Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Friendship Home Donations




I finally made it to the Friendship Home Donation Center to drop off two boxes of stuff that I have accumulated over the last few months. Last time, I made my donation to the Lincoln City Mission, but decided to donate to the Friendship Home this time. I personally know someone very close to me who stayed at the Friendship Home for a while when growing up and the mothers and children of abusive men need all they can get to start over fresh.

It's not much, but this is what I donated! I know it's not organized, but I didn't want to take time to organize all of the small stuff :)

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Super Savings Saturday - - CVS

I got to go to my favorite CVS today, which is not the one that is closest to me and I am I glad I did. I cleaned up on the clearance shelf! The cashier started to ring everything up before I could find my keys and I asked if she could scan it at the end because my total was already in the $300ish range at that time.

The bad thing about doing it this was is that, a couple of things rang up at the wrong price and I didn't notice until I got in the car. Needless to say, I have $39 on a gift card now and I need to go back and get refunded $6 more! Here is everything I got!




Oral-B 3D White (2) $7.28
-BOGO MQ ($2.99 max)
-$2/1 MQ
-$2.29 or $1.15 each
-These weren't priced right and didn't reflect right for the ECB deal, so I will be taking these back to figure that out too!

Blink Tears $7.99
-$1/1 MQ
-$7.99 ECB Earned
-$1 MM!

Dove Men+ Care Deoderant (4) $3.96
-(4) $1/1 MQs
-$.04 MM!

Physician's Formula (4) $20.30 (one not pictured)
-(4) $5/1 MQs
-$.30 or $.08 each

Philips Sonicare Heads (3) $15 (should have been $9 clearance)
-(3) $5/1 MQs
-FREE!

SlimQuick (3) $18 (clearance)
-(3) $5/1 MQs
-$3 or $1 each
-I am going to try to lose 20 lbs and these may help!

Depends (5) $5 (clearance)
-(5) $1.50/1 MQs
-$2.50 MM!

Snausages $.50 (clearance)
-no coupons :(
-$.50

Folgers (5) $5 (clearance)
-(5) $1/1 MQs
-FREE! (these are what I was most excited about!)

Protein Plus Bar $.25 (clearance)
-no coupons :(
-$.25

EAS Bars (5) $2.50
-(3) $1/1 MQs
-$.50 MM!

Covergirl Concealer (5) $5 (clearance)
-(5) $1/1 MQs
-$3 ECB Earned (although on clearance they rang up regular which produced the ECB, the cashier told me I could keep them when they fixed the price)
-$3 MM!

My subtotal was $82.29 and should have been $76.29. I used $80.49 in MQs (each coupon that caused overage went through at full value??) Overall, this was $400 at regular CVS prices worth of stuff that I got for free! I can't really explain this trip anymore because there was so much going on! I did get all of the Depends and my mom whispered to me "those are diapers". I said, "I know mom, but they are free"! They were actually better than free because the coupons didn't get adjusted down. Now, where to donate them?!?

Super Savings Saturday - - Target

I didn't really need to go to Target because I was just there yesterday, but it was right there and I found a $2 Olay coupon and a Pampers Kandoo coupon that were both going to expire at the end of the month. Here is what else I got:



Olay Bar $.97
-$2/1 MQ
-$1.03 MM!

Kandoo Wipes $1.42
-$1/1 MQ
-$.42

Degree Travel Deoderant $.97
-$1/1 MQ

Eveready Batteries $1
-$1/1 MQ

So I should have been in the negative when all was said and done, but instead the last coupon adjusted itself down $.36 (???) My subtotal was -$.05 (because I used a reusable bag) Tax was $.30 and I paid $.25 for these things. I would have added a pack of gum to take advantage of the rest of the $.64 if I could do it again. Oh well, including tax it was still a savings of 94%.

Super Savings Saturday - - Walgreens

I wanted to pick up some cheap (but not free M&Ms) before tomorrow. I also wanted to get the Aquafresh Training Toothpaste for Haylee, but they were all out. I was able to get a raincheck though...which is my first ever at Walgreens.




