23 and Thrifty

Amazon Halloween Candy Deals! Just 15 cents or 8 cents each!

2012-09-20T01:07:00.000-05:00

Yep! Halloween is RIGHT around the corner! Better watch out! ;) I hate that last minute nudge to have to buy candy, and pay full price. If you welcome tricksters and treaters, you might want to snatch these candy deals on Amazon and save for Halloween trick or treaters! Or... just.... eat the whole box yourself by packing it in school lunches, smuggling into the movie theater, stashing it in your work emergency sugar drawer....

The Haribo Gold-Bears Minis, 72-Count Bags are $10.99 or $10.44 with Subscribe & Save. When you select Subscribe and Save you get FREE Shipping and score 5% off making it $10.44 or 0.15 cents each! You can cancel Amazon Subscribe & Save at anytime.

The Sour Patch Soft & Chewy Candy, Watermelon, 240-Count Package is $11.95 + $7.57 shipping (there's not a subscribe and save option to offer free shipping like the Haribo Gummi Bears) = $19.52 ($0.08 each) At .08 cents a pack--- that's an AWESOME deal! ;) And the watermelon ones are TASTY!

Thanks Fabulessly Frugal!

The Fashion Bug Bit Me! But I Didn't Break the Bank thanks to Goodwill!

2012-09-20T00:49:00.002-05:00

Okay, so girl's gotta SHOP! I have been on a Pretty Little Liars kick lately--- and I have to say I *love* Spencer & Aria's wardrobes. I was looking for a fun vintage shirt or something at the Daphne Goodwill today... well I didn't find a shirt, but I found a super cute BRAND NEW Merona purse from Target! And, yeah, you can sometimes find new items at thrift stores--- but you have to understand that I eyed this purse on numerous occasions at Target when it was $29.99, but never allowed myself to buy it.

So, Goodwill, and $5.99 later, this ostrich leather purse is mine! And did you know that the Daphne, Alabama Goodwill receives final markdown/clearance/closeout items from Target? They had super cute BRAND NEW items from Target, from ballet flats, purses, wallets, and clothing items that I can recall seeing in stores mid-summer! ;) I know that the Hudson's Treasure Hunt in Mobile is the same way with Target markdowns, but often Hudson's prices are equal to what you would have paid with them on clearance at Target... :/

Speaking of thrift stores, my top six tips:

1. Sanitize! This is a given, but you can find some AWESOME clothing items at thrift stores for pennies and maybe a few dollars! I am talking White House Black Market, Anthropologie, Ann Taylor, Calvin Klein, Free People, etc if you just take the time to look. Sometimes it can be a hunt, but nothing more fun than browsing... ;) Wash it, hot water! Although thrift stores do this--- it's always good and sanitary for you to do it yourself... or maybe I'm just OCD? ;)

2. Inspect the item. Another given. Typically thrift stores will sort through items to check for any damages, tears, etc, but sometimes they can be overlooked. Look at seams, look for stains, check zippers, inspect for all buttons, etc. I'd hate to waste even pennies or a dollar on something I couldn't even wear once because of stain, broken zipper, etc.

3. Think of "happy surprise" gifts! While in Goodwill today, I saw the Harry Potter books (all of them), the Twilight saga, and many more series they had organized next to each other on the shelf. Granted, they are "used" and may have a dog-earred page, but for someone who you know very well and loves books or hasn't gotten to reading them, they'd make what I call a "happy surprise" gift. Not the gift for Christmas or birthday, but a "Hey, I know you so well, and I saw this, and knew you had to have it!" ;) I also bought the first Charlene Harris True Blood Sookie Stackhouse book for a friend who wants to read it- $1.99. I'm pretty sure it'll make her day and get her started on the series of what, all 12-13 books?

4. Check and see if your thrift store offers discounts. I haven't checked since moving to see if any of ours do, but the ones in Montgomery, Goodwill offered a 20% off entire purchase coupon when you donated a bag of items, Faith Rescue Mission had happy hour every day with half off certain color tags, etc. Most all offer a senior day which is a discount too!

5. PINTEREST Ladies! Haven't you seen fabulous DIY crafts on Pinterest but you don't have that wooden crate shelf/curtain rod/old belts whatever to make it with? Keep on the lookout for fun items that you can repurpose a-la-Pinterest!

