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This Week’s Grocery Trip

Posted on November 7, 2009 by auburnchick

I have a renewed appreciation for those who work full-time and still manage to keep their homes clean and refrigerators full.

After a busy week of settling into my new subbing assignment and attending two soccer games and a football game, I’ve scarcely had time to wiggle, much less look at my coupons.

Thank goodness for weekends!  I finally had a couple of spare hours to get organized and run to the grocery store.  I was able to pick up several free items!  I’ve posted my favorite deals.  If you live near a Publix, maybe these are deals you can take advantage of too!  Make sure you visit Southern Savers and Frugal Coupon Living before you head out.  These are wonderful web sites that post links to the coupons I used for my deals.

Dove Deodorant
2/$4.00

Used: $2 mfr AND $1/2 Unilever Products Publix coupon from the Green Advantage Buy Flyer
Paid:  NOTHING!!  This was a MONEYMAKER of $1 per stick!!

Cover Girl Lip Gloss
$1.79 ($1.50 off – Advantage Buy)

Used: $2.50/2 mfr AND 2 $1 competitor coupons
Paid: NOTHING!!  This was a MONEYMAKER of $.92 per stick!!

Tylenol
$3.99

Used:  $2 mfr and $3 Publix coupon
Paid: NOTHING!!  This was a MONEYMAKER of $1.01 per box!!

Herbal Essences Shampoo and Conditioner
$2.43 (not on sale)

Used: 2 B1G1 mfr coupons.  One coupon I received in the mail after signing up for it through Facebook.  The other coupon was in an insert.
Paid:  NOTHING!!

Publix Reusable Shopping Bag
$.99

Used:  Coupon for a Free Bag wyb two General Mills products (see purchase below)
Paid:  NOTHING!!

Nestle Toll House Refrigerated Cookie Dough
B1G1 @ $3.19

Used:  $1/1 mfr
Paid:  $.60 each

Cheerios
B1G1 @ $3.59

Used:  $.55/1 AND $1 competitor coupon (one set for each box)
Paid:  $.25 per box

Ragu Spaghetti Sauce
B1G1 @ 2.59

Used:  $1/2 mfr
Paid:  $.80 per jar

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Morsels
B1G1 @ $2.50

Used:  $.50/1 mfr
Paid:  $.75 per bag

Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

More Free Stuff!

Posted on August 26, 2009 by auburnchick

Who knew shopping could be so much fun?!

This week has been good for getting free items.  I thought I would share these deals because I honestly think you might want to take advantage of them too.

First of all, I was able to secure two bags of dry dog food and four cans of wet dog food…for FREE…

You guys…this is some preemo-stuff!  I mean…if you were a dog, wouldn’t you want to be eating Filet Mignon or Rotisserie Chicken?  Heck…I’m a human, and I’d like to eat this stuff (not the dog food, but the real human stuff).

Target sells the 1.5lb bags of food for $4.49.  This week’s RedPlum had a $3 mfg coupon.  Then, I went to Target’s Coupon Generator and printed off a store coupon for $1.50.  Remember that you can stack a store coupon on top of a mfg coupon.  Hence, the food was free.  Because I bought two papers last weekend, I did this deal twice (one transaction).

The paper also had a coupon for B1G1 Chef Michael’s wet dog food.  The Target Coupon Generator has a coupon for a free can of wet dog food when you buy one.  Essentially, it makes the one you’re supposed to be paying for with the other coupon free too!  So, stack both the store coupon with the mfg from the paper, and you’re set.  I got four cans after taking advantage of the deal twice thanks to that second paper!

The dogs were very enthusiastic about my find…

They stayed close to Chicky while she scooped out the wet stuff to mix in with their regular food…

My next free deal came yesterday, when I visited CVS.  Here’s what I walked out with…

Here’s how I did it.

This week, the double-packs of Kotex are B1G1 @ $1.49.  Print two coupons from this site (remember to hit the back button on your computer after it prints the first time and tell the computer to reload the page…it will print twice but no more).  Use one coupon per box, and it’s a money maker!!!!!

So I got those items and was given my receipt, which had coupons printed on the bottom of it.

One of the coupons was for a free package of CVS AA batteries!  No other purchase required!!

So, instead of exiting the store, I made a beeline for the batteries, picked out my package, tore the coupon off of my receipt, and walked out with that in hand as well.

Hooya!

Now, I also got a GREAT deal on Tylenol (Walgreens sale this week).  No, it wasn’t free, but what a deal…

These four boxes cost a grand total of $.98.

Tylenol is on sale this week B1G1 @ $4.49.  The 7/26 SmartSource insert had $2 mfg coupons.  You can also print $2 mfg coupons from here.  Print it twice!  Then, use one coupon per box.  It drops the price to $.49 for two, or $.28 per box!

Oh yeah, Baby!

