2011 Savings Total!!!

2011 is the first year that I have tracked my savings for a whole year. It is fun to see how much you save each trip, month and now for a whole year using coupons and watching for sales. Before I couponed, Jason and I alone would spend anywhere from $300-$400 a month on groceries. We would just throw anything we wanted in our cart without even paying attention. That's $3600-$4800 a year we would spend. I was below that this year, and I have a stockpile as well. Here is how I did this year:

Subtotal (after clearance/sales): $13,401.28
Manufacturer Coupons: $5,238.58
Store Coupons (includes RRs/ECBs/GCs): $5,240.96
Mail-In-Rebates: $379.87
Tax: $421.79
Out of Pocket: $2967.45

Our monthly budget changed in the middle of the year due to taking in a foster child. For the whole year, our budget was $2700 which means we were over budget by $267.45. Most of that came in those later months (when it was $275 a month) Because we are also having another baby, I am going to have to up the budget for 2012.

My new goal will be $300 a month which is low for 5 people, at least I think so. One of those will be on formula and two in diapers. We'll see how it goes early on and I can adjust it then.

However, back to 2011.....I saved over $10,000 using coupons!!!! Add that to my salary as a teacher and I am doing pretty good :) This ended up being a savings of 81.03% on the year, which is amazing!

I also think it's crazy to see that of the money spent this last year 14.21% of it was tax!

December Savings Total!

Wow, I did a lot of shopping this month and still managed to stay under budget! (about double of what I normally do!) I am so excited about how well I did :) My pantry, fridge, freezer and shelves are all very well stocked right now too!

Subtotal (after sale/clearance prices): $1993.82
Manufacturer Coupons: $783.65
Store Coupons (includes ECBs/RRs/Gift Cards): $908.35
Mail-In-Rebates: $79.28
Tax: $40
Out-Of-Pocket: $262.54

This means that I was $12.46 below budget and I had a savings percentage of 88.84%. My last few months were lacking and December was anything but that.

Savemart 12/29....Cheap Sour Cream!

I really only wanted to stock up on the cheap sour cream, but as you can tell, I picked up some other things while I was there! Here is what I got:

Ruffles (2) $4.58
-No coupons, but on sale and they're my favorite so I am allowed :)

Coke Zero 1.25 L (2) $2
-(2) $.99/1 MQs
-$.02 or $.01 each

Sunny D $1.09
-$.70/1 in-ad Q
-$.39

Roberts Chocolate Milk $2.19
-$.30/1 MQs (doubled to $.60/1)
-$1.59

Roberts Dip/Sour Cream (6) $5.94
-(2) $.35/1 MQs (doubled to $.70 each)
-(4) $.30/1 MQs (doubled to $.60 each)
-$2.14 or $.36 each

Rotellas Bread $1.49
-Jason's favorite bread

Theraflu $4.97
-$2/1 MQ
-$5 MIR (I am trying it although I used a coupon...we'll see)
-$2.03 MM....if it goes through!

Subtotal: $22.24
Manufacturer Qs: $6.18
Store Qs/Doubles: $2.90
Tax: $.35
OOP:$13.51 - $5 MIR = $8.51 or savings of 61.7%

Target Christmas Clearance Junk Food Haul!

Oh my, Target was packed at 9 this morning! I managed to pick up a lot of good deals. However, it was all junk food...except some yogurt! Here is what I got:

Lifesaver/Starburst Books (4) $11.96
-$5.98 (50% off clearance)
-(2) $1.50/2 MQs
-$2.96 or $.74 each

Spree/Sweetart Candy Canes (4) $9.96
-$5 (50% off clearance)
-(2) $1/2 MQs
-$2.96 or $.74 each

Ghirardelli Squares (3) $10.47
-$3.15 (30% off clearance)
-$1/2 TQ
-$1/1 MQ
-$1/2 MQ
-$4.32 or $1.44 each

