$10.00 Burger King Gift Card for $5.00!

Savemore has another hot gift card deal, this time for Burger King- Get $10 for just $5.

If you are new to Savemore - join here now for a FREE $1 credit!

Gift cards like this are great to keep on hand when you need a quick gift or a bite to calm your whiny kids and rumbly tummy.  When purchasing this deal, you will receive a $10.00 gift card in the mail that expires 12/2015. 

*The voucher will be able to be redeemed 1/20/12; it will then take 2-3 weeks to receive your card in the mail. You cannot use Savemore credit to buy this gift card.  One per household.

Target: Christmas Clearance

I LOVE shopping the after-Christmas sales...especially with coupons.  The Christmas clearance at Target is only at 50% off right now.  Lots of things were still pretty high priced!  Here are some things I found:

Reynolds Foil - $2.98 $1.49
-$1.25 printable coupon
Final price:  $0.24

Cookie Mix - $1.72 $0.86
$1.00/2 printable coupon or printable coupon
Final price:  $0.36 each

Keebler Cookies - $2.50 $1.25
$1.00/2 Target coupon
Final price:  $0.75 each

Huggies Santa Diapers - $19.99  $9.99
$2.00 Target coupon (NLA)
Final price:  $7.99

Vaniety Fair Napkins - $2.98 $1.49
$1.00/2 printable coupon
Final price:  $0.99 each

I also picked up striped wrapping paper ($1.25) to use for birthdays and LED flashlights ($2.49).  Did you find any fun Christmas clearance deals?!

$25.00 Cabela's Gift Card for $15.00!

Savemore has a hot gift card deal for Cabela's - Get $25 for just $15.

If you are new to Savemore - join here now for a FREE $10 credit!

*You will NOT receive this before the holidays. The voucher will be able to be redeemed 1/11/12; it will then take 2-3 weeks to receive your card in the mail. You cannot use Savemore credit to purchase.

I love saving 40% at Cabela's right off the start.  You better believe I will use my discounted gift card to buy things on sale/clearance to save even more!  When purchasing this deal, you will receive a $25.00 gift card in the mail that does not expire.  This can be used online or in the store.

My Shopping: $50.85

The boys and I ran to Scolari's and Smith's this morning. Here's what we found:

Scolari's -

1 Ore Ida Fries - $0.50

3 C&H Sugar, 4 lb. - $1.00 each

4 Nabisco Crackers - $0.99 each

2 Cool Whip Season Delight - $0.29 each

2 Kikkoman Sweet & Sour Sauce - $0.59 each

2 Oceay Spray Cranberry Sauce - $0.25 each

4 Campbell's Gravy - $0.15 each

French's Fried Onions - $2.00

3 Cream Cheese - $0.83 each

5 lb. potatoes - $0.99

Oranges - $0.50/lb.

2 Kraft shredded cheese - $1.00 each

Subtotal before coupons and sales:  $84.12

Final Total:  $17.06

For the Scolari's match-ups, go HERE.

Smith's -

I only went to Smith's because we were COMPLETELY out of cereal and I thought I'd pick up eggs and butter while I was there.  My happy finds were the pepperoni and cases of diapers I found on clearance (and had coupons for)!

Cereal Deal, $3.00 off WYB 4 Select GM Cereal = $1.75 each WYB 4

Used $1.00/1 Cheerios printable (NLA), $1.00/2 printable, $0.50 printable

2 Cheerios - $0.75 each

6 GM Cereals - $1.25 each

Dozen Eggs - $1.25 each

$0.55/2 printable

Eggs - $0.98 each

Butter - $2.50 each

$0.50/2 Smith's coupon

Butter - $2.25 each

Pepperonis - $0.99 clearance

$0.55/2 printable

Pepperonis - $0.72 each

Pampers Cruisers - $8.49 clearance

$1.50 coupon from package

Pampers Diapers- $6.99

Pampers Swaddlers - $9.99 clearance

$1.50 coupon from package

Pampers Diapers - $8.49

Subtotal before sales and coupons:  $78.79

Total:  $33.79

My trip to Smith's reminded me of another reason I like to shop at several different stores to get the best deals...you get to check out the clearance!  By shopping at more than one store, I can find deals that I would miss simply because I wasn't in the store.  Clearance varies from store to store, so I wouldn't rush out to try to find the same clearance deals as someone else, but when I'm in a store I certainly keep my eyes open.

Holiday Coupon Booklets

Be on the lookout for coupon booklets in store displays while you're out shopping.  I found both of these at Savemart.

Deliciously Simple Holiday Recipes:

$1.25/3 Baker's Bar, Jello pudding or gelatin, Planters peanut butter, Honey Maid Grahams, Nilla Wafers, Philadelphia Cream Cheese

$1.50/2 Ziploc Holiday Containers

$1.00/2 Ziploc Holiday Bags
$1.00/3 Dole Canned Fruit

Share Something Delicious:
$3.00 back WYB Peanuts Holiday Collection and 3 Campbell's condensed soups, Pepperidge Farm Cookies or Crackers
$1.00/1 Eight O'Clock Coffee
$1.00/1 French's Dijon Mustard
$1.00/4 Seagrams's Ginger Ale or Mixer
$1.00/3 individual packs or $1.00/1 multipack Hidden Valley Ranch Dry Dressing or Dip Mix
$1.00/2 Hidden Valley Ranch
$1.00/1 Hidden Valley Salad Kit
$1.00/2 Pace Salsa, Picante or Queso, 16 oz. or larger
$1.00/3 Prego Italian Sauces
$0.50/1 French's French Fried Onions
$0.50/1 Frank's Redhot Sauce
$1.00/4 Campbell's Gravy Cans
$1.00/2 Peppridge Farm Stone Baked frozen rolls
$1.00/4 Campbell's great for cooking soups
$1.00/2 Swanson Chunk Chicken
$1.00/2 Swanson Broth or Stock (26 oz.+) or Flavor Boost
$1.00/2 Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets or Shells
$1.00/2 Pepperidge Farm Cookies
$1.00/2 Pepperidge Farm Distinctive Crackers or Baked Naturals
$2.00/4 Pepperidge Farm Bread, Stuffing, or Croutons

Scolari's Deals (11/16-11/24)

Here are the deals at Scolari's this week and beyond. Let me know if I've missed something!

