The Adventures of the Frugal Shopper

Moved

2010-06-09T06:22:00.000-07:00

I no longer use BlogSpot...Please check out my new web site filled with more information at

http://www.couponcoley.com/

Email me at nichole@couponcoley.com if you have any questions.

Thank you.

Freebies :)

2010-05-04T17:04:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of freebies this week to keep you busy!

**Head over to Unilever Rewards to claim your coupon booklet HERE
(Note: The email address is unileverrewards@asmnet.com)

**Go to facebook HERE and request a coupon mailed to you for a free can of Libbys Veggies (Thanks, SouthernSavers )

**Free sample of POISE HERE

**Free Glade Relaxing Moments Gift Basket HERE

**At Kraft First Taste HERE they always offer coupons and sometimes freebies :D!

** Free Nivea Body Wash (Actually 2....) If you are by a Publix, They are on sale for $3.89 & you can use the coupon from the 5/2 insert, $4/1. Plus if you subscribe to All You there is a B1G1 Nivea Body Wash!...(Jacksonville did NOT get this coupon, but Central/South FL did!! UGH!)

Check back in a few days, I am sure I will find more stuff to post!

CVS/Walgreens

2010-04-27T13:23:00.000-07:00

This week CVS is offering $5 ECB when you buy 2 CVS Sun care items
To my surprise it DOES include the $2.19 2oz Sun block! I saw a few posts with people saying it worked but I still doubted it and asked the manager. He said he had no clue so we tried it & it printed the $5! Yay! If it doesn't work for you and you don't need it just return it!

At Walgreen's I purchased 4 Hallmark cards...Got two for Mothers Day & 2 surprises for a co worker! The deal is...Buy 4 Hallmark cards that are at least $1.50 get $2 in Register Rewards or buy 8 and receive $5 in Register Rewards.
Also, I purchased Stay free feminine products and used the $2 off 1 package and received a $3 Register Reward which I actually used for the Hallmark cards! Remember if you do this though you need some cheap "filler" items. I purchased candy...Twix :] oh so delicious...especially when it is free it is better!

Thanks,
Happy Frugal Living!

PS. Anyone need some Shout Stain Remover??????????????? I HAVE FOUR AND ONLY NEED ONE!! : ]

Today's Trip

2010-04-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

So today my dad & I (he is visiting me from Utah!) went to Publix to pick up a few things...

As soon as we walked in we were introduced to a manager who was handing out coupons right and left....MY KIND OF MANAGER! wheeeww whooo! So long story short- I got four Shout Stain Removers for free. Plus I can use them for SC Johnson Rebate HERE
(just click the re direct link to open the PDF)

Plus I was able to use a Catalina from CVS That was $5 off a $40 purchase.

We were also able to get some free benadryl with the Yellow Advantage Buy booklet that ended today.

Great day for freebies! :] Plus I am happy it worked out this way, now my dad is a believer too! He is going home with some free benadryl in his luggage that he has to pay $25 to bring on the plane with him!! (Stupid new rules, I wonder how I could get around that????)

Its one thing to always read about my savings, its another to see that I only paid $38 and saved $58 on the screen!

2010-04-22T12:06:00.001-07:00

At walgreens today you can get your empty ink cartridges from your printer refilled for ONE DOLLAR. Even color!!!!

I am using my cell phone so if this post looks really weird its because my phone is trying the best it can. :D

More Samples/Tips

2010-04-21T15:20:00.000-07:00

Here are some MORE samples-

A free sample of Prilosec OTC HERE

A free sample of Benefiber Orange HERE

A free sample of Eucerin Daily Skin Balance HERE

:) Getting sick of these yet?

Some Tips-

*In many Florida stores you are required to buy two items when the product is listed as Buy One Get One ... Ask your store if you have to buy two items or if one rings up half price?

(If you have to buy two you are usually allowed to use two coupons, ask your customer service)...this cuts my grocery bill by AT LEAST 30% (usually).

*You can "stack" coupons in most stores- Stacking means using a store coupon and a manufacture coupon on the same item. Publix also accepts competitor coupons so be sure to check with your store to see what they accept.

As always post or email with any questions and comments.

