Suggested Shopping for This Week

At first look at the papers I again was not that impressed.  Then again I did not sit there absorb everything and match it with my coupons.  Thankfully others compile complete lists of deals and coupons to match it with.  Here's a brief overview of some good deals this week.  Some of them I might even take advantage of.

If you monitor your blood sugar, here's a deal you might want to check out at CVS

OneTouch UltraMini Blood Glucose Monitoring System $10.00, Sale Price 4/29-5/5
Use $10.00/1 OneTouch Ultramini Meter from RP 4/29 (exp 7/29)
or $10.00/1 – OneTouch Ultramini Meter – (redplum.com)
Final Price: Free

Rite Aid 

There are a few items that you can get free once you print the April Video Value Coupons on Rite Aids Website.  These are:

Air Wick Aerosols 8 oz on sale for .95

Nabisco Oreo Cookies Single Serve on sale for .50

While you are at Rite Aid, why not check some other good deals:

Mike and Ike or Hot Tamales Theater Box Candy 5 oz on sale for $1

Buy 2 for $2 and receive a $2 Up Reward 

Carmex Lip Balm Jar.25 oz, Stick.15 oz or Tube .35oz on sale for 1.00

Buy 2 and receive $1 Up Rewards

The lip balms would then average about .50 cents a piece after the up rewards

Happy Shopping!!!

Newspaper/Coupon inserts

This weeks deals I hardly found anything really appealing.  I might head to CVS today, but even there I would be going for 1 or two things.  Then I have to figure out if cereal is going to be cheaper at Shop Rite or BJ's.  It seems like my family is on a Lucky Charms kick.  Since we are out of that they are diving into Frosted Flakes, but would happily drop the Frosted Flakes for a Lucky Charms fix.

Anyways, as I try to figure out what to post that might help you'll I sometimes limit myself since I don't know if you get the newspaper or even obtain the coupon inserts.  Would you'll like to hear more about savings with internet printed coupons, coupons from past inserts, or just any random deal I decide to post for the week?   

Don't Compare Yourself

There have been times that I have compared myself and the deals I get to others.  Often times I find myself wishing I could do what they are doing.  Then I get to thinking.  I do, do what they are accomplishing just not all at once.  

Every story, family, reason for couponing is different.  What works for your family may not work for someone else.  Maybe you can afford to pay full price for some of your items, where those full price items might really break someone elses budget.  

Although it's human nature to compare, don't.  Maybe instead ask questions and you might be able to learn some new tricks to saving.

Earth Day = Free Tote

Have you been to Target yet today (4/22) to celebrate Earth Day and get your free tote? I have!!!   If you have not head to your local Target and someone should be handing out free totes at the entrance by the Customer Service desk.  

What other free things are going on today?

Ending today if you go to Bath and Body Works on facebook you can get a coupon e-mailed to you for a free lotion.  Look at their timeline and you should see a Try NEW Malibu Heat™ with a FREE 2 oz Body Lotion Preview! *Valid through April 22, 2012. Or you could just click on the link. This offer expires at close today.   

Hmm...If you know of anything else going on to celebrate Earth Day let me know.

Ebooks

My son and I were recently having a conversation about e-books, since his birthday is coming up he is trying to convince me to get him a Kindle Fire.  I was doing some research on the difference between a Kindle Fire and ipads, but then I started thinking we have Ipod Touches why do we really need a Kindle Fire.  Anyways, he told me books were cheaper for a Kindle Fire. So this got me on an internet search.  In my searching I found that you can read e-books right on a computer as well as the other devices.  The drawback with reading on a computer is that it is not as portable as an Ipod, Ipad, Kindle, etc...
I was pleasantly surprised to find that itunes, amazon and kobo all have free e-books.  Amazon's top 100 paid and free change hourly.  My local library also has e-books that you can borrow.  The library has more current titles and authors that are well-known.  Some of the authors I came across on the other sites I am unfamiliar with.  However, how bad can a free book really be.