Scolari's will double coupons (as long as the coupon doesn't say "do not double") up to and including $1.00! Three like-coupons can be doubled per transaction. View official coupon policy HERE.

Remember, Wednesdays are “double ad” days where both the current and previous week’s ad are honored. Enjoy the sales from two weeks on one day!

Coupons marked with * mean you may have a hard time doubling.  Scolari's and I don't see eye to eye when it comes to "exceeds the value of the item" when the coupon is for more than one item.

UPDATES IN RED:

Kraft Salad Dressing, 14-16 oz. - $2.00
$1.00 printable coupon
Final price:  FREE!

POM Pomegranates:  $2.50 each
$1.00 printable coupon
Final price:  $0.50 each Didn't work for me today.

Navel Oranges: $0.50/lb

Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, 10.75 oz. - $0.89
$1.00/5 printable coupon*
$1.00/4 Share Something Delicious Booklet*
Final price: $0.39-$0.49 each

Cool Whip Topping, 8 oz. - $0.99 $1.79 for Season's Delight
$0.75 printable coupon (NLA)
Final price: $0.29
Nabisco Crackers, 7-10 oz. - $1.99$1.00/2 printable coupon (NLA?)
Final price:  $0.99 each

Dole Pineapple, 20 oz. - $1.25
$1.00/3 Deliciously Simple Booklet*
Final price: $0.58 each

Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce, 14 oz. - $1.25
$1.00/2 printable coupon
Final price: $0.25 each

French's French Fried Onions, 6 oz. - $2.99
$0.50/1 Share Something Delicious Booklet
Final price: $1.99

Campbell's Gravy, 10.5 oz. - $0.60
$1.00/4 Share Something Delicious Booklet*
Final price: $0.10 each!  $0.15 each (coupon only doubles to $1.79)

C&H Sugar, 4 lbs. - $2.50
$0.75 8/24 RP
Final price: $1.00!

Chinet Plates, Bowls or Cups, 12-36 ct - $2.49
$1.00 printable coupon (sign-up)
Final price:  $0.49

Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil, Heavy Duty, 37.5 ft. - $2.50
$0.75 printable coupon
$0.55 11/13 SS
Final price:  $1.00-$1.40

King’s Hawaiian Bread, 12-16 oz. - $2.49
$1.00/2 printable coupon
Final price:  $1.49 each

Ore-Ida Potatoes, 19-32 oz. - $2.50
$1.00 printable coupon
Final price:  $0.50!

Kraft Cheese, 7-8 oz. - $2.50
$1.50 printable coupon (NLA)
Final price:  $1.00!

Kraft Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 8 oz. - $1.25
$1.25/3 printable coupon (NLA)
$1.25/3 Deliciously Simple Booklet
Final price:  $0.83 each!

Russet Potatoes, 5 lb. - $0.99

Marketon (11/1-11/7)

I got a weekly ad in the mail from a store I'd never heard of before, Marketon.  This store has five locations, 4 in Las Vegas and 1 in Reno (1500 S. Wells). 

While I don't necessarily plan on shopping at this store, I am glad to have the ad for price-matching at Walmart.  The ad also advertises signing up at http://www.marketon.com/ to get the weekly flyer via email every Monday.  Maybe this could be used to price match if you do not receive the ad via mail?

Their produce is amazingly low, so this week I plan on price matching it at Walmart.  Here are the good deals I see.

Tues. and Wed. Only
Hass Avocados - $0.25 each
Fuji Apples - $0.50/lb.
Valencia Oranges - $0.20/lb.
Green Limes - $0.25/lb.
Cilantro - $0.20 each

All Week
Roma Tomatoes - $0.33/lb.
White Onions - 6 lbs. for $0.99 or $0.17/lb.
Red Seedless Grapes - $0.99/lb.
Cucumbers - $0.25 each
Broccoli - $0.50/lb.

I would love to hear if you see anything else or any experiences you may have price matching!

Scolari's: Bacon $1.89 (through 11/2)

There are a couple decent deals this week at Scolari's.  Go HERE to see all the match-ups for this week, ending 11/2.  (Thanks, Centsible Sisters!)

My favorites include:

Pork Tri-Tip:  $1.49/lb. (limit 2)

Hershey's Halloween Chocolate:  $0.50/bag

And BACON!

Farmland Bacon, 12 oz. - $2.99
$0.55 printable coupon (subscribe at bottom right and coupon is emailed to you)
Final price:  $1.89!

With the sales on tri-tip and bacon you can make one of our favorite recipes, Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin.

October Savings

I can't believe it...October is over.  The monthly numbers are in and this month I'm still loving my coupons:

Total spent in Oct.:  $338.02
Retail Value:  $1,185.12
Total saved in Oct.:  $847.10, or 71% saved

This month I stocked up on baby wipes, apple juice, canned veggies, laundry detergent, and meat!

I am anticipating great sales on baking items over the next couple months and I plan on stocking up for the year.  We shall see where that puts my spending for November.

Want to join the challenge and keep track of how much you save?  Feel free to download the spreadsheet I am using HERE.  (Click "File" at top left, "Download as", and choose the program you would like to use to download the spreadsheet to your own computer.  I use Excel.  The formula is set up so you just have to enter how much you spent and how much you saved and it will calculate the retail amount automatically.)

Happy Savings!

Safeway: Check Your Just For U Prices and Coupons!

I paid $4.96 for this without cutting any coupons...simply load these deals onto your Safeway card.

I was checking out my Safeway Just For U prices to see if I had the price to get the Skippy peanut butter deal.  Happily, I did...and I noticed some other great Just For U prices and coordinating e-coupons!

Remember, these are my personal Just For U prices, so yours could be different, but it's worth checking!  Add both the Just For U prices and the e-coupons to get some sweet deals.  They will both come off when your Safeway card is scanned.

