My son broke my laptop screen

I have been MIA all week because my 2 year flicked my iphone charger against the back of my laptop screen and the entire LCD screen went out.

I did want to tell you that I did get over 200.00 worth of diapers this week for FREE between Rite Aid and CVS. I used some of my gift cards that I just received for rebates through Rite Aid and a lot of my ecb's that I had piled up from CVS, I rolled many of them and my neighbor let me use her card so I could get more also.

Please check out www.HIP2SAVE.com to see the scenarios. Word to the wise, her site says there's a limit of 3 packages of Pampers at CVS and I did transactions of 3 but it only gave me ecb's back for 2, so they manually printed the 3rd. They may not do this at another store though because the ad does state a limit of 2.

But these were some awesome deals, I got 18 packages of diapers and I was thrilled. My CVS will take Rite Aid's 5 off 25 competitor coupon too. I asked to talk to a mgr before I went shopping since I went to a new store and they had no problems but ask first!

These diaper deals end today so go grab some yourself :) I will try to post as often as possible but Dell thinks they might have my computer for a few days.

Freebies at Target

My friend Jolyn over at Macomb Money Savers gave me a great rundown of items that were free or next to free at Target. Some items I bought I didn't picture but I will list them. Today, I ended up with 23 items for free and several I got with a few pennies of overage because my coupons were for 1.00 and several items were .97 or .99, gotta love overage!

Here's a list that I got from Jolyn's website of the breakdown:

$0.97 Johnson’s Buddies Bar (regular price)
-$1.00/1 coupon (from 3-7 RP) or printable coupon here or here
FREE after coupon – great charity donation!
***This coupon beeps every time but it is a baby toiletry item and I've never had a problem, but just a heads up that they might question it.

$0.97 Gillette Satin Care Shave Gel, trial size (regular price)
-$1.00/1 coupon (from 2-7 or 3-7 PG)
FREE after coupon

$1.82 Kids’ Band-Aid Bandages, 20 ct (regular price)
-$1.00/1 coupon (from 1-3 RP)
-$1.00/1 Target printable coupon (click on “Kids Spring Savings”), limit 1 per transaction
FREE after coupon – great charity donation!

$1.99 Oral B Stages Toothbrush (price cut through 4-17)
-$1.00/1 coupon (from 2-7 PG)
-$1.00/1 Target printable coupon (click on “Kids Spring Savings”), limit 1 per transaction
FREE after coupon – great charity donation! – thanks, Hip2Save!

$0.99 Reach Floss, 55 yd (regular price)
-$1.00/1 coupon (from 6-14 SS, 10-18 RP, 1-3 RP, or 3-7 RP) or printable coupon (when you register)
FREE after coupon – great charity donation!

$3.50 Hanes Kids’ Crew Socks, 6 pk
-$1.00/1 printable Target coupon (click on “Kids Spring Savings”), limit 1 per transaction
$2.50 after coupon

GIFT CARD & “GET ITEM FREE” DEALS:
$2.50 Kellogg’s Frosted Mini Wheats Cereal, 18 oz
*Get a $5 Target gift card when you buy 4*
-$1.50/2 printable coupon here or here, or $1.00/2 coupon (from 3-7 RP), use 2, or $1.50/3 printable coupon, use 1
$0.50-$0.88 each when you buy 4 after coupons and gift card savings

I had a 5.00 gift card from a previous promotion so I used that to pay for these and if I would have brought more coupons with me, I could have done the transaction over a few times but I have tons of cereal in my basement as it is :) Only wish that this was good on the chocolate Mini wheats, my friend got me hooked on those! They taste just like cocoa puffs!

Deals I found at Costco

I'll be the first one to admit that I don't encourage a lot of people to shop at Costco frequently but I did find what I thought were some pretty decent deals. None of these are "I must get in my car right now and head over there" deals but will save you several dollars. I wanted to share with you a few things that I found that I use a lot that will save me several dollars by purchasing them in bulk. These are items that most often, I am not able to get fantastic deals on or just coupons.

So, here's the breakdown:

Trash bags (200 ct) 11.59
*The last deal I got on trash bags was 1.00 for 15 Kroger brand, which breaks down to .066 a bag, the Costco bags break down to .057 a bag. I will tell you that the Costco bags are a much higher quality and drawstring and the Kroger bags were not.

**This is an item that I know you can get good deals on when there is a great sale but I was out of bags so I went with the best deal that would last me awhile.

Vegetable Oil 6.39
*This is a large container and even buying store brand, I normally pay about 2.99 for a large bottle, this large container will fill my large BOTTLE about 3 1/2 times so I figure a savings of about $4.00.

Organic Olive Oil 10.99
*We use a lot of olive oil and I normally buy store brand which runs abut 4.99 for a small bottle. I will be able to fill my small bottle about 3 times which will yield a savings of around $4.00.

Lunch Meat - Honey Turkey 7.01
*I found their lunch to be very inexpensive at 3.85 a pound and it tastes really good

Canned Mushrooms 5.79 for 12
*I use canned mushrooms for a variety of things and when I buy store brand they run about .59, so this is a savings of $1.29

Breadcrumbs 4.49
*I think this is a great deal. I use bread crumbs for a lot of things and normally I am buying a container every few weeks. Buying a 24oz container at Meijer runs 2.49, the amount I bought is equal to almost 4 containers, so this is a savings of over 5.00.

I also bought a large package of cheese, it was in the refrigerated dairy section, I did not include it in the picture because I opened it. It comes with 120 slices or 5 lbs and was 8.38. We were out and I knew all of this would get used fairly quickly so this broke down to about 7.5 packages of cheese that have 16 slices. This comes to about 1.12 a package and I thought this was a decent deal because, I don't remember being able to buy it recently for under 1.00. One thing you should know is that it is not individually wrapped.

So, maybe you'll find some of the deals will be worth your time, I was overall pretty happy with my purchases :)

FREE Snickers bars at Kroger

I don't know about you but I just have not been very impressed with the sale ads for Kroger or Meijer in awhile! I normally go to Kroger to get my staple items that I need each week since it's closer than Meijer unless I know I'll be going a big trip at Meijer. Thanks to Jolyn at Macomb Money Savers, I scored 12 free Snickers bars today.

