Yes, I have a coupon for that!

New website!

2011-09-26T09:42:00.001-07:00

New website for easier functionality! dailydoseofdanelle.weebly.com! See you there!

Lasagna!

2011-09-26T06:33:00.000-07:00

Just pulled the lasagna that I made from freezer cooking day out of the freezer. I'm not exactly sure how long it will take to thaw, so depending on the time it takes, my family will either be having that tonight or tomorrow for dinner ;P. Here is the recipe that I made. It comes from "Once A Month Cooking" by Mimi Wilson and Mary Beth Lagerborg.

Dawn's Lasagna
26 oz jar pasta sauce
3/4 C water
32 oz Ricotta cheese
3 eggs
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2/3 C grated Parmesan cheese
16 oz shredded Mozzarella - divided
4 Tbsp finely chopped parsley
1 lb lasagna noodles

Prepare 13x9x2 inch casserole dish w cooking spray. Mix jar of pasta sauce with water. In another bowl mix Ricotta cheese, eggs, salt, pepper, Parmesan, 8 oz of Mozzarella and parsley.
Pour 1/3 pasta sauce in pan. Cover sauce w one layer of uncooked lasagna. Spread cheese mixture over lasagna, and finally w remaining pasta sauce, being careful to cover lasagna.
Cover w heavy foil. Store remaining 8 oz Mozzarella in a quart bag taped to the dish, label and freeze.
To sere, thaw lasagna and bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 min. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and bake for 10 minutes.

*I made another layer in my lasagna. There was soo much cheese and not enough noodles. I also added a half pound of hamburger meat to my sauce, lest my husband complain for lack of meat. This lasagna is HUGE! I think next time I will portion it in 2 pans instead of 1. I feel like the amount of cheese would go as far as 2 lasagnas and I had leftover noodles too!

Updates when we try it!

Meatballs!

2011-09-24T11:26:00.000-07:00

Tonight will be the first night that my family tastes one of the recipes that I made from my freezer cooking day. They are eating Spaghetti and Meatballs tonight. Here is the recipe for Meatballs taken from "Don't Panic, Dinner's in the Freezer" by Susie Martinez, Vanda Howell and Bonnie Garcia.

One really nice thing about this book is that they give you the conversions if you want to make more than one batch of the recipe! Math is not my strong point so to me this is fabulous!

Meatballs - single batch
1 1/2 lbs. ground meat - I used beef, but you could really use whatever you want!
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1/3 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 Tbsp. parsley flakes
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Recipe yields: 20 medium meatballs - I started to make mine "medium" but they were still huge! So I made mine smaller and it made about 35-40! They're still good sized too!

Cooking day instructions: Combine all ingredients and mix together gently. Shape mixture into balls and arrange on jelly roll pan. Cover meatballs and flash freeze (put in freezer until frozen). Remove meatballs from pan and freeze using freezer bag method (place in bag and press all all air out, seal and label).

Serving day instructions: Thaw meatballs completly and place in a 350 degree oven for 30 min. (I did 24 min since mine were smaller and it was fine). Remove from pan and allow to cool or serve immediately.

You can use these with marinara sauce, bbq, cream sauce, really anything you want.

These were seriously so easy and quick to make! I will never buy meatballs from the store again!

They smelled incredible and the family ate them just fine minus my son who won't eat any meat other than chicken off the bone. This is such a cheap way to make a filling meal! Especially if you get the meat at a good price - cough cough - managers specials - cough. :) Pasta sauce, BBQ and pasta can be free or really cheap with coupons too!

Hope you enjoy!

More recipes from this book and others to come! It's a great book that I would think of purchasing if you're interested in freezer cooking! They also have a sequel that I have yet to purchase, but will most likely be purchasing soon!

Possible Items for Kroger Next Week

2011-09-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Here are items that are currently on sale in the Southeast region for Kroger. As mentioned in earlier blogs, Kroger's sales begin in other parts of the country and come to our area later in the week. I like to plan ahead by looking at other regions ads because it gives me an idea of what to expect. Deals aren't always the same, but are usually pretty close! I just discovered this blog, and it is pretty good! I'll keep you updated on further finds!

http://faithfulprovisions.com/2011/09/23/kroger-deals-september-25-october-1/

Freezer Cooking Update

2011-09-22T15:29:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my first post of the day, I attempted Freezer Cooking today. Results? So far so good! I made everything on my list except Zucchini Bread which I will probably make tomorrow and take to work. I have 6 cups of shredded zucchini in my freezer that I want to get rid of. It was actually not that bad making all of those things! The only thing that I actually had to cook was some meat so the kitchen didn't get hot and sticky. It was mostly just assembling dishes, wrapping them and washing dishes. Surprisingly, my kitchen is clean at the moment since I cleaned as I went.

Here is what I found out today:
The lasagna didn't have meat in it, so I added some of my own lest the husband complain.
The manicotti stuffing didn't quite fit the amount of shells that it said it would, but I still got 6 out of it.
The mexican lasagna sauce was double the amount that I needed, so I froze some for next time.
I accidentally opened a can of chili beans instead of black beans... oops. Froze those too.
While cooking my chicken I accidentally made homemade chicken broth! Added bonus!

My freezers are stuffed to the max. Which is good.. but what if I find a good deal on something that is frozen? Bigger freezer for Christmas? ;P Overall I feel a great sense of accomplishment and am kind of in awe at the fact that I have so many dinners made! It's awesome! Whoo hoo!

The Vegetable Beef soup smells amazing and I can't wait to try it! Recipes to come!

Kroger Today and a note on Schnucks!

2011-09-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I mentioned that it's Thursday in my earlier post. So that means that I need to post what I got at the K- Roger today!

Produce:
Celery 1.49
Potato .63
Organic Granny Smith Apples 4.99

Meat:
Pot Roast - on managers special for 3.34
Pot Roast - on managers special for 3.07 - using these in Vegetable Beef soup for tonight :)

Box/Canned:
Quaker Barley - 2.39 - for soup
Egg Noodles - 3.99
2 - Cans green chiles - 1.05 ea
Vinegar - .98

Dairy:
Breakstone Sour Cream - 2.04 mega sale pricing
Kraft Singles - 1.99 mega sale pricing
Used .50/1Kraft Singles that was in a blinkie machine right in front of it, doubled to 1.00, so final price was .99
4 - Yoplait Gogurt - 1.99 mega sale pricing
Used 1.00/2 IP from pillsbury.com - 1.49 ea

Frozen:
9 - Birdseye Steamfresh Vegetables - .99 megasale pricing
Used .35/1 tearpad coupon, doubled to .70 = .29 each
1 - Sister Schuberts Rolls - 2.19 megasale pricing - to go w/soup
3 - Stouffers Single Serve Lasagnas - 2.28 megasale pricing
Used 1.00/3 catalina received last time I went to Kroger, = 1.95 ea.
Received another catalina for 1.00/5
2 - New York Garlic Ciabatta Bread - on closeout for 1.08

Double pack Disposable Roaster/Baker pans (for my lasagnas I'm making) - 2.69 megasale pricing

Total: 47.16 - saved 44% or 37.80 not including closeouts/managers specials. Not my best trip, but was getting things so I can use the items in my stockpile. Still not a bad trip though :)

A lot of frozen bread was on closeout at my store, and from what I can tell, the other Krogers in the area tend to do the same closeout items. Also storage bags were on closeout too for a decent price. Still a few bottles of closeout pricing on laundry detergent too. Check your store for these items.

I wanted to get some more Jamba Juice smoothies but my store was all out. Boo.

Getting close to crossing out everything on my list of items to stockpile. It's pretty exciting and rewarding!

Also wanted to mention that you can get Honey Nut Chex at Schnucks for .77 this week. They are on sale for 1.77 and if you have the .50/1 Chex Coupon from the last General Mills insert, then you can get them for that price. Schucks in our area doubles coupons too and anything over .55 doubles to 1.00! I'll keep you updated on other Schnucks deals that I find since some of you live close to that store ;)

Freezer Cooking Day

2011-09-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Today is the day that I have decided to try freezer cooking! I went to Kroger this morning (it's Thursday ;)) and got anything that I didn't have in my stockpile, which wasn't much. I was proud :). This is what I am making today:
Lasagna
Mexican Lasagna
Meatballs
Chicken Tetrazzini
Vegetable Beef Soup
Enchiladas
and maybe Zucchini Bread if I have time.