Pop-Tarts (6) $14.94
-$7.50 (50% off clearance)
-(2) $1/3 MQs
-$5.44 or $.91 each

Keebler Cookies (8) $20
-$10 (50% off clearance)
-(4) $1/2 TQs
-(2) $1/3 MQs
-(2) $1/2 MQ
-$2 or $.25 each

Betty Crocker Cookies (2) $3.44
-$1.72 (50% off clearance)
-$1/2 MQ
-$.72 or $.36 each

Betty Crocker Cake Mix (5) $6.25
Betty Crocker Frosting (5) $8.95
-$7.65 (50% off clearance)
-(5) $.75/2 MQs
-$3.90 or $.39 each

Kraft Marshmallows $1.19
-$.60 (50% off clearance)
-$.59

Pillsbury Refridgerated Cookies (4) $10
-$5 (50% off clearance)
-(2) $1/2 MQs
-$3 or $.75 each

Activia Yogurt (4) $8.76
-(2) $2/2 TQs
-(4) $1/1 MQs
-$.76 or $.19 each

Pre-Clearance Subtotal: $105.92
Post-Clearance Subtotal: $59.43
Manufacturer Coupons: $23.75
Target Coupons: $9.10
Tax: $.24
Total OOP: $27.69 on Gift Cards from Glade Deal!

74% Savings from Pre-Clearance Prices, but 100% Savings after Gift Cards :)

Walgreens 12/18.....Trying to use up Jingle Cash

I had two $5 Jingle Cash to use this week and decided to do that early this week. I actually let two $5 JC expire last week because I just didn't have any more to get. I did three transactions and can do plenty more with all of the Bayer coupons I have. I bought 20 of the Bayer Advanced coupons on Ebay in preparation for the CVS Black Friday sale. Needless to say, that didn't work out so well and I have a crazy amount of coupons! Here is what I got in three transactions (listed as one):

Ritz Crackers (6) $15
-(2) B2G1 MQs (took off $2.50 each)
-(2) $1/2 MQs
-$1/2 WQ (took off $3)
-$5 or $.83 each

Pampers $9.99
-$1.50/1 MQ
-$2/1 WQ
-$1 RR Earned
-$5.49 (coupon book inside!)

Bayer Advanced (6) $20.16
-(6) $2/1 MQs
-$9 RR Earned
-$.84 MM!

Hershey's/Kisses (6) $15
-(2) B2G1 MQs (took off $2.50 each)
-(2) $1/2 MQs
-$8 or $1.33 each
-I also got a MQ for $5 off next Hershey's product that I will use at Walmart for OVERAGE!!! I expect at least $4 in overage, so if I take that off, these cost me $4 or $.67 each!

Yes to Lip Balm (6) $18.14
-(5) $3/1 MQs
-BOGO 1/2 Sale (took off $4.15)
-$1.01 MM!

Puzzles/Activity Books (10) $3.34
-$3.34 or $.33 each (going in gifts to Hay's daycare!)

All together, my subtotal was $81.63. I used $42.50 in MQs, $19.15 in WQs/Sale and $23 in RRs/Gift Card. This brought my total down to $-3.02. plus $2.62 tax for a total of $.40 MM! It's like this because I forgot to use the Ritz WQ so was able to use more RRs than I should have. I don't remember what I started with for RRs, but I ended with $19. I may go back and get more Hershey's candy, but it won't be as good because I don't have the $1/2 MQs. We'll see?!?!?

CVS 12/17.....AWESOME Coke Deal!

I had $20+ towards the gift card deal and had to go back to finish that off. I also read that some really good coupons were printing on Saturday only. I used two of those (Zhu Zhu Pet and Coke) I was planning on getting the Coke and the Zhu Zhu pet helped me get to $20 so I could use the $5/$20 coupon that was found in a number of papers. I actually printed off 4 of each of those coupons and did 4 different transactions. They are listed here together to make it more simple.

