Getting Back into Couponing

After couponing strongly for a couple of years...I took a break.  Couponing does take a bit of time...and I just haven't had the time to do it...or maybe I just needed a break.  Probably a little of both.  Gardening and preserving food has become much more of an interest to me.  I am loving learning how to can, how to make my own dishwasher tabs...and so many other things.  However, that being said, I decided to coupon during the winter.  By doing so, I can stock up on our toiletries and other necessities for the year.  When gardening gets into full swing...I will stop couponing and devote that time to pulling weeds instead. 

One thing I found...couponing is like riding a bike, once you know how...you never really forget.

Here were my buys for today:

 

 

Rite Aid.  Retail:  $6.49each, on sale for $5.00 each

$1.00 off coupons ~ dropping the price to $4.66

Buy 3 ~ save $5.00 (Ups).  My price:  $3.00 each

54% Savings

 

Rite Aid.  Retail:  $5.99, on sale for $3.99 each

$6.00 off coupons ~ dropping the price to $1.99 each

Buy 4 ~ save $4.00 (Ups).  My price: $.99

84% Savings!

 

 

My best deal of the day did not involve any coupons or stores.

I belong to an online group called "Besties" ~ it is like a virtual

garage sale.  One of the members is an avid couponer and decided

to sell off some of her stash.  I picked up 20 packages of disposable razors.

 

Schick Razors.  Retail $7.99, I paid 75 cents each

91% Savings

 

Bic Razors.  Retail: $4.49, I paid 75 cents each

83% Savings

 

Not too shabby for my first day out in a long, long time!

 



 

Double Coupons at Albertsons

I stayed home today, took a vacation day...the sun is out and the sky is blue and I think I may be battling spring fever.  One of the fun things about staying home during the week...when the hubby is at work and the favorite youngest daughter is at school...is that I can just putter and do my own thing.  Love it!

I have not had time to coupon...and my grocery budget is reflecting that ~ badly.  I am way over budget for February.  It seems like grocery prices have jumped recently.  I cannot believe the price of cheese epecially. 

So with that being said...I thought I had better take advantage of some double coupons that Albertsons has going through today.

Here's what I got:

This was my most expensive transaction...cheese is crazy expensive.  Each 12 count package of string cheese is $6.39.  Right now at Albertsons if you buy one...you get one free plus I had 75 cent off coupon plus I used a double coupon.  The mozzarella cheese (in the center of the picture) normally cost $5.79 (for 8oz)...using a coupon, and a double with the sale price ($3.99)...I got it for $1.99.  The green curry sauce was not on sale and was expensive as well...but I want to try a new recipe and the curry is a necessity. 

With Curry:  Retail:  $36.14    Paid:  $17.56  ~  52% Savings
W/O Curry:  Retail:  $30.35    Paid:  $11.77  ~  62% Savings

Next...

My family loves this Bear Creek Pasta and I love adding this yogurt to my steel cut oatmeal in the morning...yum.

Retail:   $10.87    Paid:   98 cents  ~  91% Savings


And finally:

More yogurt and 4 packs of gum.

Retail:   $9.45   Paid:   Zero, Zilch, Nada  ~  100% Savings!


Now it is time to go plant some double ruffled primroses in my planter, move my strawberry plants and do some pruning.  I love unexpected sunny days in February!

Double Coupons @ Albertsons

Tonight I used the last of my double coupons at Albertsons.  I always dread going...but when I get in my car and realized I paid a faction of the full retail price...I am always glad I took the time to coupon. 

Today I was able to get 10 cans of soup for 15 cents a piece by utilizing a sale, a double coupon and a $2.50 register reward (catalina) I earned.  Normally a can costs $1.29 so it feels good to only pay 15 cents for each can.  I predict a winter full of sloppy joes (using tomato soup).  I was also really excited to get Secret deoderant for only 19 cents a piece!  To think that at one time I would have been happy to pay $2.19 for one. 

Here's what I got tonight:

10 cans of soup, 3 Fuze drinks, 4 boxes of cocoa, 3 Pam sprays, 2 bags of chocolate chips and 4 units of deoderant.  Full Retail ~ $60.22.  I paid ~ $16.01...a savings of 73%.  These are things I needed and was thrilled with the savings.

Rumor is that Albertsons will be having double coupons again next week.  I am hoping to get some great deals on holiday baking supplies.

I'm baaacckk...

