Another good article

Another article from becentsable.net about Gift Buying Strategies.

Thanks to Helping the Mommas for this guest post!


Do you often find yourself strapped for money whenever you have an occassion that requires a gift? Believe me, we've all been there. Here are a few strategies to help you get started.

1) Just do it. Sit down and make a Gift Giving Budget. Plan ahead for all your Birthdays and Holidays. If you take a few minutes now, when those occassions arrive, you're not caught off guard. My husband and I take part of our tax refund each year and set it aside for Christmas. Now I can rest easy because we've planned ahead (and I can use that money to get great deals off season).

2) Start a Gift Giving envelope. We're big Dave Ramsey fans (Financial Peace University). He advocates an envelope system. Each pay period/month, put a set amount of money in your Gift Giving Envelope. When you get a bonus or extra money, add to your envelope. This will help you from over spending on your Gifts.

3) Start a Gift Giving Stockpile. When you find great deals at rock bottom prices that will make perfect gifts, and you already have the money set aside, buy it! Create a gift box or bag in a closet, under the bed, etc... for all these gifts. Then you can go "shopping" from your own stockpile while saving time, money AND gas.

4) Don't shop last minute. You'll spend more money than you had intended.

Giving is so much fun. Saving money while you're doing it is even better. Try thinking outside the box. Shop off season. Watch for sales

Another great idea about stockpiling.

This article about Why Stock Up On Gifts is from becentsable.net.


Thanks to Helping the Mommas for this guest post!


What is Stockpiling?

Creating a "reserve" of items you've bought at rock bottom prices.


Why should I Stockpile a Gift Reserve?

Typically, if you buy a gift at the moment of need, you'll spend more than if you planned ahead. Our goal is to cut your Gift Giving Budget. If you buy items at rock bottom prices, you can stock up for a gift giving opportunity.

Where should I keep my Gift Reserve?

Anywhere you have space. Consider using a spare drawer, a box in the attic/closet or under the bed. (Just make sure little fingers can't find it.)

How will I know what gifts I'll need in the future?

Plan ahead. Make a list of all birthdays, weddings, anniversaries. If you have three weddings this summer, you can buy three gifts when you find a great deal and save money. You can also buy gifts that are age specific to your child(ren), because inevitably they'll be asked to parties by their classmates. Be an opportunist when it comes to great deals.

Won't they want a gift off their gift registry?

Would your friend be happier to know you put yourself in a financial disadvantage because you felt compelled to buy something expensive off their registry rather than buying them a high quality gift at a fraction of the cost? If you're on a tight budget and you give a generous thoughtful gift, it shouldn't matter.

Open your eyes and you might win a prize!

Ran to Apple Market yesterday to pick up a few things.  I had seen the Dole Salad Mixes were on sale for 2 for $4.  That's not the best sale since Aldis is cheaper, but it's OK in a pinch.  When I got there I happened to look up and saw Dole coupon/recipe booklets.  The coupons were for $1/1, so I ended up with the salad being $1 each! 

$1/1 Banquet Family Meal

You can get a $1/1 coupon for Banquet Family size meal via snail mail.  It takes 6-8 weeks.  Thanks to Bargainbriana.com!

Free 4x6 Magnet

This cool deal was posted on slickdeals.net by catmom23.  I used a cute picture of my dd, and tada!  Mother's Day gift for a grandma.  I know this is CVS and as a rule, I boycott them because of their stand on Glenn Beck, but it's free, so they're not profitting off me!

For a free 4 x 6 photo magnet, go to CVS Photo Gifts under $20.  The magnet is about half way down.  After you get our order going, you go to checkout and enter FREE4MOM.  Of course, you need to pick it up from you local store if you want it totally free.

Catmom23 said in her posting she read two different expiration dates; one for 2 days and one for  4/28.  Either way, you need to hurry.  The site also said it would take 7-11 days.  You usually get an email when you order is done.

Free OB tampons w/ carrying case

Want a sample of mini O.B. tampons with a carrying case?  Of course you do when it's free!  Go to Might & Small O.B. Tampons.   Found this on slickdeals.net.

My Kids Eat Free.

Going through my old email's I came across a link to My Kids Eat Free.  It's a website that enables you to look for restuarants that offer free kids meals.  This would be handy not only for saving money while at home, but also check out restaurants at various cities when you travel.  I'm going to bookmark it, so I won't lose it again!

