Getting Started The Easy Way

I have heard so many people say that they would like to start couponing, but after buying the paper and cutting out all the coupons they discovered that the coupons really didn't apply to what they needed. I can completely relate! This week as I was looking over the Publix sales I was reminded about how much easier it can be to get started "couponing", or rather simply shopping strategically.

First, I would not start off by buying a paper. While there are some useful coupons in the paper it can be quite overwhelming to sort through and find the ones you need, and it is not unusual to need to store these coupons for weeks or even months before the right deal rolls around. So, save yourself the hassle and stick with printable coupons.

If you live close by where there are Publix stores then you are in luck! Not only does publix have great deals and a coupon friendly policy, but Michelle at iheartpublix has already done the work of finding the deals for you! Each Monday she publishes a sneak peek of the Publix add that will begin on Thursday of the same week. You can access these deal lists throughout the week by clicking on the "weekly add" link at the top of the site. She lists all of the items that will be on sale and underneath each item lists the coupons that you can use on that particular sale item. For all of the printable coupons she lists the link right there so all you have to do is click and print!

So, this week before you head out to the grocery store hop over to iheartpublix and check out what items are on sale and if there are any coupons to match the items you need. Then all you have to do is print your coupons, make your list, and head to the store! Easy as pie. :-)

Cheap Toilet Paper at CVS

If you're like me keeping the bathroom stocked with toilet paper can be a real budget buster, which is why I was very happy to find this great deal at CVS this week! Only $10 for 32 double rolls of Charmin toilet paper AND 5 boxes of Puffs!
When you  buy $25 worth of  participating products you get $10 Extra Bucks back. So, here's what I did to get 2 large packages of toilet paper (16 double rolls each), and 5 boxes of tissues.

2 packages Charmin toilet paper - $20 ($10 each)
5 small boxes Puffs tissues - $5 ($1 each)

The only coupon I used was a $5 off a purchase of $25 or more, but unfortunately it has expired. However, you can still sign up here for email updates through CVS and receive a $4 off of a $20 purchase coupon. The emails are also great because they will often send out coupons!

I also used $10 in Extra Care Bucks, paid $10 in cash, and received $10 ECB back!

This deal is good through Saturday, October 9th, and don't forget to ask for a rain check if they are out of something! I just found out that rain checks don't expire so it never hurts to have them on hand!

$.50 Instant Oatmeal at Walgreens!

So, I am definitely not a big fan of Walgreens, but this has to be my favorite drug store deal this week! We love oatmeal in my family so I was pretty excited to be able to get it for only $.50 a box! Here's the deal:

Instant Oatmeal is on sale at Walgreens for 2/$5 with $2 back in Register Rewards. Buy 2 boxes and use the $1/1 coupon found here. Your total will come to $3 and you will receive $2 in Register Rewards to use on your next purchase! Voila, pay $1 for 2 boxes of instant oatmeal! Yummy!

Publix Trip!

Spent: $10.84

Savings: $44.92

Today was a pretty good day at Publix. There are some really good deals out this week, but my favorites are the FREE Campbell's Select Harvest Soups and $.25 Chi-Chi's Fiesta meals. With our new baby arriving in a month I am really excited to be able to stock up on these convenience foods that will make great lunches (and probably even some dinners!) for my husband and myself after the baby's born. Yesterday I stumbled across a $5 off of a purchase of $25 or more facebook coupon for the Dollar General, which Publix accepts as a competitor! The bad part is the coupon is only good for the weekend, so it was necessary for me to make a run today! It looks like the Dollar General has some kind of new coupon out every Friday, so if you "like" them on facebook and keep an eye out on Friday's you may be able to score some great deals for a Saturday Publix trip. Here are the deals I got, which are all good until Wednesday the 1st.

6 Campbell's Select Harvest Soups

     BOGO $2.39 and used 6 $1/1 coupons (also here) and 3 $.50/1 Target coupons

2 Chi-Chi Fiesta Bowls

     BOGO $2.49 and used 2 $1/1 coupons

2 Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup

     $1 each and used 1 $.50/2 coupon

2 Morning Farms Entrees

     BOGO $3.99 and used 2 $1/1 coupons

2 Cascadian Farms Organic Granola Bars

     BOGO $3.99 and used 2 $1/1 coupons (this is not a manufacturers coupon like I thought, but thankfully they accepted it as a competitor's coupon. You can get a manufacturers coupon here).

2 Cabot Farms Cheese

     $2 each. Not the best deal without coupons, but I needed a few "filler" items to ensure I had $25 pre-coupon for my $5/$25 DG coupon.

