This Wife's Savings

This was my very first trip to CVS since I got into coupons. I was really disappointed. They didn't have half the products on my list. So I will have to find another CVS to get my Kellogg's products for the Kellogg's rebate. [Yes I know I bought Kellogg's products at Walgreen's yesterday, but they all have to be in the same transaction, and CVS has the products I want to get, just not at the store I visited today] 4 of my coupons wouldn't go through, so she finally had to manually put them in. I was in there forever! And I used 4 BOGO coupons along with the BOGO deal on the Covergirl makeup, so all 8 should have been free. But the way the lady did it, I paid $3 more than I should have. And I didn't notice the difference until I got home. Oh well, a lesson learned I guess.



So here's what I got:

• 2 Crest Pro-Health toothpastes -on sale for $2.49ea - I had 2- 75 cents off coupons
• 2 Crest w/Scope toothpastes -on sale for $2.49ea- I had 2- 75 cents off coupons
• 1 Oral B Advantage toothbrush - on sale for $2.49 - I had $1 off coupon
• [These 5 above items gave me $7.50 in ECBs]
• 1 Colgate toothpaste - $2.99 - I had a $1.50 coupon
• [Colgate got me $2 in ECBs]
• 1 Gillette Fushion razor - on sale for $9.99 - I had a $4 off coupon
• [Gillette got me $3 ECBs]
• 4 Pert BOGO - $3.69 each - I had 4- $2 off coupons - HAD REBATE FOR THIS
• 8 Covergirl makeups BOGO [9.49, 9.49, 8.99, 7.99, 7.49, 5.49, 5.49, 5.49] - I had 4 BOGO coupons, which would have made all 8 free, but ... instead I paid $3 for all 8 products, still not bad I guess

My Total saved - $88.90

My Total ECBs - $12.50

My Total OOP - $24.09

**Would have gotten the Pert Rebate - Buy $5 worth of Pert Plus and/or Sure products, get up to $5 in FREE school supplies - but I neglected to read it in it's entirety until I got home and realized you had to buy the school supplies, then they send the refund. At least I got all the Pert products for free after my coupons!! Another lesson. At least it wasn't a big mistake!

Posted by Daphne at 2:07 PM 3 comments  

Labels: CVS, Grocery

August 2008 Monthly Totals

Gasoline - $35.02 - $20.01 this week
Grocery & Household Needs - $98.10 ($71.13 this week)
Fast Food - $29.07 - Ouch! This needs to STOP!
Clothing - $5.00
Misc - $70.11 - needed new printer ink this week
School Lunch -
School Misc -
Medical - $37.78 - LittleMan had to go to the doctor, he had an allergic reaction!! (plus meds)
Coupon sources - $8 ($6 on 4 newspapers, $2 on 1 magazine)
Total - $283.08 Not great, but I have stocked up on some things plus the visit to the doctor!
Saved this month- $113.54

I have added a new category. Coupon sources. Which is mainly newspapers & magazines. I also combined Grocery, Household Needs and Pets into one category.

I am headed to get LittleMan a haircut tomorrow, as he is going back to school Thursday. I then plan to hit CVS for some Great deals! I couldn't find the CVS in the town I was in today.. ??? hmmm. This will be my first trip to CVS since I started couponing.

Posted by Daphne at 9:15 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Spending Log

All I can say is Wow! This is the first time I have saved over $20 in one visit to Walmart. I went to Walmart after my trip to Walgreens, so the main thing I noticed was .... rudeness. They didn't want to take some coupons because I had more than one of several. I had to explain the difference between a purchase and a transaction. Then they had to get a CSR over because I had so many coupons. They were not happy with me, even if they didn't say it, I could see it all over their faces. **I told the people in line behind me that I had several coupons and that it would take a bit longer because of that, just so they would know ahead of time.** I mean come on people, I am saving more than a few dollars here!!

