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?

Resolve to Save Money

Have you ever been on a flight and while talking to the person next to you, you find that you paid twice what she paid for her ticket because you bought your ticket at the wrong time or from the wrong website, or whatever?!? Nothing can make me feel worse than to know I spent more than I had to because I didn't have the same 'inside' information as someone else. I guess life isn't fair, right?

Wrong! I never want to pay more than I have to for any product or service I need. I don't have a tree in the back yard where I can harvest dollar bills whenever I want. Each dollar is precious to me and my family. That's why I refuse to pay more at the grocery store than I absolutely have to spend.

Join me this year in resolving to save even more money on what each of us needs EVERY DAY - groceries and household products! Why should you pay twice what I pay for a box of cereal or a package of frozen corn? Let me teach how to make your purchases at the right time and the right place for ultimate savings.

I'm telling you . . . it's easier than you may think. Once you realize how much you can really save, you'll want to share with all your friends and family. Even better -- why don't you all learn together. I'm sure you know several people who would love to save money, too. Get a group of friends together and call me to schedule a class. Before you know it, you'll be saving the big bucks. You'll be the one in the grocery store paying half as much for your groceries as the average shopper. That's right. Half as much. That's not an exaggeration.

Maybe you can use your savings to fly away to a wonderful vacation spot! Anything's possible!

Walgreens January Coupon Booklet

Walgreens January coupon booklet is available in Walgreen stores. They can usually be found close to the weekly inserts. The coupons are valid 12/27 to 1/30. Remember, these are Walgreens coupons and can be used IN ADDITION to manufacturer's coupons for double the savings! So look for them in your Walgreens and start saving today.

Mail-in Rebates

Mail-in Rebates are just one more way we can save serious money on the products we buy and use everyday. I will try to keep you informed of available rebates here on my blog -- and if you know of any, please let me know so I can pass that information along to my readers.

Basically, with a Mail-in rebate (MIR) the company is paying us for using (or trying) their products. Usually, you will be required to download the company's rebate form, supply the original store receipt with the product information circled, and send that information to an address printed on the form. Within 6-8 weeks you will receive a check. Who doesn't like getting money in the mail? I'm currently awaiting $40 in recent rebates and I'm always on the look-out for rebates on the products I already use.

Olay is offering several MIR:

Purchase any Olay Quench Body Lotion (excluding trial size) and receive a rebate check by mail. All purchases must be made by January 29, 2010. Rebate submissions must be postmarked by February 12, 2010.

(They will reimburse you the total amount you paid for up to 2 body lotions!)

$15 Olay Rebate

When you purchase 2 Olay Regenerist Facial Moisturizers, Facial Treatments and/or Facial Cleansers by January 24, 2010. Form must be mailed by February 5, 2010.

(Olay Facial Cleanser is currently on sale at CVS for $6.99; plus use the $3/1 or the $1/1 coupon from the P&G 11/29/09 exp 12/31/09)

SC Johnson $5 Rebate

Get $5 back by mail when you purchase ANY 3 SC Johnson Products, including: Ziploc, Glade, Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, Pledge, Shout, Fantastik, Drano, Raid, Off, Saran, Natures Source.

Get $25 in Grocery Coupons!

Okay, I know I was going to take some time off, but I found this deal I thought you may want to know about!

From the All You website:

Purchase $10 worth of these Con-Agra products and you can receive a coupon booklet worth $25 (while supplies last).

Participating brands include:

• Orville Redenbacher
• Crunch n Munch
• Banquet
• Snack Pack
• RO-TEL
• Hunts
• Manwich
• Chef Boyardee
• Kid Cuisine
• Peter Pan

Click here for the mail-in offer. Offer must be presented by 4/9/2010.

Happy Holidays

I'm taking a break for the holidays. We'll be back up and running after the new year when the inserts start being delivered again. Until then, enjoy the season and the time we have to spend with family and friends.

Albertsons Kellogg's Promo

SPENT $12.28 -- SAVED $40.78

So I dropped into Albertsons for these quick buys. I needed to complete two transactions, (the 4 Raisin Bran were one order by themselves) to see if I could use a manufacturers coupon I found on the Target coupon site. It worked!

