A wee bit of an explanation!

Sooo....you may have noticed...or you may not have :)....that I have not posted anything in quite some time. I have a good excuse(besides the fact that my computer keyboard has been broken)! I am busy (boys cover your eyes) making a placenta. That's right. I am knocked up and it is wiping me out. To top it all off, Owen is still nursing and still will not take a bottle/sippy cup. So....I feel as though I am being sucked dry inside and out! :) Couponing has taken a bit of a back seat as a result and I am okay with that. I do bust out a few coupons here and there for needed items at Winco or Target. But long gone are the days of walking to RiteAid to snag a deal or 'swinging' by CVS/Walgreen's. I am just too pooped! I am hoping that in a couple weeks this exhaustion will be long gone and I will have some bit of energy back again! But....until then....happy couponing without me....I am a bit busy and in need of a nap! :)

P.S. In case you didn't see it on Facebook, we are due October 14th....which puts me at about 10 weeks....right in the middle of the icky/exhaustion phase....wa-hoo! :)

Free Chick-fil-A

Tomorrow, Friday, is a great day to eat at Chick-fil-A! Anything you purchase from noon-10pm you can get for free later on in the month! Mike and I stumbled across this deal on random a couple months ago and we couldn't believe it when they told us....but it is true! Anything on your receipt from tomorrow you can get for FREE! So go enjoy some yummy Chick-fil-A! :)

Winco coupons

Did you get these GREAT coupons in your mail today for Winco? It is full of good deals on things you will probably use and things you can donate! Here are a few of the things you can get for cheap to donate!
-Hunt's Ketchup $.98 (limit 2)
-Dennison's Chili $.48 (limit 2)
-Bumble Bee Tuna $.29 WOW (limit 3)
-Kellogg's Cereal $1.48 (limit 2)
-Kraft Mac & Cheese $.38 (limit 3)
YAY!

Free Body Wash at Target

You can get these body washes for FREE(actually a bit of a money maker) at Target! They are on price cut right now for $1.72 a piece and you can use the $4 off 2 coupon from a couple weeks back! I know I also have a couple $2 off 1 coupons too! At the Rosedale Target they are near the south endcap in a special section in the soap aisle! Good luck!

P.S. These are yet another GREAT item to donate if you don't think you will use them! I know mine went straight to the Hope Center bag! :) Also, don't forget about the 2 trial size Rightguard deoderant you can get for free too....another great item to donate!

New Single Check Rebates out for RiteAid!

It is a new month for Single Check Rebates at RiteAid....which means....the Adperk vidoes have been reset! This means you will have a new opportunity to watch enough to earn 20 points to get your $5/$20 purchase....a GREAT coupon to have on hand to make good sales at RiteAid EVEN BETTER! Go to www.Riteaid.com to check it all out. Click on the Single Check Rebate Logo to read more about the program (bottom left when you scroll down)....or click on the Rite Aid Video Values box on the right to begin watching videos and collecting coupons! Have fun....I am off to watch my videos right now!

*Okay...just tried to do the videos....and they must reload at the 'actual' beginning of each month....not new just yet. :( Hopefully tomorrow they will be up and ready to go....all brand spankin' new!*

Target deals/advice

I went to Target yesterday, by myself!!!!, since my mom was here to watch Owen and came across some GREAT deals! Here is some of what I found


HUGE box of Quaker instant oatmeal (30 count) on clearance for $3.48 (regular price $6.99) plus I had a coupon for $1 off any box of instant oatmeal making it only $2.48 for all 30! Plus they had the lower sugar variety available!

I also found Rimmel nail polish on clearance for $1.74 (good colors too) which paired nicely with a $1 off any Rimmel coupon I had from awhile ago!


FREE deoderant. Use the $2 off 2 Rightguard deoderant coupon and buy the $.97 trial size ones. Perfect to give to the Hope Center or save for your husband when traveling.

Here is my advice on Target. Travel the outside perimeter of the store. At least at the Rosedale one, all the good clearance is set up on the back endcaps. I just always make it a point to shop from the outside in so I see all the clearance items available to me. That is how I discovered the Oatmeal and the nail polish this time!

FREE 8x10 @ Walgreens

Tomorrow, you can get a free 8x10 print at Walgreens! Go to http://www.walgreens.com/topic/photo/thursday.jsp to print off your coupon! :) Can't wait to get mine!

Cheerios!

We LOVE cheerios....and eat TONS of them...so this offer makes me happy! Go to http://www.cheerios.com/promotions/begin/Default.aspx to sign up for 4 free $1 off coupons and a chance to win a free box! They will send a coupon to your email each week for the next 4 weeks and will be giving away 50,000 free boxes! Can't win (or get your high value coupons) without signing up! :)

FREE food tomorrow!

