A Clean Teeth Moneymaker

I just love when I can go out and pick up some free products and MONEY to use at other stores...wouldn't life be great if you could use a small amount of money to buy a larger amount of money.  I suddenly hear Wimpy in my head, "I will gladly trade you a dollar for $10 in return."   A little dramatic and far-fetched?  Dramatic...yes.  Far-fetched...not today.

So I stopped at a couple of Wags to pick up some money for future shopping trips...it comes in the form of reach toothbrushes (if you can find them as other couponers are out there picking up some free money too).  Wags has a great little deal going right now that coincides with a Catalina deal = $$$$.

Here is what I picked up for a grand total of $3.90....$1.21 of which was tax...always gotta pay the man:(

 Wags Stop #1:

• 2 Schick Razors $9.99.   Wags has them on sale for B1G1 right now.  Used 2 $3/1 = $3.99 (Wags lets you use q's on free items...so does Jewel)
• 3 Reach Toothbrushes $1.35.  They were supposed to be  on sale for $.99...but I was pleasantly surprised to see them ring up for only $.45...AWESOME!  Used 1 $1/1 and $2/2 q's = $1.65 MONEYMAKER

Total for this trans was $3.19 and I got a $2 cat back for the Reach Toothbrushes (so I actually made $3.65 off my FREE toothbrushes)....for a total cost of only $1.19 for two razors and three toothbrushes...a steal.

Wags Stop #2

• 4 Reach Toothbrushes $3.96.  Used 2 $2/2 q's = $.04 MONEYMAKER
• 1 bag M&M's $.39 (needed to eat up the $.04 overage)

Total was $.71 and got back a $4 cat for the Reach toothbrushes.  

Thank you Reach for your marvelous Cats and free toothbrushes...I will have some uber-clean teeth and extra cash to spend at the Jewel tomorrow when I pick up some nice lunch meat complete with free bread:)

A So-So Monday

I was off as usual this morning to get my Monday morning coupon fix.  I made a total of four stops.  First stop, Jewel:

Not much to be had (I did pick up a two coupon books with Coca-Cola q's in them to use at my Meijer stop), my grand total was only $6.71.

• 3 lbs Vadalia Onions $2.00
• 1 3/4 lb red grapes $2.58
• 2 bags Rold Gold Pretzels $3.98.  Used $2/2 = $1.98

Next stop, Doms.  Some pretty good shopping over there this week....usually Doms is my least favorite store to shop at, but a deal is a deal.

• 2 Boxes Raisin Bran $1.98 (loaded J4U q for 2 Raisin Bran at $0.99/box).  Used 2 .70/1 printable = $.58
• 4 Honest Tea drinks $3.58.  Used 2 B1G1 printables = $1.78
• 3 rolls Reynolds Wrap $7.47 (loaded a J4U q for 3 rolls @ $2.49/roll)  Used 3 $1/1 = $4.47
• 1 Angel Soft 12ct toilet Paper (used a store q for $4.99/package).  Used .50/1 = $4.49
• 1 Viva 6pk. paper towels (used a store q for $4.99/package).  Used a $2/1 printable = $2.99
• 2 3/4 lbs bananas (loaded J4U personalized price $0.49/lb) = $1.38
• 1 avocado = $1.25
• 1 head iceberg lettuce (loaded J4U personalized price) = $0.88
• 8 lbs Navel Oranges $4.99
• 1 sour cream $1.49 (it was taco night hence the avocado & sour cream...plus I picked up those $0.88 tortillas last Thursday)

I also used a printable store q for $1/$5 a produce purchase.  Total OOP $23.98.

Next stop, Meijer.  I decided to do another round of Coca-Cola purchases to pick up 4 more free passes to Brookfield Zoo and some O.K. priced Coke.  Here are the other items I took home:

• 1 Pampers Wipes $2.39.  Used $1/1 q I received in the mail last week = $1.39
• 6 bottles kid's chewable vitamins on sale for B1G1 = $ 16.47
• 5 12pks Coca-Cola $15.00.  Used 2 $2/2 = $11.00

Total OOP was $30.60.  I got back a Custom Meijer Q for $8 off my next health, beauty or cosmetic purchase for a cost of only $8.47 for the vitamins or only $1.41/bottle.  This will last the kiddos for 6 months (1 bottle per month)....not to bad.  Plus, I got my second set of tickets to the Zoo.  Overall, I spent $20 on 10-12pks of Coke and 8 passes to Brookfield Zoo.  I think that is a pretty good deal and we have Coke for quite a while.

