Albertsons- spent $69, saved $150!! 70% savings!

If you're new to couponing, you probably focus mostly on the health and beauty products, but are mystified and intimidated by getting the same kind of savings on real groceries. Well, no more! I am declaring war on the groceries stores, and you should join my army! Above is a picture of my grocery haul for today. I spent $69 on over $220 worth of food. That's a 70% savings in a town with no double coupons!!!

Hopefully you know how to find the best prices in the store- use the weekly ad (in your mailbox) and match it up with your coupons, whether you already have them or you need to print them online. Many sights will do these matchups for you (www.saveathomemommy.com is great as she lives in Bakersfield and will give you local deals by store), but they mainly focus on the rock-bottom prices, and forget that you may not be able to eat off of 6 bottles of pasta sauce alone. So, you'll have to do your own homework as well. There are a few steps to making a money-saving list....

The key is to focus your shopping dollars into categories. First, plan to buy the items that are at "stock-up" prices- see www.thekrazycouponlady.com to learn more about stockpiling, its purpose, and -key- stockpile price points. Second, buy the items that are slightly higher than your stockpile price, but you have none of (this is obviously only for those who are just starting their stock like me.) It's better to pay a good, if not great, price now than to pay more later when you have to have it and you have zero stock. Third, buy the items you need to survive this week (or 2 weeks if that's how you shop). This will be determined by what you have on hand as well as what's on sale, combined to create menus. I know. This is getting complicated. Do your list in pencil, or like me, re-write it several times to check your numbers. If you feel you'll be over-budget, eliminate what you can from the 2nd and 3rd categories above. Try not to sacrifice the stockpile items, as this will pay off greater in the long run.

Now, I'm just starting out, so I can't claim to be an expert. That's why I encourage you to go check out my favorite sights listed above. I'm merely here to be an encouragement. They will show you the ropes.

For those of you interested, here's what I got today:

10- jars of baby food (coupon on 3 of them)

1- 12pack of toilet paper (sale, no coupon)

4- cans tomato sauce (sale, no coupon)

1- can diced tomatoes (sale, no coupon)

1- can coffee (sale, no coupon)

10- Lipton Knorr side dishes (sale plus coupon)

6- jars Ragu pasta sauce (sale plus coupon)

12- boxes Ronzoni pasta (sale plus coupon)

4- Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers (sale plus coupon)

8- bottles Wishbone dressing (sale plus coupon)

2- cans Las Palmas enchilada sauce (sale plus store coupon plus mfr coupon)

1- box Emerald Breakfast on the go (sale plus coupon plus doubler)

2- boxes of Lipton tea bags (sale plus coupon) > must have for my MIL when babysitting ;)

8- jars Peter Pan peanut butter (sale plus coupon) > not my preferred brand, but cheap!!

1- package of Weight Watchers cheese wedges >no sale or coupon, but needed for recipe

2- blocks of Albertsons cheese (store coupon in circular/weekly ad)

2- 1 lb packages of ground beef (store coupon from summer savings book)

1- 30 oz Rotisserie chicken ($0.99 with 10 Knorr sides purchase above)

2- yellow onions

1- 3lb bag of apples

What are you waiting for? Start saving money on real food!!

Check those clearance sections!

So, here are the deals that worked in Bakersfield this week....

Value $95.90

Spent $43.36

Earned $20.50 back in store rewards

True Cost $22.86 (76% Savings!)

Walgreens

Electrasol, 20 pk or Jet-Dry, 8.45 oz $3.49
Buy 1, Receive $1.50 Register Reward, Limit 1
$0.55/1 Finish Jet Dry Rinse Agent or Turbo Dry, any from SS 4/17
Pay As low as $2.94, Receive $1.50 Register Reward

Total OOP $3.23 with tax, earned $1.50 back in Register Rewards

Rite Aid

Colgate 360 Surround Toothbrush x 1
Sale Price: $2.99
Receive $2.00 +UP Reward
Use $1/1 coupon from May All You Magazine
Final Price as low as: FREE!