Exciting News

2010-04-19T17:51:00.000-07:00

Today in my mail box I received two coupon booklets from Betty Crocker, I do not remember signing up for them? Haha!!

But thats not the best part, I also received two luggage tags with a picture of my mama and I. One for her, one for me!! (They were free through a company promo months ago)

OH BUT WAIT. ONE MORE THING..........

I GOT A SCHOLARSHIP TODAY

Which is lovely. I went back to school today and am in the process of re-applying since I took a year off and everything is working well, so far...I hope tomorrow I don't run into anymore road blocks. It has taken me so long to get to this point.

So this is not about couponing :) because I am too excited about my scholarship. :)

Rebates

2010-04-17T08:27:00.000-07:00

There are so many rebates out it makes my head spin!!

1.) Buy Three Jolly-time popcorn get 1 reusable bag for free HERE

2.) Buy Three participating SC Johnson products get $5 back HERE
(thank you www.myfrugaladventures.com for the link, I cant figure out how to post the PDF on this blog)***If you live by a Publix you can buy 4 Scrubbing Bubbles this week because its BOGO, plus there was a BOGO coupon in the Red Plum 4/11 insert! You can also use the $1 off 2 in the Publix One stop, One store booklet, theres also $1 off 1 from SS in March...if you buy Scrubbing Bubbles a lot there are ALWAYS coupons in their packaging!

3.) Another P&G rebate- Buy $30 worth of listed P&G products get a 1 year subscription to a magazine of your choosing HERE
(You can double dip your Olay rebate and your P&G rebate for spend $50 get $100 in coupons, you enter everything online for this rebate)....IF YOU DO NOT WANT ANY OF THESE MAGAZINES PRINT THE FORM OUT, WRITE REBATE AT THE TOP AND SEND YOUR RECEIPTS!

4.) The famous (by now) Spend $50 in participating P&G products get a coupon booklet with $100 in coupons....At first I thought...no way!! But considering it has a window until the end of May 31st...its pretty easy to do. Especially if you participated in CVS P&G ECB deal this week!! Look at the link HERE
to see what you can buy!

Well thats all for now , folks! I need to work on my multiple P&G rebates!

**A great deal at Walgreens (that I have heard through the grapevine from fellow couponers) is that on Earth Day-April 22 Walgreens will be charging ONE DOLLAR for printer cartridge refills compared to $10 black refills and $15 color refills. I am so thrilled because mine just ran out! ha!** Yay!

More Free Samples

2010-04-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

Updated link for Arm & Hammer Toothpaste here

Free Sample of Aquafresh Toothpaste here

Free Sample of Aussie Hair Care here

Free Sample of Banana Boat Skin Care here

Free Sample of Dove Hair Care Here

Free Sample of Splendid Life Here

Free Sample of Emergen-C Here
((NOTE-Click on the top right circle that says "free samples"))

***Note: Most of these may require you to register first and then request the sample after you are a member. If you do not want them to send you emails make sure you do not check the box stating so. ***

CVS DEAL ALERT:

.99 60-108 Puffs Plus Tissues!

-If you are a member of www.vocalpoint.com and have received your free sample of Puffs along with the coupons you can use them at CVS to make the tissues .49! Plus these qualify towards the spend $25 in P&G products get $10 ECB back! ((Thank you to who I assume is Lori and or Michael for correcting me))

Join Manufactor Newsletters/Clubs!

2010-04-12T17:25:00.000-07:00

I just joined Airwick here to see what offers I could get and to my surprise they have sweepstakes and coupons available for those of us that purchase their products and enter the UPC online on their website. I have not entered any UPC's yet...so I am not sure what the coupons are for but I am sure I will use them and get a great deal at CVS!

If you have a certain manufacture or brand you love please check their website for any deals they may have. You will be surprised at the amount of samples and coupons there are out there...Just like my cashier said last weekend, "Wow, they have coupons for everything these days."

A few other sites to join-

Home Made Simple This is where I am able to sign up for a ton of free samples & I receive a lot of free coupon books in the mail. (I received a FREE Air wick warmer and refill from them!)

