Shopping trip today

I have to admit, when I became a coupon addict a few months past, Walgreens was my store of preference. Me and others have noticed a decline in the number of great deals and FREEBIES! Even one manager told me they have reduced their ads to only 8 pages. There are still good deals but not great like I was used to!

In my classes, I tell people to check many sites to help with their couponing such as www.hip2save.com, it's by far the site I check the most. I just wanted to caution you about relying on information posted about the Walgreen's sales before you load up your coupons and head out. 3 or 4 of the specials (Mentos, Excedrin, Scotch tape) that I had on my list of deals to grab were not listed in my weekly flier and were not on sale. So I drove 10 minutes out of my way Walgreens and left with 10 posterboards for .09 each ( I know, this is a good deal) and a package of free pens. But I thought the sales were going to be fantastic so I made the extra effort to get there this morning before we head out on vacation tomorrow.

So, just watch what you see online on these sites, while they are a FABULOUS resource, none of the main sites are based in Michigan so some of the sales can vary by region. Just wanted to save everyone some time.

I did snag some great deals at CVS! We love the convenience of Crocs but hate the price. My son's pair from last year are wearing out and I went to Dick's Sporting Goods and paid $30 for a basic pair of Navy crocs. After coming home, I realized that was a dumb purchase. CVS like many others has knock-off Crocs for $5.99. I can get 5 pair for what I paid for one, so I got some for both of my kids for this year and next! THe school supplies are great there this week too!

Rite Aid is having a good sale if you take advantage of the Kimberly Clark promotion. You can purchase tons of razors and get a big money maker. I went first thing this morning and of course they didn't have enough, but I did collect a raincheck so I should be able to get enough to snag another $25.00 gift card! YIPPEE! Go to www.hip2save.com for more details on the promo, look under Rite Aid.

This week's shopping trips

I had a great time shopping this week and scored some great deals! Many people ask me "how much can you really save by clipping coupons"? Well, I am going to start posting my weekly totals for you!

Week of July 12th

Value of products: $358.78

Paid: $85.20, a savings of 77% before you figure in the rebates I will receive

I will receive $33.66 in rebates and I received $23.00 in ECB's at CVS and $15.00 in Register Rewards at Walgreens to use on future purchases.

If I figured in what I will get in rebates and the store "credits", my out of pocket would be $13.54, a savings of 97%.

Great deals on Pantene!

I discovered a great deal on Pantene products at Walmart! They carry trial/travel size products for .97 each. You can buy two of the trial sized items (one shampoo, one conditioner) and then get a free styling or treatment product for free. I used (1) coupon that was 1.00 off ANY two Pantene Products and in conjunction, I used the recent Buy One Shampoo and Conditioner and receive a FREE style or treatment product.

I didn't have any problems with this at my Walmart on Pontiac Trial but my friend did incur an issue but she was using a different coupon for the two trial sized products. I ended up paying 1.00 and got two small bottles of Pantene and a nize sized hair mask treatment! This deal did go through at the u-scan line at Meijer also.

Remember if you incur a problem to explain to the cashiers that the coupon states on ANY shampoo or conditioner. This coupon showed products that had a green top on them, it is fairly recent. The free product coupon was from the recent P & G insert 4th of July weekend.

Happy Shopping :)

Gotta love the deals at Meijer!

Value of items: $123.53
Paid: $35.80, a savings of 71%

I will receive a $10.00 rebate from Kelloggs so my out of pocket expense will be $25.80

I scored some great deals at Meijer today! As you can see, with the money I paid, I got a huge box of Miracle Grow (9.99), 1lb of lunch meat for 6.23, 8 boxes of cereal, 6 boxes of the MEGA sized Electrasol, 12 bottles of Kraft dressing and few other things here and there. It did take me a long time to check out, so long that I did just phone the store manager, 40 minutes is too long! Every time I gave them a Meijer mealbox coupon, the clerk had to come and approve it (since I went through the u-scan line, easier to do multiple transactions this way). I want to prove to everyone that couponing works!

UNBELIEVABLE DEALS AT CVS-HURRY!

I scanned my ad this afternoon and literally raced right to CVS! I wanted to share with you the unbelievable deals I found!

I started out with $21.00 in extra care bucks, which is unusually high but I scored a great deal on some Febreeze products last week!

They are having excellent deals until Monday on school supplies and a few other things. Remember, I always teach that you should only use ecb's on products that will in turn give you ecb's back (or at least I try hard to do this!)