6. Feel pretty! Sometimes, when I get in these fashion buzz moods (Thanks Pretty Little Liars!) and I dont want to break the bank, I'll scope out thrift stores. Finding a cute shirt makes my day, and if it's only $2 and I wear it only 2 times, heck, that's a $1 a wear... and HOW MANY clothing items do we have in our closets that we paid full price for and haven't even worn or only worn once?

Cheers!

Today Only: 75% off Birthday Invites at CARDSTORE.com!

2012-09-12T11:48:00.002-05:00

Do you know someone with an upcoming birthday party? Cardstore.com has 75% off all birthday invites, today only, 9/12! There is a perfect little one I know who is going to LOVE these Elmo birthday invites! Use coupon code CAL2136 at checkout! After you personalize the perfect party invite, you can have Cardstore address and send them for you at no extra cost! Stop by Cardstore.com today and start planning a party that will be that your guests will be jealous you thought of first!

Cooking with Kraft Publix Coupons + FREE Mayonnaise scenario!

2012-09-12T11:05:00.001-05:00

There are some great Publix store coupons at the Cooking with Kraft website! I used some of these in my shopping trip yesterday at Publix!

Save $4/2 Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip Dressing 30 oz PRINTABLE

Save $6/2 Velveeta Cheese 32 oz PRINTABLE

B2G1 Coupon Oscar Mayer Bologna 16 oz, excludes Beef Bologna PRINTABLE

B2G1 Coupon Velveeta Shells & Cheese 12 oz or Kraft Deluxe Dinner 14 oz PRINTABLE

B2G1 Coupon Kraft Singles 16 oz PRINTABLE

B2G1 Coupon MiO Liquid Water Enhancer PRINTABLE

B2G1 Coupon Gevalia Coffee PRINTABLE

B2G1 Coupon MAXWELL HOUSE Coffee 10.5-11.5 oz PRINTABLE

AND for those of us with Publix new ad starting today, you can get FREE or cheap Mayonnaise, BUT you have to do it today as the $4/2 Publix coupon EXPIRES today!

Kraft Mayonnaise, 30 oz, BOGO $4.63

-$0.25/1 Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip, SS 08/19
-$4/2 Kraft Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip Dressing Publix Store Coupon printable (EXPIRES 9/12!)
-$1/1 Kraft Mayonnaise or Whipped Sandwich Spread, 22 oz+, Target Store Coupon printable
-$1/2 Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip Dressing SS 08/19
-$0.50/1 Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip Dressing SS 08/19

Buy two Kraft mayonnaise at BOGO $4.63, use one $4/2 Publix coupon and any of the manufacturers coupon (Not Target, you can't stack store [Publix] q's and competitor q's) = FREE plus moneymaker!

My Publix Shopping Trip $41.35 for $127.52

2012-09-12T10:41:00.001-05:00

Woo hoo! It's Wednesday, and a new sale at Publix! I realized I haven't posted a Publix couponing shopping trip in a while. Note that this is from LAST week, the sale that ended yesterday. Great savings all around! And, if you're looking for what great deals are out there this week (there's a bunch!), head on over to my favorite Publix matchup website, IHeartPublix.com and the I Heart Publix- Publix Ad and Coupons Week of 9/13 - 9/19!

2 boxes Magnum Double Caramel ice cream bars BOGO 3.99 - two $1 mfr q's = 1.00 each

1 bag Tostito's chips BOGO 4.99 = 2.49

1 pkg Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Smoked Turkey 1lb 5.99 - $1 store q = $4.99

1 pkg Oscar Mayer Selects Premium Beef Franks 5.69 - FREE product coupon from Facebook = FREE!

1 pkg Kraft Colby Jack Natural Sliced Cheese 2.99 - $1 mfr coupon = 1.99 PLUS...

1 loaf Publix bread hoagies 2.59 - FREE Publix Bread up to $3 wyb Kraft Natural Sliced Cheese = FREE

4 bags Knorr Rice Sides BOGO 1.49 = 2.98 - two $1/2 store q's = 0.98 for all 4

3 bags Gevalia Coffee 7.99 minus B2G1 store coupon AND B1G1 mfr coupon = all 3 for $7.99 (essentially made it buy one get two free with stacking coupons!)

