Friday, May 28, 2010
Warren County Public Library Summer Reading Program
Visit http://www.bgpl.org/summerreading.html to download the list of summer activities.
Free Summer Movies at Great Escape Theater
Bowling Green 12
323 Great Escape Dr.
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270)782-3112
SUMMER KIDS SHOWS 2010
Sponsored by: Fazoli's, Dairy Queen, & Chick-Fil-A
Alvin & The Chipmunks:Squeakuel - June 1,2,3
Ice Age: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs - June 8,9,10
Monsters vs. Aliens - June 15,16,17
Cloudy With A Chance OF Meatballs - June 22,23,24
Planet 51 - June 29,30, July 1
Paul Blart: Mall Cop - July 6,7,8
Night At The Museum 2 - July 13,14,15
Hotel For Dogs - July 20,21,22
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Target Trip Week of 5/23=Savings of 73.4%
I love shopping Target and CVS...I only wish I felt that much love for Kroger. I am starting to feel that awesome savings don't exist there. So, thank goodness for Target & CVS that's all I have to say.
Here is my breakdown of this weeks savings. I had to break my transactions up to get maximum savings, because part of my good deal was the fact I had two target coupons for a $5 Target Gift Card when I purchased said items. So I ended up with $10 gift card to turn around and use on my 2nd transaction.
Total spent=$11.74 for $44.12 worth of product
Finish Quantumatic Reg. 9.99= Price Cut $5 -$3 manufacturer web coupon=$2
Windex All-in-One Outdoor Reg. 12.99 -$5 newpaper coupon-$5 Target GC coupon=$2.99
Fusion Razor Reg. 4.99=Clearance $4.24-$1 coupon=$3.24
Venus Embrance Reg 4.99=Clearance $4.24-$2 Coupon=$2.24
Total both razors=5.48-$5 Target GC coupon=.24 c. each razor
Cereals Reg. $3.04= $2.09 each after Price Cut and $1.50/3 Kelloggs coupon
Plus FREE Motts apple juice wyb 3 Kelloggs Cereals (a 2.04 value)
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Made me Laugh...
'Like' Athenos on Facebook...
Free 6 mos Magazine Subscription
Monday, May 17, 2010
How odd...
http://hip2save.com/2010/05/you-in-bloom-week-three-day-one.html
It is like they have been doing this so long that they can read a newbie's mind! Can't wait for this resource to become available on her site. Until then, I will continue with my personal spreadsheet.
Getting Started- Inventory & Spreadsheet
1) MAKE AN INVENTORY LIST
2) CREATE PRICE LIST SPREADSHEET
I have never been a 'student' of prices. Therefore, it is hard for me starting this journey, because I honestly don't know what a good deal is. I am starting to realize you can't depend on the little yellow sale stickers at Kroger to guide you to a good deal, because they can many times be misleading. You have to take control and learn prices yourself. Therefore, I am starting a spreadsheet of 'buy-it prices' so that I will never have to question again what a good deal is. I hope to share my spreadsheet in the future to help any other newbies that might find my site.
For now, my spreadsheet includes the item name, regular price, sale price, coupons used, final price with coupons, store bought at, and date. If I find a better price in the cycle (which I know I will, considering I am just guessing on best prices) I change the info on the item. I hope after keeping this spreadsheet for a few months I will start to see a cycle to the savings.
"like" DiGiorno on Facebook
"Like" Sara Lee Deli On Facebook...
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Progress This Week
Guide to CVSing
http://www.southernsavers.com/getting-started-guides/how-to-cvs/
Thursday, May 13, 2010
$3 off new Finish Quantumatic
Totallytarget.com is reporting that some Target's have price cut to $5 (almost half off). So you could pick this bad boy up for $2 if your Target has it on sale. If not hold on to it, and you will get a good deal at some point. I was able to print two off.
$1.00 off Freschetta-Save until on sale!!
I used both my email addresses and was able to print two. Once they go on sale it should make for a good deal.