SELECT Seasonings Premium Grinder - J4U FREE

Knorr Sides - J4U $0.79, limit 4
$0.50/1 Safeway e-coupon
Final price:  $0.29

Wishbone Dressing, 8-24 oz. - J4U $0.99, limit 2
$1.50/1 Safeway e-coupon
Final price:  $0.24 each (I got 2)

Cookie Crisp - J4U $1.97, limit 4
$0.75/1 Safeway e-coupon
Final price:  $1.22

Best Foods Mayo, 30 oz. - J4U $2.49, limit 2
$1.50 Safeway e-coupon
Final price:  $0.99

Skippy Peanut Butter - J4U $1.49, limit 2
$1.00/2 Safeway e-coupon
Final price:  $0.99 each and get back $1 Catalina WYB 2 Skippy Naturals
Like paying $0.49 each

Grand Total:  $4.96 (plus $1.00 Catalina back)
Price without J4U savings and coupons:  $34.22
Amount Saved:  $29.26 or 85%

My Shopping: $23.66

I ran to two stores today with my boys.  It's been fun having so much "help" while they're on track break from school.  (See below for proof.)  The boys are excited for their party tonight.  They're planning on pizza and soda while I'm away.

Scolari's - $15.76
3 Kikkoman Sauce - $0.69 each
2 Sierra Mist - $0.49 each
2 Land O Frost Ham - $0.49 each
CPK Pizza - $2.79
2 Digiorno Pizza - $2.79 each
Yogurt, 32 oz. - $0.99 (clearance)
3 Loaves of Bread - $0.79 each (clearance)

Find Scolari's Deals HERE. (Thanks, Centsible Sisters!)

Raley's - $7.90  ($3.00 Catalina back)
10 Del Monte Corn - $0.39 each
2 Cheetos - $1.00 each
2 Fritos Chips - $1.00 each

Find Raley's Deals HERE or HERE.  (Thanks, Clever Housewife and Frugal Find!)

I'm loving the deal on canned veggies at Raley's.  Every time you buy 10 you get a $3.00 Catalina back.  Then you can use that $3.00 to buy another 10, making them just $0.39/can!  That's cheaper than even the case lot sale.

Grand Total Spent - $23.66
Total Before Sales and Coupons - $64.46
Total Saved - $40.80 or 63%

September Savings

Again for the month of September I tracked how much I spent and saved.  Oh, how I love coupons!

Total spent in Sept.:  $387.85
Retail Value:  $963.26
Total saved in Sept.:  $575.41, or 60% saved

I was right that my numbers will vary from month to month.  This month was the Smith's Case Lot Sale and I stocked up on a few things, accounting for the higher amount spent this month.  I'm still curious to see how it fluctuates throughout the year, so I'm going to keep tracking.

Want to join the challenge and keep track of how much you save?  Feel free to download the spreadsheet I am using HERE.  (The formula is set up so you just have to enter how much you spent and how much you saved and it will calculate the retail amount automatically.)

Happy Savings!

Free Movies at the Drive-In Tomorrow!

Sounds like a fun free outing to the drive-in!  Too bad my kids are in school...



Visit the West Wind website HERE for more information.

September = National Preparedness Month

Did you know September is National Preparedness Month?  Now you do! 

There is a great article HERE (from Meridian Magazine entitled "Prepare Now for the Next Irene") with daily ideas for the month of September to help prepare our families and homes for the unexpected.

Check it out!  There are some great and simple ideas.  We're already a few days into September, so play catch-up and get prepared.  I printed out a copy of the article and we're going to give it a go!

(Thanks for passing on the article, Gail N.!)

Groupon: $15 for $30 at Flirty Aprons!

It's been a while since I've bought a Groupon, but I just couldn't pass this one up!
 
$15.00 for $30.00 at Flirty Aprons. This is showing up in Southern Georgia, but it's a national deal to use online, so you can purchase it no matter where you live. I think I might use mine to purchase a gift!

To get in on this deal just head on over to GROUPON!

Save Mart (8/31-9/6)

There are some pretty good deals at Savemart this week.  You can find the entire match-ups HERE and HERE.  But I thought I'd highlight some of my favorite deals.

*****4-day Sale (Fri.-Mon.)*****
Sweet White Corn - $0.14 each

Lean Ground Beef - $1.99/lb

Heinz Ketchup, 40 oz.- $0.99 with in-ad coupon
$0.50 from 8/21 RP
Final Price: $0.49

Kingsford Charcoal,  16 lbs. - $4.99 with in-ad coupon
$3.00 from Safeway MDA booklet
Final price:  $1.99

*****Regular Sale*****
Old Orchard Juice - $2.00
$2.00 printable coupon (Facebook)
Final price:  FREE

Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, $1.99/lb.
(Not advertised but that's what it was priced when I was there Fri.)

Kimberly Clark Promo. - Spend $40.00 in qualifying items, Get $10.00 Catalina
Deal idea:
Buy 3 Cottonelle Toilet Paper, 12 ct. - $6.99 each ($20.97)
Buy 2 Viva Paper Towels, 6 ct. - $6.99 each ($13.98)
Buy 2 Kotex, variety - $2.99 each ($5.98)
=$40.93 before coupons

Use (3) $1.00/1 Cottonelle from Safeway booklet in 08/28 paper
Use (2) $1.00/1 Viva from Safeway booklet in 08/28 paper
Use (1) $4.00/2 Kotex from Safeway booklet in 08/28 paper
=$31.93 OOP, get $10.00 coupon back

My stock-up price is usually $0.25/roll for t.p. and $0.50/roll for paper towels.  This deal puts them a little bit higher than that BUT I haven't been able to stock up on good-quality papergoods for quite awhile.  Maybe my stock-up prices are changing with rising prices?! 

With this deal I figure it's like paying the following prices when all is said and done:
$4.39 per 12-pack toilet paper ($0.37/roll)
$4.39 per 6-pack paper towels ($0.73/roll)
FREE Kotex

(Thanks, The Frugal Find and My Frugal Adventures!)

Safeway Coupon Booklet: $16 in Kimberly Clark Manufacturer Coupons

We got little coupon booklets in the 8/28 Sunday paper from Safeway.  These have some GREAT manufacturer coupons inside:

$1.00/1 U by Kotex
$4.00/2 Kotex pads, lightdays, or tampons
$1.00/1 Cottonelle Ultra 12-pack
$1.00/2 Kleenex 75-90 ct. or 200 ct. +
$1.00/1 Viva Towels 6-pack
$2.00/1 Huggies Wipes 320 ct. +
$3.00/1 Huggies Diapers, Box 48-96 ct.
$3.00/1 Pull-Ups or Goodnites

I used some at Raley's last week and some this week at Savemart.  Let us know if you see any other good deals that match up to these coupons!

