Sweeet!

I just love a good deal.

I crave it actually...the coupon cutting and organizing can be such tedious work but when I look at the sales and make my list then head out and come home with deals it is so worth it! I can't imagine shopping without some type of deal/coupon-ing going on.

Today was the Goodwill half off sale, and though it wasn't the same without my two buddies, it was pretty sweet to come home with this:

I found Garyn 3 nylon pants for next year, a polo short sleeve, camo water-proof gloves and some Mariokart pajama pants. For Ansley, I found a flower clock, those adorable polka dot shoes, yellow bloomers, red shorts and a long sleeve shirt. I also got a black frame and best of all a Cars sleeping bag:

The excitement Garyn has found out of this is the best! He hasn't ever really seen one so I was unsure if he would think it was cool or not. He loves it and wanted his pic taken with it. Best of all, it looks brand new and was only $3.50! I barely got it away from him to wash it!

My Goodwill total was $15.01... Pretty sweet, I must say!

Kmart was doubling coupons this week, which made for another exciting trip. Although, not as exciting as it used to be since they have put so many restrictions on it. I did get some good deals though....

Contact solution, Huggies tub of wipes, 2 cereals, 2 big bags of Lays chips, Glade scented oil twin pack, and Covergirl eyeshadow all for $12 and some change. I had to add the B1G1 Lays chips though to make it $25 before tax and coupons, so that was frustrating. It still came out to a lot for just, $12 though.

(I had a pic but Tyler took the camera to HONDURAS with him today! Post on that as soon as he returns)

Also, went to Publix and Bilo, no spectacular deals that I can think of,

but I spent $25 and $20 at those places. Then $7 at Aldi's getting produce and milk.

Can't wait till next week!

This Week's $60 and cleaning

Walgreens:


Shaving cream- $2.99 OOP but got $3 ECB to use on next purchase

Nature’s Bounty men’s multivitamin- $7.99 for 2

Kashi- Heart to Heart cereal- free (got a free product coupon from vocalpoint)

Trident gum- $1.49 (not on sale just Garyn’s treat)

Total paid out of pocket- $7.73

Publix:

Welch’s juice - $1.65

Popsicles- $2

9 Lives cat food 12 cans- $1.62 for all

Hunt’s Ketchup- $0.40 each

Publix toilet tissue- Publix penny item

Stouffer’s skillet- FREE $2.5o and had a $2.50 coupon

Fiber one yogurt- $0.25

Breyer’s ice cream $2.49

John Frieda hairspray and gel- $0.99 ea

Granola bars- $0.57

GE light bulb- $0.39 !!

Newspaper

M&M cookie (another Garyn treat)

Total- $16.29!!

 

CVS:

 

Clear Care Contact cleanser- $11.99 for both plus $3 ECB

 

Bumble Bee Tuna- FREE

 

Covergirl Lip gloss- $2.50 for two

 
Right Guard- $1.49 plus $2 ECB

 

Kotex U- $3.99 plus $5 ECB

 

Crest Toothpaste- $2.75 plus $3.50 ECB

 

So when I did 3 different transactions to use ECBs on next purchase my out of pocket (oop) was only $14.86 and I have $5 in ECBs. I should have split up one and done another transaction to use those ECBs but I thought I would be able to use them on a prescription I had to pick up. But I really needed the Clear Care and that was a great price on it so I am ok with it and can use the ECBs next time!

 

Target:

Satin Care travel- $0.44

 

Kleenex hand towels- $0.99 (I think I am going to use this in my car, they seem a little wasteful....)

 

Pamper's Wipes- $0.39

 

Total: $2.14

 

(Not Pictured and Not Counting)

Big box of Pampers- $16.99 (These aren't counting because they are for gifts, but I used a Target coupon that was for the above wipes and these, plus a coupon on each item and that's why they were both cheap)

 

Overall total: $41.02!

From the looks of these numbers I may be able to lower my weekly budget or add in gifts!

 

I cleaned the fridge today and organized it. I love when I do this, although, it is tedious. I even made a list of most of the things in the freezer so that I wouldn't keep buying items I already have 3 or 4 of, and hopefully I'll use them now that I know they are there! I have a question, too. What is the difference in the drawers as far as putting fruit in or veggies. I know there is a difference and have no idea. My drawers even have those chill adjusters, but I don't know if I am using them right......any experience out there?