Well, tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 23) is a fun day! It is pancake day at IHOP where you can go and get a free stack of 3 pancakes. They just ask that you make a donation to the 'Children's Network' (I think....it's the one with the balloons!). Anyways....plus Jack in the Box is also offering a free grilled sandwich when you buy a large drink. Enjoy your day and happy eating! :)

3, THREE, 3!

I just read that there will be THREE coupon ads in the paper this weekend....YAY! Just wanted to give you a heads up so you remembered to grab your paper (LA Times is the one to get!). Can't wait for Sunday to get here! Anyone find any good deals this week? Comment below and let me know what you all have found....let's share the 'wealth'! Plus....I have been a bit out of it this week....so I am feeling a little out of the 'saving' loop! :)

$100 Coupon book from P&G

So, I have been hearing about this for awhile now and decided to research a little bit about it and do a post! This is a coupon book offer from Proctor & Gamble valued at $100 (pretty good) when you purchase $50 worth of their products. At first I thought that was a pretty high amount to purchase, but when I looked at what all really was a P&G brand, I realized $50 bucks would be easy to hit! And this total is taken BEFORE coupons! All you have to do it start saving your receipts (beginning Feb.1-April 15), circle the purchased P&G products with their price, fill out the form, mail it in, and TA-DA they send you your coupons! Sounds simple enough right?

Find all the information you need, included a list of all the coupons included, plus the form @ www.thankyoumom.com & click on the far right tab labeled $100 Coupon Book. Below I have listed the most common P&G brands (you can find the whole list on their web-site!)

Bounce, Tide, Gain, Joy, Dawn, Cascade, Puffs, Pampers, Charmin, Cheer, Comet, Downy, Dreft, Duracell, Febreeze, Luvs, Mr. Clean, Covergirl, Olay, Pantene, Aussie, Braun, Gillete, Herbal Essence, MACH3, Nice & Easy, Old Spice, Secret, Always, Crest, Oral B, PUR, Pringles, Tampax, Pepto Bismol, Vicks, Scope, & many more! :)

GOOD LUCK! & Don't forget to save those receipts! :)

Diaper deal at Rite Aid

I did make it to Rite Aid this afternoon but just ran in real quick to do the diaper deal. Nothing else looked too stellar to me! :) These diapers were on sale for $8.99 plus I had a Rite Aid Video Values coupon for $1 off(could be found at www.RiteAid.com...but is gone now) plus a manufacturers coupon for $2 off (can be found at http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?bt=vi&tqnm=zasmbtx77899695&o=61293&c=WM&p=x1noivPl). Then I will get $3 back with their Single Check Rebate program making this pack of diapers about $2.99....not too shabby!

P.S. Even if you are not stocking up on baby diapers like I am....it is still a good deal to consider since bringing diapers to baby showers seems to be a popular thing these days. I always like to get diapers like these when they get cheap and store them away for a baby shower....just a thought! :)

Coupon Binder!

I just got notifed that saveathomemommy.com is giving away one of her sweet coupon binders this week! Go to her website to sign up for your chance to win. This is the binder I have been eye-balling for awhile now.... :) She also has them on sale this week for $20....if I don't win I may have to snag myself one anyways! Good luck!

SO sorry

So sorry I have not been keeping very 'up' on the blog lately. We have a few things going on around here that are taking up time and 'mind space'. :) No worries....they are all good things...but consuming things none the less. I didn't even get a paper this weekend. :( Were there any good coupons? Comment and let me know what you all found! Hopefully I will be back to my normal couponing self soon!

I am planning a trip to Rite Aid for some good deals either today or tomorrow so I will post what I find! (I am already up to $15 cash back from Single Check Rebate and will ad a bit more this week!!!! Can't beat CASH!)

Hope you all are having a wonderful week! :) Happy couponing!

Don't forget to check out these wonderful couponing sites:
-www.athriftymom.com
-www.saveathomemommy.com

Expired Coupons?

I just wanted to remind you all that there is a WONDERFUL way to use all those expired coupons for good! Military families overseas can use expired coupons in the commissaries. You do have to sort the coupons into food items & non food items...I just keep 2 ziploc bags in my coupon folder so I can sort as I go! It is SUPER easy and about a dollar or so each time you send the coupons in the mail.

So....go to www.ocpnet.org today and sign up with a specific military base and start sending those coupons! :)

FREE PHOTOS!