Earth Day Deal

I didn't mention this previous because my DH thought we woundn't need/use it, but here we are.  Walgreens is offering TODAY 4/22 ONLY ink cartridge refills for only $1 each.  All you need is the coupon from you Sunday insert or do what I did a print one off HERE.  I have never had this done before, so I can't say how well it works, but for $1 I can surely find out!

Walgreens this week

 I looked over Bargainbriana.com, Mommysnacks.net, and becentsable.net to get these deals. 

My retail was 42.72 and I paid $3.16 OOP.  That's a savings of 93%.  Then I recieved $7.50 in RR which means I was paid $4.31.

$3.49 Kotex U Tampons: $2.50 RR
$1/1 U by Kotex Product Apr 2010 All You Magazine (exp 6/30/2010)
$1/1 U by Kotex Pads, Liners or Tampons  HERE
Net Price $2.49 each
FREE after coupons/RR!
(Because you can never have enough neon colored feminine products!)

Bic Hybrid Advance Disposable Razor System or Disposable Razors (3-8 pk) – $4.99

$1/1 Walgreens April IVC (exp 4/24/2010)
$3/1 Bic Razors 4/18/2010 SS Insert (exp 5/30/2010)
$2/1 Bic Disposable Shaver 3/28/2010 SS #2 Insert (exp 5/9/2010)
Final Price: as low as $0.99

Kellogg’s Cereals (Select) or Pop Tarts (8 pk) – $1.99 (limit 4)

$2/2 Kellogg’s Cereals 14 oz+  HERE
$1/2 Kellogg’s Cereals 11.4 oz+ 4/11/2010 RP Insert (exp 5/23/2010)
$1.50/2 Kellogg’s Cereals 3/28/2010 RP Insert (exp 5/9/2010)
$1.50/2 Kellogg’s Cereals 11.4 oz +  HERE
$1.50/2 Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats Cereals  HERE
$1.25/3 Kellogg’s Pop Tarts 8 ct+ 3/28/2010 RP Insert (exp 5/23/2010)
Final Price: as low as $0.99

$3.99 Scotch-Brite or O-Cel-O Sponges B1G1 Free w/ Coupon Insert

$1/2 Scotch-Brite Product 3/7/2010 SS Insert (exp 4/30/2010)
$1/1 Scotch-Brite Brand Product (PDF) (exp 6/30/2010) HERE
Net Price $.99 each

Colgate toothpaste or Wave toothbrush $2.99

Get $2 RR
$1 off (3/28 SS), April ALL YOU magazine
Final Price: FREE

New Price Chopper Rewards Card

Penny Pinchin Mom did a wonderful job explaining about the new Price Chopper card, so I just copied it for you.  This is for the Price Chopper in the KC area.  I'm excited because it's a reward program which means I'll get something back in addition to what I'm trying to save!

Well, I know many of you already know about Price Chopper’s newest feature – but in case you don’t — it is a NEW Rewards card! This one will replace your current card and has a LOT more features available to you! Read on to learn more.


HOW DO I GET A NEW CARD?

Simple! Starting tomorrow, April 14th, when you walk into the store, you will see a table set up with Price Chopper employees ready to help. They will scan your old card and download all of your information directly onto your new card. So that means — no paperwork!

At this same time, they will verify that your personal information will be verified. So, if you moved and never thought about updating your Chopper Shopper Card – you can do so right away.

WHY A NEW CARD?

Simply put – Rewards and Coupons.

One feature (coming soon) will be the ability to load COUPONS onto your card! These coupons will be available on Price Chopper’s website and will consist of both store (as available) and manufacturer’s coupons. That means you can upload some coupons to your card and don’t have to worry about leaving the paper ones at home! When your card is scanned, the system will “watch” for items you purchase that match up with the coupon loaded onto your card and then automatically deduct it from your total.

You will also earn rewards. Price Chopper has partnered with local merchants to help you save not only on your groceries, but when you shop around Kansas City. You can find the full list of Rewards available in the stores, but here are a few that I thought looked pretty great:

A.B. May – $20.00 off of a service call
BB’s Lawnside BBQ – Buy One Sandwich at regular price and receive a second sandwich at half price
Westlake Ace Hardware - 20% off all GE Light Bulbs
Hereford House & Prime Rib Grill – Free Appetizer with Purchase of Two Entrees (up to $10.00 value)

I know that they are working on other great deals as well!