Scolari's: C&H Sugar $0.37/lb.

We've got some SWEET stock-up prices on sugar this week at Scolari's.  This week (8/31-9/7) the 4-lb. bags of sugar are on sale for $2.99.  Use the $0.75 coupon from the 8/28 RP (taking off $1.50 when doubled) and pay just $1.49 for four pounds of sugar, or $0.37/lb.

C&H Sugar, 4 lb. - $2.99
$0.75 from 8/28 RP
Final price:  $1.49 (or $0.37/lb.)

Below are other stores' prices for comparison so you can see that this is a GREAT price.

LDS Cannery, 25 lbs. - $21.15 (or $0.85/lb.)
Costco, 50 lbs. - $30.49 ($0.61/lb.)
Smith's Case Lot April 2011, 40 lbs.- $18.90 ($0.47/lb.)

Planter's Peanut Butter - $0.73 a jar!

There are stock-up prices on Planter's Peanut Butter this week at Walgreen's (8/29-9/3) or Sak n Save (8/31-9/6). 

Walgreens
Planters Peanut Butter, 16.3 oz. - 2/$3.00
(2) $0.75 from 8/21 SS
Final Price:  $0.75 each WYB 2

Sak N Save
Planters Peanut Butter, 16.3 oz. - $1.48
$0.75 from 8/21 SS
Final Price:  $0.73

Comparison pricing of Skippy at Costco:
Costco, 96 oz. - $8.39 (or $1.42/16.3 oz.)

The stock might be running low at these stores, so don't forget you can price match either of these ads at Walmart and get the same deals.  Happy PB&J's!

August Savings

Well, I completed my challenge for the month of August.  I tracked how much I spent and saved on household items for the entire month.  It was actually kind of fun and I realized just exactly how much I truly do save by using coupons and shopping the sales.

Total spent in August:  $229.38
Retail Value:  $668.15
Total saved in August:  $438.77, or 76% saved

These numbers seem right to me.  Before I was couponing, I spent between $100.00 - $200.00 a week on household items (food, toiletries, diapers, cleaning supplies, etc.)  Since couponing, I figured I spent about $75.00 a week on household items, but I wasn't completely sure because I never really kept track.  Now I know and I am excited that I did so well this past month!

I learned a lot by doing this.  Keeping track of my spending and savings made me very aware of how much I was spending and in turn I wanted to spend as little as possible.  It really made me think before I purchased something.

I am going to continue keeping track of my spending/savings because I think my spending will vary from month to month, depending on what I am stocking up on and what I already have stockpiled.  For example, I didn't buy diapers at all this month because I had already stocked up months ago.  This month I stocked up on wipes so that won't be an expense in months to come.  I'm curious to see how it fluctuates.

My mom emailed me her tracking spreadsheet for the month and she saved about 50%  even after including a meal for 50 at a family reunion!  Want to join the challenge and keep track of how much you save?  Feel free to download the spreadsheet I am using HERE.  (The formula is set up so you just have to enter how much you spent and how much you saved and it will calculate the retail amount automatically.)

Raley's Deals (Ends 8/30)

Raley's had some pretty sweet deals this week.  You can find all the match-ups HERE and HERE. 

The deals I did today include this promo:

Buy 3 of the following Kimberly-Clark products, Get a $5 Raley’s Giftcard
Huggies Diapers, PULL-UPS Training Pants or Goodnites Underwear 12-50-ct. – $8.99
Kotex, U by Kotex Pads, Tampons, Liners 14 to 64-ct. – $2.99
Huggies Baby Wipes refill 184 to 216-ct. – $5.49
Depend Underwear & Poise 14 to 72-ct. – $11.99


I did the deal below twice (bought six in one transaction) and got 2 $5 Raley's Giftcards.

Buy (3) Kotex Products – $2.99 each ($8.97)
$4.00/2 Kotex from Safeway booklet in 8/29 newspaper
$1.00 Kotex 7/24 SS or $1.00 printable or $1.00 from Safeway booklet in 8/29 newspaper
Final price:  Pay $3.97, Get a $5 Raley's Giftcard!!!

All 2x Liquid Laundry Detergent 50-oz. - $3.50
Snuggle Liquid or Fabric Softener 32-oz. – $3.50
Clorox Bleach 82 to 96-oz. – $1.99
Save an additional $2.50 when you buy one of each (store promo, comes off automatically)
$0.25/1 Clorox bleach 8/21 SS
$1.00 All Detergent from Safeway MDA coupon booklet
$1.00 Snuggle from Safeway MDA coupon booklet
Final price:  $4.24 for all 3, or $1.41 each!

Tropicana O.J. - $3.99
$2.49 store coupon (takes off $1.50)
$2.00 Tropicana emailed to me from Trop. Rewards
Final price:  $0.49

GRAND TOTAL:  $14.56, Got $10 in Raley's Giftcards

(Thanks, My Frugal Adventures and Frugal Find!)

Hurricane Buy List...Preparing for emergencies

I thought this article was interesting, especially for anyone gearing up for a hurricane!  I personally am not currently getting ready for a hurricane, but I think the following list has good things to think about for any emergency.

It is time to invest in Hurricane Irene. That does not mean to buy stocks, oil, or precious metals. It means spending money to make sure you can ride out the storm. Your total cost will vary, depending on what you already have in stock. (Which is why I love stocking up BEFORE the storm, preferably with a sale and coupon!)


1. Save your financial life. Get a a water-proof case for key financial records, stock certificates, and personal records. A large cooler will do, if it can be securely sealed.


2. Get your cellphone and PC ready. Each may come in handy if you are trapped indoors for a couple of days. And if you lose electricity, products like the "Power Monkey" ($50) could come in handy. Some come with the ability to use the sun to charge the device.


3. Get some cheap walkie talkies. These can definitely keep you in touch with loved ones for up to a mile if you have to make it out into the storm in an emergency.


4. Three flashlights should be enough for two or three days with new batteries in them. And, you probably already have a flashlight somewhere. Spend a few dollars on new batteries.


5. Get a mobile inverter for your car. It connects to a car's battery or through the cigarette lighter Make sure you have jumper cables in case you need to charge the battery in the SUV that might be needed to travel in the storm. The car battery will last longer if the car is running, so, don't forget to fill up your tank. That tank of gas may be the most expensive thing on the list because regular is still about $3.60 most places.


