I'm Back!

Okay everyone. I have not gone AWOL! I will tell you though, couponing takes a lot of time and effort. But we have found that it is definitely worth the trouble when you're saving 60% or more on groceries! We simply cannot afford, like many families, to pay full price for anything anymore - especially food! And on that note, a little tidbit of information I heard on the radio the other morning: peanut butter prices will be rising anywhere from 25%-40% in the coming weeks due to another hot, dry summer, devastating peanut crops. Awesome. Stock up while you can!

Moving on. I just went to Meijer today to get the usual haul of groceries to restock our shelves. And let me tell you, it had been far too long since I'd made a comprehensive trip like this one. I'll fully admit that I have been neglecting my coupon clipping. All I had on hand that was current were two papers' inserts dating back to 10/2/11! I didn't have time to clip and sort, so I snatched the inserts out of the papers, tucked them under my arm, threw my scissors in my purse, and headed out to the grocery store. NOT RECOMMENDED!

I wound up frantically flipping through the inserts while sitting in the parking lot and cutting out those coupons which I thought I might use. No list. No ad to reference. Nothing. I was disgusted with myself. I'm still disgusted as I recall the events. But at least I was armed with the small amount of ammunition those few coupons afforded me, which is still more than many shoppers out there. I ended up spending $211. I don't even recall how much I saved with my coupons. It couldn't have been more than $12.

The moral of this story is people, that a little time and effort WILL make a difference in your family's bottom line. My husband has been nudging (nagging) me to get back into my "extreme couponing". And while I will never characterize myself as "extreme" in the couponing sense, I would like to think of myself as a savvy, knowledgeable shopper with the correct tools to save as much money as possible. And who doesn't like to do that?

Backpacks Buy 1, Get 1 for $1 @ Meijer!

For those of you who are procrastinating and are still in need of a backpack for your child going back to school, Meijer is having an awesome sale this Labor Day weekend - Buy one backpack, get one for only $1! And they say procrastination doesn't pay. Ha!

Shopping Cart Divas Birthday Giveaway!

Click the picture above to enter the giveaway for some great prizes!

$4.49 Huggies Little Movers Slip-Ons @ Walgreens starting 8/14/11

For all you mommies and daddies out there who are excited about the new Huggies Little Movers Slip-Ons, here's a deal for you!

Beginning Sunday 8/14, Walgreens is offering a $2 Register Reward on Huggies Slip-Ons Jumbo Pack, priced $9.49. PLUS, there will be a $3/1 coupon in this Sunday's SmartSource insert. So, you'll be getting these for only $4.49 after coupon and RR! Yes!

FREE! @ Target 8/7/11 - 8/13/11

Free Stuff!

Eveready Batteries $1 (in the dollar spot)
Use $1/1 Energizer (same brand) (7/31 SS)
Final cost: FREE!

Wish-Bone Salad Dressing 8 oz Bottle $1.34 (if your store has this size)
Use $1.50/2 Wish-Bone Target (store regional coupon 8/7 insert)
Plus, use $1.25/2 coupon (7/31 RP)
Final cost: 2 dressings for FREE!

Tide 2x Ultra Travel Size (1 load) or Sink Packets 3ct $.97
Use $1/1 (7/31 PG)
Final cost: FREE!

Buy 4 Select Unilever Products = $5 Target gift card
Deal Scenario:
Buy 2 Dove Ultimate deodorants $3.49 each
Buy 2 Dove Men+Care deodorants 3.49 each
Total = $13.96
Use 2 $1/1 Dove Ultimate Target (store regional coupons 8/7 insert)
Plus, use 2 buy one Dove Ultimate get Dove Men+Care free (7/31 RP)
Pay $4.98
Get back a $5 Target gift card
Final cost: FREE!

Travel Size St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Body Wash $.97
Use $1/1 (regional 7/10 SS)
Final cost: FREE!

Degree Pure Satin or Shower Clean Travel Size Deodorant $.97
Use $1/1 (7/31 RP)
Final cost: FREE!

Oral B Essential Floss $.97
Use $1/1 (7/31 PG)
Final cost: FREE!

Reach Dental Floss $.97
Use $1/1 (4/17 SS)
Final cost: FREE!

