A Taste of Double Coupons

Life has been crazy around here.  My kiddos cannot seem to get a break from all the sick bugs going around.     It has been one thing after another with these guys since before Christmas.  I am hoping we are nearing the end of this roller coaster.  I am exhausted and tired of cleaning up the messes and the laundry that seems to be going hand in hand with all these bugs...this last week took the cake and I am just plain sick and tired of everyone being sick and tired.  It was hard to get my grocery shopping done in between all the illness, but I managed to snatch up a couple of things.  I didn't want to miss out on the double coupons Jewel was doing...especially because that happens very rarely around these parts.

No one is my area doubles coupons on a regular basis.  Once and a while, stores will do promotions where they will allow you to double a certain amount of coupons up to a set dollar value.  KMart used to do this fairly often, but have reduced the frequency and upped the restrictions to the point where it just isn't worth it to me to take part in the nonsense...especially since I don't have any KMart's particularly close to me.

Last week, Jewel ran a promotion Sunday through Wednesday that allowed customers to double up to five coupons a day if you were able to get your hands on and clip the promotional "Twice the Value" coupons in their Sunday flier.  If you didn't get your hands on those little, golden tickets...double coupons weren't going to be in your shopping future and getting the flier wasn't a given.  Not all of the Chicago Tribune inserts had this flier.  I wish I knew the rhyme or reason behind it...but I don't.  I get two Sunday Tribunes delivered...one had the insert, one did not.  Luckily, the hubs stopped at the dollar store close to work and grabbed me three papers there that all had them.  Jewel had quite the uproar from its customers in regards to the coupons not being made available to all shoppers and decided to release a printable version of these q's on Tuesday...someone didn't think that promotion out.

Here is what I picked up on my four trips to the Jewel.  I did get better deals than I should have because the checkers didn't enter the coupons correctly.  I did try to tell them that they were giving me more than they should have (yes...I am an honest couponer...doing shady things gives everyone a bad name and it is fraud) but they just looked at me like I had a third eye and could care less about what I was saying.  You can only do so much.

1.29.12

• 5 boxes Cinnamon Toast Crunch $10.00.  Used 4 printables .60/1, 1 printable .50/1 and 5 Jewel Twice the Value q's $1/1 = $2.19 

They are only supposed to double up to the amount of the manufacturer q...but this was one of those cases where the checker did it wrong and didn't care when I told him he was giving me too much.  So ....I took home some really cheap Cinnamon Toast Crunch to two happy kiddos.

1.30.12

• 10 packages Vanity Fair Napkins $21.89.  Used 5 manufactured q's $1/2 and 5 Jewel Twice the Value q's $1/1 = $11.89.

Vanity Fair napkins are another one of my brand loyalties.  I love them because they are nice and thick and don't tear when my kiddos wipe their filthy little hands on them:)  When I can snatch them up for a dollar a package before tax, I am all over it!

1.31.12

• 2 Coffeemate Creamers $4.00.  Used 2 manufacturer q's .50/1 and 2 Jewel Twice the Value q's $1/1 = $1.00
• 3 Mr. Clean Magic Erasers $7.77.  Used 3 manufacturer q's $1/1 and 3 Jewel Twice the Value q's $1/1 = $2.77

This was another case of the checker ringing in the Twice the Value q's wrong...she gave me a dollar for my coffeemate q's instead of only the $0.50 I should have gotten.

2.1.12

• 5 boxes Cinnamon Toast Crunch $10.00.  Used 5 printables .50/1 and 5 Jewel Twice the Value q's .50/1 = $5.13

My total OOP for my little doubler extravaganza was $ 22.98.  Not bad for 10 boxes of cereal, 10 packages of napkins, 2 creamers and 3 Magic Erasers.  I was a happy camper:)

Another Bullseye Pit Stop

I am having to put in some major couponing time to restock my stockpile....that means 3-4 trips a week until I have replenished my second pantry.  Meijer had some pretty decent deals coupled with a few $5/$5 purchase q's on my mPerks accounts (I have two...double the Q's).

Here is what I picked up last Wednesday for a grand total of $27.81 OOP.