Getting Started--Great read from couponing101.com
1)Teach a (Wo)Man How to Fish….
2)Teach a (Wo)Man How to Fish….for Grocery Store Deals
3)Teach a (Wo)Man How to Fish….for Free Samples!
4)Teach a (Wo)Man How to Fish….for Printable Coupons!
http://www.couponing101.com/category/teach-a-woman-how-to-fish
Getting Started-Coupon Organization
http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/05/31-days-to-a-better-grocery-budget-finding-a-coupon-organizational-system-which-works-for-you.html
Loving all the 'Helpful Sites'
These deals go pretty quick once they are posted on the sites I follow, but if you check the sites a few times a day you are sure to start finding deals quickly. I have only been following about two weeks and have already signed up for coupons and freebies 7 times!!!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
First time CVSing= $10.24 Out of Pocket (OOP) + $7.50 leftover ECB's
Learned a valuable lesson on my first attempt...shop early in the week!!! Sunday if possible. I waited until Tuesday, and all the deals I wanted (besides the pull-ups) were gone at the first CVS I visited. Luckily, my town has two CVS's. At the second store I found the deodorants & crest, but the best deal (Schick Hydro 3 or 5 $8.99-$5 coupon=3.99+$4 ECB) was GONE at both stores.
Here is the breakdown. Keep in mind that on the first CVS trip you will spend out of pocket cash, but if you play the game right you should have to spend very little out-of-pocket (OOP) from then on. The trick is to always make sure you roll-over ECB's (free CVS money printed at the bottom of your receipt and available to use on next transaction.) To do so just use existing ECB's to buy more products that offer ECB's. http://www.southernsavers.com/ will break down all the deals for you that offer ECB's every week.
Transaction #1=
Huggies Pull-ups=$8.99-$2 Printable Coupon http://www.pull-ups.com/na/pullups_coupons.aspx (printable once a month) = $6.99 OOP (+Earn $2 ECB's)
Transaction #2=
(2) Right Guard Total Defense 5=$2.49*2=$4.98-$3 Printable Coupon=$1.98 (+Earn $4 ECB)
1 Crest Pro Health 4.2 oz=$3.50-.75 cent (Sunday insert)= $2.75 (+ Earn $3.50 ECB)
Transaction #2 Total=$4.73-$2 ECB from Transaction #1=$2.73 OOP
Total OOP (w/tax) for both trips= $10.24
(This is great to me considering it's my first attempt, and I desperately needed pull-ups that would have cost me 9.99 anyway. So the way I look at it, I got deodorant and toothbrush + $7.50 ECB free)
ECB's print at the bottom of your receipt, and can be used immediately on the next purchase. They usually expire in a month from issue.
Target Couponing Attempt #1= $7.30 for $34.38 worth of products
I used to make a list of what I needed at the moment, and I would then go buy those items at whatever price I had to. The result would almost always was a $100 + Target trip. Never again! The key is to always look ahead at what you will need over the next several weeks or few months. I'm excited to see my couponing start to pay off over the next few months as I begin to collect more coupons and as I have the time to wait for great deals to come around.
Here is how my shopping trip stacked up:
Total spent=31.87
Total coupons used=21.25
Total saved=29.70
BEST DEALS 5/11/10
For the above items I spent $7.30, but the value of these items regular price are $34.38. This is a savings of $27.08!
Here is the breakdown:
Kleenex Hand Towels: each box $2.99-$1 manufacturer coupon (Sunday insert)-$1 Target web coupon= .99 c. each
Nivea Wash=$3.99-$4.00 manufacturer (Sunday insert) coupon=FREE
Lysol Toilet Cleaner=Sale 1.89-$1 (web coupon)= .89 cents
Air Wick iMotion=Sale $5.99-$4 (sunday insert) coupon=$1.99
Bic Flex 4=$4.99-$3 (sunday insert) coupon=$1.99
2 Skintimate Shave Gel=$1.97 x 2= 3.94-$1.50 off 2 (si) - $1.00 (t. mailer)= .72 each
Gillette Shave Gel= $1.99-$1 coupon (si)= .99 c.