MUST I GET A NEW CARD?

Nope! At this time, both cards can be accepted when you shop. However, you will not earn any of the rewards (see FAQs that follow) or be able to take part in some of the in-store specials that you will find. At this time, there is not a date in place to discontinue use of the old card. If that changes, I will be sure to pass that information along to you.

WILL I STILL RETAIN THE SAME CARD NUMBER?

Your Chopper Shopper Card number will remain the same if:

* You have your old card with you when you get your new card. When your old one is scanned, all information – including your card number – will be uploaded to the new card.

* You complete a paper application for a new card and indicate your old card number.

WILL I STILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN UPROMISE?

The Ball’s Organization is a part of the UPromise Program. So, if you are signed up for this program, you should have to do nothing — as long as you follow the steps to retain your current card number. At this time, none of the other stores actively participate in UPromise.

If you are not sure what UPromise is, you can read more here.

WILL THE CARD OFFER ME OTHER SPECIAL DEALS?

There will be in-store specials that you can get only by using your card. Starting April 21st, you will find special deals in the store — just look for this logo:

Here’s a sneak peek of the April 21st deals you will see in the stores:

* Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies, 8.5 0z – 15 oz: Buy 5 – Get 1 Free

* Dannon Activia Yogurt, 4 pack: Buy 5 – Get 1 Free

* Dole Salad Blend Kits, 5 – 14.2 oz: Buy 5 – Get 1 Free

WHAT ELSE WILL THE CARD PROVIDE TO ME?

The card will actually PAY you to shop! The card will track your purchases and award points. When you make a purchase, you will be able to see how many points you earned by looking at your receipt. The points are accrued only on qualified purchases — see www.mypricechopper.com for details.

You can even log into your account on-line and view your points balance at any time! The points are earned during one period and redeemable in another. So, the first round of points will be earned during your shopping trips from April 19th – June 22nd. They will be credited to your card on June 23rd. Then, when you shop from June 23rd – July 7th, your cash back balance will be deducted from your total purchase — automatically! No coupons. No papers to print. Nothing to remember. It thinks FOR you!

Here is the breakdown of points and cash back levels:

500 Points – $10.00 in free groceries

750 Points – $20.00 in free groceries

1000 Points – $30.00 in free groceries

1500 Points – $50.00 in free groceries

One thing to keep in mind is that your free groceries credit can not be used on liquor, tobacco, pharmacy, lottery, lotto, postage stamps, gift cards, money orders, tax and other service items. For example, if you have $20.00 in credit to use and you spend $15.00 on groceries and $5.00 on stamps, only $15.00 will be deducted from your purchase and you will need to pay $5.00 for your purchase. The remaining $5.00 credit will stay on your account until you make your next qualified purchase. You will not lose your credit – unless you do not spend it by the end of the redemption period.

A feature that will be coming soon is the ability to sign up for Personalized Savings Alerts. This feature will allow you to receive an e-mail when your favorite foods will go on sale. You will be able to opt-in and add this feature very soon. I will watch for this and be sure to watch the website as well for details.

This was a hard secret to keep – especially when some of you already knew and shared it with me. I couldn’t say anything about it – but I told you that it would be worth it – and it certainly is! Be sure to stop by www.mypricechopper.com as the website is also getting a face lift and should be even easier to navigate.

2nd Needed Run to Wags

I made a 2nd run to Walgreens for some needed items.  My savings weren't as great as usual, but if you can get what you need for a big discount, it still helps!

My retail was 33.27 and after sales, coupons, & RR, and receiving $8 back in RR, my total was 10.97 which is a savings of 67%.  Not the usual savings, but it means that I only paid $11 for Prilosec that was priced $25!

Prilosec 24.99
Received $5 RR
Coupon $3/1 from P&G 4/4
Final Price 16.99

Schick Hydro Shave Gel 2.99
Receive $3 RR
Final Price FREE

Apple Market

Did Apple Market today.  I got most of my deals from The Grocery Weekly but there were a few I found myself.  The Grocery Weekly is focused in KS, so I think there are some differences between the two.

