It happened....

It happened.  What I feared but always hoped would never occur...it happened.  Only a week after I talked about George's Wallet and a possible explosion, my fears came to fruition and I lost my q's right outside of the Meijer on the sidewalk.  The only saving grace that kept me from going over the edge was that there was virtually no wind that afternoon, so I was able to rescue all of my little friends and bring them back home.  On a side note, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people that stepped over me (as opposed to offering to help) as I picked up all of my q's, purse and shopping totes....I couldn't have done it without them.

George's Wallet after the fall...could have looked worse, right?

The coupon explosion was just the start of a stinky shopping day at the Meijer.  I had coupon issues galore and a whole host of bad looks from my fellow shoppers.  The only light at the end of the tunnel was my favorite 10/$10 get the 11th free sale that Meijer rocks every so often.   By the time I got home, I was so flustered that I immediately put all of my hard earned goodies away before I could photo them.  So you will just have to read the details this time:(

Transaction #1:

• 2 boxes Pizza Rolls $2.00.  Used mPerks .40/2 and printable .40/2 = $1.20
• 4 Old Orchard Frozen Juice Concentrate $4.00.  Used mPerks $1/4 and printable $1/4 = $2.00
• 5 bags Meijer Brand pretzels & cheese balls $5.00.  Used cat for $3/$3+ salty snack purchase that I got from a previous purchase and $1.00 off for the buuiyu 10 get the 11th free = $1.00

Transaction #2:

• 4 packages of ground beef $11.38.  (Fresh ground Angus was on sale for $1.87/lb....a really good price)
• 1 lb Krakus Deli Meat $4.19
• 2 lbs red grapes $2.18
• 1 tub sour cream $1.39
• 2 rolls Jimmy Dean Sausage $5.38.  Used $1.50/2 = $3.88
• 8 Land O' Lakes Cinnamon & Sugar Spreadable Butter $12.00.  Used 8 $0.75/1 = $6.00.  (Butter freezes really well, and for this price I stocked up because this is YUMMO on toast, pancakes and waffles)
• 1 Coffee Mate creamer $1.67
• 2 packages Earthbound Organic Baby Carrots $2.00.  Used 2 $1/1 = FREE
• 2 loaves Wheat Sandwich Bread $2.00.  Both were 11th items = FREE
• 8 boxes Krusteaz Crumb Cake Mix $8.00.  Used 4 printables $1/2 = $4.00
• 14 boxes Pizza Rolls $14.00.  Used mPerks .40/2 and 7 printables .40/2 = $11.50
• 2 red bell peppers $2.00.  One is an 11th item = $1.00
• 4 Old Orchard Frozen Juice Concentrate $4.00.  Used mPerks $1/4 and printable $1/4 = $2.00
• 1 Celery $1.00

A little FYI about Meijer's 10/$10 Get the 11th FREE sale...it does matter in what order you ring up the items, this is why I always do self-check on this sale.  I want to make sure that the 11th item I am scanning is one that I do not have a coupon for.  That is how I got the bread and the pepper for free.

I spent a grand total of $54.96 OOP.  I saved $86.88 in q's, store q's and store promos...I am pretty happy with that since I picked up a lot of meat.  Now I just need a good chicken breast sale so I can restock that.

I came home and set aside my q's for two days...I just wasn't prepared to tackle the giant mess that I had made of George's Wallet.  But yesterday I knew that I would have to tackle the task because there would be a ton of new friends waiting to join them this morning.  

I had to resort every q back into the right categories

...And decided to sew the button back on after learning a lesson a hard way

So I am now reorganized and ready to add in all my new little goodies...time to get clipping.

Wags and Q's

Recently, I have been doing most of my shopping and deals at the Meijer.  I have picked up stuff at Jewel and Dom's (and of course Target) but they just haven't had the amount of goodies that Meijer has.