$0.50 Snickers, 3 Musketeers or Skittles Singles
-$0.50/2 Snickers coupon (from 2-21 RP)
FREE when you buy 2 Snickers with coupon

(this content above was provided on her website, Macomb Money Savers...thanks Jolyn, my hips are not going to be thanking you...he he)

Also, I was walking past the OJ and my family loves it but I hate paying almost 3.00 a container for their Tropicana:) Well, I noticed that 75% of the Tropicana on the shelves were expiring in 2 days. I had already hit up the reduced meat area and got some great deals there and I spotted a gentlemen with a name tag and asked him to come over. I told him that almost all the OJ was going to be expiring in two days and I was surprised it wasn't marked down. To make a long story short, the Dairy Mgr wasn't available for me to talk to but they welcomed me to go to the service counter. So, of course I did and they were happy to mark the 4 containers I was going to buy 50% off. Therefore, if something is close to expiring, don't be afraid to ask if they will mark it down :)

The items that I go to Kroger almost every week to get reduced prices on are bread and meat. We go through tons of bread here so when I can get a whole loaf under .50 and throw it in the freezer, I normally buy about 3-4 loaves a week.

SPECTACULAR DEAL !

Many of you know that I'm a Director with Southern Living at HOME. We just found out this morning that our very best seller, the Astoria Flatware Caddy is being permanently retired on Friday. I can't imagine why but I didn't want to let the opportunity go by without offering this at my discount of 25% off. This piece has 100's of uses and it's the one piece that catches everyone's eye at all of my home parties.

It retails for 69.96, I am offering a 25% discount off that price along with 12% shipping and 6% tax. So, I'm selling this at my cost, I'm doing this so you can benefit because it's a piece I LOVE so much!

Please let me know ASAP if you are interested as this is probably going to sell out, I need all orders by March 11th. Pick up (if you are in Metro Detroit) would be at my house, if you are in another area, we can work out the arrangements.

Here's a little bit more of a description:
This great, versatile caddy will make your tabletop shine. With four removable, thick glass caddies, stainless steel base & trim, and heavy weight, you simply can't go wrong.

It can be used in both formal and casual settings.

- removable handle for added versatility

- 4 removable glass caddies

- use each glass caddy as an individual vase or dish

- simple elegange and functionality in one beautiful container

Not intended for microwave or oven use.
Glass is dishwasher safe.
Hand wash the stand for best results.
Stand is not food safe.
Pick up the caddy by its base for maximum support.

8 1/4" x 8 1/4 " x 1 1 1/2" tall

This is a piece you will own for YEARS!!!

Favorite deals at Meijer this week

It's pretty slim pickings at Meijer this and even slimmer at Kroger...but, here are my favorites for the week. Thanks to Jolyn at Macomb Money Savers, she is INCREDIBLE at putting these together!

$1.99 Post Classic Raisin Bran, 20 oz
-$2.00/1 printable coupon
FREE after coupon – great charity donation!
Bonus: Buy 4 Post Cereals (10 oz+) in one transaction, get a $3.00 checkout coupon valid on your next order. Buy 5 or more, get $4.00.

$0.69 Simply Asia Seasoning Mixes, packet (price drop through Mar 7)
-$0.50/1 coupon (from 2-7 RP)
FREE after coupon – Thanks, Makin’ It In Michigan!

$0.99 Frank’s RedHot Sauce, 5 oz (regular price – may vary by location)
-$0.50/1 coupon (from 12-13 or 1-24 SS)
FREE after coupon*

$0.99 Gatorade G2 Sports Drink, 32 oz (regular price – may vary by location)
-$0.50/1 coupon (from 1-10 RP, exp 4-10)
FREE after coupon*

$1.29 Starkist Sandwich Ready Tuna Pouch, 3 oz (price drop through Mar 7)
-$1.00/1 printable coupon
$0.29 after coupon – great charity donation!

$0.89 Barilla Piccolini or Whole Grain Pasta, 12-16 oz select varieties
-$1.00/2 coupon (from 3-7 SS), if our area paper receives this amount
$0.39 each when you buy 2 with coupon

$2.49 Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Bars, 10.4 oz select varieties
-$1.00/2 coupon (from 2-7 RP)
$1.99 each when you buy 2 with coupon

$0.40 Dannon Yogurt, 6 oz cups
-$0.75/6 printable coupon (print 2 per computer)
$0.28 each when you buy 6 with coupon

$2.00 Yoplait Yoplus+ or Fiber One Yogurt, 4 ct 4 oz (price drop through Mar 21)
-$1.00/1 Yoplus coupon (from 2-7 GM) $1.00/1 Yoplus and Fiber One printables
$1.00 after coupon

$2.00 Dannon Coolision or Danonino Yogurt, 6 pk (price drop through Mar 21)
-$1.00/1 coupon (from 2-7 or 2-28 SS)
$1.00 after coupon

$1.50 Oscar Mayer Meat Hot Dogs, 16 oz (excludes beef, cheese & fat free)
Bonus: Buy 2 or more in one transaction, get a $2.00 checkout coupon valid on your next order.
$0.50 each after checkout coupon savings

Ongoing great deals on bread

We consume a lot of bread in this household, especially when it is fresh, I can sit down and eat half a loaf! I'm also known to make 4 slices of toast and spray my favorite "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray on it so that the butter flavor I like has no calories. Believe me I love the fancy dancy breads that sell for over 2.00 a loaf. But my Kindergartner really only likes white bread for his daily peanut butter and jelly. For at least the last month, I've been able to pick up Kroger brand bread for under .50 a loaf. The other day I picked up 6 loafs at .39 each and the expiration date wasn't until 4 days later. So, when you are shopping for bread, and you can go in the morning to do it (which is when they mark it all down), look for the bright yellow and red tags that say clearance. I buy normally 4-6 which last us about 2 weeks and I throw them in the freezer.


I just wanted to pass this deal along so you can enjoy some bread savings as well! Also, they have the reduced hot dog and hamburger buns like this ALL THE TIME!!

How far will your detergent go?

Many of you will think this is silly but I have been wondering how far my 3x All Small & Mighty 32 load laundry detergent will go. You see, my friend Laura suggested that we try a smaller amount on everyday stuff and it got me thinking. So, I started marking on my bottle how many loads I'm doing so I can see how far it goes. I use about half of what they recommend which is a tiny amount, it's just barely enough to cover the bottom of the dispenser on our HE washer. But I haven't noticed any difference in our clothes. So, maybe this will inspire you to use less detergent, less shampoo and less on other things to make our freebies and very inexpensive items last even longer...I'm laughing as I'm typing this because it just sounds so FRUGAL! A lot of people don't mind wasting especially when they got it so cheap or free but I like to make it last without sacrificing the end result!

