Why Do I Torture Myself?

I was able to venture out sans kiddos the other day, it is amazing how quickly I can hit three stores and make it home in two hours when I am alone....I forgot what that was like!

Here is what I picked up:

First stop, Meijer:

• 1-2 pack Gerber pacifiers $3.99.  Used q $1/1 =$2.99
• 2.5 lbs bananas $1.41
• 10-2 packs Gerber Baby Food $9.60.  Used 2 $1/4 and 1 .75/2 q's I got from the Catalina machine when I bought the Beech-Nut food a couple of weeks ago = $6.85.  Got back $1 OYNO Cat for an cost of $5.85 or .59 each.
• 1 lb. Land O Lakes American Deli Cheese $5.24.  USed $1/1 printable = $4.24
• 2 Family Packs Chicken Breasts $17.52
• 1 Head Iceberg Lettuce $0.69
• 2 Gallons Milk $5.00
• 1 Package Kaiser Rolls $2.50

My total was $41.25....onto the next stop

Dominicks:

• 4-12 packs Coca Cola B2G2 $12.58.  Used 2 free 12 pack q's I got from redeeming my coke rewards points = $2.60.  (Dom's cranks up the price of the 12 packs to $6.29 a piece and the q's have a max value of $4.99 each)
• 1 bag Snack Artist Cheese Puffs = FREE with the purchase of the 4-12 packs (in store promo)
• 5 boxes Kellogg's Eggos $10.00 with Dom's Deal Match.  Used $1/3 printable q = $9.00.  Got back a q for a free gallon of milk plus (after much debate at the service desk ) a in-store q for $5 of your next "New" frozen foods purchase.

Grand total was $12.71 with a total savings of 13.48.  I really, really despise going to the Dominick's any more.  Their prices are high, the stock is turned over slowly and it is ALWAYS hit or miss as to whether your Cat will actually print or not (for me it is more often NOT).  I swear they change the rules there daily and it is frustrating as all heck.  

Of course, my $5.00 Cat didn't print out as I thought it should or would for purchasing the Eggos (after all the ad does say get the coupon after purchasing $10 worth selected varieties of of frozen food items...but would they actually have the selected varieties marked or listed??  Nope.  So you have to guess and the best guess is to buy varieties that have been on the shelves for awhile...which I thought I had).  Do you see all the assumptions you have to make just to save money at Dom's?  And we all know what they say about assuming!!  And of course, guess who was the ass?

There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why or why not as others did the deal the same way with Eggos and it worked...except for the one factor of whether or not the chocolate chip or blueberry varieties were exclude and of course even though the promo says "selected varieties" in small print, do you think they would have a list or indicator of what varieties are part of the deal?!?!?!  No.  Why?  Because they are Dominick's.  

When I went to the service desk with my receipt and frustrations, they tried to tell me it was because I really only spent $9.00 because I used a coupon...which is a load of poo as others did the deal the same way and behold, the coupon printed for them.  And last I checked, Dom's factors the deal on the pre-coupon total unless otherwise stated...but that could change in the next 30 seconds.  The manager finally got tired of this preggers polite rant about Eggos and gave me the $5.00 coupon that of course expired in only 4 days.  And while he was nice enough, if the coupon had actually printed like we all think it should have, the expiration date would have been a bit further out.  And Dom's wonders why no one is shopping there anymore?!?!?!  Thanks a million...next time I will go to the Target and do the deal sans the free milk just to avoid your load of crap and frustration...ahhhh, I am done with my Dom's rant...until the next post where it continues just a smidge more.

Last stop was Walgreens:

• 2 Johnson & Johnson Baby Wash $6.00.  Used 2 .75/1 printables = $4.50.  Got back $2.00 in RR for an end cost of $2.50.
• 2-12 packs Arizona Tea Arnold Palmer's $9.98.  Used Wags in-ad q = $6.67.

Total was $12.12 with tax.  My total for the day was $66.08 and I saved a total of $24.04 and I got back a total of $8.00 in Cats plus a free gallon of milk.  If I hadn't had a giant headache from the Dom's, it would have been a totally successful day:)

A Leap Day Pit-Stop

Life has been pretty crazy lately.  Lots of good things happening at our house and the burst of nice weather is giving us a bit of the Spring Fever.  I am a few posts behind, so I will make them short and sweet.  I feel like it is getting harder and harder to snatch up good deals...either the stock is gone, there just isn't enough hours in my day, they are getting harder to come by or a culmination of all three factors.

Here is what I picked up at the Meijer on 2.29.12...I had to do three transactions to maximize my savings.

Transactions #1 and #2 (I did the deal twice because I have two different mPerks accounts):

• 2-2 packs Brawny Paper Towels $8.98.  Used mPerks q for B1G1 in honor of Leap day = $4.85 w/ tax.

The paper towels also double dipped with a Meijer Custom Coupon for $2 OYNO bringing the cost down to $2.85 for the two pack.  I paid a total of $5.70 for the 8 jumbo rolls.

