End of the Month Printable Coupons

The end of the month is almost here.  Coupons.com changes their coupons at the first of each month so you may want to scoot on over and see if there are any printables you want to use.  Head on over HERE to print.  Also . . . remember to check this site again at the beginning of February for the new available coupons.

Bath & Body Works 20% Off

Bath & Body Works just released a new 20% off any purchase coupon.  This coupon is valid through 1/31/10 so you need to hurry!

And don’t forget Bath & Body Works still has this coupon available: Get a FREE Anti-Bacterial Soap (up to a $5 value) with any $10 purchase! This coupon is valid all the way through February 21st! 

Are you thinking Valentine's Day?

Grocery Smarts "Disappearing" Coupons

As you are aware, the Grocery Smarts website identifies the sale items at most of the major local grocery stores.  When a coupon is available and the listmakers are aware of them, the coupons are matched with the sale items.  Recently, you have probably noticed something similar to this:  "disappeared 1/14/10."

Explanation:  When the coupons are listed on the printable coupon lists (Group A, Group B, Group C and Singles) the manufacturer has placed a limit on the number of coupons to be printed.  For instance, if the manufacturer decides he will allow 50,000 coupons to be printed, when that number is reached, the coupon "disappears".  For this same reason, if the list directs you to one of the Group coupons and you can't find it - the coupon has reached it's maximum print and is no longer available on the list.

For more information on printable coupons, please click on "Printable Coupons" on the left sidebar.

Free Cheese Nips

Walmart has Cheese Nips, 8 oz., for $1 this week.

Use $1/1 Nabisco Crackers from the Smart Source, 1/24

or you can print a $2/2 coupon here

$4/2 La Victoria Salsa Coupons

You can score $4/2 La Victoria Salsa coupons by registering at La Vic Rewards.  Once you've registered, you'll enter La Vic Rewards codes (see below) and earn coupons for free products and much more.  Register here.  With this program, you get more oints with each code you enter.  Once you get 64 points you can print your $4 off 2 La Victoria Salsa coupons.  (You'll be able to print the coupon twice.)

You can enter each code up to 4 times.

Enter the codes in the second box that is designated for 18 digit codes.

After you've entered the codes, from the drop down menu choose "No Purchase"

Enter the following codes:

L8CP225J509:08U8XN

L8CS298T819:03VQOZ

L8DA271N613:36DESW

L8PD276K610;07FN1A

L8DA2710614:36B4OK

L8DA271N613:36DESW

L9CO085J509:31ZLKQ

L8CP316J509:09YGCQ

L9CW043K610:334BUY

L8PD071W622:45JRNQ

L8CU238L411:40SXFB

L8CT2390414:30XX1L

L8PD2761608:1443UH

L8CW76B601:13Y9TF

You'll only be able to print 2 sets of $4/2 coupons per account per day, so don't waste your points trying to print an additional set of coupons.

New Kraft Coupons

Kraft just released some great coupons that you can access HERE.

Coupons Available:

$1/4 Philadelphia Cream Cheese

$1/1 Velveeta Cheese

$1/2 Planters Mixed Nuts

$1/2 Capri Suns

$1/1 Grated Parmesan Cheese

$1/1 Oscar Mayer Meats

$1/1 Oscar Mayer Bologna

$1/1 Claussen Pickles

$1/2 Kraft Deluxe or Velveeta Shells and Cheese

If you're interested in these coupons, print them right away.  They'll probably go quickly.  And, btw, each coupon can be printed twice but each coupon also prints singly with a color print recipe on the remainder of the page. 

Possible Walgreen's Moneymaker

Walgreens has a possible moneymaker this week on Pert Plus for Men! It’s on sale just $2/5 and when you purchase two, you’ll get a $2 Register Reward! Plus, look for Try Me Free stickers on these Pert Plus for Men products to get an additional $2.50 back! You can check out all the details and print the rebate form here (only one rebate can be submitted per household).


