Target- no pictures (use your imagination)

Always Always Always check out target.com for the printable coupons.  Always.  Scroll to the bottom of the webpage and in one of the small lettter columns there is a 'coupons' button.  Click there and make sure there is nothing that works for you before you go shop.  Because these are 'target' coupons, you can use a manufacturer coupon too.  Sometimes I see nothing that works for me.  Sometimes (like this week) I do.  You are allowed to print two of each one.

Yesterday, here are the things I found to be of particular interest:

$3 plus size apparel item coupon- I picked up a couple $2.50 clearanced t-shirts for FREE!
$3 jeans coupon- Ally found a pair of clearance jeans for $9.98- $6.98 (for back to school!)
Buy 3 keebler cookies get 1 free target q- bought 4 packages at $2.29 each, got one free, plus used 2 $1/2 manu q's- total was $5.17 for 4 packages of cookies.
$1 off siera mist- on sale 3/$10 PLUS buy 3 get a free 12 pack of diet pepsi.  Used 3 $1 target q's (used 2 computers to print 4 total) plus a $.75 manu q for the diet pepsi- paid $6.25 for 4 12 packs.  (hello- camping this weekend?)
$1 off 3 crystal lites- paired it with three $1 off 1 manu q's- shelf price was $2.49, paid $3.47 for all three. (I drink ALOT of this stuff).
$1 off 2 Kraft cheese- not on sale or a great deal but it was on my list and I got to save a buck- perfect!

Also- on the back to school coupon magazine I got in the mail this week from Target, there was a spend $50 get a $5 target giftcard.  My total before coupons was over $50 so I got that too.

Yay!

CVS- yay!

Total cash out of pocket- $24.03.

I rang two different transactions so that I could roll the rewards from the first transaction into the second.  I left with $11 leftover rewards for next time and a $10 Shell Gas Card.

I didn't have enough Herbal Essence coupons do to what I originally posted- but I supplemented with the Duracell batteries that were on sale for $5 and I had some $1 coupons for.  I had to get to the $30 to earn the $10 gas card.

Hope your shopping trips are successful this week!

Best deal that I see this week?  Schick razors.  Spend $20 on various Schick stuff get $10 extra bucks.  I bought two razors $8.49 each and two Skintimate Cream Shave on sale for $2.19.  That put me over the $20 ($21.36).  Then I used 1 b1g1 coupon for the razors (-$8.49) and 1 $1 off one razors (-$1, remember, you can use two coupons on buy 1 get 1 offers) and 2 $1.50 printables for the cream shave (-$3).  Total was $9.87 and I got a $10 extra care reward back.  I essentially got totally free shaving stuff. 

I waited until yesterday to try Walgreens (big mistake) so I missed most everything I was wanting.  But there were still tons of Crayola crayons- on sale for $.99 with a $1 register reward (free) and the 8 packs of tampons $1.50 get $1.50 reward.  Also got the Irish Spring deodorant on sale 2/$6- used 2 $1 coupons from Sundays paper and got a $4 register reward (free). May try another store later in the week- I could use some more hair pony tail holders and they were all gone.

Free $10 pier one coupon!

Go HERE and print a coupon for $10 off a $10 purchase at Pier One Imports good through 7/27/11.  It might be a good time to pick up a little something something for an upcoming birthday gift or Christmas gift (just 5 months from TODAY ya'll!)

Print two and drag your husband along.......you can each use one!

Marsh 7/23/11

Marsh- $30.88

Total after sale prices- before coupons- $65.18.  After coupons $35.88.  I didn't get the $5 off your next order coupon that was supposed to print for buying various kelloggs items, so they gave me $5 cash back.  Total spent $30.88.

If you live in central Indiana and haven't found the special Marsh only coupons at marsh.net- be sure to always go there and look at the coupons before shopping.  A lot of times Thurs-Sun there are printable coupons for a free item (this week was the drumstick icecreams) when you spend $50, plus I found coupons off blueberries (which I didn't buy), milk (which made these $1.50 per gallon) and ground beef (which made it less than $2 per pound).