$1.00 All Detergent last day at Family Dollar

I saw this deal but I wanted to verify that the coupons would work before I posted this. The coupon states 2.00 off any 50 oz or greater and the ad didn't specify. But I did grab 5 detergents for 1.00 each. Believe me, I don't need laundry detergent but I can't pass up the opportunity to get it for 1.00 each since I know it will get used and it will give me at least 30 loads worth for 1.00! And the type they had at this store was one I hadn't seen before in most other stores but it said safe in HE washers which is exactly what I need! So, if you want some 1.00 detergent, today is your day, hurry up! I'm not sure if they will extend a raincheck or not. You could always take the ad to Target and see if they will price match!

Interestingly enough, I asked them if they had anymore and she said no. I said how I loved how inexpensive they were with the coupon and she said "yeah, it's pretty stupid of corporate, they should wait to put this stuff on sale until after the coupons expire". Well, that opened up a whole can of worms. I tried to politely educate her that their company isn't really losing money since they will get reimbursed the 2.00 plus a handling fee. She still didn't seem to buy it but whatever, I got my detergent and that's what I went in for :) She was nice but it's amazing to me how uneducated the clerks are about coupons. I may just call their corporate offices to let them know....not to complain, I will not do that unless someone has been HORRIBLE to me, but just to tell them that they might want to educate their staff on how coupons work, because it seems logical that if you are going to accept mfg. coupons, you should know how they work, right? I felt bad that this lady thought their company was losing money on them when she told me their store is very, very slow and they've never even hit budget. There was maybe 3 of us in the store and she told me that is the normal pace, VERY SLOW. So, maybe her accepting coupons at such a high value makes her worry a bit about her job if she thinks the store is losing money. A little food for thought. Maybe I should try to find an article online about coupon redemption and when I have someone who obviously doesn't know how the process works, I can give it to them :) Might make for friendly transactions for many of us :) Luckily my cashier wasn't rude but I still felt bad as I was leaving!

Picking and choosing my deals

I have a 2 year old so I'm having to pick and choose my deals a lot lately. I find that taking him to too many stores to try to grab all the deals ends up frustrating for both of us. He simply doesn't have the patience and likes to attempt to crawl out of the carts. So, I've been really picking and choosing my deals lately. I know that when I first started mega couponing, I would run out to get every deal but now, I'm pickier.

The stores I frequent the most are Meijer, Kroger, Rite Aid, and CVS. It always takes us FOREVER to check out at Walgreens and it's about 15 minutes from me so it's the farthest store from me. And the Register Rewards expire within 2 weeks and my store just won't accept any even if they are one day old and I ask permission. So, for me, its a rarity that I go to Walgreens. Additionally, it seems everyone else in the country has a much bigger ad than Metro Detroit, I think our ad is half the size. So, many of the deals on websites that I frequent don't apply to our stores here.

So, what I'm trying to say is I've tried hard to find balance in the household. Not many kids want to be stuck in a grocery cart for a long amount of time and so I don't venture out as much as I used to. But I will tell you that the savings my family has seen has been tremendous. My husband and I recently put me on a allowance/budget. So, I get money every 2 weeks and when it's gone, it's gone. This has helped me A LOT because I would do tons of 1.00 and 2.00 transactions and didn't realize how they could add up!

Another great recipe

Here's a fantastic recipe from my friend Jolyn at Macomb Money Savers for Lemon Rice Pilaf. I made it yesterday and it was delicious. You could even add fresh asparagus to it. It was very easy to make, however, you need to make sure you have enough ingredients on hand. Almost took a whole small box of rice, 2-3 lemons to get the fresh lemon juice, it took one large container (like the paper container) of chicken broth plus half of a can I had in the pantry. Also, prepare this in your extra large skillet.

Enjoy...believe me, I did!

Thanks Jolyn!

Meijer Shopping Trip

I went to Meijer yesterday and had a pretty good trip. My total out of pocket was $63.29, I saved $77.70 for a savings of 59%.

Keep in mind that I bought 6 packages of Johnsonville Brats with a raincheck and bought about 12.00 in juice.

Some of my favorite were Quaker Oatmeal at .88/box after 1.00 coupon, Ziploc bags that were .70 after coupons, but then I bought 4 boxes on two different transactions so I could submit for 10.00 in rebates. I haven't bought ziplocs since the beginning of the school year and I just ran out so it pays to stock up on these, Strawberries were 1.69 (and they were delicious!).

So, I will be receiving 10.00 back in rebates from these purchases :)

Cousin's corner!

Here's another tip/recipe from my cousin Pam! She comes up with some great one and I love that she always gives credit, where credit is due! Thanks Pam!

Brown Sugar Scrub

baking soda
white sugar
brown sugar
sea salt
olive oil
vanilla extract

In a bowl, add 3 tablespoons of white sugar, 3 tablespoons brown sugar; add tablespoon of sea salt, add tablespoon baking soda; stir until lumps are gone; should be smooth and basically one color; add tablespoon of olive oil, stir in; keep adding half spoonfuls of the oil, keep stirring until your scrub has the consistency of slush (I ended up using 3 tablespoons total); Add two drops of Vanilla and stir (I probably used a teaspoon).

This recipe is from Shiela Pierson, found at instructables.com

February totals

Here is my spending in February:

Spent: 398.69

Saved: 550.10

Savings of 61%

Rebates due to receive for February spending: 58.49

My out of pocket spending was a little higher than usual but I did stock up on chicken and I did pay for my son's 2nd birthday party with this amount spent as well.

My Favorite Recipe of ALL TIME!

I wanted to share with you my favorite recipe that is from my Aunt Peggy in California. I've been eating this dish since I was 9!

Cheese Strata

6 slices bread, toast each piece and butter ( I used I can't believe it's not butter spray, no calories and no difference in taste!)

Stack the toast and cut into cubes

Spray a 9 x 13 pyrex dish and arrange the bread cubes in the pan, yes that is my son's hand in the picture!

Beat together 4 eggs, 2 cups milk

Layer a 2 cup bag of shredded cheddar cheese and a small bag of cubed ham on top of the toast. Then pour the egg mixture on top. Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight.