The chocolate chips were $1.88, I had two $1/1 coupons; the cheese was $1.49, I had two $1/2 coupons. The cereal is on sale for $2.67 but when you buy three you will automatically receive $3 off at the register without having to present a coupon. You can also download a printable coupon for $5/4 here. You will need to buy 4 boxes of cereal, so only three will be $1.67, one will be $2.67. But this is still a fantastic buy. The downloadable coupon has the Target emblem printed on it, but it also states it is a "manufacturers coupon". It is NOT a "store coupon", which means you do NOT have to use it at Target.

Just in case you were wondering . . . I saved 78% piggybacking the store promo with the manufacturers coupon! The cashier had a question about the coupon because initially the register wouldn't accept it. She called the manager who told her to override and enter the $5 coupon. Yippee!

Insert Surprise!

I'm always surprised when I get a General Mills insert in the Sunday newspaper! (Sorry these pictures aren't too great!) I guess it's because I don't have any type of schedule for the GM delivery. Anyway . . . make sure you don't miss this insert in today's paper.

Also, look for this coupon in the Weekend USA and one in the Parade Magazine in today's paper if you're a Viactiv user. You can combine this coupon with a Walgreens coupon for $4/1. I'm not sure what the price is for Viactiv (the ad doesn't say), but you can usually get a good deal when you can combine a manufacturers coupon with a store coupon.

Albertsons General Mills Promo

Okay, here we go again with the General Mills Promo at Albertsons and the sometimes fickle catalina printer! Please remember this promo will print a $5 catalina coupon for your purchase of a minimum of $15 in participating products AFTER MANUFACTURER COUPONS HAVE BEEN DEDUCTED. So plan your purchases accordingly. Here's how it went for me. (Sorry everything wouldn't fit in one picture!)

I did multiple transactions (5 total), with 4 transactions planned to trip the catalina print by buying General Mills products, using my coupons, and leaving a balance of at least $15.00.

The Catalina coupon printed only once. After each transaction, I told the checker I had expected a catalina print on the advertised promo. She checked the receipt, checked the ad, spoke with the store manager and gave me $5 off my next transaction. The store manager said the issue is with the Catalina company and she was going to call them again. She told me I was not the first who had the problem (and she didn't think I would be the last). This has been happening since the promo started on Wednesday. My Albertsons (on E. Charleston & Sloan and I think every Albertsons) wants happy customers and they are doing what they can by deducting $5 on your next order or refunding $5 in cash.

So please, if the catalina doesn't print and you believe you should have received it, ASK. Albertsons personnel are fully aware of the issue. SOMETIMES (I repeat, sometimes) the catalina won't print if you've used coupons in your transaction. Then again, sometimes it will!

Aside from the possibility of having to work for the $5 catalina, this is a great promo for stocking up! By the way -- hope you noticed I purchased items I would need throughout the week that weren't a part of the promo. Yes, those are fresh blackberries. =)

I saved $118.06 on groceries valued

at $195.06 --

60% Savings!

Total out of pocket: $77.00

Homemade Bows From Reycled Materials

A Heart 4 Home has a great tutorial here for recycled bows made from recycled magazine pages. What a great idea -- it's easy and earth friendly.


This is a fantastic idea. All of us probably have old magazines around the house. And you know when you buy those bags of bows at the store half of they are smooshed anyway.

Happy holidays!

Bath and Body Works Freebie

Now through December 24th, you can pick up a free item (up to a $13 value) at Bath and Body Works with any $10 purchase. What a great offer for the holidays! You can find your printable coupon here.

Stockpiling

"Stockpiling" is buying more than you need when you don't need it.

Some may think they can't afford to stockpile. It takes every dollar they have to buy the groceries they need immediately and there's nothing left to buy anything "extra". But I believe you can't afford not to stockpile. By stockpiling with the Grocery Smarts program you should be able to come home with more groceries while spending less money.

