Friday, December 31, 2010

Tyler Paper Deal of the Day

                                        
If you need any flavored popcorn for your upcoming Super Bowl party, you can a great deal by going here and checking out the Tyler Paper Deal of the Day.  You can purchase a $10 certificate for only $5.  It's only available for a limited time, so hurry on over!  There are several other local deals listed as well, if that one isn't of interest to you.

Jimmy Dean High Value Coupon

Head here to get a high value $2.50/1 Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwich coupon when you share the offer with three friends.  You should be able to get a great deal especially if a sale comes around!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

My Walgreen's Deal for the week of 12/26

I honestly don't do a lot of shopping at Walgreen's (I'll share why in a later post). I do look at the ads and if there is something that is a really good deal, I will make the trip.  However, this week they were offering a register reward (RR) deal that I wanted to take advantage of.

Here is the deal:
Purchase $15 in Vicks Products and receive 5 RR.  Purchase $20 and receive 10 RR.

Vicks Sinex nasal spray was on sale this week for $6.
There was a $4/1 Sinex product in the 12/26 P&G newspaper insert.  I ordered 4 of these from the clipping service My Coupon Hunter.  (See side bar button)
I purchased 4 boxes @ $24.  Used my 4 coupons and paid $8 out of pocket and received 10 RR to use on a future purchase.  A $2 moneymaker!!  

Total savings for this trip:  $26.90 and $10  RR to use next time!

Free (or cheap) Kid's Meals - Tyler/TX Area

Ever wonder who has free (or cheap) kid's meals on any given night of the week in the Tyler, TX area?  Go check out http://www.flandersfamily.info/ (look under the saving money tab) to find out.  There is even a printable list available so you can carry it in your purse or wallet!

80% Off at Restaurants.com



Right now at Restaurants.com you can snag a $25 food voucher for only $2.  Just use the promo code CLEARANCE at checkout.   If you have never purchased from this site before, please read the fine print before doing so.  Most restaurants have a minimum purchase (usually around $35) and they will add 18% gratuity automatically.  It still makes for a great deal!  I have personally used it at a local restaurant and had no problems.  Just enter your zip code to locate participating restaurants in your area.  They are only offering this deal through December 31st so if you want to take advantage of it, you better jump on it!  Go here to check it out!

Thanks, My Frugal Adventures!

Cheap Scott Toilet Paper at Target!

Looks like the Target coupon has reached it's print limit and is no longer available.  You can always check again later and see if you can get it.  


Here is deal I ran across on Scott Toilet Paper thanks to Mojo Savings!  You can get a 4 pk. of toilet paper for around .99!!


Here's how to do it:
Buy one 4 pack of Scott toilet paper @ $3.99
Use (1) $1 Scott mfr coupon found HERE
and use (1) $2 Target coupon found HERE  

That's a pretty good deal on toilet paper!  You should be able to print the mfr. coupon twice per computer and the Target coupon normally only allows one print per computer so you could do the deal more than once.  You would likely have to do separate transactions as you are not usually allowed to use 2 Target coupons on like items in the same transaction.  You could try it and see if it works, but in my experience the coupon usually beeps and won't go through at my local Target.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Coupon Sources

I promised a post on where to get coupons, so here ya go! 

One easy source is to get the Sunday newspaper coupon inserts.  Most Sunday papers will have anywhere from 1-4 coupon inserts.  These are from various sources like Redplum or Proctor & Gamble (great for CVS and Walgreen's deals).  The Sunday paper in my town sells for about $1.75 so it can be a little pricey to buy it not knowing if there will be any coupons in it that you can use.  You can always get a subscription at a discounted rate although I'm not certain you can do a Sunday only subscription.  You can check this site to get a preview of what coupons and inserts will be in the coming Sunday's paper before you buy it.  You can check local store ads to see if there are any good coupon matchups to make a great deal.  (Or you can do what I do and check the sites in my sidebar who have already done all the work!)  You can always hit up your friends and family to save the inserts from their papers for you if they do not use coupons.  I have a few people that give me theirs. 