Bake at 350 degrees for approx. 45 minutes (cooking less than this has resulting in it turning out a little runny), I've played around with the time for many years and at this temp and time, it seems to let the egg and bread set well.

This is a fantastic dish, it does vary slightly from my Aunt's original recipe but its a keeper in my house!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have over the years!

Incredible deals at CVS!

I read on Hip2Save about Huggies wipes in the super mega big packages for 2.50, normally 7.99. They didn't have a sale sticker but when I scanned them under the red machine towards the front of the store, they said 2/5.00. Here's a fantastic transaction I made today:

5 packages of Huggies Wipes (enough to fill 3 tubs) 2.50 each
Spiderman valentines 75% off .75
2 Softsoaps at .88 each
1 Earinse 7.99 (free after ECB)
1 Colgate Max Toothpast 2.99

I used 2 .50 coupons from the March issue of All You for the Softsoap, one 1.00 coupon for the Colgate out of a recent All You and I used a 5 off 25 coupon. I have tons of ECBS so I'm trying to burn some, so I used a 10.00 ECB and a 9.00 ECB. I paid 1.22 out of pocket and received a 2.00 ECB for the toothpaste and a 7.99 ECB for the earinse.

Value of the products was 62.42, I saved 98%! I left plenty of wipes on the shelves in Walled Lake so I hope some of you can score this deal. I didn't take my coupon bin so I'm not sure if there are recent mfg coupons for these.

Favorite Store?

What is your favorite store to shop at with coupons? Mine is probably CVS, they seem to always have good deals. I got out of Walgreens because it was the farthest for me to drive and my store never seemed to have stock. For some reason, check out always took FOREVER and there were times that the register would not take my coupons and the manager couldn't even get them to push through. It became aggravating so I just avoid it unless there is a really hot deal! I have so many ECB's from CVS, I don't even know what to do with them! I had about 50-60.00 at one time!

Would love to hear your favorite place to coupon :)

Rebates

I am amazed at how much I have already received in rebates since the beginning of the year! 87.98 to be exact and I have another 75.00 I'm waiting to receive. My friend Laura suggested putting that money aside and collecting it all year long and then at the end of the year, you've got a nice rainy day fund! This is what I did last year and we were able to pay for at 75% of our annual ski trip (which ain't cheap let me tell ya!). I encourage you to start saving yours. What I do is I cash them at the bank because if that money is in my acct, I will spend it, I promise you!! And I collect it in an envelope and keep a tally of how much is in there.

Some of the rebates I've gotten so far are the Dulcolax from Walgreens a few months back, Proctor and Gamble rebate from Rite Aid, Rite Aid Single Check Rebates (monthly), SC Johnson Wax rebate that is still ongoing and a few others here and there.

Inexpensive pancakes!!

As a mom of two young boys and one that is in Kindergarten, convenience at breakfast time is a must. I don't have time unfortunately everyday to make "from scratch" items. We buy a lot of waffles and pankcakes (frozen and normally store brand) and I was a little shocked last week when I grabbed a box of mini pancakes at Kroger that were 2.48 a box. This morning it "dawned" (LOL) on me that I had two nice size boxes of pancake mix that I know I got for under 1.00 a box and I think it might have even been under .50 for a 32oz box. I also thought about the many packages of chocolate chips I have that I paid .99 each for that are just sitting on my shelf.

So, I decided to make a big batch of mini pancakes and jazz them up a little bit with a few chocolate chips. I figured if the store could cook them and put them in a bag and then freeze them, then why couldn't I?


If my guesstimates are right, I used about 3/4 of a box of pancake mix and about 1/4 of the chocolate chips. Lets base this on the pancake mix being 1.00 a box (even though I'm certain I paid far less for it) and I paid .99 for the chocolate chips and that's 1/4 of the way gone. So for approximately 1.00, I made 50 pancakes that are double the size of the mini pancakes that Kroger sells. Not a bad deal and if I can keep making them this way, I don't have to worry about running out so quickly.


Just some food for thought....anyone else have any money saving suggestions that are doing right now?

New segment!!

One of my cousins, Pam, who lives in Tennessee has come up with some clever recipes and ideas that I would love to share with all of you! Pam is an identical twin to Pat and my running joke to both of them is that I still after all these years, cannot tell them apart. When I look at pictures of them, it is visible that their hair style is completely different but when I was a kid, I'd be looking at one and say their name, and the one in the other room would answer. We've got lots of fun stories of my escapades as a child!

I'm going to call this new segment, Cousin's Corner!

To kick off the new segment, I'm going to share one of Pam's ideas/recipes!

We love Infusium detangling spray and use it all the time on Jennifer's long hair. It's not cheap so I searched for a recipe online. I found this one (super easy) and it works great. Very simple and just the right consistency/texture. Not too thick, not too runny.

Leave in Hair Conditioner spray

1 oz. conditioner (They say commercial grade. I used we had which was Aussie)

5 oz. water

put in spray bottle, shake (I used my our Infusium bottle)

I'm back from vacation!

I was so busy getting ready to leave for vacation that I neglected to post that we were going on vacation!

Luckily we are back before Saturday since I want to hit up CVS for some very inexpensive vitamin supplements I take!

Getting coupons for your favorite brands

I'm often asked how you can get coupons for your favorite brands especially if you don't see that they are ever in the coupon inserts. I highly recommend that you contact the manufacturer and ask them for coupons. Isn't their goal to have loyal customers? So, if you'd had luck contacting a mfg who is more than happy to send you some coupons, let us know!

On a slightly different note, if you are unsatisfied with a company's products, don't be afraid to contact them. I've had two instances where this has paid off:

1) John Frieda hair products - I really like the Luminous Volume products and I scored a bunch of these super cheap at Rite Aid last spring and after only using the shampoo a few times, I noticed the bottle was almost empty. When I looked at it closer, it looked like it might have been a design flaw since the bottle was designed to have the cap that dispenses on the bottom rather than the top and it appeared that when you set it that way, the shampoo would leak out. So, I called them, they asked me for a few codes off the bottle and they sent me a coupon for another bottle completely free!