Transaction #1:

• 15 jars Beech-Nut Baby Food $6.90.  Used 4 $1/1 printables = $2.90
• 2 Degree Deodorant $5.28.  Used mPerks q $2/2 = $3.28 (not a stellar price by any means...but the hubs was almost out and this is one of those things you cannot go without...lol)
• 2 frozen bags corn $2.00
• 5 6-cup packages Mott's Applesauce $3.34 after instant savings of $5.00

I also used one of my $5/$5 mPerks q's for a grand total of $6.84.

Transaction #2:

• 2 Degree Deodorant $5.18.  Used mPerks q $2/2 = $3.18 (not a stellar price by any means...but, again, you don't want to stink)
• 3 2 liters of Coca-Cola $4.00 (I am craving Coke...and that stuff is never cheap...I have accepted I am just going to have to pay for it and deal with it)
• 5 6-cup packages Mott's Applesauce $3.34 after instant savings of $5.00
• 1 Water Bottle for the hubs for work $8.39 on clearance:)

I used my other $5/$5 mPerks q for a end total of $14.88.  

I made a quick stop at the Target again to pick up some cheap vitamins for the kiddos that I didn't snatch up the day before.

• 4 60ct. Flintstone's Vitamins $17.97.  Used 3 Target printables $2/1 and 3 manufacturer q's $2/1 = $6.09 with tax

Target was running a deal, if you buy three participating products you get back a $5.00 gift card and these vitamins qualified...after my gift card I only paid $1.09 for 180 vitamins.  Almost as good as free:)

Stay tuned for Jewel Double Coupon Extravaganza....I picked up some super cheap cereal tonight and am hoping to snatch up some more goodies for next to nothing over the next three days...have a good Monday.

A Couponing I Will Go.....

I only venture to the Dominick's from time to time.  It is my least favorite place to coupon.  You have to constantly check the dates on products, the shelves are usually empty, the prices are often high and I frequently have issues with CATS not printing at the Doms.  But every once and a while it is worth to mosey on over there and pick up a few things.

My cereal stockpile was nada after my holiday vacay from couponing, so I am having to pay a bit more right now for cereal than I would like just to keep my kiddos happy....and its worth it.  They love cereal and I am good with that...especially since I tend to be running behind on getting them to school on-time.

Here is what I picked up at Doms for a grand total of $19.82....plus some random Target pick-ups too:)

Transaction #1:

• 4 boxes Honey Bunches of Oats $7.96.  Used 4 $1/1 printables = $4.10 (with tax)

Transaction #2:

• 4 boxes Honey Bunches of Oats $7.96.  Used 4 $1/1 printables = $3.96
• 4 32 oz. Gatorade $3.56.  Used J4U Q for $0.88/bottle.
• 2 gallons skim milk $3.94.  Used J4U Q for $1.97/gallon
• 4 Comet Cleanser $3.52.  Used J4U Q for $0.88/container

Total with tax for transaction #2 was $15.72.

I made a quick stop at the Target for some freebies and cheapies.  Here is what I picked up....

• 4 Rolls Up & Up Paper Towels $3.96.  Used 4 Target printables $1/1 = FREE
• 5 Bananas $1.20.  Used Target Q $1/$1 or more of fresh fruit = $0.20
• 2 Wonka Fun Dip Valentine's Day cards $6.54.  Used 2 $1/1 printables and a Target printable $1/2 = $3.54.

Not a bad little trip for under $5.00....if only all my Target trips were this cheap my hubs would be happy:)

I'm Back....

So it has been FOREVER since I have had time to sit down and blog my little couponing adventures.  Life has been crazy busy around here with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, arrivals of little ones and some big changes to come and plan for around our house.

The holidays are always a hard time for me to keep up on my couponing.  As much as it pains me, something always has to give around the holidays and it is usually my couponing.  November and December usually gives way to diminished stockpiles and increased grocery bills.  Trying to keep up with all of the baking, gift giving and holiday events just takes its toll and lesser things get pushed aside....that is were my deals suffer:(  But don't worry, my bestie and I did venture out on Black Friday and grabbed up some good deals and even made a little article in the local paper about all of us Black Friday crazies...lol.

Now that January is here and things have settled down slightly, I am back to work at replenishing my pantries and looking for some good deals...if I don't find a good cereal deal pronto my kiddos may have a mini-meltdown:)

Early this week, I ventured out to Meijer and Jewel for some deals to start packing the pantry again.  Meijer is on my poo-poo list lately as they keep altering my coupons to lesser values despite there being no overage....a flaw in their system that is about to make steam blow out of my ears!