So far, I am finished with chopping all of the vegetables and am just waiting for the meat to cook. I like this so far. Feels very structured and productive. I was reminded of how much I hate cooking when I'm tired last night. It's not so much the cooking but cleaning all of the pans/dishes afterwards. We'll see how this alleviates that. I'll keep adding to the post as I go and will give reviews of the recipes as we try them. :)

Ins and Outs - Target

2011-09-19T06:45:00.000-07:00

Fact list:
* Target will allow you to stack (use more than one coupon) a Target coupon and a manufacturers coupon.
* Target coupons can be found on their website or in the paper. For the ones on the website they must say Target Web Coupon in order to stack.
* You can only use one of each type of Target coupon per transaction, meaning that if you want to get more of an item using stacking, then you must do multiple transactions.
* Target does not give overage.
* Target often has gift card promotions. To get these you have to buy the specified items and you will get back a gift card to use on your next trip/transaction. Some good deals to be had here!
* Target often has great clearance items! I have gotten a lot of free/cheap items from clearance items that I had a coupon for! Look for your Targets clearances areas. They are usually in more than one part of the store.
* Target sometimes puts out Target coupons for clothing too which can get you awesome deals on clearance clothing ;)

Upcoming money saving projects!

2011-09-16T07:35:00.000-07:00

In addition to couponing, I've decided to post about other ways to save money on food. I just received some books in the mail on canning and freezer cooking. I'll keep you updated on this journey as well. I may even post recipes and we can do a Julie/Julia thing together. Haha ;)

I'm most excited to try out some freezer cooking recipes. Freezer cooking is a method of cooking that involves spending one large chunk of time in the kitchen to make large batches of recipes, and then freezing them. Thereby leaving extra time around dinner time that you would normally spend prepping and cooking meals. Take out the item you want and thaw in the fridge the night before and when it's dinner time, pop it in the oven and you're good to go. If I can get the ingredients for a great price with a coupon then it will be even cheaper. It also sounds like it could be a healthier option than frozen pizzas (ahem.. insert husbands name here...) when I am away from the family, or even on nights I am home. I hate cooking when I'm tired. This seems like a good solution to me, but the hubby is skeptical. I think he's just scared of what I may be making. Don't worry honey, I won't make anything that I don't think you will like ;). I'll keep you updated on how it goes!

Also equally exciting are my canning books! I got books with more modern/gourmet recipes in them. There are some recipes that just look fabulous!! I can't wait to try some! Again, this could be a healthier and cheaper option for my family. Especially when the produce is grown in my garden!! I'll let you know about this too! Even looking in to growing a hydroponic garden in my basement for fresh produce year round ! I know, I'm sounding old and domestic here, but I need to keep my brain/body active or it will turn to mush. Lol.

Hope you are finding some useful tips on this page! Let me know what else you would like to see!

Participating Items in Buy 10 Get $5 Mega Sale :)

2011-09-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

List of participating items in Buy 10 Get $5 Mega Sale - Don't forget that these usually last 2 weeks! These prices are from another region, but are usually similar to ours. Just because they're on the list doesn't mean that they're a good price, but I find it helpful to know what's on it so I can check prices if need be when I get to the store!

Grocery
7 Up Bottles ~~ $0.89
A-1 Steak Sauce ~~ $2.79
Acqua Panna
Apple & Eve Fruitables
Apple & Eve Cranberry Juice Blends
Bull's Eye BBQ Sauce ~~ $0.69
Capri Sun & Kool-Aid Jammers ~~ $1.49
Carapelli Olive Oil ~~ $6.20
Carnation Evaporated Milk ~~ $0.77
Carnation Instant Breakfast Essentials ~~ $4.04
Coffee-Mate Creamer ~~ $4.99
Coca-Cola 6-8pks ~~ $2.49
DelMonte Canned Fruit ~~ $0.89
Don Francisco Bag Coffee
Evian Natural Spring Water
Frank's Red Hot and Wing Sauce ~~ $1.99
Frito-Lay Multipacks
Full Throttle ~~ $0.99
Fuze ~~ $0.69
General Mills Nature Valley Granola & Fiber One Bars ~~ $2.29
General Mills Cereal ~~ $1.99
Gerber Cookies & finger foods ~~ $1.37
Gerber Lil Entrees ~~ $1.37
Healthy choice Fresh Mixers ~~ $2.49
Hershey's Milk - 3pk ~~ $1.59
Kraft BBQ Sauce ~~ $0.69
Kraft Easy Mac & Velveeta Cups ~~ $0.49
Kraft Mayonaise & Miracle Whip ~~ $2.79
Kraft Salad Dressing ~~ $1.49
Kraft Shapes ~~ $0.75
Kroger Green Tea 12 pk ~~ $3.49
Krusteaz Cookie & Muffin Mix ~~ $1.60
Maxwell House Coffee ~~ $8.49
Maxwell House International Cafe Tins ~~ $3.00
Mio
Mrs. Butterworth's Syrup ~~ $3.05
Nabisco Chips Ahoy ~~ $1.99
Nabisco Go-Paks ~~ $0.49
Nabisco Ritz Crackers ~~ $1.99
Nabisco Snack Crackers ~~ $1.99
Nescafe Clasico ~~ $7.15
Nesquick Powder ~~ 4.04
Nestle Fun Size Candy ~~ $1.99
Nestle La Lechera Sweetened Condensed Milk
Nestle Pure Like Water 24pk 8oz ~~ $2.99
Nestle Skinny Cow Chocolate Boxes ~~ $2.49
Deer Park Spring Water 3LT ~~ $0.69
Nestle Toll House Morsels, 24 oz ~~ $4.49
Wonka Fun Size Candy ~~ $1.49
Wonka Exceptionals Bars ~~ $1.49
NOS Energy Drink
Perrier Sparkling Water ~~ $1.09
Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts ~~ $2.49
Planters Peanut Butter ~~ $2.79
Prego Pasta Sauce ~~ $1.49
San Pellegrino Sparkling Water ~~ $1.09
Snackwells Bars ~~ $2.09
Starbucks Bag Coffee ~~ $7.49
Starbucks Via 8 ct ~~ $6.49
Sunshine Cheez-It ~~ $2.25
Tassimo On Demand Coffee
Nescafe Taster's Choice ~~ $8.14, $9.06
Tradewinds Tea ~~ $2.49
Uncle Ben's Long Grain & Wild Rice or Ready Rice ~~ $1.19
Woolfgang Puck Spaghetti Sauce
Yuban Coffee ~~ $8.49
Northland 100% Juice ~~ $2.79
Marie Callendar's ~~ $2.49

Natural Food
Horizon 3pk Milk ~~ $1.99
Boulder Chips ~~ $0.99
Almond Breeze ~~ $2.49
Dream Non-Dairy Drink ~~ $1.79
Vitaminwater & Smartwater ~~ $0.75
Avalon Shampoo & Conditioners
Barbara's Cereal & Cereal Bars ~~ $2.49

Household
Bounce Dryer Sheets
Bounce Dryer Bar ~~ $4.49
Downy Fabric Softener ~~ $4.49
Finish Autodish Monodose
Finish Powders & Gels ~~ $3.69, $2.79
Hefty One-Zip Sandwich Bags ~~ $2.44
Hefty Value Pack Waste Bags ~~ $7.09
Jet Dry ~~ $3.84
Lysol Bathroom Cleaners & Disinfecting Sprays ~~ $2.44, $2.59, $4.39
Lysol Neutra Air Aerosol ~~ $2.39
Lysol Wipes ~~ $2.19
O-Cell-O sponges ~~ $1.99
Scotch Brite Cleaning Products ~~ $1.99, $3.79
Solo Cups and Plates ~~ $1.99
Tide Laundry Detergent ~~ $5.49
Tide Stain Release 18ct ~~ $5.49