Crest Toothpaste $2.99 x 2
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 +Up Reward, Limit 2
$1.50/1 Crest Pro-Health or Sensitivity Treatment and Protection Toothpaste, 4 oz. or larger from PG 5/1
Pay as low as $1.49, Receive $2.00 +Up Reward
Final Price: $0.51 MONEYMAKER

Ziploc Storage Bags $2.00 x 2
Buy 2, Receive $1.00 +Up Reward, Limit 2
$1.00/2 Ziploc Bags, any from SS 4/3
Pay as low as $2.50, Receive $1.00 +Up Reward
Final Price: $0.75 each when you buy 2

Purex Laundry Detergent or Fabric Softener, or Clorox Bleach $1.97 x 1
$1.00/1 Purex Laundry Detergent, any 50 oz. – 100 oz. bottle from RP 5/1
Final Price: $0.97

Bottled Water and Protein Bar to keep me going- $2.65 (used as filler to bring total up enough to use a $3/$15 coupon I earned by taking a customer satisfaction survey online after last week's purchase)

Before UP Rewards $12.59- $8 in UP Rewards= $4.59 OOP, earned $7 new UP Rewards

Target

Transaction #1

Buy (2) Lipton Tea, 12 pack 16.9 oz. @ $5.99 each

• Use $2/2 Coupon from 5/1 Moments to Save booklet

• 
  

• Total: $11.18 with CRV, earn $5 gift card

Transaction #2

Ore-Ida Easy Fries Golden Crinkles – $0.99 (Regular Price) x 2
Use $2.00/2 Ore-Ida Frozen Potato Items Target Store Coupon (exp 6/18)
Final cost: FREE!

Up & Up Pain Reliever (24 ct) – $0.99 (Regular Price) x 2
Use $1.00/1 up & up Pain Relief Item (excl trial size) Target Store Coupon (exp 6/18)
Final cost: FREE!

Turkey Meatballs, normally $7.99, clearance priced $3.98 x 1

Healthy Choice, normally $1.79, clearance priced $1.52 x 1

Lean Cuisine, normally $2.69, clearance priced $1.88 x 1

Smart Ones, normally $1.52, clearance priced $1.95 x 1

Nivea Body Wash, sale priced $2.54 x 2

• used $1/1 Target coupon on each
• used $1/1 manufacturer coupon on each

Final cost: $0.54 each

Old Spice Body Wash Bonus Packs, normally $4, clearance priced $3.40 x 2

• Used BOGO Old Spice Coupon

Final cost: $1.70 for each bonus pack (or $0.85 per bottle of body wash

Total for Transaction # 2 $14.44- $5 Gift Card from Trans #1= $9.44 OOP

CVS

Speed Stick StainGuard Deodorant, 2.3-2.7 oz $2.99 x 1
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 Extra Bucks, Limit 1
$0.50/1 Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick from SS 5/1
Pay $2.49, Receive $2.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $0.49

Sure Deodorant, solid 2.6-2.7 oz $2.99 x 4
Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Use 4 - $1.00/1 Sure Anti-Perspirant from SS 5/15
Final Price: $0.50 each when you buy 2

Neutrogena Sunscreen $9.99 x 2
Use 2 $2.00/1 – Neutrogena Suncare or Sunless Product – (redplum.com)
Pay $15.98, Receive $10.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price $3 each when you buy 2

Total: $23.46 before Extra Care Bucks- 8.54 ECBs= $14.92 OOP, earned $12 new ECBs

Quality over quantity

My computer will not let me upload an image for some reason, but here's what's in my shopping cart this week....

The number of the items I found in stock that matched my coupons was not impressive, but the value and savings were extremely high. Since I just did my shopping yesterday, these deals should still be good...