Free FOOD!

When we go out to eat- I like to ALWAYS use a coupon.  There are tons of different ones available for dang near anywhere you want to go and I feel like going somewhere without one is like leaving money on the table.  Literally.

Not only does Longhorn typically run $5 coupons off two entrees pretty frequently- here is another opportunity for a FREE APPETIZER!  Click here- join their western club and get an email with a coupon to get a free appetizer.  Not sure about you- but I LOVE their firecracker chicken wraps and typically order them as my dinner with a salad-  you know I signed up!

Here is my plan for this week:

These are not all of the great sale/coupon items this week by any means- but this is what is on 'my list' to pick up when the new sales start tomorrow:

Walgreens:
Dentek Flossers $2.99- I'll use a $1 printable coupon, pay $1.99 and get a $2 register reward. (free)

Perfection Tampons 8 pack- pay $1.50 get $1.50 register reward. (free)

Scunci hair ties- buy 2 for $3 ($1.50 each) and get a $3 register reward (wyb 2). (free)

Irish Spring Deodorant 2 for $6- I'll use the $1 coupons from the 7/24 paper, pay $4 for 2 and get a $4 register reward (wyb 2)(free).

Twizzlers 2 for $3- I'll use the $.75 off 1 coupons from last week, pay $1.50 and get $1 register reward (wyb 2) ($.25 each- we are camping next week and these will be a nice treat!)

Dove/Mars candy bars- there were some $.50 off 2 3 musketeer coupons or something a while ago so I think these will be a good price.

CVS:

Paper Mate grip pens- pay $1.99 get $1.99 ECB (extra care bucks)

Almay cosmetics- spend $10 get $4 ECB (I'm not sure if this will be a good deal with my $2 coupons or not- but I'm gonna check it out)

Ben Gay Cream- $2, I'm going to use the $5 printable and use the $3 overage toward my other stuff

Cheese Its 4/$5- use the $1/2 printables, pay $3 for 4 packs and get $1 ECB ($.50 per box)

Crest Pro Heath Toothpaste $2.99- I'm pretty sure I have a $.75 or $1 coupon- Pay$2 or $2.25, get $2 ECB

Playtex/Schick spend $20 get $10 ECB- I'm going to look through and see what kind of deals I can come up with, there was a B1G1 coupon and some others- I think this will make for free/cheap razors and creams.

Herbal Essence Shampoos and Stylers- spend $30 get $10 ECB on sale 2/$4.97 ($2.50ish each).  I'm going to use my buy a shampoo get $3 off a styler coupons.  14 bottles will put me over the $30 (7 shampoos/conditioners, 7 stylers=$34.72) Use 7 $3 coupons -$21.  Pay $13.72 cash, get $10 ECB- $3.72 for 14 bottles of hair products.  Stock up the cabinet and I don't have to buy this for the next several MONTHS!

Soft Soap Foaming Hand Soap- $2 each.  Buy 3, get $3 ECB.  I will use 3 $1 off 1 printable coupons.  Pay $3, get $3 ECB- FREE!

There is also another spend $30 get a $10 gas card promotion.  I will definantly check out what is on that sale and see what I can come up with.  Since we all buy gas every week regardless- I like to see what other items I can get while doing so.

Seems like a pretty good week for the two drugstores anyway- happy shopping!

A coupon Vacation

Vacations are great.  And I just finished up one.  Thanks to my stockpile- we had most everything we needed for the trip with very little out of pocket cash for last minute things like shampoo, deodorant, and snacks for the car and condo.