2) Pampers Cruisers - I've been pretty loyal to Pampers(in fact, it's all I used for my first son, I love the powder smell they have before the are SOILED!) and have been alternating between Pampers and Huggies for my 2nd son. I noticed that my son was leaking though his diaper almost every time. So I gave Pampers a call and they very promptly sent me 2 coupons for 5.00 off. They asked me to try their Baby Dry (green box) product instead and see if those were better. They told me that I should get back to them if those leaked as well and they would have me send back the remaining ones and they would give me a refund. Personally, I like the cruisers A LOT better because the baby dry tabs are very plasticy (is that a word?) but they seem to be a little bit better.

So, here are my two examples of products I've have some issues with and the company has been happy to work with me!

Don't forget to let me know if you'd had success with this as well (or calling any mfg for coupons).

Sorry for my absence!

Well, I had quite the dummy moment yesterday. I was going to post some great stuff on Friday and was home by myself with the kids and was a bit tired. Had everything ready to post yesterday morning when my internet connection became non-existent. Finally this morning after a full 24 hours without internet, I decided to call my provider. Well, nothing wrong with the connection.....it appears that my almost 2 year old hit a button on my keyboard that either turns on the wireless or doesn't. Well, guess which setting he hit. This computer is still fairly new and I had no idea to check this.

So, sorry about my absence!!! I won't bother to post about too many things from last week since you can't duplicate them now!

Happy Valentine's Day...my little Valentine had me up at 5:22 this morning, maybe the hubby will deem that my present will be a nap!

Just got home from church and thought I'd post to let you know I'm still around :)

Super Easy and Super Yummy Recipe!

My friend Judy gave me this recipe and it's so easy and so good! With as cheap as I've gotten all the ingredients lately, I bet this meal which provided dinner for all 4 of us and lunch for me and the hubby the next day cost no more than $2.00.

Pasta Bake
Preheat oven to 425
Use 1 pound of pasta ( I use penne)
1 jar of sauce & 1 jar water

Spray your baking dish, then put in pasta, sauce and water and stir together. Bake 30 minutes covered, stir again, add 2 cups of shredded cheese to the top and bake 10 more minutes uncovered.

It is so easy and I promise you will enjoy! Thanks Judy!

What's wrong with this picture? Look close!

\\c

Well, if you can figure out what is wrong with this picture, it's the reason I scored these for .49 at Kroger yesterday! The sell date on these is 2/16/09. Great for the freezer....I'm really curious if anyone will comment!

Slow Cooker recipes

Anyone have a tasty slow cooker recipe involving chicken? My husband is getting little tired of Chicken Picatta, Chicken Marsala, and chicken that has topping so I thought I'd see if any of my readers had a tried and true recipe you would lend??

Are there many deals this week?

I don't know about you but I'm super excited about Kroger or Meijer deals this week! A lot of the free things at Meijer, I got a few weeks back and don't have anymore coupons. I still have to check out the drug store ads but there were only a few things at each store I need so I may just opt to go to one this week. I shop with my almost 2 year old in tow so going to only store makes things a little easier on us.

CVS & Meijer shopping trips today

I went to CVS and Meijer today. I want to explain how this broke down as this may not be duplicable as far as the diapers are concerned.

CVS Spent 4.25
Saved 43.14

I bought 4 boxes of cereal that were 1.88 each (these normally go for 4.29 a box!), I used 1/2 coupons from 1/10 Red Plum insert

I called Pampers and told them that my son was leaking through their diapers and they sent me (2) 5.00 coupons to try a different type of diaper rather than the Cruisers I've been using.

I also used a 5 off 20 from Rite Aid, my store will accept competitor coupons, YOU NEED TO ASK FIRST before you do this as some stores may not allow this.

Meijer Spent 9.98
Saved 23.38

I went and got the following deals along with milk and Garden Fresh Salsa (is there any better out there and it's B1G1 free this week!)

0.50 McCormick Dry Seasoning Mix, packet
-$0.25/2 coupon (from 1-24 RP), use 2
-$1.00/4 Meijer Mealbox printable coupon
FREE when you buy 4 with coupons*

$0.99 Lipton Cup-a-Soup Mix *NEW*
-$0.40/1 coupon (from 11-15 or 1-31 RP)
$0.19 after coupon* – great charity donation!
$1.50 Hefty Everyday Foam Plates (50 ct), Compartment Trays (20 ct), Strong n Deep Plates (20 ct), or Zoo Pals Paper Plates or Cups (14-24 ct) (price drop through Feb 21) *NEW*
-$0.50/1 Hefty plates or cups coupon (from 1-31 RP)
$0.50 after coupon* – thanks, LaTasha!

Thanks to Jolyn at Macomb Money Savers for the awesome matchups!

Chicken Enchiladas - this recipe is a winner!

I wanted to share this recipe with you since several of the ingredients are part of Kroger's special this week!

1 large onion chopped
2 cloves garlic crushed
3 cans diced tomatoes and green chiles (Rotel or Kroger brand mild)
5-6 cooked chicken breasts shredded
1 pt heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 T chicken granules
~20 tortillas
8 oz monterrey Jack or Mozzarella shredded cheese
Vegetable oil
Cook onion and garlic in small amt of vegetable oil just until onions are transparent. Add tomatoes and green chiles, and chicken. Spoon mixture into tortillas and place seam-side down in greased dish. Heat whipping cream and granules together (to dissolve) then pour over enchiladas. Top with cheese and bake 30 min at 350 F. Enjoy!

I boil my chicken and then shred it. This seems to be easiest for me. I only use about 1 package of tortillas and normally one package of Tyson skinless/boneless chicken breast.

This week I bought tortillas that were part of the promo at Kroger as well as Rotel. They both have fairly recent coupons.

We love this recipe at our house and I serve it a lot when we have company. It pairs great with Spanish Rice (which I still have tons of from when I stocked up about 6 months ago when it was on a great sale at Meijer!).

Enjoy!

I am in awe at my friend's generosity!

I could not let this opportunity go by without giving "props" to my girlfriend Kim who drove ( I say 30, she says 20 minutes) over to my house with an incredible amount of things to donate to my local food pantry in Walled Lake, Hospitality House. I had to show you a picture (and this doesn't even show it all and yes, I know it isn't superb quality). My neighbors mom volunteers there twice a week and I thought Kim brought 5-6 bags of stuff which I was very grateful for.....well, I went in the garage and realized there was one more bag stuffed to the gills and 1 medium sized box and 1 LARGE box of stuff filled completely! Inside the bags and boxes were tons of bar soap, feminine hygiene products, aspirin...all stuff that I know the people on Thursday will be so excited about when they get to do their shopping and pick out their things for the next 2 weeks.

