Back at it ...

I decided that I've probably offloaded too much information in past week or so and though that we all needed a day to rest and digest it all. So after a day or rest, I'm back at it. There are a couple of things I thought would be worth sharing this morning.

The first is a little off topic. It actually has to do with food storage and using powdered milk or powdered eggs. For those of us that might have some of these items in our long term storage, there are some helpful items out there that you can use. There is a lady who has a website entitled Everyday Food Storage. She shows you how to use your food storage in every day cooking and have fun with it at the same time. Anyway, she has a recent post about purchasing some fun magnets with conversions for using powdered eggs and milk and recipes for her "magic mix." You can purchase all 3 refrigerator magnets (sizes are 5.47″ x 4.21″) for only $5 including shipping and handling. I'm not quite to the point where I use these things in my everyday cooking yet, but it's something I'd like to get to using, so I purchased a set to have for when I do get to that point. She mentions that she only has 500 sets available and doesn't know when she might be able to purchase them for such a good deal again. So if you're interested, either for now or later, you might want to consider picking some up. You can go on her website and purchase them through paypal. There's a link to her website on the right hand column of this blog or you can click on this link: http://everydayfoodstorage.net/.

The second item is something I saw on the PYP Walgreens Forum last night. They have some pretty good deals on cleaning supplies. If you combine the sales, online coupons, and the Easy Saver Rebates, you can get them for a pretty good deal. Here's the details:

- Drano, Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubber or 6pk Toilet Gel, Pledge Wipes, Liquid (shows aerosol) or Fabric Sweeper 2/$7 - $1 each rebate #30 = 2/$5
Rebate limit of FOUR for up to $4 savings ~ note that this is the same rebate as the items listed on the next section
USE: Pledge furniture care product, any .55/1 (3-8-09) SS-1/11
Pledge Multi Surface product $1/1 (3-8-09) SS-1/11
Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel $1/1 (3-8-09) SS-1/11
Printable Coupons (Click Here):
Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel or Fresh Brush $1/1
Scrubbing Bubbles Product, any $3/2
Drano $1.50/1
Pledge Furniture Care Product $1/1
Pledge MultiSurface Spray $1/1
Pledge Fabric Sweeper $2/1
Pledge Wipes $1.50/1
Final Price: 2/$1 - 2/$3.90

- Shout, Scrubbing Bubbles Wipes or All Purpose Cleaner, Windex Wipes or Spray, Fantastik 2/$5 - $1 each rebate #30 = 2/$3
Rebate limit of FOUR for up to $4 savings ~ note that this is the same rebate as the items listed on the previous section
USE: Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner, any .75/1 (3-8-09) SS-1/11
Scrubbing Bubbles Flushable Bathroom Wipes $1/1 (3-8-09) SS-1/11
Windex Glass or Multi Surface Cleaner, any .40/1 (3-8-09) SS-1/11
Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner, any $1/1 (3-7-09) SS-1/11
Printable Coupons (Click Here):
Shout Laundry Stain Remover $1/1
Scrubbing Bubbles Aerosol or Trigger Product $1/1
Scrubbing Bubbles Product, any $3/2
Windex Original Glass & Surface Wipes $1.50/1
Windex Glass or Multi-Surface Cleaner $1/1
Fantastik All Purpose Cleaner $1/1
Final Price: 2/FREE - 2/$2.20

- Best Deals
Windex:
Buy 4 = $10 - $4 ES rebate - (2) $1.50/1 coupon - (2) $1/1 coupon = 4/$1
Send in this rebate:
Mail in FORM! Windex Wipes or Antibacterial Trigger Spray Rebate Offer, up to $4.50 (3-6-09) SS-1/11
Final Price: $1.50 overage

Scrubbing Bubbles:
Buy 4 = $10 - $4 ES rebate - (2) $3/2 coupons = 4 FREE

Windex & Scrubbing Bubbles:
Buy 2 each = $10 - $4 ES rebate - (2) Windex $1.50/1 coupon - (1) Scrubbing Bubbles $3/2 coupon - $2.50 Windex mfg rebate = $2.50 overage

Be careful if you are planning to mail in the Windex Mfg Rebate, it's only valid on the wipes or antibacterial trigger spray, so make sure you purchase the right kind. Even if you don't want either of those, it's still a good deal for the cleaning supplies. Also, remember that the rebate is for 4 items TOTAL! So you can't do 4 of the windex and 4 of the scrubbing bubbles or other items. Although, still a good deal without the rebates and just using the coupons. Just a heads up on that.