Digital Prints 4 inch x 6 inch $0.10
Use $2/20 Target (store coupon here)
Final cost: FREE! for 20 prints

Thank you Budget Savvy Diva!

HOT! $1.50 off Colgate Toothpaste Printable

Colgate Total Gum Defense Toothpaste

$1.50/1 Printable

Here is a HOT! printable coupon for $1.50/1 off Colgate Total Gum Defense.

Thank you Extremely Normal Couponing

Another Saturday Night Meijer Run

It was an extremely successful trip to Meijer tonight. I hope you all took advantage of the awesome buy 1, get 1 sale, as well as the Kelloggs/Fruit of the Loom deals. I got everything pictured above for only $40.36! This included:

(1) Fruit of the Loom ladies' panties
(1) Fruit of the Loom girls' socks
(1) Fruit of the Loom girls' panties
(2) CoffeeMate 32oz. creamers
(1) Johnson's Naturals baby shampoo
(1) Kellogg's Fruit Snacks
(4) Honey Nut Cheerios
(2) Cocoa Puffs
(2) Cinnamon Toast Crunch
(2) Keebler Grasshopper Cookies
(2) Cheez-Its
(2) Nature Valley Granola Thins
(2) Nature Valley Fruit & Grain Bars
(2) Kellogg's Fiber Plus Bars

Total savings of $50.48! That's 56%!

B1G1 Johnsonville Brats or Italian Burgers Printable Coupon

Be sure to snag this awesome buy one, get one Johnsonville Brat or Italian Hamburger printable coupon before it’s gone! It's not often that we get such great deals on meat products! These are also on sale this week (7/31 - 8/6) at Meijer for $3.69! Whoo hoo for freezer-stocking!

Cheap @ Walmart - Gillette, Axe, & Satin Care Shave Gel

Cheap at Walmart: Gillette Body Wash & Deodorant, Axe Shower Gel & Satin Care Shave Gel!

Here are a few Walmart scenarios with coupons from this last Sunday’s inserts!

Axe Shower Gel $3.97
Use B1G1 Axe Shower Gel or Detailer from RP 7/31
Final Price: $1.99 each

Gillette Body Wash $2.97
Use $2.00/1 Gillette Body Wash from PG 7/31
Final Price: $0.97

Gillette Clinical Deodorant $6.97
Use $3.00/1 Gillette Clinical Deodorant from PG 7/31
Final Price: $3.97

Olay Body Wash, Trial Size $0.97
Satin Care Shave Gel Price Unknown
Use the Buy 1 Olay body wash, bar or hand and body lotion, Get 1 Satin Care shave gel free (up to $3.99), Limit 4 Like coupons per transaction from PG 7/31 (exp 8/31)
Final Price: $0.97

Thank you Krazy Coupon Lady and I Heart the Mart!

Back to School Fun

I have to admit, I think I'm more excited about Lily starting Kindergarten this year than she is just for the back-to-school shopping! I always looked forward to the time when my parents would take my sister and I shopping for new supplies for the upcoming school year. Then packing and repacking our new backpacks with all our goodies in the days that followed. Now I get to relive those days vicariously through my 5-year-old. I can just smell the new crayons and paste now.

With so many great deals coming up, it's best to be prepared before hitting the stores with your little students. As you probably know, most schools have a supplies list for each grade noting which items will be needed for the year. If you don't have a list, don't panic. (We all made it through school just fine without said list.) However, your child's school website may have this information. I have even seen flyers in the stores themselves.

If you're in the market for a new backpack and/or lunch box, look for a combination set. You'll save yourself time and a headache once in the store with your indecisive child if you only have to make one choice. If you can, look on your store's website with your child at the available options for backpacks and lunch boxes as far as character, color, and style are concerned. With decisions made in advance, you'll both be happier.

Also keep in mind that things like Kleenex and Lysol wipes may be requested of each child's parents to supply the classroom. So hang on to those coupons and wait for a good sale to stock up!

Happy back-to-school shopping!

Free Leaves!

Head over to VocalPoint and grab your freebie! They are giving out coupons to try Fresh Express for free! Who doesn't like free?

$.02 Papermate Pens at Target!