Here is a list of what I purchased and below I will show you exactly how I did the transaction, I did get the limit's worth on the school supplies:

.99¢ ECB wyb Caliber or CVS 1 Subject Notebook at .99¢ Free after ECB limit 2

.99¢ ECB wyb Paper Mate Grip pens 8ct at .99¢ Free after ECB limit 3

.99¢ ECB wyb Caliber or CVS school glue 5oz at .99¢ Free after ECB limit 2

.99¢ ECB wyb Caliber or CVS 12″ ruler at .99¢ Free after ECB limit 2

Portfolio 2 Pocket Folders, .05¢ ea limit 10

$4 ECB wyb Gillette Fusion manual or power razor $7.99 limit 1
-$4 off Gillette Fusion Manual or Power Razor PG 6/07 (makes it FREE)

$3 ECB wyb Tylenol arthritis or 8 hour 20-24 ct. $3.99 limit 3
-$2 off Tylenol Arthritis RP 5/17, SS 6/21

Purex Detergent 2x or Complete 3-in-1, B1G1

-$2 off Purex 3-in1, recent ad
-$1/2 Purex Detergent SS 6/14

$1 ECB wyb 2% Milk 1.99

There are red kiosk machines in each CVS, make sure you scan your card under it every time, almost every day I shop there a coupon prints out that says $5 off purchase of $25.00, this helps to get diapers and other items very cheap!

Transaction

(2) Caliber or CVS 1 Subject Notebook at .99¢ Free after ECB

(3) Paper Mate Grip pens 8ct at .99¢ Free after ECB

(2) Caliber or CVS school glue 5oz at .99¢ Free after ECB

(2) Caliber or CVS 12″ ruler at .99¢ Free after ECB

Portfolio 2 Pocket Folders, .05¢ ea

2% Milk 1.99

(1) Gillette Fusion manual or power razor $7.99
-$4 off Gillette Fusion Manual or Power Razor PG 6/07 (makes it FREE)

(3) Tylenol arthritis or 8 hour 20-24 ct. $3.99
-$2 off Tylenol Arthritis RP 5/17, SS 6/21

Purex Detergent 2x or Complete 3-in-1, B1G1

-$1 internet printable coupon

I used my 5 off 25 coupon first, then handed them my mfg coupons. I gave them my $21.00 in ecb's and I paid 4.17 and received $49.34 in products (that is their value with the sale price, not their normal retail price) and the kicker is that I rolled all my ecb's and received $24.00 to use at a future date! I was thrilled beyond belief! Essentially, I got almost all the items for free but by using the 5 off 25, I was able to get the detergent for $1.50 each!

I'm trying to make these transactions very duplicable for all you beginners :) If you are starting out with just a few ecb's, start with the school supplies and donate them if you don't need them. They will be free after the ecb's and then you can buy some other items that on ecb's as well. Remember to buy in small transactions so you can roll the ecb's. I was able to do one large transaction since I started with so many. I am running low on some cleaning supplies so I'm hoping that they run a sale on those in the near future so I can use money that's not out of my pocket, remember, that is the WHOLE IDEA :)

Had to share my success today in hopes to inspire some of you to try your hand at CVS to get these deals. Remember the school supplies are only available through Tuesday!

Kmart & CVS Success!

This is an email I received from a recent student:

Hello Dawn,

Thanks alot for coming to Keller Williams and teaching your class!! Wow I think I am addicted.. I was shopping all day today and I got some unbelievable deals.. from CVS and Kmart. I would not have been able to do this if I had not come to your class.

It was so much fun!!! I am even getting into rolling my ECB's at CVS.

I am just getting ready to add up all my receipts and see how good I did, I was proud of myself at Kmart - I spent about $95.00 and only had to pay $19.58 and I got Kmart a $10 coupon to use on my next purchase of $10. All stuff I needed!

So I went back and got 7 boxes of Kelllog cereal and 2 boxes of Pop-tarts with of course $1,00 coupons for each box doubled to $2. used my $10 coupon and only paid $7.01 out of pocket. Not bad for a new timer yeah?? I was happy until I came home and found out if I had bought one more Kellogg box I could have gotten a $10 rebate from Kellogg, making it a $2.99 money maker!!! Oh Well live and learn!

Thanks a million. I think I am addicted, no I know I am addicted - my husband and my nephew were very impressed!!!

Have I mentioned that I LOVE the new Purex 3 in 1?