Deal Scenario:
Buy 2 Pert Plus For Men products on sale 2/$5
Use 2 $1.50/1 coupons from the 1/24 SS
Pay $2
Get back a $2 Register Reward

Then submit to get one Pert Plus For Men FREE with this rebate form and the Try Me Free Sticker–which will give you an additional $2.50 back (cost before the coupon).  If you plan to submit to BOTH the Pert and Sure rebates, they each require an original store receipt so you'll need to do two separate transactions!

Final cost 2 Pert Plus for Men products for FREE + a $2.50 Moneymaker!

Also, don’t forget to snag some FREE Sure For Men deodorant!

Sure for Men Deodorant 2/$3 with in-ad coupon
Use two $1.50/1 coupons from the 1/24 SS
Final Cost 2 for FREE!

The Sure for Men Deodorant also may have Try Me Free Stickers on it as well! If you find the sticker, you can get a total of $2.79 back (the retail price of one deodorant before the manufacturer coupon and in ad coupon). You can print the rebate form here.  If you plan to submit to BOTH the Pert and Sure rebates, they each require an original store receipt so you'll need to do two separate transactions!

Just a reminder ** Just a reminder ** Just a reminder

When buying the sure deodorant with the deal scenario above, you will be buying 2 Sure Deodorants and using 3 coupons (since Walgreen's considers their in-ad store coupon as one coupon).  Walgreen's coupon policy states that you must have at least one item per coupon in each transaction.  To get credit for each coupon add a filler item to your order -- I suggest the Valentine's pencil on sale for 5/$1 with an in-store coupon.  You'll need to buy 2 because you're adding another coupon for the pencils.

This policy also applies to redeeming your register rewards.  Each register reward is considered one coupon and needs to be considered with the number of items in your transaction when you're using other coupons.

Whew!

Free Cereal

You can download a new coupon for $2/1 Post Raisin Bran, Grape Nuts or Shredded Wheat cereal here.

Unfortuately the coupon print limit is one per computer, so hit up your friends and neighbors to print extra coupons for you.  The website says the coupon is for the Natural Advantage line, but the coupon states it can be used on any Post Raisin Bran, Grape Nuts or Shredded Wheat cereal.

Now take your coupon to KMart where selected 11 - 20 oz. Post cereals are on sale for $2 each.

Hello, Free Cereal!

Also, Kashi has a new free sample offer available.

Choose one of the following:

GOLEAN Crisp!  Toasted Berry Crumble Cereal

TLC Dark Chocolate Coconut Fruit & Grain Bar

GOLEAN! Crunch Honey Almond Flax Cereal

If inventory of samples should deplete before fulfillment, a coupon may be seen in it's place.  Offer valid through February 14, 2010.

You can also get a great deal on Kashi cereal at Target this week:

Kashi GoLean Crunch Cereal $2.75

Use the $3/2 peelie coupons found on the cereal boxes

Use 2 $0.75/1 Target coupons

Final cost $0.50 per box!

"HOT" Pampers Deal at Target

Buy 3 Pampers at Target this week and receive a $5 Target Gift Card.  Both Huggies and Pampers are on sale for $8.99 this week.

Deal Scenarios:

Buy 3 Pampers Jumbo Packs $8.99 each

Total=$26.97
Use 3 $2/1 manufacturer coupons from the 12/27PG
Use 3 $2/1 Target coupons from the 12/6RP  (remember you can stack Target coupons w/ manf. coupons)
Pay $14.97
Get back a $5 Target gift card
Final cost just $3.32 per package


Buy 3 packages of Huggies Jumbo Packs$8.99 each

Total=$26.97
Use 3 $2/1 coupons HERE
Pay $20.97
Get back a $5 Target gift card
Final cost just $5.32 per pack

Just a reminder about the Walgreen's Huggies Deal -- get Huggies for as low as $4.32 each

UPDATE: The $2.00 off Target Coupons state “Cruisers Premium Absorbency” or “Swaddlers Sensitive”. Swaddlers Sensitive Jumbo packs are CONFIRMED part of the $8.99 jumbo pack promo. I’m not sure yet about the cruisers ‘premium absorbency’, but it looks like the ‘premium absorbency’ are only sold in the larger sized packs, which are not participating in the gift card promo.