Coke/Dr. Pepper (12) $48
-$4/3 CVS CRT (printed Saturday only)
-(3) $3/3 CVS Q (from various papers)
-$35 or $2.92 each

Huggies $11.99 (not pictured-needed one more to get next pack free)
-$3/1 CVS Q
-$1.50/1 MQ
-$7.49

American Greetings Card (3) $2.97
-$2/3 CVS Q
-$3 ECB Earned
-$2.03 MM!

Zhu Zhu Pet $9.88
-$8.99 CVS CRT (printing Saturday only)
-$.99 (these are BOGO this week, so I may take it back and get 2 for $.99)

Riccola (2) $3
-$1/1 MQ (couldn't find my other two :(
-$1 ECB Earned
-$1 or $.50 each

Bandaid $2.99
-$2 ECB Earned
-$.99

Welch's Grape Jelly $2.77
-$2.77 (no coupons, but needed it and helped to get to $20)

Bayer Advanced (2) $1.98 (raincheck)
-$2/1 MQ (adjusted to $1.98)
-FREE!

Dulcolax $4.99
-$5/1 CRT
-$.01 MM!

All together, my subtotal was $88.57. I started paid with $4.48 in MQs, $51.89 in CVS Qs, $7 ECBs and $22.20 on gift cards. This brought my total down to $3 plus $1.50 tax for a total of $4.50 OOP. I started with $12.20 on gift cards and ended with $14.22 for a gain of $2.02. I started with $3 ECBs and ended with $3 ECBs. This means that all of this really cost me $2.48 after tax or a savings of 97%

Kohl's, Target, Walgreens and CVS with Haylee....AWESOME Trips ALL Around :)

First, Haylee and I stopped at Kohl's to use a $10 of $10 coupon my mom gave me. It was expiring today and I had to use it! I am short a present for one of my nephews so went on the search for something for him. My theme for gifts for my sister's kids is pajamas and that is just what I got.


Carter's Sleepwear $32
-65% off Sale (took off $20.80)
-$10 "Gift" Coupon
-20% off Coupon (took off $.24)
-$.96

I would NEVER pay $32 for pajamas, but it's fun to put the retail price in there. I paid $.96 plus $.07 tax for a total of $1.03 OOP. Can't beat that :)


I didn't really need to go to CVS, but I had $6 towards a gift card and decided to plan a trip. I spent quite a bit, but it was on something that Jason always needs, allergy pills! Here is what I got:

Zyrtec (3) $56.97
-(2) $4/$20 Allergy CRTs
-(3) $3.25/1 MQs
-(2) $10 Gift Cards Earned
-$19.22 or $6.41 each (he really likes these ones too)

Kleenex 3-Pack $2.99
-$2 CRT
-$.50/1 MQ
-$.49 or $.16 a box

Raisin Bran (3) $6
-NO Coupons
-Needed 3 more to send in for $10 gas card
-$3 or $1 each

American Greetings Cards (3) $2.97
-$3 ECB Earned
-$.03 MM!

Crystal Light (8) $4
-(4) $1/2 MQs
-FREE!

My subtotal was $72.93. I used $14.25 in MQs, $10 in CVS Qs and $26.87 in ECBs. This brought my total down to $21.81 plus $4.28 tax for a total of $26.09. I paid with $.21 on my last gift card and $25.88 OOP. I now have $3 ECBs and $20 in CVS gift cards!

I did three painless transactions at Target. The last one is pictured above, and because it is for my dad I am not including it in my totals. However, it was too good to not post on here :)

Cars 2 McMissile R/C Vehicle (2) $89.98
-BOGO 1/2 off sale (took off $22.50)
-25% off TQ (took off $11.25)
-25% off TQ (took off $5.63)
-$50.60 or $25.30 each (regularly $44.99 each!)

I also used a $10 gift card coupon that I am keeping for myself as payment for doing dad's Christmas shopping for him ;) After tax, the total was $53.44. I hope dad and the boys are happy!