I understand this concept may sound like a crazy idea. I'm not saying that you should go out and buy 200 rolls of toilet paper, but if you find toilet paper on sale and you have coupons, buy enough to last for a few months. You know you'll use the product and if you're forced to buy it when you need it, you may pay more for it because you'll probably have to pay full price. We need to change our mindset about the way we were taught to grocery shop.

Here's some tips about stockpiling I learned from Teri Gault's book, "Shop Smart, Save More."

1. You can stockpile almost everything.
   And by everything, I mean everything: the most expensive things on your grocery list, except for milk and produce (which you will most likely buy every week). Most of what you use/consume has a long shelf-life, except for these two categories. The key is to recognize stockpiling opportunities and take advantage of them.
2. Stockpile 3 months . . . at least.
   Start with planning to stockpile enough to last about 10-12 weeks. Eventually this will adjust as your stockpile adjusts and you are overstocked or understocked in different categories. The rule of thumb for how many non-foods to stockpile goes by the number of people in your family. If you have four people in your family, you should keep four tubes of toothpaste unopened in your stockpile. You should be able to get through until the next toothpaste sale. When the sale happens, if you have two tubes of toothpaste in your stockpile, buy 2 more. You should rarely pay more than $1 for toothpaste.
3. You (and your family) decide what you stockpile. You are the judge and jury. You should base your stockpile on what you like to eat, how much your family eats of certain foods and also how much space you have to store. Whatever your family likes, fill your shelves with it when it's on sale.
4. You will stockpile almost every week. Eventually, your stockpile will be well rounded. This is when Grocery Smarts shoppers only shop for milk and produce and can ease up on the extra buying. But I can't emphasize enough how important it is to keep building the stockpile EVERY WEEK and never let it get depleted. Also, on major holidays---up to about four a year, there may be no "new sales". These are the weeks when the Grocery Smarts shoppers are happy to take a breather (saves time and money), and let the stockpile serve it's purpose.
5. Keep track of your inventory. What good is stockpiling if you have no idea of what's going stale in your pantry or spoiling in your fridge? Make it a practice that you "fix" those expiration dates and sell-by dates on packages as soon as you bring them home from the store. By "fixing" them I mean making them easy to see. Before I put my groceries away, I mark them with a big permanent marker in big numbers right on the front of the package. It's also a good idea to keep a running list of what's in your fridge and pantry. Find a system that works for you (a list on a bulletin board, inside the cupboard door, index cards, a recipe box or computer spreadsheet) and use it. Make sure you're never scratching your head about what you have or don't have.

And the bonus is this: Stockpiling frees up money in other areas! Once you stockpile in all areas of your groceries, the day will come when you're so far ahead in your savings, and your cupboards are so bursting, and your bank account is so much fatter, that you can afford a SPLURGE!

Just try it! Stockpiling has worked wonders for my grocery budget -- it can work for you, too. Make sure you are getting one newspaper for each person in your family (that equates to one coupon for each item for each person in your family). Then watch the miracle happen. It works!

Time = Money; Money = Time

Time is money and money is time. When we think about money as being equal to time, it can change the way we use that money. If you earn $20.00 an hour, and you're spending $500 on your groceries each month, that's equal to 25 hours of your labor (three 8-hour days plus 1 extra hour). Equating your purchase amounts to the time it takes in labor to produce that amount of money can be sobering. And when you are the spender but you are not the earner, it becomes even more important to save where you can.

When my husband and I started having children, we decided together that it would be best if I stayed home with the children instead of staying in the workplace. Besides, daycare for 8 children would have been astronomical! Over the years, because I was not contributing a paycheck, it was important to me to be as frugal as possible with the household funds. The money I was spending was the fruit of my husband's labor. He has always worked hard in a field that is physically demanding. I never wanted to contribute to his exhaustion through my frivolous spending.

A friend once told me, "I spend what I spend and then my husband knows what he needs to earn". I hope she was joking.

One of my Grocery Smarts friends told me recently her husband was so excited with her Grocery Smarts savings. She had saved more in one day than he had made being paid by the hour on his job for the day. She says he brags to his friends about their grocery savings. My husband is the same way. When we are saving money regularly, it sends a message to those who are working for that money. It says, "I value you and your efforts for our family enough to manage that money wisely". And if you are the earner, you know first hand what is required of you on the job. Saving money on your groceries each week is equivalent to a weekly bonus!