Vocal Point This is where I receive FREE samples. For example- In my mail box today I received free Puffs To Go Tissues with Lotion. I also received coupons from Puffs! :]

Check back tomorrow for more information on Frugal living! ;)

Free Samples

2010-04-09T17:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of free samples-

(I have done this many times, it is okay to give your name and address to these companies, I trust them)

Free Sample of Dove Mens Care-Body Wash here

Free Sample of Arm&Hammer Toothpaste here

Free Sample of Burts Bees Toothpaste (which ps. tastes great!) here

Free Sample of TrueLemon here (Lemon,Lime and orange water flavors)

Free Sample of U by Kotex here

Free Sample of Purex 3-in-1 here

Free Sample of Dove Hair Care Here

Also, when you have a few minutes join P& G's website here and always check their website for free samples. I have received tons of free laundry detergent from them.

Here is a coupon for Right Guard Deodorant

Okay guys, I am exhausted from hunting these down now. Enjoy. Email me with any questions as always! I love helping y'all save money!

A special thanks goes out to www.myfrugaladventures.com for a few of these samples being brought to my attention so I did not have to hunt for all of them!

Triple Coupons People!!!!

2010-03-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

If you live near a Harris Teeter this up coming week will be TRIPLE COUPONS....Under .99 cents of course!! :] (They will triple any coupon with a value or .99 and below up to twenty per day with you VIC card)

Lots of free items if you have the coupons!! I will be in North Carolina when this is going on so I get the pleasure of shopping in their "head quarters" town of dear old Matthews. How I miss living there!!

A few things on my list-

Coffeemate Creamer, McCormick Spices, Mission Tortillas, Mentos Gum, Stride Gum(Ps, you can get a pack of this for free, go look at my facebook page and click the link that states I have been selected) , Dawn Dish Soap and Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner.

To see the coupons to match up the above deals please look at Jenny's blog-
http://www.southernsavers.com/2010/03/harris-teeter-triples-list-324-330/

As always, look at YOUR stores ad before getting too excited...Especially in FL we differ a lot in the northern states ads.

Also, Couponing workshop on Monday April 5, please contact me if you would like to come with me, it is done by SouthernSavers.

Publix & CVS

2010-03-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

What a great week at Publix & CVS!!!

At CVS I got a rain check for 6 deodorants (Degree Men & Women) for $1 after ExtraCareBucks! Check this link out if you would like to do the same but hurry because the deal will end TODAY. If you store is out (like mine) kindly ask the cashier for a rain check for the 6 deodorants. (**Thank you SO much, Jenny from Southernsavers.com)

(NOTE: I honestly do not need any deodorant because its always something I stock up on when they are free! But I do keep a box of "items" in my house that I have gotten for free or close to free so I can give them to the local homeless shelter and or domestic violence shelter.)

At Publix I got the following for free-

2 Sundown Natural Vitamins (Folic Acid, Fish Oil, Vitamin A, Vitamin D & Calcium are listed as $3.99 for the small bottles!!) Publix has a store coupon for $6/2 and Sundown has a coupon for $3/2! :0 :0

Anyways.......................................

I also got Deli Cuts, Deli Creations, OM Sinus Nasal Spray, Lysol Neutral Spray, Dove Conditioner PLUS hair spray for free!

If you would like to see how the heck I got those above listed items for F R E E or next to NOTHING check out Jenny's post for Publix here. She is a life savor.

This weeks totals-

CVS (Haven't gone there yet but I have my rain check in my hand for tomorrow when they re stock!!)
Total Spent Before Coupons- $15
Total Coupons-$9
Total Due- $6, BUT I GET A $5 EXTRA CARE BUCKS BACK, which are basically a gift card for CVS

Total Spent at CVS for 6 name brand deodorants- $1. or .15 each.

Publix-
Total Spent before Coupons= $82.22
Coupons= $61.29
Total Spent- $20.93...Saved 76% at Publix!

I love these two stores

New Tricks!

2010-02-23T09:50:00.000-08:00

What I am beginning to learn in my adventures of frugal shopping is.....now this is a big secret....so pay attention....its takin me 20 years to understand.....

When it is B1G1 use two coupons & stock up. I mean hello. Its so easy and simple. Yet I just realized this weeks ago. (I bought ten frozen green giant veggies plus 10 progresso soups for a grand total of 8.95 ALL TOGETHER FOR TWENTY ITEMS!)