Entertainment Books $10.40 Today Only

Have you seen the Entertainment Books displayed while you are waiting to check out somewhere, but don't want to pay the $35 they are asking for it.  Well today only on Entertainment.com you can get a book for only 10.40 plus shipping.  If go to Entertainment.com through ebates.com you will get 17.5% cash back.  You don't get the cash back immediately, but when ebates cuts the checks which I think is twice a year.  

 I love my entertainment book and use it quite often.  I have used mine at places like San Remo's, Party City, Tasti-D Lite....  

Highlight of Walgreens Deals for this week

It was tough to figure out what deals to mention to you.  Some of the coupons that are required for this weeks sales you either needed to print already or you need to have saved the coupon inserts from a few weeks to a month ago.

Walgreens this week has Aquafresh Kids Toothpaste 4.6oz on sale for $2.  When you walk into the store pick up the April Savings booklet, in it there is a $1 off coupon for the toothpaste.  If you got the paper on Sunday in there was a coupon for $1 off 1 found in the Red Plum insert.  Say you did not get the paper, go to Aquafresh.com in the bottom right corner is a picture you can click on for kids toothpaste.  So, if you have the booklet coupon, and the aquafresh coupon the toothpaste will be free.  
With Walgreens coupon policy you will need to pick up another item so you could do the above aquafresh deal, so why not head to the isle that has the Goody Elastics and Scrunchies.  Pick up either a 27 count elastic pack or a 3 to 4 count scrunchies pack for 1.99.  At the checkout a 1.00 Register Rewards will print out that you can use on a future purchase.  So it's like paying .99 for a pack of elastics or scrunchies.

For a complete list of this weeks deals and what coupons to pair them with check out Couponmom.com

Regional Coupons/Zyrtec-D

I was a little disappointed when I looked at the coupon inserts today and found out that the Zyrtec-D coupon was a regional one.  I did not get it in newspaper I subscribe to.  Since I am on Zyrtec-D I was determined to go store to store to find the newspaper that has the $7 off Zyrtec-D coupon in it.  My first stop was Stop and Shop, I figured they normally have a variety of newspapers on a Sunday.  I skipped over the paper that we get delivered started checking the papers.  It only took me looking through two papers to find the coupon I was looking for.  Yippee!!!  I found it in New York Post Metro Edition paper.  On my hunt for the coupon I use to control my allergeries, I learned that in my state buying a New York Post Metro Edition on a Sunday and getting my regular paper delivered I should end up with a good variety of coupons.  
If you also take Zyrtec-D it is on sale this week at Rite Aid for 18.99 minus the $7 coupon that is in the New York Post's inserts, brings the total to 11.99 plus tax.  Great price for Zyrtec-D.
There's still time to go and buy your paper...I'm heading out now to go and buy two more New York Posts.

Great Way To End a Week

I finally made it to Shop Rite this week.  I set out to get my free pasta, and spend $10 to get the laundry detergent.  I succeeded with both.  Well, I spent more than $10, but here is what I got,

6-Ajax Laundry Detergent .83 Each
2- Mueller Pasta  FREE
2-Dressings
4- Botticelli Pasta 59 Cents Each
2-Barbecue Sauce
1-Marcel Napkins
1-Pack of  Hamburger Rolls
1-4 Pack Fresh Hamburgers
2 bunches of Bananas
2-Heluva Block Cheese
2-McCain's French Fries
4- 6packs of  Marino's Ice 99 Cents Each
2 Vive Pro Conditoners
2 Carefree FREE


I highlighted for you some of the really good prices I got.  There were only two things that I paid full price for this trip, the fresh hamburgers and the rolls to go with it.  Even with paying full price for those I saved over 50% this shopping trip.
I spent out of pocket 43.99
I saved 67.43 
That's a 61%  savings....Great way to end the week!!!