Free 8x10 Collage print is BACK! Go to the photo center at www.walgreens.com to create your free 8x10 collage print. Just enter the code VDAY when you go to check out! It is super easy! You can even opt to pick it up in the store the same day! I did this a couple months ago....and it turned out GREAT!

Walgreen's also has a deal where you get 25 free 4x6 prints when you order 25. It comes out to be under $5 for 50 Prints! Just enter the code LOVE10 at checkout!

Another thought

Another thought about things to donate....always keep an eye out for items that are suitable for an individual serving. Here's what I mean. The Hope Center always has bags ready to go for men & women who are homeless. To do this, they need canned goods that have a 'pop-top', not requiring a can opener. They also need items that can be stored and eaten easily 'on the road' so to speak. Like individual pudding cups and fruit cups, granola bars, etc. So....keep your eye out for these items when you are out shopping/couponing! I know they would GREATLY appreciate it! Just another little way we can help!

FOOD MAXX coupons!

Did you get this in the mail today? If so, don't throw it away! It has quite a few valuable coupons hiding inside! Now, I typically don't shop at FoodMaxx since Winco came into town....but I will venture over there when they put out these coupons. So, check your mail....you may have some waiting for you too!

Plus many of these items are GREAT to donate if you don't think you will use them yourself!!!!! I put a '*' next to the items okay to donate.

Here are the coupons I found in mine!
-$1.49 Sunny Select Drinking Water limit 1* (or bring to SNC!)
-$.89 dozen eggs limit 1
-$.79 Sunny Select Apple Juice limit 1*
-$.99 General Mills cereal (lucky charms, cinnamon toast crunch, trix, cocoa puffs) limit 1*
-$2.99 Valu Time Bathroom Tissue limit 1*
-$.99 Hot Pockets limit 1
-$.99 Armour LunchMakers limit 1
-$.69 10 lb bag of potatoes limit 1

CVS success!

Here it is....I know you all have been sitting on the edge of you seats, just waiting to see what I got at CVS this week....umm....yeah. Well, I managed to get to CVS this morning before making my weekly Winco run and was pleased with how it went!

I got all this for $9.82 but saved $40.23....not too bad. Plus I have $5 in ECBs to roll to next week! I am hoping that as the weeks continue I can increase the ECBs I roll from week to week and make the deals even sweeter! :)

Here's how I did it (hope it makes sense....if not, just ask!).

4 Ragu $1 each-2 $1/2 coupons from Sunday paper(red plum?)1/31

2 Goldfish crackers $.99 each-2 $.75 off coupons from the internet....somewhere....

2 Trident Layers gum-YUM $.99 each
-2 $.75 off coupons from Sunday paper (red plum?) 2/7

Campbells soup at hand $.97-$.50 off coupon

Reach toothbrush 2 pack $3.99
-$1 off coupon
-$2 back ECB

Nabisco crackers 5/$10
-5 $1 off coupons from internet and sunday paper
-$3 back ECB

CVS Green Bag Tag $.99
-(this will give me a $1 ECB every 4th time I use it!)

A whole new strategy....

So, I have a new strategy for CVS....I know, I know....I have only gone there once....but I am having a difficult time making multiple trips...let alone ONE trip! And I forsee having much difficulty in the oh so near future!

So, this is what I am going to do....just make one trip...and save my ECBs (Extra Care Bucks) from week to week and use them all at once, instead of trying to do multiple transactions to minimize my out of pocket cost. I figure I may have to pay a little more up front the first week, but will be able to use all those ECBs the next week to limit my out of pocket cost, and continue week after week. Plus ECBs are valid for a month (instead of just one week like Register Rewards at Walgreens), giving a bit more wiggle room! Hope that all makes sense! :) I guess we will see huh?

Well...my 'new strategy trip' will hopefully happen tomorrow afternoon....or possibly Friday....see what I mean? :) I will post what I find!

Quick tease of what I am going to be getting....
-Trident gum $.99 ($.75 coupon) = $.25
-goldfish crackers $.99 ($.75 cent coupon) = $.25
-5 boxes of Nabisco crackers 5/$10 (5 $1 off coupons)$3 ECB = 5/$2
-Ragu pasta sauce $1 ($1/2 coupon) = $.50 each*most of the coupons could be found in last week's paper, this week's paper and online!*

Surprise!

Have you tried Rite Aid yet? Don't forget to enter all those receipts on their website for the Single Check Rebate program! Just go to www.riteaid.com and click on the Single Check Rebate logo at the bottom left of the page. You may have to scroll down a bit. Follow the directions to create an account and then you are ready to go!