My retail total was $34.40.  I actually took the time to find the retail prices of each of the items I purchased, so I got the actually price before sales this time.  After sales and coupons, I paid $15.62 which is a savings of 55%.  So, I basically paid half price for these groceries.  I can deal with that.

Betty Crocker Potatoes
Use .40/1 here
Final Price=.20/1
 
Hunt's Ketchup
$1/2 from April All You
Final Price=.50/1 (save for ConAgra rebate)
 
Betty Crocker Potatoes
Use .40/1 here
Final Price=.20/1 thanks to double coupons

Bird's Eye Frozen veggies
use $1/3 from 3/14 SS
Use .50/2 printable here
Final Price=  .75 each since my Apple Market doubles only under .50

YoPlait Individual Yogurts=.50/1
Use .50/6 printable here
Final Price: as low as .30/1 after coupon (beats Aldi brand price of .44/1)
Select Post Cereals=$2
Use $1/2 from 3/14 SS
Final Price=$1.50/1

Ten Ways to Save at Restaurants

Another oldie but goodie from Mary Hunt of www.debtproofliving. 


If the high cost of restaurant meals is eating up your cash, here are some great ways to keep your tab lean.



1. Discounts: Many restaurants offer a reduced-price menu for seniors and children. If you or someone in your party qualifies, be sure to inquire if this doesn't show up on the regular menu. Typically, these discounted menus offer smaller portions at significantly reduced prices.


2. Share: Splitting a meal these days is socially acceptable and economically savvy. While some restaurants charge a minimal fee for splitting, most are very accommodating. Some are so accommodating they'll split the meal in the kitchen rather than handing you an extra plate.


3. Specials: Many restaurants have daily specials that are not on the menu. Often, specials are priced below their menu price. Ask about any specials if the waitperson does not volunteer.


4. Early birds: Many restaurants, in an effort to build business during their quiet hours, offer half-off or some other enticingly priced meal, but only if you're there before the regular dinner crowd. Look in the newspaper and your mailbox for advertisements and information.


5. Skip the sodas: Skip the pricey drinks and dubious "free refills" altogether and you'll save at least $2 per person. Lisa B. rewards herself whenever she opts for water by stuffing two bucks into her savings account. One mom who wrote says she pays her kids $1 to order water. She figures it saves her a buck per child, plus gives them an incentive to break their soda habit.


6. Appetizers: Before you opt for a full meal, check the appetizer menu. You'll find generous portions minus the add-ons like salad or soup. And the price is right.


7. Coupons: Call your local high schools to find out who is selling restaurant-discount books, or go to www.entertainment.com to find one for your area.


8. Play tourist: It's not unusual for restaurants to have special offers directed at tourists that you can take advantage of as well. Stop in the lobby of a local hotel and peruse the attraction brochures. You'll find all kinds of offers for local restaurants. Google your city name plus "tourist" to see what comes up in the way of discount coupons.


9. Lunch menu: Many restaurants have a lunch menu that is slightly different from the one for dinner, the difference being the portion size and price. Ask the waiter if you can order from the lunch menu and you will save a lot.


10. Restaurant.com: You can buy gift certificates for selected restaurants in all parts of the country for half the face value at www.restaurant.com. A $25 gift certificate is $12.50, and one with a $10 face value is just $5. Certificates that do not sell on the site are auctioned on eBay for even less. This is a site worth checking out.

Why You Need to Save

This is another old article from Mary Hunt of http://www.debtproofliving.com/




Here's the bottom line: You are either a saver or a spender. That doesn't mean you either have a big investment account or you spend every day at the mall. It's about your mind-set -- your natural bent, your first inclination toward money. And if you are married, your spouse is probably the opposite.


If you are a saver, congratulations. You're way ahead of the rest of the population. If you're not, you should be. And you can be. But first you need to be convinced from the inside out that saving is superior to spending.


In their book "Millionaire" (Renaissance Books, 2001), authors Wayne Wagner and Al Winnikoff offer a few reasons to save that might trigger some motivation for you:


You need to save:


• So your children don't have to live hand-to-mouth like you did.


• So you can open your own business one day.


• So you'll be able to retire some day.


