Sneaky Double Coupons

It was like a "Where's Waldo" finding those Albertsons double coupons in the paper today. (I don't know if they were any where outside of Utah) Very exciting. And I KNOW I'm done with my budget for the month, but I just couldn't resist digging change out of my car to do these deals. We've been out of yogurt for ever and I have buying issues in general anyways, so there you go.

 

Retails: $22.63

Spent: 2.89 + $.50 for the paper= $3.39

Percent Off: 85%

How did I do it?

* Sales: $7.70

* Coupons: $6.88

* Double Coupons: $4 

4/29 Menu

Here's the menu for the week. By the way, did you notice there was no picture of the chicken from Buy Low on Friday? Me too. The problem was that it didn't get bought. Now I don't want to blame anyone or point any fingers, but can I just say that if MY wife were out of town, I would make a very quick trip to the store to pick up a staple she asked me very nicely to get so she could make me delicious dinners, especially if there was NO WAY for her to be able to get the chicken herself, since it was a one-day sale. But that's just me. 

FYI: we ended up doing a substitution last night because there WAS NO CHICKEN BREAST. (not that I even noticed or anything...)  We had grilled sausage on rice pilaf. 

Notice that I hardly need to buy anything for the dinners I plan. Instead, I am using my money to buy things that are on super sale. That helps my money go so much farther!

Anyways, on to the menu:

* BBQ hamburgers, homemade buns, homemade fries, grapes

* Pan-seared tilapia with herb butter sauce (Cooks Country aug '08, p.16), broccoli, harvest grains

* Mexican-Style Skillet Vermicelli (Americas Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, p.246), Corn

* Blueberry pancakes (ATKFC p. 272), sausage, eggs

* Roast with root veggies (ATKFC p. 408), canned peaches

* Ham and Cheese roll, yogurt, mixed veggies

Need:

* cilantro $.33/bunch- maceys or $.50/bunch- sunflower market

* eggs $1.79 18 ct- smiths or $.98 12 ct- reams

* grapes $.77/lb- sunflower market

Just so you know, I'm not going to those stores just for the above items. My time is worth more than that. I have multiple good deals to snag at each of these stores.

A bonus!

Today was very exciting. I got 2 rebates back for a total of $18 and since I take them out of my monthly budget, when they come back they get added to my budget. I was out of money for the month and got a bonus! Whoo hoo!

Of course I hit Albertsons

Retails: $44.64

Spent: $9.96

Percent Off: 78%

How did I do it?

* only $4 in coupons 

* the rest were shopping the sales. I also hit the Easter clearance that was 75% off. I'm excited about the "transparent gift wrap" I got for 19 cents. 

I also went to Walgreens

Retails: $52.77

Spent: $7.92

Percent Off: 85%

Plus, made $14.50 in Register Rewards to use at another purchase.

How did I do it?

* Sales: $19.98

* Coupons: $6

* Register Rewards: $16

Walmart. Boo.

Retails: $29

Total Paid: $10.79

Confession: I didn't get as good of a deal as it looks. This was very sneaky of me. I actually had a return for $14 for something I received as a gift and didn't need. My straightener went out about a week ago and I am TIRED of looking awful. I couldn't find it on sale but I needed it right away, so I went to the place I could get it for the cheapest: Walmart. Oh joy. The sunglasses were $5- my 3rd pair in that many months- and the shower gel was free with coupon. 

If only I would stop breaking my sunglasses...

Happy Earth Day!

I ran to Albertsons today to get the potatoes and what did I get? Potatoes. And nothing else. My dad would be so proud.

Retails: $4.27

Total: $1.89

Percent Off: 66% (only 66%?!!)

Walgreens was the place to be today. They took an extra 15% off and threw in a bag for Earth Day. Super!

Retails: $28

Total: $8.01

Out of Pocket: $0.00

I paid with $7 Register Rewards and $1.01 on my Walgreens card from past rebates.

I got $5 in RR.

I LOVE free trips!

Menu 4/22- 4/28

Here's my menu for the week, using up stuff in my food storage along with a few items I need to buy. I just had some family come over for dinner yesterday and was so glad that I didn't have to run to the store to buy a bunch of stuff- I just expanded the meal I was already planning. I LOVE having my own store in my basement! 