 
 

I know you just were dying to see those pictures! Sorry if this is a lame post......

 

More interestingly, we are leaving soon for this mysterious trip Tyler has planned. I am ready to relax and have fun. I really don't care where we go. I have discovered that part of the reason for this trip is because Saturday afternoon he is going to a scrimmage football game somewhere a couple hours away and I was a little frustrated with him about it. We haven't had a weekend were we both were home in awhile. But it is working cause I am ok with him going now that he is surprising me with this trip.
This guy has my number, don't you think.....
And no, I didn't just complain so that he would do something for me!

This week's $60

Here is what all I got this week. I didn't go on Wednesday like usual, felt really weird. I went to CVS and Bilo on Monday and got this: 

My CVS purchase was the 5 body washes, diapers and 2 vitamin waters. I got all of that for $4.04!!

I had $12 of ECBs ($7 were from here). I did 3 separate transactions and got more ECBs to use on the each purchase. Also, I have $3 ECBs for the next purchase.

BiLo was a random trip. I was at CVS next to BiLo and we needed some biscuits; their bananas were 44 cents a lb last week and I needed tortillas for the Brown bag burritos. Also, the milk was on sale for $2.88 and got apples for the mini apple pies, so I just popped in and spent $15.88. I hate going in unprepared, because while that's good, its not great!

Publix

I spent $45.?? . I would have spent a dollar less but I left one of the juicy juice coupons on the printer! Makes me so mad when I do that!

Don't have time to individualize all this, and I'm sure not everyone cares, but I got:

2 Starkist tuna packets

1 loaf Sara Lee Bread

1 taco seasoning

3 Hunts Tomatoes

3 Rotel cans

1 black beans

2 Mission tortillas (20 packs)

Digiorno Pizza and bread sticks

4 Juicy juice bottles

Cottonelle 12 pack

2 Tostitos (they were BOGO and coupon for Kettle chips free)

Kettle Chips

Salad mix

Milk (already drank a gallon in 3 days)

and a bag Pedigree dog food-not pictured

So my total was $64.??

I  obviously went over but last week I had right at $5 left so I was right on.

Hope you found some good deals!

This Week's $60

I am going to start posting my weekly grocery deals! I want to share how much (or little) I can spend each week. I know not everyone is into coupons, but we all love a good deal right?? Well, its part of my richest life now, so to know more about me, coupons are in there somewhere!

I have said before that we are trying to save money for trips, home improvements.....there are many reasons. I have set my weekly grocery amount to $60 and each week spend that, more or less. I , now, am using cash as much as possible and if I don't spend it all I save it for next week. Therefore, my monthly total is around $240 (depending on # of weeks in the month). However, the accountability of this will be great!

So here is this week's $60!

This is the Publix purchase

I got all that you see for 21.97!!

• 
  
  Cascadian Farms granola bars-$0.99
• 
  
  Cascadian Farms frozen fruit x 2 - $0.99 ea
• 
  
  Fiber One value pack -$1.95
• 
  
  Snyder's Pretzel -$1
• 
  
  Sun Chips-$1.95
• 
  
  Pull-Ups- $ 6.49
• 
  
  Egg Beaters - $0.67
• 
  
  Healthy Harvest Noodles -FREE
• 
  
  Pillsbury Toaster Strudel - $0.7 
• 
  
  Huggies Wipes -$3.49
• 
  
  Yoplait yogurt-$0.25
• 
  
  Scrubbing Bubbles cleaner x2 $0.20 ea
• 
  
   Windex Cleaner x 2 $0.20 ea
• 
  
  Shout spray $0.20
• 
  
  Hormel Chili $1.79
• 
  
  Newspaper- Publix penny item coupon and insert $0.50
• Publix Penny Item was the 3 Paper towels pack -$0.01

note: I am also sending in for a rebate for $5 back for buying 3 SC Johnson products (scrubbing bubbles, windex and shout)

Bilo Purchase

I got this for $14.94

• 
  
  Trix Yogurt $1
• 
  
  Hormel Chili x 2 - $1.68 ea
• 
  
  Classico Sauce x 2 Alfredo and Tomato sauce $0.98 for both
• 
  
  Hormel Natural Lunch meat x 2- $0.90 ea
• 
  
  Strawberries- $1.99
• 
  
  Milk- $2.88
• 
  
  Bananas- $1.34

Target~ Not pictured

• 
  
  Kandoo wipes- $0.65
• 
  
  Johnson's baby facial sunscreen- $5.99

  total= $7.53

CVS~ Not pictured

• 
  
   Hershey's chocolate bags x 3 $9 OOP
• 
  
  Colgate Toothpaste $ 1.99 OOP

total= OOP $ 12.29 and $7 worth of ECB to use next time.