Here are my two transactions at Target. Everything went smoothly! I got cheaper Olay and I wish I wouldn't have as now I am worried about not getting my rebate, but hopefully it all works out. Here is how I did all together.

Aveeno Baby Gift Sets (2) $8.98
-$3/2 MQ
-$5.98 or $2.99 each (regularly $9.99 each!)

Olay Regenerist Facial Peel $22.49
Olay Regenerist Face Wash $5.99
Olay Ribbons Body Wash $5
-Face Wash Free with purchase of Facial Peel (took off $5.99)
-$3/1 MQ
-$1/1 MQ
-Free Body Wash wyb Regenerist MQ (took off $5)
-$10 Olay MIR wyb $30 Olay
-$8.49 or $2.83 each

Coke (12) $17.88
-(12) FREE MQs (from mycokerewards.com)
-FREE!

Kashi Granola Bars (4) $11.96
-(4) $2/1 MQs (from recyclebank.com)
-$3.96 or $.99 each

Beggin Strips (4) $10
-(4) $1/1 TQs
-$4/4 MQ (beeped?)
-$2 or $.50 each

TGI Friday's Meal for One $1.99
-$1/1 TQ
-$.50/1 MQ
-$.49

Curel Hand Therapy (2) $7.18
-$1/1 MQ
-$5 Gift Card Earned
-$1.18 or $.59 each

Glade Candles (5) $12.50
-$2/1 MQ
-(2) $1.50/2 MQs
-$5 Gift Card Earned
-$2.50 or $.50 each

Twix $.79 (needed filler)
-$.79

Funyuns (2) $2.78 (needed filler)
-$2.78 or $1.39 each

My combined subtotal was $107.54. I used $48.38 in MQs, $11.09 in TQs and Special Purchase Deals and $40 on gift cards. This brought my OOP down to $8.07 plus $2.24 tax for a total of $10.31. I am also submitting for a $10 MIR, so it all actually costs me $.31! I started with $20 in Gift Cards and ended with the same amount!

Last but not least, I stopped at Walgreens to get more Crunch Bars. I had to go to a different store as I cleared out the one close to me. Here is what I got:

Crunch (70) $35
-(35) $1/2 MQs
-$.75/3 WQ (took off $17.50)
-$17.50 MM!

Walgreens Diapers (2) $13.98
-$2/1 WQ (took off $4)
-$2 RR Earned
-$8 or $4 each

Milk $2.99
-Haylee needed it and it was cheap here too :)

Woolite (2) $11.98
-BOGO Sale (took off $5.99)
-$5.99 or $3 each (didn't have the try me free ones here either)

Revlon Nail Polish $3.99
-$1/1 WQ
-$3 RR Earned
-$.01 MM!

Schick Intuition $8.99
-$2/1 MQ
-$3 RR Earned
-$3.99 ( I am going to trade this one out for one that has the iTunes promo in it) then,
-$1.01 MM!

All together, my subtotal was $76.95. I paid with $37 in MQs, $28.49 in WQs and sales and $10 RR. This brought my total down to $1.44 plus $2.03 tax for a total of $3.47 OOP. I will also be getting another $10 iTunes gift card with this Intuition purchase!

Walgreens 12/8....Great week for me!

This is my 3rd trip to Walgreens this week, but only the first time I am posting. I was put on a mission by the other teachers at my school to get candy bars to give out to kids. I sought out this deal on Crunch and bought a ton of coupons on Ebay. I just used a bunch of them and still have alot left. I had the perfect transaction planned out, but had to change it a bit because the Woolites' I wanted have a try me free mail in rebate on them and it just so happens they were out of both kinds! Oh well, I settled for what I got and hope when I go back tomorrow or Saturday to a different store, they will have them! Here is how I did tonight though:



Crunch (40) $20
Baby Ruth (19) $9.50
Butterfinger (3) $1.50
SweeTarts (12) $6
-(34) $1/2 MQs
-$.75/3 WQ (took off $18.50)
-$1/6 MQ
-$16.50 MM!