M&Ms (21) $16.91
-(7) B2G1 MQs (took off $6.23)
-$.39 WQ (took off $9.10)
-$1.58 or $.075 each

Crayons $.99
-mom needed these for when she watches my nephew

My subtotal was $17.90 and after coupons and a $2 RR, I paid $.56 plus $.07 tax. My mom also gave me $1 for the crayons, so I actually made money here :) but lost $2 RR

Super Savings Saturday - - Menards

Next on the lists and down the street from Walmart, was Menards. I don't usually stop there, but because I was already out and about and in the neighborhood, I decided to make a trip. I did pay out of pocket for this stuff, but the I will send in for the rebates which come in the form of store credit. (which we can always use with a 100 year old house)



KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce (4) $5.68
-(4) $.50/1 MQs
-$4 MIR
-$.32 MM!

Forever Stretch Lids (2) $6
-$6 MIR
-FREE! (not on the list, but looked cool)

Go Green Garbage Bags (2) $4
-$4 MIR
-FREE! (we can always use more garbage bags!)

Pretzel M&Ms (4) $11.76
-(4) $1/1 MQs
-$8 MIR
-$.24 MM!

So, I spent $21.44 OOP, plus the $.70 tax for a total of $22.14. I don't like doing this, but have to remind myself that I will get back $22 in Menards store credit! Taking that into consideration, it was a savings of 100%

Super Savings Saturday - - Walmart

Right next to Toys R Us is a Walmart. I saw a deal with Oral-B Toothbrushes I wanted to get. I grabbed a few other things while I was there too:



Listerine (2) $2 (price matched to CVS)
-(2) $1/1 MQs
-Free!

Degree Travel Size $.97
-$1/1 MQ
-$.03 MM!

Yakisoba $.58
-$.50/1 MQ
-$.08

Reach Floss (3) $2.64
-$3/3 MQ
-$.36 MM!

Revlon Nail Clippers (2) $3.92
-(2) $2/1 MQs
-$.08 MM! (thought these were about $.50 cheaper!)

Bic Razors (3) $8.64
-(3) $3/1 MQs
-$.36 MM!

Oral-B Advantage Toothbrushes (8) $15.76
-(4) BOGO MQs (took off $7.88)
-(4) $2/1 MQs
-$.12 MM!

My subtotal was $34.51. I used $35.38 in MQs which made my total negative $.87. The $2.38 in tax made me pay $1.51 OOP for all of this stuff. Including the tax this was a savings of 96%!!!

Super Savings Saturday - - Toys R Us

My mom and I started off the day at Toys R Us, where I picked up a free can of formula. Although Haylee isn't on formula anymore, it was free! It doesn't expire for 3 years so maybe Jason and I will have to have another baby so the formula doesn't go to waste :)...or I could donate it too!



Formula $12.99
-Free store coupon
-FREE!!

Savings of 100%...yippee!!!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Target 4/22...My version of extreme couponing!

I couldn't find the Toy Story Operation in stock at Walmart, so I took my ad to Target and picked those up with some other very good deals. Here is everything I got:




Toy Story Operation (2) $10 (price mathced to Walmart)
-(2) $3/1 MQs
-$4 or $2 each plus 2 free Tombstone Pizzas MIR

Connect 4 $8 (couldn't find travel size, but happy with full size price!)
-$3/1 MQ
-$5 plus free Tombstone Pizza MIR

Sun Chips $1.75

Doritos $2

International Delight Creamer (2) $3.48
-(2) $.55/1 MQs
-$2.38 or $1.19 each

Wishbone Salad Spritzers (2) $2.82
-(2) $.40/1 MQs
-$1.50/2 TQ
-$.52 or $.26 each

Ritz Crackerfuls (6) $12
-(6) $1/1 MQs
-$6 or $1 each

Bertolli Sauce (4) $8.56
-(4) $.75/1 MQs
-(2) $1/2 TQs
-$3.56 or $.89

Degree Travel Size Deoderant (12) $11.64
-(12) $1/1 MQs
-$.36 MM!

Eveready Batteries $1
-$1/1 MQ
-FREE!