PLUS- Hershey's is doing a rebate were you get a free movie ticket for buying 4 bags of candy! (I already bought one bag for Easter) The candy total was $9.00 (wish I was able to get it more on sale but this is Garyn's potty treat right now, i.e. if he pottys he gets a piece of chocolate. We have gone from suckers to chocolate)

Therefore, this week's total is $56.73 plus a future movie ticket and $5 rebate.

Kmart Doubles!

This week has been fun for me because Kmart is doubling coupons up to $2 making items up to $4 off!! Oh, how much this excites me and probably makes me weird!

I can tell you, though, that I am not the only one. I went on Monday, it started on Sunday, and there were soooo many things already gone that were free when coupons doubled. One day and they had been wiped out!! BUT I still found lots of good deals!

The picture below is my total purchase after 4 trips, yes 4, there was a 5 coupon limit per day.

Garyn kept saying "cheese" when I was taking the picture so he is in the picture and he is my best deal of all!!! ;)

Of course, its hard to tell everything but I got 25 items for 27.47 + tax!

Detail:

3 boxes of dog treats---all free!

1 bag of cat treats- free

2 bags of cat treats- 49 cents

1 Pull-up pack--$5.99

1 bag dog food--99 cents

1 bag cat food--$1.99

1bag dog Dentastix--free

2 Scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner refills- $2 each

1 Johnson's bubble bath wash--$1.50

2 Dove deodorants---free

1 Right Guard deodorant--free

1 Contact solution- $3.15

1 Bic Soleil razors-$1.69

1 Bic Razors--free

1 Gilette men's razors--$2.00

2 Glade Sense&Spray refills--$1.50 each

1 Tampax Tampons--49 cents

1 Nivea body wash--$1.99

1 Clean&Clear face wash--$1.69

Total- $27.47 plus tax= $30.01

Kmart is a pain sometimes and their prices are normally a lot higher than others, but when they double it's worth it! I live 5 minutes away, too, so it was fine to run over there. And Tyler was home and went with me once...

Hope you have found some good deals lately!

Mud and Bargains....

This post is random....you might have wondered "what do mud and bargains have to do with each other?"

Well I must say, nothing except that they are my news for the day and will be linked by this post now... :)

We had another mud incident....

"What had happened was.." (Tyler's famous saying) we were at a RB baseball game for about 20 minutes when the Cobbles showed up. We were excited to see them. We all but got to talking, when Kenny and Tyler decide the boys can go down to the grassy area next to the bleachers. I was a little leery, but wanted to keep talking. Not 5 minutes later, Garyn comes walking up the steps looking like this:

He was saying: "Look Momma.....Look at all this....stuff (pointing to his shoe)"I was a little stunned but couldn't help but laugh. Of course, the Cobble boys come walking up the steps without a speck on them! Leave it to my son to find the mud hole. If you can't tell, it is from his waist to his shoes. It was also on his hands and jacket. Deciding there was really no way to salvage him, we headed out stopping by the bathroom to clean him up a little.

As we were walking out, Tyler is still watching the game and ignoring were he is going. I tried to yell at him but he walked strait into a mud hole. Again, notice the difference in the shoes. These men of mine....can't keep 'em clean.

Lately, I am getting more and more questions about my grocery shopping and just how I get everything for $60 give or take each week. It isn't rocket science and is just a change of technique more or less. So I am posting the details for those of you who wonder........

First of all, it looks like a mess and hard to see what all is in there so I'm breaking-it-down-for-ya:

Bilo:

Flintstones Gummy vitamins- sale price $5.16+ $1 off coupon= $4.16 (orig. $6.88)

3 Shave gels- sale price $2 + (3)55 cents off coupons= $0.90 ea (orig. $3.29 ea)

4 Blue Bonnet stick butters- sale price $0.50 ea (orig. $0.99 ea)

Stony Field 4 pack yogurt- sale price $2 + $1 off coupon printed= $1 (orig. $2.??)