General Merchandise
Kingsford Charcoal ~~ $4.49
Handi-Foil ~~ $3.29
Scotch Tape, Magic, Mounting Squares & Putty

Frozen
Advancepierre Fast Classica Chicken ~~ $6.77
Armour Meatballs ~~ $2.49
Banquet Family Entrees ~~ $2.19
Barber Foods Stuffed chicken Breast ~~ $3.99
Birds Eye/Freshlike Frozen Vegetables ~~ $0.99
Cole's Garlic Bread, Loaves & Sticks
De Wafelbakkers Frozen Pancakes ~~ $2.44
Digiorno Original Pizza ~~ $4.49
California Pizza Kitchen Pizza ~~ $4.49
Edy's Shakes & Smoothies
Edy's Fruit Bars ~~ $3.49
Eggo Waffles, 24 ct ~~ $3.49
Foster Farms Corn Dogs ~~ $4.62
Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream & Novelties ~~ $3.49
Hot & Lean Pockets Value Pack ~~ $10.49
Hungry-Man Meals ~~ $1.75
Jamba Juice Smoothies ~~ $1.99
Kim & Scott Pretzels ~~ $1.49
Ling Ling Pot Stickers & Eggrolls ~~ $2.19, $4.99
Marzetti Reames Noodles ~~ $1.89
Nestle Ice Cream Novelties ~~ $2.79
New York & Sister Schubert Frozen Breads ~~ $1.99
On-Cor Family Entrees ~~ $1.78
Savannah Classic Hush Puppies ~~ $1.59
Skinny Cow Novelties ~~ $3.99
Stouffer's Entrees ~~ $1.75
Stouffer's Party Size entrees ~~ $10.49
Tyson Chicken Nuggets & Patties ~~ $4.49
Wanchai Ferry & Macaroni Grill Skillet Meals ~~ $5.49

Dairy
Breakstone Sour Cream ~~ $2.14
Buitoni Pasta & Sauce ~~ $2.99
Fleischmann's Margarine ~~ $1.29
Kraft Grated Cheese ~~ $2.89
Kraft Singles ~~ $1.99
Minute Maid Pure Squeezed Orange Juice ~~ $2.69
Nestle Toll House Cookie Dough ~~ $1.99
Parkay Margarine ~~ $0.99
Jell-o Pudding, Gels & Temptations ~~ $2.39
Simply Juice ~~ $2.69
Simply Singles ~~ $0.99
Yoplait Multipack ~~ $1.49

Meat
Oscar Mayer Deli Shaved Meats ~~ $2.99
Oscar Mayer Strips & Cuts
Oscar Mayer Carving Board ~~ $3.49
Oscar Mayer Meat & turkey Bologna ~~ $1.49
Oscar Mayer Fully cooked Bacon ~~ $2.99
Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon ~~ $2.49
Oscar Mayer Beef Hot Dogs ~~ $2.99
Oscar Mayer Complete Lunchables ~~ $2.49
Oscar Mayer Adult Sandwich Combos ~~ $2.49

Produce
Marzetti Salad Dressing ~~ $2.49

Health & Beauty
Gillette Razors & Cartridges ~~ assorted prices
Satin Care Shave Gel ~~ $1.80
Venus Mach 3 and Gillette Shaving Creams & Gels
Gillette Foamy Shaving Cream ~~ $1.21
Gillette Fusion Shaving Gel ~~ $2.98
Gillette Shaving Gel ~~ $2.49

Pet
Purina Beneful Dry Dog food ~~ $14.49
Friskies Dry Cat Food ~~ $10.49
Milk Bone Dog Biscuits ~~ $2.49
Tidy Cat Scoop ~~ $10.49

K-Roger Today 9/15

2011-09-15T08:07:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday! You know what that means? Kroger sale starts today! Here is the breakdown of what I got:
Another Mega Sale is this week, Buy 10 participating items, get $5 off. You must buy in multiples of 10 (does not have to be one product, you can mix it up) to get the pricing for the mega sale items.

There is also a new game on the Kroger website called Kick off to Savings that you may want to check out. Looks like you can win free items. I haven't won anything yet, but you might as well try :)

2 - Santa Cruz Organic Lemonade - 4/$5 or 1.25 ea
Used .75/1 IP = .75 ea
1- Purex w/Zout Laundry Detergent - on closeout for 1.87
Used 1.00/1 coupon from sample received in the mail a few months ago (told you samples were good for this) = .87
4 - Gum Crayola Kids Toothbrushes (double pack!) 10/$10 or 1.00 ea
Used 1.00/2 Gum Oral Products (SS 8/7) = .50 ea or .25 per toothbrush
4 - Stouffers Single Serve Lasagnas - 2.28 (w/mega)
Used 1.50/4 personalized coupon from Kroger= 1.90 ea.
2 - Simply Orange Single Serve - .99 (w/mega)
Used 1.00/1 IP = Free
3 - Boulder Canyon Natural Potato Chips - .99 (w/mega)
No coupon, already used mine, but if you still have the 1.00/1 IP that I posted on my FB page, you could get them for free :)
1 - Clif Kids Zbar 6pack - on closeout for 2.49
Used 1.00/1 Kroger catalina (another lesson in saving your catalinas that print out! I can't tell you how many times I have found a great deal with them!) = 1.49
2 - Tyson Chicken Nuggets - 4.49 (w/mega)
Used 1.00/1 (SS 8/21) = 3.49 ea
2 - Jamba Juice Frozen Smoothies - 1.49 (w/mega)
Used 1.00/1 IP = .49 ea.
2 - Kroger Ibuprofen 10/$10
2- Luna Bars 1.08 ea
Used .50/1 IP = .08 ea w/doubles
3 - DeWaffelbakers Frozen Pancakes 2.34 (w/mega)
Used 1.00/1 IP = 1.34 ea
2 - Mission Flour Tortillas - 2/$3
Used 1.00/1 IP = .50 ea
4 - Gala Apples - .99 lb = 2.18
Peaches - 3.64
3 - Kroger Skim Milk 3/$4
4 - Cheerios - 1.99 (w/mega)
Used (4) .50/1 IP's = .99 ea w/doubles
Green Grapes - 3.61
1 - Nesquik Pouch - 1.09
Used .50/1 Catalina from Kroger (these don't double) = .59 and got another catalina at checkout. I figure these are cheaper than hot cocoa mix, so I'll keep getting them each time I go if I keep getting a coupon ;)
1 - Vegetable Tray - 2.69 on managers special
1 - Private Selection Organic Italian Style Salad - 1.79 on managers special
1 - Candy Apples - 1.29 on managers special

Total trip 55.79 saved 74.54 (57%) according to receipt, but remember that closeout prices and managers specials do not show in percentage and savings :)

Lots of laundry detergent on closeout at my store, that are a good price even without coupons. I have lots so I didn't get any other than the Purex. Hope there's still some there when people in my area go shopping :)
Don't forget to check the markdown table by the dental/pain med area (for my store at least, it may be different in yours! But I guarantee it's there somewhere!)

Ins and Outs - CVS

2011-09-09T07:55:00.000-07:00

CVS is a great place to shop, but is sometimes hit or miss with their sales. The last few weeks have not been stellar, but it looks like this week is going to be great! So, in anticipation for a great sale, here is how to shop at CVS!

Fact List:

* You must have a CVS card to get the sale prices. If you don't already have one go here: https://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/user/extracare/extracare.jsp and sign up for a new account. They will give you a paper card to print out until your plastic one is mailed, but the store can also look up your account with the phone number that you signed up with.

* CVS has a program called Extra Care Bucks (ECB). ECB's are little coupons that print with your receipt that have a dollar amount off your next purchase. They can be used just like money! This is how you get things for free or cheap!!!! For instance, this coming week, CVS has a special on Brilliant Tampons. Here is what the deal would look like :

Buy RepHresh Brilliant PH Tampons @ $6.79 , Get $6.79 ECB.

This means that you are essentially getting these tampons for free!