Here is what I picked up this week for a total OOP of $55.29 and a total savings of $48.06...not too bad:)

First stop was Meijer, and I had to do two transactions...

Transaction #1:

• 3 bottles of Kikkoman Soy Sauce $5.00.  Used 3 $1/1 q's = $2.00
• 16 jars Beech-Nut Stage 2 Baby Food $$6.40.  Used mPerks q $2/16 and printable $2/16 = $2.40

My total for the transaction was $4.64and I saved $7 in q's.  I got back a $2.00 CAT for the Kikkoman sauce and a $3.00 CAT for the baby food making this a $0.60 MONEYMAKER before tax....FREE FOOD.  I like to use the soy sauce in different marinades...especially on flank steaks on the grill.

Transaction #2:

• 16 jars Beech-Nut Stage 2 Baby Food $$6.40.  Used mPerks q $2/16 and printable $2/16 = $2.40
• 2 lbs bananas $1.19
• 1 bunch cilantro $.89
• 1 lime $0.34
• 3 lbs apples $3.49
• 2 cans kidney beans $1.58
• 6 cans Spaghetti-O's $3.60.  Used mPerks q $1/6 and 2 .40/3 = $1.80
• 2 Kraft Cheese Slices $4.00.  Used .55/2 = $3.45
• 6 Kleenex Cold Touch Cubes $7.50.  Used 6 .50/1 = $4.50
• 3 boxes Kool-Aid Jammers $5.00.  Used mPerks q $1/3 = $4.00
• 3 Kraft Handi-Snaks $5.00.  Used $3/3 (the computer adjusted it down to $2.67) and mPerks $1/3 = $1.33
• 2 Kraft Shredded Cheese $4.00.  Used .55/2 = $3.45

The total was $25.15, I saved $18.97 in q's and I got back another $3 CAT for the Beech-Nut baby food....another $0.60 MONEYMAKER and more free baby food.

Last stop was at the Jewel.  Here is what I picked up:

• 4 Pasta Prima Ravioli B1G1 $8.58.  Used 4 $1.50/1 printables = $2.58
• 8 Old Orchard Frozen Juice Concentrates $10.  USed 4 B1G1 printables = $5.00
• 4 Jewel Ready-To-Eat Soup $7.56
• 1 Jar Jewel pickles $3.49
• 2 Ken's Dressing $3.34.  Used 2 $1/1 = $1.34
• 3 Canned Jewel French Cut Green Beans B2G1 = $1.58
• 3lbs Yellow Onions $1.00
• 6 Campbell's Tomato Soup B2G1 = $3.16
• 8 piece Jewel Fried Chicken $6.99
• 1 Jewel Donut $.69.  Used q for free donut = FREE

My end total was $25.50 after using the $8.00 worth of CATS I had just gotten back at the Meijer.  I saved a total of $22.09 in q's at the Jewel.

I just picked up some cheap Tide (one of my brand loyalties) at the Jewel for $2.99 for a 50 ounce bottle.  The sale only runs for 3 days and there is a limit of 2 per day per customer...so I will have to stop 2 days in a row, but it is worth it to me for cheap Tide:)

Still blogging...

I know I haven't posted in a while....but I have still been couponing and have a few posts in my head.  Hopefully, I will get some time in the next few days to spit a few out.  Stay tuned...until then, enjoy a little Lifehouse...that always helps my day along:)

A Shout-Out to the Junction

In the midst of trying to keep my sanity today while wading through what seemed to be an endless sea of poo (literally and figuratively), I made a quick stop into Woodman's to pick up a few odds and ends to get me through until some good deals come along.  While there, I ran into a friend who initially gave me the silent treatment for turning my back on this grocery mecca....but he came around and we had a quick catch up where he confessed to me  he was angry about my affairs with the other grocery stores.

I have to admit...I do love Woodman's.  I love their variety and they do have really low prices....on items that you cannot find anywhere else or do not have a q for but are in need of.  When I wasn't couponing so religiously, I did all of my grocery shopping there.  I was still able to save money and use my q's without having to devote my normal 15-20 hours a week to couponing hardcore.  But Woodman's does have some major downsides to a couponer.  They only let you use one printable coupon for each like item and they don't participate in the Catalina programs....these shortcomings are what led to our separation, they just weren't giving me what I needed.