FREE Rouge Magazine Subsription
Signed up for this magazine distributed by Procter and Gamble. It has valuable P&G coupons in every issue.
Monday, May 10, 2010
More Free Samples..
FREEBIE ALERT-Purex 3-in-1 sample.
http://www.trypurex.com/Purex_3-in-1_Free_Sample/
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Target Store Coupon Policy
Target Stores Coupon Policy
Coupons are a great way to save even more when shopping with us, and it's easy to use them at our stores.
• Target accepts one manufacturer coupon and one Target coupon for the same item (unless prohibited)
• Super Target coupons can be used in any Target store if the store carries the item
• We gladly accept valid internet coupons
Because of the variety of coupons available to our guests, we do have some guidelines for how coupons can be redeemed at Target.
When accepting coupons, we use the following guidelines:
• We accept two kinds of coupons: Target-issued coupons and manufacturer-issued.
• We'll accept one Target coupon and one manufacturer coupon for the same item, unless either coupon prohibits it.
• Coupon amount may be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied.
• We can't give cash back if the face value of a coupon is greater than the purchase value of the item.
• We can't accept coupons from other retailers, or coupons for products not carried in our stores.
• All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier while you're checking out.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
The Wonderful Verb of CVSing!
To get started you must register either online at http://www.cvs.com/ or visit the store to sign up for their Extra Care Rewards Card. I registered online, and it took less than a week to get my card in the mail. But, if you are ready to try your hand at saving scenarios today then definitely register in store.
Here is a blog I found dedicated to the CVS $5 Challenge.
http://kingdomfirstmom.com/category/the-cvs-5-challenge
Southernsavers.com also does a great job at breaking down CVS shopping into usable shopping scenarios. They break down the savings into transactions that maximize the number of items you get for the least amount of money. Many times you will actually walk out of the store making a profit rather than spending any money. By using their Extra Care Bucks system (which is like monopoly money) you many times come and go with no actual cash being exchanged. Here is their CVS site.
http://www.southernsavers.com/2010/05/cvs-weekly-ad-509-515/
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Grocery Sales usually run on 6 week cycle
So, find the lowest price, and stock up on the amount your family will need over the next 6 weeks.
That is something I really need to work on. I need to make my list of staple items, and figure out the quantities we use over 6 weeks.
Kroger Coupon Policy
Here are the rules for Kroger:
TO: ALL MID-ATLANTIC STORES
ATTN: STORE MANAGERS
SUBJECT: INTERNET COUPONS – POLICY 9-G
Please following the instructions below when accepting Internet Coupons:
We will only accept “cents off” Internet Coupons. NO “free” product Internet Coupons will be accepted.
All coupons are to be scanned at the end of the order.
Quantity of purchased items must be satisfied per the coupon.
Coupon must not exceed the value of the item.
We will only accept two (2) Internet Coupons per manufacturer product per transaction.
We reserve the right to reject any Internet Coupon that is altered or does not scan properly. Call for Supervisor assistance as needed.
Watch for:
Altered expiration dates
Altered purchase limits
Multiple coupons on the same item
Reminder:
Double Coupon Policy
We double all Manufacturer coupons on any item up to $.50 in value unless otherwise stated on the coupon.
Limit one (1) coupon per item.
If a customer presents a large quantity of like items and coupons, cashier should contact Management. None sold to Dealers and quantity rights reserved
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
My Monetary Goal...$1,200
So what is my monetary goal? Hubby would kill me if I revealed the actual paycheck amount he brings on home every month, and I realize too that would be faux pas. So, I chose a random amt of $1,200 for my goal. How did I come up with this? That is the approximate amt that I would bring home (net) in an entry-level job after tax, healthcare, and daycare. I think that is a reasonable goal, and I hope to exceed that!!!
So May 2010-May 2011 I hope to save 1,200+