Kim is one of the most generous people I know (except when it comes to napkin rings, INSIDE JOKE!) and has become like a sister to me. I have learned so much from her over the last 2 years and can't imagine not having her in my life! She's taught me a lot about life, A LOT about the Lord and I am so grateful for her friendship and love. And today, I am just in awe of her generous heart.

My friend Laura Webber says that coupons really are a blessing since most countries don't receive them at all and are forced to pay full price for everything. Look at the impact and the blessings you can bestow upon others with couponing!

If you would like to donate to Hospitality House, please email me and I will be glad to give you their information.

Thanks Kim, you're the best!

Shopping at Kroger today

Spent $79.03
Saved $42.90

It wasn't my best week but I was running low on staples like syrup, waffles (for the kiddos!), ketchup, juice, etc. Most of these things I didn't have coupons for. I did take advantage of the Mega Sale where when you buy a participating item, you get .50 off that item if you buy 10. I did stock back up on ground beef, I got them on Mgr's Special (that's the little cubby in the meat dept) so I saved several dollars on each package. I buy from that area a lot, and bring it home and throw it in the freezer. My total is also a little higher because I purchased two packages of frozen shrimp for 6.99. So my total is about 25.00 higher this week because of those deals I found.

Here is a list of the items I purchased with coupons that you should be able to duplicate. These matchups have been graciously provided by Jolyn at Macomb Money Savers.

$1.49 Philadelphia Cream Cheese, 8 oz brick or tub
-$0.50 Big-Game Greats Event Savings
-$1.00/4 printable coupon
$0.74 after instant savings when you buy 4

$1.69 French's Classic Yellow Mustard, 14 oz
-$0.50/1 printable coupon or 0.30/1 coupon (from 1-24 SS)
$0.19 or $0.59 after coupon and instant savings

$2.49 Solo Cups, 30-50 ct
-$0.50 Big-Game Greats Event Savings
-$1.00/1 coupon (from 12-6 SS) or $0.75/1 coupon (from 1-24 SS)
$0.99 or $1.24 after coupon and instant savings

$2.89 Tropicana Pure Premium or Trop50 Orange Juice, 59-64 oz
-$0.50 Big-Game Greats Event Savings
$2.39 after instant savings

Who wants a B1G1 free coupon to Ruby Tuesday?

I came across (6) B1G1 Free coupons to Ruby Tuesday coupons that expire 2/11. The first 6 people to leave a comment on this post, I will send you each one! I will email you to get your address. I know I like saving money when we dine out, I'm sure I'm not alone!

January Totals

This month was terrific! I stayed well within my budget and that's always a great thing!

Spent 283.64

Saved 1562.56

Savings Percentage 85%

Donated $335.87

Rebates due 6.25 (plus I've earned portions of the Healthy Heart & Proctor & Gamble rebate at Rite Aid, but need a few extra dollars to hit the maximum gift card)

Many coupons expiring today!

Many coupons are expiring today so I would suggest going through your boxes and seeing what items you might want to buy using your coupons that will expire.

As I teach at my classes, in my personal opinion, it is NOT okay to use expired coupons unless you have the consent of the cashier or manager. People that abuse this hurt all of us. I've heard horror stories from cashiers of people who try to use coupons 6 months past their expiration and throw in some for items that didn't even have in their cart. You say, "well, how does that affect me"? Ever been treated badly by a cashier or you can tell they are not too thrilled with your coupon stack? It might be because they've seen a lot of people abusing them.

I must admit that I didn't always stick to the rules but I have made it my personal decision to make sure the coupons I'm using are within their expiration dates and are intended for the EXACT items I have in my cart.

A friend of mine pointed out that coupons are really a GIFT! We are one of the only countries that has the luxury of being able to use coupons.....therefore, thinking of coupons in this way, makes me so much more grateful that I am able to save so much for my family, give back to less fortunate families and educate others how they can trim costs off their monthly budget.

Happy Shopping!

Great Rite Aid Trip today

I had a great shopping trip today at Rite Aid today! I bought $262.01 worth and I paid $5.40, for a savings of 97%.

I did several transactions, used 5 off 25 coupons on each transaction (since those expire soon), use high dollar mfg coupons (6.00) and Rite Aid Video Perks coupons. The Flex-a-min and Ostio products were buy one get one free and since I was technically buying two, I was able to use 2 6.00 mfg coupons on each transaction. I snagged 10 light bulbs for free because I got a raincheck for them when they were on sale for 1.00. I'm sure I'll be donating a great portion of the glucosamine products and am glad to do it since these items ranged from 13.99-19.99 a bottle

Time to donate!

I bought many things that my family doesn't need today because I know someone at the food pantry will use them. I spent .30 out of pocket at Meijer today and am donating about 35.00 worth of food just from today's purchase. If you feel convicted to donate, PLEASE DO! My husband strongly disliked the amount of items that were piling up in our home so I find it is easier to donate weekly when the prices I paid are still fresh in my mind. My tax advisor at H & R Block (who has taken my coupon workshop by the way!) told me that you are allowed to write off how much the item rings up for on your receipt, so regardless if you paid .03, it if rings up 2.45, you can claim that full amount.

The value of the items I am donating are $104.30, I paid probably about 3.00 total out of pocket. Look how much I can make a difference with a couple dollars out of pocket, a little time, and my desire to help those less fortunate. There's no telling how many mouths this will feed and how many people will be excited at the items they can pick from!

Meijer Shopping Trip

I have to tell you that I was looking all around when I stepped out of my car this morning since the Meijer I always go to got robbed 2 days ago! But I figure the likelihood of it happened again and this soon is probably pretty slim. I do feel us moms that are loading children into carseats and unloaded our purse, groceries, etc into the car can be caught off guard so make sure you are watching your surroundings. I never thought my store would get robbed because it's in a good neighborhood but I've learned it can happen anywhere. My own mother got held up at gunpoint right outside her grocery store a few years ago around the same time of the morning the Meijer got robbed on Monday, and my mom was in the first parking space closest to the entrance of the store. They grabbed her as she had just sat down in the seat but hadn't yet closed the door. So I always lock my door IMMEDIATELY when I get in the seat....point being, we have many distractions when we shop so lets be more aware of our surroundings!