Since this break-up, my visits to Woodman's have become almost non-existent except for the occasional run in for a needed item on the fly or  a stock-up here and there on items I cannot find other places.  Because of all these reasons, my friend and I have lost touch....today I was verbally reprimanded (with a side of the stink-eye) for my lack of commitment to our weekly chats.  This person I am referring to is affectionately referred to in our house as "My Woodman's Boyfriend".  He has met my BFF and the hubs knows all about "the boyfriend" and is good with it too...when we shop together they even have a little chat...lol.

So I decided I would give a little blog love to Woodman's (even though I didn't really get any deals there).  I had to breakdown and overpay for paper towels...something I really hate to do but I ran out of my little stockpile yesterday and was in major need for some.  I NEED paper towels...and I don't like the cheap ones.  I have tried to use them, I really have, but they just stink.  I know paper towels are wasteful and bad for the environment...yada, yada....but I gotta have them.  They are a must for cleaning up after two messy boys and 3 puking, pooping pets.  While I know my couponing has come a long way, I still cannot seem to figure out how to amass basement fulls like all of those nutter-butters on Extreme Couponing.  Maybe one day I will get it...so here is what I picked up at the Woodman's for a total of $22.04 OOP:

• 2 gallons skim milk $4.98
• 2 cans La Preferida Refried Beans $1.78
• 1 Taco Bell Medium Salsa $1.99
• 1 package corn tortillas $1.29
• 4 Viva Paper Towels $7.16.  Used 4 .40/1 = $5.56 (even with the q's this is a bad price...but I had to cave...I was in need)
• 1 Digiorno Frozen Pizza $5.69.  Used FB printable $2/1 = $3.69 (it was a bad day and I needed a quick dinner for the kiddos)
• 4-2 Liters Dr. Pepper 10 $4.36.  Used 4 Get 1 Free q's = FREE

I saved a total of only $7.96 in q's....sad, I know:(  So, there it is...while the milk, refried beans and corn tortillas were a good buy there was nothing phenomenal here....sorry my Woodman's BF, it's sad but true. Your store just cannot give me what I need....but it was good to see you:) 

Random Deals and House Projects

I have been flooded with a sea of coupons to clip over the last two weeks.... especially since last week's paper had 7 inserts each and I had 12 papers...you do the math.  I think I have finally managed to catch up...thank goodness, because Sunday is right around the corner again.  Life has been pretty crazy around here and there seems to be an endless stream of  "to-do's".  We just finished giving our master bath a face lift and the on-going re-do of our master bedroom is almost complete...we just need to find a nice comfy chair for our little reading nook.  Here are some picks of our newly decorated corner of the world.

I would still like to put in some much nicer bath faucets and a new exhaust fan but haven't found anything I love yet so those remain until something strikes me. The bath also needs some more decor, but I haven't come across anything else that has wowed me.  My girly and I are off to the flea market next month, so you never know what I may find there:)

Those are my fabulous lamps on either side of the bed that I scored at Home Goods a couple of months ago...and they are still FABULOUS.

The bathroom face lift all started with this television and my saying, Let's repaint the bedroom.  When we (and I mean me) decided to repaint the bedroom, I wanted the TV mounted on this little wall.  But there was one problem, there was no stud to screw the mount into...so what do I do?  Do I move the TV to a different wall??  If you know me, you already said NO...and you couldn't be more right.  On the other side of this wall was the crappy medicine cabinet I told you that we pulled out and replaced with the hardwired, mounted make-up mirror.  It was the perfect, pre-existing hole to build out with some 2 X 4's to mount the TV to.  And then I figured while the wall already had a big, gaping hole in it we might as well do a little electrical work and that is where the make-up mirror came to fruition...it wasn't too bad (although the hubs may say a little different).  

But then I said, Well, we need medicine cabinets for all of our stuff since now we don't even have a small one....and you just know that under the cabinets is stocked with all of my little coupon goodies so there really is no extra room for the everyday stuff...the medicine cabinets were a must and I have to say they look fabulous and were worth all of the work.  We had to cut two holes in the dry wall after getting the giant 6 foot builder-special mirror off the wall in one piece, cut out parts of the exisitng 2 X 6's that ran straight through both of them and frame in two medicine cabinet openings.  