How fortunate we are to have the Grocery Smarts program that helps us stretch those dollars and lighten the workload. In a time when many are struggling to make ends meet, we have been given the tools to ease the strain. If you want to know more about Grocery Smarts, I would be happy to share what I've learned. Why pay full price for your groceries? Call me and we'll schedule a class.

New Hostess Incentives!

Calling all Prospective Grocery Smarts Hostesses!

If you've been considering hosting a Grocery Smarts class, now is the PERFECT time. Grocery Smarts has recently changed their hostess incentives. By hosting a class, you have the potential to earn much more than the previous $20 grocery gift card. Please call me or e-mail me for details and to get a class on my calendar. You may believe the holidays are not a good time to hold a class, but I can't think of a better time to learn how to SAVE MONEY. This is a perfect way to end or begin a year.

Insert Update

You're aware already there were no inserts in last Sunday's newspaper. It's okay. Take a deep breath! Do not despair. This is common on holiday weekends. More coupons are coming. I promise.

For future reference, I'm posting the 2010 coupon insert schedule on the right of my blog. For the remainder of 2009, remember there will be NO inserts on December 20 (Christmas) and December 27 (New Year's).



But . . .

a P&G Saver is scheduled to be delivered with your Red Plum the week of December 27th, so watch for it. Also, we will be receiving TWO Smart Sources and Red Plums the week of January 3!

2010 COUPON SCHEDULE

2010 Sunday Coupon Insert Schedule

January
1/3: 2 Smart Source & 2 Red Plum & General Mill
1/10: Smart Source & Red Plum
1/17: Smart Source & Proctor & Gamble
1/24: Smart Source & Red Plum
1/31: Smart Source & Red Plum

February
2/7: Smart Source
2/14: No Inserts
2/21: Smart Source & General Mills & Procter and Gamble
2/28: Smart Source & Red Plum

March
3/7: Smart Source, Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
3/14: Smart Source& Red Plum
3/21: Smart Source& Red Plum
3/28:2 Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble

April
4/4: No Inserts
4/11: Smart Source & Red Plum
4/18: Smart Source & Red Plum
4/25: Smart Source & Red Plum

May
5/2: Smart Source & Red Plum & P&G
5/9: Smart Source & Red Plum
5/16: 2 Smart Source & Red Plum
5/23: Smart Source & Red Plum
5/30: No Inserts

June
6/6: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
6/13: Smart Source
6/20: Smart Source & Red Plum
6/27: Smart Source & Red Plum

July
7/4: No Inserts
7/11: Smart Source & Red Plum
7/18: Smart Source
7/25: Smart Source & Red Plum

August
8/1: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
8/8: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/15: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/22: Smart Source & Red Plum
8/29: Smart Source & Red Plum & P&G Insert

September
9/5: No Inserts
9/12: Smart Source & 2 Red Plum
9/19: Smart Source & Red Plum
9/26: Smart Source & Red Plum

October
10/3: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
10/10: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/17: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/24: Smart Source & Red Plum
10/31: Smart Source & Red Plum

November
11/7: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
11/14: Smart Source & Red Plum
11/21: Smart Source & Red Plum
11/28: No Inserts

December
12/5: Smart Source & Red Plum & Procter and Gamble
12/12: Smart Source & Red Plum
12/19: No Inserts
12/26: No Inserts

Thanksgiving on a Budget

Thanksgiving for a crowd can be expensive. That being said, I'm spending much less this year because of the Grocery Smarts coupon savings techniques I've been using the last six months. I was able to save 62% on this order at Smiths. By the way, some of the items are 'stock up' items, not even planning on using them for Thanksgiving dinner!