What's even better is that there is a coupon out there for $1/1 that you can print, making this a $1 money maker!

$1/1 RepHresh Brilliant PH Tampons printable

*ECB deal are usually limit 1, but not always (it will tell you in the ad, or on the sale tag on the shelf). They can track this with your CVS card. You can buy more of the item if you like, but you will NOT get the ECB on any more of them after your first one.

*For ECB’s that require a dollar amount purchase, you do not have to buy it all in one transaction. For an example, this next week CVS has a deal where you buy $25 in Bounty, Charmin, Puffs or Energizer batteries pictured in the ad, you get $10 back. You do not have to buy all $25 in one transaction. You can split it up so your OOP is less. The ECB will print when you hit the $25 mark. See example below.

* ECB’s can only be used on before tax price. You still have to pay for tax. Keep that in mind when planning your strategic use of ECB’s!

* CVS does not allow overage/cash back. If the coupon is more than the purchase value, then they will adjust it down to the purchase value.

* You can only use one manufacturers coupon with a Buy One Get One (BOGO) deal.

* No doubling or tripling.

* CVS store coupons can be stacked with a manufacturers coupon. You can print 2, but you can only use one per transaction. You can find store coupons on their website.

* You can also look online at your account for coupons. I just had $5/$25 (this means $5 off of a purchase of $25) coupon that I sent to my card. Whoo hoo! Less OOP for me next time I shop!

* CVS awards 2% of your quarterly purchases via ECB’s. More money back for shopping there!

*CVS has a Red Machine that you can scan your CVS card on and it prints coupons! My stores is right when you walk in, but you may have to search for yours! Keep scanning until they say that there are no more for the day! There is no way to know what you are going to get, but sometimes you can find a great deal with them! I got a free chocolate bar once. Yum!

* New email subscribers also get $4/$20 so if you haven’t signed up already do it :).

* The best way to use ECBs is to "roll" them. This means doing multiple transactions to get the lowest out of pocket (OOP) price. For instance, this is what deals for this week with the lowest OOP might look like.

*CVS also has a reusable Green Bag Tag that you pay .99 for, and every 4th visit you get $1ECB. Another way to say money and the environment :)

Transaction 1

Item	Price	Coupon	OOP	ECB	Final Price
1 - RepHresh	6.79	1.00	5.79	6.79	1.00 MM
1 – St.Joseph Aspirin	2.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	Free
1-CVS Allergy	3.69		3.69	3.69	Free
		Total:	10.48	11.48

11.48 in ECB’s to use on next transaction!

Transaction 2

Item	Price	Coupon	OOP	ECB	Final Price
1 – Softsoap Body Wash	2.99	.75	2.24	2.00	.24
1 – Bounty 16 pk	12.99	.25	12.74		7.74 (after ECB prints from next transaction)

		Total:	14.98-11.48 in ECB’s from Transaction 1=3.50	2.00

Transaction 3

Item	Price	Coupon	OOP	ECB	Final Price
1-Bounty	12.99	.25	12.74	10	7.74

		Total	12.74-2.00 ECB from Transaction2=10.74
			With $10 ECB remaining for next week!

Total OOP for entire trip - $24.72 with $10 ECB for next time or for additional purchases!

*Note that the first CVS trip is the most expensive because you don’t have any ECB’s to work with. Try and save some for the next trip each time you go, so your OOP is low each trip! Make sure to pay attention to expiration dates though!!! Nothing worse than an expired ECB!

*CVS recently (finally) posted their coupon policy. It is a good idea to print out policies for stores, just in case you have problems with a cashier/store not knowing the rules and for you to know the rules as well! Here is the link where you can find it: https://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvscontent/faq/couponpolicy.pdf

I'll post CVS deals for next week soon! Any questions on how to do your transaction with the lowest OOP on items that you may need... just ask and I'll be happy to help! I like using this chart because it helps me see all of the details! You may find a better way that works for you!

Kroger Today

2011-09-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

Another thing to know about Kroger is that their big sales such as mega sales, tend to last for 2 weeks. The Proctor and Gamble Buy 4, Get $4 promo is still going on, but there was not much else. I did find a lot of managers specials, but those vary by store.

Here is what I got:
5 - Febreeze Set and Refresh - 1.99-1.00= .99 ea
Used $1/1 Febreeze Set and Refresh (P&G 8/28) and e-coupon from Kroger
5 - Febreeze Noticeables Warmers. 1.70-3.00= 1.30 moneymaker
Used $3/1 Febreeze Noticeables Warmers (P&G 8/28) and e-coupon from Kroger
1 - Febreeze Aerosol - 1.99-1.00q= .99ea
Used $1/1 Febreeze Aerosol e-coupon from Kroger
3 - Gillette Foamy Shavecream - .37ea w/no coupon!

2 - Tombstone Pizzas - 2/$7
2 - Kroger Brand Childrens Cough and Cold Medicine - 1.19 on managers special
6 - Dimetapp Childrens Cold and Allergy Medicine - 1.49 on managers special- 1.00 q= .49 ea!
Used $1.00/1 Dimetapp, Robitussin, Advil Congestion Relief or Children's Advil (RP 08/14/2011)
4 - LA Looks Hairgel 1.00-1.00Q=Free
Used 1.00/1 LA Looks 20 or 26oz product (RP 7/31)
2 - Driscolls Raspberries - 1.00
1 - Hunts Ketchup 1.00-.70q= .30
Used Hunts Ketchup coupon from a box. Coupon was for .35 which doubled to .70
3 - 1/2 Gallons Kroger Milk $3/4
2 - Boulder Canyon Chips 3/$5 = 1.66 ea- 1.00 q= .66 ea.
Used 1.00/1 IP
2 - Private Selection Green Beans - .99 ea on managers specials - blanched them and froze them for later use
Used .40/1 personalized Kroger coupon= 1 for .59, other for .99
2 - Dial Handsoap - .88- .70=.18 ea
Used .35/1 IP which doubled to .70
2 - Mt. Olives Banana Peppers - 2.59-1.00q=1.59 ea
Used .50/1 Mt Olives Peppers/Pickles (SS 8/28), doubled to 1.00
4 - Pillsbury Grands Jr Biscuits - 1.00-1.00/2 q=.50 ea, plus 1.50 OYNO catalina wyb 4, = .13 each
Used 2 - 1.00/2 IP's from pillsbury.com
1 - Green Grapes - 1.28 lb
2 - Pure Protein Bars - 1.00-1.00 q=Free
Used 1.00/1 any Pure Protein Product IP from their website
3 - Kroger Bar Cheese 3/$5
1 - Organic Veggie Tray - 2.99 on managers special
1 - Private Selection Italian Style Lettuce - 1.29 on managers special
1 - Nesquick Pouch 1.09-.50 catalina (do not double) = .59 ea
1 - Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade Treat - 1.00-1.00q=Free
Used .50/1 Minute Maid Frozen Novelty Products (doubled to 1.00) (RP 7/24)
4 - Asian Pears - 10/10 - looking at my receipt I see that I only got charged for 1, when I actually got 4. Hmm. Going to have to go back and remedy that.
1 - Perdue Natural Chicken Nuggets - 2.39 on managers special - 1.00 Kroger coupon= 1.39

Total: 50.95, 63% savings/saved $82.72 - savings do not include managers special markdowns, so I actually saved more :)

This week is a good week of an example where taking your coupons in with you is a good idea. I found many things that I wasn't planning on buying this week that were on managers special or sale items that I had a coupon for.

My actual trip yesterday

2011-09-05T08:10:00.000-07:00

Something you should know as a couponer, is that your trip will never be what you planned it to be. Some deals that you thought might be good, are actually a no go when you go look at the store. Then you may find something that you hadn't planned on. I took my friend with me yesterday to teach her a bit about couponing. We went to Walgreens, Target and Kroger. I didn't make it to CVS, although I may go tomorrow. So this is what I actually got.

Walgreens:

3 - Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil 20 ft, limit 3 - .79 deal only through Monday!

