"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?

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