**Don’t Have these Coupons? You can buy both the $2.00 off manufacturer and the $2.00 off store coupons on eBay for $0.15 each here. I just ordered ten of each for $3.00! Be Careful the Target coupons specify Swaddlers (sizes newborn-2) or Cruisers (sizes 2-5). Don’t accidentally buy the wrong ones! And if you do not yet have any of these coupons, you’ll want to buy in quantities of three.

I also want to point out that the Target coupons do NOT limit one per transaction (as many Target coupons do). The fine print only reads, limit 1 item or offer per coupon.

Thanks, The Krazy Coupon Lady

Start a Printable Coupon Tracker

Do you want more coupons?  Have you ever seen a "hot" price on an item and them rememered you saw a coupon for that product a few weeks ago, but now the coupon is gone?  Print your coupons when you SEE them but wait until you plan a shopping trip to USE them.  Start a coupon file with printable coupons for the products you know you and your family will use when they come on sale.

The Grocery Smarts lists will now include not only coupons available of the Groups A, B & C lists but will also list coupons when they find them from manufacturers.  The link is already available on my sidebar for single coupons.  The products are listed alphabetically and when you click on the link it will automatically open a browser to the site so you don't have to close the coupon window.

Each coupon is identified by the date it was included on the list.  The date the coupon "disappeared" is also listed.  Once a coupon print limit is reached, the coupon is no longer available for print, or "disappears".

**UPDATE:  After a call from a new couponer, I wanted let you know that if you print only one coupon at a time (or one coupon to a page) you may get a color product advertisement printed on the remainder of the page.  You need to consider your ink and paper as expenses that offset your savings.  So. . . you may want to print at least 2 coupons at a time.  The coupon printers will print a maximum of three coupons per page.  This will eliminate the possible color advertisement.  You may want to set your printer to print in black and white only for these coupon prints also, and save your color ink.

I blogged about this earlier in the month, but the new Grocery Smarts lists include information about starting one of these files.  I file my printable coupons alphabetically by product name and keep a small notecard in the front of the file with the expiration dates of the coupons.  You can read more about my file by clicking on that link.  This may be considered to be an OCD tendency, but it works for me.  You can find a system that works for you and begin saving even more money today.

Target Cottonelle Coupons, New $1/2 Kraft Cheese Coupon

Target has these "old style" printable coupons -- meaning they are PDF coupons and you can print more than two.  The $1/1 Cottonelle 12 Pk Aloe and E toilet paper and $1/1  Cottonelle Soothing Clean Flushable wipes.  These Target coupons can be stacked with manufacturers coupons found in the 1/17/10 Smart Source.

Also, take the time to download this new Kraft Cheese coupon from the Group A coupons on the Grocery Smarts website.  Kraft coupons go quickly and when the print limit is reached -- that'll be the end of this one.

National Oatmeal Month

It's National Oatmeal Month!  Walgreens had some great deals on oatmeal and there will probably be more to be found in the near future.  Besides, there's a great coupon to be downloaded if you're looking for oats:

$1/1 Quaker Instant Oatmeal or Oats (bricks.com)

Here's a few delicious recipes (Thanks, The Krazy Coupon Lady)

Blueberry Oatmeal Bread

by Betty Crocker

2/3 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

2 1/4 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

1 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup fresh or Cascadian Farm® organic frozen blueberries (thawed and drained)

1. Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease bottom only of 8- or 9-inch loaf pan.