6. Buy some food. You probably already have items like protein powder, tuna, can soup and pasta in the kitchen. Make sure you have enough non-perishable food to last three or four days.


7. Everyone needs toilet paper. Eight rolls will probably cost less than $10. While you're at it, get some paper towels, too.


8. Load up on plastic garbage bags. They're good for garbage, and to put up on windows if the glass is broken by high wind. Two big packages might cost $20.


9. Fill your tub(s) with water. Clean them first. The water may be absolutely necessary. Depending on what your city or town charges for water, the cost may be a few cents. If you have a well, it's virtually free.


10. Keep a few hundreds dollars in cash. You may need it if you run out of essentials and ATM machines are not working for whatever reason. It may seem like a lot of dough, but if you don't spend it, you don't loss a dime - except for a fee you might pay for get the money from a cash machine that is not at a branch of your bank.


11. Sandbags. These are expensive, but some stores are already selling out as customers stock up. In many cases, municipal authorities, local fire or police offices, or state disaster relief organizations give these out.


12. Generators. These are also pricey. But, if you don't have a car battery or solar power, they may be necessary. Sears sells them for as little as $429.99. And, you can keep them for the next time a storm or summer power outage pulls the plug on your electricity.


The full article can be found HERE.

My Shopping: $21.42

It has been a very long time since I've shopped like this!  It was fun but boy am I exhausted.


Raley's (Deals posted HERE)
Black Angus steaks:  $1.92
8 Corn: $0.96
Total:  $2.88

Scolari's (Deals posted HERE)
Tyson Chicken Nuggets:  $2.00
Sara Lee Bread:  $1.18
Total:  $3.18

Safeway (Deals posted HERE and HERE)
1 Gain Detergent: $3.99
2 Gain Dish Soap: $0.49 each
8 roll paper towels: $3.50 (clearance)
3 Marie salad dressing: $0.74 each
Total:  $8.49

Smith's (Deals posted HERE)
7 Spaghettios:  $0.36 each
1 Sunny D: $0.49
2 La Victoria Salsa:  $0.99 each
4 Ortega Tostadas:  $0.32 each
2 Ortega Taco Shells:  $0.32 each
Total:  $6.87

Total Cost:  $21.42
Price before sales and coupons:  $86.68
Total amount saved:  $65.26

Walmart: Rockin' the Produce

I was at Walmart today and some of their produce is still priced low!

Peaches still $0.50/lb.
Blueberries still $1.00/pack
Strawberries were $0.75/lb.!

Also, I was able to get Welch's jam for $0.18!  Every Wednesday in August Welch's gives away 1,000 coupons for $1.50 on their Facebook page.  I printed two of those babies and used them on my boys' favorite jam, priced at $1.68 at Walmart.

Welch's Grape Jam - $1.68
$1.50 printable coupon (Facebook)
Final price:  $0.18

Did I mention I'm also going to mail in my receipt to get a free sandwich keeper for buying two Welch's jams?

Scolari's: Amerigas Propane Exchange $8.99!

The propane on the barbecue is running low!  I noticed that Scolari's is advertising their propane exchange at $15.99 this week.  Throw in a rebate and coupon and we've got a sweet deal!

AmeriGas Propane Exchange - $15.99
$2.00 printable coupon (no longer available)
$5.00 mail in rebate
Final price:  $8.99!

Even without the coupon it's a good deal.  If you see a lower price on these exchanges around town, please let us know.  I only know the price at Scolari's because it's advertised this week in their ad.

We also use propane for our portable heater (if you're a charcoal kind of griller...)  It's a great food storage/emergency preparedness item to have on hand.

Ben Franklin: 70% off Going out of Business

I just got a call from Cynde that Ben Franklin Crafts in Sparks (530 Greenbrae Dr.) is going out of business and everything in the store is 70% off.

She was able to score LOTS of cute fabric and mentioned there are still scrapbook supplies and shelving too. If you're needing crafting materials you may want to head over!

Cynde said they are planning on being open for one more week and closing 8/13. The phone number is 775-331-5755 if you want to call first or get more information.

(Thanks, Cynde!)

Couponing Success!

WOW! I am blown away and smiling from ear to ear.  Look at this couponing success story.  These are the results of my Uncle Rick couponing after just one week. 

I am so impressed.  After one week he's saving 50-75% at the stores.  Way to go Rick!

Let this be inspiration for anyone wanting to start couponing.  You can do it!

Grassroots Books: FREE Books for Everyone

Right now Grassroots Books if offering a free book for everyone!  For more information, visit their site HERE.

(Thanks, Cynde!)

I'll never forget the time my oldest son declared loudly at Grassroots Books, "This is the best day of my life!" when he received a Harry Potter book for free.  Silly boy.

$2.00 off Pork Ribs Coupon

I don't often see coupons for meat so I was excited when I saw this!

$2.00 off any fresh or frozen Pork ribs (2 lbs. or more)

Ending tomorrow (8/3) at Scolari's the Pork Spareribs are $1.49/lb.
Starting tomorrow (8/3) at Save Mart the Pork Spareribs are $1.77/lb.

Starting tomorrow (8/3) at Raley's the Pork Spareribs are BOGO. 

Can't wait to see if this makes for a good deal!

Breck's $25.00 Free Bulbs!

Today in the mail I received a catalog from Breck's.  They sell flower bulbs, which are my favorite to plant because I bury them once and never worry about them again.

On the front of the cover was a $25.00 gift coupon.  I used it to buy a bag of 20 tulip bulbs for $15.99 and it even covered the $7.95 shipping.  Hooray for free!

(The tulips I ordered!)

It might be worth requesting a free catalog from the Breck's website to see if you get the same coupon on your cover!

Walmart: PRODUCE Rollbacks!

Today I was shopping at the Walmart on Pyramid and noticed some of their produce was a GREAT PRICE!  I was thrilled to see fruit so low.  It's usually something I have to pay full price for.

Cucumbers - $0.20 each

Blueberries, 10 oz. - $1.00 each (was $2.98)

Blackberries, 10 oz. - $1.00 each (was $3.48)

Peaches - $0.50/lb.

Cherries - $1.50/lb. (was $2.98/lb.)