I have been entering my receipts every week (it is super easy-they do all the hard work!) and just noticed that I qualified for an extra rebate that I wasn't even aware of! I am getting an extra $5 Visa Gift Card! Once you enter your receipt they keep track of EVERYTHING and EVERY purchase and you may just get a rebate you weren't expecting! So far I have $15 CASH coming back to me from Rite Aid....and we are only half-way through the month....can't beat CASH! :)

Help! I'm drowning in coupons!

If you have been collecting coupons long, you already know that they can get out of hand in a hurry! :) So, organization is crucial for success! To begin, I suggest getting a small accordian style folder. These could be found for awhile in the $1 section at Target, or you can find them in any store in the home/office supply section. These are great to begin with, because they will hold quite a few coupons and can slide easily into most purses! That way your coupons are always with you! :)



I began there, but have since moved up to a much larger version of the accordian folder (which now unfortunately does not fit very well in my purse).



Now they will have anywhere from 10-12 slots to slide you coupons. You will want to label each section for better organization. I have my slots labeled according to where the product will go in my house:

-fridge (dairy, fruit/veggies, meat, etc.)
-freezer
-pantry (canned goods, pasta, spices/seasonings, etc.)
-cereal/granola bars
-snacks (chips, candy, gum, nuts, etc.)

-health & beauty (lotion, soap, makeup, razors, etc.)
-cleaning (all cleaning supplies)
-misc household supplies (paper products, batteries, candles, etc.)
-medicine
-baby (diapers, baby food, etc.)


Now, my folder has 12 slots (and I only have 10 labeled) so it leaves me room to store my 'store specific' things (store specific coupons, special ads, Register Rewards/Extra Care Bucks, etc.). I have envelopes labeled with the following stores

-Winco
-Albertsons
-Vons
-Target
-Walgreens
-RiteAid
-CVS

Then when I plan my trips (mostly on Sunday afternoon), I just slide my store specific list and any needed coupons paper clipped to it into the envelope and slide it into my coupon folder so it is all ready to go. Then, when I go to the store, I just have to grab the store specific envelope and all should be there waiting for me! :)

The main thing, is to find a system that works for you, and to be willing to change if necessary to make things easier on you! I have to admit that I may be graduating soon to an official 'coupon binder'. Don't know if I am ready for that 'scarlet letter' just yet....but fear it must happen soon....for my own sanity!

Good luck on getting organized-hope this helped a little!

Super Sunday!

Hope you got your LA times....because Holy Hannah are there some GOOD coupons in there! :) Sunday is usually my day to sit on my hind end, relax, find the deals and plan my trips sooooooo today I will be doing it with yummy snacks while the game is playing! Maybe I will catch a moment to post what I find! :) If you want to start your own search, check out www.Saveathomemommy.com & www.Athriftymom.com (my 2 personal favs!) to see what is out there! :) Happy Sunday and enjoy the game (or commercials....hoping for some good laughs this year!)

P.S. Don't forget to be on the search for things you can donate to others in need! There are LOTS of coupons for those types of items this week! :)

Sunday inserts!

Just wanted to give you a head's up for Sunday's paper! I read on a blog today that there will be 4 coupon inserts in the paper this weekend! Wa-hoo! I highly recommend getting the LA Times since they tend to have MUCH better coupons that the Bakersfield Californian. :) I can't wait....I'm SO excited!

CVS trip...the details...good & bad!

Here is how my CVS trip went....and my serious mistake I made! Hopefully my confession will keep you all from doing the same! :)


First transaction Dove Men's Body Wash $5.49 (used $1.25 coupon)= $4.69 (but got $5.49 back in Extra Care Bucks ECB)


Second transaction Dove Men's Body Wash $5.49 (used $1.25 coupon), 2 Raisin bran 2/$1.29 (used $1 off 2)=used $5.49 ECB to pay = $.78 (got back $5.49 ECB)


Third transaction *here's where the mistake happened* Dove Men's Body Wash $5.49 (used $1.50 off coupon), Colgate Max Fresh toothpaste (used $.50 off coupon)=used $5.49 ECB to pay = 1.69 (got back $2 ECB/did not get $5.49 ECB back as planned since I had hit my limit!!!!)


Fourth transaction 2 skippy peanut butter 3/$5 (used $.75 off 2 coupon), 4 ragu sauce 3/$5 (used 2 $1 off 2 coupons), 1 rice krispies $1.29 (used $1 off coupon) = used $2 ECB to pay = $5.54 (got back $3 ECB)

There it is....could have been better....but oh well! The goal with places like CVS and Walgreen's is to do multiple transactions at a time utilizing those ECBs/Register Rewards, so that you limit how much money you have to pay out of pocket each week! :) Hopefully there are some good deals next week! :)

Lesson learned. :(

Okay-went on an adventure to CVS to try and figure them out. I got a bit overambitious and totally forgot something SUPER important. Beware of the limits they put on 'deals'. By the way, the Dove Men's Body Wash has a limit of 2. :( I will post more later on my CVS adventure...it was pretty good, but would have been STELLAR if I had paid attention to what I was doing. :( Oh well.