(and I love family too! Thanks for coming everyone)

Menu

* Grilled Bone-In Chicken Breasts (Americas Test Kitchen Family Cookbook p.478), homemade fries, fruit, glazed carrots (ATKFC p.148)

* Belgium Waffles with Whipped Cream, Peach Syrup, Peaches, sausage

* Hawaiian Pizza, bread sticks, fruit

I'll be out of town, so Freezer Meals for Matt:

* Bertollis, veggies, fruit

* Burritos (pre-made, in freezer), leftover beans and rice 

* Kashi frozen meal, veggies, fruit

To Buy:

* potatoes 1.88/10 lb, albertsons

* Bone in chicken breasts, $.99/lb, buy low

Another Albertsons Doubler

My mom is here for a few days and bought another Sunday paper last night. She gave me the double coupons! Hooray! I did a quick trip and here's my results:

(sorry it's sideways- I'm gifted)

Retails: $15.48

Spent: $1.75

Percent Off: 89%

The toilet bowl cleaner was free, the Right Guard was 67 cents each (they were all out of the free ones- boo) and they printed out a catalina for the free Gatorade. Nice.

Albertsons Doublers

You got to love double coupons. Albertsons has 3 double coupons in each Sunday paper and since I get 3 papers, that's 9 items for super cheap/free! Whoo hoo! I'm excited because we're running lower on toilet paper and this will hold us off a bit until we hit a great sale. And I've been eyeing those True Delight bars ever since we got a sample in the mail. Matt LOVES them. 

My Albertsons is so great. They weren't busy at all this morning (6am is the best time to shop!) and Mrs. Cashier of the Year let me do 3 transactions one right after another. (You are only supposed to do 3 double coupons per trip- some stores have you take your stuff out to your car and come back in)

I also needed milk.

Here's the stats:

Retails: $48.18

I Paid: $7.03

Percent Off: 85.5%

I had: 

* $9 in coupons x 2 with double coupons ($18 off!)

* a $3 catalina (like gift card) from the taco bell stuff last week

* a free Betty Crocker potatoes coupon

Plus stuff was on sale

P.S. No, I didn't the flowers this morning. I got those from my husband the other day for no reason at all. He's so good to me!

Walgreens for FREE! x2

I am feeling like the fanciest belle at the ball at Walgreens these days.

Retails: $34

Out of Pocket: $0.00

How? Here's the breakdown

* with sale prices, total was $21.87 (plus tax)

* used $8 in coupons

* used $11.50 in Register Rewards from past purchases

* paid remainder with Walgreens card (got from past rebates)

* PLUS I got $10 in RR to use in the next couple weeks!

I'm so excited about the shopping bags (that's what those weird packages are)- I just took everything out of my chest freezer and sorted it into the bags. Now I actually can find stuff. Hopefully.

I love Walgreens

Retails at: $13.84 (yikes!)

Out of pocket: $0.00

How? Walgreens is the best, between their Register Rewards (like gift cards) and rebates. Both the Skintimate (Edge too) and Chapstick produce Register Rewards. The shaving gel costs $3 and produces a $3 RR. The chapstick costs $2 and produces a $2 RR. However, they will only spit out one per transaction per item, so I had to buy them in 2s: 1 shaving gel and 1 chapstick and did that twice. I used RR's I got from last week to pay for them along with my Walgreens card I got from doing rebates last month. Hooray! Apparently my Walgreens restocks on Saturdays now so I'll be back there tomorrow to get some more freebies (because I need more toothbrushes. ha ha.)

P.S. RR are really great. You don't have to sign up or do anything to get them, just buy the item. Just know that you can't use the RR you got from buying chapstick to pay for more chapstick or else another RR won't print. You can, however, use the RR from buying chapstick to pay for the Skintimate. 

Buy Low

So I have spending issues. If I see a good deal, I must buy it. I do come by it honestly (thanks Mom!) but it is something I have to work on.

For instance, I have $200 a month for food/health. It is the 15th today, half way through the month. Guess how much I have left after this trip today? $25ish. Not so good. 

I believe the real problem lies with the stores. They are in a conspiracy against me. There have been way too many killer deals the last few weeks, more than normal, and I am convinced it is all a plot to destroy my envelope system. Or maybe not.