If you're wondering how to get/use the Easy Saver Mail In Rebate, you can pick up a little booklet at the store that lists all the rebates (they're usually located right next to the ads) or you can go online to the Walgreen's website and click on the link under the Easy Saver Rebate Section. You can either send in your rebate via mail or do it online. Here is a link to instructions on how to send it in online: PYP Blog - Using Walgreen's Online Rebate. It's quick and easy. And if you select the option to get a Walgreen's gift card with your balance, you get an extra 10%. Once you get your card sent to you, you can have it reloaded each time you submit other rebates. It's really nice and gets reloaded very quickly (about 2-3 days after you submit it).

If you're worried about not making it to the store before they sell out, then don't worry. One of the good things about these cleaning deals is that you can usually get a rain check on the items for the sale price. The coupons are good until the middle of March (at least the Windex ones I printed are) and the Easy Saver Rebate goes until the end of February. So if you don't make it there when they have some, make sure to get a rain check, then stop back in when they are stocked (even if it's after this week when the official sale is on) and you should still be able to use your coupons and Easy Saver Rebate if it's all purchased by the end of February.

Good Deals - Have fun shopping and stocking up!

And Even More Savings This Week!

Yet another good savings success this week! My brother and sister-in-law went shopping tonight and had some great savings that I just had to share!

Albertson's:



Items Purchased:
12 rolls of toilet paper-$4.99
2 bags of tots-.99 each
2 bottles miracle whip-2 for $5
Block of cheese-$2.88
All other items were 10 for $10 (Ice cream, tomato sauce, pudding,etc.)
I also had additional coupons from the internet.

Total Spent = $25.55
Total Saved = $22.57


Smith's



Items Purchased:
10 boxes of cereal

Total Spent = $15.53
Total Saved = $29.73

Great job guys!

More Shopping Savings This Week

I finally had the chance to make it to the store last night. Surprisingly, I was able to find pretty much everything I was hoping to get. Down here in Utah County, there are quite a few coupon shoppers and usually if I don't make it out the morning of the first day, I end up missing out on quite a few things I want to pick up. I was happy to find out that wasn't the case this week.

I ended up going to Smith's and two different Albertson's (but all are within about 2 miles of each other, so it wasn't too much of an inconvenience). Here's what I got:



Items purchased:
5 Dannon Frusion Smoothies
1 Dannon LaCreme Yogurt 4pk (not shown)
5 boxes of Quaker Granola Bars
2 Mega packs of Eggo Waffles
2 bottles of Taco Bell Taco Sauce
6 gallons of milk (from Smith's)

Total Spent: $22.16
Total Saved: $33.33


I also got an email from my sister with the details of her purchase from Albertson's. Here's what she got:



Items purchased:
10 Michelina's frozen lunches
6 bottles Suave shampoo
6 cans of Hunts tomatoes
2 cans of corn

Total Spent: $15.14
Total Saved: $29.34

She made the comment : "Man that feels good!" I totally agree! It's great to realize you are saving money isn't it? Nothing feels better when you realize how expensive groceries are getting and where the economy is heading. Every little penny you save counts!

Lots of good savings this week with the sales, double coupons, etc. If anyone else makes a purchase and saves a bunch of money, let me know either through email (jjzhawks@hotmail.com) or leave a comment and give me the details on what you bought (with picture if you can), how much you spent, and how much you saved. It's so fun to see how everyone else is saving money!

Purchases Made This Week

I haven't had a chance to make it out to the stores yet this week (sick kids), but I did get a comment from my Mom about her purchase at Albertson's today.

Here's what she got:

6 cans Hunts diced tomatoes
1 Cover Girl eye shadow
10 Dannon Smoothies
2 La Creme Yogurt
8 bags Fries
4 Suave Shampoo
2 Crunch 'n munch

Total Paid = $18.22
Total Saved = $54.41

Good Job Mom!

Good Deals for the Week!

Well, another week has rolled around, meaning new sales, lists, and coupons! And true to my word, here are the deals worth noting for this week:

Albertson's:
- Bags of Fresh Express Garden Salad - 99 cents
- Tyson boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenders (2.5 lb bag) - $4.99
- Dannon Frusion Smoothies - $1 each, buy 5 and get a free 4-pk of Dannon La Creme Yogurt, also a coupon for $1 off of 4 from the paper
- Dannon Light-n-Fit Yogurt - 40 cents each with coupon
- Crunch-n-Munch - 50 cents a box with coupon
- Lipton/Knorr sides - 63 cents with coupon
- Malt-o-meal ceral - 3 for $7, extra promo - free milk when you buy 3 cereal pkgs
- Taco Bell salsa - $1
- Albertson's frozen french fries or potato rounds - 99 cents a bag (32 oz)
- Romano's Macaroni Grill Dinner Kits - 2 for $7, there are also $1 off of 1 coupons in the paper or online, extra promo - buy 2, get $2 back instantly on chicken
- Totino's pizza rolls - 50 cents to 65 cents with coupons in paper and online
- Glass Plus Cleaner - 79 cents with $1 off coupon from internet, extra promo - buy 1 and get a free roll of paper towels
- Suave shampoo and conditioner - 72 cents each with coupon from paper
- Sylvania light bulbs - 50 cents each (4 pk)
- There is also a Kraft and Reusable shopping bag promo - couple of things for good deals
- Big item this week is the double coupons promo they are doing. You need the in ad coupons from their ad and you can double up to 4 coupons per shopping trip (I'm assuming this means you can't do multiple transaction and get multiple double coupons). The trick to doing it multiple times, if you really need to, is to get multiple ads and then go to the store multiple times. The odds are that they aren't going to have the ads right when they usually are - they got burned on that last time they did double coupons, apparently some dishonest people stole all of their ads and were abusing the double coupons. If they aren't in the normal area, you can probably request one at the Customer Service desk and they'll give you one. I would be careful and not abuse this though, if they notice you are asking for multiple papers, they may revoke the priviledge. This double couponing can make a lot of items in the ad a good deal or and even better deal. As you're planning your list, make sure you double the coupons that are the biggest, but the ad does specify that they won't double any coupons above $1.

Smith's:
- Red seedless grapes - 99 cents per lb
- Chuck roast and chuck steak super value pks - $1.99 per lb
- Tyson whole chickens - 59 cents per lb
- Mountain Dairy Milk - 3/$5 on gallons
- L'Oreal cosmetics - B1G1 free + coupons from the paper
- Daytona 500 Promo - buy 10 items, get $3 back instantly - translates to 30 cents off per item. Items of interest (with or without coupons) are Breyer's ice cream, Chef Boyardee canned pasta, Dasani water, Kellogg's pop tarts (big box), Multigrain Cheerios, Ritz Crackers, Purex Laundry Detergent, and Totino's pizza rolls

Associated Food Stores (Macey's, Dick's, Kohler's, Kent's, etc.):
- Duncan Hines Brownie mixes - 74 cents with coupon from paper
- Lipton/Knorr sides - 62 cents with coupon from paper
- Nabisco Wheat Thins - 99 cents a box with coupon from paper
- Ortega Taco Seasoning mix - 32 cents a pkt with coupon from paper
- Wishbone dressings or salad spritzers - $1.13 or $1.28 each with coupon from paper
- Colgate Toothpaste - 75 cents (6.4 oz) with coupon from paper

Walgreen's:
- Royal Gelatin - 20 cents a box
- Palmolive dish soap - 99 cents a bottle
- L'Oreal and Almy Cosmetics - B1G1 free or B1G1 50% + coupons from the paper
- Vick's Promo - spend $20 on Vick's products, get a check out voucher for $10 off your next shopping order - some items have additional coupons from the paper ($20 is before coupons)

Rite Aid:
- Covergirl and L'Oreal cosmetics - B1G1 free + coupons from the paper


As always, check the lists for specific details and listing of coupon locations. Also, there are many more items on sale that are good deals that I didn't list. I just noted a few that were interesting to me. Hope everyone finds something useful and has a good experience.

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Some Tips for a Successful Experience

I know the last week has been a whirlwind of posts and information and it's a bit much to stomach all at once. But as you take the time to go through things little by little and as you try the process out yourself, it should all begin to make sense.

I have had a few comments here and there on the posts that I've made with some suggestions to add. So I thought I'd post a small section on tips in order to capture all of these great comments. So, just as a side note, here are some tips that will help make your experience more successful:

1. When you are signing up for internet coupons at different sites, they usually require you to list your email address. One comment suggested that you get yourself a junk email address so that all the extra stuff that they might send you will go to this other email instead of clogging up your home email. I already have one of these I've used for any online purchases, sign-ups, etc. and I've been tremendously grateful I haven't used my home email for stuff like this. Most of the sites have a little box you can check on or off depending on whether you want to get extra info from them. I usually say yes because they do sometimes send you different offers and coupons that others might not get, but you have the option to say yes or no to that. It's up to you, but if you do say yes, I would sign up for a free email through hotmail, yahoo, or many of the other free online emails so that all that extra stuff can be stored there.