Last stop, Target...the Mecca...my Homeland...a couponer's crack.  I just cannot get enough of that big, red bullseye.  I am, after all, an addict.  I have to admit that sometimes I get a bit embarrassed as I cruise past the pharmacy perusing the clearance end caps and see all the familiar pharmacy staff looking back at me.  They must think I am a crazy shopaholic....at least I am doing it for a greatly reduced cost. 

Anyhow, here is what I picked up at my final stop for the day for a total cost of $16.96:

• 4-24 ct Up & Up Ibuprofen $3.98.  Used 4 $1/1 Target printables = FREE
• 2 Scrubbing Bubbles Foaming Shower Cleaner $6.98.  Used 2 $1.50/1 printables = $3.98
• 4 Nivea Happy Sensations Lotion $20.16.  Used 4 $1/1 Target printables and 4 $3/1 q's = $4.16
• 2 Tres Semme Hairspray $6.68.  Used 2 $1/1 Target printables = $4.68
• 1 5ct Zyrtec $5.29.  Used q from mailer last week for FREE 5ct. Zyrtec = FREE (this is for my BFF...gotta help a girl out)
• 1 5ct Swiffer Duster Starter Kit $4.49.  Used target q .75/1 and $2/1 = $1.74

I also got another $0.05 off for using a reusable bag.  

Overall, not my best round of deals but I saved at least 50% or more at each of the stops I made and that equals deals in my book.  Off to bed...Happy Couponing:)

P.S.  My paper delivery man has now made it for TWO WHOLE WEEKS without screwing up my papers or leaving behind the cursed Beacon...everyone keep their fingers crossed he keeps it up!

Mr. Postman - Round 2

Some days opening the mailbox is like opening a present on Christmas Day.  This is what awaited me last Thursday:

Target sent my 3 free Goodnights underwear and a $2/1 store q (my favorite kind because I can almost always find a manufacturer q to pair with it).  I also received my two free pizza coupons I mailed in for when I got that stellar deal on the two Toy Story 3 Operation games, a $1/1 Pampers wipes q and a free 5ct. Zyrtec q.  As good as cash....

Mr. Postman

Here is another good q that arrived in the mail today complete with sample.  I love Vocalpoint.  They always send out high value coupons and samples...and these Mini Wheats are super YUMMY!  You can sign up at Vocalpoint here.

There were 3 $1/1 q's and a B1G1 q.  Thanks Vocalpoint!

A Good Fix

So I did my weekly deals early this week...I just felt compelled to go out and snatch up some goodies.  The coupons were just burning a whole in my coupon organizer and I needed a fix...and I got a really good one.  My first stop was Doms.  Here is what I picked up:

• 8 boxes Cinnamon Toast Crunch = $4.56.  I loaded a J4U Personalized Price for $2.07/box.  When you bought in multiples of 4, you saved $4, bringing my per box price down to $1.07.  Used 4 $1/2 q's = $0.57/box.
• 3 bottles Pine-Sol $4.47.  Used 3 $1/1 q's = $1.47 for all three.
• 2-10ct Mission Tortillas.  Used J4U store q = $1.76 ($.088/package)
• 1 Reynolds Foil.  Used J4U store q for $2.49/package plus .50/1 = $1.99.  Not the best price, but I really needed some foil...

Total cost was $10.48.  I saved a total of $23.11 in store and manufacturer q's.  I also got two cats back for a free gallon of milk with the purchase of three General Mills cereals.  If I can score some more cereal for $0.57/box, it will cost me less than a gallon of milk and I will get a 3 box cereal bonus:)

Next stop was Jewel.  Some EXCELLENT deals to be had here and I got to chit-chat with some of my favorite Jewel ladies.  Here is what I picked up:

• 10 Fage Greek Yogurt $12.50.  Used 2 $2/5 printable q's = $8.50 (These are excellent and my FAVORITE brand of yogurt)
• 2 Fuze Drinks $1.00.  Used $1/1 = FREE
• 2 Powerade Drinks $1.00.  Used B1G1 = $0.50
• 1 Gino's East Frozen Pizza $3.34.  Used Get 1 Free q = FREE
• 4 ears Sweet Corn = $0.80
• 20 bags Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Grahams $20.00.  Used 20 .75/1 peelies that were attached to the bags = $5.00 (Yes, I know that 20 is a LOT...but they were only $0.25 sense a bag and they have a long shelf life and my kiddos love them...I kinda do too.  Please don't let this one little purchase make me out to be a hoarder...I really am not and there were PLENTY left on the shelf for my fellow couponers)
• 4 Healthy Choice Mixers (donated to the storm victims) $7.96.  Used 4 $1/1 Avenu q's loaded to my Preferred Card and 4 $1/1 = $0.04 MONEYMAKER
• 2 Pam Cooking Spray $3.98.  Used 2 .75/1 = $2.48

I also used a $2/$25 store q and a $4.00 Cat that I got back from my Magnum ice cream purchase the weekend before.  My grand total was only $10.32.  I saved in $41.34 in store and manufacturer q's.  Coupled with my preferred card savings, I saved a grand total of $90.66!

Last stop was Meijer.  I had to do two transactions to utilize all my q's.  Here is what I took home:

Transaction1:

• 4 Oscar Meyer Lunchables with fruit $9.92.  Used 4 $1/1 q's = 5.92

With tax I payed $6.09 OOP and got back $5 in cats for an end cost of only $1.06 for four.

Transaction 2:

• 5-12 packs Coca-Cola $15.00.  Used 2 FREE 12 pack q's = $9.00
• 12 Crystal Light $16.14.  Used 2 B2G1 q's and 2 $1/2 q's = $8.76
• 1 package Lentils $1.00
• 1 package Navy Beans $1.00

I used my $5.00 in cats from my first transaction for an end total of $16.28.  Meijer was running a promotion, buy $15 in Coca-Cola products and get a custom coupon for 4 FREE passes to Brookfield Zoo.  The total to trigger this custom coupon for the Zoo is PRE-coupon  Normally, I would have saved my free 12 pack q's to use over at Doms when they do the B2G2 12 pack deals...but I wanted these free passes and I wanted to drop the price on the Coke...so I threw them in the mix.  In th end, $16.28 wasn't so bad for all those goodies and 4 passes to the zoo...and now the kiddos have some Lunchables to take with for a zoo picnic for only $0.50:)

At the end of the day, I spent a grand total of $43.14 for all those groceries and passes to the Zoo.  I saved a grand total of $101.83 in clipped q's.  If you add in all my card savings, I saved $176.63!  An awesome day of shopping...just gotta run our and pick up out milk and fresh veggies for the week.

Packed. Shipped. Donated.

On Wednesday, the boys and I made one last stop at Target and Wal-Mart to pick up some more goodies for our care package.  We were able to pick up all of these items for only the cost of tax, and even picked up a little overage for some of our other purchases we made.  Isn't it amazing what you can pick up for nothing?  These are items that we don't need or use, but we knew some people who did.  Food pantries all over the country are in constant need of donations.  Here is a way to give back without straining your budget and pocketbook and to help make a big impact in your community.  Remember, every little thing helps and if everyone dedicated just a small amount of time to someone else we could all come together to make a big difference.  

(We also picked up four more free Healthy Choice Mixers Thursday morning from our favorite Jewel as a last minute add-on)

On Thursday, the boys and I headed over to Safety Supply Illinois where Aunt T works to box and ship our donations for the storm victims to Alabama.  SSI was generous enough to donate the cost of shipping and boxes AND 50 breathing masks, 6+ dozen work gloves and 10-100ct boxes of disposable gloves....what a great company, right??  Thank you so much Safety Supply for helping us to help others and giving such a generous donation.  Please go and check them out here.

Here are some pics of the boys and Aunt T working hard to get it all packed up.