6 - Nice Tomato sauce limit 3 - .25

2 - Mitchum Deoderant 2.99

$2 RR wyb 1

Use $1/1 Mitchum Product (SS8/21) = Free after RR

2 - All Laundry Soap - 3/$7 - buy 2 -3.50ea

Use (2) $1/1 All Laundry Detergent (RP 8/28) = 2.50 each

4 - Suave Professionals Shampoo/Conditioner/Stylers 2/$6 - Buy 2 get $2 RR

Use Buy 1 Suave Prod Shampoo or Conditioner Get 1 Suave Pro Dry Shampoo or Styling Product Free= .50 ea

*The Nabisco crackers were not as good of a deal as I thought because the Walgreens booklet was not good for the ounces specified. So no go on that.

*I also found out when I got home that the Suave Dry Shampoo was not triggering the RR even though it's advertised. Good to know.

*The Suave shampoo and conditioner are the big bottles too! What a great deal on shampoo/conditioner that I love!

Target:

Sally Hansen Nail Polish - 1.74 on clearance

Used 1.00/1 Target coupon and .50/1 Sally Hansen Nail Polish coupon = .24

Mossimo Dress Pants - on Clearance for 17.39

Used 5.00/1 Mossimo bottoms Target coupon=12.39

Merona Cropped Jeans on clearance for 12.54

Used 5.00/1 Merona apparel Target Q = 7.54

Simply Lemonade - on price cut for 2.29 - you could also use this coupon on the smaller bottles and get them for free, but hubby love this stuff so much I opted to pay more.

Used 1.00/1 IP = 1.29

Kroger:

2 - Driscolls Raspberries: 1.00

1 - Krogers Singles Cheese - 1.67 (3/$5)

1 - Bag Organic Apples - 4.39

4 - Febreeze Set and Refresh - 1.99 (wyb 4 participating P&G products)

Use 1.00/1 Febreeze Set and Refresh (P&G 8/28) = .99 ea

4 - Febreeze Warmer - 1.70 (wyb 4)

Use 3.00/1 Febreeze Warmer (P&G 8/28) = Made 1.30 ea!

4 - Gillette Shave Cream .71 (wyb 4)

No coupon, hubby just needed shave cream :)

4 - Dawn Dish Soap 1.99 (wyb 4) - These are the bigger bottles too!

Use .50/1 Dawn Dish Soap (P&G 8/28) =.99 ea after doubles

Overall Kroger total: 14.65, saved 78% or 46.23 :)

Starbucks coffee - approx $10. I was tired...

Overall I had fun teaching couponing to one of my best friends!

Family and friends, you can tag along sometime too if you want some first hand experience :)!

Sunday Shopping Plan for CVS and Walgreens

2011-09-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

CVS 9/4

Ajax Dish Liquid - limit 5 - .89

Use $1/2 Dynamo, Ajax, Fab or Niagra Product expires 9/4! (RP 7/10)= .39 ea

Suave Invisible Solid Deoderant - .99

.75/1 Suave Deo (RP 8/14)= .24 ea

Skintimate Moisturizing Cream Shave 1.99

$1/1 Skintimate Moisturizing Cream Shave IP and $1/1 CVS IP= Free (if included)

Carefree Pantiliners 1.00 limit 1

Get 1.00 ECB, Use .50/1 Carefree Product (SS8/21) = .50 moneymaker!

Hersheys Air Delight Bar - .99

Get .99 ECB, Use Free Hershey’s Air Delight Milk Choc Bar wyb Milk Chocolate Bar (SS 8/28) = 2 Bars Free

Wisk Laundry Detergent – BOGO – approx 8.50

Use $2/1 Wish Laundry Detergent (SS 8/21 or RP 7/31) = 2.25 ea

Maybelline Eye or Lip – Spend $10, get $3 ECB – limit 1

Approx 5.30 ea

Buy 2 Maybelline Eyeliner, use (2) $1/1 Maybelline Eyeshadow or Eyeliner (RP8/7) = approx 2.80 each after ECB

Scenario:

Transaction 1

Item	Price	Coupon	OOP	ECB
2 -Hershey’s Air	.99	BOGO	.99	.99
2 -Maybelline	10.60	(2) $1/1	8.60	3.00
1 - Carefree	1.00	.50/1	.50	1.00
		Total:	10.50	4.99

Transaction 2

Item	Price	Coupon	OOP	ECB
4 -Ajax Dish	.89	(2) $1/2	1.56
4 - Suave	.99	(4) .75/1	.96
1 - Skintimate	1.99	(2) $1/1	0.00
2 - Wisk	17.00	(2) $2/1 + BOGO	4.50
		Total:	7.02	4.99
			7.02-4.99=2.03

Total for whole trip = approx 14.00, no leftover ECBs so it could have been lower, but I haven’t been to CVS for awhile.

Walgreens 9/4

Reynolds Wrap Aluminum Foil 20 ft, limit 3 - .79

Nice Tomato sauce limit 3 - .25

Nabisco or Pepperidge Farms Cookies/Crackers 4-8oz, BOGO 1.99/2

Use .75/2 Nabisco Cookies or Crackers (8/7 SS)

And 1.00/2 Nabisco Crackers from September Wags Booklet= Free

Mitchum Deoderant 2.99

$2 RR wyb 1

Use $1/1 Mitchum Product (SS8/21) = Free after RR

All Laundry Soap - buy 2 -3.50ea

Use (2) $1/1 All Laundry Detergent (RP 8/28) = 2.50 each

Airwick Scented Oil Warmer - .99

Use $1/1 Airwick Scented Oil Warmer = Free

Suave Professionals Shampoo/Conditioner 2/$6 - Buy 2 get $2 RR

Use Buy 1 Suave Prod Shampoo or Conditioner Get 1 Suave Pro Dry Shampoo or Styling Product Free= 1.00 ea

Transaction 1

Item	Price	Coupon	OOP	RR
1- Mitchum Deo	2.99	1.00	1.99	2.00
2 -Suave Shamp/Con	6.00	(2)Bogo	6.00	2.00
2 – Suave Style Prd	0.00
3 – Reynolds Wrap	2.37		2.37
3 – Nice Tom Sc	.75		.75
2 – Nab Crackers	1.99/2	.75/2 +1.00/2	0.00
1 – Airwick Warmer	.99	1.00	0.00
		Total:	11.11-5.00 prev RR
			6.11	4.00

Transaction 2

Item	Price	Coupon	OOP	RR
2 -Suave Shamp/Con	6.00	(2)Bogo	6.00	2.00
2 – Suave Style Prd	0.00
3 – Nice Tom Sc	.75		.75
2 – Nab Crackers	1.99/2	.75/2 +1.00/2	0.00
1 – Airwick Warmer	.99	1.00	0.00
		Total:	6.75-2.00 MitchumRR=4.75	6.00

Transaction 3

2 - All	7.00	(2)$1/1	5.00
1- Mitchum Deo	2.99	1.00	1.99	2.00
		Total	6.99-4.00 Suave RR’s
			2.99	2.00 RR left for next week!

Total = 6.11+4.75+2.99 = approx 14.00 for the entire trip and $2 RR left for next week!

Ins and Outs - Kroger

2011-09-02T15:29:00.000-07:00

I'm going to do a blog on each of the stores that I shop at and the ins and outs of each store and couponing there. Starting with Kroger. Ready.. set.. go!

Fact list:

* Krogers sales in this area run from Thursday-Wednesday.

* Kroger sales in other regions run earlier in the week and their sales are usually similar to ours. Guess what that means? I know what's coming before it comes to us! Guess what else that means? Planning and organization can occur before the sale even starts! Whoo hoo!

* You can load e-coupons to your Kroger card by going to their website (kroger.com) and going to Instore/Coupons/Digital coupons. You can also load coupons to your card by going to cellfire.com and shortcuts.com.

* Kroger in this area doubles paper coupons up to .50. For instance, say I have a coupon for .50/1 Dawn Dish detergent. Kroger will double the coupon to 1.00, thereby giving me 1.00 off of my purchase of Dawn.