My total before coupons & tax was $112.42. After my 24 coupons, my total was $53.63 ($8.99 was tax, Walmart taxes the full amount before coupons). My savings total $67.78! (56% saved)

What I got:

• 15 packets of Koolaid, for the B3 get Free deals below... (I did this deal last week too)
• 3 pounds of Ground beef
• 1 pack of B/L S/L chicken breasts
• Chocolate chip waffles
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• Kraft American singles (FREE by buying 3 Koolaids)
• Oscar Mayer hot dogs (FREE by buying 3 Koolaids)
• 4pk Pillsbury biscuits (50 cents off)
• Crystal Light To-go (FREE by buying 3 Koolaids, also had a 50 cents off coupon!)
• Big box of Ramen noodles
• 2 boxes of fruit snacks
• Hamburger Helper (50 cents off)
• Wheat Thins (FREE by buying 3 Koolaids)
• Lasagna noodles
• Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber starter kit ($2.75 off)(I also have a Rebate for this, so it will be FREE with possible 2.75 overage!!!)
• One Touch Ultra Mini Blood Glucose Monitor (FREE with coupon)(will be given to my Papaw)
• bag of Puffcorn
• 5 pks. Durex =) (FREE with $2 off each, plus 85 cents overage for all 5)
• Kotex (FREE with $1 off)
• V8 juice (FREE with $3 coupon, plus $1 overage!)
• 2 Dawn Direct Foam dishwashing liquid ($1.50 off each)
• 1 lg & 1 sm Cream of chicken soup
• Kraft Ranch dressing (FREE by buying 3 Koolaids)
• 2 alfredo sauces
• 2 Great Value green beans
• 1 Green Giant green beans (50 cents off)
• 4 Glade scented oil air fresheners ($4 off each - less than $1 each with the coupons!!)
• 2 Equate foam hand washing liquid
• hamburger buns
  

All in red was FREE, all in red or blue had a coupon.

Posted by Daphne at 8:26 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Grocery, Walmart

This was my very first purchase at Walgreen's. I was kind of nervous, mainly because it was new for me, and I couldn't find one of the items I had on my list. My list that took me quite a while to compose, with all my transactions separate, coupled with coupons, etc. I found the employees to be Extremely nice & they even told me how impressed they were with my organization! Yay for the nice Walgreen's Employees!

What I got:

• 4 Kellogg's cereal - they were running really low on most of the ones included with the RR deal, but I got Fruit Loops, Raisin Bran Crunch & 2 Frosted Flakes (I used 2 coupons worth $1/2) $3 for all 4 boxes after RR
• 4 Lifesavers BOGO - (I used 2 BOGO coupons, so all 4 bags were free!!)
• Angel Soft Toilet paper (I used a WAG coupon to make it 99 cents)
• 2 Beef Jerky 2/$5
• 4 Kellogg's Special K bars (I used a BOGO coupon & 3 $1 off coupons, after RR they were FREE)
• 2 pks Energizer "D" batteries (I used a WAG coupon to make them $2.99 each, then had 2 $1 coupons) $1.99 each
• and a $1.99 candy filler, not pictured because my kids ate it!

The overall total, after sales & my Great coupons was $17.50 OOP

I got 2 Kellogg's deals worth $5RR each and went ahead and used all my RR towards other things since I do not know when I will have time to go back. {Maybe next time I will start rolling the RR on a weekly basis.} My total savings today - $41.66!! (70% savings!!)

Posted by Daphne at 8:17 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Grocery, Walgreens

August 2008 Monthly Totals

Gasoline - $15.01
Grocery -
Household Needs - $20.47
Pets - $6.50
Fast Food - $6.75
Clothing - $5.00
Misc - $44.50
School Lunch -
School Misc -
Total - $98.23
Saved - $4.10

What a rough start to August already. I take full blame for spending too much yesterday. I was in a crabby mood and set out with the intention to blow money. Which is something I need to learn how to control. It's like eating when I'm depressed, I feel like I can't stop.
Which is why I want to log everything I spend this month. I will not include our regular bills or what my hubby spends. Mainly because he never keeps receipts and doesn't remember where his money goes.