2. In large bowl, mix brown sugar, milk, oil and eggs with spoon. Stir in remaining ingredients except blueberries; beat 30 seconds. Fold in blueberries. Pour into pan. Sprinkle with additional oats if desired.

3. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaf from pan; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely, about 2 hours, before slicing. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature up to 4 days, or refrigerate up to 10 days.
 
Oatmeal Pizza Dough
by OatmealMix.Wordpress.com

Pizza dough – makes 3 thick pieces

1 1/4 cups flour

1/4 cup quick oats

enough water to make a dough–1/2 cup – 2/3 cup?

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 tsp EVOO

3/4 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp yeast

Mix and let sit 2 hours.

Knead dough on floured surface after 2 hours and shape into balls. Place onto baking pans or whatever you want [I used aluminum foil] Roll them out however thick you want. Cover and let sit for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350F.  Bake for 7 minutes.

Oatmeal Scotchies

adapted from Nestle's Toll House Recipe

1 1/4 c flour

1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 c (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 c granulated sugar
3/4 c packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 c quick or old-fashioned oats
5 1/2 oz (1/2 of an 11 oz pkg; just shy 2 cups)  chocolate chips
5 1/2 oz (1/2 of an 11 oz pkg; just shy 2 cups) butterscotch chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a bowl.

2. Beat together butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla with an electric mixer. Gradually add dry ingredients and beat until well mixed.

3. Stir in oats and both kinds of chips.

4. Drop 1 tablespoon scoops onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

Let's Talk Rebates

Rebates are incentives manufacturers use so you will buy their products.  Rebates work for the manufacturers because they are a very straight-forward way for them to promote their products.  However, we need to consider several factors to make rebates work for us.  To receive a rebate, we're required to make a purchase or purchases determined by the manufacturer.  We then, usually, mail in a rebate form with UPC's and cash register receipts.  Then we wait for the check.  Usually 4-6 weeks.

Let's be smart about rebates.

#1.  Don't buy items you will never use simply to receive a rebate.

You may be required to purchase a number of different manufacturer's items to qualify for the rebate.  Make sure you will use ALL the items you purchase.  What good is a $5 rebate when you spent $7 on items that'll be sitting on your shelf and never be used?

#2.  Be very careful in filling out the rebate form.
(If you need to download the form -- do that as soon as you become aware of the rebate offer.) 

Some manufacturers will deny the rebate if the form isn't filled out correctly.  It's also a good idea to make a copy of the form and any receipts.  Along with the copies, I also make a note on the form with the date I mailed the rebate.  I keep these forms in a file until the rebate is received.

#3.  Buy the rebate items when they're on sale.

Just because you're getting money in the mail, don't throw all your couponing sense out the window.  You want to pay the very least possible for the rebate items.  Check the Grocery Smarts website for coupons.  Watch the Grocery Smarts lists for sales on the required items.  If you're thrifty, you may get the required purchases for free after the rebate.  There's a good chance you'll MAKE MONEY on the deal after rebate.

Our ultimate goal is to save money!  The lure of a rebate may sway you from your couponing resolve.  Don't be swayed!  Take all your coupon knowledge and apply it to the rebate process and you can't help but save money.

New ConAgra Coupon Booklet

Go here to request a ConAgra coupon booklet with $17 in coupons.

Sorry, this deal is dead.  These booklets sure went fast!

This should come in handy with the next ConAgra Promo at Albertsons that should be coming up in the next few weeks.  Hopefully it will be delivered in time!

Thanks Krazy Coupon Lady.

Free $10 Coupon Booklet

Sign up here and you will receive a free $10 coupon booklet from Betty Crocker.  You can also choose to sign up for several informative newsletters:  Betty Crocker newsletter, Dinner Made Easy newsletter and Bisquick newsletter.

Supplies are limited, so if you're interested sign up right away.

Scott Products Rebate

Scott's is offering coupon rewards via e-mail when you purchase products from 2 or more of their categories between 1/17/10 and 2/2/10.  The categories are:  bath tissue, flushable wipes, paper towels, napkins and scrub cloths.