* You do NOT have to buy all of the items in a sale package. For instance, Kroger runs a lot of 10/$10 sales. One would think that you had to buy 10 items to get that price. This is not true. You can buy 1 item and still get it for $1. This is a clever marketing tool for them, but now you know their little trick ;).

* However, if it is something like a mega sale where you buy 10 items and get $5 back, then you must buy in quantities of 10 if you want the $5 back. Things like this will be clearly stated on the ad.

* Kroger will typically only double 4 of the same like coupon. It really depends on the cashier though.
Kroger does NOT double e-coupons. Be careful when adding these. I do not add anything .50 and under because I most likely have a paper coupon for it too and would rather get double the savings.

* You can NOT stack an e-coupon and a paper coupon. (Stacking means using both coupons on the same singular product)

* Kroger will not allow overages. This means that if you are buying something that is less than the value of your coupon, it will automatically be reduced to the price of the item. You can get free items, you just can't make money.. unlessss... it is in conjunction with a mega sale, but this rarely happens (but it did this week).

* Kroger often does their manager specials (the tag is yellow and orange) on meat and produce between 8am and 10am. Some great deals to be had here especially if you have a freezer. Bread often has manager specials too and can also be frozen! Check everywhere for managers specials, they're not limited and could be anywhere :) You can use a coupon on managers specials too!

* Check for a managers special table. I once got 4 boxes of haircolor for free that was on a managers special table and guess who had a coupon for it. :) My stores is by the vitamins/painkillers/dental section.

* Check for closeout prices on items (red and white tag) that are on the bottom shelf or anywhere really. They like to stick them on the bottom shelf though. You can get some great deals here too!

* Kroger will give rainchecks for items that are advertised as on sale. Yes, advertised. If it's not pictured in the ad, they may not give you one, but mine is very good about it. Rainchecks are little slips of paper that you can use to get the same price on an item after the sale is over. Just make sure that your coupon isn't expired!

* Kroger does not have a published coupon policy, except for on digital coupons, which we already discussed. It is completely up to the stores discretion, so asking them first would be a good idea if you are not from my area.

* Check your receipt before leaving the store and watch the register like a hawk as your items are rung in and coupons are scanned. People make mistakes and it's up to you to recognize it and have it fixed! Don't let your shopping trip be ruined by coupons getting stuck together/dropped and not getting scanned or by something not ringing up right!

* Be nice to your cashier! The nicer you are, the more that they will help you and be nice to you! On that note, get to know your cashiers. Some are grumpy and don't like couponers. Don't get in their line anymore if you can help it and if you have a problem, go talk to customer service.

* Utilize your fuel points! Your points will be at the end of your Kroger receipt. Mostly Shell in this area. You just scan your Kroger card outside or bring it in and the price will be dropped 10 cents per gallon! It ads up and if you have them, why not use them? It's a free perk of shopping at Kroger! More info on their fuel program can be found here : http://www.kroger.com/in_store/fuel/Pages/b.aspx

Any questions? Just ask ;) I love my Kroger!!

Coupon Lingo

2011-09-02T10:21:00.000-07:00

So, couponers have lingo that's a bit like texting lingo. Here is the rundown:

WYB= when you buy
RP= Red Plum
SS= Smart Source
P&G= Proctor and Gamble
BOGO= Buy One Get One
Q=coupon
RR=Register Reward
ECB=Extra Care Bucks
OYNO=On Your Next Order
IP=Internet Printable
Peelie - Coupon you peel off of a package
Blinkie - Machine that generates coupons
YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary
Catalina - coupon printing after a purchase
OOP= Out of Pocket (money paid up front)
Stack - Using more than one coupon for an item. Target, Walgreens and CVS allow stacking with a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon.

Kroger Coupon Deals Week of September 1- September 7

2011-09-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

Proctor and Gamble Mega Sale – Buy any 4, get $4 off

You essentially get $1 off each item you buy. Prices initially listed are after the $1 off.

Febreeze Air Affects– $1.99

Use 1.00/1 Febreeze Air Effects (P&G 8/28) = .99 ea

Febreeze Set and Refresh – 1.99

Use 1.00/1 Febreeze Set and Refresh (P&G 8/28) = .99 ea.

Febreeze Noticables Warmer – 1.70

Use 3.00/1 Febreeze Noticibles Warmer = 1.30 moneymaker ea!

*this is just the warmer, you have to buy the scented inserts separately

Gilette Bodywash – 1.99

Use 1.00/1 Gilette Bodywash = .99ea

Secret Deoderant - .99

Use $1/2 Secret Products (P&G 8/28) = .49 ea wyb 2 (when you buy)

Dawn - 1.99

Use .50/1 (P&G 8/28) = .99 after doubles - this is the big bottle too!

Nabisco Snack Crackers – 2.18

Use 1.00 any Wheat Thins Facebook IP = 1.18

Use .75/2 Nabisco Cookies or Crackers (SS 8/07) = 1.81 ea. Wyb 2

Land o Lakes Margarine or Spreadable Butter – 1.69

Use .40/1 Land o Lakes Spreadable Butter (SS8/07) = .89 ea with doubles

Santa Cruz Organic Lemonade – 4/$5

Use .75 off Santa Cruz from Healthy Clippings = .75 ea

DerWafflebakers Maple Flavored Pancakes – on closeout for 1.39

Use 1.00/1 IP or 1.00 E-coupon = .39 ea!

La Looks Gel – 1.00

Use 1.00/1 (7/31 RP) = Free

Kids Gum Crayola Toothbrushes – 5/$5 = 1.00 ea

Use 1.00/2 Gum Oral Care Products = .50 each – for a two pack! Essentially .25 per toothbrush!

Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade 10/$10

.50/1 Minute Maid Frozen Novelty (RP 7/24) = free after doubles!

Other Non Coupon Deals

Kroger Pict Sweet Frozen Vegetables 10/$10 = 1.00 ea. – you don’t have to buy all 10!!

Tyson Frozen Chicken Tenderloins/Breast - $4.99

Kroger Cheese 3/$5

Kroger Sour Cream/Cottage Cheese/Dip 4/$5

Coke, Pepsi or 7-Up 12 packs (until 9/5) 4/$11 wyb 4

Pepsi 2 liters – Buy 4 Get 2 Free= .86 ea wyb 6

Sweet Baby Rays BBQ – 10/$10

Lays Potato Chips 1.99 until 9/5

Pork Spareribs 1.77 lb until 9/5

Bartlett and Crunchy Gold Asian Pears 10/$10

Cantelope 2/$3

There are obviously more sales going on than just these, but these are the ones that I see that I either took advantage of, or see that it's a decent price. Kroger.com has their ad online if you want to see the full ad :) Don't forget to load your e-coupons while you're there!

Getting the most out of your coupons!

2011-09-02T09:21:00.000-07:00

So, now you have coupons and they're organized and pretty. Now, how do you use your coupons in the most effective way? COMBINE THEM WITH SALES!! Coupons are a lot like poker. You have to know when to hold them and know when to fold them! Remember, just because you have a coupon doesn't mean you have to use it! Using coupons with a good sale helps you get the most bang for your buck. When there is a good sale, don't just buy one, buy enough to tide your family over for at least 3-6 months, or as many as you have coupons for! Be realistic and only buy things that your family will use. If it's a really good deal and you just have to buy it but won't use it, consider donating it to a shelter. We have a box of items that I got for free that we will be donating soon.

Create your own stockpile

1. Write a list of everything that you and your family use on a regular basis. Go through your cupboards, bathroom etc. Type in up in categories. Now you have a list of things that you can start a stockpile of. Go slowly! Rome was not built in a day and neither are stockpiles. Cross them off as you go! It's fun to see how far you have come!

2. Write down non-sale prices of things that you normally buy. This way you know when there is a good sale! Also keep track of the sale prices! This will help you determine if it really is a good sale or not!

3. Organization is key for your stockpile too. Just as with coupons, if you can't find the product you need, then you can't use it! Get a shelf and put it in your basement or garage ( if it's temperature controlled and no pests). Get a deep freezer! They're not that expensive and will save you tons! You can freeze things like bread, dairy, meat, fruit and vegetables (from your garden ;) )!!!