I cannot believe that I have not blogged since the first week of July.  It has been a busy life...too busy really.  I didn't get enough time to enjoy gardening and I certainly didn't have time to coupon...which is reflected in an out of control grocery budget.  To be honest, I think I burned out on couponing for a bit but after getting low on items and having to pay full price...I realized that I don't want to pay full price if I don't have to.  Hence...I have gotten more motivated to coupon.  I will spend over my monthly budget this month but that is because I am trying to stock up on some needed items.  I should be back on track next month.

Here are my deals this past week:

Target:

2 boxes of pasta and 4 jars of Ragu pasta sauce. 
Retail:  $11.64.  Paid: $2.29  ~  81% Savings!


Walgreens:

3 boxes of kleenex (I did this same transactaion 2 times for a total of 6 boxes)
Retail:  $4.43  Paid:  $2.71  ~  39% Savings.  Not a super savings but we were seriously low on kleenex after my favorite youngest daughter caught a nasty cold and went through an alarming amount of this stuff!


Ace Hardware:

I loved this deal.  I was able to get this toilet paper for $1.00 (plus SST)!  The had a coupon, plus I was able to use a $5.00 loyalty card reward they sent me!  Score!
Retail:  $10.08  Paid:  $1.09  ~  90% Savings!


Albertsons (sorry for the blurry pic):

Doiuble coupons are out!  1 bag of Tostitos and 2 tubes of toothpaste.
Retail:   $10.01  Paid:  $1.04  ~  90% Savings


Albertsons:

1 shampoo and 2 toothpaste.
Retail:  $11.11  Paid:  $1.34  ~  88% Savings


Albertsons:

1 Shampoo and 2 laundry detergent.
Retail:  $18.23  Paid:  $6.04  ~  67% Savings!


Feels good to be back in the game again.  :)

I didn't wanna do it...

I didn't wanna do it...I didn't want to go couponing on my lunch break. Somedays are like that...it's a Monday, I am tired from a busy weekend and I just wanted to go to the break room and read for awhile. Thankfully, I made myself go to Albertsons today to take advantage of their double coupon deal...I did good!

Here's what I got...

Retail  ~  $88.90.  Paid ~ $16.31...an 81% savings. Not to bad!!!


My best Albertsons deal?

These razors normally cost $9.59 a package...which is crazy expensive. Albertsons has them on sale ~ buy 1 get 1 free.  PLUS I had a coupon for buy 1 get 1 free.  SO...these cost me $1.76 TOTAL which was actually the state sales tax. I got about $40.00 worth of razors for FREE. No to bad!


As I was strolling around Albertsons, I saw this sweet deal as well...

Poise is now making a panty liner. Even better, there was a coupon on this package to "try it free". I took that nice little "peelie" off of the package, handed it to the cashier and I got this for free. I saved myself $2.99.  I plan on picking up a few more of these.


After Albertsons I headed to Rite Aid...

What is it about getting into your 40's and having heartburn/acid reflux all of sudden? I know if I would quit eating carbs and dairy at night I would probably not be battling the acid but since I can't seem to stop doing that...I take Zantac.  Zantac is expensive.  Normally a package cost $10.79 at Rite Aid but today I was able to get it for 99 cents a package. How? They were on sale for $7.99, I had a $5.00 coupon and I received a $2.00 "UP" coupon for each box I bought.  I cannot use the "UP" coupon until tomorrow but it is still "free" money for a future purchase.

Retail ~ $58.42.  Paid ~ $21.64...plus I earned $10.00 in "UP" coupons. Tomorrow I will be going back to get this same deal but it will only cost $11.64 because I will use my "UP" coupons.


I am so glad I took a lunch break and did some couponing...I went back to work with a pretty great attitude.

Still Trying to Get Into the Coupon Groove

This week I struggled, AGAIN, to focus on couponing...I don't even want to grocery shop.  What is wrong with me?  I did manage to make myself go, and I am glad I did!

Safeway had a great deal on some ice cream bars:

These are de bomb...but so expensive that I wouldn't buy these normally.  Full price is $4.49, on sale for $3.49 but if you buy 3 boxes...you get an additional $3.00 off.  The price is now down to $2.49 each BUT I had three coupons for $2.00 each.  These cost me 49 cents a box.  They tasted really good!


Through Amazon.com I was able to get a good price on some dishwasher soap:

Buy utilizing a sale, "clipping" an online coupon and using a $5.00 gift card I earned from www.swagbucks.com I got 60 dishwasher tabs for $5.23.  Not too bad!