Another bit of advice that I need to pass on to you....and at first it will sound silly....but you will TOTALLY understand once you get serious about couponing. Scope out your cashier....seriously. Figure out which cashiers are coupon friendly at your stores and always go to them. I have a lady that I always go to at Target (Rosedale) because she knows the policy and is friendly even though I hand her a huge stack of coupons each time! I started in her line today, but ended up having to move to another line because her computer froze, and ended up in an older man's line who gave me grief about using a manufacturer's coupon and a target coupon to get 2 SOBE drinks for free....he gave me that 'I'm disappointed in you grandfatherly' stare....but I stuck to my guns, informed him of his companies policy and tried to not let it get to me. Thank heaven I didn't have my usual stack this week....he would have wanted to arrest me. Moral of the story...find your favorite checker...and stick to her/him!

P.S. Just a head's up about Target. Do not try to use coupons at the Target on Ming. They are NOT coupon friendly and you will just leave frustrated. I have tried to use them multiple times since they are the closest to me....but never again....just a head's up! :)

Coupons.com

Have you discovered www.coupons.com? :) They have WONDERFUL coupons that get restocked every month. You are able to print off each coupon a total of 2 times! Some coupons have a total print limit (meaning total prints from EVERYONE out there in internet land) so it pays off to print the ones you think you will need at the beginning of the month. Have fun!

A wee bit more on Rite Aid

Well...ventured out to Rite Aid real quick this afternoon to do some couponing. Before I went I decided to call customer service to ask them a question that had been bugging me for a long time. If you have started watching their Ad Perk videos (can be found at www.riteaid.com) you will find that coupons are attached to each video and can be printed off. I had always thought that these were treated like manufacturer's coupons since they have that title at the top....BUT I WAS WRONG! & I AM KICKING MYSELF FOR NOT ASKING SOONER! also...I am trying not to think of all the other amazing deals I could have had.... :( The lady at 1-800-Rite-Aid was so kind and informed me that they could indeed be used with other manufacturer's coupons...and it worked today at the store!

Wa-hoo for saving lots of money! :)

The other thing I learned however, after an incident upon checking out, and yet another call to customer service is that you cannot use a coupon for above the purchase price. Here is what I mean. Dawn dish soap is on sale this week for $.88. I had a coupon for $1.00 off a certain kind and wouldn't you know...they had it! So I trid to use the coupon and the lady wouldn't let me. So I asked her if she could adjust the price to match the coupon (some places will do this like Target) or adjust the coupon value down to the price of the item (Walgreen's will do this) and was told they could do neither. :( Even the nice guy at 1-800-Rite-Aid said the same thing. :( Oh well....it was worth a shot!

All in all...keep watching those videos and clipping those coupons!

Yay for Tuesdays! :)

Tuesdays are a happy day around our home....it is new grocery ad in the mail day! Today is usually the day that I take time, during Owen's nap, to map out any good deals from the grocery ads (mainly Vons/Safeway & Albertson's). I used to throw the 'other' grocery store ads away into the the recycling bin until I made an AMAZING discovery! Those other ads have manufacturer's coupons in them!!!!!! Even if it is in another stores ad, if it says manufacturer's coupon at the top....you can use it ANYWHERE! :) Here is one that I found today in the Superior Grocers ad.

It is hard to see, but it is for $4 off 4 packs of 12 Coke cans! That is a good coupon...and paired with a Super Bowl Sale...makes for a stellar deal!

So...don't throw these ads out/recycle...check them every week for those sneaky manufacturer's coupons. You never know what you will find!

What is your something?

I just got back from a meeting at our church about the direction we are taking with Small groups. If you happen to attend Olive Knolls...get ready...it is going to be great and intense. Without giving too much away, it follows the story of the Good Samaritan, and it challenges us to act. To start. To do something. The world is full of hurt and pain and sorrow and as Christians....as humans....we have to do something, even if it is just a small something. This is something that the Lord has been throwing at me personally in SO many ways recently and has led Mike and I to make some BIG decisions about the future of our family and what WE WILL DO.