I ventured to Wags the other day to pick up some more cheap diapers and more tape (I told you....free tape is my kryptonite)  Here is what I picked up for a total of OOP of $15.93 and got back 2 $2 OYNO Cats:

Transaction #1:

• 1 Jumbo pack Huggies Slip-On Diapers $9.49.  Used $3/1 = $6.49 and got back a $2 OYNO Cat

Transaction #2

• 1 Jumbo pack Huggies Slip-On Diapers $9.49.  Used $3/1 = $6.49 and got back a $2 OYNO Cat
• 3 rolls Scotch Tape $2.97.  Used Wags q .60/1 (limit 3) and manufacturer q $1/3 = $0.18.
• 3 mini-notebooks $1.47.  Used Wags q .34/1 (limit 3) = $0.45
• 1-10 pack pencils $1.39.  Used Wags q $1/1 = $0.39
• 3 travel size listerine $7.27.  Used Wags q $1.50/1 (limit 3) and 3 manufacturer q's $1/1 = $0.03 MONEYMAKER

I really like the idea of these slip-on diapers since I am really starting to push potty training for my little one and this is a much cheaper alternative than Pull-Ups right now.  

I saved a total of $20.82 in clipped q's.  I did not roll my cat from the first trans to the second because Wags does not allow you to roll them.  If I used the one from the first transaction, I would not have gotten another one in my second transaction and would have lost out on $2.00.  

I know I haven't talked about any mail goodies for a while....but rest assured, they are still arriving daily.  Here are two recent arrivals from Vocalpoint.  I LOVE getting q's from them...they are always high value and a lot of the time include a q for a free product.  If you haven't signed up for Vocalpoint yet, you can do it here.  

In the past week I have gotten a q for a free bad of lettuce from Fresh Express and 3 $1/1 q's.  Today, I got a mailing for Bounce dryer bars (which I LOVE) with 1 $2.50/1 and 3 $1.50/1....I always look at my q's as cash....so, I got over $10.00 in the mail in the past week...love it!  Now go sign up for some free money!

Waiting For The Next Show....

So Lifehouse was FAB-U-LOUS!  Every time I see them, they completely rock it and am I left wanting more. So the wait begins again....the wait until they come back through Chicago again (and I can get my hottie bass-playing fix from Bryce...LOL).  Perhaps one day we will meet...sigh.  Their opening act, Wayland, was pretty good.  They are on my list to download from iTunes.  You can check them out here.

My BFF and I had a great time...we sat next to the two sweetest 13 year old Lifehouse fans.  They were awesome and stood the whole concert and rocked out with this old lady (they kept asking why does everyone keep sitting down?  I say, I have no idea...why would you go to a concert and sit down when you can stand up and rock out?...and that is exactly what we did for the whole concert).  When I asked them how old they were and they replied 13, all I could think was they were only 2 when Lifehouse came out....GEESH, I am old.  They told me their dads introduced them to the band (geesh, I am REALLY old).  When I came home and told the hubs this story, he tried to help lift my spirits up by telling me, You are almost three times their age.  So much for being helpful...

On Sunday, reality set back in and I put my "mommy pants" back on and got to some couponing.  I made a pit stop at the Meijer....complete with two transactions.  I spent a total of $40.48 OOP.  Nothing phenomenal....but here you go:

Transaction #1:

• 2 Clorox Green Works Glass Cleaner $6.58.  Used mPerks $1/2 and printable $1/2 = $4.58 (Not a stellar deal for window cleaner by any means....but I have reached my last bottle so I had to give in and buy some...I am sure there will now be an awesome sale in about 2 weeks and I will be miffed...but such is life)
• 2 Dannon Light & Fit 4 packs $3.98.  Used mPerks$1/2 and 2 printables $1/1 = $0.98

Transaction #2

• 2 Dannon Light & Fit 4 packs $3.98.  Used mPerks$1/2 and 2 printables $1/1 = $0.98
• 2 lbs Karkus Deli Ham $7.98
• 2 dozen large eggs $1.94
• Nectarines $1.38
• Peaches $1.98
• 2 Clorox Green Works Glass Cleaner $6.58.  Used mPerks $1/2 and printable $1/2 = $4.58
• 12 boxes Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissue $12.00.  Used 6 .50/2 = $9.00
• 2 loaves Aunt Millie's Wheat Bread $3.34
• 1 Dole Salad $1.25

At least I was able to pick up Kleenex at a decent price.   It is another one of my brand favorites and I like to buy Kleenex whenever I can, although I will fluctuate on these if I find a steal on something else.