They also carry the trial-size Cascade at this location for the following deal.
Cascade Complete All-in-1 Action Pac, 3 ct. – $0.97
$1.00 Cascade Product from 7/31 P&G
Final price:  Free

I don't know if other Walmart locations will have the same pricing but it's worth a look!

Monthly Savings Tracker

I had a friend come by last week while I had coupon inserts, scissors, and piles of coupons spread across my table. She asked me how much money I saved by using coupons and I didn't have an answer better than "lots."

It really got me thinking and I've given myself a challenge. I'm going to track my savings during the month of August.

If you're up for the challenge, I'm posting a link to the excel spreadsheet I made. It's really basic, but I thought I'd share what I'll be using.  I'd love to hear at the end of the month how much you've saved!

The Monthly Savings spreadsheet can be found HERE.  There is an example at the top so you can see how to fill it in.  This can be downloaded by going to File, Download, and then using the spreadsheet to fill in your own numbers.

FREE Clothing Fair - Saturday August 6th

(picture credit)

The Annual Sparks Stake Clothing Fair is this week! This is a great opportunity to clean out your closets and donate unused clothing, as well as "shop" (for no charge) for clothing items for you and your family.

Clothing donations can be dropped off at the LDS church (2955 Rock Blvd, Sparks, NV) any time from 2:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 5th.

"Shopping" is open to the community from 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m on Saturday, August 6th.

You do not have to donate clothes to be able to shop. You do not have to show ID, be a member of this church, or give your firstborn child. There are no strings attached.

I've been to this clothing fair before when my boys were moving up in size and I needed a few things that fit. The clothing was arranged by size and it was fun to sort through and find treasures. It's like my boys keep quoting from Bedtime Stories, "For FREEEEEEE? Sounds good to MEEEEEE!"

Hope to see you there and feel free to spread the word to your friends and neighbors!

Zucchini Bread

(My boys of summer enjoying a slice of zucchini bread.)

I missed the boat on my garden this year. I managed to get a few things planted before prego sickness hit but nothing like usual.

Lucky for me, I have generous gardening friends. When Sheila brought me a beautiful zucchini earlier this week, I knew I wanted to turn it into some yummy zucchini bread.

I found an AMAZING recipe on allrecipes.com that turned out so moist and yummy. The recipe makes two regular-sized loaves but I'm sure it would make great muffins or mini loaves too.

This bread also freezes well if you're wealthy in the zucchini department (which many people tend to be this time of year) and need to use it all up.

You can find the recipe HERE. Enjoy!

It's Been a Long Time...

since I've been on the blog. It's been a long time since I've been couponing! In fact just this week I eased myself back in with a little Walgreen's shopping.

You see, we're having another baby around here! With pregnancy comes sickness for me, so we've been laying extremely low. I'm hoping to be feeling back to my normal self very soon.

While I've been sick and not able to do much, I've thought a lot about how nice it is to have a stockpile for times just like these. I couldn't even look through the grocery ads without feeling ill...there was no way I was stepping foot inside a store!

Willie would bring home milk, bread, fruits & veggies, (and odd cravings I had now and then) but I'm sure he's glad he didn't have to do the FULL shopping for our family of six. He had enough on his plate caring for us while I've been down for the count.

I also figure having our stockpile on-hand saved us money. Had Willie needed to purchase typical needs for our home, he would have stopped at the closest store on his way home from work. No time for bargain shopping! Buying diapers, wipes, toiletries, and food all at full price would have really put a ding in the budget.

Once again, buying ahead when things are on sale and saving them for when needed (so you don't have to pay full price!) has saved the day. I've missed couponing and I'm excited to get back in the game!

I probably won't be blogging very often. There are so many couponing blogs out there, why repeat it all? Plus, my friend Jill (who often did posts for the blog too) has moved, leaving me once again to be a lone blogger.

On the sidebar is a list of my favorite blogs if you need more to read, and I was just emailed about this new one too if you want to check it out. It's called The Swap and it's a blog done by local Northern Nevada gals looking to swap info about great deals.

Happy couponing!

Save Mart (5/18-5/24)

There are a few good deals worth mentioning this week at Savemart! This sale ends Tues. 5/24.

Strawberries, 1 lb. - $0.97 (Fri., Sat., Sun. ONLY)
If you missed this, Wal-Mart had them at $1.00/lb. when I was there.

Iceburg Lettuce - $0.37 each!

Guerrero Corn Tortillas, 30 ct. - $1.39
$1.00 printable coupon (register, log-in, then print)
Final price: $0.39 each!

Bar-S Jumbo Meat Franks, 16 oz. - $0.78 with in-ad coupon
$1.00/2 printable coupon
$1.00/2 from 5/22 RP
Final price: $0.28 each!

I'm a Groupon Junkie

I think I'm officially hooked on Groupon. I just can't help myself. There are two deals right now that are awesome.

#1. $150.00 for 6 Laser Hair-Removal Treatments at Sierra NV Wellness Center in Sparks. This is an $894.00 value! The site says it's for new clients only and valid only for forehead, lip, chin, ears, toes, or underarms. Must use all treatments on same area. What a smooth way to get smooth!

#2. $25.00 for $50.00 at Coldwater Creek. This is showing up in Kansas City, but it's a national deal and you can use it online so you can purchase it no matter where you live. I'm saving mine for a great sale!

To get in on these deals just head on over to GROUPON!

Safeway: Strawberries $0.33/lb!

Be sure to log into your Safeway Just for U account (or sign up for one if you haven't already) to check your "personalized deals."

If you have strawberries priced at $2.49...you are in luck! Add the price to your card and take advantage of the Buy 1 Get 2 Free deal that is going on through Tuesday (4/19).

Here's the GREAT part...for some reason it rings up all 3 pounds for a total of $0.99! That is just $0.33/lb. Talk about sweet.

It gets even sweeter if you use the $1.00 off $5.00 coupon from the Simple Nutrition pamphlet (I found mine at both customer service and at a display by the shopping carts).

Happy jam making!!

Thanks, The Frugal Find.

Yummy New Groupon: $5 for $10.00 worth at U-Swirl!

This isn't turning into a Groupon Site, I promise. BUT I have been wanting to go to U-Swirl! Now is my chance...I just bought 2!

Pay $5.00 to get $10.00 worth of frozen yogurt at U-Swirl. Just go HERE.