Anyway, I had to hit Buy Low today for their Wednesday produce deals and had a small list to fill. As I was walking through the front doors there was a mountainous display of strawberries with a beautiful sign: $.88/lb. Long story short, I had to buy 8 pounds. Oh, if you're in Provo, I heard that special will continue through tomorrow. I guess frozen jam is in our future. Yeah!

So for about the full price of just the strawberries, I got 8 pounds of berries, 2 containers of cottage cheese, 4 oranges, grapes, a head of cabbage, 3 bottles of flavored water (Sam broke one all over the ground in the produce department), a bunch of carrots, 4 pounds of pork loin, and oyster sauce (I had to pay full price on this one. So mad.)

I spent $21. 

Good deal, but yikes! I guess I'll have MUCH fewer posts the next few weeks... Darn. I LOVE this!

Week's menu

So I thought I'd put up my menu for the week, just so you don't think we eat Pringles and gum for dinner.

Menu:

* The Best Lasagna Ever (it really is, by the way), homemade bread, corn, fruit

* Chicken Lo Mein (from America's Test Kitchen, Family Cookbook, p. 247), fruit

* Beef enchiladas, black beans, mexican rice (ATKFC, p. 178)

* Sweet & Sour Chicken aka: Ketchup Chicken, rice,

* Shredded Pork Sandwiches, homemade rolls, cauliflower ham gratin, canned peaches

* Chicken Cordon Bleu (ATKFC, p. 360), salad w/homemade croutons, avocado and cheese, fruit

Need to get from the store:

* 3 c cottage cheese- on sale $.99

* 3 T oyster sauce

* Veggies: cabbage- 4 lb/$1, lettuce- $.99

* Fruit: grapes- $.99/lb, strawberries- $1.50/lb, oranges- 4lb/$1

So the above is all I need to make all of those dinners. I just base my menu around what I have in my freezer/shelves and also what's on sale. Of course I will be buying more than just that short list to add to my food storage. I buy multiples of things when they are super cheap so that I'm not paying through my ears (paying through my ears?!!) when I really do need to have them. Plus, it makes me feel fancy.

Oops! I forgot the sour cream!

So I remembered this afternoon I didn't get sour cream at Walmart- they were out. Out? Out. I had to run out to pick some up at Smiths where it was on sale.

I bought:

a reusable grocery bag, reg. $.99

* had a credit on my Smiths card for a free bag
* FREE

3 Buddie Bars, reg. $.97 each

* had $3 off 3 Johnson and Johnson products catalina
* FREE
* printed off a $2.50 off 3 J & J catalina

3 bags of dog treats, reg. $3.25 each
* on clearance for $1.39 each
* used 3 $1 coupons
* $.39 each

Sour cream, reg. $1.32
* on sale for $1

Plus they gave SamSam a balloon! How fun.

Retails at: $16.08

Total Spent: $2.23

Percent Off: 86%

Taco Shells

Again, I had to pop into Albertson's today and snag another set of shells. Just like the refried beans, you buy 4 and it prints out a $3 catalina. You can use that catalina to pay for any thing you want at Albertsons, including another set of 4 shells that will, you guessed it, spit out another $3 catalina. Fun, fun. FYI, the shells and beans are on sale for $1 each through tonight.

So the total was $4.00

I paid with a $3 catalina I got from the refried beans yesterday (see below)

Out of pocket: $1.12, plus another $3 catalina printed.

So this below cost me $1.12 and would have retailed at about $9. That's 88% off!

Refried Beans are Delicious

So I hit Albertsons again today. Apparently they have a few more deals I needed to snatch up.

Taco Bell Refried Beans, reg. $1.29

* on sale for $1 each

* buy 4, get a $3 catalina

* after you buy the 1st set, use the catalina to pay the next transaction, prints a catalina

* final price: 25 cents! nice

Challenge Butter, reg. $4.29

* on sale for $2

* use $.55 coupons- in a blinkie right next to it

* buy 2 and get a $.55 catalina- it prints before you pay, you can use to pay right then

* final price: $1.18 each

Daviola Peppers, reg. $3.19

* on clearance for 10 cents

Retails for: $32.49

Paid: $5.99

That's 82% off

The butter and beans are on sale through Tuesday night.