• So you can make a truly significant gift to your favorite church or charity.


• Because you're afraid Social Security won't be there when you need it.


• For a rainy day, just in case.


• Because you have a peculiar affection for numbers with lots of zeros in them.


• Whatever motivates you to think beyond "I want it all, and I want it now."


• So you can walk up to your boss, look him straight in the eye, shake his hand and say, "So long, Joe. I quit."


What you need to understand is that saving is a choice not unlike the choice you make every morning to get up and face the day.


If you're like most people, you don't even realize you're making a choice. Most people don't choose to not save; they just believe that it is impossible for them. If you're like them, you're now saying, "But I just don't make enough money to pay all my bills and save, too!"


Baloney! You do, you can save and you must. You need to start seeing your commitment to saving as a priority -- a monthly obligation as important as the rent or mortgage payment. It has to be something you do first before all the money disappears, not only if there is something left over when you're done spending.


Want to start today, right now? Stop spending coins. Period. Never again spend a penny, nickel, dime, quarter or dollar coin. Never, ever. If the tab is $4.02, hand over $5 and rejoice over 98 cents in change -- coins to deposit into your secret stash every evening.


Check with me one year from today and tell me how much you've accumulated. You'll be shocked and amazed, but, most importantly, you'll get the fever. You'll see how fun and stimulating it is to save money rather than spend it. Before you know it, you'll be saving dollars and lots of them. By the way, I just rolled my coins from last year. I'll be taking more than $500 to the bank tomorrow. But that's not close to my all-time record: $1,102.55 in one year.

Don't get shocked by your electic bill

This came from the 9/12/06 newsletter from Everyday Cheapskate by Mary Hunt. It used to be free, but I think now you have to "join." The current website is http://www.debtproofliving.com/

I came this close to requiring resuscitation when I looked at this month's electricity bill. I remember when our rent was less than the $230 I saw after the words "Amount Due."

How on earth could that happen? How could two people living in a modest home in Southern California possibly use that much energy? My emotions ran from embarrassment to anger. And then I got a high-voltage burst of determination to make sure this doesn't happen next month.
We've gotten lazy. We leave lights on needlessly and set the air-conditioning thermostat too low even though it has been hot. And now we are paying for it. But we are back on track doing all the things we know to do to keep our usage and our bill down to a reasonable level.

TURN OFF LIGHTS WE ARE NOT USING: This is a no-brainer and certainly one of the easiest measures of all. It is the key step to achieving a conservation mind-set. Just flipping a switch stops the waste of power.

CUT BACK ON THE LIGHTS WE DO USE: I'm the worst when it comes to turning on all of the lights in the room. We will be opting for lamps and task lighting instead of general room lighting whenever possible.

ADJUST THE THERMOSTAT: An air conditioner uses a tremendous amount of electricity when it runs, as does electric heat. During the hot months, we are committed to setting it at 78 F and at 68 F during the winter and leaving it there. As a rule of thumb, every degree you lower a thermostat's set temperature will save 3 percent of energy costs over a 24-hour period.

MAINTAIN THE REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER: Because these appliances are the biggest energy users in our home, we need to make sure they are running at maximum efficiency. I checked, and sure enough both were set to the highest setting, which makes them run nearly all the time. I set them back to reasonable levels, and I will be defrosting our standalone freezer this weekend. It is way past due, and that, too, makes it use more power.
USE THE OVEN AND STOVETOP LESS: There are many times that the microwave, slow cooker and toaster oven will work just as well for our meal preparation as the standard oven and stovetop. The smaller appliances use a great deal less energy.

TURN COMPUTERS OFF: It used to be that computers would wear out prematurely if they were turned on and off routinely. But technology has improved to the point at which it makes no difference in the computer's longevity. So the best advice is to turn it off when it's not in use to save energy.

RUN ONLY FULL LOADS: I have fallen into the habit of running less than full loads in the washing machine and the dishwasher. But no more! I'm sure by being careful to wait for a full load, we'll be running those appliances half as often in the coming month.

Even though these measures may appear as though they will give us only minor relief from our staggering electric bill, the cumulative effect should make a significant difference. I'll keep you posted.