Expires Jun 15, 2011 Limit 2 per person, may buy 1 additional as a gift. Limit 1 per visit. Not valid with frequent buyer cards. No cash back. Not valid with other offers.

Pump It Up: $2.40 a Visit with GROUPON!

Right now over at Groupon you can purchase a voucher for 10 visits to Pump It Up for $24.00! That's only $2.40 a child! Guess where we're going over Spring Break?!

You can use the 10 passes all at once or spread it out over multiple trips.

The pass doesn't expire until August 31st.

Any of my play group friends reading this?

To buy this deal just go HERE.

(Thanks, Natalie A.!)

Nestle Pure Life Water $1.54/case at Smith's!

Water is an essential for life and a good thing to store in case of any type of emergency. There is a good deal on water going on right now at Smith's.

The 24-count Nestle Pure Life water bottles are included in the Buy 10 Save $5 promo. at $2.79. (See other items included in this sale HERE. Thanks, Centsible Sisters!) You will need to throw in 6 other items included in the buy 10 save $5 promo. to get the $2.79 sale price on the water. Think of using 6 free pasta or $0.39 Powerade...

There is also a Catalina Promo. running on this water until 4/3/11. When you buy:

2 cases - $1.00 back on your next order

3 cases - $2.00 back on your next order

4 cases - $5.00 back on your next order.

So basically when you combine the sale with the Catalina, you end up paying $1.54 per case (about 6 cents per bottle)!

Here's the breakdown:

Buy 4 cases of Nestle Pure Life (24 ct.) at $2.79 each - $11.16

+ price of 6 other participating products

Total price: $11.16 + price of other items, Get $5.00 back

You can then use this $5.00 Catalina to buy four more cases of water (and 6 other promo. items) to pay $6.16 out of pocket on the water and get another $5.00 Catalina back.

If you happened to print the coupons availabe last month for this water (no longer available) your deal will be even sweeter!

WATER STORAGE

Want to know how much water your family will need? HERE is great booklet from FEMA. They suggest storing at least one gallon of water per person, per day, for two weeks. (Each person needs 14 gallons of water.)

14 gallons of water = 106 bottles

(Thanks, Prepared LDS Family and Centsible Sisters!)

GROUPON: $5 for $10 worth of books, music, movies at Grassroots Books!

I've posted about the GREAT deals to be found at Grassroots Books (fabulous used bookstore) before and now it's even better!

For $5.00 you can get $10.00 worth of books, music, or movies. This is a sweet deal because their prices are already reasonable. The books run from $0.99-$2.99, VHS tapes are $0.99, and DVDs are $3.99, or three for $10.

I'm excited that it can even be used at their monthly warehouse sales (when more than 10,000 items are $0.99 each). There's nothing better than a deal on top of a deal!

The coupon has a one-year expiration date and only one coupon can be used per visit.

To get in on this deal, just head on over to GROUPON!

(Thanks, Janet!)

Warehouse Booksale

Thanks to Shirley for sending me the information on this library booksale!

This weekend (March 12 and 13) there will be a booksale to benefit the Washoe County Libraries at 125 Gentry, Reno.

Here's the info from the Friends of the Library website.

Warehouse Booksale:

Friday & Saturday, March 12 & 13
Friends Warehouse, 125 Gentry Way, Reno

In these tough economic times, Friends Booksales are great opportunities to take advantage of a wide selection of inexpensive books, movies, and music, and at the same time help the library. Prices start at just 50 cents, with with ficton, non-fiction, cookbooks, children's books, books about Nevada and the West, and lots of jigsaw puzzles, as well as loads of "nearly new" books and both rare and autographed collectibles.

This all volunteer, non-profit group's sales are generally offered on the second weekend of the month, rain, sleet or snow, at 125 Gentry Way (off South Virginia) in the rear of the building.

For additional information, call 324-5522 or see the website HERE.

Read Across America

If you need something free to do on Saturday morning, you may want to consider going to Target for their Read Across America celebration. There will be read-alouds, treats for the kids and there should be coupons for the grown-ups. I've taken my kids before and it certainly wasn't a Broadway production, but it was something to do that took us out of the house. Saturday, February 26th, from 9-11am.

Grand Sierra Resort: 2 Free Nights!

(Update: I guess now the code is not working for locals. Sorry! I booked our rooms back in January and the total balance was $0.00.)

You can get up to two FREE nights at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino using the code 2FCH at checkout.

This offer works for dates now through March 31, 2011. Some dates are already sold out and it looks like it doesn't work over the weekends, weekdays only from what I can tell.

When you get to the main page of the GSR website just click on your arrival and departure dates (up at the top) and add the offer code in the third box. Voila! Free room! I did have to enter my credit card information but my grand total was $0.00.

We're going on a family vacation staycation next week to the Grand Sierra Resort! There's lots to do there: bowling, movies, laser tag, arcade, golf, go karts, ultimate rush, and spa. Sounds like fun!

Hallmark: $1.00 Sale

Thanks to Sofia for the information on this sale she found! The Hallmark store at 4945 South Virginia Street is having a dollar sale. There was a large section of items that were all marked down to $1.00.

Sofia was able to pick up some awesome Halloween boxes (they look like treasure boxes and make sounds when opened) and Christmas newsletter kits for just $1.00 each. If you're in the neighborhood it may be worth a look!

(Thanks, Sofia!)