In addition to what Safety Supply Illinois donated, here is what we contributed to the care packages for a total of 123 items at a cost of about $33 (that includes tax):

• 1 Nivea Body Wash
• 8-3pks of Ivory Bar Soap
• 5 Adult Reach toothbrushes
• 4 Aquafresh Kid's toothbrushes
• 1 Covergirl Mascara
• 19 packages Carefree Pantyliners
• 4 packages Revlon Emery Boards
• 2 boxes Jell-O Pudding
• 4 boxes fruit snacks
• 2 tubes Crest toothpaste
• 2 Revlon tweezers
• 9 Revlon toe nail clippers
• 5 cans cat food
• 4 Crayola Color Wonder coloring packs
• 2 boxes Cinnamon Cheerios
• 2 boxes Fruity Pebble Treats
• 1 coloring activity book
• 9 Healthy Choice Healthy Pasta Mixers
• 4 magazines
• 1 box Crayola markers
• 1 box Crayola crayons
• 2 travel size Colgate toothpaste
• 6 pouches Starkist tuna fish
• 1 bottle KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce
• 1 board game-Hi-Ho Cherry-O
• 1 Peter Pan peanut butter
• 2 packages Milk-Bone dog treats
• 1 package noodle soap mix
• 4 pouches instant potatoes
• 4 packages Gerber baby food
• 4 jars bubbles
• 1 Gain dish washing detergent
• 5 packages Glide Dental Floss

Plus, don't forget about all of the travel and sample size shampoo and conditioner that my local Walgreens donated (2+ dozen).  In the end, I think we gained more than we gave.  The boys learned an important lesson and gained skills that I hope they will carry with them.  I know I will put them to good use in the near future.

Give A Little Bit...

The great thing about couponing is taking things home for very little money or even free...some people will go to the extreme and take home things they don't need or want just because they are free...couponing can make you extremely glutinous or it can open many doors.  Not just for yourself, but for others as well.  I like to use my "powers" for good for both my family and others.  Sometimes we can lose site of the world beyond our front door, and I am no exception.

One thing couponing has done is to make me more conscientious of what others may need.  So many times, I come across things that are such a good buy...but I cannot use them, and I just hate for a good deal to go to waste when someone can benefit from it.  So what to do with those items?  Give them to those in need...a friend, a neighbor, your local food pantry or homeless shelter...or an area that is facing devastation.

That is what the boys and I have been focusing our couponing powers on recently.  We have been pulling together a good size care package for those affected by the extremely damaging storms to the south.  Here is what the box looks like right now:

We still have some room in there, so we are going to try and pick up some of the free body wash that is floating around at Wags.  My BFF and the boys' Aunt, Tracy, is helping us with our donation by gifting us some shipping and breathing masks.  We are going to have the boys help us finish securing the boxes up and get them addressed and labeled to be shipped.  It is not only a great feeling to know that you are helping to help others, but to teach your children to do the same.

Here are some more freebies I picked up for the box today.  Our first stop was my local Wags:

I was talking with one of the ladies at Wags, whom I have friended, about my coupon exploits and was telling her about my blog (go figure) and that the boys and I were putting together a care package for the victims of these devastating storms.  She (and Wags) were kind enough to donate over two dozen trial size shampoo and conditioner to send down to Alabama.  Not only do coupons make it possible to help others, they also open the door for other avenues as well.  I have met some of the nicest people as I have gotten deeper into my addiction....I mean, couponing.  My favorite stop is always my local Jewel.  I just love my Jewel ladies...I always look forward to seeing them and chatting it up....but I digress....

Anywho...back to the coupons. I did have to buy the Carefree pantyliners for a whopping $0.65.  They were on sale for $0.99/package and Sunday's insert had a q for a free package up to $1.00...so all I had to do was pay the tax, the q's took care of the rest (a savings of $7.92).

Next stop was Target...I mostly picked up stuff for us, but I snagged two little things for my donation box and some nice overage to pay for it all.  Here is what I took home for a whole $1.23 (just the cost of tax):

• 3 Nivea Body Wash $7.29.  Used 3 $3/1 = $1.71 MONEYMAKER
• 5 Degree Men's Deodorant $11.70.  Used 5 Target q's for $1/1 and 5 Manufacturer q's $1/1 = $1.70
• 2 Revlon Nail Clippers $3.18.  Used a Manufacturer Cat q that I got from previous Revlon purchases for $5/2.  Got  a maximum of $3.17 off as that was all I owed besides tax (you cannot use overage from a coupon towards tax).

I saved a total of $24.05 in q's and I got $0.05 off for using a reusable bag.  Plus, the Catalina machine spit out three more Revlon q's...$5/2, $2/1 and $1/1.  I can pick up more items to donate and a little more overage to put towards some other items too.

A great day for couponing all around.  Before we send off our care package, I will make sure to capture some pics of the boys putting it all together.