Nevertheless, I had a good shopping experience today and am geeked that I was able to stock up on sour cream, american cheese and shredded cheese. They are running a great promotion (I didn't see it marked anywhere in the store but know it's a catalina deal that runs through the 31st thanks to Macomb Money Savers)

Spent 31.38

Saved 77.90

71% savings!

Check out how much of this I am donating....that post is to follow!

Free $10.00 Betty Crocker Booklet

Follow this link and it should take you to a sign up page to get a free $10.00 Betty Crocker coupon booklet.

Potential problem at Walgreens on BIGI Bic Razors

Word on the street is that the B1G1 free BIC razors are ringing up 5.99 for the first one and 1.00 for the second. When you combine this with the B1G1 free coupon from the newspaper inserts, both should be free and you should only pay about ~.80 in tax. At the store in Commerce Twp on Haggerty and 14 Mile, they will not price adjust to make the first one 6.99. Even though the ad clearly states buy one at 6.99, get the second free, the computer system is not allowing the coupons to be used in the way that most of us are used to. Talks with the manager are still not getting the problem solved. Some people are reporting that their stores are ringing up 3.49 for the 3.49 and 3.49 for the second.

Just wanted to let you know that there might be a problem. Don't be afraid to speak to your manager if you encounter this. If it still isn't resolved, call Corporate. The system should ring the same way for everyone. It's unfortunate when this happens but hopefully a resolution will happen soon.

Know your rights as a consumer! No matter how long someone spent waiting on you and ringing you up, if the transaction is more than you thought and you are not willing to pay what they show you owe, ask for the item to be removed. The problem with returning it later is that you will lose your coupon to use at another store.

Please let me know if you're encountering this issue. Some of us have been known to drive 10-15 minutes to a store to do a particular deal to find out they aren't ringing properly, so be careful :) If you can get this item to come out where you are just paying tax, I encourage you to donate them if your family won't use them! I gave my friend all my coupons so we could donate them this week and the manager told her "sorry" and that it's ringing up this way and there was basically nothing he could do.

Hiller's Deals - .30 Campbells soup & more

I was looking at the ad I received yesterday for Hillers and found a cheaper price on Campbell's Tomato and Chicken Noodle soup. I was planning on purchasing it this week at CVS but found a better deal at Hillers

20 cans of Chicken Noodle or Tomato soup for $10.00 (= .50 each)
Use the $0.40/4 coupon from the 12/13 SS or 1/3 SS
Final cost is .30 when you buy 4

I also noticed that our favorite chips and salsa, Garden Fresh Gourmet (if you are local, you know the orange bag you find in the deli) is on sale for 2/5.00, that's better than the 3.50 I paid at Kroger yesterday. When I was a radio producer, we interviewed the owner on our radio show and what a nice guy. Do you know that they are the largest producer of fresh salsa in the country? Just a little tidbit!

I'll try to put together some more deals for Hillers but wanted to point this out since I met many Hiller's shoppers at my coupon class last week.

15% off everything at Kohls.com

If you like getting great deals at Kohl's, use the promo code SHOPNSAVE valid for today and tomorrow only for an extra 15% off your purchase. Orders over $75.00 get free shipping too when you use the promo code FREE2U. Let me know if you get an great deals! Not long after Christmas I got really nice Carter's fleece footed sleepers for under 5.00 with free shipping. Happy Shopping!

My Kroger Favorites Week of 1/25

These are my personal favorites and items I'll be shopping for this week:

$1.69 French's Classic Yellow Mustard, 14 oz
-$0.50 Big-Game Greats Event Savings
-$0.30/1 coupon (from 1-24 SS)
$0.59 after coupon and instant savings (when you mix & match 10 items)

$2.27 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel or Scrambles
-$0.50 Big-Game Greats Event Savings
-$1.00/1 printable coupon (IE link) (FF link), print 2 per computer
$0.77 after coupn and instant savings (when you mix & match 10 items)
Also available: $0.55/2 Cellfire e-coupon and $0.55/2 Shortcuts e-coupon (load to your Kroger card!)

$1.29 Pepsi Soft Drinks, 2 liter (plus deposit)
-$0.50 Big-Game Greats Event Savings
$0.79 after instant savings (when you mix & match 10 items)

$2.49 Nabisco Snack Crackers, 6-10 oz
-$0.50 Big-Game Greats Event Savings
-$1.00/1 coupon (from 1-24 SS)
$0.99 after coupon and instant savings (when you mix & match 10 items)

$1.49 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers
-$0.50 Big-Game Greats Event Savings
$0.99 after instant savings (when you mix & match 10 items)

$2.49 Tostitos Tortilla Chips or Salsa
-$0.50 Big-Game Greats Event Savings
$1.99 after instant savings (when you mix & match 10 items)

$2.89 Tropicana Pure Premium or Trop50 Orange Juice, 59-64 oz
-$0.50 Big-Game Greats Event Savings
$2.39 after instant savings (when you mix & match 10 items)

$1.78 Hot or Lean Pockets Breakfast Sandwiches
-$0.55/1 Cellfire e-coupon (load to your Kroger card before Jan 25!)
$1.33 after e-coupon

$1.88 Dannon Yogurt, 4-6 ct select varieties
-$1.00/1 Dannon Danactive coupon (from 10-4, 12-6 or 1-10 SS) OR
-$1.00/1 Dannon Activia coupon (from 10-4 or 1-10 SS)
$0.88 after coupon

$1.99/lb Tyson Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast

$1.00 Mini Carrots, 1 lb

(Thanks, Macomb Money Savers!)

Don't forget Kroger limits you (in the Metro Detroit area) to 3 identical coupons. If you want more of an item do separate transactions, just watch that you still purchase 10 of the mix and match items to still get your savings. For instance, you might need to do 2 purchase of 10 mix and match items in order to get your coupons doubled.

CVS Deals this week

Here are some of my favorite deals at CVS this week:

Soy Joy 6 ct. box $6=$6Ecb (limit 6)
Final cost FREE!

(These are normally found in the center aisle of the store, not with the individual Soy Joy Bars)

I got 6 boxes of these bars for free and donated them! You need to do these in 6 separate transactions. I had ECB's to start with, if you don't have any, you will pay 6.00 but then get 6 boxes and end up with 6.00 in ECB's after your last transaction (hope this makes sense!)