Stockpiling will save you so much money in the long run if you have room for it! We spend 30-70 dollars a week in groceries for a family of 4. We used to spend at least 200-250 a week. Think about the savings. It adds up.

Follow my blog and I'll keep you updated on what's on sale at Kroger, Walgreens, CVS, Target and occasionally Schnucks!

Organization is Key!!!

2011-09-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

I know you've heard this before from your mother, your teachers etc.. but it's true. Organization is key when it comes to effective couponing! If you can't find your coupons, then how are you supposed to use them?!

There are as many ways of organizing coupons as there are coupons themselves, and it's completely up to you how you want to do it! You may even change your style a few times before settling on something that works for you.

1. The coupon accordion
This little guy is great for when you're first starting out and fits in your purse. You can organize by type of coupon, date or however you feel is most effective for you. I started out with this and organized by type. For instance, my categories were: Boxed, Bread, Canned, Cleaning, Dairy, Frozen, Household, Hygiene, Meat and Pharmacy.

2. The coupon box
You can get a box little dividers and do the same thing as the accordian, except it's a little bigger. Fits in the kiddie seat area of your shopping cart.

3. The coupon binder - my favorite
This is my favorite way to organize thus far. For this you will need a binder (duh), some tabs to separate each category, and some baseball card organizers. Zippered binders are best because there is less chance of your coupons falling out onto the floor of the store if your binder is zipped up! You can get all of these at an office supply store. My categories that are in my binder right now are: Baby/Child, Baking, Box, Bread, Breakfast, Canned, Cleaning, Condiments, Cosmetics, Dairy, Dental, Frozen, Hair, Health Food, Health/Beauty, Household, Laundry, Meat, OTC Meds, Misc, Produce, Seasoning, Snacks. I'm getting ready to add in a few more categories, but haven't decided which yet. You basically cut your coupons and stick them in the slot under the proper heading. Voila! Organization! My advice is to get the biggest binder that you can find. You will utilize all of the space in it soon enough.Get more baseball card organizers than you think you need too. They will go quickly. Use both sides of the sheet too! Double up and save space! www.momsaves.com has a great selection of coupon binders and organizers to get you started. I would order her organizers if you can. They are better quality than baseball card organizers and she has a variety of sizes.

I have also heard of people using a coupon binder in this way:
Getting sheet protectors and putting the full insert pages in. Saves time cutting that's for sure. Then organizing inserts by date with a list of what's in each in front of each insert. I have thought about doing this because coupon clipping is time consuming, but I like the thought off all my like coupons being in the same spot instead of scattered about. With this method you would only clip out what you need, when you need it.

4. Plan ahead and get your coupons ready before you shop!
Make a plan of what and how many you are going to buy before you go. Write a list!! Then get all of the coupons that you will need and put then in an envelope so they are ready to go. I write my list on the envelope so everything is together. Before I get in the checkout line, I make sure my coupons are good to go, and pull out any that I'm not using or add some that I am. This is so much easier on you and the cashier if you are organized and ready to go! Still bring your binder in with you (or at the very least leave it in your car) even though you have your envelope. Trust me, you will find something that you didn't plan on buying that is a great deal with a coupon. Happens everytime!

Now go get organized!! :)

First things first... Where do you get coupons?

2011-09-02T07:04:00.000-07:00

There are numerous places to acquire coupons! You'll be amazed at how many coupons that you can obtain in a short period of time if you just know where to look!

For complete inserts, you can find them in the following places:
The Sunday paper (btw there are none scheduled this week so don't go out and buy a ton of papers!)
Buy them from insert selling sites - we'll talk about that later...

If you're desperate look for Sunday papers here:
Family and friends - my mom and mother in law give me theirs
Recycling bins - have never done this, but it's worth a shot
Coffee shops - ditto
Dumpster diving - no.. I have never done that , but it's an option if you reallllyyy want some coupons, Just check out the laws in your area before doing it. Getting arrested if probably not worth it...

Your best bet is to get a subscription to the local paper instead of buying them from a store. See if they have a multiple Sunday paper deal. Subscription papers have precedence over store bought when it comes to coupons and sometimes they don't have enough to go around. Plus some people are greedy and will steal inserts out of papers at stores or in the machines.

There are 3 companies who publish coupons. They are Red Plum (RP), Smart Source (SS) and Proctor and Gamble (P&G).
For a schedule of when to expect each insert go to this website: www.sundaycouponpreview.com. Keep in mind that our area does not always get all of the inserts that are scheduled and on that note, we don't not get all of the good coupons either. Which is why I order mine, but that's another story.

Clipped Coupons -
You can buy coupons that have already been clipped from websites. Sometimes this is a good option if there is something that you know that you will use, or know of a sale coming up, or if you just don't want to get a full insert and buy only what you need. Also good if you hate using scissors. Price it out and see if it's worth it for you.

www.thecouponclippers.com
www.couponsthingsbydede.com - my favorite thus far
www.thecouponmaster.com
www.centsoff.com

Internet Printables (IP) -
These you print from your computer. You can print 2 per computer. So, if you have more than one computer, you can get more. I just print from one and it's enough for me.

www.coupons.com
Here you can also check other zipcodes for different coupons. I consistently find better coupons in the following zipcodes: 90210 (i know, right?) and 77477. More organic/health food options there too.

www.redplum.com

www.smartsource.com

www.mambosprouts.com
Health food! Yay!

Facebook also has coupons on different product sites, so you can go search for your favorite products, like them, and see if they have a coupon. If not, at the very least you will be updated when they do post a coupon.

www.target.com -
Target web coupons you can use in conjunction with a manufacturers coupon. That's right. You can use them together. Some good deals to be had there!

www.cvs.com
CVS store coupons can also be "stacked" (term used to signify using 2 coupons together).

www.instoresnow.walmart.com
Printable coupons sometimes pop up here and there are also usually some really good samples there too. Samples usually come with coupons too!

www.recyclebank.com
Have to make an account and earn points, but some great healthy coupons available here!

www.couponnetwork.com
They have printable coupons and also tell of catalinas that are available. (Catalinas are coupons that print after you purchase something. Sometimes they are good for money off of your next order and can be totally worth it!)

E-coupons:
These are coupons that you can load to your store loyalty cards, such as Kroger. We'll talk about Kroger here because that's where I shop :)

www.kroger.com - Go to instore/coupons/digital coupons. If you do not already have an account set it up and then you can load coupons to your Kroger card that will automatically come off of your bill when you purchase the item! Be aware that you cannot stack e-coupons and paper coupons! As a side note, it is good to have your mailing address associated with your card because Kroger mails out coupons too. They send out general booklets and also coupons personalized to what you personally buy! We often get coupons for free items such as eggs or cereal from Kroger!

www.cellfire.com - Again, set up an account and load coupons to your card. Beware though, you cannot remove these coupons from your card once you load them. I do not load anything 50 cents and under because I will most likely have a paper coupon for it and digital coupons do not double!!! (Kroger doubles coupons up to 50 cents. We'll talk about that later!)

www.shortcuts.com - Same info as cellfire

Kroger and cellfire also have android/iphone apps that you can download and get your coupons off of there. Nice for when you're shopping too so you know what you've got on the card!

Coupon booklets:
Naturally Yours Grocery has a Healthy Clippings coupon booklet that has health food coupons in it. They are manufacturers coupons so you can use them anywhere!

Walgreens - they have a monthly coupon booklet that you can use for stacking. They are usually near the front door with the ads.

Manufacturers websites - sometimes you can find some there or you can write/email them and ask for some! Some companies are great about sending coupons! Especially health food companies!

Samples - I'm including these because samples usually come with a coupon too!
www.allyou.com
www.vocalpoint.com - must have a membership
www.instoresnow.walmart.com
www.kraftfirsttaste.com - membership required

Magazines:
You can also find coupons in magazines! Weeee!
The best one is All You. You can only purchase it by subscription or at Walmart. Some really good ones in there that you won't find anywhere else. I usually buy 2 a month and they end up paying for themselves.