Transaction #3:

• 1 Kraft Fresh Take $2.00.  Used $1/1 printable q and an mPerks q .50/1 = $0.50
• 1 Meijer Pepperoni $0.98
• 1 Danimals Crunchers $2.89.  Used .75/1 printable q and an mPerks q $1/1 = $1.14
• 2 Prego Tomato Sauce $5.00.  Used q $1/2 and an mPerks q $1/2 = $3.00
• 1 bagged Dole Salad $1.00
• 1-3 lb bag Red Potatoes $1.00
• 3 lbs ground beef $7.52

I used also used the 2 $2.00 q's I got from the paper towel deals for a grand total of $12.13.  I saved $8.25 in coupons.  My total for all three transactions was $17.83. 

Some Freebies At The Bullseye

So I ventured over to the Target yesterday to pick up some odds and ends and some freebies....I love freebies!  I also needed some more hairspray...that is kind of an on going need in our house, hairspray.  I think my heart is still stuck in 1987...I must have a ton of hairspray on my do....I always have a back up can under the sink and a travel size can in the console of my car for midday touch ups.  Some women touch up their make-up, I touch up my hair...I have tried to go "natural", it's just not me.  So when you constantly see a can of hairspray peeking out of my shopping photos and wonder what I do with it, now you know....I use way too much of it and I am o.k. with that:)

Here is what I picked up at the Target yesterday for a total OOP of $25.73...not too shabby and the lady behind me was impressed:)

• 1-3 pack of Huggies Baby Wipes $5.99.  Used a Target q from a mailer $1/1 and and manufacturer q .50/1 = $4.49
• 1 package Pampers Wipes $2.39.  Used a Target q from a mailer $1/1 and a manufacturer q .50/1 = $0.89
• Colrox Bleach $3.54
• 5 Market Pantry Apple Juice $9.85.  Used 5 Target printables .50/1 = $7.35
• 2 Welch's Naturals Concord Grape Jelly $3.38.  Used 2 Target printables $1/1 and 2 manufacturer q's .75/1 = $0.12 MONEYMAKER
• 1 Vitamin Water $1.00.  Used Target Cataline for .75/1 = $0.25
• 4 Purell Hand Sanitizers $11.96.  USed 4 Target printables $1/1 and 4 manufacturer q's $1/1 = $3.96
• 4 Up & Up 24-ct. Ibuprofen $3.96.  Used 4 Target printables $1/1 = FREE
• 1 Tres Semme Hairspray $3.79

I also saved an additional $0.25 for using my own, reusable bags for a total savings of $21.96...almost 50%...I'll take it!  

Cereal, Cereal and More Cereal

I think I am almost fully stocked up on cereal.  I have about 24 boxes in my stockpile right now...almost enough for a three month supply in our house....I like to keep between 2 and 3 dozen when I can.  Not only do my kiddos love cereal, but it is a must for me in the mornings as I am always running late to get the kiddos to school and this is a quick, easy breakfast that usually no one complains about....usually:)

Here is what I picked up on Friday at the Jewel:

• 8 lbs Naval Oranges $3.98
• 5 lbs Idaho Potatoes $1.29 with in-ad coupon
• 1 Gallon Skim Milk $3.50.  Used Cat for free milk that I got the week before = $1 MONEYMAKER...the coupon scanned at the max value of $4.50 and the cashier gave me the overage
• 2.25 lbs Red Grapes $2.92
• 1-24ct Eggo Waffles $4.29.  Used a Jewel q I received in the mail for $3/$3 of frozen food items = $1.29
• 2 bags Jay's Chips $5.00

My OOP was only $11.78..not too bad for fresh fruit, milk and some other randoms.

On Saturday, the hubs and I hit up the Meijer for their one day sale to pick up some cheap cereal and other misc items.  Here is what we took home:

• 10 boxes Kellogg's cereal $19.90 after Meijer instant savings of $5.00 for buying 10 Kellogg's items. Used 2 printables for $5/5 = $9.90.  
• 2.25 lbs Bananas $1.28
• 1 bunch parsley $0.89
• 1 head lettuce $0.99
• 2 limes $0.34
• 2 large avocados $3.78
• 1 bag salad $1.99
• 1 container cherry tomatoes $2.99.  Used printable for .55/1 = $2.44
• 1 jar Pepperoncini peppers $2.29
• 2 lbs Krakus Deli Ham $7.22
• 1 package flour tortillas $0.99
• 1 jar Meijer salsa $0.99
• 2 International Delight Creamers $5.58.  Used 2 printables $1/1 and an mPerks q $1/2 = $2.58

In case you were wondering....tonight is taco night at our house and I needed some odds and ends along with my deals to make a yummy dinner.  My total OOP was $36.52 and I saved a total of $18.55 in q's and promos.  My kiddos were stoked when we got home and they saw that I had picked up some Cocoa Krispies...all is well in the world:)

Some Target Freebies....