Another aspect of what I can do involves all this silly couponing. As I improve on this skill, I am able to get many items for free or near free. I began to think what an awesome opportunity this provides me to 'spread the wealth'. So, I now have a bag in the garage that I fill with some of the things that I get that I know can be used at the Hope Center/food bank, and it doesn't cost me much at all. It is just a little thing that I can do. And so, I challenge you to think....what is your something?

Items the Hope Center/food bank can ALWAYS use and ALWAYS need
-toothpaste
-toothbrushes
-shampoo
-soap
-deoderant
-other personal hygiene items
-toilet paper
-diapers
-canned meat goods
-canned fruit
-any other non-perishable food items

Happy Couponing! :)

Head's up for CVS items!

The plan is to get to CVS tonite or tomorrow morning sometime. They seem to have some REALLY good deals in the store on grocery staples right now that when paired with a manufacturer's coupon make them even better! PLUS many of these are also GREAT items to donate to the Hope Center or any food bank. You can check out their on-line weekly ad at www.cvs.com but have heard from a friend (Keri) that there are also good coupons in the paper ad as well, and you can find that in store!

Dove Men's Body Wash %5.49 (but you will receive $5.49 back in Extra Care Bucks (ECB)making it free! Plus you can use a the coupon found in last Sunday's paper to turn it into a money maker!)

Ragu/skippy peanut butter 3/$5 (but if you buy $10 worth of product you get $3 back in Extra Care Bucks (ECB)making the deal better. Plus you can use the $.75/2 coupon for the skippy peanut butter from Sunday or the $1/2 for the Ragu)

Colgate Max toothpaste $2.99 (you will receive $2 ECB plus you can use the $.50 off 1 coupon from the Sunday paper)

dozen eggs $.77 ....just a good deal!

Fruit loops, Raisin Bran, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes, Apple Jacks $1.29 ....just another good deal....and check....you may have coupons for these. I know I do but I don't think they are very recent.

Hope that made some sort of sense...and those are just some of the deals I found this week! I will hopefully post more once I get back from CVS! This will be my first trip there to use my coupons and get ECBs....wish me luck! :)

BEWARE :)

Just a bit of a warning for everyone who is beginning this couponing adventure. Don't fall into the trap of HAVING to use a coupon. I have been there....the GREAT coupon burning a hole in your pocket....just waiting to be used....calling out to you. But the reality is, some coupons are not worth using. Either it is for an item you will NEVER use or should not use(and cannot donate) or you can get it cheaper without the coupon by buying the store brand. The goal with couponing is to save money. Period. So, just be careful and remember, it's okay to say no to the coupon! :)

New Target Coupons out!

Just checked out the coupons at target.com and found some new ones and a few that match up with manufacturers coupons from the Sunday paper. To find the coupons, go to www.target.com and scroll down to the bottom of the page. Under the heading "Target Stores" you will see "grocery coupons". Click on that and it will take you to their coupons.

Now, Target web coupons are SO valuable, because you can use them along with a manufacturer's coupon (called stacking)to get an even better deal! Like one I found today. Target has a Target Web Coupon for $1 off any 10.5-oz candy pieces package (like Reese's, Almond Joy, etc.). Then, in today's paper you should find a manufacturer's coupon for $1 off the same thing. Combined you would get $2 off making them free, or close to free with a sale at Target!

BUT, something to be aware of with printing coupons off the Target website is that some will have 'TARGET WEB COUPON' at the top,

and some will have 'MANUFACTURER'S COUPON' at the top.

Even though the manufacturer's coupon has a Target logo on it....it is still treated like a manufacturer's coupon and cannot be stacked/used with other coupons. :(

I will post what good deals I find at Target later on! :) Happy couponing!

Albertson's deals

I just got back from Albertson's and got some great deals! I spent $19.79 out of pocket and saved $35.06!!!!! It was a great chance to stock up a bit on things we will use down the road! I know Mike will grimace when he sees the storage shelves in the garage! :) Here's what I got and what coupons I used...

*4 2 liters of Coke products-on sale for $.69 each (used $1.50 off 4 coupon that can be found in the Green Frog market mailer or other smaller grocery store ads)
*1 Orville popcorn- $3.99 but it was BOGO (buy 1 get 1 free) plus 2 free rootbeers!
*1 bag of salad mix- $1
*2 Kraft Mayo-2/$4 with in ad coupon
*2 Ragu pasta sauce-2/$2 with in ad coupon
*2 wishbone salad dressing-2/$2 with in ad coupon
*2 skippy peanut butter- 2/$2 with in ad coupon
*2 Fiber One bars on clearance for $2/box (plus I had 2 $.75 off coupons from awhile ago!)