Air Wick Oil Refils (3) $12.72 (15% clearance)
-(3) $1/1 MQs
-$5 GC Earned
-$4.72 or $1.57 each

Air Wick Warmers (3) $5.97
-(3) BOGO MQs (took off $5.37)
-(2) $1.50/1 MQs (used by accident!)
-(2) BOGO TQs (took off $4.38)
-$6.78 MM!

Degree Deoderant $1.97
-$1/1 MQ
-$1/1 TQ
-$.03 MM!

Nivea Bodywash (13) $39.52
-(13) $3/1 MQs
-$.52 or $.04 each

Before coupons and tax (but after price matching) my subtotal was $121.43. I used $84.27 in manufacturer's coupons and $8.88 on Target coupons. I paid $30.08 plus $5.62 in tax for a total of $35.70. I also earned a $5 gift card and three Tombstone Pizzas (valued at up to $7 each) If I subtract all of that, I paid under $10 for all of this stuff which is a saving of 92% :)

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Target 4/17....Needed a Purse !!!

I spilt Haylee's milk in my purse, so I had to throw it out. It was already pretty worn anyways, so this just really pushed me to get one. I didn't want to spend much until I was ready to go get one, so I just picked up a clearance one at Target. (this is the benefit to not being picky about purses!)
Here is everything I got:



Nivea Bodywash $3.04
-$3/1 MQ
-$1/1 TQ
-$.96 MM!

Degree Deoderant $1.97
-$1/1 MQ
-$1/1 TQ
-$.03 MM!

Revlon Emery Boards (5) $6.35
-(2) $2/1 MQs
-$5/2 MQ (adjusted to $3.81)
-$1.46 MM!

Merona Purse $9.98 (clearance)

This was $21.34 worth of merchandise that I paid $8.56 for and that includes tax! I had $3.23 on a gift card that helped to bring my total down though.

I also stopped by they diner I used to work at and picked up 11 coupon inserts!

CVS 4/16...more Honest Tea

It was the last day to cash in on the free Honest Tea, so I went to CVS just to do that and picked up a couple of other things. I spent $7 in ECBs and only got $5 back. So, all of this costs me $2 (lost ECB) and $.87 on GC ($.69 was tax). Here is what I got:



Honest Tea (9) $12
-(9) $1/1 MQs
-$3 ECB Earned
-Free!

Nice and Easy Root Touch-Up (3) $2.55
-(3) $1/1 MQs (one adjusted to $.55)
-Free!

Physician's Formula Eyeshadow $4.37
-$5/1 MQ (adjusted to $4.37)
-Free!

Colgate 360 Toothbrush $2.99
-$1/1 MQ
-$2 ECB Earned
-$.01 MM!

Cheerios (2) $8.38
-BOGO Sale ($4.19)
-(2) $1/1 MQs (from Pampers Diapers)
-$2.19 or $1.10 each

Friday, April 15, 2011

March Savings 1/2 way through April!

I have been meaning to do this for quite some time, but never want to open my laptop when I am at home. (which is where my savings tracker is at) However, my geometry kids are taking a test now and I am going to take a minute to update my savings from LAST month.

Shelf Cost (after sales): $1280.43
Manufacturers Coupons: $569.99
Store Coupons/RR/ECBs: $553.10
Mail-In Rebates Owed: $59.91

So I spent, $97.43 plus $45.34 in tax for a total of $142.77 which is $58.23 below budget! This was an overall savings of 92% and if you include tax it is still a savings of 89%.

Walgreens 4/14....More Pampers!

I couldn't pass up more Pampers at this price, so I headed to Walgreens again to add to my friends baby shower gift! I ended up giving her 4 packages of diapers, 2 tubs of wipes and a book. The value of the gift is over $50, but I only spent about $20!