Today I SCORED at Albertsons!  I was able to get $105.87 worth of groceries for only $22.25

In this picture is 5# of ground beef (85/15%), 4 bags of chips, 1 20ct single packages of chips, 6 Ken's Dressings, 2 gallons of ice cream, napa cabbage, 2 cantaloupe, 1 jalapeno pepper, 4 sour creams, 2 cream cheeses and 2 gallons of milk....all for $22.25.  I was able to save 79 percent by utilizing sales and using several coupons that I had earned.  Albertsons is back to being my favorite store. :) 

Couponing Update

I took advantage of the Safeway's $5.00 Friday specials.  They had 3# packages of turkey for $5.00...I got 9#'s of turkey for $15.00...not too bad!

Lucerne eggs were on sale for 99 cents a dozen, Lucerne cheese was $5.00 and I bought some Lucerne Cottage cheese...and then I received $2.00 off automatically for buying $10.00 worth of Lucerne products...PLUS, I had an additional coupon off of Lucerne products.  Between taking advantage of sales and using coupons...I saved $9.00 on $16.44 worth of Lucerne products. 

As for the ground turkey...I saved $20.97 on $35.97 worth of meat.  Not a bad buy!

Next up...feminine hygiene.  Last year I thought I had enough of these on hand to last years...but my stash only lasted one year.  Time for some stockpiling!  Rite Aid had these on sale for 2/$5.00.  If you bought two, I was able to get a $2.00 UP coupon plus I could use (2) $1.00 off coupons.  These ultimately cost 50 cents a piece (plus some tax). 

It has been slow going getting back into the couponing groove...but I am working on it.  I have all my coupons clipped and stashed in my notebook and I am keeping up on my couponing blogs.  Time to start saving some more money again!  Getting a good deal is a very good feeling!

Grocery Budget ~ February Wrap Up

I went over budget in February...but not too bad.

If I had paid full retail...I would have paid $856.30 for my groceries in February.

What did I pay?  $296.59 ~ $46.59 over budget

Savings?  $556.14!

Not to bad.  I love knowing that I saved $556.14 in groceries...in ONE month.

I have to admit that I am taking a bit of a hiatus from couponing ~ I am burned out a bit.  In the meantime, I will still stay within my $250.00 budget for March and just coupon when I feel more like it. 

Really Sick but Still Had to Coupon!

Ugh ~ my last three day weekend until the end of May and I am sick.  I had planned on heading over to Whidbey Island for a couple of days but...I am home sick with a pretty good cold.  I did send my favorite youngest daughter over there so she could get some relief from a whining mom.  I am a BIG baby when I am sick and do my best to make everyone around me miserable.  Fortunately for them...they left me to fend for myself. 

In the midst of my severe sinus congestion and ringing, itchy ears...I remembered I had two coupons set to expire.  Yikes...I am NOT going to waste $5.00 worth coupons, God forbid!

First up ~ Fred Meyers.  I had a $3.00 coupon to use along with a couple of $2.00 off coupons AND my Rewards Card rebate of $5.49 PLUS a coupon for a free Totino's Party Pizza.  So I had a total of $12.49 of free money plus a free pizza coupon...and here is what I got:

6 pack of hoagy rolls, 6 banana's, 2# of cheese, package of turkey pepperoni and a lime

Retail:  $12.58,   Total Paid: 9 cents! ~ just about a 100% savings!

Next up...Walgreens.  I had a $2.00 Register Reward that I needed to spend or it would expire as well.  I needed Tums.  I had a $1.00 coupon so I used it along with $2.00 Register Reward to get a good price.  Unfortunately, my favorite youngest daughter was with me and just LOVED this kind of juice...and since I was in a cold medicine fog ~ I gave in and bought it for her. 



Retail:  $6.51  Paid: $3.51  ~  47% Savings

I would really love to have a good stock up deal on Tums!

That is all the shopping I could muster...it is time for another nap.

A GREAT Deal and NO Coupon Needed

Here's your chance to get a great deal at Safeway and no coupons are needed:

These Icee's are on sale at Safeway for $1.49 per 4-pack.  However, if you buy 3 packages...you save $3.00 instantly!  So each package would only cost 49 cents.  That means that each individual Icee cost 12 cents. 

I have 6 packages in my freezer and plan to get more. 

Is this another sign that summer is coming?

Thanks CouponConnections for sharing this on your website.

CouponConnections.com is a GREAT website that is local and she features the deals that are going on locally. She was also featured on Extreme Couponing ~ so she knows her stuff.  Go to her site and subscribe to her daily email...she shows you how to make couponing easy!

Yahoo for Albertsons!

What a great week to shop at Albertsons.  I went to two different Albertsons today and used my last 12 double coupons. 