2 boxes Velveeta large box cheese 6.39 each = 12.78 minus $6/2 store q AND $1/2 mfr q = $5.78 for 2

7 bottles of Mio water enhancer at 3.79 = 26.53 minus two B2G1 free store q and three $1 mfr q's and two $1/2 mfr q's = 13.95 for all 7

2 boxes Crystal Light on the Go BOGO 2.99 - $1 mfr q = 1.99 for 2

1 Sweet onion 0.88

1 Tomato 0.86

2 Bell peppers = 2.18

1 Iceberg lettuce 1.49

1 Publix gallon milk = 3.59

1 Publix sour cream = 2.50

1 Chi Chi Burrito tortilas sale $1.50

I was able to use four (4) $5 off $25 Save-A-Lot coupons since I had over $100 product pre-coupon. I don't like to use more than one per purchase, and that's why I normally split my trips up, but there's been a big fuss over those coupons and enforcement of competitor guidelines, apparently everyone does it, so my cashier friend made a few jokes at me, but understood!

Total product: $127.52

Minus $86.16 in coupons, bogo sale, and Publix savings

= paid $41.36 including tax

= total before tax $33.24

Smashbox: FREE Mascara!

2012-09-10T18:29:00.000-05:00

Woo hoo! Complete the first 3 challenges on the Smashbox Facebook page and score FREE Smashbox Mascara . There will be more freebies available when they release the next 3 challenges on 9/24 and on 10/1.

Thanks Mojosavings.commojosavings.com!

Let's Shop!

2012-09-09T21:45:00.000-05:00

It's a new sales week at the drugstores including CVS, Rite Aid, and Walgreens!

I've listed my favorite drugstore coupon match-up websites below. This is how I plan my deals- follow these guys on Facebook, sign up for their e-mail newsletters, or visit their site daily! These websites are FAB resources for how to play the drugstore couponing game! Check them out for the full coupon matchups, hot deals on clearances and unadvertised sales, and even awesome beginner couponing scenarios!

CVS:

Hip2Save.com CVS Weekly Matchup 9/9 - 9/15

Hip2Save.com CVS Deals & More

The Krazy Coupon Lady.com CVS Deals & More

The Krazy Coupon Lady.com CVS Extreme Couponing Scenario Under $5.00 Week of 9/9

RITE AID:

Hip2Save.com Rite Aid Weekly Matchup 9/9 - 9/15

Hip2Save.com Rite Aid Deals & More

The Krazy Coupon Lady.com Rite Aid Deals & More

The Krazy Coupon Lady.com Rite Aid Extreme Couponing Scenario Under $5.00 Week of 9/9

WALGREENS:

Hip2Save.com Walgreens Weekly Matchup 9/9 - 9/15

Hip2Save.com Walgreens Deals & More

The Krazy Coupon Lady.com Walgreens Deals & More

The Krazy Coupon Lady.com Walgreens Extreme Couponing Scenario Under $5.00 Week of 9/9

Show Me Your Stockpile!

2012-09-06T11:59:00.001-05:00

Somehow, in conversation with friends, it came up that I coupon. And the friends that know me well, know that I don't go overboard, stockpile, hoard, or clear shelves. First thing the other person asks, do you coupon like the TV show? Is your house filled with food/stuff everywhere? OMG. Why not? And every time it makes me *cringe*. Nope. In case you're wondering, here's my loot. It all fits in a pantry. Sure, sometimes it can be like a game of tetris. But you won't find a basement/garage full stocked like a Sam's Club or Costco.

And, this has become a big issue for me. I've had one or two little "soapbox sessions" you could say where I've planned a shopping trip, matchup and coupons in hand, often expecting a bump or two in the road with price differences and/or flavor offerings of items... only to find out that the shelves have been cleared. And lately, instead of trying to find where an item is at, I just look for the big gaping hole of where it should be. And I know to move on. Sure, some stores have rain check policies. But do you *really* need to clear out all three stores in the area of xyz?