My Breakdown so far:
Gasoline - $15.01 - I almost always run over a penny or two.
Household Needs - $20.47 - This was batteries and pull-ups for Princess
Pets - $6.50 - cat food, it's all my 2 dogs will eat, Ha!
Fast Food - $6.75 - lunch @ KFC
Clothing - $5.00 - shorts for Princess on sale at TJ Maxx
Misc - $44.50 - new cups for Princess, we just got rid of the sippy cup, other new plastic dinnerware for Princess, some notebooks on sale, all the stuff to start my coupon binder, a toy for LittleMan to give Princess for her birthday in 2 weeks
Total - $98.23
Saved - $4.10 - 2.50 coupon on pull ups, the rest is savings from not paying tax [tax-free weekend]

Posted by Daphne at 5:00 PM 1 comments  

Labels: Spending Log

Posted by Daphne at 2:40 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Making Money

For Me:

For LittleMan:

For Princess:

For Neice#5, due in October:

This was my favorite find of the day. LittleMan has been needing some better boots, and I got these for only $3.88!

My total before tax was $44.10 What great deals!!

Posted by Daphne at 2:28 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Clothing, Thrift Store

I l.o.v.e. thrift stores!

Thrift stores are my main way of buying clothes.


You can get so many name-brand clothing for such a cheap price. Many of the clothes are in excellent shape. But you do need to keep your eyes open for imperfections, such as holes, tears, stains, buttons missing, zippers broken, etc.

Check with your thrift store to see when they pick up from the "ritzy" part of the neighborhood. Then go shopping there 2-3 days later. {ex. They pick up on Tuesday, Unload & Price on Wednesday, and Put out on Thursday, go shopping on Thursday.}

Also many thrift stores offer a day when they mark certain items down by 10, 30 and even 50%.

Don't be afraid to ask these question to save your self even more money!

Some thift stores are now offering New clothing also!

I am always adding posts showing my Thrift Store finds, to view them click HERE or on "Thrift Store" under my labels.

Posted by Daphne at 2:06 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Saving Money

Always check your store for a clearance/sales rack or area.

You can also go to your favorite store's websites and sign up for their email alerts which will tell you when they are going to have a sale.

Sometimes they may even email you coupons or e-coupons.

All their full-price clothing will go on sale every few weeks or so. So just keep a look out and you may be able to get your favorites for the sale price!

Posted by Daphne at 1:57 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Saving Money

And I don't mean going to Sam's Club either. {Which, isn't bad, but I'm not into having to pay a membership fee just to be able to shop there. But that's another post...}

When you're using your coupons, and/or using your loyalty card, and/or using price match, you're getting a good price, right? Right.

Stock up when the items are on sale. And you will not have to pay full price on it later. You can just get it from your stockpile. Even if it seems like a lot out of pocket to begin with, it's really just paying a percentage overall.

Just don't forget that you will be continuously replenishing your stockpile. There's always a sale on something. And you don't want to run out and have to pay full price.

Posted by Daphne at 11:35 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Saving Money

Using Walmart's price match is as easy as it sounds. The main thing I use price match for is Milk. Milk can range anywhere from $2.99 to $5 a gallon at any given store.

Milk at my Walmart this week was $4.20. In the Walgreen ad, I saw that their milk was on sale for $3.79.

So, when I checked out, I just showed the ad to my cashier before she rang up the milk, and I got 2 gallons for $3.79 each.

Walmart will match any competitors price, within a 50 mile radius. [Some people have said 60 miles, but I was told by an employee at my Walmart it is 50 miles for our store.]

The only deals they DO NOT match is the Buy One Get One Free deals.

So, this Sunday when you're getting your coupons out of the paper, don't forget to pull out all your locals grocery store ads and look them over. [and pharmacy ads, etc.]

Posted by Daphne at 11:08 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Saving Money

I'm not as familiar with loyalty cards as I'd like to be. The only store that I currently use a loyalty card with is Winn Dixie. And I'm learning more about CVS-ing before I start there. I do know that these stores have some pretty great deals, that you can only get if you have and use their store card.