True Story

Main Character: Me (Jill)
Setting: Scolari's, Wednesday at 7:30 pm
Story:
With coupons as my shopping list I grab a cart. I peer over to the checkstands to see who my checker will be. A young girl--probably okay. I grab my 3 packs of meat, a box of brownie mix, 3 boxes of cereal, 3 bags of Chex Mix, 3 packages of Buitoni,
3 boxes of Hefty baggies and milk. The club prices should add up to over $50 so I can use my $5 off of $50 coupon and then I'll give coupons. It worked before. Sure enough, things were going fine. The $5 coupon came off just fine and then I handed my stack of coupons to be doubled, hopefully to get the Buitoni, the Chex Mix, and the baggies for free. Yeah!
And then things went sour. The checker (we'll call her T) glanced at the bagger (we'll call him R) and nodded for him to come over. They grabbed a calculator and slowly began flipping through my coupons. They pulled out the register tape and looked at item #1, cereal. They held a mini-conference and at last surfaced from their collaberation to have T scan the coupon and double it. Cereal. $0.99. Then they went to work again. . .
I think--"Hello? I'm standing right here. You could certainly say something to me." So I ask, "Is something wrong?"
R says, very snottily, "Some people have been using counterfeit coupons to totally scam us."
"Counterfeit?" I question.
R replies, "Well, not counterfeit, but some people are ripping us off. They're trying to get us to double the coupons so we pay them money."
I think--"You don't just mean 'some people' You mean me, because I totally want those products for free. That's why I'm here tonight."
I say--"What do you mean?"
Anyway, T calls up the manager who says, "We cannot pay you a penny when we double a coupon. We are losing money LEFT and RIGHT.'
I think--"You're the ones who offer to double coupons. Plus, how can you be losing money when your regular prices are astronomical and I see people paying that?"
I say--"Okay."
I then say that I don't want those items I intended to get free, thus proving to T and R that I was indeed one of those 'people' who was trying to scam them.
I quickly paid my balance for the remaining items and left. As I did the walk of shame to the exit I did not think, "Scolari's--I'm special everday." I thought, "Scolari's where you're treated like a thief."
I doubled checked the coupon policy when I get home and it does say that they won't double the coupons if they go into overrage. Fine, I get that. But would it have been so hard for T, upon seeing I had coupons, to say, "I just want you to know that if you have any coupons that will exceed the price of the item when doubled, we will only accept them at face value," rather than secretly discuss the prices of items and then accuse me of being a scammer and thief.

Moral of the story: Scolari's days of freebies are over and unless you want a public hand-slapping I would encourage you to not try this at your local Scolari's.

This Week's Deals

It looks like a pretty good shopping week!

*For the deals at Smith's go HERE. (Thanks, The Centsible Sisters!)
My favorite deals at Smith's this week include:
Cream Cheese - $0.49 ($1.00/2 coupon from booklet)
Kraft Singles - $0.49
Kettle Brand Chips - $0.49

*For the deals at Safeway go HERE. (Thanks, Krazy Coupon Lady!)
My favorite deals at Safeway this week include:
Grapes - $0.99/lb.
Mission Tortillas - $0.29 each
Single-serve Horizon Milk- FREE

(DAILY DEALS) Nabisco Crackers, $0.49, Tostitos $0.89, Safeway Salsa $0.69

*For the deals at Savemart go HERE. (Thanks, The Frugal Find!)
My favorite deals at Savemart this week include:
Kraft BBQ sauce - $0.50 each (WYB 10)
The expiration date on the BBQ sauce I bought today was March 2012...think 10 will last me all year?
Fuji Apples, 5 lb. bag - $1.99 ($0.40/lb.)

*For the deals at Raley's go HERE. (Thanks, My Frugal Adventures!)
My favorite deals at Raley's this week include:
Hefty cups/plates/one-zip bags - $0.25 each
(incase you were denied free ones at Scolari's!)

Happy Savings!

Scolari's Deals (2/2-2/9)

Here are the deals at Scolari's this week. Let me know if I've missed something!

Scolari's will double coupons (as long as the coupon doesn't say "do not double") up to and including $1.00! Three like-coupons can be doubled per transaction. View official coupon policy HERE.

Remember, Wednesdays are “double ad” days where both the current and previous week’s ad are honored. Enjoy the sales from two weeks on one day!

There are Scolari's internet coupons for $5.00 off when you spend $50.00 and $10.00 off when you spend $100.00. I was able to use the $5.00/$50.00 before coupons.

So after everything was scanned and I had handed over my club card, the total was $56.00. The first coupon I gave the cashier was the $5.00/$50.00 and then I gave the cashier the rest of my coupons. (Thanks, Jimmy!)

Land O Frost Lunchmeat, 16 oz. - $3.49
$1.00 from Joy of Football Safeway booklet
Final price: $1.49

Tyson Crispy Chicken or Buffalo Strips, Select Varieties 25-28 oz. - $5.99
$1.00 from 1/23 SS
Final price: $3.99

UNADVERTISED DEALS:

Chex Mix - $1.99
$1.00 from Joy of Football Safeway booklet
Final price: FREE

Buitoni Refrigerated Pasta, plain not filled - $1.99
$1.00 from 1/2 SS
Final price: FREE

Kettle Brand Chips - $2.49
$1.00 printable coupon
$1.00 from 1/2 SS
Final price: $0.49

Scolari's Coupon Policy

I've received several emails about the coupon doubling at Scolari's. Here is the policy from their website.

"Scolari's encourages customers to bring in manufacturer coupons. Scolari's will double manufacturer coupons up to and including $1.00. Offer excludes all liquor, tobacco, dairy regulated items, store coupons and coupons that exceed the value of the item. If the double portion of the coupon exceeds the value of the item the coupon will be taken at face value. If the coupon states "DO NOT DOUBLE" the coupon will be taken at face value. If a coupon exceeds $1.00 the coupon cannot be doubled and will be taken at face value. A maximum of three coupons for each coupon offering will be doubled per customer. All other coupons for that offering will be taken at face value."

In the past Scolari's was not strict in enforcing the "three of the same coupon" limit. However, it is clearly stated in their policy and the cashiers have tightened up on this rule, so I always buy only three at a time.

Lots of us are having a hard time with cashiers refusing to double a coupon because it will be one cent over the price of the item. (For example, an item costs $1.99 and a $1.00 coupon doubled would take off $2.00...which exceeds the value of the item.) Some cashiers don't mind/care/notice and some cashiers refuse to double coupons going even a cent over.

I can't imagine that one cent would truly make a difference. I've even offered to pay back a penny! I don't know what the store's opinion is on this since sometimes I can do it and sometimes I can't. You would think the system at the register would block it if it wasn't supposed to go a cent over, like take off the first $1.00 and when the coupon is doubled only take off 99 cents.

It would be nice to know what is and isn't allowed and for it to be consistent. For now, the issue of getting free items falls into the hands of your cashier.

My advice, choose your cashiers wisely. Try to fly under the radar. If you are only buying free things, the red flags will be waving. If you work your deals into other items, it's not so obvious. I guess we'll all just need to gear up to say, "OK, I just won't get those then," when a coupon won't be doubled.

I would love to hear your experiences with this!