We ate a couple of meals in our condo per day.  Mainly it's just easier that way.  With kids- packing everyone up first thing in the morning to hunt down a breakfast place to wait wait wait for a table and then wait wait wait for your food while they whine whine whine about going back to the pool is just not fun.  Same with lunch.  It's just nicer to grab something in the room and get back to the swimming.  So on our first day there- we went to the grocery.  Shopping for 'needs' is so much different than how I normally shop- which is by couponing.

When I coupon- I match up my coupons to the sales and promotions and I stock up.  Then I fill in with fresh fruits and veggies, milks and meats.  For the most part I can keep our weekly food shopping to less than fifty bucks cold hard cash- and we eat what we have on hand.

But in Florida????  Shopping from a strict menu we'd planned?  My precoupon total was $151- after coupons- $146.  I dang near stroked out.  I'm just not used to shopping like that anymore.  Either way, we saved money because we fed 7 people 12 meals for $146- plus that included some sunglasses, sunscreen, my mother in laws vitamins and canned drinks.  But still- not how I normally shop.

And then yesterday I noticed my husband had stopped and bought a 12 pack of his life blood- mountain dew (there haven't been any great sales so we'd run out).  He paid $5.66 for a 12 pack.  I just had my second stroke in a week.  Note to self- buy that man some mountain dew- anything I can find will be cheaper than that.

I'm afraid I am a couponer for life now- my mentality has just changed and can't ever go back.

CVS- lovin me some gas rewards!

First- I forgot a picture (sorry).

Second- it's not a huge deal, but still a deal in my opinion.

For weeks now, every week there is a new list of items that if you spend $30 on, you get a free $10 gas card.  We all buy Gas- right?

Here's what I bought this week:

$3.99 Always Infinity- used $1 coupon and got back $2 extra bucks, like paying $.99 (limit 1)
$2.99 X 6 Always Ultra Pads- used 6 $1 coupons, paid $11.94- got fuel promo credit for $17.94
$3 X 3 Big bags of pretzel m&m's- used 3 $1 coupons, paid $6- got fuel promo credit for $9
$.75 X 3 small bags of m&m's- no coupons (emily has a 4H project we need them for)- paid $2.25 and got $2.25 fuel credit promo
$1.50 sharing size bag of m&m's- no coupons (miscalculated on my totals- needed a little more)(uh- yes, it would have made more sense to get one more big bag of plain m&m's- sometimes my brain doesn't work right, ya know)
$1.19 Hershey Air Delight- used $1.19 free coupon from red magic machine- free
$3 X 2 Oral B Advantage toothbursh- used 2 $2 coupons, paid $1 each and got back $1 each extra bucks
Total cash out of pocket $26.68 (used some extra bucks from last week, actually only paid $18.68) and got back $4 in extra bucks plus a free BP $10 gas card. 

In case you are thinking you have to mail away for this promo, you don't.  They issue it to you right there on the spot.  I consider this $10 a direct savings off what I buy since I know I have to buy gas regardless.  You might keep your eyes peeled next week and see what items you can match up coupons with and earn yourself a $10 gas card.

A Laundry Basket of Goodies

Two of my nephews are leaving the nest.  One is moving into an apartment 'dorm'- the other moved into an apartment with a friend.  Both are getting ready to begin their college classes within the next month.  I started picking up items specifically for these baskets a month or two ago.  I knew they would both need lots of basic household stuff- and that can really add up!

Here is the finished product- I made one for each of them.

It is a laundry basket filled with razors, toilet bowl cleaner and toilet brush, soft scrub spray, soft scrub liquid, dish soap, dish washer soap, laundry detergent, bar soap, lotion, toothpaste, floss, body wash, deodorant, shower scrubbies, shampoo, conditioner, towels and wash clothes.

Just for kicks- I totaled up the cost of all of these items.  Keep in mind- I used sale prices, not shelf prices.  If I would have just bought these items on sale- the cost would have been around $91.

What did I pay after coupons and register rewards and promos?  $16.89.

And the majority of that was the towels, wash clothes and laundry basket.

I'm a couponer for life now.  There is no way I could ever go back.