What I've learned recently about CVS & Walgreens (Walgreens does NOT have a store card, the specials are for everyone!) is the best time to use your coupons is in conjunction with their deals. Especially their Buy One Get One Free deals.

For example, CVS is having a sale on Covergirl. Buy any Covergirl product, Get one free.

[If you're signed up at Covergirl's website, they will periodically email you coupons that you can usually print two of. ]

Here's where the fun begins. Say the Covergirl products are $7.99 each, but you get one free, so together they are $7.99. And you happen to have 2 coupons for $4 each. You can use 2 coupons on these deals! So you can get both for free.

This is just an example. Your coupons could be for $3 each and you spend $2 out of pocket. Which is still a great deal.

And it's not always on make-up.

[If I'm not wrong, I believe on the BOGO deals, you can also use any coupon for the same product that says BOGO and get 3 for the price of 1. That also could be only certain stores or cities, not sure yet.]

Even when you do not have coupons, you can score some really great buys!

But you can't get them if you do not sign up for the store's loyalty card.

Posted by Daphne at 10:51 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Saving Money

Used Walgreens Ad to get them to match Gallon of Milk price $3.79
Coupons used:
Buy 3 Kraft, Nabisco or Oscar Mayer products, Get Free Wheat Thins
Buy 3 Kraft, Nabisco or Oscar Mayer products, Get Free Kraft Dressing
Buy 3 Kraft, Nabisco or Oscar Mayer products, Get Free Kraft Cheese Slices
Buy 3 Kraft, Nabisco or Oscar Mayer products, Get Free Crystal Light
Buy 3 Kraft, Nabisco or Oscar Mayer products, Get Free Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs
2 of $1 off Johnson Buddy Soaps
$1 off Kotex

Total before coupons & price match - $33.51
Total after coupons & price match - $18.15
Savings of - $15.36

Posted by Daphne at 5:35 PM 2 comments  

Labels: Grocery, Walmart

Oh boy, did I pick a good day to go to Old Navy.

Here's a breakdown:

Old Navy Boys Jeans are originally $19.50 per pair.
I bought 4 pair today for 2/$25
I also let LittleMan pick out 3 shirts because they were on sale for $2.99 each.

When we were checking out, the guy told me that they were running a special and since I spent over $50, I got $10 off!!!

So essentially, I got the 3 shirts for free!

Total Spent - $48.97 before tax
Savings of - $38.00 plus tax

Don't ask me why all 3 of the shirts LittleMan picked out were black. I didn't even realize it until I was taking this picture.

Posted by Daphne at 5:22 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Clothing, Old Navy

LittleMan starts school on August 7th. So we had some shopping to do.

This weekend is our tax-free weekend. I don't like to shop for clothing on tax-free weekend for 2 reasons.

1. Everybody shops then, so the stores are super crowded, and the choices dwindle quickly.

2. In Alabama, on clothing, it's only tax-free on the first $100. Which is only an $8 savings.

So, I thought we'd get what we needed before the tax-free weekend. I usually go to several places before finding some shoes he likes for a good price. But we got lucky in our first store.

Shoe Carnival had a Buy 1 Get 1 50% off.

Sketchers Kewl Breeze Airators - $44.98 [the blue & red ones]
Sketchers Z Straps - $34.98 - 50% off - $17.48 [the yellow & black ones]

Total = $62.47 before tax
Savings of $17.48 plus tax

Posted by Daphne at 4:47 PM 1 comments  

Labels: Clothing, Shoe Carnival

Getting Freebies, or Free Samples is one way to save money on groceries.

If you've never tried a product, but don't want to waste money buying it just to find out you don't like it, it's great to get a free sample. This is one way it helps save money.

Another way? If it's a product you already buy and use, getting that free sample is one less thing you have to buy.

Also, a lot of companies put in coupons with their free samples. Even more money saved!