Full Retail: $38.89  Paid: $7.77  ~  80% Savings

PLUS I have one more $1.00 catalina.

• The Krusteaz pancake mix I made money on.  They were on sale for $2.00 each.  Buy 2 and earn a $1.00 catalina (or register reward that I often mistakenly call them).  I used (2) $1.00 catalinas that I previously earned and used 2 double coupons on them.  So I paid ZERO for them PLUS earned a $1.00 catalina.
• Next up...the Planters Nutrition bars.  I doubled the $1.00 coupon that I had for each of them...making them 50 cents a piece.  But...I also earned (2) $1.00 catalinas on them.  So they were free...and they taste really really good. 
• I was able to use one of those $1.00 catalinas to buy the fresh asparagus.  Normally that little bundle of aspargus would cost $4.75 (ROBBERY!) but was on sale for $3.56 (STILL ROBBERY) and I used my catalina and a double bringing the cost down to $1.56.  That is going to go great with my yummy Valentine dinner I am making tomorrow night!
• I made money on the tuna.  Had a coupon for $1.00/2.  Tuna was on sale for 89 cents each.  I used a double and made 11 cents on each can of tuna;  which I then in turn applied to the buttermik and sour cream that I bought.

It was fast and fun shopping.  It took a little preparation...but I saved 80% in a very little amount of time. 

Let me repeat...lovin Albertsons tonight!

Groceries This Week

I took it easy this week.  I did go back to Everett Cash & Carry...love that place!  I also visited Albertsons a few times. 

Albertsons ~ 24 jars of Ragu and 6 packets of Taco Bell taco seasoning (not shown).  I took advantage of the buy 10 get $5.00 off...and I did this transaction 3 different times.  Each jar of sauce ended up costing 49 cents each.  I am glad to finally stock up on pasta sauce...I was out. 

Retail:  $89.10  Total Paid $14.70  ~ 84% Savings  

Today in the paper were double coupons for Albertsons.  On everything, except the juice, I used a $1.00 coupon which was then doubled. Every item above (except the juice) costs 50 cents each!

       Retail: $43.37  Paid: $9.66  ~ 78% Savings        

** I also earned $3.00 in register rewards!**

Cash & Carry ~ 10# of potatoes cost $2.13, Bananas are 48 cents a pound and the carrots cost $1.98.  These are some great prices. 

Retail:  Approximately $40.00  Paid: $19.04  ~ 50% Savings

Busy, Busy Shopping Day!

I woke up early Saturday morning and kept busy ALL day long.  First on the list...lots of grocery shopping.  In fact, in the last few days I have spent $205.00 of my $250.00 monthly grocery budget.  Yikes.  I splurged on a big chunk of beef...but we are out and this sunny weather we have been having has me craving a steak! 

To date I have spent $205.00.  Full retail would have been $493.20...saving $288.20.  I hope to spend what little I have left and get HUGE savings in the process.

I ordered these from Amazon.  I used free gift cards I earned using "Swag Bucks" and

only paid $2.06 for all four boxes of cereal...combined.

Next up ~ Target.  Full Retail: $40.55, Paid: $15.60 ~ 62% Savings

Franz Outlet Store.  Full Retail...unknown.  Paid: $13.00.  Saved at least 50%

Bartell Drugs had a couple of good deals...I do NOT like couponing at our Lake Stevens Bartell Drugs ~ the checkers are really big coupon snobs.  I always get attitude when I use coupons but I choose to ignore them, after all...it's all about saving my money.  Full Retail: $16.96, Paid $3.56 ~ 79% Savings.

Haggen rocked this week.  I LOVE these Johnsville Chicken Sausage and I was able to pick up each package for $1.50 using a coupon with a sale.  Normally each package cost $4.79...what a great savings!  Full Retail: $69.52, Paid: $26.64 ~ 62% Savings

Rite Aid was my "go-to" place for snacks.  Full Retail: $23.50.  By using coupons and past "UP" rewards...I only paid $5.26 ~ 78% savings.

Everett Cash & Carry had some good prices on basics.  Not shown are the 7 bananas I bought.  That blob of red is a top sirloin that we turned into 7 dinners worth of steaks and 5 dinners worth of fajitas.  Full Retail: $126.07, Paid: $62.02 ~ 51% Savings. 

I did two transactions at Walgreens:  #1 included the (4) Alka Seltzer Plus and the (6) candies (which I got for free using a coupoon)  Full Retail: $32.43, Paid: $9.43 ~ 71% savings BUT I got a $5.00 Register Reward as well which I used on transaction #2.  #2 includes the (2) Head and Shoulder shampoo.  Full Retail: $12.81, Paid: $3.83 ~ 70% Savings.