RICO Long Grain Rice 3 lb

     $.99 (this is for my "rice sock" heating pad I'm making for labor :-))

Dixie Crystals Sugar 5 lb

     $2.49. Another filler item, but not the worst price.

Squash

     $.99/lb

Zucchini

     $.99/lb

Paid To Shop At CVS!!

Spent $1.44 Out of Pocket

Got $12.50 Back in ECBs!

Today I had the most AMAZING trip to CVS! I actually got all of the things pictured, paid $1.44 out of pocket plus $5 in ECB's and got $12.50 in ECB's back! So I ended up making about $6!! Wow, I still can't believe how well that worked out. Does it really get any better than being paid to buy things? Here's what I did...

8 Sobe
     On sale BOGO ($1.59) and I used 4 BOGO coupons so they ended up free (excepting tax).

I had never tried these before they started going on these great sales, but they are really good! You can print one (two if you just push the back button) coupon per day from the site after you play the little game so it doesn't hurt to start stocking up for the next BOGO sale! Also be forewarned that some stores are weird about letting you use a BOGO coupon with a BOGO sale so you may want to ask before loading up your cart. :-)

2 Right Guard
     On sale BOGO ($4.49) plus I had a BOGO coupon I clipped from the paper a while back (I really have no idea what paper it came from!) so these were also free (excepting tax).

These go on sale quite frequently so if you see a coupon for them it's a good idea to hang on to it!

1 Glide Floss
     On sale for $3.49 with $2.50 ECB's back, and I used a $.75/1 coupon from the 8/1 P&G brand paper insert (these usually come out in the first Sunday paper of the month). So I paid $2.75 and got $2.50 back in ECB's.

1 Dulcolax
     I used a rain check on this one because they ran out last week. On sale for $9.99 with $9.99 ECB back, and I used a $4/1 coupon from the 5/16 Smart Source insert (there is also a $3/1 printable here). So I paid $5.99 and got $10 in ECB's back (they rounded up) so essentially I got paid $4 to but it!! I was also pleasantly surprised to find a $5 mail in rebate attached to the bottle, however, once I got home and examined it I realized that it expired in February! Very strange...

This is one of those items that I would never buy (and actually didn't know existed!), but since it was a great money maker I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity, and I can give it to someone in need, so it's a win for everyone!

2 Packages Peanut Butter Crackers
     On sale for $1 each. I actually grabbed these after the fact because I needed about $1.50 more worth of items in order to not loose any of my ECB's.

Finally I used a $5 off of a $15 purchase coupon that printed for me off of the coupon printer when I walked in the door! This was such a great surprise blessing! Always remember to scan your card at the little scanner when you walk in because you never know what good things may come out of it!

$18 Nutty Guys Gift Card for $1!!

 

Through midnight tonight you can order an $18 gift certificate for NuttyGuys.com for only $6 through Eversave. Plus, if you've never ordered through Eversave before they will automatically credit your account for $5 meaning you only pay $1 for an $18 gift certificate!

I had never heard of Nutty Guys before, but after checking out their site I am super excited about ordering some high quality dried fruits and nuts with my gift certificate! My plan is to make some homemade granola bars with my purchase, but you could also make some great back to school trail mix, or anything else that requires delicious dried fruits and nuts!

Publix Shop This Week

Publix Trip

Spent: $14.46

Saved: $26.85

This wasn't the most fantastic week for deals at Publix, but the few deals they did have were great. Here is what I picked up:

2 Tombstone Pizza's
BOGO $5.79 and used 2 $2/1 coupons
$1.79 for both!


2 Smart Balance Milk
2 for $5 and used 2 $2/1 coupons
$1 for both!


Cottonelle Toilet Paper 12 Pack
$5.99 and used $.75/1 coupon from Publix Smart Savings coupon booklet, and $1/1 coupon from sample home mailer. There is also a $1/1 coupon for Cotonelle Alloe and E 12 pack here.
$4.24 total


Cheerios
$1.99 and used $.55/1 coupon.
$1.44 total


2 Del Monte Diced Tomatoes
BOGO $1.49
$1.49 for both


2 Mangos (1 didn't make it in the photo :-))
BOGO $1
$1 for both!


1 Kraft Cheese 16 oz
2 for $7
$3.50 total


Just saw the sneak peek for this next weeks add and there are some great deals! Can't wait to go shopping this week! In the mean time enjoy the fabulous deals on pizza, milk, mangos, and toilet paper!