So what did I get for $43.52? A 17-pound Butterball turkey (my second turkey for stock up), 15 cans Swanson chicken broth (stock up!), 6 Heinz turkey gravy, 4 pkgs Turkey cooking bags (2 in each - stock up), 4 boxes Mrs. Cubbinson's stuffing, 3 can Princella yams, 4 Anderson heavy whipping cream, 2 cans Dole pineapple, 1 can french fried onions, 4 bunches celery, 2 boxes Triscuits, and 2 boxes Wheat Thins.

(Also, check out Walgreen's sale this week for olives, pumpkin, chicken broth, gravy and other items.) Maximize your savings by shopping the sales AND using a coupon!

To recap:

Spent $43.52 on groceries valued at $114.61,

& Saved $71.09 (62%)

Guess what? You can do it to. Call to schedule a class!

Albertson's Rocks

In reference to my previous posts concerning the recent Albertsons promotion and the problems with the catalina coupons: I received an email from Albertsons customer service department apologizing for my not receiving the $15 bonus when I had clearly followed the guidelines of the promo. They are sending me a $25 Albertsons gift card for the inconvenience and thanked me for bringing the matter to their attention.

Moral of this story: Most corporations want their customers to be happy. (At this point I want to emphasize that I was VERY cordial when relaying the details of the problem to both Albertsons and Catalina. I never disparaged their employees or threatened any action that would be detrimental to their business.) When a situation such as this is brought to their attention, they want to do all they can to: #1 resolve the issue and guarantee that it doesn't happen again, and #2 satisfy the customer.

Please do not be intimidated by big business. In most cases, they appreciate your contacting them if you are dissatisfied. How can they be expected to solve problems that will keep people from shopping their stores if they aren't aware of those problems? Please take the time to make your voice heard. In most cases, you have everything to gain!

Shop Smart, Save More (Free)!

Okay, here's your chance to get a free copy of "Shop Smart, Save More" (a $9.95 value) just for booking a Grocery Smarts class! The author of this book is the founder of TheGroceryGame.com which is very similar to Grocery Smarts. She addresses grocery store sales cycles, stockpiling, and the need for multiple coupons. It's an informative and easy read that I think you'll enjoy. I know I did. Did I mention this is in addition to the $20 in free groceries for inviting 8 of your friends who have never attended a class? So what are you waiting for? This offer is limited to the first four who book classes.

Now is the perfect time -- the holidays are here and everyone wants to save money at the grocery store because that leaves more money for those Christmas gifts, right? You may want to team up with a friend (especially if you've already attended a Couponing 101 class) to become eligible for the Advanced Couponing Class. Your first couponing class is just the tip of the iceberg. Become eligible for the advanced class by hosting 12 people who have never attended a class. Then I'll schedule a time to sit down with you and another person (see the benefit in teaming up with someone else to host a class?) and share ways to increase your savings even more!

Catalina Print Failure

After speaking to Albertsons corporate office concerning their current promo which promises a $15 bonus when purchasing $30 in participating items, I was given the number for the Catalina Coupon office. (See previous post) When I called the number (1-888-826-8766) an automated system informed that if you believe you did not receive a coupon print to which you where entitled, you could send the information via email. I sent the information this morning and am anticipating a response within 48 hours and will keep you posted as info is received.

I know that there are many others who should have received the bonus and did not. If you have your receipt, email ncsc@catalinamarketing.com. Include the store information, the purchase information (how much in participating items you purchased, amount of coupons deducted from the transaction, and your personal information - name, address, phone) and any other details you believe will help resolve the issue.

The purpose in being proactive in this matter is to help ensure these types of glitches do not occur in the future. Many I've spoken to, especially new couponers, believed they had miscalculated the amounts on the participating items they purchased. Please take the few minutes required and follow through. Whatever the response from Catalina, you will know you have done all you can to resolve the issue.

$30 Before or After Coupons?

This week's Albertsons General Mills promo has stirred some controversy with local couponers. On Wednesday morning (as posted earlier) I was able to generate three $15 bonuses at the Albertsons on E. Charleston and Sloan. Each of my multiple transactions totaled just over $30 BEFORE coupons were deducted. Each transaction generated the $15.00 catalina coupon. I've received calls and have been following the posts on the Pinching Your Pennies forum concerning shoppers who were not receiving the $15 when their orders were under $30 once coupons were deducted from their totals. I can't explain the difference in policy from my early transactions and those of other shoppers later in the week.