Schick Intuition $8.99
-$2/1 MQ
-$3 RR Earned
-$5 iTunes gift card Earned (1/2 of $10 gift card wyb 2 marked packages)
-$1.01 MM!

Revlon Nail Polish $3.99
-$1/1 WQ
-$3 RR Earned
-$.01 MM!

Dove Men+ Care Deoderant $3.99
-$1/1 MQ
-$3 RR Earned
-$.01 MM!

Woolite Carpet Cleaner (2) $11.98
-BOGO Sale (took off $5.99)
-$5.99 or $3 each

Holiday Bag $.25
-8/$1 WQ (took off $.12)
-$.13

My subtotal was $66.20. I paid with $38 MQs and $27.11 WQs/BOGO Sale/RRs. This brought my total down to $1.59 plus $1.62 tax for a total of $3.21 OOP. I used $2 RR, but earned $9. I also am half way to another $5 iTunes gift card! Quite a big moneymaker for me! Now, it's just too bad they didn't have the Woolite in stock for me that I could send in the mail in rebate for... I may take them back and exchange them at a later date so I can still send it in!

Target $10 Gift Card Again!

I love these coupons! Kind of bummed I only have two this time around, but I did get four last time and only used two....so who knows if I would even use the others if I got them. Here is what I got last night.


Coffeemate Creamer (3) $5.49 (not on pricecut?)
-(3) $.55/1 MQs
-$1/3 TQ
-$2.84 or $.95 each (still a good deal)

Starbucks Coffee (3) $23.97
-$3/2 MQ
-$1/1 MQ
-$5 Target Gift Card Earned
-$5 Starbucks Gift Card Earned
-$9.97 or $3.23 each

Curel Foot Therapy (2) $7.18 (marked at $4.49 each not the $3.59 they were!)
-(2) $1/1 MQs
-$5 Target Gift Card Earned
-$.18 or $.09 each

Yoplait Whips $.34
-$.34 (last one on pricecut from $.69)
-$.34

Barilla $1.16
-No coupon (needed to get to $50)
-$1.16

Kashi Bars (2) $5.98
-(2) $2/1 MQs
-$1.98 or $.99 each

Band-Aids (2) $4.30
-(2) $1/1 MQs (beeped)
-$2.30 or $1.15 each

Slim Jim Beef Jerky $1.76
-Had to add something because the Curel was cheaper than marked
-$1.76

My subtotal was $50.21. I used $13.65 in MQs, $1.05 in TQs and a $10 gift card to pay. This means I paid $25.51 OOP, but got back $20 in Target gift cards and a $5 Starbucks gift card.

I look at it as gaining $15 in gift cards which means that this all cost me $10.51. Not bad for the three bags of Starbucks Coffee alone :)

CVS 12/7/11...It's been a long time!

I only had 25 minutes to do some speed shopping. Here is what I got:


Progresso (4) $6
-$1/4 MQ
-$5 or $1.25 each (part of gift card deal)

Candy Canes $1.27
-$2 ECB Earned (manually printed)
-$.73 MM!

Arm & Hammer Spinbrush (2) $11.98
-(2) $2/1 MQs
-$4 ECB Earned
-$10 MIR Earned (I already have the other items, not sure if they can be separate receipts though)
-$6.02 MM!

Glade Sense and Spray (3) $15
-(3) $3/1 MQs
-$2/2 CVS Q (manually entered as it is a MQ, but says CVS Q on it)
-$4 ECB Earned
-FREE!

Huggies Diapers $9.49
-$3/1 CVS Q
-$3/1 MQ
-$1 ECB Earned
-$2.49 (only one more until a free one too!)

Revlon Files $3.39
Revlon Clippers $2.87
-$6 ECB Earned
-$.26 or $.13 each

Reinventing Beauty Magazine $.99 (needed the Huggies coupon)
-$.99

My subtotal was $44.99. I paid with $17 in MQs, $5 in CVS Qs and $28.95 in ECBs. This brought my total down to $.04 plus $2.76 tax for a total of $2.80 which went on a gift card!