Most of the deals last until Tuesday, but the deal on the cokes ends on Sunday. Check out that ad, clip those in ad coupons and get some deals! :)

A wee bit on Rite-Aid

Here is a GREAT way to save even more money at Rite-Aid. You can go to www.Riteaid.com and sign up to watch AdPerk videos to earn points/coupons. The ad for these is usually at the bottom of the page but easy to find. Each video is really just a short commercial for a product and is assigned a point value of 1 or 2 and most of them are under a minute in length (most are around 15-30 seconds). Once you reach 20 points, you also earn a $5 off a $20 purchase at Rite-Aid. This coupon can be used before all your other coupons to make for a very good deal! Sooo....start watching those videos and earning those points! :)

$5 gift card for Babies R Us

Quick! Sign up today to be a fan of Babies R Us on Facebook and get a $5 eGift Card just for signing up. But hurry....it is only offered today but the gift card doesn't expire until 2-20-10!

ahhh Chips and Queso....

Go to (http://assets.fbmta.com/clt/chlscrp/lp/join/join.asp) and sign up for the Chili's email club and get a coupon for a free order of chips and queso...happens to be my personal fav! I am SO excited! :)

P.S. Sorry you are going to have to copy and paste the address....don't know how to link it yet....haven't figured all that out quite yet! :)

Maybeline Mascera deal @ Rite Aid

I didn't find many good deals at Rite Aid this week....except this. I paid only a few cents for this mascera! :) Right now, all Mabeline cosmetics are 40% off right now which made the mascera $3.11. I also had a $1 off coupon (this could be found in the papers a few weeks ago or you can print on off at www.RiteAid.com by watching the Ad perk videos-more on that later!). Then if you turn your receipt in (either by mail or online) for their Single Check Rebate program you will get $2 back! That makes the mascera $.11 plus whatever I paid for tax! This deal will last until Saturday so hurry in if you want some cheap mascera!
(the total is a bit off because I bought a couple Russel Stover chocolate hearts 2/$1too....couldn't resist....SO yummy!)

Price adjustments

Another thought I had about saving money in general is this: Do not be afraid to ask for a price adjustment on your receipt! I mentioned this to a group of ladies the other night and was SHOCKED that some of them didn't realize that you could do this. I mostly ask for adjustments at Target since that is where I do most of my shopping for household/general items. Just last week I bought a large rubbermaid tote for $6.99 (full price...we just needed it and I didn't want to wait for a sale). Then wouldn't you know it, it went on sale for $5.49. So tomorrow I will go with my receipt to customer service and get my $1.50 back....easy as that!

What to do with all those coupons!

As the end of the month nears, you are probably wondering what to do with all those coupons that are ready to expire! Before you throw them away, consider this. Military personnel are able to use expired coupons overseas at the commissaries! I have been sending mine to a Naval base in Japan for a few months now and it is SUPER easy! Go to www.ocpnet.org to check it out and adopt a base! Let me know if you have any questions....I think they answer most of them there on the site!

Moneymaker on Sure deoderant at Walgreens!

Now this is a great deal on deoderant....plus a money maker to boot! Here's how you do it.

Sure deoderant is on sale for 2/$3 using the in ad coupon. You can then use a $1.50 off 1 (men's)and $1.00 off 1 (any) coupon from 1/24 making the final out of pocket cost for the deoderant $.50 for both or $.25 each...or if you are lucky enough to have 2 of the $1.50 coupons you can get both for free!!!!

Then if you happen to find the men's deoderant labeled with the 'try this for free' sticker on it you can then go to the website and fill out the rebate form for a complete refund of the price up to $2.99. I just sent mine in the mail today...it was SUPER easy to do. This is not deoderant that we use....but PERFECT to donate to the Hope Center for someone in need!

Holy Hannah

Holy Hannah....there are A LOT of ways to jazz up your blog out there. So here is my first attempt and jazzing it up a bit. Sure it will get changed again soon....enjoy it while it lasts! :)

119 photos for FREE....just had to pay shipping!

Okay-just ordered 119 prints from Snapfish for only $7.44! That is only $.06 per print!!!! I just set up a new account at Snapfish.com and used the coupon PRINTSNEW for 100 free prints with any order. Plus, since I was new, I got 20 free prints. It was SUPER easy to load up my photos and they should show up at my door soon.....can't beat that! Saves me a trip and all that time ordering prints at the store. I am SO excited & you should check it out if you need to order some prints! :)

Other blogs to check out!

Here are 2 blogs I check regularly! These ladies are great and always have such wonderful ideas for home and family.....not to mention where to find the BEST deals and how to BEST use your coupons. It takes a bit of time to understand the lingo/process completely, but you will get comfy with it all in no time!