Until next time....

Lifehouse Bound!

I have finally caught up on clipping all my q's from the past two weeks....just in time for my weekly Sunday installment...and my organizer is starting to look like George's Wallet again.  I have already popped off the button used to secure the top, leaving my organizer susceptible to an explosion.  I really need to fix that before the worst case scenario happens and I end up in a rubber room...losing all my q's could definitely lead to a major breakdown.

Here is what G.W. looked like when I first got it and loaded it with all of my little friends:

It was full....but I could still wedge my fingers in to pull out my favorite paper dollars.  Now, it's getting REALLY tight:

I really gotta sew that button back on...

So my bestie and I are off tomorrow for some sushi and a Lifehouse concert at Ravinia.  I am so excited!!!  In case you've been on another planet and didn't know, I LOVE LIFEHOUSE.  My BFF and I were supposed to go together last November and see them, but unfortunately she missed out.  Not this time...we are Lifehouse-bound and are going to enjoy a girlie day together complete with our favorite meal...SUSHI.  I will leave you with one...ok, two of my favorite Lifehouse tunes.

Spin (Live)

Broken (Live)

Monday it's back to couponing as usual...have a great weekend!

Cereal, Diapers...And More Cereal

So the sale at Dom's on cereal was just too good and I had to go back for more (remember they have the Buy 4 Save $4 sale running concurrent with the Deal Match pricing and J4U Personalized prices).  We eat a lot of cereal in our house and cereal usually has anywhere from 9 months to a year until it reaches its expiration date...so they are perfect for stockpiling.  Anytime I can stock up for around $0.50 or less per box, I will buy as many as I can.  Here is Monday's trip back to Dom's, complete with another freebie from my J4U q's I loaded onto my frequent shopper card.  I spent a total of $6.25 OOP:

• 8 boxes Cinnamon Toast Crunch $ 8.56.  Used 6 printables .50/1 and 1 printable $1/2 = $4.56
• 1 package 200 ct. Safeway Napkins $2.99.  Used J4U q = FREE
• 1-4 pack Dannon Light & Fit $1.49 (with in-ad coupon).  Used $1/1 printable = $0.49
• 1 Pillsbury Sweet Moments Brownies $1.99 (with in-ad q).  Used $1/1 q = $0.99

I saved a total of $31.57 in q's and in-store promos for a total savings of 84%.  Next stop was Meijer for a few odds and ends.  As per usual, I had to do more than one transaction at Meijer to use all of my q's and mPerks.  Here is what I picked up for a total of $27.95:

Transaction #1:

• 4 Degree Men's Deodorant $9.68.  Used 4 $1/1 q's = $5.68.  Got back a $4 OYNO cat for an end cost of only $1.68...or $0.42 per stick.
• 1 package Huggies Slip-On Diapers $8.97.  Used mPerks q $2/1 and manufacturer q $3/1 = $3.97

Transaction #2:

• 1 package Huggies Slip-On Diapers $8.97.  Used mPerks q $2/1 and manufacturer q $3/1 = $3.97
• 4-6 packs Mott's Applesauce $7.96.  Used 2 store printables $1/2 and 2 $2/2 q's from the MDA booklet at Dom's = $1.96
• 1 Dole Coleslaw $1.50
• 10 lb bag potatoes $3.99
• 3 Meijer Butter Braid Pretzels $2.97
• 2 Meijer Cheese Puffs $1.98
• 1 Meijer Hamburger Buns $1.00
• 1 Marzetti Slaw Dressing $3.67.  Used $1/1 q from All You Magazine = $2.67

I also used the $4 OYNO cat from the previous purchase.  I saved a total of $30.71 in store promos and q's for a little over a 50% savings...not as impressive as all of my previous trips over the past two days, but still noteworthy.  