I am in love with this product. It is simple to use as I have a front loading machine and my 16 month old almost makes me spill the liquid as I'm pouring it in every time so throwing in a sheet is so simple! It leaves the clothes smelling WONDERFUL! I personally like the Spring scent over the Tropical.

CVS has a great buy on these this week!

They are buy one get one free. Purchase 2 and use (2) $2.00 off mfg coupons (were in coupon inserts a few weeks ago), your total cost should be around $5.00 for 2. You can't beat 20 loads of wash which includes your fabric softener and dryer sheet for $2.50!

POSSIBLY FREE ELECTROSOL AT MEIJER

According to my friend Laura's site, http://sharpenyourscissors.blogspot.com, in the comments section it is posted that Meijer will have Electrosol on sale starting tomorrow for 3.00. There will be a high dollar coupon in tomorrow's inserts for $2.50 off. Several months ago, I got 6 tall boxes of the powder and paid .50 each. I haven't used any yet (still working through my Cascade) but if they are free, you better believe I'm there!

You might want to grab a few extra papers tomorrow!

I will try to do this deal early in the week to make sure it works and will let you know! If you go and they are out of stock, GET A RAINCHECK :)

Dawn

Great Deals at Meijer this week

Here is a list of great deals I'll be grabbing this week at Meijer:

Kellogg's cereal 5 for $9, use $1.00 mfg coupon = $.80 each

Kellogg's Pop Tarts 5 for $9, use $1.00/2 mfg coupon = $1.30 each

Snyder's Pretzels 2 for $4, use $1.00 mfg coupon = $1.00 each

Pam Cooking Spray & Wesson Oil 2 for $4, use .35 PAM mfg coupon (will double) = $1.30

Planters Nuts 2 for $5.00, use $1.00 internet coupon & $1.00 mealbox coupon = $.50!

Good Seasons Dressing Mix 5 for $5, use 1.00/2 Mealbox coupon = $.50 each

Cool Whip (Lg container) 2 for $3, use $1.00/2 Mealbox coupon = $1.00 each

Mott's Apple Sauce or Apple Juice 3 for $5, use 1.00/2 Mealbox coupon = $1.17 each
(Mealbox coupon is listed under juices and it is good for either juice or applesauce)

Starkist Tuna 4 for $5, use .50 mealbox = $.75 each

Kraft Special = Buy any 3 participating products (Kraft Salad dressing, Kraft Mayo, Kraft Miracle Whip) and get $2.00 off next shopping trip, Buy any 4 and get $4.00 off next shopping trip

I plan to purchase in transactions of 4 items to get as many $4.00 off as possible
Transaction 1
4 Kraft Salad Dressings at $1.67 each
Use (4) $1.50 off mfg coupon ( I got these off a tearpad in a store in TN)
= .68 out of pocket and I will receive a $4.00 off my next purchase

There are recent $1.00 mfg coupons if you don't have $1.50 coupons so, this would bring your out of pocket total to $2.68 but you will get $4.00 off your next purchase.

I will repeat this transaction again as I have (9) 1.50 coupons

Transaction 3
4 Kraft Salad Dressings at $1.67 each
Use 1 remaining 1.50 off coupon & (3) 1.00 mfg coupons
= 2.18 out of pocket and I will receive $4.00 off my next purchase

By doing this Kraft promotion, I will get 12 bottles of salad dressing, pay 3.54 out of pocket and earn $12.00 to spend later. I am not sure if I can use (3) 4.00 off your next order coupons all together but if not, I will use them separately to purchase the above items for the week! Granted, I do not need this many bottles of salad dressing but I will gladly donate them or marinate and freeze chicken using them!

Welcome to my blog!

Hello everyone! Through my coupon classes, I have met some amazing individuals who share a love of SAVING MONEY! I've created this blog so that I may share deals with you on a regular basis and not inundate your email! As many of you know, I shop all the time and find awesome deals regularly that I would love to share with everyone.

My calendar for August is fairly open so if you'd like to host a class at your home, work or church let me know. People have been absolutely amazed that you can trim 50%-70% off your monthly budget by clipping coupons and following blogs!

I have really enjoyed helping women save money and it feels wonderful to give back to others with items that I have gotten for free! The charity portion of my classes has helped a wide range of individuals and that has been very fulfilling for me. I am beginning to partner with various church groups to help give back to worthwhile causes like mission trips and youth programs.

Please continue to email me your questions and by all means, share a deal of your own!