Saveathomemommy.com is based out of Bakersfield. All the deals she gets are local so you know they will always work for you too!

Athriftymom.com is based out of Idaho. She has all the deals too, but many of hers will not work for us since she is out of state. Like, they can double certain coupons at their Albertsons, and we cannot. Boo. Her blog though is WONDERFUL and full of valuable information on coupons, freebies, and thrifty ideas!

Coupon for good!

Well. When I intially started couponing I have to admit it was for selfish reasons. I had quit my job to stay home with Owen and money is now a bit tighter. I thought it would be one way to 'beef-up' our stock/supply and something I could do to help out. Even though it has definitely helped us out personally, I am beginning to realize how much I am getting for free that I am able to donate to others! I now keep a paper bag going in the garage that I put items into for the Hope Center. It is so fun to see what I can find for super cheap or free that I know they can use and/or really need!

So.....I challenge you to do the same! :) Use your coupons for good....for yourself...and for others! Listed below are items that are ALWAYS needed at the Hope Center (Or any food pantry for that matter). So, start clipping those coupons....and looking for deals!

-any canned good containing meat (soups, pastas, chunk chicken, chunk tuna, etc.)
-canned fruit (of course canned veggies too....but fruit is harder to get donated!)
-shampoos/conditioners
-soap
-deoderants
-toothbrushes
-toothpaste
-feminine hygiene items
-baby diapers

Thank you guys! My dream is that we can make a difference together in our community by using our coupons/resources wisely! :)

Get the LA times!

So...I meant to tell you all this earlier...for those of you wanting to get started in this couponing business...buy the LA times paper. It has MUCH better coupons than the Bakersfield Californian. Also-always make sure to check the paper for the ads/coupons before you buy it. Sometimes the ads are missing or stolen, so it is always good to check first! :) The only bummer about the LA times paper is that a lot of local store ads are not included. They usually have the Target ad in there but I have yet to find a Rite Aid, Walgreens, or CVS ad. These I just look up online to find the best deals. Not my favorite way (would much rather have the paper ad to circle and mark up) but it works!

Walgreen's deal

Well, here is my deal for today! Got all this for $.92. Now I did use $4.50 in register rewards from last week but I also got $3 in register rewards to use for next week. I used 2 $3 off Neosporin lip health coupons and a buy 3 get 1 free Kraft mac and cheese coupon. I also used the in-ad coupon for the mac and cheese to get 3 @ $.59 each. I had to buy the pack of gum to be able to pay with the register rewards.

A few basic things to remember when shopping at Walgreens:

-you can use Walgreens coupons from their ads and pair these with other manufacturer's coupons (this is called stacking)

-Register rewards are coupons that can be used as cash on your next visit. You can find out which items will give you register rewards by looking in the Walgreens ad each week in the paper or online. They are also clearly marked in the store for you.

-when checking out at the cashier, you can only use as many coupons as you have items. (ie. 4 items....you can only use 4 or less coupons) And Register rewards count as coupons.

-Also, when checking out your total must exceed what you are paying in Register rewards. That's why I had to by the gum for $.99. They cannot give you cash back from your Register rewards. Usually you can buy something cheaper for a 'filler' if you know you are going to need it (to keep your out of pocket expense as low as possible), but I didn't want to search for something cheaper than that....and hey, I like gum! :)

-The trick with Walgreens is to keep rolling your Register Rewards from week to week. That way you are using them like cash and limiting how much you have to spend out of your pocket! To get started at Walgreens you may have to pay a bit upfront but if you use coupons you will ultimately not have to pay much at all!

-The last trick that you have to remember at Walgreens is that you cannot pay for an item with its register reward and have another register reward kick out. Here is what I mean. Last week I bought toothpaste for $2.99 that kicked out a $2 register reward. On my next trip that week, if I wanted to buy another toothpaste & get the register reward, I would have to use cash or a different register reward from another item. If I used the $2 register reward from my first toothpaste transaction to pay for my toothpaste in the 2nd transaction, it would let me, but I would not get another register reward. And the point is to keep getting register rewards! It sounds SO tricky, but with practice you all will be pros!

Here we go!

Well....I have begun couponing. For those of you that call me friend, already know this! I can't seem to stop talking about it and sharing all my wonderful finds! Mike thinks I am a bit addicted, but what a rewarding addiction it is! I am saving so much money and having a blast doing it! I will begin to post my amazing 'finds' & 'deals' here, that way you all can begin couponing too! If you are just beginning to coupon....please do not be discouraged! It takes a bit of practice, and patience....but before you know it you will be 'coupon-comfy' and on your way! Enjoy! :)