Cha Ching!

I sure wish I could say that I was smart enough to figure out these deals on my own.

I wasn’t.  Thank goodness for Frugal Coupon Living!

Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: , , , , | Leave a comment »

Seven Cents for Spaghetti Sauce!

Posted on August 20, 2009 by auburnchick

Guess what today was?

SHOPPING DAY!!

My Publix starts new sales every Wednesday.  It usually takes me a couple of days to research how I want to use my coupons to get the most for my money.

I think I did a good job today.

Take a look at the following:

See those two black Publix bags?  They’re reusable, and I got them FREE today!  For every two boxes of General Mills cereal I bought, I got a free bag.  There were peelies on the cereal boxes, and I had already planned to buy the cereal because it was B1G1, and I had big coupons.

As I watched the gal bag my groceries, I was astounded at the amount each bag held…

The bags are a lot wider and deeper than they look hanging up in the store!  They hold way more than the plastic bags you typically carry your stuff in.  Plus, they are a lot more durable.  I have two more coupons for them…good until 2010.  I can’t wait to get more!

Ok, so…inquiring minds want to know…what was in the bags, and how much did I save?

A few highlights:

Uncle Ben’s Rice – B1G1 @ $1.49
Used:  $1 mfg off of each box
Spent:  NOTHING!  This was a MONEYMAKER of $.51

Ragu – on sale for $1.29
Used:  $.55 mfg (one per jar) AND a $2 off of 3 jar competitor store coupon
Spent:  $.22 for all three — $.07 per jar of sauce!!!!!!

Mott’s Apple Sauce – 3/$5 (I only bought one at $1.67)
Used:  $1 mfg AND $1 competitor
Spent:  NOTHING!  This was a MONEYMAKER of $.34!!!!

Edwards Pie Slices – B1G1 @ $2.85
Used:  $1 competitor (one per box)
Spent:  $.75 for both – that’s $.37 each!!!!!

Grand Total Spent – $25.13

Total Saved – $92.18

Percent Saved – 73%

You guys, I know it looks like a lot of hard work, but it is really worth the effort!

Here’s how I do it each week.

I read both Southern Savers and Frugal Coupon Living updates.  I mainly shop at Publix, so I especially focus on its store list each week.  I check A Full Cup for coupons.  It’s a GREAT resource!

I copy the list from either Frugal Coupon Living or Southern Savers (they do different stores…I mostly use Publix) into a Word document.

Then, I go through each item and ask myself the following questions:

  • Will I use this or is it something I can donate?
  • Do I have the coupon(s) for it?
  • How much will it cost in the end?

I run numbers.  After figuring in the final price that I will pay (after coupons), I determine the percentage I’m going to save.  If it’s 60% or over, and I’ve answered yes to the above questions, then I will buy it, and it stays on the list.

If I don’t have coupons or know I won’t use something (baby food, vitamins, etc.), I delete that item from the list and move on.

Southern Savers and Frugal Coupon Living provide you with links to sites where you can print specific coupons.  It’s right there for you, so it’s easy!  Sometimes, you won’t be able to print a coupon.  That might be because the specified number of printings has already been reached.

Because I have my new coupon filing system in place, I have a much easier time locating coupons.

I got my list together last night while watching television.  On the list, I wrote down the coupons I had and the value of each.  It’s useful when going back and looking over your receipt.  Cashiers make mistakes.  Especially when you hand them 36 coupons like I did today.

I waited until this morning to head to the store.  A rested brain was needed.  I popped on my headphones and listened to music while I did my thing.

When I shop, I’ll note the price of each item.  My store’s prices tend to run higher than what is listed online.  I want to make sure each item rings up properly.  I’ve caught myself scanning a receipt, noting a huge price difference and realizing that I bought the wrong size of something.

Checking out is the most fun part.  I always apologize to the person standing behind them and warn them that they might have to wait awhile.  Most people are polite.

Then I keep an eagle eye on the register’s screen…especially when the coupons are getting scanned.  I ask the cashier if she’d like competitor coupons separate from the others because they have to manually enter them.  My favorite cashier is awesome and takes them in whatever order I give them to her.  I also try to keep coupons for free items separate.  Those have to be entered manually as well.

And folks, that’s all there is to it.

Yeah, it does sound like a lot of work now that I read back through the above.  But, the best I can tell, I don’t have a money tree growing in my back yard, so I’ve got to save where I can.

Shopping has almost become like a game for me.  I follow the rules but take advantage of the perks that the manufactures offer (coupons, rebates, etc.) for buying their products.  It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

Oh, and before I forget, here are two coupon links.

Pat (thank you!) sent me this one for $.75 off of one gallon or two half-gallons of Borden milk.  Click on Coupons (middle left of the page).