Safeway had a couple of good deals.  The mustard was buy 1 get one free...and it would have been even a better price if I had remembered to use my darn coupon that I left in my back pocket...ugh!  Full Retail: $33.54,  Paid: $16.82 ~ 50% Savings

Fred Meyers had a good deal on the dog food I use.  Buy 24 ~ get a $3.00 register reward.  Taking that into account along with my (2) $2.00/12 coupons...I dropped the per price from 75 cents to 46 cents.  Full Retail: $26.97,   Paid $22.20 ~ 16% Savings....Plus I received a $3.00 off coupon for my next visit.

Did anyone else get that fantastic Michaels coupon???  It was get $5.00 off a purchase of at least $5.00.  To me that means...FREE!  I was able to get the icing colors for free plus I bought some butter flavoring to get me over the $5.00 mark.  Full Retail: $6.98, Paid: $1.98 ~ 78% Savings.

Thanks for letting me ramble.  I am not going to do anymore big shopping trips this month but I will be keeping my eyes open for some freebies.

January Wrap~Up

It's been 45 days since my hubby and I have had a paycheck.  We both work for a local school district and get paid each last working day of the month...which in December was the 16th.  The good news is that we made it and tomorrow we get paid!

My monthly grocery budget each month is $250.00.  I ended up spending $264.88.  A little over budget but I am thrilled.  That $264.88 bought $733.13 worth of groceries.  That means by using coupons and sales I saved $468.25! 

This week I didn't do much shopping but I did get 18 packs of gum for free and I bought 4 boxes of Special K Cereal for a total of $2.10 by using the Amazon gift cards I got for free from using Swag Bucks.

And...I had some freebies in the mailbox: 

And...a $50.00 movie gift card that we received from a credit card points program. 

My favorite deal this week:

Bartell Drugs has almonds on sale.  In your 1/29/12 Sunday paper you should have received a $1.00 off coupons...making this can of almonds 79 cents. 

Blue Diamond Almonds

$1.79 ea.

Reg. 3.49

6 oz. cans. Including Natural

Tomorrow is Friday!

Between Christmas break, Martin Luther King Day and a few days off due to snow...I forgot what it is like to work a full week!  I am back to having too much to do and not enough time to do it!  Thank goodness my hubby and I still have a job...so I really am not complaining (much).  Here is what I have been up to the past few days or rather....what my hubby has been up to.

I mentioned to him that I would like a grow light.  He said he had a light and I found a plan and a very short time later....wa~la!  I have a grow light!  Now I just need to get some starts under that grow light.  I really love that my hubby supports me and my wild schemes...he is a good guy!

Next up...a little couponing.  There is 5 more days of January and no more grocery money.  How do I buy the last two gallons of milk that I need?  Well...I go to Rite Aid & buy 3 packs of UP2U gum that is on sale for $1.00.  I have (3) $1.00 coupons off each pack of gum and get them all for FREE.  But that is not all...for every three I buy...I get a $1.00 UP coupon.  After doing a couple more of these deals tomorrow, I will have $5.00 in UP coupons which is enough to buy 2 gallons of milk.  That is how you coupon and stretch your budget!

Retail:  $17.88  Paid: 0  

100% Savings PLUS $3.00 in UP's

I have a new photo stylist...
my favorite youngest daughter!  She took two different pictures and would like a vote...which one do you like best? I think the heart shape is fun but the other picture fits my personality better (a bit uptight maybe).  Click on the comment section below this post and vote for which one you like.  She would love your opinion and we will even put your name in for a drawing and send you a couple packs of gum!

Have a good weekend!

Couponing This Week

This week I used up a Rite Aid UP reward, a Rite Aid rebate check and a $5.00 coupon from Albertsons...which helped to streeeettttch my budget.  I did go over my budget but it shouldn't be too much ~ only a week and a half left...and I am counting down the days.

Fred Meyers ~ Tuna
Retail: $3.16   Paid: $1.36 ~ 57% Savings

Rite Aid ~ 3 gallons of milk and dishwashing soap
Retail: $12.06  Paid: $0  ~  100% Savings!

Albertsons ~ 2# cheese, sour cream and popcorn
Retail: $10.77  Paid: $5.77  ~  46% Savings

I might need a couple more gallons of milk and a bit of veggies but other than that...I shouldn't need anything else to get through the month.  We have not had a paycheck since December 16th...so I am pretty amazed that I have stretched my budget for this long.