Then the existing vanity lighting that was there looked weird because there was only one fixture, so I said...You know, we really need to put in another fixture so that each cabinet has it's own fixture over it and it looks balanced.  But then I couldn't decide on fixtures so we (and I mean me) decided that we should put in recessed lighting over the vanity and that would solve that issue...did I mention how much the hubs just loves going into the attic to do projects...lol.  So a little more electircal work and poof....instant bathroom face lift.   That old, sterile giant mirror just screamed "Builder Special"...but we found it a good home a la Freecycle so no waste there....everyone wins:)

Oh....and I almost forgot the little toilet debacle.  While the hubs was on his way to Lowe's to pick up the recessed lights, I said I am going to change the handle on the toilet with a nicer one.  While doing this (what would seem to be a simple task) the toilet cracked...so we needed a new toilet.  The hubs was ecstatic about this one.  He finally got the "throne" he has been wanting...a dual-flush, chair height, elongated bowl.  I have to admit, it is quite nice and looks good too. I don't think he will ever let me "repaint" something again...next on the list is the down stairs powder room....I swear, it's just paint...well, and a new mirror:) 

In between these projects and all of the other things that unfold during a day, I have been couponing like crazy. I haven't had time to photo all of my little grabs...but I did take some snapshots of a few stellar finds at the Doms, Wal-Mart and Target over the last 2 weeks.  Target has been my favorite stomping ground lately as there has been a lot of clearance.

Here was my Doms/Wal-Mart/Target trifecta that I picked up on October 3rd:

My first stop was Doms where they were running a buy 8 save $4 sale:

• 10-2 Liters Cranberry Sierra Mist $14.90.  Saved $5.00 as part of the promo and used1 J4U q $1/2 and 3 $1/2 q's = $5.90
• 3-2 Liters Pepsi Max. Used 2 Buy 2 Cheetos get a Free 2 Liter of Pepsi Max and 1 J4U q for the same thing = $2.02 MONEYMAKER (the computer was handing out overage on this deal and who was I to say no??)
• 6 bags Cheetos snacks $11.94.  Saved $3.00 as part of the promos and used 2 $1/2 q's and a J4U q $1/2 = $5.94
• 2 gallons Skim Milk $3.98.  Used J4U personalized pricing for $1.99/gallon.

Total OOP at the Doms was $15.02 with tax and saved a total of 22.97 in q's and J4U savings.  Next stop was the Wal-Mart for a quick crab of some International Delight Coffee Creamer (I never thought I would run out of that...lol)

• 2 International Delight Creamer $3.76.  Used 2 printables .55/1 = $2.66

Last stop for the day was the Target for a free toy and some other dealios.  

• 1 Jean skirt on clearance for $6.24.  Used Target printable for $3/1 clothing item = $3.24
• 2 Revlon Nail Clippers $3.94.  Used Target Cat for $5/2 and 2 manufacturer q's $1/1 = $2.00 MONEYMAKER (no overage on the Target q, only the manufacturer q's)
• 2 cans Tressemme Hairspray $7.58.  Used q B1G1 = $3.79
• 1 Transformers Dark of the Moon toy $9.99.  Used printable $5/1 and Target mobile q $5/1 = FREE

I also saved $0.05 for using my own bag.  My total OOP was $9.20 and I saved a total of $20.78 in q's.  I went back the next day to pick up another free transformer and some more randomness and have gone back twice since for a grand total of 4 FREE Transformers...that's right, $40.00 worth of free toys thanks to coupons!

The next day I made another stop at the Target and picked up this tiny stash of goodies for a whopping $1.43:)

• 1 Merona t-shirt $3.74.  Used Target printable $3/1 = $0.74
• 2-4 packs Ocean Spray Sparkling Cranberry Juice $3.98.  Used 2 $1.50/1 q's from the MDA book I picked up from the Dom's a few weeks earlier = $0.98
• 1 Revlon Nail Clipper $1.97.  Used Target Cat for $2/1 and manufacturer q $1/1 = $1.00 MONEYMAKER  (no overage on the Target q, only the manufacturer q)
• 1 Transformers Dark of the Moon $9.99.   Used printable $5/1 and Target mobile q $5/1 = FREE

I saved another $0.05 for my reusable bag and my total OOP was only $1.43...$0.77 of which was tax:)  If only every trip was this cheap...I would have a lot more $$$...lol