The ad states "Minimum purchase requirement excludes manufacturer and store coupons". I think I was fortunate early in the sale (Wednesday morning) to receive the deal I received. It's possible Albertsons corrected the glitch and is now following the policy stated on the coupon.

I understand the frustration in fine tuning your grocery list to hit the $30 mark before coupons and then not getting the bonus. Lesson learned. SO, for the remainder of this promotion (and in the future with similar coupon restrictions) we need to closely follow the store's requirements to receive bonuses. There is no benefit in our arguing with store personnel who are only doing their job; showing courtesy is always the best policy.

UPDATE!

Saturday afternoon I spoke with the store manager at my Albertsons. I had tested the current bonus promo by purchasing enough promo items to total over $30 after coupons had been deducted. The catalina did not print. The manager (who was so apologetic) said by using any coupon in your transaction, that triggers the catalina machine to not print the bonus. So it didn't matter that $30 in promo items had been purchased above the minimum purchase requirement. If buying promo items, she said, I should not use my coupons and receive the catalina bonus -- then go to the customer service counter and show my coupons and receive the coupon amount in cash. What a hassle!

When I returned home, I called the Albertsons corporate office because I am concerned this may be the new coupon policy at Albertsons. Corporate office said under their store policy, there was no reason the bonus should not have been given. They referred me to the catalina offices, which were closed on Saturday evening. I will be calling the catalina office on Monday morning. More later.

Sweet Savings

When I saw the weekly grocery ads Tuesday, I was so excited! I checked through the Grocery Smarts listings, decided what I needed, gathered my coupons and I was ready to shop. Fortunately, there were no glitches in my morning so I was able to get out early and accomplish quite a bit in a short period of time. Gathering everything together will help you be prepared for when you can find the time to shop.

At Albertsons, I spent $50.59, saved $106.55 on groceries valued at $157.14!

And I still have $15.00 in register rewards to use on my next trip. I was able to trip the General Mills promo three times! When you spend $30 on specific items, you receive three $5.00 register coupons to use on your next shopping trip.

On my CVS trip, I spent $29.87, saved $65.77 on an order totaling $95.64

That Ice Age DVD only cost me $2.99 after making qualifying purchases (Dasani water and M&M's) for a $15.00 discount. There is also an additional $2/1 coupon available here.

(this coupon no longer available)

And finally, My Vons trip: I spent $38.00, saved $42.58 on an order totaling $80.58

So altogether I spent $118.46, saved $214.90 on items totaling $333.36. If I were paying myself for my savings, I saved over $70 an hour on these three trips. Well worth the effort, I think!

Organizing Your Coupons

I'm often asked how I organize my coupons -- so here's a little peek into my coupon world. When I first began received multiple Sunday newspapers (I get 4 papers each Sunday but have recently added another subscription for 5 total) I kept them in sheet protectors in a three-ring binder. All the Smart Source inserts for one date were kept in one sleeve, all the Red Plum inserts were kept together in another and so on. The most recent inserts were placed at the front of the notebook.

As you might imagine, it wasn't too long before my notebook was bursting at the seams. The sheet protectors were sliding all over the place and it just wasn't working for me anymore. So I bought a plastic file box. All the Smart Source inserts for a particular date are clipped together and each packet is filed in a folder. I keep all the Smart Source inserts in one file, all the Red Plums in another. There is no need to label the files -- the Smart Sources are in the front, the Red Plums behind them and any miscellaneous inserts (P&G, Kelloggs, etc.) are kept behind those. These inserts are also filed by date so they're easy to pull when I'm ready to clip coupons.

Just for my convenience, I bought a filing box with a separate lift top with several small compartments. Everything I need is in one place. There are micro binder clips so I can keep my inserts together; these binder clips are also used for clipping my coupons to the back of my grocery shopping list. The scissors for clipping and the Sharpie for marking my inserts are also close at hand. This filebox sits under my computer desk for maximum convenience.