Target (Total OOP $2.53)

Scotch Brand Scissors Home and Office, $1.49 (bought 2)
Use $1.00/1 – Scotch Scissors, Manufacturer Coupon – (target.com)
Or use $1.00/1 – Scotch Brand Scissors – (3m.com)
Final Price: $0.49

Jergen’s Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer, 2 oz $1.99 (bought 2)
$1.50/1 – Jergen’s Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer Products – (coupons.com) fill out the short survey
Final Price: $0.49

Walgreens (Total OOP $2.50, but I paid with RR's. Earned $4 RR's back)

Colgate Gum Defense or Advanced Toothpaste, 4 oz or Toothbrush $3.00
Buy 2, Receive $4.00 Register Reward, Limit 1
Use 2 $1.00/1 Colgate Total Toothpaste 4oz+ from Diabetes & You Spring 2011$0.75/1 Colgate Adult of Childrens Toothbrush, any excluding Colgate Plus and Colgate Extra Clean from SS 5/1
$0.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste, any 4 oz. or larger from SS 5/1
Pay As low as $4.00, Receive $4.00 Register Reward
Final Price: Free when you buy 2

Rite Aid (Total OOP $1.25 for tax, earned $1 +UP Reward

(Plus survey for $3 off my next purchase of $15 or more which I will definitely take since the cashier was so rude about me getting so much for free.)

Precise Heat Patch or Cream $5.00 (bought 2)
$5.00/1 – Tylenol Precise Product, Excludes Trial Size – (precisepainrelief.com)
Final Price: FREE

BreatheRight Strips $3.99 (bought 1)

FREE Breathe Right Strips

Total Value: $36, Paid $6.28. That's an 83% Savings!!!!

Still doing pretty good...

So, the odd thing about couponing is that you feel jipped when you have to spend more than 10% of the MSRP for the items you need. I have learned, however, that if you need it, and you get it at a significant discount, that is still a triumph. After all, the object is to save money, be a good steward of all the things/money that God gives you, and bless others extravagantly.

Here's this week's adventure in couponing. These deals should still be available through tomorrow.

CVS

Total Value $33.63, Out of Pocket $15.03 (55% Savings!), Plus received Extra Care Bucks $5.54

Pantene Shampoo, Conditioner or Styler {select varieties}
Sale Price: 2 for $6.97
Receive $1.00 back in Extra Bucks when you buy 2 (limit 1 offer/person)
Use $3/2 coupon from 5/1 P&G insert
Final Price when you buy two: $1.49 each

Pond’s Wet Cleansing Towelettes $5.99- BOGO (buy 2)
Use 2 $1.50/1 – Pond’s Towelettes (bricks.coupons.com)
Final Price: $1.50 each when you buy 2

Colgate MaxClean, SmartFoam, MaxWhite or MaxFresh, 6 oz $2.77 (buy 2)
Buy 1, Receive $2.77 Extra Bucks, Limit 2
$0.75/1 Colgate Toothpaste from SS 5/1
Pay $2.02, Receive $2.77 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $0.75 Moneymaker

I somehow only ended up with one Ponds coupon, but since I use these all the time, I went ahead and got 2. Hey, one was free and one was $1.50 off, right?

Target

Total Value $56.10, Out of Pocket $28.32 (50% Savings), Plus Awaiting $1.99 Rebate fm Freschetta

Transaction #1 (used $10 gift card earned on last week's purchases)

Weight Watchers Smart Ones $1.89 (buy 10)
$4.00/10 – Weight Watchers Smart Ones – (eatyourbest.com)
Pay $14.90, Receive $5.00 Target Gift Card
Final Price: $0.99 each when you buy 10

Milano Melts, $2.33 (buy 2)
$1.00/1 – Pepperidge Farm Milano Melts – (bricks.coupons.com)
Final Price: $1.33

Philly Cooking Creme $2.49

(used a $1.50/1 coupon)

Final Price: $1.49

Freschetta Pizza By The Slice $1.99 (buy 1 to try and investigate limits/household)
Free with Mail In Rebate inside Box
Final Price: Free After Mail In Rebate

Freezer Bag (forgot mine, and I didn't want to lose all this great frozen food) $1.99

Transaction #2 (used $5 gift card from Trans #1)

Huggies $19.79 and Huggies Wipes $5.99

Used $3.00 Manfacturer coupon + $3.50 Target Coupon+ the cashier applied the sticky coupon on the outside of the diapers box $1.00 (I told her not to since that's too many coupons, but she insisted.)