Where I live, there's been chatter, buzz, scuttlebutt, whatever you want to call it- but gossip about a store's possible *new* coupon policy. And folks are getting upset. I for one, not knowing the changes, but more than likely, I will welcome the changes. One, because if a store has to re-evaluate their coupon policy, that means there's a need for change, for them. I'm hoping it will just be the *enforcement* of coupon rules and restrictions on items. Especially with competitor coupons. And people are upset because they won't be able to buy their 25 boxes of Mater shaped gluten free noodles. Because that's just how crazy some people sound to me sometimes stockpiling. :) Check out this video from TheKrazyCouponLady.com on Excuses Why People Don't Coupon--- Store Policys Keep Changing. #2 IS THE ANSWER! ;)

For a good read, I recommend reading the CouponProject's post on Ethical Couponing. Not everything is like the TV show.

B1G1 FREE Birthday Cards at Cardstore.com!

2012-09-04T14:24:00.000-05:00

YAY! I love Cardstore.com sales! All birthday cards are Buy 1 Get 1 Free at Cardstore.com! Use code: CAL2691, Valid 9/1 thru 9/30! If you haven't tried Cardstore.com products, I suggest you jump on board NOW! I don't even purchase greeting cards at the store anymore, I just order from Cardstore, and have gotten so many compliments! It even brightened my day to see that a recipient of one of my cards posted a photo of it to Facebook... and it got a whopping 20+ something likes from their friends! ;)

And what's better, now you pick out the perfect Birthday Card today, and schedule it to send up to a year later for your cousin's birthday. No more stock-piling generic birthday cards in that one drawer for future birthday needs, take some time to personalize the perfect card for each birthday coming up, and schedule them to arrive just in time for their birthday!

Couponing Thoughts...

2012-08-25T20:01:00.001-05:00

So I never thought this day would come. I am going to be one of those "crazy coupon people... who has a coupon binder".

I previously filed inserts, and has a small CD case to keep my coupons organized in... But I've realized the past three months that method isn't as organized, and not being organized made me not want to coupon, and resulting in not saving money.

So here goes to tossing stereotypes out the window! ;) Now I am one of "them crazy coupon people" with a coupon binder! Eek!

Happy Saturday!

2012-08-25T20:00:00.001-05:00

I had a good shopping week! Drugstore sales end tonight, and a brand new sale week starts tomorrow! Who's excited? Three newspaper inserts tomorrow (coupon value amounts vary by region).

My favorite haul from this past week's sales: six free nail polishes from Rite Aid! These will make cute gifts for some princesses and Tweens I know! ;)

Send Cards on the Go with the Cardstore.com iPhone App!

2012-08-25T03:43:00.000-05:00

Speaking of the FREE greeting card from Cardstore.com I posted about here, did you know Cardstore has an iPhone app?

The Cardstore Mobile app just turned them into the perfect places to send a real life greeting card straight from your heart, by way of your iPhone, to someone's mailbox. The NEW Free Cardstore App for iPhone is as easy as 1-2-3! Choose your favorite card, personalize it with a truly you, one-of -a-kind message and pics from your phone, and finish with your own finger-written signature. The rest you can leave to Cardstore. They'll stamp it, address it, and mail it for you! The selection of cards will make it fun and simple to find a card for any and every occasion. And get this, you can connect to Facebook reminders and never miss another birthday. Download the FREE Cardstore iPhone app Now and start sending smiles!

And, I LOVE the signature app! I was able to draw my signature with my finger on my phone, and save it to "sign" and better personalize my card too! ;) Yep, that's my digital signature on a card I snagged from a previous Cardstore deal! Wahoo!

FREE Card from Cardstore.com!

2012-08-25T03:34:00.001-05:00

Yay! Celebrate Grandparent's Day with a FREE greeting card from Cardstore.com! I adore my Meme Dean & Papa Tony and Memaw Bobbie & PawPaw Leroy and you bet I'll be snagging this deal! Grandparent's Day is Sunday, September 9th! Now through Sunday, 8/23, use coupon code CCK2248 and pick your favorite Grandparent's Day Card. Best of all, once it's signed with your X's and O's, Cardstore will print you FREE card, seal the envelope, stamp it, and send it for FREE!

Offer is good now through Sunday, 8/26/12 at 11:59pm ET. Use code CCK2248 at checkout!

No Drama Target Couponing Shopping Trip!