Albersons

I LOVE Albertson's sales. They are like a complicated game, like Nerts, one that I want to play all the time if only I had someone to play with me. 

That analogy went off track somewhere...

Anyway, I went out this morning and had a great time. Matt stayed home with Sam so I was free to think with my whole brain, which this sale requires. I spent $29. To put that into perspective, this below retails for just over that.

However, I am a Bargain Shopper, so not only did I get the above, but check out this picture below. This all was $29! Yes, I know it is a lot of prepackaged stuff, but sometimes I'm in a hurry and need a quick meal, ok. We don't eat that for dinner every night. Sheesh, leave me alone. What are you, the Dinner Police?

So I got 5 Bertolli meals, Breyers ice cream, Jello Pudding, Can't Believe Its Not Butter, 4 taco shells, 2 salsas, 4 Knorr Sides, Italian Dressing Mix, 2 Lipton Onion Soup, 12 pounds of ham, and 5ish pounds of chicken.

There are 2 deals going on. The first is the Unilever rebate: spend $40 on participating products and get up to $20 rebate for a ham or turkey, whatever the meat costs. The rebate was in a coupon insert in last Sunday's paper. The second is an Albersons deal where you spend $25 on participating items and get $10 in free meat. A lot of their items overlap so I just made sure I spent at least $40 in Unilever items.

Clear as mud? I know. It took me forever to figure it out. Pinching Your Pennies here http://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118742

talks you through it. Good luck!

That checkout was fun. Before I entered my card number my total was $113! Yikes! Then it came down to a little over $50 (I did 2 $25 at once and got 2 $10 in free meat) and after coupons and tax it was $41.79. I will send in my rebate and get $12.60 back for the ham. Presto! $29.

Retails: $113

Spent: $29

Percentage Off: 75%

Oh yeah! And I got 2 10% future purchases coupons and a $3 catalina (like gift card)

Walmart. Oh joy.

Walmart stresses me out. It's too big with not enough help. And heaven forbid Matt come with me- he is so not a shopper and hates crowds. Just shoot me. However, this turned out to be a very pleasant shopping trip. Between coupons, Walmart's sales, and price matching (a beautiful thing!) I felt pretty good. For so much produce, I thought I didn't spend that much. Especially considering that I used to spend over $100 every time I entered Wallies doors. I just couldn't resist their flashy low prices and store brand canned goods. 

Total Spent: $21.05

And I put that kernel of corn there on the corner of the picture just to make you all feel like better homemakers. Aren't I nice?

Hooray! Joy's Dumb Deals!

So I'm now limiting my annoying sharing of deals to this web site. Maybe that will keep my family blog from being blacklisted on every family/friends blog we know? Maybe not. I just HAVE to share my great deals. To everyone I know. A couple of times each.

 

Anyway, here's my obnoxious sharing of my deals today:

Albertsons favorites (no double coupons in Utah. boo.):

3 boxes of Kellogg's Special K cereal, reg. $4.69

   * on sale for $2.49 each

   * used 3 $1.50 coupons

   * used in store coupon for free eggs

   * payed $3 

   * printed out a catalina (coupon) for a free gallon of milk

So for $3 I got 3 boxes of cereal, 18 eggs, and a gallon of milk. Nice.

Walgreens favorites:

Glade lasting Impressions Kit, reg. $5.99

   * $2 rebate

   * used $4 coupon

   * Free!

Visine, reg. $3.99

   * bought 2 in each transaction

   * used 2 $3 coupons

   * $.99 each AND

   * prints out a $3 Register Reward (gift card) when you buy 2

Oust Surface and Air Sanitizer, reg. $2.99

   * $1 rebate

   * used $2 coupon

   * Free!

Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste, reg. $3.49

   * used $.75 coupon

   * $2.74 each AND

   * prints out a $3.50 Register Reward

I had so much fun this morning! 

Albertsons total spent: $7.18

                       retails at: $25.43

                   percent off: 71%

Walgreens total spent: $13.43

     rebates applied for: $9.00

              adjusted total: $4.43

                      retails at: $89.00                  

                  percent off:  95%

PLUS got $16.50 in Register Rewards