You know I got two cake mixes (like two days before my birthday...that was NOT planned.....HA yeah right) anyways, got the two cake mixes and used two coupons, it was .50 for both. That's when I had my big epiphany! It doesn't matter where you shop! You can do this anywhere.. but supercenters...they are TOO expensive. Sure they have cheaper prices BUT they do not have b1g1...sometimes Target does. But not Walmart. So I actually save a heck of a lot more shopping at grocery chains.
If you do not believe me, check out Jenny's site

www.southernsavers.com

And search supercenter. She actually priced out a few items and compared a few stores.

Another thing that bugs me about people....Why do they think couponing is hard? They complain they don't have the time...they just don't want to be bothered with it. Yet the next thing you know they are complaining because they don't have any money.
Guess what?! It takes me about 1 hour each week to get organized and sort coupons from the sunday paper & then create my list and match up store and manufacture coupons.
You know what that hour per week has provided?

$373 worth of savings in the last 8 weeks. So in 8 hours I have made a little over $46 an hour!! HOLY MOLY. Thats a lot.

Plus, take in to account that I have only spent $188 this year on groceries that were worth $461.

So, do you really not have an hour each week??? Oh & ps...THIS IS ALL NAME BRAND ITEMS, NO STORE BRAND ITEMS & SOME ARE EVEN ORGANIC! (Yes Penny...I use the whole foods coupons too...hehehe!!!)

Now I am off to write my favorite pen pal Cameron! Who is in basic training and starting his journey on protecting our lovely freedom. Thanks Cam! Love you & miss you bunches!!

Good Deals this week!!

2010-01-27T15:46:00.000-08:00

At Publix- (For those of us in Fl and Ga)

*B1G1 Hidden Valley Ranch 16 oz @ 3.39
$1 off printable coupon here
(Makes your total price=$1.39 because you can use TWO coupons for B1G1!)

*Emerald Deluxe Mixed Nuts 10-11 oz @ 5.69
$1 off ANY Emerald Deluxe Mixed Nuts here (This is a better deal if you print off two, you will get two containers of Emerald Nuts for 3.69)
*$1 off two in 1/31 News Paper coupons

*Coffeemate 32 oz @ 2.50
$1 off 15 oz or larger here
(Final price=1.50)

*Tombstone Pizza @ 2.99
$1 off here
(Publix will accept this Food Lion coupon because they are competitors, making the final price of one pizza 1.99)

*B1G1 Lays potato Chips @ $3.99
(No match up coupon UNLESS you have a Target Credit Card & received their .75 off ANY chips, Not too bad, 3.25!)

*B1G1 Pace Salsa @ $2.79
(No coupon for this one either, :[ But still a good deal for Pace salsa lovers like myself, because at Harris Teeter Tostitos are B1G1!)

*B1G1 Chex Mix @ 2.49
$.50 off 2 Chex Mix Any Size (Makes final price $2.50, which is not too bad,considering it could be $5)

OR

$1.00 off any CHOCOLATE chex mix on www.southernsavers.com under her printable coupons!

At Winn Dixie-

*Clementines are $4.99 a box; WHICH IS WONDERFUL. Usually they are 7.99 around Jacksonville!

*B1G1 Crest Toothpaste
$.75 off Any crest toothpaste in 1/3 News Paper! (This is such a great deal, I CANT WAIT!!) Crest is SO over priced.

Harris Teeter-

*Dixie Plates 2/$5
$.55 off 1 in 1/24 News Paper Inserts!
(Final price = $4 because HT will double it!!)

*B1G1 Breakstones Sour Cream 16 oz @ 1.95
$.55 off 1 in 1/24 News Paper (My final price for these were .95!! YAY)

*B1G1 Steamfresh Meals @ 7.99 (EXPENSIVE, USUALLY ONLY 5.99-6.99 AT OTHER STORES SO USE A COUPON)
$1.50 off one SteamFresh Meal in 1/3 News Paper Inserts

*B1G1 Tostitos Family Style Chips @ $3.00
$.55 off when you buy tostitos and any tostitos dip 11 oz or larger! ( Can you tell I looove chips and dip, yet?? I have "Mexican Food Night" like twice a week at my house! )

*HT Bread .99!