2012-08-14T14:38:00.001-05:00

Let me say, I almost gave up on couponing at Target. Since moving, I have had nothing but negative experiences when couponing at my local Target. Today I woke up and said, hey, I'm gonna try again. Well... I was able to get the following loot for $3.17 after gift cards, coupons, and a lil extra 5% savings from my Target Red Debit Card! I'll jot down the deals when I'm at my computer. :) But for now, I'm doing the happy dance!

75% Clearance Cold and Flu at CVS!

2012-08-07T22:44:00.001-05:00

Be on the lookout for clearance allergy, sinus, and cold and flu items at your CVS! I was able to spot many items both CVS brand and brand names 25-75% off! I noticed a lot of them did not expire until winter 2013 too! I picked up this CVS brand twin pack of cold and flu syrup for $2.34! Perfect for this summer cold I have now! ;) and perfect for this upcoming winter! No coupons needed, but if you have some CVS Extra Care Bucks you can use those too!

Enter to Win $200 Bel Air Mall Giftcard!

2012-08-07T07:18:00.000-05:00

For those in the Mobile & Baldwin County Alabama areas, how does a shopping trip sound? Enter the Price the Pack Contest from Bel Air Mall and be entered to win a $200 gift card to a retailer of your choice from Bel Air Mall! All entries will be eligible to win, regardless if the answer is correct! I like that! No math needed!

$3 Off Zzzquil Coupon from Vocalpoint!

2012-08-07T00:07:00.002-05:00

Are you a member of Vocalpoint? Head on over and request a coupon for $3 off Zzzquil by mail! If you know me, you know that I am definitely a night owl. New ZzzQuil™, from the makers of Vicks^® NyQuil^®, is a non-habit-forming sleep-aid you can count on to help you sleep soundly when you have occasional sleeplessness. With ZzzQuil™ you can sleep soundly so you can wake up feeling refreshed.

Since it's been out, we've seen great deals at drugstores on Zzzquil! This coupon should come in handy for those nights when you thought it was a good idea to drink Starbucks at 8 p.m.... ;)

And if you're not a member of Vocalpoint, I suggest you shimmy on over and sign up! Vocalpoint is THE best word-of-mouth program for free samples and trying new products! Vocalpoint regularly offers coupons or free samples from big brands like Kashi, Downy, Barilla, and whoever else wants access to our panel of women who aren’t afraid to share their opinion! You then use these coupons or samples and give your feedback. The best part: the brands actually listen to what you have to say. They’ll take the good with the bad—from "I love it" to "I couldn’t wait to chuck-it-in-the-trash".

Enter to Win Chuggington Prize Pack!

2012-08-06T21:46:00.001-05:00

If there's a little one in your life who loves trains, be sure to enter the Chuggington sweepstakes!You have the chance to win a Chuggington Prize Pack! Prizes include:

- Coupons for Luigi’s Italian Ice Treats

- Traffic safety vests for the winning trainee + 4 friends

- One (1) Wilson and The Ice Cream Fair DVD
- Five (5) Chuggington bubble flashlights
- Five (5) Chuggington bubble whistles
- One (1) $10 gift card from Cold Stone Creamery.

Be sure to enter to win a Chuggington Prize Pack, the contest ends August 8!

Thanks, MojoSavings!

2012-08-06T00:47:00.000-05:00

I had a little conversation with my grandmother today. She saves the coupons from the Sunday newspaper for me, but somehow or another I mentioned internet printable coupons. She found it so funny that you could print coupons from the internet. And it made me think about how coupons have changed over the years, and also, how she taught me to be frugal. And if you are not familiar with printing coupons, head on over to Coupons.com.

My top 3 tips for printing coupons:
1) Print on draft quality. (Edit in printer preferences)
2) Print in grayscale, as often black ink is cheaper than color ink.
3) Reuse/recycle paper. :)

Staples Back to School Savings! HP Ink Buy 2 Get 1 FREE through 7/28!

2012-07-25T00:42:00.001-05:00

My Staples Haul: $30.67 with tax! :)

Low in ink from printing coupons? Looking for back to school deals? Check out the great deal at Staples! I was able to score three (3) cartridges of HP black ink at B2G1 FREE!, two (2) packs of index cards for a penny each, two (2) packs of bookmarker stickies for $0.25 each, one (1) multi-pack of Sharpie highlighters for $0.50, and one (1) pack of pencil erasers for a penny for the grand total of $30.67 out of pocket including tax thanks to the sale and a $5/30 coupon- and no tricky rebates!