Another great way of getting insert coupons is to order them online through sites like My Coupon Hunter.  You only buy the coupons that you need and shipping is only the cost of a first class stamp.  (Technically, you are not buying the coupon, but rather paying for the person's time since selling coupons is illegal.)  The great thing about using a site like this is that you can order multiple copies of a particular coupon.  I have 4 high value coupons on order now that I will use for great Register Reward deal at Walgreen's this week.  (I will post about that after I make the trip.)  It's takes about 3 business days to get them so make sure you don't wait until it's too late to make the deal.

There are many online where you print coupons for free.  These cost nothing more than a little paper and ink.  Just make sure you set your printer on the draft setting to save ink.  They do not have to be in color.  The sites that I  frequently use are:  Coupons.com and Smartsource.com.   I am sure there are others as well.  Typically, these coupons change every month and will have a print limit.  Once the print limit is reached, you won't be able to print it.  If you run across a coupon for something that you know you will use at some point, go ahead and print it before it's gone.  Hang on to it and watch for a good deal!  These sites typically allow you to print each coupon twice per computer so you could easily stock up if you can print it multiple times. 

Don't forget about store coupons!  Store coupons are great because you can use them in addition to or "stack" them with manufacturer coupons.  This is huge at both Target and Walgreen's and has gotten me tons of great deals.  Walgreen's puts out a coupon book at the first of each month that you can pick up in store and they often have weekly in-ad coupons.  Target has a link to all the coupons on their website to print out.

How do I organize all these coupons?  My way may not be the best way out there, but it's the easiest for me.  I purchased an inexpensive zipper binder with pockets and baseball card sleeves.  I organize them by letter of the alphabet.  I don't alphabetize them, only keep them with the correct letter.  This way I'm not rearranging them each time I add more. That would be way too time-consuming.   I clearly write the expiration date on the front of each coupon and place it in a sleeve.  Like coupons are stored in the same sleeve.  Every so often I go through and pull out the ones that are expired.  Each week when I go through my ads and do my coupon matchups it's easy to locate them.  (Certainly with the help of the sites in my sidebar!)   Coupons that I am going to use are placed in the pocket to pull out when I head to the store.  You might consider taking the binder with you when you shop in case you run across and unadvertised deal, clearance item or you realize you've forgotten something.

I'll admit that I used to think couponing was a waste of time and too much of a headache to keep up with.  Now that I've gotten a system down that works for me, I love doing it.  I find myself excited when the mail comes on Tuesday so I can go through the grocery store ads and see what kind of deals there are!  My system may not work for everyone.  I'm certain that there are probably better ways of doing it.  This is just the easiest way for me. 

I hope I've given you a little insight into the crazy world of couponing.  Feel free to ask any questions and I will do my best to answer or point you in the right direction.  Happy couponing!!

$500 Walmart Giftcard Giveaway at Mojo Savings

Mojo Savings is giving away a $500 Walmart giftcard to a lucky reader!  Go here to follow the steps to enter!

My Target Deals for the week of December 26th

Oh if only I had a Super Target in my town!  I would be a happy camper!!  I would probably do all of my grocery shopping there.  As of now, I generally shop for groceries at both Walmart and Target.  I absolutely LOVE shopping at Target and can usually get some really good deals!!  The reason??  Target store coupons!  What's so great about them?  You can "stack" them (use in addition to) with manufacturer coupons.  This can make for huge savings, especially when combined with a weekly sale!  Check out Target's coupon policy here.  It's a good idea to be familiar with it. 