Walgreens

Total Value $18, Out of Pocket $10.98 (39% Savings), Plus Received $5 in Register Rewards

Head & Shoulders Shampoo or Conditioner, 13.5 or 14.2 oz $4.00
Buy 2, Receive $2.00 Register Reward, Limit 1
FREE Head and Shoulders 13.5 oz. Conditioner up to $4.74 when you buy one Head and Shoulders Shampoo, excludes trial size from RP 4/17
Pay $4.00, Receive $2.00 Register Reward
Final Price: $1.00 each when you buy both Shampoo and Conditioner

Cottonelle Toilet Paper, 12 ct. $5.00
Buy 2, Receive $3.00 Register Reward
Use 2 $0.50/1 – Cottonelle Toilet Paper, 4 pack – (cottonelle.com)
Or use 2 $0.50/1 – Cottonelle Toilet Paper – (bricks.coupons.com)
And use $1.00/1 – Cottonelle Toilet Paper from May Walgreens Coupon Book (will take off $1.00 for each package)
Pay $7.00, Receive $3.00 Register Reward
Final Price: $2.00 each when you buy 2

All in, I spent $54.33 for $107.73. That's a 50% savings, plus I got $10.54 to apply to next week's purchases. I'll get a check at some point for 2 bucks, and I got a lot of things I needed. So, even though it's not a 90% savings, I'd say, I'm still doing pretty good! ;)

Starting the Stockpile

Ok. I have to confess that until recently, I did not see the logic behind "stockpiling." Well, now I do. If something is dirt cheap, or better yet free, get a mess of them! Then, when you need it later, you don't have to spend full price. In order to avoid hoarding, simply acquire what you need for the next couple of months (the likely length of time before you can get that item for free again.) Or, better yet, when you have stocked up what your family can use, start donating! I can't wait to put together a box of full-size health and beauty products to take to the Rescue Mission.

So, here's some of my shopping this week to add to the "stockpile."

CVS:

Skintimate Moisturizing Cream Shave or Gel, 6-10 oz $3.49
Buy 1, Receive $2.50 Extra Bucks, Limit 1
$0.55/1 Skintimate Shave Gel from SS 3/27
Pay $2.94, Receive $2.50 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $0.44 (Bummer that the limit on this was one, but what a great deal!)

Stove Top Stuffing, 6 oz $0.77
$0.50/1 Stove Top Stuffing – (coupons.com)
Final Price: $0.27 each (I did this twice for a total of $0.54)

Clean and Clear Body Wash $2.99
Use Buy One Get One Free coupon from SS 3/27
and Use $2.00/1 Clean and Clear Product
Final Price: 2 for $0.99

Buy 4 Axe Shower Gel $4.50
Use 2 B1G1 Axe Shower Gel or Detailer from RP 3/27
Pay $9.00, Receive $5.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $1.00 each

I really wanted to do the KCL deals for Pledge, Physicians Formula, and Halls Cough Drops, but I just haven't been doing this long enough to have the necessary coupons.

I had ECBs from last week's purchases. (See previous posts.) That's the great thing about CVS- if you buy the right items with the right coupons, you can spend next to nothing on your purchases- just roll the ECBs to the next week! You cannot, however, pay tax with ECBs, so today for 6 bodywashes, 2 boxes of stuffing mix, and some shave gel, I paid $1.88!!! That was literally the change out of my van. A savings of 96%, plus I received $7.50 in new ECBs for next time. ;)

Rite-Aid:

American Greeting Card $0.99, buy 3
Use $3.00/3 – American Greeting Cards from Rite Aid Ad 3/27
Final Price: Free

Northern Ultra Toilet Tissue, 12 Pk $11.99

Sale $6.49 with Card (I would normally wait for a coupon to sweeten the deal, but if you need toilet paper.....)