2. Only buy what you will use. This seems simple enough, but as you get going, you can find yourself caught up in the "that's a good deal, I'm going to buy it" frenzy. Even though things are a good deal, if you aren't going to use them before they expire, then don't get them. I remember when I was first starting out, they had a big sale at Albertson's and with the store savings + coupons, I was able to pick up the Wishbone Salad Spritzers for 19 cents a piece - I was excited about how good of a deal that was and bought as many as I could (5 total). It's now been over 6 months and I still have 1 in my fridge, 2 sitting in my pantry, and I've farmed two of them off to my sister to use. The worst part is that they expire here in the next week or so and there is no way I'm going to get through them all before then. So even though the deal was fantastic - 5 bottle for less than $1, since I won't end up using them, I might as well have thrown that dollar in the garbage. Since then, I've wised up a bit and now that I know how often things go on sale, how often coupons come out, and what things we'll eat and what we won't, I'm a bit better at only getting what we'll use. Now that doesn't mean that you can't switch over to using different products because you get them for a good deal. I typically use Purex laundry detergent, but I am now currently using Tide and plan to use All before too long - both of which I've stocked up on during recent sales. What you'll use and how often is entirely up to you and your family, I just want to caution you against picking up a ton of stuff just because it's on sale and finding out later that you won't use it all.

3. Set aside some of this year's tax return to get stocked up on groceries, food storage, or emergency preparedness. If you're like us, you play it safe and pay more taxes that you need to during the year, so you get a little tax refund check in the spring. My husband and I decided right after we were married that we would take some of that return every year and put it towards some sort of preparedness. Each year has been different in what we've used it for, the first couple of years we got our 72 hr personal and family kits together, after that we concentrated on canned goods during the case lot sales, the last couple of years we put all of it towards the LDS Cannery items in order to stock up on our year's supply. This year we're probably going to do a mix of things, but it will depend on what we're in need of most once we re-evaluate our current stock. Even if it's a little bit, you can really get yourself going on either grocery shopping (or your 3 month supply for us) or something else that you are in need of. The good thing about this money is that, at least for us, it's not something we count on in our monthly budgeting, so it's money that we don't already have dedicated to paying something. We've discovered that for us, it's a lot easier to get ahead if you have a bit of money to start off with. Then as you save later on, you put that money back into your "stock up fund" and when things come on sale later in the year, you have a bit to use.

These are just some thoughts for you to consider and do as you see fit. Hope these help you have a better experience in getting yourself stocked and prepared. If you have other tips or tricks that you think might be useful to mention, please comment or email me and I'll post them for us all to read and use!

Examples of Shopping Successes

Here are a few examples of some shopping successes for this past week.

These are the purchases I made this week:

Albertson's:
Purchased - 4 Culinary Circle Pizzas, 4 2-liter bottles of Dr. Pepper, 6 boxes of Nabisco Wheat Thins, 2 Kraft Easy Cheese, 1 Kraft Mayo, 2 Kraft Salad Dressing, 2 lbs of butcher block chicken
Total Paid = $23.04
Total Saved = $35.56

Smith's:
Purchased - 28 cans of Hormel chili, 1 bag Lays Chips, 1 Tombstone Pizza
Total Paid = $19.26
Total Saved = $23.25

And here's a purchase that my sister made at Walgreen's last week:



Purchased - 2 Reynold's foil, 4 Jellos, 2 cans Tomato Soup, 2 Degree Deodorant, 3 Sunsilk Styling Mousse, 1 Sunsilk Hairspray
Total Paid = $3
Total Saved = $31.89

I was actually with my sister at Walgreen's. We happened to run into some clearance shampoo/conditioner/styling products. She had her coupons with her and had 2 Sunsilk $2 off of 2 coupons. The items were clearance to $2.24 each, but rang up at $1.19 each, which meant she paid 19 cents for each of them. Then since Walgreen's had a Unilever promo going on, when you purchased 4 products, you got $4 back in RR (register rewards, just like the catalina's from other stores), if you purchased 6 products, you got $6 back and so on. Well, since the Degree and Sunsilk products were both Unilever products, she got $6 back in RR. Even though she'll use those on an upcoming purchase, you can kind of think of it in your mind as money off of this purchase, so her paying $9 was more like paying $3, so we listed it as such above.

It is sometimes nice to have your coupons with you for when you run into good deals like this. Since I have so many, I don't tote my file box around with me, but I figure I could have gone back and picked up some of the stuff if I really wanted to after swinging home and grabbing my coupons. Just an example of one of those "you never know what you're going to run into" things. And she got a ton of stuff for a great deal!

If you have any great experiences from this last week or prior weeks, post a comment or send me an email (take a picture if you can - pictures are great!) and we'll add it to the blog for all to see. It's so fun to see the good deals that everyone is getting!