An Eye Opening Trip to the Grocery Store
Mrs. Donna Venning


Coupons, bulk buying, sale or clearance items; there are many things you can do to save money. But the number one tip for how to truly save money on your grocery bill is….to be wise. Product prices can change from region to region, store to store…one of the smartest ways to save money is to take a little time to investigate for yourself and determine where your best prices are.

There are a number of ways to do this: shop the ads, comparison shop or bulk buy. I once did some comparison shopping and the results were eye-opening.

I began by making a spreadsheet of the ingredients I needed for three recipes that I routinely make and then printed that spreadsheet out. Over the next week, I went to four stores (three grocery, one warehouse) and recorded the prices into my spreadsheet. I compared apples to apples; what I mean is, for my chili recipe, I’m particular about the brand of beans I buy, so I checked the price on that brand at each store, even if the store brand was cheaper. However, on items that I am not brand-loyal, such as a can of stewed tomatoes, I recorded each store’s cheapest, non-sale price no matter what the brand.

My logic behind doing things this was was that I wouldn’t be “shopping the sales.” I know with a little effort and preplanning, I can always find things on sale by shopping ads. But my reason for comparison shopping was to determine which store had the lowest “regular” prices on items. That way, if it was a tough week or if I had to shop in a pinch, I knew which store I could count on for overall low prices. I mean, if a store has eight items on ad for low prices, but my other 22 items are at their regular price more expensive, I might not come out ahead in the long run. And I’m not going to make a habit of going to several stores every week. So, what did I discover? Read on…

When I was done, I discovered that the lowest “regular cost” was $11 and the highest cost was….$28! Yikes. A $17 difference! That’s huge (one large reason was the cost of non-sale chicken was quite significant between the two stores). Now, I rarely pay the “regular” prices for this recipe because I buy on sale, with coupons when products are on sale. I buy chicken cheap and freeze it. But this experience was still an eye-opener for me, because this price variance told me that one store was significantly cheaper than the other, especially when I just need to go shopping and not worry about the prices. Since I live within five minutes of four major supermarkets, gas isn’t a concern and you can bet that the store that came in $17 cheaper than it’s highest competitor has me for a regular customer.

I share this to say that although it was time consuming to do that week, it was a relatively small time commitment to receive in trade when I see how much money I save on a routine basis.

You could do a similar price comparison a little at a time; jot down a few items in your brain (your day planner) and the next time you’re at the store, record the price of that item. Then, next time you’re at the warehouse store, record the price per item; ditto for the next time you happen to be at a different supermarket. Don’t forget to check out your local warehouse store. If you’ve got the room to store stuff, you’ll probably come out ahead by buying items there. See our other article in this ezine about bulk-store “bewares.”

PS: And a note for those of you who are shocked to read that I have a recipe that could cost as high as $25. Remember that I make this recipe often and it lasts three meals for our family (less fresh veggies), so I buy things (like beans) when they’re on sale and the recipe actually pans out to be quite inexpensive. I figured with sales and buying ahead it usually comes to around $8 and that’s for three meals! I rarely make a recipe that only lasts one meal. That’s my other money saving tip: find recipes that can be spread out or make more than one meal from. Hey, perhaps we’ll use that as a topic in an upcoming TEACH Talk!

Free Mac & Cheese

Go to Kraft Cheese Explosion and sign up for a coupon for free Macaroni & Cheese.   My dh always wants to have a couple of boxes of Mac & Cheese in the house, so we won't "starve" if "something" happens!  Go figure!  :-)

Walgreens 4/11

I got most of my deals this time from becentsable.net, bargainbriana.com.  Remember that I usually only list below what I did to get my deals.  The actual sites I use might list more coupon options than I do.

 My retail this week was $42.19.  After sales, coupons & RRs, I paid $0.19 which is a savings of 99.5%.  They gave me $10 in Register Rewards which means they paid me $9.81 to take $42.19 worth of products from their store.

Schick Hydro shave gel $2.99

$2.99 RR
Final Price: FREE

Ban Invisible Solid Antiperspirant $.99 (with insert coupon)
$.75 from 3/7 SS
Final Price: $.24
 
Vitamin Water 20-oz $1

$1/2 from 4/11 SS
Final Price: $.50 each wyb two
 
Skippy Peanut Butter $1.50

$.60 from 3/28 RP
Final Price: $.90

Sudafed, Benadryl, Tylenol - $4.99
Earn $5 Register Rewards wyb 2
$2/1 Sudafed Product 24 or 32 ct 10/4/2009 RP Insert (exp 4/30/2010)
$1/1 Benadryl Allergy 3/14/2010 RP Insert (exp 5/31/2010)
Final Price: $1 each.
 