Keeping my coupons organized and having the tools at hand have saved an enormous amount of time! We need to remember - while trying to save money (which is important), time is also a valuable commodity. Hope this helps!

Last Taste of Summer?

Ribs are on sale at Smiths this week. It's not a fantastic price, but enough that I will still have a pretty decent savings. I'm planning some ribs for our family dinner tomorrow night. It's always been a family favorite -- especially for my boys. I thought I would make some cole slaw and maybe some baked potatoes, some corn. A splurge like this can be justified when I'm consistently saving so much on my groceries. And besides, it feels like the last days of summer. When the weather starts to change, my cooking habits seem to follow pretty closely behind. This will probably be my last 'summer dinner' this year. You might want to check out this easy bbq ribs recipe at kraftfoods.com

A Sale Is a Sale Is a Sale

A sale is a sale is a sale, right? Maybe not. The level of excitement I feel when using my Grocery Smarts coupons is dependent on what I need at the time. I'm happiest when I've purchased exactly what I needed and saved mega bucks at the same time. It may sound crazy, but I enjoy the shopping experience so much more since learning about and applying the Grocery Smarts concepts.

Here are a few tips that have helped me in the short time I've been Grocery Smarts shopping:

1. Know your needs in advance of the sales.
Keep a list on your refrigerator or somewhere convenient. When your stock is getting low, put that item on the list. Of course it's better if you can replenish before your completely out of something, it gives you more leeway when watching for a sale. If you must buy a necessity when you don't have a coupon or it is not on sale, buy only as much as you need to get you by until you can buy the item the right way -- on sale and with a coupon. Refer to your list as you're planning your shopping trip.

2. Be patient.
While I was building my coupon collection as a 'newbie', I was sometimes frustrated at the limited number of coupons I had on stock. Don't sweat it. In time, those coupons will accumlate. Slowly but surely, your shelves will fill with the items you need and you'll feel the satisfaction of saving money while meeting the needs of your family.

3. Stick to your list.

Once in the store, don't be swayed to make frivolous purchases. Know what you want, get what you need and only what you need, and the savings will happen.

4. Take the store ad with you.
I try to circle things on the ad that match up to the items on my list. If I ever have a question about the specifics, I don't have to waste time trying to find it on the circular. You know what it's like . . . sometimes there are so many items listed you're eyes get sore searching! But never fear! If you forget to take yours from home, you can usually pick one up at the front of the store.

5. If you can't find something . . . ASK a store employee!
There have been times when I have searched and searched and not found the sale item. Occasionally the store has not had the sale item in stock. Ask for help. Store personnel have even offered to make substitutions for me! You will never know what the possibilities are if you don't ask. Most importantly -- ask POLITELY. The grocery clerks at the stores in my neighborhood know I am a couponer. Because I make it a point to always treat them with respect, they have done the same for me.

And last of all, enjoy the experience! I hope you'll feel the sense of accomplishment as you recognize what little time you are spending in planning your shopping trips is paying off in huge savings.

Just a Quick Trip to Smiths!

Spent $46.16
Saved $72.10 (61%)

Okay, so you know I already made a grocery run to Albertsons this week and saved some big bucks, but I couldn't resist a trip to Smiths to pick up a few items I needed there, too. By far, my greatest savings came with the pork loin roasts. I bought three of them for about $5 each. Can't beat that price! I'm looking forward to putting them in the crock pot for some yummy pulled pork. I love crock pot cooking because I can get dinner done early in the day and not worry about it when my day is particularly busy. So I saved money buying the roasts and I'll save time cooking them. A good deal all around.

Albertsons Deals 10/14 thru 10/20

*****
STAR STRUCK
*****

Albertson's has come back this week with some more fantastic buys! There are some great five star deals you'll have to check out; but be sure you don't miss the General Mills promo. You'll save $10 on your next shopping trip when you buy $25 in participating products. So many five stars . . . too many to mention. You'll have to check it out for yourselves at the Grocery Smarts website. Okay, so I'll mention a few: Betty Crocker - snack items and potatoes; Chex mixes; General Mills cereals; Green Giant vegetables; Pillsbury biscuits, cookies and rolls; Progresso soups; and Yoplait yogurt and Go-gurts.