Here's what I snagged at Target this week:

Purchased 2 pizza lunchables @ $1.27/each
(used $1/2 Lunchables Target coupon HERE)
paid .77/each

Purchased 2 Eggo waffles @ $1.75/each
(used $1/2 Eggo mfr. coupon HERE)
paid $1.25/each

Purchased 2 boxes Market Pantry mini chicken sandwiches on sale @ $1.99/each
(Used $3/2 Market Pantry frozen chicken item Target coupon HERE)
paid .49/each

Purchased 1 pkg. Up & Up liners @ .87
(used  .75/1 Up & Up feminine product Target coupon HERE)
paid .12

Purchased 1 20 ct. Nexcare kids bandages @ $2.24
(used $1/1 Nexcare mfr. coupon HERE)
(used .50/1 Nexcare item Target coupon HERE)
paid .74

Purchased 2 cans Campbell's Chunky Soup @ $1.50/each
(used $1/2 Campbell's mfr. coupon HERE)
(used $1/2 Campbell's soup Target coupon HERE)
paid .50/each

Toy deal:  purchased Toy Story Space Shooter Target game, original price $15.00 on clearance for $10.56.  There was a peelie coupon on the front of the box for an additional $5.00 off!! Paid $5.56!  Made a great deal to set aside for a birthday gift later in the year!

Total paid:  $13.09
Total saved:  $16.62

Not a bad shopping trip this week!!

Hasbro Toy Rebate

Hasbro is offering a rebate for a free toy when you spend $20 on certain Hasbro Toys!  This offer is valid 12/25-1/31.  When you spend $20 you can choose a free gift to be mailed to you.  You can print out the rebate form here and make sure you send in your store receipts.  You might be able to find some after Christmas clearance toys to make it an even better deal!

Thanks My Frugal Adventures!

Swagbucks

Not familiar with Swagbucks?  Swagbucks are digital dollars that you can earn by doing things you are already doing like searching the web.  You can redeem your swagbucks for prizes, including gift cards!  I have already earned several amazon gift cards that I am hanging on to.  Go here to learn more and then you can sign up using the widget on the right side of the blog.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Getting Deals at CVS

CVS is one my favorite stores to shop and I get some of the best deals there!  I have gotten tons of free or almost free stuff there.  How did I do it?  By playing what is commonly referred to as "the drugstore game."  If you've never played the game, it can seem a bit overwhelming at first but once you get the hang of it, it's easy and fun!  The first thing you need to do is get a CVS Extra Care card.  It's totally free and you can apply in store and get your card instantly or you can do it here and wait a few days to recieve it by mail.  The reward card is how you earn "extra care bucks" or ECBs when you purchase qualifying items.  These are listed in the weekly CVS ad each Sunday.  For example, today I purchased Tone body wash for $3.88 and received $3 in ECBs back.  The ECBs print at the bottom of your receipt.  You will receive 1 ECB receipt for each qualifying item.  Make sure you detach them from your receipt before you throw it away!  These do have an expiration date so make sure you use them before they expire!
Keep in mind that if you are just starting out, more than likely, you will be starting with zero ECBs.  You will have to spend some money out of pocket to get your first few ECBs.  Just make sure that you allow for this in your weekly budget.  Look for good sales matched with coupons to pay the least out of pocket.  I would try to stick to less than $5 for your first transaction. 
The secret to getting free things is to continue to roll your bucks over from week to week.  Check the ad each week and look for items (that you would use and can stockpile) that will acquire more extra bucks.  Use your extra bucks that you already have to pay for those items (and try to pay little,if any, out of pocket.)  Then you will be given more extra bucks for a future purchase.  Try to match up your items with coupons to get the best deals.  Simply CVS does a great job of matching up the deals with the coupons each week.  All the work is done for you!  Clear as mud??  Let me give you an example from my shopping trip today. 

My scenario:
Began with 8 ECBs from a previous deal
Purchased one Gillette Fusion ProGilde Power Razor @ $9.99 received 4 ECBs
used 1 $4/1 Gillette Fushion razor from the 12/26 P&G newspaper coupon insert    - $5.99
puchased one Tone body wash @ 3.88  received 3 ECBs
used $1/1 tone body wash printable found here   - $2.88
total after coupons - $9.06
used 8 ECBs (acts as a coupon and the tax is adjusted down)
paid .94 out of pocket and received 7 ECBs for next time!