Buy 2 different product categories, Get $2 rewards via e-mail

Buy 3 different product categories, Get $3 rewards via e-mail

Buy 4 different product categories, Get $4 rewards via e-mail

You can download the rebate form here.

Preview: Huggies Diapers $4.32 Each at Walgreens

WATCH FOR THIS DEAL BEGINNING 1/24 THROUGH 1/31

Buy 3 Huggies Diapers Jumbo Packs, $8.99 each

Use $1/1 from the Wags Children's Activity Book* (will deduct $3)

Use three $2/1 Huggies Little Snugglers or Little Movers Diapers -coupon.com (you'll need a second computer to print three coupons)

You will pay $17.97

You will receive a $5 register reward for purchasing $25

Your final price will be $12.97 -- that's $4.32 each

*The Children's Activity Book is $1.  Look for it near the children's books/toys, or possibly the camera department.

I suggest you print coupons as soon as possible.  Remember, once the printable coupon limit is reached, the coupons will be gone!

Free Family Circle Magazine

Sign up to get three free issues of Family Circle magazine.  You'll get the May, June and July 2010 issues.  You don't have to give any credit card information.  You will not receive a bill in the mail just three free issues of the magazine!  Yippee!

Printable Coupons

When I was on the Grocery Smarts homepage recently, I noticed this link to CoolSavings.com where you can score more printable coupons.  When you get to the site, click on the 'printable coupons' tab.  You may want to save this to your favorites so you can check back regularly.

I'm also adding this link on my sidebar for the Singles coupons from the Grocery Smarts website for coupons that come directly from the manufacturers.  When you access the coupon list (which looks very similar to the alphabetical coupon list on the Grocery Smarts homepage), continue to scroll down the page for a listing of manufacturers.  The manufacturer links will show whether coupons are available at the site or where you may be able to find them.

Target Coupon Policy

When using coupons at your local retailer, it's important to be familiar with the store's coupon policy.  For instance, Von's will only accept three "like" coupons in one transaction.  In other words, you are limited to three identical Red Plum coupons for the same item in one transaction.  Knowing this in advance, you can group your items together to insure you save the most when buying more than three of a particular item in one shopping trip.  Be an informed consumer.

Target's coupon policy is available here.  As I've posted in the past, you are following Target policy when you "stack" a Target store coupon with a manufacturer's coupon for the same item.  However, some have mentioned cashiers being reluctant to accept two coupons for one item.  Never fear!  I suggest you copy the store's coupon policy and keep it with you when shopping.  It's fairly brief and very straightforward.  Being prepared can save time and frustration.

Now, to practice this procedure . . .

Nivea Body Wash (16.9 oz.) is on at Target for $2.99

Use $2/1 coupon from the 1/3/10 RedPlum

Stack with $1/1 Target coupon printable here

Yours FREE after coupons!

Target Deals - 1/13 (Free or Nearly Free)

Check out these Target deals thanks to Mojosavings.com.

Johnson & Johnson Sampoo Travel Size, $.98

$1/1 printable here

Free

Scotties Facial Tissues, $1

$1/1 printable here (tell them you don't use Scotties often)