The ink is normally priced $15.99 per cartridge at Staples (comparable to Walmart), so it's like I got an extra ink cartridge and some office supplies for free! That works! The penny, quarter, and fifty cent deals were with a minimum purchase of $5, and did have limits, so please note. Head over to Hip2Save's Staples Back-to-School Match Up through 7/28 for the full run down! Also, My Memphis Mom has a great Back to School comparison shopping list for all the sales going on now too!

Please note, there is a $5 off $30 Staples coupon, but it states it is not valid on HP/Epson ink. :( I realized this at checkout when the lady asked me for the coupon she saw in my hand, and I admitted I didnt realize it excluded HP ink so I was going to leave it for her to give it to another customer (pass it along, the coupon fairy! ;) and she said something to the effect of that's sweet, honesty is great, and had the manager come over and override it! I was tickled! Your mileage may vary at your local Staples store, but hey, I was pretty thrilled with the buy 2 HP ink cartridges get 1 free sale and even more so pleased with their fabulous customer service!

And, my thrifty tip? Print your coupons in black and white ink--- and on "draft" quality. It allows me to print about three times as many coupons/documents needed. ;)

Cardstore: 6 Personalized Birthday Invites $5.14 SHIPPED!

2012-07-23T14:58:00.001-05:00

Who loves BIRTHDAYS? :) Cardstore is offering $5 off all Birthday Purchases of $10 or more now through August 1 when you use the code CWJ2723 at checkout! I peeked around, and you can get 6 personalized text & photo children's birthday invitations for $5.14 shipped to your door! They have numerous licensed characters including Elmo, Hello Kitty, Strawberry Shortcake, and more! Or, you could stock up on the remainder of your birthday cards for this year... and you can personalize each of them too! ;)

Tweet & Get $2 FREE Amazon MP3 Credit!

2012-07-23T13:16:00.002-05:00

Yay! You can score some *more* FREE music from the Amazon MP3 store! If you have a Twitter account, follow these instructions to get your free $2 Amazon MP3 Store credit! You can snag Justin Bieber's "Believe" album for FREE, or get Demi Lovato's "Unbroken" album for FREE and have $1.01 free credit to spare, or snag Zac Brown Band's "Uncaged" album for $1.99 out of pocket after your $2 credit!

The possibilities are endless! Search around and snag you some free music, or get a sweet discount on an album thanks to the credit! My iPhone sure is loving all this free music thanks to Amazon! ;) Road trip anyone?

Thanks Hip2Save!

Amazon: Scotch Thermal Laminator Combo Pack only $42.27 shipped!

2012-07-22T14:35:00.002-05:00

Calling all teachers and Pinterest project lovers! If you have been looking for a laminator, Amazon has the Scotch Thermal Laminator Combo pack for $42.27 shipped! It includes five (5) 8.5x11 inch pouches, four (4) 4x6 inch pouches and (3) 3x5 inch pouches! Amazon reviews rate it at 4.7 out of 5 stars! Looks like a good deal to me!

Plus, check out this super cute idea on Pinterest for paper dolls that you could make with a laminator!

Source: tpettit.best.vwh.net via 23 on Pinterest

LAST DAY for FREE Greeting Card from Cardstore.com!

2012-07-22T13:05:00.001-05:00

LAST DAY to snag a FREE greeting card from Cardstore.com! You can address and ship to the recipient for FREE or choose to ship it to yourself to hand deliver with a gift! Personalize your card, and after entering your shipping info, be sure to enter the PROMO CODE: CAJ2719 . Coupon expires on July 22 at 11:59PM Eastern Time zone.

There are some cute, funny, and sentimental cards too! I even spotted an Elmo card for a little one I know and the always hilarious Someecards and Awkward Family Photos cards! ;)

FREE Sample of Splenda Nectresse

2012-07-22T08:01:00.000-05:00

Snag a sample of new Splenda Nectresse! My favorite thing about free samples are the coupons that come with the sample! They always come in handy with Publix BOGO sales! ;)

Thanks, MojoSavings!