(Make sure you have the cashier scan your Extra Care card FIRST.  Then hand the cashier your coupons and then your ECBs last.)  Also, take advantage of the coupon machines at the front of the store (not all have them).  Scan your card and it will print out coupons.  You can scan your card over and over until the machine tells you that there are no more available for that day.  Hang on to these as you may be able to use them on a future deal. 
I don't necessarily use my bucks every week.  If there aren't any good deals then I will hold onto them and see what comes up the following week.
 I've also been known to do 3-4 separate transactions in a row to get more deals in the same week.   Just keep them rolling.  For example, let's say that you purchased an item that qualified for 4 ECBs.  The item costs $5 and you have a coupon for $1 off.  You already have 4 ECBs from a previous purchase.  You use your ECBs to pay for this item and pay $0 out of pocket since there is no tax on $0.  There is another item that you want to purchase that will gain you 2 ECBs.  The cost on this item is $4.  You do not have any coupons.  Use your 4 ECBs from your first transaction to pay $0 out of pocket and receive 2 ECBs.  You leave with 2 "free" items and have 2 ECBs for next time.  You can do this as many times as you want!  Keep in mind that you also have to use all of your ECB's at one time (per ECB receipt).  Remaining ones will not carry over so make sure you use them all!  So grab some filler items (candy, chapstick, etc.) if you need to.  You don't want to lose free money!  In my experience CVS is very coupon friendly.  Don't hesitate to use them!! 

**Don't take the Sunday paper?  There are tons of ways to get coupons.  I will write a post about that soon! Please ask any questionsif none of this makes sense!!

Free Rental at Blockbuster Express

Get a FREE movie rental at Blockbuster Express.   Use code HNY987 and get a free movie when you rent 2!  This code is valid until December 31st, 2010.  I have not personally tried the code but hopefully it will work fine for you!

Free 2011 Savings Tracker download!

Go snag your free 2011 free Savings Tracker download!  It's available in both excel and google documents.  This will be a great tool to see how much you really save during 2011!  I'm excited to start using it next week!



Free Excedrin!!

Here's a coupon for free Excedrin (up to $5.99)  I've already used 1 of these with no problem.  Just look through the coupons under the health care until you find it.  Click on the coupon and fill out the form to have one mailed to you.  Go get yours now before they're all gone!  I don't know how long they will be available.  I read on My Frugal Adventures that CVS will have an ECB (extra care buck) deal on Excedrin next week so you might hang on to them if you can get more than one.  (You should be able to get one of each Free coupon per computer.)  As soon as I get more info on the ECB I'll let you know!

Favorite Money Saving Sites

Be sure and check out the buttons on the right side of the blog.  These are some of my favorite sites to follow.  Be sure to look them up on Facebook as well!

Ok, Here goes!

I'm going to give it a whirl!  I'm going to try my hand at this thing called blogging!  I'm Jennifer, a wife and stay at home mom to 2 little boys in the East Texas area.  Over the last few months I've been learning how to really be frugal and get the most out of each dollar on food, clothing, toiletries and other necessities.  I consider that my "contribution" financially to the family since I don't bring home a paycheck each week.  I've decided to share with you what I have learned.  I've tried to feed my family of four (including formula for my 10 month old) on as little money each week as I can.  I averaged around $50/week for the past several weeks.  That may not sound like much, but trust me, you will see how I make it work.  I will do my best to show you how I do this by providing weekly shopping deals at my local Brookshire's, Albertson's, Target, and Walmart along with coupon match-ups to get you the best deal.  I will also show you how I play the "Drugstore Game" at my local CVS and Walgreens.  Any other "deals" that I run across I will post as well.  I am working on the grocery ads for the week of December 29th - January 4th and will have those up as soon as I can.  I will try to also post "budget" dinners that I run across from time to time.  Stockpiling is huge for me so there will be plenty of that to share as well.  I'm keeping a log for the entire year of 2011 to see how much I save.  I am expecting some big numbers!!  Please don't hesitate to ask any questions and hopefully I will improve as we go along!!  Please bear with me as I learn proper blog "etiquette"!