Here’s one where you can sign up for a free sample of Yoplait Whips.  I accidentally found it when I was googling for a rebate form for yogurt I bought last week.

Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Will I Pay for the Grocery Game?

Posted on July 23, 2009 by auburnchick

Tomorrow (the 24th) is the last day of my free trial period of The Grocery Game.

For one month, I’ve used the lists as a springboard for saving money.

You have all been reading about my shopping adventures.

Remember…I am not a celebrity.  I’m just a regular gal…the kind you run into every week at the grocery store.

I have not been paid by anyone to try this thing out, nor am I being paid to promote various web sites.

As I said, I’m just your ordinary blogging friend.

What have I learned this month?

  • Saving money takes some work.  Is it worth it?  Heck yeah!  I used to loathe shopping.  Just ask my family.  That’s one reason why Chicky started doing it for me.
  • Repeat after me:  “Thank you, Lord, for technology.”  Thanks to the Internet, there are loads of resources available to help you.  Remember…Google is your friend.  Need a coupon for Kotex (as I did this morning).  Just Google it.  What about Scotch Tape?  I Googled and found a great coupon that I used at CVS this week.
  • Stacking coupons saves you even more money.  Keep in mind that you can use a store coupon along with a manufacturer coupon on the same item.  Use two coupons on B1G1 (buy 1 get 1 free).  You’re getting two items, so you can use two coupons.  This is in addition to any store coupons you might have.
  • Stock up when prices are low.  Web sites such as Frugal Coupon Living, Southern Savers, and I Heart CVS put out lists of weekly store sales.  Make sure you click on coupon links!  Also be sure to check out the comments under these sites’ posts.  There are people just like us trying to figure things out.  In my case, a coupon wasn’t available at the link provided, but I found it at a different link and posted the information.  It’s all about helping out one another.
  • Subscribing to the RSS feeds of shopping web sites such as those above saves a lot of time when hunting for new posts.  Google Reader is my personal favorite.
  • Don’t buy what you don’t think you’ll use.  This is something I’ve done a good job of.  Although I’ve been uber-excited about all of my savings, I have honestly asked myself questions such as, “Will my family eat this?” and “Will this go to waste before we eat it?” and “How many school supplies do the kids really need this year?”  Don’t buy what you don’t need.  Or, if something is free, and you can’t use it, consider donating it to a food bank, school, or homeless shelter.
  • You will, initially, spend the same amount of money as before.  However, as your stash grows, you’ll notice that you don’t need to buy as much.  They say it takes about three months for this to happen.  I think in my case, it will be about two.
  • Save your coupon inserts and write the date on them.  Don’t cut them out before you need them!  Frugal Coupon Living and Southern Savers refers to the name and date of each supplement when providing coupon information.  Trust me.  It’s much easier to find coupons this way.  And, just because you don’t think you’ll need something, you might change your mind later.

Ok…time for some hard-core evaluating.  Will I pay for my Grocery Game subscription?

No.

Here’s why.

After recently discovering the Frugal Coupon Living and Southern Savers web sites, I think I can save money without paying for the “lists.”  These sites put out very similar lists only in a different format.  Their lists come out the first day store sales begin.

Southern Savers put out this post today that explains that they only list sales that reflect best prices, so if something is on sale but not on their list, try to hold off.  Chances are great that the item will be cheaper the next time it’s on “sale.”  This is, essentially, what The Grocery Game does only in a different format.

I will, however, continue to read The Grocery Game’s forums.  They are free.  The ladies there are awesome and will answer your questions quickly and in a friendly manner.

I am so glad my neighbor told me about The Grocery Game.  Her small comment got the wheels in my brain turning, and it piqued my curiosity.  They say curiosity killed the cat.

Well, in my case, curiosity saved me enough money to buy an entire litter, if I was a cat person!

Quite simply put, shopping will never be the same for me.  I like challenges, and that’s how I approach each planned trip to the store.  How much can I save?  Just how close to free can I get something?

It’s addicting.  And it’s like a virus that spreads to those around you.

The gal who bagged my groceries last week watched my bill go from $115 to $37.  She asked if I used web sites, and I gave her three to write down.

Today she bagged my groceries again.  You could see the look of anticipation as she waited for my total.

$54.55…before coupons.

After?

$16.43.

For this:

I had a coupon for every item in that picture.  In some cases, I had two or three coupons.

The Chef Boyardee was free…even a money maker of $.15 after my $1 coupon.

I got six packages of Carefree for $.34…total.  That’s $.06 a piece for a savings of 96% on that item alone!

The bagger was amazed…once again…and told me she had visited the sites I gave her and was planning on giving it a shot.  I wished her well.

I hope I haven’t bored you with my shopping adventures.  I will continue to update my total on the sidebar of my blog.  And there will be posts where I can’t contain myself and will just have to share stories of my latest shopping trip.