Some of the best freebies (for me) to get are: tampons/liners, cereal, deodorant and subscriptions to magazines.

Posted by Daphne at 4:20 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Saving Money

Posted by Daphne at 5:08 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Making Money

Probably the biggest way to save the most money on groceries is using and utilizing coupons.

You can get coupons in the Sunday paper, online, and sometimes by contacting the product manufacturer and asking for them.

This site will tell you what coupons will be in the Sunday paper, so you can decide how many papers you want to buy. [Also, by clicking on the 2008 Coupon Schedule, you can see which weeks there will be No Coupons.]

If there's a lot of coupons that are really good for my family, I buy 2-3 papers. If the coupons are just good, I usually just buy one paper. You have to remember that you're paying $1.50 per paper, so don't buy more than you need.

Some good sites for printing coupons online are: Boodle, SmartSource, CouponBug, and CouponsInc.

Now that you have your coupons, put them to good use. Sometimes you have to sit on them until a good sale comes along. Other coupons can be used right away. Like the $3.00 Planters coupons that's been circulating lately.

I never buy a product just because I have a coupon. If it's a product that I'm not going to use, I don't buy it, unless the coupon makes it totally free, then I will give the product a try. Some people even give the free products to charity.

I normally save $15-20 dollars per week, at least.

You do need to know your store's coupon policy, in case any cashier fights you on a coupon. Especially printed coupons. It hasn't happen to me yet, but it has to a lot of my blogging buddies. You can usually find your store's coupon policy by going to their website. Print it and keep it with your coupons.

------------------------------

As for rebates, which usually make the product free, I am very picky on the ones I choose to use. If it's not a product I've been wanting to try, or that I normally buy, I will not use them or buy the product. It's money out of my pocket now, even though I will eventually get it back.

If the product is going to go to waste, it's not worth the time.

Also, if you can find a good coupon for a product that you are buying to send in a rebate for, you can essentially make money off of the product.

------------------------------

Some stores double coupons, up to a certain amount. Find out when your store does and use this to your advantage!!


Daphne

Posted by Daphne at 5:02 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Saving Money

The first cardinal rule of saving money at the grocery store is: Stick to your List. It can be possible!!

The best way to do this, is to shop alone. Believe me, I know that's hard. I hardly ever get to shop alone, but if it's possible, do it!

They say if you stay near the perimeter of the store, you will buy less junk. Stay in the fresh foods and you'll be less tempted. I never get to do this either.

But my trick is, Know Your Aisles. Get down the aisle, get what you need and get out. Especially if shopping with children. The stores place their products that are targeted towards kids on the bottom shelf.

Another tip about shelving is that stores often place their more expensive versions of a product At Eye Level. So look at the above and below shelves too!!


Daphne

Posted by Daphne at 5:00 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Saving Money

I. Groceries & Household Needs
----a. Stick to the List
----b. Coupons and Rebates
----c. Freebies & Samples
----d. Using a Loyalty Card
----e. Using Wal Mart's Price Match
----f. Taste vs. Price
----g. Buying in Quantity

II. Clothing
----a. Sales
----b. Thrift Stores
----c. Yard Sales
----d. Trader's Helpers, eg. Craigslist, Ebay or local publishings
----e. Hand-me-downs
----f. Buying ahead of time

III. Utilities
----a. Electricity
----b. Water
----c. Natural Gas
----d. Trash
----e. Telephone, Cell Phone & Internet
----f. Satellite

IV. Misc.
----a. Automobile
----b. DIY
--------1. Home repair/remodel
--------2. Lawn Maintenance
--------3. Washing vehicles
--------4. Taking Photos of Your children
----c. Wait Game; aka. Researching
----d. Taking Care of what you have
----e. Knowing what you Have
----f. Borrowing
----g. Running Errands
----h. Online buying
----i. When Gift Buying
----j. Doctor visits


**May be Updated**
Daphne

Posted by Daphne at 4:53 PM 0 comments  

Labels: Saving Money