Here is what I got:


Pampers Diapers (2) $18
-(2) $1/1 MQs
-$2/1 WQ (took off $4)
-$3 RR Earned
-$5 Pampers Coupon Earned
-10 Pampers Points Earned
-$4 or $2 each

Pampers Wipes $2.49
-$2 MQ from last time
-$.49

Butterfinger Eggs (3) $.87
-$.87 or $.29 each

I used a $1 RR and a $6 RR to pay and $7.36 plus $1.43 tax OOP. When I look at what I paid I only saved 66%, but that is with diapers!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Walgreens 4/13...Savings of 88%

Once again Haylee needed milk, so it was good excuse to go to Walgreens. I also wanted to do the Pampers deal and get some diapers as a gift for a friend that is due next month. That deal didn't quite work as planned, but here is how I did overall:



Milk (2) $5.98
-(2) $.50/1 MQs
-$4.98 or $2.49 each

Pampers (2) $18
-(2) $5 MQs that printed last week (would not allow me to use another $1/1)
-$2/1 WQ (took off $4- she took it this time :(
-$3 RR Earned
-$1 or $.50 each
-Another $2 MQ printed out too. I should have added a tub of wipes to get over $20 and would have gotten $5 back instead of $2. Oh Well!)

Hefty Bags $6.58
-WQ BOGO (took off $3.29)
-$1/2 MQ
-$1/2 WQ (I thought it was a WQ as it said "available exclusively at Walgreens" and did not say MQ, but the MQ wouldn't come off after she scanned this one and it didn't dawn on me until after she manually entered the MQ- Whoops!)
-$1.29 or $.65 each

Gatordade Fit Series $5
-$5 MIR
-FREE!

Snickers (32) $9.28
-(9) $1/2 MQs
-$.28 or less than $.01 each
-I am a teacher and give these to my students!

Carefree $.99
-$.50/1 MQ
-$1 RR Earned
-$.50 MM!

Dial Nutriskin Trials (5) $4.95
-(5) $1/1 MQs (last one adjusted to $.95)
-FREE!

Biore (2) $11.98
-BOGO MQ (took off $5.99)
-$1/1 MQ
-$5 RR Earned
-$.01 MM!

I started with no RR and paid $20.98 plus tax OOP for all of this stuff. I earned $9 RR, $5 MIR and $2 MQ off any Pampers product. Taking off the RR and MIR, I spent $6.98 plus tax for $57.17 worth of stuff. This is a savings of 88% with diapers and milk!!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Walgreens 4/9.... Savings of 77%

We needed milk (like always) and I wanted to get back to Walgreens to get more Pampers before the week was over. Unfortunately, I just noticed that the RR are for a Pampers purchase only. Oh well, I thought I was a Huggies mom, but Haylee kept peeing through at night, but not with the Pampers! Here is how I did:



Pampers (3) $26.97
-(3) $1.50/1 MQs
-$2/1 WQ (took off $6)
-$5 Pampers RR Earned
-$11.47 or $3.82 ($.106 per diaper)

Milk (2) $5.98
-(2) $.50/1 MQs
-$4.98 or $2.49 each

Calendars (4) $1 clearance
-$.25 each with $20 in WQs in each of them!

Pencils $.50 clearnace

My total was $34.35 and I used $5.50 in MQ and $17 in WQs and RR. This brought my subtotal down to $7.95 plus $1.99 tax, I paid $9.94 OOP for three packs of diapers and 2 gallons of milk! This was a savings of 77%

CVS 4/9...Savings of 111%

I wanted to get to CVS to get a couple of things and I decided to use my rainchecks to really make my trip worthwhile. The cashier I always have was training a new manager and told him as I walked up that "this is one of our couponers and one of our better, organized one." That was sweet of him to say! Here is how I did:



Stove Top (2) $1.54 (raincheck)
-(2) $.50/1 MQs
-$.54 or $.27 each

Duncan Hines Brownies (2) $2
-(2) $.50/1 MQs
-$1 or $.50 each

Lysol Neutra Air (2) $12
Air Wick I-Motion (2) $10
-(4) $4/1 MQs
-$10 ECB Earned
-$4 MM!!

Physician's Formula Mascara $9.99
-$5/1 MQ
-$7 ECB Earned (raincheck)
-$2.01 MM!!

Oral B Toothbrush (2) $5.98
-BOGO MQ ($2.99)
-$2/1 MQ
-$1.98 ECB Earned
-$.99 MM!!

Crest Pro Health Toothpaste (2) $6.98
-(2) $1/1 MQs
-$5 ECB Earned (raincheck)
-$.02 MM!!