Shop Rite Weekending 4/14/12

As I was thinking about where I wanted to go shopping today, I realized that I am posting deals I get when the week is done and you can't get the same deals.  I am going to try and highlight a few deals a week that are really good.
Shop Rite this week you can get Mueller's Pasta  for Free.  Here's how....Go to http://www.muellerspasta.com/ and sign up, once you sign up and confirm your e-mail subscription click on the Coupons & Promotions tab.  You will be able to print a .55 Cents off any one package of Mueller's Pasta.  The pasta should be priced for .89, prices might vary per state.  The coupon will double which will cover the amount of the pasta.  I have yet to do this deal so I don't know if it will double just up to the pasta amount or will completely double and provided you with overage.   For those of you who say you don't have any time to coupon I challenge you to try this Mueller's Pasta deal out.  Come back and let me know how it felt to get that for free.
Another good sale is on the Ajax laundry detergent.  If you have been getting the coupon inserts you should have a $1 off of 2 coupon that you can use to get the detergent for approx. .83 a bottle.  There is one catch, you must spend $10 in order to get the sale price of 3 Bottles for $4.  Pair that sale with your coupon to have it come out to about .83 cents per bottle.  Under a dollar a bottle for laundry detergent is great.  I will definitely be taking advantage of this.

*Remember you can not copy any coupons.  There are normally a print limit for each coupon per computer or per item.

Help yourself and others

When you think about why you are couponing is it just to help yourself  and your family?  For me that is not the only reason.  I also help others with what I get.  I pick up things with certain people in mind,  In the past year I have blessed at least eight other people with my coupon shopping.
 If I can be a blessing to someone else, why would I stop doing it.  I know for sure my family has also enjoyed the items I get shopping and we were not included in my count of eight.
Even though I shop for my family and others, I still don't buy everything just because it is an awesome price.  I try and be realistic.  For example this week at CVS I can get a 4 ct of Advil PM for free.  I have three or four coupons so I really can go a few times this week and get a few bottles.  However, I don't have anyone in line to give them to.  I try not to get something if I don't know where I am going to donate it to or who I can bless with it.
If you don't already, think of others as you shop.  It might even motive you to dive into couponing just a little bit more.  Or it could be what brings you to finally start to coupon.  Think about it!!!

Reminder

There will be no coupon inserts in today's paper due to Easter.  If you were planning on heading out to buy that paper to start your savings today, hold that thought until next week.  Maybe use this week as time to prepare everything you might need to start your couponing, or to help you continue and expand your couponing experience.  It's also a great time to catch up on cutting and filing any inserts that might have stacked up on you.

Have a great day!!!

Couponing on Limited Time

Okay so you find yourself with no extra time in a day, but you really want to or need to save money.  How can you do it?  In most Sunday papers there are only two different types of coupon inserts Red Plum and Smart Source.  At the end of the month or the very beginning of the next you add a third into the mix P & G.  From time to time there might be special inserts, but for the most part you will only get 3 types each month.
Here is what I suggest, if you look at any of the couponing sites that compile a list of  what's on sale that week you will see things like 3/14 RP or 4/1 PG these represent the coupon insert you will find the coupon in and the date of the insert.  Some coupons are regional so you might not have the coupon mentioned on couponmom, hip2save, etc.
Get three file folders, a pen and your coupon inserts.  Separate them into three categories (P &G, Red Plum, Smart Source), next in the three separate piles organize them by date, which you will find on the outside binding of the insert. I would suggest putting the oldest on top, but some people like to stack them newest to oldest.  If you have children ask them to help with this, it will help it get done quicker.   Label one file folder P & G, one Red Plum, and one Smart Source.  Stick the newly organized stacks into their respective folders.
Now, when you check out coupomom or sites like hers that tells you the item that is on sale, the percent you save, and the coupon it is paired with all you have to do is pull the folder and look for it.
Sounds easy, right???
After trying this for a bit, come back and let me know how this worked out for you.

How Long.....