Free

Reach Dental Floss, $.97

$1/1 RP 10/4/09

Free

Rolaids 3pk, $1.32

$4/2  SS 1/3/10

Free

Pond's Wet Cleaning Cloths, $1.37

$1.50 printable here

Free

Band Aid 10ct (travel section), $.97

$1.1 from 1/3/10 inserts

Free

All Laundry Detergent Travel Size, $1.02

$1/1 printable here

$.07

Johnson & Johnson Baby Lotion, $1.07

$1/1 printable here

$.07

Tide 2X Ultra 1.6oz, $1.07

$1/1  PG  12/27/09

$.07

Nabisco Barnum's Animal Crackers, $1.14

$2/2 Nabisco printable here

$.28

McCormick Cinnamon, $1.11

$.75/1  RP 1/3/10

$.36

Wonka Gummies, $1.39

$1/1 printable here

$.39

Softsoap Ensembles Hand Soap Refill, $2.49

$2/1 printable here

$.49

Yo Plus 4pk, $1.50

$1/1 printable from Group A & Group B

$.50

Dole Fruit Cup Rebate

Dole wants you to eat a Dole Fruit Cup each day for 30 days.  When you buy (8) 4-packs of any Dole fruit, gel or parfait, they will send you a rebate for (4) free 4-packs of Dole fruit.

Print your rebate form here.

You can use these coupons and save even more:

$1/3 Fruit Bowls or Fruit Bowls in gel, 1/10/10 SS

$1/2 Parfaits, 1/10/10 SS

New Target Coupons

Check out the Target website here for downloadable coupons.

Most of these coupons are manufacturer's coupons so they can be used wherever you shop.  Some coupons are Target coupons and can be redeemed only at Target (but, remember . . . you can also use a manufacturer's coupon and increase your savings).

Be sure to bookmark this site and check back often for access to more coupons.  Then watch the Target ads each Sunday and get ready to save!

Today's Smart Source

Don't miss the fantastic coupons for Johnson & Johnson products in todays Smart Source.  There is also an official mail-in rebate certificate included so you won't have to download!

Clean & Clear Advantage Blackhead Eraser Refill pack free when you buy

any Clean & Clear Advantage Blackhead Eraser

$2.00 off any Clean & Clear Product

$2.00 off any Purpose product

$2.00 off any Ambi product

$3.00 off any RoC product

$2.50 off any Aveeno Active Naturals Nourish Hair Care

$2.00 off Aveeno Active Nautrals Facial Care Product

$2.00 off any Aveeno Active Naturals Body or Baby Care Product

$2.00 off any Lubriderm body lotion, cream or ointment

Check the Target ad also for savings on some of these Johnson & Johnson products.  And remember, for the rebate you must purchase at least two differnt products.  Happy shopping!

Look Ahead to Walgreen's Sale

Looking ahead to Walgreen's sales next week, I noticed Lubriderm, Aveeno, Clean & Clear, and RoC will be on sale BOG1 half price.  This may be a good time to download the high dollar printable coupons for Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Lubriderm and RoC.  Then you'll be ready to take advantage of the $10/$30 Johnson & Johnson rebate I told you about!

Lubriderm Lotion (6oz.), Sale 2/$5.69
$2/1 Lubriderm Lotion printable (use two coupons) or $2/1 from 1/10/10 SS
$1/1 Lubriderm (Wags Diabetes & You Coupon Booklet) deducts $2**
2 Free after coupons!

Even if you don't have the Wags Diabetes Booklet (available in Wags stores near the pharmacy counter) if you use two coupons for this transaction you'll only pay $1.69 for two lotions.

**When you use a Walgreen's (Wags) coupon from one of their coupon booklets, if the coupon is for $1/1 and you have 3 of the same coupon items in your transaction -- one coupon will deduct $3 -- $1 for each item.  Nice, huh?

Colgate MaxFresh or MaxWhite Toothbrush or Toothpaste, $2.99

Buy 1, Receive $2 register reward, Limit 1

$0.75/1 from 12/26 Smart Source

Final price $0.24

10 Things Not to Buy in 2010. Newspapers??

The Yahoo.com homepage featured an article titled "10 Things Not to Buy in 2010".  Most were not a surprise to me:  DVD's, CD's, Gas Guzzling Cars, Home Telephone Service.  But newspapers?  Come on.  My newspapers (and I get 5 every Sunday) are money in the bank for me.  That's 5 of every coupon!

I suggest you get a Sunday newspaper for each person in your family.  Then when you can get Electrosol dishwashing geltabs for free -- you can get 5 free instead of just one.  You won't have to pay full price for that item for a long time!