I am trying to restrain myself from going back for one more round of cheap cereal...we'll see if I can hold out:)

Home Sweet Coupons

Taking a vacation from all things (including couponing...for the most part) left a lot of coupons to print and clip when I got back home and settled.  I literally spent about 6 hours catching up on printing, clipping and purging my q's and putting together my weekly shopping.  I still have this past weekends q's to clip...

I made three stops on Sunday, with my bestie in tow....towards the end of our little jaunt she was starting to get a little overwhelmed.

First stop was CVS for a diaper deal and some freebies:)  I don't shop there too often...but this one was worth a venture out.

I had to do 4 transactions to use all of my q's...and I picked up 2 q's from the CVS "magic machine" for a free candy bar and a box of band-aids.  I paid a total of $18.05 OOP, and got back a $10 gas card (which I have to wait for in the mail since the computer didn't trigger it for some reason...but $10 is $10).

Transaction #1:

• 1 package Huggies slip-on diapers $8.99.  Used store prinable $2/1 and manufacturer printable $3/1 = $4.66 with tax

Transaction #2:

• 1 package Huggies slip-on diapers $8.99.  Used store prinable $2/1 and manufacturer printable $3/1 = $4.66 with tax

Transaction #3:

• 1 package Huggies slip-on diapers $8.99.  Used store prinable $2/1 and manufacturer printable $3/1 = $4.66 with tax

Transaction #4:

• 1 package Huggies slip-on diapers $8.99.  Used store prinable $2/1 and manufacturer printable $3/1 = $3.99
• 1 Carmello candy bar $1.19.  Used in-store q = FREE
• 1 box CVS bandages $3.79.  Use in-store q = $0.50 MONEYMAKER

We took a couponing intermission to stop and grab some breakfast at our favorite diner and then a brief stop at Target.  I didn't pick up anything too exciting there except a couple trial size packs of Cascade dishwasher tablets for free.

Dom's is the star of the week this week for all of the cheap cereal that I happily brought home and added to my stockpile.  They are now doing a program called "deal match" that you can load to your frequent shopper card and it paired nicely this week with the buy 4, save $4 deal they were running.  It made most boxes of cereal $0.99 before I used my q's.  Here is my first trip this week:

• 1 box Cinnamon Toast Crunch $1.07.  Used .50/1 printable = $0.57
• 8 boxes Cocoa Puffs $7.92.  Used 4 printables .75/1 and 2 printables $1/2 = $1.92
• 3 boxes Honey Nut Chex $ 4.47. Used J4U q .75/1 and 2 printables .75/1 = $2.22
• 6 boxes Van's Frozen Waffle $15.00.  Used 3 printables $1/2 and store q $5/$15 frozen food = $7.00
• 4 Pillsbury Sweet Moments Bite-Size Brownies $7.96 (with in-ad q).  Used 4 $1/1 = $3.96
• 3-4 packs Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt $4.47 (with in-ad q).  Used 3 printables $1/1 = $1.47
• 1 bunch Bananas $1.07 (had JFU personalized price of $0.49/lb)
• 2.5 lbs black seedless grapes $2.52
• 1 package Johnsonville Cheddar Sausage $4.99.  Used J4U q for free sausage = FREE

I saved a total of $81.74 in q's and store promos...that's a 79% savings.  I was pretty happy with my deals for the day and even got a little coupon stoke...it was so good, I went back on Monday:)

A Vacation From My Problems...

This past week, we headed up to Michigan for a little family vacation and some time to unwind.  We stopped in Holland for some yummy G&L Hot Dogs and to order a candle and pick up some Dutch paraphernalia....the "Dutchies" refer to this part of Michigan as the "Motherland"...lol.  After a short pit stop we made our way up to Grand Rapids to see a very old, dear friend from grade school.  It is amazing how you can reconnect with someone almost 20 years later and pick up where you left off.

After our night in Grand Rapids, we headed up to Traverse City for five days to enjoy some time away from all the hub-bub of everyday life.

The boys had a blast.  We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge...a great place if you have little kids.  There was plenty for the boys to do right within the hotel...a water park, an arcade, story time, bunk beds in the room...the list goes on and on.  We also ventured out to see some of the local attractions, breweries and a lighthouse.