Looks like it's that time of year again - BACK TO SCHOOL! Yes, it's upon us, and Target might be your one-stop shop for all those necessary supplies. There are some great printable coupons for supplies, so you might want to head over to Target.com HERE and print those before they're gone!

Papermate Black Ballpoint Pens, 10-pack - $1.02
$1.00/1 Papermate Writing Utensil Item - Target Printable
Final Price: $.02

Menard's: Adult/Child Combo Toilet Seat

I think this is absolutely fantastic. Why haven't I ever seen these before? Well, I might just have to go pick one up. Actually, I was thinking about getting a new toilet seat anyhow because our old one is, well, old. Why not get a bonus kids potty seat integrated into it? Awesome deal!

Finesse Clean + Simple Hair Products at Walgreens, $5.00 Moneymaker!

Finesse Clean + Simple Product $3.99, On Sale thru 7/9

Buy One Get One Free

Use 2-$1.00/1 Finesse, Any from SS 5/8
OR Use 2-$1.00/1 Finesse Hair Product, Any from All You 05/2011
$2.00/1 – Finesse Product, Any, Mail in Rebate – (finessehaircare.com)
Pay $1.99, Receive $5.00 Register Reward
Submit $2.00 Finesse Rebate
Final Price: $5.00 Moneymaker after Mail in Rebate, when you buy 2


Thank you, budgetsavvydiva

Gerber Graduates Lil' Entrees

Have young kids at home?

Gerber Graduates meals are on Rollback at WalMart right now for $1.78 (down from $2). PLUS there's a $1 off one coupon HERE from coupons.com. Not bad at $.78 each! Stock up now for 'in a pinch' lunches or suppers!

Coupon Extremists: Zeal For Savings Resulting in Thefts

Interesting article about how the new "fad" of couponing has led some people to the extreme of stealing newspaper coupon inserts. Unfortunately, the idea of the newspaper box relies totally on the honor system. Something I naively took for granted before reading this article. Although, I always buy my Sunday paper at my local gas station, so the temptation never enters my thoughts. And more often than not I have the gas station clerk ask me, "you know you have more than one paper here, right?" Yes, I know. It's intentional. I don't subscribe to my local Sunday paper mainly because there are occasionally Sundays when there are no inserts included (ie, holiday weekends), and times when I choose different quantities based on the quality of the coupons included. I'd have to make a special trip to pick up more papers anyhow. I digress. Read the article. It'll really open your eyes to the "business" of couponing. Frankly, I enjoy the entire couponing process. Even if I didn't, I wouldn't lower myself to outright theft!

The Binder

If you don't already have a coupon binder, GET ONE! It's not as difficult a task as it may seem. It will keep all your coupons organized and make compiling your shopping lists a breeze with each needed coupon at your fingertips. Here's my binder -

I borrowed the following instructions from The Krazy Coupon Lady. You can find a link to the PDF file for the dividers/table of contents here.

How to Organize Your Coupons: Binder Method

Buy a Quality Binder

• Invest up-front in trusted name brand binder
• Use an office supply store coupon to lower out of pocket expense
• Best time to buy: August and September at Back-to-School sales

Two Methods: By Date or By Category

• By Category (my binder)
• More time up front, less time shopping
• Smaller binder needed (2-3 inch)
• By Date
• Less time up front, more time getting ready to shop
• Larger binder needed (5 inch)
• Look for a binder with a crease to be able to expand if needed

Supplies

• By Date
• Tab dividers to separate by week
• Sheet protectors, 100+ pages
• By Category
• 9 pocket baseball sleeves. 60-75 sleeves should be plenty. (I purchased a box of 100 sleeves at a sports card store for $15.)
  
• Pencil pouch
• Small pair of scissors
• Calculator to estimate total cost or figuring price per unit/ weight
• Writing utensils

How to Start

• Tear apart inserts at seams and stack like pages
• Staple pages together

How to Organize

• By Date
• Write dates that insert came out on each page
• Insert each page into its own sheet protector
• Put junk ads back to back to save on space

• By Category
• Cut out each coupon from stapled pages
• File coupons within categories
• Print off binder categories from the free PDF link
  
• You can use tab dividers for each category for easier sorting
• Sometimes coupons will need to be cropped or folded to fit