On Monday, I dragged the hubs with me to the Target to pick up some odds and ends...nothing too exciting but anytime I can get anything for free he thinks I am the greatest:)  Unfortunately, not everything was a deal but it was all needed.  Here is what we picked up on our little Target trip for a grand total of $34.87 OOP:

• 2-12packs Angel Soft toilet paper $11.98.  Used 2 Target printables $1/1 and 2 manufacturer q's .45/1 = $9.08
• 1 Tide Stain Release $4.49
• 4 packs Mentos UP2U gum $5.16.  Used 4 Target printables $1/1 and 4 manufacturer q's .55/1 = $1.04 MONEYMAKER
• 1 Can Tres Semme Hairspray $3.79
• 4 Vaseline Intensive Care Lotion $20.00.  Used 4 Target printables $1/1 and 4 manufacturer q's $1/1 = $12.00.  I also got back a $5 Target gift card for a promo they were running on the lotion for and end cost of only $7.00 or $1.75 per lotion.
• 2 Skintimate Shave Gel $4.88.  Used 2 q's .55/1 = $3.78
• 1 tube Vaseline Total Care Lotion.  Used $1/1 q = $0.03 MONEYMAKER (every penny counts:)

I saved $19.20 in q's and got a $5 gift card back....not a bad little trip over all.  I wish I had had some q's for the tide.  As much as I try to use a q for everything, there are somethings that I cannot go without and Tide is one of them.  My kiddos are the princes of dirt and this is a must on our house.

A Few More Boxes Of Cinnamon Toast Crunch

Nothing too stellar last week to grab at the Jewel...but I did manage to pick up some cheap pork roasts and a couple other random items...so here you go, nothing to exciting.

• 3 Bottles Jewel Apple Juice $3.87 with in-ad coupon
• 1 Jar Jewel Hamburger Chips $3.49
• 2 Hormel Pork Roasts $13.42.  Used in store q B1G1 = $6.92
• 3 packages Jewel Chunk Cheese $5.00.  Used 3 q's from the Jewel game pieces .25/1 = $4.25
• 6 Fage Greek Yogurt $6.00.  Used a rain check from a previous sale
• 3 Cinnamon Frosted Toast Crunch $7.50.  Used 3 printables $1/1 = $4.50
• 1 box Ocean Spray Fruit Snacks $2.50.  Used .50/1 = $2.00

The fruit snacks and cereal were not a stellar price on their own, but after purchasing all four in a single transaction I got back a $2 OYNO Cat and a q for a free gallon of milk...the value of which was $6.50...the same amount that I put out...so it turns out to be a wash.  I will take breaking even any day:)  I also used a Jewel q I got in the mail for $3/$30 purchase q to help bring my total down as well.  I saved a total of $19.30 with q's and my rain check and spent $28.64 plus I got back $6.50 to use on a future shopping trip...an o.k. day:)

Finally...Coca-Cola

I am still trying to rebuild my stockpile and bring my grocery bills back down...my trips have been half and half right now.  Trying to keep the family fed and rebuild my stockpile has my grocery bills higher than I would like them to be...but I know it's not forever and it just makes me more determined to stock up on deals when I see them...even if I am so exhausted I cannot fathom getting off the couch.  Not only can my boys run me ragged...we have a third little one on the way and being preggers and chasing around two energizer bunnies is enough to make you want to take one long, giant nap.

Here is what I picked up at the Meijer today for a total OOP of $51.88.  I did get a $4 CAT back bringing my cost down to 47.88.

• 2 24-packs Coke $10.00.  (This is the lowest I have seen Coke in a long time...and I am craving Coke right now.  I am a happy camper)
• 4 lbs Navel Seedless oranges $2.00
• 4 Colgate Kids' Toothbrushes $7.16. Used 4 manufacturer q's .40/1 = $5.56.  I got back a $4 OYNO Cat for a total cost of $1.56 for all four...that's only about $0.40 per toothbrush)
• 1 bunch Cilantro $0.89
• 1.75 lbs bananas $0.99
• 3 lbs apples $3.49
• 2 lbs Krakus deli ham $7.18
• 1 lb Land O Lakes deli American Cheese $5.04.  Used manufacturer q $1/1 = $4.04
• 4 cans Ortega Black Beans $2.64.  Used 2 manufacturer q's .50/2 and a Meijer Mealbox q $1/4 = $0.64
• 1 lime $0.13
• 4 packages Kraft Shredded Cheese $6.67.  Used 2 manufacturer q's .55/2 = $5.57
• 4 boxes Lipton Noodle Soup $4.00.  Used 4 manufacturer q's .40/1 and a Meijer Mealbox q $1/4 = $1.40
• 3 lbs. Yellow Onions $1.99
• 1 2-pack 9 Volt batteries $6.29.  Used manufacturer q .75/1 = $5.54.  (not a good deal...but the smoke detector is beeping and I am completely out of 9 Volts)

Not a bad trip overall.  The Krakus was only $3.49 per pound.  A really good price and my favorite deli meat.  Deli meat freezes really well, so I break it down into smaller portions, put it in freezer bags and add it to my stockpile.  I don't like to pay for toothbrushes, but kids toothbrushes are harder to get for free than adult one...so $0.40 per toothbrush is a pretty good price.  I still gotta take a look at the Jewel deals for the week and see if there is anything good to pick up over there.  Off to make some dinner for my little guys...later:)