*HT EVIC item this weeek is.......$2.97 for two pounds of Ground Beef! Great great great price, I was soo thrilled, disappointed though because it was limit 1, haha.

*Hefty Trash Bags @ 4.99 (Usually 6.99!)
$.55 off Hefty Trash Bags (Cant remember when I got this one! Sorry, You can google it though and print one out from the internet!)

So this week I went to HT & got what I listed-
Worth= $ 53
Coupons/B1G1= $28

Total Spent= $26!!!!!! YAY again.

I went to Publix today and did my usual, EVERY AISLE IN GROCERY GALORE & looked for some more in store coupon dispensors!! What I LOVE about Publix is their advantage buy & their store design. As you walk in you have all your coupon books, then all the popular B1G1 I listed, its amazing! So convenient (even though I go down every aisle anyhow.)

So This is what I did-
Worth= $119
Coupons/B1G1= 63

Total Spent= $57 :] :] :] :] :] :] :]

Total for BOTH stores-

Worth= $172

Coupons/B1G1= $ 91

Spent ALL together= $ 83

(Some of my numbers are off because I dont account for the change, I just go by rounding on my receipts, lol)

HAPPY GROCERY SHOPPING EVERYONE!

I am a blogger............??

2010-01-21T14:38:00.000-08:00

On the advice of a few friends and family I have decided to start blogging about my couponing skills.

On Friday, January 15th (On Penny's birthday!!) I went to Publix & spent probably about an hour, running around the store, back and forth...a lot...with my new coupon book! Its a pink binder that zips up with four expandable files. I also got some baseball card holders to put the coupons in. Then used some dividers with a Table of Contents. I organized it by categories such as Non edible pantry, frozen, refrigerated, cleaning supplies, ETC!! Then by expiration date.

So I gathered all my coupons for the items I was planning on purchasing and headed to the check out. The cashier gave me somewhat of a dirty look when I handed her my handful of about 30 coupons, lol. One by one they were scanned.

My total before coupons=$88.
After coupons= $32.

My only goal in this shopping trip was to try and match my savings to my amount due because this entire couponing thing is OVER WHELMING. So imagine my surprise when it was only 32 dollars!! I actually stayed calm and did not start jumping up and down and screaming....I waited until I got into the parking lot to do that. And then after that, I called Kim & Greg, my dad, my mom and texted EVERYONE.....hahaha. This is what I do with my Friday nights. :]

I use a website-

www.southernsavers.com

Jenny, a stay at home mother created this website. She is AMAZING. She is why I save money on my shopping trips. She categorizes it by stores and matches up manufacture coupons to the store sales-
IE

On my shopping trip I did this-

Buy One Get One- Halls 32 CT cough drops
+$1 off one Halls 32 CT or larger
((The trick is, use TWO of these coupons because you are still technically buying two, hence making these actually FREE on my trip because it was only $1.65 for both, yet I had two dollars off))

Scotties Facial Tissue-$1 @ Publix
+$1 off Scotties 62 CT or larger....ANOTHER FREEBIE!

(This is why it was SO insanely cheap for my cart full of groceries!!)

So you ask, what did I do with my savings? Well I decided to be selfish and purchase some yankee candles. And I do not regret that choice! The house smells DELICIOUS. Its like Christmas all over again.

Now, this week this is what I spent-

$124 before coupons
$58 worth of coupons

Total Owed- $66 for $124 worth of coupons

The only thing that excited me this week was-

BOGO Quaker Instant Oatmeal at $3.89
+$1/1 Quaker Instant Oatmeal ((You can google this, it is on their website))
So again, I used two, making my final price for two boxes of oatmeal $1.89!!

I was not as thrilled this week with my savings because my goal is always to save more than I spend!! But I am sure this week or next I will be able to!! I can't every time. :]

Email me if you wanna get started with couponing! I already have a few under my wing. ;)

I will probably post with some good deals, Freebies, because this has really helped a few people get things they normally wouldn't be able to afford and that puts a smile on my face, I know how hard it is to buy groceries week to week.