My total was $48.49 and I paid with $29.99 in MQs and $17.50 in ECBs. This brought my subtotal down to $1 plus $2.98 tax for a total of $3.98 I spent on my gift card!

If you add up just that last rows above, I made $5.48 on this trip :)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Walgreens 4/6...Savings of 95%

I had a $4 RR expiring tomorrow that I had to get to Walgreens and use. Plus, Haylee needed more milk so I decided to get that at Walgreens and some other things to use my $4. This is my first and last time to Walgreen's this week!



Milk $2.99
-$.50/1 MQ
-$2.49

Walgreens Storage Bags (3) $6
-$3.03 WQ
-$2.97 or $.99 each

Colgate Toothpaste $2.99
-$.75/1 MQ
-$3 RR Earned
-$.76 MM!

Reese's/KitKat (4) $3.56
-$1.82 WQ
-$1.56 or $.39 each (fillers)

Nescafe Tasters Choice (4) $4
-$1.50/3 MQ (another one printed too!)
-$4 RR Earned
-$1.50 MM!

Pampers Diapers/Wipes $20.47
-$1.50/1 MQ
-$2/2 Diapers and Wipes MQ
-$5 RR Earned
-$4 WQ from Infant Care Book
-$7.97 or diapers $3.99 each and FREE wipes

All together, I spent $3.73 OOP (milk) plus tax for a total of $5.58. I used $21 in RR and only earned $12 so a loss of $9, but I am okay with that as I used them on diapers!

Haylee's 1st Birthday Party!

These pictures from Haylee's Minnie Mouse Birthday Party say it all!








Friday, April 1, 2011

Fun at Walgreens & Haylee's is ONE!

I got off of work early because I was doing an observation at a different school, but had a sub for the whole day, so I took advantage of it. When I should have been working on Haylee's birthday party, I went shopping! I did manage to get some stuff done for Haylee's big birthday party, but a majority of my time off was spent taking advantage of the Friends & Family Discount at Walgreens. Here is what I got at 4 different Walgreens:




Aveeno (3) $21.37
-$3.20 (F&F 15%)
-$5.41 Buy 2 Get 1 MQ
-$7.22 Free up to $10.99 MQ from Rebate
-$2.50/1 MQ came in mail
-$3.04 or $1.01 each

Folgers $2.79
-$.42 (F&F 15%)
-$2/1 MQ (only was able to print one:(
-$.37

Biore Strips and Facewash (8) $65.92
-$9.89 (F&F 15%)
-(4) BOGO MQs $29.55
-(3) $2/1 MQs from inside box
-$20 RR Earned
-$.48 or $.06 each

Coffeemate (2) $4.98
-BOGO Sale ($2.49)
-F&F 15% didn't come off here ?!?
-$1/2 MQ
-$1.49 or $.75 each

Snickers Eggs (17) $4.93
-$.74 (F&F 15%)
-(2) $2/2 MQs
-$.20 or just over $.01 each

Butterfinger Eggs (2) $1
-$.15 (F&F 15%)
-$.85 or $.42 each (needed filler and didn't want more Snickers!)

Nescafe Tasters Choice (8) $8
-$1.20 (F&F 15%)
-$1.50/3 MQ
-$8 RR Earned
-$2.70 MM!

Sudafed $3 (clearance)
-$1/1 MQ (peelie that was expired!)
-but I needed it so $3

Secret Trial (12) $38.28
-$5.74 (F&F 15%)
-(12) $2/1 MQs
-$9 RR Earned
-$.46 MM!

After RR earned and coupons I spent $6.27 plus tax for $151.27 worth of stuff. This is a savings of 96%. I spent $37.50 in RR and earned $37 back, so pretty even there.

In reality, I paid $1.99 OOP plus tax which was $7.76 for a total of $9.75 OOP. Too bad there is tax on the pre-coupon amount!


Last but certainly not the least, here is a picture of my baby girl on her 1st birthday! I guess she is my toddler girl now :) I don't know whether to put a smily face or frowny face! It's bitter sweet as I love watching her grow and develop, but I am hating how fast it is going!