Of course the secret to maximizing your savings is in using the multiple coupons you're getting in your Sunday newspaper inserts. Not getting multiple Sunday newspapers? Call me for a great deal. You can also find extra printables thanks to our Grocery Smarts listmaker who searches out all the great coupons available for our convenience.
I'm headed to the store today. I'll update later and let you know how it goes!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Total value: $255.42, Total Out of Pocket: $79.28
Total Savings: $176.14

69% Savings Overall

Here's how it went:
1st order: 10 Go-gurts
Total: $37.90
Preferred savings: 6.00
Big Relief price cut savings: $6.90
Coupon savings: 6.20
Albertsons 10% keytag savings: 2.03
Total OOP: 16.77
+ Plus received $10.00 to be used on future order
~~~~~~~~~~
2nd order: 2 boxes Fiber One cereal
6 boxes Golden Grahams
5 boxes Betty Crocker specialty potatoes
1 can Green Giant corn
Total: $46.76
Preferred Savings: 13.67
Big Relief price cut savings: $8.00
Coupon savings: 16.00
Albertsons 10% keytag savings: 2.51
Total OOP: $6.58
+Plus received $10.00 to be used on future order
~~~~~~~~~~
3rd order: 4 Progressive Broth
4 cans Green Giant corn
4 cans Green Giant green beans
2 Pillsbury Orange Danish refrig. rolls
4 Green Giant frozen steamer vegetables
Total: $42.64
Preferred Savings: 16.03
Big Relief price cut savings: 1.65
Coupon savings: 14.00
Albertsons 10% keytag savings: 2.50
Total OOP: $8.46
+ Plus received $10.00 to be used on future order
~~~~~~~~
4th order: 3 Betty Crocker Warmers
6 Progressive Broth
2 Pillsbury Grand refrig. biscuits
2 Pillsbury crescent rolls
3 Go-gurt
Total: $41.37
Preferred Savings: 13.12
Big Relief price cut savings: 1.80
Coupon savings: $15.55
Albertsons 10% keytag savings: 2.65
Total OOP: $8.25
+Plus received $10.00 to be used on future order
and $2.50 from the GoGurt purchases
~~~~~~~~~~
5th order: 2 loaves Orowheat Bread
Albertsons string cheese (24)
6 Marie Callendars frozen entrees
2 Crest toothpaste
2 Ground Turkey
1 Beef Roast
1 Iceberg lettuce
3.48 lbs Honeycrisp apples
Total: $86.75
Preferred Savings: 19.51
Big Relief Price cut savings: $5.30
Coupon Savings: 17.00
Albertsons 10% keytag savings: 5.72
Total OOP: 39.22
~~~~~~~~~~

I divided my cart into multiple orders to trip the General Mills $10 rebate when you purchase $25 in listed items. I shopped mid-morning when traffic at the store was light so I'm less of an intrusion for other shoppers -- although my savings almost always draws the attention of other shoppers in line behind me. I used each of my $10 credits on the order that followed (it shows up in the coupon total).
***********************************
To explain, in early September I received an Albertsons keytag in the mail. It was a random mailing, not associated with my Albertsons preferred card. The mailer was addressed to "Resident." Anytime I shop Albertsons I use the keytag for additional savings through October 31st!
***********************************
Sorry for the long post . . . but I just wanted to mention that my renewal for my multiple newspaper subscriptions is due this month. Can I just tell you that the savings realized on this shopping trip alone would have paid my renewal fee over . . and over . . .and over again!

Smokin' Albertson's Deals!

I Spent $110.82, Saved $152.00

I just got back from a VERY successful Albertson's trip. Sorry there's no picture. But you'll find some great Quaker deals and some other Mix and Match promos where you'll receive savings instantly on your order (no receipt vouchers to use on your next shopping trip) so you won't have to roll you orders. When you add your multiple coupons to the instant savings promos -- that equals amazing savings! Sale is on through next Tuesday night.