1.79/lb

Pork Spareribs 1.89/lb

Navel Oranges .49/lb

Western Family Frozen Orange Juice 5/$5 w/in-ad coupon 

Western Family Ice Cream $1.99 w/in-ad coupon

Ragu Pasta Sauce 5/$5 w/in-ad coupon
-FREE Pasta (up to $1.25) wyb (2) jars Ragu

Pict Sweet frozen veggies .88 w/in-ad coupon

Langer's Frozen Juice .88 w/in-ad coupon

Taco Bell Refried Beans .88

Kraft Singles $1.99
-.55/1 kraft Singles= 1.44 

Tyson Chicken 11-13.25 oz 2/$5
-$1/1 Tyson Bagged Chicken Strips (if applicable)

Bagged Easter Candy 10-11 oz .88

16oz Frozen Ground Turkey (pre-seasoned) $1 ea   

Macey's

1 lb Strawberries $1.69 ea

asst. Ferry Morse seeds .79

WF 1 doz Large Eggs $1.09

WF 42oz Oatmeal $1.49

WF Fruit Snacks .99

WF 7lb bag Buttermilk Pancake Mix $4.79

select var Kellogg's Cereal 5/$10
-$1.50/2 Kellogg's online print coupon (no longer available to print)   
-$1/1 Kellogg's Frosted Flakes online coupon
-$1/2 any 2 Kellogg's cereals
-$1/3 Kellogg's cereals
 Use -$1.50/2= $1.25 ea for 2

Keebler Cookies $1.88
-.55/2 any 2 Keebler cookies= $1.50 ea

WF  Canned Water Chestnuts 2/$1 

Langer's Frozen Juice .88 w/in-ad coupon

Eggo Waffles .99 w/in-ad coupon

Pict Sweet Frozen veggies .88 w/in-ad coupon 

Taco Bell Refried Beans .88

Family Care 36 pc First Aid Travel Kit .99

5oz Red Vines Twist Licorice .88

WF 24 oz Dill Pickles $1.79

Kraft Singles $1.99
-.55/1 Kraft Singles

Great Grains Bread 24oz loaf .99

Green Onions or Radishes 2/$1 (bunch)

Cucumbers .69 ea

Kiwi fruit 3/$1

Large Lemons 4/$1