Blinkies - these are the little machines that you see in stores that pop out another coupon when you pull one out. Be nice and don't stand there and take them all.

Peelies - coupons attached to product that you peel off

Coupon Trains -
This is something that you can start with other couponing friends where you send each other coupons that each other needs and vice versa. We'll get more into this later. It's a lot of fun though :)

I know this is probably information overload.. but that is in a nutshell where to find coupons. Like I said, you will be amazed at the amount of places that you can find coupons and then once you start using them... well, you'll be hooked on saving!

Kroger Yesterday/Schnucks and Target Wednesday

2011-09-02T06:01:00.000-07:00

Kroger:

4 - Pepperidge Farms Garlic Toast - BOGO= 1.69 ea.
2 - DerWaffelbakers Maple Pancakes - on closeout for 1.39-1.00 coupon= .39
2 - Febreeze Warmers - made money
2 - Febreeze Set and Refresh - .99
3 - Kroger Cheese - 3/$5
6 - Frigo String Cheese - 3.99-1.50 coupon = 2.49
3 - Santa Cruz Lemonade - 3/$5 = 1.25 each-.75 coupon = .75 each
5 - Ronzoni Garden Delight Pasta - 1.00-1.00 coupon= free
4 - Bounce Dryer Bars - 3.99-2.50/1.50 coupons=1.49/2.49 - they last for 3 months, so that's a good deal for me.. especially since I don't have to think about throwing in a dryer sheet!
6 - Land o Lakes Spreadable Butter - 1.69-.50 coupon doubling to 1.00= .69
1 - Folgers Simply Smooth Coffee - on closeout for 4.39-1.00 coupon=3.39
2 - Tyson Frozen Bagged Chicken Tenderloins - 4.99

Target:
2 - Rimmel Glam Eyes Eyeshadow - 2.99-2.00 printable-1.00 Target coupon = free
2 - Diet Pepsi 12 pk= .75 each w/ 1.00 Target coupon and .75 coupon
2 - Kleenex 4 pk 100 ct ea - on clearance for 2.59- .50 printable- .50 target coupon = 1.59 for 4 boxes!
2 - Nivea Womens Gel Bodywash - 2.99-2.00 coupon = .99

Schnucks:
4 - Cherry Coke 4/9.98
8 - Weber Seasonings 1.00-1.00 coupon=Free
8 - Mahatma Yellow Saffron Rice .79-.50 coupon doubling to price of item = Free

Pretty good week if you ask me :)

Kroger Sale on Thursday

2011-08-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

I am hoping that many of the sales going on in other Kroger regions will be the same in our region! Here is what I am looking forward to on Thursday when our regions sale starts!

Procter and Gamble Mega Sale - Buy 4, Get $4 off!

Prices after $4 off

Old Spice/Secret Deodorant - .99

$1/2 Old Spice Product (P&G 8/28) = 50. ea

$1/2 Secret Product (P&G 8/28)=.50 ea

Herbal Essences or Aussie Shampoo/Conditions - 1.77
$1/2 HE or Aussie Product (P&G 8/28) = 1.27
$1/1 HE or Aussie Product (RP 8/7) = .77

Gillette Bodywash 1.99
$1/1 Gillette Bodywash (P&G 8/28) = .99

Febreeze Air Effects - 1.99

$1/1 Febreeze Air Effects (P&G 8/28) = .99

Febreeze Set and Refresh 1.99

$1/1 Febreeze Set and Refresh (P&G 8/28) = .99

Bounce Dryer Bar - 3.99

2.50/1 Bounce Dryer Bar (Vocalpoint) = 1.49

1.50/1 Bounce Dryer Bar (Vocalpoint)=2.49

Other Good Deals

Tyson Chicken Wings/Boneless Skinless Breasts or Tenderloin 2.5lb bag - $4.99

Land of Lakes Margarine or Spreadable Butter 3/$5

$.50/1 Land o Lakes Spreadable Butter Product Printable=.66 ea w/doubles

$.40/1 Land o Lakes Spreadable Butter Product (SS 8/7/11 ) = .86 ea with doubles

$.40 Land o Lakes Margarine Printable = .86 ea w/doubles

Frigo String Cheese 3.99
$.40/1 Frigo Cheese Heads Snacks printable = 3.19 w/doubles
1.50/1 Frigo Cheese Heads String Cheese= 2.49
$0.55/1 Frigo Cheese Heads String Cheese, exp. 11/30/11 (SS 08/21/11)=3.44

Kroger Cheese, 6-8oz - $1.89

Kroger Singles, 16ct - $1.89

Pictsweet Steam'ables or Kroger Vegetables, 9-12oz - 10/$10

Pepperidge Farm Bread or Dessert, 9.5-19.6oz - $4.79/BOGO=2.39 ea

Pepsi 12 pks - 5/$13 (buy 4 get one free)

Kroger today, Schnucks and Target yesterday

2011-07-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

Schnucks: Bounty 50 ct napkins - 1.00 with 1.00 off coupon from June P&G=free

Pillsbury Brownie mix - 1.00 with 40 cent off coupon which doubles= 20 cents

or 1.00 with 55 cent of printable which doubles to 1.00=free

Target -

Zantac - 5.59 with printable coupon and Target coupon= 59 cents a box

Papermate pens- 1.02 with 1.00 off Target coupon=2 cents a bag

Sharpie markers 1.59 with 1.00 off Target coupon=59 cents

Kraft Veggie Mac and cheese 1.29 with 75 cent off coupon=54 cents

Kroger-

Totinos Pizza Rolls- 99 cents WYB 10 participating items with 40 cents off 2 printable or ecard coupon = 79 cents each

Sargento sliced cheese - 1.99 with 75 cent printable/newspaper or 1.00 newspaper coupons= 99 cents or 1.24 ea

Kettle chips 2.29 with 1.00 off coupon=1.29

Driscolls Raspberries 1.00 with 50 cents off printable which doubles = FREE

Dannimals yogurt 1.88 with 1.00 off coupon= .88

Jacks Pizza 4/$9 - no coupon.. just a good deal

Yesterday and Today

2011-07-04T12:41:00.001-07:00

Deals from this weekend :)

CVS:

10 Lumene Day Creme - 4.19 each, 4.00 off each coupon= .19 each= 1.90

1.90 -5.00 Extra Bucks back when you buy $20 worth of Lumene products = made 3.10!

2 Oral B Pulsar Toothbrushes - 5.99 each, 3.00 off each coupon plus 6 Extra Bucks back= made 0.02!

2 packages of QTips - 2 for $4.00 Buy 2 get 1 Extra Buck = 1.50 each

1 Box Tampax Pearl - 3.99-1.00 coupon-2 Extra Bucks = 0.99

2 Oral B Manual Toothbrushes - 3.00 ea- 2.00 off coupon- Buy one get one coupon- 2 Extra bucks back= Made 1.00

2 Herbal Essences Hairsprays 2/6.97- 3.00 off 2 coupon- 1.00 off 1 coupon= 1.48 ea

2 Herbal Essences Shampoo/Conditioner - same deal as above

1 Hersheys Air Delights Bar - 1.19-free coupon out of coupon machine=Free

Total Cost - 5.79, but I had Extra Bucks from last time.. so it ended up being .98 cents with 5 Extra bucks to spend for next time :)

Walgreens:

2 Oral B Advantage Toothbrushes - 2.99-2.00 coupon- 2 extra bucks= made 0.02

Act 2 popcorn - 1.00 (just because)

Paid 2.00 with 2 extra bucks for next time and a $10 off coupon to Fashion Bug that I will never use...

Walmart:

4 Cheese Nips - 1.24- 1.00 off 2 = 74 cents a box or 2.96 total

12 bottles of Advil - 1.84 ea with 4.00 off 2 coupon= made 0.16 for each bottle I bought= made 1.92, Miscounted and actually bought 13, so I got one for free and made 0.05, still happy with that :)

1 bottle Kikkoman soy sauce - 1.72-1.00 off coupon=.72

2 Aquafresh toothpastes - .97 each - 1.00 coupon off each = made 0.06

Paid 3.99