I really wanted to do the KCL deal for Tums, but they did not have the type specified on the coupon I had. Not sure if they would have taken it anyway. Maybe I should have tried? I'm still new at this. ;) Obviously, the toilet paper brought my total savings down. I paid $6.99 which is a savings of 55%. Not bad!

Walgreens:

Huggies Wipes, 64 or 72 pk $2.50
$0.50/1 Huggies Baby Wipes, any 64 ct. or larger from SS 3/20
Final Price: $2.00 (again, this is not earth-shattering savings, but I will take it since we need wipes.)

2 Popcorn Snack, $0.75 each

Sale, $0.25 each

With tax, I paid $3.47, that's a 40% savings.

It's hard to remember that you don't have to go after every deal. It's also hard to accept when there is a deal that you want to go after, and you don't have the right coupons. There is always another sale tomorrow. Happy saving!

Link to The Krazy Coupon Lady

84% Savings Today. Get Saving!

If you're not already following www.thekrazycouponlady.com, start. This week she started a new blog feature that will show what deals she is going after, and she's going to start a "stockpile" from scratch. I've decided to follow her plan, adding and subtracting a few deals here and there to meet our needs, of course. ;)

Today's savings included a few special items that may not appeal to you, but you'll get the idea. If any of these sound good to you, jump in! Couponing is easy.

CVS:

2 Boxes of Wheat Thins, Reg $7.78/2, Sale $4/2, Used 2 Facebook coupons $1/1, Paid $1/ea

2 Boxes of Triscuits, Reg $8.58/2, Sale $4/2, Used 2 Facebook coupons $1/1, Paid $1/ea

2-12pack of Coke Zero, Reg $11.98/2, Sale $8.67 (usually wouldn't buy w/o coupon, but it triggered a $5 Extra Care Bucks, so it was really like paying $3.67 for 2-12 packs)

5 ct Allegra, Reg $7.29, Sale $6.99, Used web coupon $2/1, Paid $4.99 (this also triggered ECBs)

7.8oz Crest ProHealth toothpaste, Reg $5.49, Clearance $1.37, Used coupon fm paper $0.75/1, Paid $0.62

Total Value of Items: $43.54

Paid Out of Pocket: $11.70 (in addition to the coupons, I used $9 in Extra Care Bucks earned last week to get my total so low)

New Extra Care Bucks Received: $11.99

Total Cost: I actually made $0.29! Plus I got $9.25 in new coupons! (Don't forget to scan your Extra Care Card at the kiosk. Keep scanning until it says, "No more coupons available." This means you've received 1 of every type being printed at this time.)

Target:

Circo Socks for baby, Reg $1, Target coupon $1/1, Free!

Soft Scrub Total, Reg $3.49, Sale $2.49, Used $1.50/1 web coupon & $1/1 Target Coupon, Free!

Revlon eyelash curler, Reg $4.49, Used $2/1 web coupon & $2/1 Target Coupon, Paid $0.49

Exedrin 50 ct, Reg $5.99, Used $1/1 web coupon & $3/1 Target Coupon, Paid $1.99

Rimmel Mascara (deal is still going, so why not stock up?) Reg $2.99, Used $2/1 web coupon, Paid $0.99

Lunchables, Reg $2.50/ea, Sale 4/$5 + buy 4, get 1 free, Paid $1/ea (obviously bought 5)

Trident Layers gum, Reg $1.29 each, Used BOGO coupon fm paper & $1/2 Target coupon, Paid $0.30 for 2

Shadow Box Craft Kit (This was simply something I found on a clearance end-cap and snagged for a Christmas present. Always check the end-caps for great clearance items at Target!), Reg $14.99, Clearance $3.74

Total Value of Items: $50.08

Total Cost: $15.62 plus I received $10.50 in new coupons

Daily Total: $93.62 worth of merchandise for $15.33!

That's an 84% savings!

I can't wait to see how I can match up my $19.75 in new coupons with in-store sales to get more free stuff!!!