I did lose ECBs, but I will be getting a free pack of Huggies after the next one and a $10 MIR for the Spinbrushes!

(2) $10 Target Gift Card Transactions = FUN!

I was able to print 4 of the $10 Target gift card coupons when you spend $50. I used two of them last night and am praying I have time to use the other 2 when we get back from Omaha tomorrow. The high value clothing coupons made this pretty easy and fun! Here is what I got with my two coupons:

Transaction 1:
Gilligan and O'Malley Cami (2) $5.96 (clearance)
-(2) $3/1 Sleepwear TQ (beeped)
-$.04 MM!

Plus Size T-Shirt $5 (clearance)
-$5/1 Plus Size Clothing TQ
-FREE!

Plus Size Cardigan $5.06 (clearance)
-$5/1 Plus Size Clothing TQ
-$.06

Liz Lange Hoodie Shirt $4.98 (clearance)
-$3/1 Liz Lange TQ
-$1.98

Liz Lange Trench Coat $12.48 (clearance)
-$3/1 Liz Lange TQ
-$9.48 (originally $50!)

Good Start Formula (2) $12.48
-$14 Formula Checks
-$1.52 MM!

Maybeline Lipbalm (2) $5.98
-(2) $2/1 TQs
-$1.98 or $.99 each

Subtotal: $51.94 - $10 Gift Card TQ - $14 Formula Checks - $26.05 TQs = $1.89 for all of this!

Transaction 2:
Rice Krispies $2.74
-$2.74 (just needed these for Scotharoos!)

MP Butterscotch Chips $2.06
-$2.06 (again, Scotcharoos!)

Milk (2) $6.08
-$6.08 or $3.04 each

Eggs (2) $3.78
-$.55/2 MQ
-$.50/1 TQ
-$2.73 or $1.37 each

Coffeemate (3) $4.86
-$1/3 TQ
-(2) $.75/1 MQs
-$.55/1 MQ
-$1.81 or $.60 each

NYC Nail Color (4) $3.76
-(4) $1/1 TQs (beeped)
-$.24 MM!

Sally Hansen Nail Color (2) $4.08
-(2) $1/1 TQs
-(2) $1/1 MQs
-$.08 or $.04 each

Maybeline Lip Balm (2) $5.98
-(2) $2/1 TQs
-$1.98 or $.99 each

Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate (4) $4.76
-(2) $.50/2 TQs
-(2) $.50/2 MQs (beeped?)
-$2.76 or $.69 each

Butterfinger/Crunch Jingles (4) $10.76
-(2) $1.50/2 TQs
-(2) $1.25/2 MQs (beeped?)
-$5.26 or $1.31 each

Green Giant Steamers (6) $9
-(2) $.75/3 TQs
-(2) $1/3 MQs (beeped?)
-$5.50 or $.92 each

Ghirardelli (2) $4
-$1/2 TQ
-(2) $1/1 MQs
-$1 or $.50 each

Subtotal $61.86 - $10 Gift Card TQ - $12.10 MQs - $18 TQs = $21.76 for this!

Total
Subtotal $113.80
-(2) $10 Target Gift Cards Earned
-$26.10 MQs
-$44.05 TQs
-$23.65 or a saving of 79%

November Savings Totals!

It was an exciting month with all of the holiday sales. I look forward to more in December. I went over slightly this month as well, but am okay with it. Again, I will need to adjust for our foster child and new one coming in the near future! Here is how I did:

Shelf Cost: $1075.75
Manufacturer Coupons: $339.34
Store Coupons/ RRs/ ECBs: $446.75
Mail-In Rebates: $4.54
Tax Paid: $26.93

All of this shows that had a savings of 73.54% for the month. This is up a lot from last month, but it should be as we had the Walgreens and CVS Black Friday shopping in there where I "bought" $300 worth of stuff! Not too bad :)