Southern Home milk- 2 gallons $2.88 each

Tennessee Pride Sausage- sale price $1.99 (orig $3.49)

Kibbles and Bits 17.5 lb bag-$12.99+ $1.50 off bilo printed coupon= $ 11.49 (not pictured)

Newspaper- $0.50 for penny item coupon and has a coupon insert

Total $32.41, $17.25 savings- $6.80 from coupons

note: I wasn't real happy with this trip, but I bought things I needed without necessarily having coupons

Publix:

Strawberries- sale 2/$4+ $1 coupon when you buy Cool Whip, on pkg. +$1.75 off when you buy sara lee pound cake-publix coupon = negative $0.75

Sara Lee Pound cake- sale price $1.89 + $1 printed coupon=$0.89

Kraft shredded mozzarella- sale price $1.67 (orig. $2.99)

Fresh express salad- sale price $1.99

2 Birds Eye frozen veggies- sale price (50% off) $0.89+ $1/4 printed coupon= $0.64 ea

2 Birds Eye frozen veggies- sale price (50% off) $1.19 + $1/4 from above= $0.94 ea

Sorrento ricotta cheese 32 oz- sale price $3.00- for my Lasagna

Avocado- $1.49 - for my Baja Chicken Tacos

Baby carrots- sale price $1.29 (orig. $1.69)

2 Lysol sprays- B1G1 sale price $1.34 ea + (2) $0.50 off coupons= $0.34-35 each

Log Cabin Syrup- sale price $1.75 + $1.00 off coupon (All You magazine)

Breakstone sour cream- sale price $0.99 + $0.60 off printed coupon= $0.39 (orig. $1.85)

2 I can't believe its not butter tubs- sale price $1.29 + (2) $0.50 off coupon + $0.75/2 publix coupon = negative $0.16!

Cool Whip- sale price $0.99

Publix Ceasar salad drsg. - Penny item, clipped coupon from paper

Total- $17.33!! $33.73 savings $13.09 were coupons alone

Food Lion:

Natures Own bread- sale price 2/$3 + $0.75 off printed coupon= $0.75

Hamburger meat- $1.88 a lb., bought $6.61 package

Total: $7.96

So I spent $ 57.70 and have my weeks worth of groceries plus some...

I use http://www.southernsavers.com/ and http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ mostly for my list and coupons. Each week southern savers posts a new list for the stores and includes the coupons available. I just click the items I want and then pull the coupons out of my binder. I do print some; sometimes its while I am making the list but mostly I check the above sites a couple times a week to see what good coupons have popped up and print them then. I do take my binder into the store but already have all the coupons pulled out. Every once in a while I find something else I want or decide to get more of an item and then will need my binder.

It takes time to stock pile until you only buy the sale items plus dairy and produce. For instance, I don't need 4 things of stick butter, but I freeze it. Nor do I need 2 Lysol sprays, but I may before it goes on sale again. The coupon clipping is time consuming, but totally worth it to me. Would love to help you save some money if you have any questions! See you can do this!

(sorry so long and detailed for those of you who care nothing about coupons)

Tomorrow will be about our dinners...having lots of yummy food!

To dream a dream....

Have I mentioned that I love this site moneysavingmom.com. I would so love to be able to do this one day and not have any excuses for eating out, nor spend $$ on those prepackaged meals. Just love it!

Not sure if Tyler would eat those frozen waffles over his beloved Eggo's.....here is the link to this exact blog post and the yummy sounding recipes....

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/10/baking-day-lasagna-ziti-and-a-picture-of-the-fruits-of-my-labors.html

Good deal

So you all know I love a good deal..
Here are my latest deals:

HUGE watermelon for $2.99, Garyn's favorite! (added to give you a pic of Garyn mostly)

Chicken breast and tenders for $1.50/lb (sorry for the lovely pic)

Gymboree shirt for Garyn, on sale for $2.99 plus 20% off, plus my own 20% off coupon = $1.97!

I asked before purchasing to make sure that $2.99 was right...all the other long sleeves were $12.99....she said it was true...so YES! I got a brand new Gymboree shirt for $1.97!!

Then my biggest rack up:

5 pairs of pants

6 shirts

1 turtleneck sweater

4 items for Garyn

1 Lion halloween costume (not pictured)

ALL for $33 at Goodwill's half off Saturday!

Hope you all are finding some good deals out there!