Here is a glimpse of our week away:

We also discovered this fabulous bakery called the Grand Traverse Pie Company.  This place was SO good...we couldn't get enough so we went there twice and stopped to bring pies home to eat and share.  The boys decided to enjoy some cookies there instead.

I really tried to go a whole week without couponing...but I just COULD NOT do it, so we picked up two Sunday papers in Michigan and I gave the ads a gander looking for anywhere that I could get a quick fix.  Of course, Target was my fix of choice.  I was also able to pick up some dryer sheets and free packets of tide to do some laundry on vacation (because what vacation isn't complete without a couple of loads of laundry squeezed in).  Here is my little fix for a grand total of $1.51 with tax:

• 7-2 packs Sharpie Markers $7.00.  Used 7 $1/1 Target printables = FREE
• 2 travel sizeTide $1.94.  Used 2 $1/1 = $0.06 OVERAGE
• 1 Up & Up box dryer Sheets = $1.37

On our way back home, we stopped back in Holland to pick up our candle and some other Dutch goodies and hang for a while to help break up the trip.  They had street performers in the downtown area, so we took a wander to check it out....the boys had a blast!  It was a great end to an awesome vacation.

Watching the ventriloquist

Logan loved the Juggler

A stop at Kilwin's for some Superman ice cream

Whenever I think about vacation, I think about the movie What About Bob?...here is a little clip:)  ENJOY

Now Back to our Regulary Scheduled Couponing...

I have been M.I.A. for almost two weeks....but I have still been getting my coupon fixes (even while on vacation with my boys) and picking up some good deals.  Stay tuned, I have lots to ramble on about...

Finally...A Good Fix

I have been needing a good cereal buy...we are down to only 6 boxes in our stockpile and I could feel my nerves creeping up.  I like to keep between 2-3 dozen boxes in my stockpile.  We eat a lot of cereal for breakfast and if I have to pay over a $1.00 a box I start to get angry.  Even $1.00 is the top of my threshold (I like to pay $0.50 or less).  Although, I will gladly pay $1.00 for Captain Crunch...it is my cereal kryptonite and it is soooo hard to pick it up for much cheaper.

Here is what I brought home from Dominick's and Wal-Mart for $16.96 OOP.  I got back a $3.00 cat that I am going to take to Jewel tomorrow for some more cheap cereal for a bottom line of $13.96.  I was even able to grab some gossip mags for vacation for cheap:)

First stop was Dominick's where I had to do...get ready for the shocker...two transactions.  I could have done 3, but decided to keep my pain-in-the-ass rating at a low level today:)

Transaction #1

• 5 boxes Kellogg's cereal $10.00.  Used printable $5/5 = $5.00.  Got back a $3.00 OYNO cat.

Transaction #2

• 5 boxes Kellogg's cereal $10.00.  Used printable $5/5 = $5.00.  Got back a $3.00 OYNO cat.
• 3 boxes Barilla Piccolini $3.00.  Used 2 .55/1 = $1.35
• 1-20 lb Tidy Cats Clumpin Litter $5.99 (w/ in-store q).  Used e-coupon $2/1 = $3.99

Used the $3.00 cat from the first transaction.  Spent a combined total of $13.07 at Dom's and left with a $3.00 cat in my pocket for the Jewel.

Wal-Mart (only 1 transaction..lol)

• 2 travel size Tide $1.94.  Used 2 $1/1 = $0.06 Overage
• 4 packages trial size Cascade dishwasher tablets $3.88.  Used 4 $1/1 = $0.12 Overage
• People Magazine $2.79.  Used printable $2/1 = $0.79
• US Weekly $2.79.

Spent a grand total of $3.88 at the Wal-Mart....a pretty good day couponing.  I also sold some of the boys clothes at Once Upon A Child for $38.25.   I waited WAY too long to sell this season so I was only able to get rid of a fourth of what I normally do...there's always next year...but I will take my $38.00 because something is better than nothing.  