I was asked how long do I spend per day couponing and shopping.  This really is a great question.  I never really sat down and figured out how much time per day it takes to actually save money.  How many hours tick away that I really could be doing something else?  I have no clue.  Part of the reason for this is I don't want it to be something I dread doing.  Instead of actually scheduling time in my day to cut coupons, file and figure out my shopping lists I space it out.  I don't know if I will ever figure out the exact amount of time.  It's something I enjoy doing and know that I could really put more into it.  You get out of it what you put in.  With all that said let's take a quick look at my week.
 Let's take a week at a glance, starting with Saturday and ending the following Saturday.  If I haven't cleaned out my binder for the week yet, I will grab my binder at some point on Saturday and take out all the ones that expire that day or the next.  I try to do this in the morning or very early afternoon.  Next, I will glance at the ads for the upcoming week and grab the coupon inserts that came in that paper.  Nothing really registers much with me the first time around of looking at the ads.  Too many things coming at me at once.  The inserts go in my pile of coupons to be cut.  I might also take a look at the deals I had planned out to get that week, see how successful I was in shopping and if whatever I didn't get was really worth going out for.  It might take me a little bit to locate all the coupons for said deals.  It might save me time if I make my list and then immediately following get my coupons ready clipped to my lists for the week.  Maybe one day I will get there.
On Sunday I will head to couponmom.com and look at the list she has compiled for the weeks deals, coupons to go with the deals, etc.  I normally check off the things that look good the first time around and send it to my e-mail.  Most Sunday's I don't actually go out shopping.
During the week I will add my shopping into my daily errands or outings.  Since I also compile my list of what I am going to get that week from e-mailed newsletters I might frequent a store more than once a week depending on when the e-mail with something good comes in.  In any given week I will head to Target, Stop and Shop, Shop Rite and Walgreens.  I have recently started adding Rite Aid to the mix.  I might not go to all in one week or might set out to go to all of the above and CVS, but then reality sets in and if I did all that I would be out of the house more than home.  I will look and see what is really worth it, what seems to be a recurring sale every few weeks, what do I really need, etc.
Inbetween all the other things of life I cut my coupons.  However, I can't sit for hours at a time cutting and filing.  I might take ten minutes here, go do something else, come back and cut and file a few more inserts.  I find for me spacing it out works best.  It really could be a full time job.  If I put more time into it I probably could save more than I already do.
I don't want you to think that I save on every single item that I buy because that would be untrue.  I try my best to save on the majority of what we buy, but sometimes it just doesn't happen.  It does bother me though when someone else in the house goes shopping and gets things  I know I have a coupon for, but I have come to accept that it will happen.
The one thing I hope to never hear myself say is I am to busy to coupon.  I will always try and find some time somewhere.  In the morning when I first get up, ten minutes before I go to bed, while my son is on his computer, etc...
If you don't have a lot of time to coupon, but know you need to save more come back tomorrow to see my suggestions on ways to coupon with little time.

Why do you coupon?

Why do you coupon?  Is it to save money?  The rush?  To help others?  All of the above?

I got into couponing because someone in my family was interested in it.  I went shopping with them and enjoyed watching the savings add up.  Since that first shopping trip I have learned so much.  I now not only coupon and buy things for my own household, but also get things I know others will use.

This Weeks Sales

I am not overly impressed with this weeks sales.  How about you?  I can find one or two things I might go and get for free, but nothing really to rush to the store for.

Binder Mishap

I have learned why people buy the zippered binder instead of an open binder for their coupon sheets.  One day last week my son and I went to Target, I grabbed a carriage that was by the doors, went to put my binder in my carriage.  I watched as my binder missed the carriage and landed on the floor.  Somehow while  crashing to the floor the binder rings opened.  Out came all my sheets and loose coupons.  I was frustrated, but it's just a binder right?  We gathered my sheets, binder and coupons and headed to the car.  Ten minutes later my binder was back in place, but this time I left it in the car while we went in.  All I took with me was the coupons I needed.  Thankfully all the coupons stayed in their respective sleeves.
When choosing the right type of binder for your coupon needs remember accidents do happen.  You will more likely than not drop it at least once.  Will the binder you have all picked out really do the job you want it to and live up to your expectations?