Through Grocery Smarts, the  Las Vegas Review Journal offers Sunday-only subscriptions for $.75 an issue.  If you're ready to step your coupon savings up a level and need to order more newspapers, just give me a call and I'll get you set up.  You'll start receiving your papers on the second Sunday after your order.  Call today!

Johnson & Johnson Rebate

Johnson & Johnson is offering a $10 rebate check by mail when you buy $30.  In order to participate, you'll need to go to coupons.com and look for the coupon above.  If you don't see the coupon, change the zip code.  It was available in my zip code, 89110.

You will need to purchase $30 worth of products (purchase excludes tax, trial sizes and cleansing bars) from 2 or more of the following brands between January 10, 2010 and February 5, 2010.

• Ambi
• Aveeno
• Clean & Clear
• Purpose
• Lubriderm
• RoC

The promotion doesn't begin until January 10, 2010, but it's probably a good idea to download the coupon/rebate certificate as soon as possible.  Then when you're ready, you'll have it.  I'd hate for you to miss the deal because the number of downloads had been exhausted.

CVS & Walgreen's Deals

This is the result of my CVS trip today (1/4/10).  I did two transactions using my two CVS cards (one for me, one for my husband).  I bought one light bulb, $2.99 using $1/1 coupon (1/3/10 ss); 1 Nivea lotion $7.99 and 1 Nivea Body Wash $5.99 using $2/1 and $2/1 coupons (1/3/10 SS), Quench Lotion $9.99, and one M&M candy $.89.  I bought the candy so I would have one item for each coupon I was using.  I also used a $5 ecb and a coupon for $5 off a $20 transaction printable here.

Total came to $14.64 after coupons and tax.

Received:  $5 ecb (wyb $10 in Nivea products)

$2 ecb (GE Energy Smart bulb)

$8.50 ecb (Fall spending rebate!)

$9.99 (mail in rebate from Oil of Olay)

Next I bought 1 light bulb, $2.99 using $1/1 coupon (1/3/10 SS), 2 Nivea lip balms, $2.99 each using BOGO coupon (1/3/10 SS); 1 Nivea Lotion, $7.99 using $2/1 coupon (1/3/10 SS) and 1 Scotch Brite scouring pads, $3.99.  I bought the scouring pads to bring my order over $20 so I could use the $5/$20 order coupon.

Total came to $11.25 after coupons and tax.

Received:  $5 ecb (wyb $10 in Nivea products)

$2 ecb (GE Energy Smart bulb)

$.50 ecb (Fall Spending rebate!)

For both transactions, I spent $25.89 OOP

I have $23.00 in unused extra care bucks

& $9.99 due from the mail-in rebate.

Bottom Line:  I made $9.10

Now for Walgreen's:

This took 5 transactions, but it sounds worse than it really was.  It only took a matter of minutes, honest!

2 identical transactions:

One electrasol on sale for $3.49, using $2.50/1 coupon from 1/3/10 ss; One visine on sale for $3.99 using a $2/1 coupon from Group B printables; and 2 Glade candles on sale for 2/$5 using 2-$2/1 coupons from the Weekend USA

Total after coupons and tax  $4.99

Received:  $3 rr, Glade

$1 rr, Electrosol

$1 rr, Visine

3 identical transactions:

1 Visine, $3.99; 1 Electrosol, $3.49

Total after coupons and tax:  $3.59

Received $1 rr, Electrosol

$1 rr, Visine

Total for 5 transactions, I spent $20.75 OOP

I have $16 in unused register rewards

Bottom Line:  $4.75

Organizing Your 'Other' Coupons

This is my handy dandy printable coupon holder! It goes with me wherever I go (in my purse). It holds all sorts of coupons:

• Printable coupons from the Grocery Smarts website and from my favorite product websites
• Peelies - coupons that are attached to products I have already purchased. (You may ask why I didn't use the coupon with the original purchase. Good question. These peelies are considered to be manufacturer coupons and I was already using a coupon for a larger cents-off value, so I saved the peelie for a purchase at a later date!)
• Coupons found in the Sunday magazines (Weekend USA & Parade) that aren't referenced in the Grocery Smarts listings.
• Coupons meant to be cut from the packaging on products I've purchased and consumed (cereal boxes, for instance)
• CRT's - Cash Register Receipt coupons - those coupons printed at the register for cents off future purchases.