A Typical Friday at the Meijer

My Friday mornings are starting to get very routine with a trip to Meijer complete with two consistently crabby kiddos.  I even stopped at Portillo's and filled them up with hot dogs prior to the shopping trip hoping to avoid a deja vu moment, but they quickly forgot all the yummy goodness and fun we had there and transformed into two bickering brothers the minute I pushed the land-yacht cart through Meijer's front doors.  Here is a quick pic of happier times...lol.

Nothing thrilling this Friday.  Here is what I took home for a total of $59.76 OOP:

I had to do two transactions (as seems to be the usual lately) to use all my mPerks q's.

Transaction #1:

• 1 Johnson & Johnson's Natural Baby Wash $4.79.  Used printable $1.50/1 and mPerks $1.50/1 = $1.79
• Bunch of bananas $1.18
• 2 lbs Krakus Ham Lunchmeat (on sale for only $2.99/lb) $6.40
• 1 lb Hard Salami $3.99.  Used tearpad q $1/1 = $2.99
• 2 Aunt Jemima Frozen French Toast $5.00.  USed 2 printables $1/1 = $3.00
• 3.5 lbs peaches $3.43
• 1 dozen eggs $0.99
• 2.5 lbs red grapes $3.00
• 2 pints blueberries $3.00
• 1 Danimals Yogurt $1.89.  Used $1/1 = $0.89
• 3-1 lb tubs Smart Balance spread $7.50.  Used 3 printables .75/1 = $5.25
• 3 Tombstone frozen pizzas $10.50.  Used printable $1.50/3 = $9.00
• 3 small Kraft Mozzarella Shredded Cheese and 3 small Kraft Natural Chunk Cheese $6.00.  Used 3 peelies $1/2 when you buy one of each = $3.00
• 1 Meijer split-top wheat sandwich bread $1.00.  Got the loaf free with the "buy 10 get the 11th free" promo = FREE
• 4 Old Orchard frozen apple juice concentrate $4.00.  Used mPerks q $1/4 and printable $1/4 = $2.00

Transaction #2

• 1 Johnson & Johnson's Natural Baby Wash $4.79.  Used printable $1.50/1 and mPerks $1.50/1 = $1.79
• 2 Breakstone's Ranch Dip $5.58.  Used 2 mailer q's for free dip = FREE
• 4 Kraft Veggie Pasta Mac N' Cheese $4.00.  Used 4 printables .75/1 = $1.00
• 1 Breakstone's Roasted Garlic Sour Cream $1.00.  Used mailer q for free sour cream = FREE
• 2 bags Earthbound Organic baby carrots = $2.00
• 2 Meijer split-top wheat sandwich bread $1.00.  Got one loaf free with the "buy 10 get the 11th free" promo = $1.00
• 2 bags Meijer Butter Braid Pretzels $2.00
• 1 bag Meijer Cheese Balls $1.00
• 4 Old Orchard frozen apple juice concentrate $4.00.  Used printable $1/4 = $3.00

I saved a total of $65.82 in clipped q's, mPerks and store promos...another day and another dollar gone...here's hoping for some better stock-up sales soon.

Candy, Candy, Candy

I made a little pit-stop at Wags last Thursday the 28th for some candy...I cannot seem to pass up cheap M&M's.  The peanut ones are at the top of my all-time favorite candy list.  Here is what I picked up for only $2.63 OOP:

• 6 packages M&M's (4 Peanut and 2 Plain...I ate a package in the car for a little snack so there are only 5 in the pic...lol) $2.98.  Used 3 .75/2 = $0.73
• 9 packs Trident Vitality Gum $7.11.  Used 6 $2/3 = $1.11

The package of peanut M&M's that i noshed on in the car had a movie cash code in it and wouldn't you know, I was a winner AGAIN!  I got a coupon for $3.00 off my next movie ticket....so this little candy run ended up making me $0.37 so far...hopefully the others are winners too and we can all go catch a movie for cheap:)

**UPDATE**After typing this post, I got a hinkering for some peanut M&M's and won another $3.00 off coupon....this is definitely working out.  But if I keep eating the M&M's, I won't have any left for the theater..


Here is a little Iggy Pop for your listening pleasure:)