I hope I’ve inspired you to start saving.  If this poor economy does nothing but causes us to be more mindful of what we spend, then at least that’s one positive, right?  Why waste money if you don’t have to!

Oh, and for the record, since June 30th, I’ve spent $445.56.  I saved $519.12.  So, WITHOUT the coupons, I would have spent $965.08.  My savings was 54%.

With the numbers laid out like that, I find it a bit disconcerting to think about how much money we’ve been wasting the last few years.

My ultimate goal is to cut grocery and “miscellaneous (i.e. Target/Walmart/CVS)” shopping in half.  I think I’m on my way!

Filed under: Saving Money | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

More Shopping Savings and a Neat Treat!

Posted on July 10, 2009 by auburnchick

Oh you guys…I am really hooked to this coupon/savings thing.  I know these posts get long, but if you read through them, I just know you’ll learn some things, and I hope you’ll be inspired.  So read on!

My mother-in-law…Queen of Couponing…sent me the link for a free site…Frugal Coupon Living.  The site owner puts out weekly lists as well.  Although her lists aren’t color-coded and don’t indicate if items are at rock-bottom prices, she does provide some gems.  The wonderful thing about her site is that she posts weekly sales immediately after the items go on sale; whereas, the Grocery Game doesn’t post its lists until Sunday, when the coupon supplements come out in the paper.

Regardless, I found some real nuggets in her posting this week, and armed with coupons, I headed out to Publix.

Now, a red light automatically goes off when you’re buying five items, and you hand the clerk ten coupons.  I had two coupons per item – a store coupon along with a manufacturer coupon.  This is allowed in couponing.  It’s called stacking.

I should have known something was up when I watched the clerk pull on rubber gloves.  Ok…I can understand that.  She works in an industry where there are a lot of germs exchanged.  But let me tell you…it was a foreshadowing of the inspection I was about to receive.

She scrutinized every coupon I presented.  At one point, I had to admit defeat when one of my mfg coupons was emblazoned with a Target logo.  Shame on them for doing that because Publix wouldn’t accept both that and my $1 Target coupon.  They considered both store coupons even though one was cut out of the Sunday paper.  Whatever.  It was only $.50.  Annoying, but I’ll live.  They did let me use the $1 Target coupon, so at least it was something.

Several of my items were moneymakers…a term that refers to items, when combined with coupons, resulting in the store owing you money.

Yes folks, this is allowed as well.

I bought a small can of tomato sauce for $.89.  I had a $1 coupon for any size of said can.  That put me ahead by $.11, which I figured would help me pay for the Mr.’s expensive toilet paper ($6.35/pkg).

I had two coupons for frozen waffles, which are on sale for 50% off.  $2.79 – $1.40 instant savings – $1.50 coupon printed online – $.25 Target coupon (my store accepts competitor store coupons) = a credit of $.36…more for me to apply toward the rest of my bill.

The cashier was livid by this point.  She wasn’t going to give me the full value of my coupon, even though the store gets reimbursed the full coupon value!  She called the manager over, and the manager took my side.  I got the full value, as I should have.

You can imagine the cashier’s ire when she then encountered two $2 coupons off of ant spray.  Regular price was $3.89…making this another moneymaker.

I did have to pay a bit for my toilet paper, and I also had to pay a little for the package of batteries…even after the two coupons I used. But, after a bill that totaled $21.47, I walked out of there only spending $4.97.

Now, I was in for a little treat (and it’s not the treat I’m referring to above).

When I got home, I opened my package of batteries.  You see, I had noticed that the AA packages had $10 worth of Proctor & Gamble coupons inside.  I wanted to see if they were on items I use.

Folks, I found a $1 mfg coupon off of the Mr.’s toilet paper!  And it wasn’t stamped with Target’s logo!

Guess what I did.

Yep…I drove right back to the store and told them I’d just found the $1 mfg coupon.  Without blinking an eye, the very nice customer service representative gave me my refund.

That brought my final total spent to $3.97.  I had saved 82% today.

I LOVE days like this!

On the way home, I ran to Walgreens to take advantage of a Ben & Jerry’s B1G1.  Their pints are usually $4.79 per item.  I had a $1.00 off of two, making each pint $2.08.   I wound up saving 57%.  Was it a necessary item?  No.  But the kids sure will enjoy it!

For fun, I’ve created a spreadsheet so I can track my savings.  I thought I would keep a running total somewhere on my blog (I’ll try to stick it in the sidebar).   I had to total this out without my very first grocery trip because the Mr. has the checkbook, and I can’t find the receipt.  Since June 30, when I started “The Game,” I’ve purchased items worth $394.09.  I’ve saved $241.44, resulting in a total actual spending of only $152.65 out of my pocket!  That’s an overall savings of 61%!!!

Are you fired up yet?  I know I am!

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »

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