Because it's the beginning of a new year and I'm in an organizing mood, I purged my coupon holder of coupons that had expired. In the process, I found I had missed using some of my coupons because I'd forgotten I had them. I don't like leaving money on the table! I want to save as much as possible at all times.

So I listed the remaining coupons on my computer and printed a copy for my coupon holder. When I need a coupon, I won't waste time looking through the folder. I'll just reference the list at the front and grab the coupons I need. When I use a coupon, I'll put a line through it on the list.

The expiration date for each coupon is listed so when I update the folder, once every one or two weeks, it'll be easier to identify the expired coupons without having to look at each one.  Then I can update my list by adding any coupons I've clipped and omitting the expired or used coupons.

I realize to some this may seem a bit overboard in the organizing department. But I know it'll save me TIME by being more organized and MONEY by not missing coupon savings in the future. I'm all for that!

Walgreen's Deals

When I was checking the Grocery Smarts Walgreen's list, I noticed a few items that I thought were great deals that hadn't been included on the list. Thought I might share them with you:

Finish dishwasher detergent, 20pk Electrosol
Sale Price: $3.49 - $1rr = $2.49
coupon: $2.50/1 in 01/03/10 Smart Source
Final price:   FREE

Visine Eye Care, .5 oz.
Sale Price: $3.99 - $1rr = $2.99
coupon: $2/1 any Visine product exp. 1/8/10, Group B Printable Coupon
coupon: $2/1 Walgreen's crt coupon, exp. 2/5/10
Final price: $ .99 each

Glade, 2/$5
Scented Oil Candles Glass Holder,
Refillable Candle Tin or 4 pack Refills
Mini Candle, 2oz. or Candle, 4 oz.
coupon: $2/1 any product from The Fragrance Collection by Glade
from the Weekend USA supplement, exp. 1/10/10
Final price: $ .50 each

These are some pretty good deals and they emphasize the importance of scanning the ads each Sunday. Because I have recently organized my printable coupons, I'll have some significant savings on these products. With the exception of the Electrosol coupon, all others are coupons I've collected from sources other than the weekly newspaper inserts.

Also, because printable coupons are limited by the manufacturer in the number of coupons that are allowed for printing, it's a good idea to check the Group A and Group B coupons periodically for any products you use regularly. If possible, print immediately. Don't wait for the product to go on sale. If the maximum number of prints has been reached, the coupon may no longer be available for printing. It's a chance you take that you'll print the coupon and not be able to use it, but the payoff can be significant if you DO catch a sale. Just something to think about.

Happy Shopping!

We're Back in Business!

Look Very Carefully . . .

Make sure you take your time looking through today's newspaper. You should find:

2 (Two) Smart Source Inserts
1 General Mills Insert

And this past week you should have also received 2 Red Plum inserts in the mail. We're back in the couponing business. Two weeks without inserts seemed like an eternity! But you know what 'they' say: Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I'm ready for some serious coupon shopping!

Free Downloadable Excel 2010 Savings Tracker

Want to track how much you spend and save in 2010?

As I was reading this morning on MoneySavingMom.com (thanks) I read this post that I thought might be of interest to many. It's so convenient to know exactly how much you're saving when using coupons each month. This Excel download makes it simple to track those savings.

Simply go HERE to download the tracker (it's free)! You can also read some basics on how to use the form. You should be able to fill in the blanks with the information you can find right on your store receipts.

So what are you waiting for?