Glade Fabric & Air 22oz. or Oust Air Sanitizer 10 oz. $3.99 = $3Ecb (Limit 3)
Deal Scenario:
Buy 2 Oust Air Sanitizers
Use the Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon from the 1/3 SS (there is also a $2/2 coupon found here)
Pay $3.99
Get back $6Ecb
Final Cost FREE + a $2 moneymaker!

At the stores I've gone to, the limit is actually 6. One way to check this is to look on your receipt. I've bought 6 cans of Oust and 6 cans of the Glade Fabric and Air. If you have the Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupons, buy in groups of 4 for the Oust.

The trick with some of the deals is to separate the transactions or you will end up with a large ECB and I personally prefer smaller sized ECB's.

Renpure Organics Shampoo or Conditioner Buy 1 at $6.99 and Get 1 Free
Final Cost $3.50 each (look for hangtags around this product that have a $3/1 coupon plus offer a “Try Me Free” rebate!)

Met-Rx or Pure Protein Value Packs or Single Bars Buy 2 Get 1 Free
Deal Scenario #1(based on on-line price):
Buy 3 Pure Protein bars priced at $1.89 each (3rd bar will ring up free due to sale)
Use the Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon from the 1/24 RP
Use the $1/1 coupon from All You Magazine Feb 2010 Issue
Final Cost $0.30 each!

Deal Scenario #2 (based on on-line price):
Buy 3 Met-Rx bars priced at $2.69 each
Use the Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon from the 1/24 RP
Use the $1/1 coupon from All You Magazine Feb 2010 Issue
Final Cost $0.56 each!

Ester-C Vitamin Supplement/All Sundown Vitamins Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Deal Scenario (based on on-line prices):
Buy 2 Ester-C 60 count tablets priced at $10.79 each (2nd one will ring up free due to sale)
Use 2 $5/1 coupons from the 1/3 RP (there is also a $4/1 coupon in the 1/24 RP)
Final Cost $0.40 each!

Crest Toothpaste 6.4 oz./Oral-B Indicator Toothbrush $1.99 = $1Ecb (Limit 1)
Deal Scenario:
Buy 1 Crest Toothpaste
Use the $0.75/1 coupon from the 1/17 PG
Final Cost $0.24!

(Thanks, Hip2Save)!
Please note that this list is just my favorites for the week. I try to buy things when they are SUPER-INEXPENSIVE! So there might be other deals that will be great buys to you!

Ivory Soap FREE At CVS this week!

I already got this deal a few weeks ago but if you like to stock up on soap, here's a great freebie for you!

Ivory Soap 3 pack $0.99
Use the $1/1 coupon from the 12/27 PG
Final Cost FREE!

If you are brand loyal, I encourage you to buy as many as you can and donate them!

(Thanks Hip2Save!)

Coupons at work!

A friend/reader of mine shared with me her totals for January so far and I am truly amazed! Check it out.....

Spent $204.00

Value of products $3,336.00

Savings 93%

Way to go!!!

Rite Aid Deals this week

I've seen a few things that I like at Rite Aid this week that are good to grab! This isn't a complete list of deals but items that I personally think are priced well.

Quilted Northern Bath Tissue Double Roll 12 pack $6.49
Use the $1/1 coupon from the 1/24 RP
Use the $2/1 Rite Aid Video values coupon found here
Final Cost $3.49!

Nature’s Bounty/Sundown Vitamins or Supplements/Flex-a-min Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Deal Scenario (based on on-line price):
Buy 2 Flex-a-min Super Glucosamine 2000 Plus Tablets 60 count priced at $13.99 each (2nd bottle will be free due to sale)
Use 2 $6/1 coupons from the 1/3 RP (there is also a $4/1 coupon in the 1/24 RP or found here: IE or Firefox)
Final Cost $1 each!

( I got tons of supplements at CVS last week for free, it was great, this can be a great donatable item since these items are really expensive and people can't normally afford these extras if they are struggling)

Maybelline Cosmetics 40% Off
Get a $2 Single Check Rebate #61 when you purchase 1 Maybelline Mascara
Deal Scenario (based on on-line price):
Buy 1 Maybelline Great Lash Mascara priced at $4.89 (my store price was 5.19, so these totals might vary slightly) (should ring up at $2.93 due to sale)
Use the $1/1 coupon from the 1/10 RP
Use the $1/1 Rite Aid Video Values coupon found here
Get a $2 SCR
Final Cost FREE + a $1 moneymaker!

Skintimate or Edge Shave Gel 2/$4
Get a $1 Single Check Rebate #50
Deal Scenario:
Buy 2 Edge Shave Gels
Use 2 $0.75/1 coupons from the 1/10 SS
Final Cost $0.75 each!

Airborne $4.99
Get a $2 Single Check Rebate #37
Use the $1/1 coupon from the 1/17 SS
Final Cost $1.99!

Comtrex Cough & Cold $3.99
Get a $1 Single Check Rebate #10
Use the $1.50/1 coupon from the 12/6 SS
Final Cost $1.49!

Coke and Coke Products 2 liter bottles 4/$5
Use the $1/4 in-ad coupon
Final Cost $1 each!

7-Up or Diet 7-Up 2 liter bottles 3/$3.99
Use the $1/3 in-ad coupon
Final Cost $1 each!

Aquafresh Toothpaste and Toothbrushes Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Deal Scenario (based on on-line price, store prices do vary a little):
Buy 2 Aquafresh Advanced Triple Protection 2X Whitening Toothpaste priced at $3.69 each (2nd one will ring up free due to sale)
Use 2 $1/1 coupons found here (there is also a $0.75/1 coupons from the 1/3 RP)
Final Cost $0.85 each!

Jif Peanut Butter/Welch’s Grape Jelly/Kudos Bars/Mom’s Best Oatmeal 2/$4
Deal Scenario:
Buy 2 Welch’s Grape Jellies
Use 2 $0.55/1 coupons from the 1/3 SS
Final Cost $1.45 each!

(Thanks, Hip2Save)

There are some other deals but they are a bit complicated and require multiple transactions. Don't forget to take your $5 off $25 coupon found here. I normally print off a bunch and keep them in my purse. These do expire soon but they are bound to come out with another one soon. And remember, use can use the $5 off $25 before all your other coupons so it's like getting $5.00 in merchandise in free! I snagged lots of Pampers for around 1.00 a package this past week since I used that coupon!