 
Colgate Clinical - $3.99

Earn $2 Register Rewards
$1/1 Colgate Pro Clinical 4/11/2010 SS Insert (exp 5/1/2010)
Final Price after Register Rewards: $0.99
 

Price Chopper

I got most of my deals from kcpennypinchinmomma.com this week, but the two free items and Hunt's tomatoes were ones I had myself.

My retail total was $93.19.  After sales and coupons, I paid $35.78 which is a savings of 62%.  I'll take it!


Del Monte Canned Fruit
Price with card: 10/$10.00 or $1.00 each
Printable Q $1.00/4 (don't remember where I found it)
Final Price: $0.75each

Knorr Side Dishes
Price with card: 10/$10.00 or $1.00 each
BONUS with purchase: Purchase 10 and get 1 Rotisserie Chicken Free (I didn't do this since I only had 2 coupons.)
Less $1.00/3 printable coupon here
Final Price: $0.67 each

Crest Toothpaste, 4.5 oz
Price with card: 10/$10.00 or $1.00 each
Less $1.00/2 coupon 4-4-10 PG
Final Price: $0.50 each

Del Monte Canned Vegetables
Price with card: $0.69
Less $1.00/5 coupon 2-7-10 RP
Final Price:  $0.49 each

Palermo’s Classics Pizza
Price with card: 4/$10.00 or $2.50 each
Less $1.00/1 printable coupon here (join La Famiglia)
or Less $1.00/1 coupon 3-14-10 SS
Final Price: $1.50 each

Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats

Price with card: 2/$5.00 or $2.50 each
Less printable coupon $1.50/2
Final Price:  $1.75 each

Healthy Choice Entrees
Price with card: $2.19
Less $1.00/2 coupon 3-28-10 SS
or Less $1.00/2 printable coupon here
Final Price: 2/$3.38 or $1.69 each

Post Cereals, select varieties
Price with card: $1.49
Less $1.00/2 coupons 2-28-10 SS and/or 3-14-10 SS
Final Price $0.99 each

SunChips  FREE coupon via snail mail

Cheetos FREE CHopper Kids Club

Hunts Tomatoes
10 for $10.00
$1/3 coupon from April All You
Final Price: $0.67 Each
Remember the ConAgra Rebate.  I puchased 7 cans for $1.00 so I only need $3 more in ConAgra products to get my coupon book.

Meditations for the Heart: Monday's Meditation - Proverbs 31:14

God used Proverbs 31 in a way that encouraged me to start using coupons. A Proverbial Beginnning
It was really neat to see another person's take on the same passage.  Meditations for the Heart: Monday's Meditation- Proverbs 31:14

Walgreens this week

Did my usual run.  I also picked up some Easter stuff at 50% and will save it for next year which means I didn't have coupons for those items.

My retail total was $41.66.  After sales, coupons and RR, my OOP was $0.77 which is a 98% savings.  I earned $12.50 in RR back which means they paid me 11.73.

I found my deals through bargainbriana,  couponmom, and  mommysnacks.

U by Kotex - $3.39
Earn $2.50 Register Rewards making it $0.99
$1/1 U by Kotex Product Apr 2010 All You Magazine (exp 6/30/2010)
Final Price after Register Rewards: FREE

Garnier Hair Care Products – 3/$10
Spend $20, Get $10 Register Rewards
$1/1 Garnier Hair Product 3/7/2010 RP Insert (exp 4/15/2010)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Style Product 3/7/2010 RP Insert (exp 4/15/2010)
(I had 2 copies of each.)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Hair Products or Stylers (IE)
(I printed 2 copies.)
Final Price:  $0.67/each

Dawn coupon .99
Coupon .50/1 4/4 P&G
final .49
 

Update to the ConAgra Rebate

If you haven't puchased your copy of April's All You, do so quickly.  It has a lot of coupons that can be used for the items in this rebate.   All You is only sold at Walmart and is an excellent source of coupons.