The Provident Homemaker

Hiatus Explained

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 13:29:00 +0000

Good morning everyone! To anyone actually reading this, you most likely know me and already know this. In case there is a reader out there who isn't familiar with me in real life, I shall explain myself.

I started attending college this year. I enrolled in August 2009 as a Freshmen in General Studies. I am attending a local Community College. I worked extra diligently over the summer to build up a nice sized stockpile. I have given lots away from it, and I still have plenty. Last semester, I finished the term with straight A's. So far this term, I have straight A's. Succeeding academically is a very important aspect of college to me. There are also scholarships on the line to those who graduate with a certain GPA. My hard work now will pay off soon. I know this to be true.

So why am I back before the end of the semester? My food budget has gone all wonky. I am trying to rein our household budget back in. Our move has proved much more costly, than cost saving, as previously predicted. I am trying to determine if we can adjust the household budget to accomidate our new apartment or not. "Not" would mean; simply increase income or decrease outgo. Sounds easy enough, huh? To top that all off, I am trying to remain committed to graduating from college, even if just my associate's degree, without incurring any student loan debt.

So here I am, trying to decrease my outgo. I'm starting at the beginning again. I'm going to approach shopping and my budget like I was new to this. I have almost no coupon stash already built. I have no store coupons. I have no rebates pending. A nice clean slate is where I am. I am going to take my own advice from almost a year ago, and start by cleaning my kitchen. The advice still holds true, although I wish it didn't. I loathe washing dishes. Dishes are my nemesis. As I type this, I have only one sink of dishes pending. Empty and clean counters. Maybe if I can find my camera I will post a picture of my lovely clean kitchen.

So in closing, I would like to thank anyone who is reading this. Your visitation to this blog will cause me to shop better and wiser. I will be making better decisions, and eating better food. (That is another post)My budget will also thank you.

Any questions or comments? I can be reached at MissEspy23@aol.com and at MissEspy23 on AIM (which is on my phone so I'm always available for help!!!)

I love you all and want to thank you again!

Happy Couponing,
Aimee

Staples ~ Back To School Sale Begins

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:26:00 +0000

Do you remember this time last year at Staples? You may not, but I do. I spent all my extra time shopping there. Each week for several weeks, Staples offered deals for $0.01! I bought things such as Purell hand sanitizer, pencils, etc. There was a very good variety. Only a couple of things each week though. Here's the good news: It starts tomorrow!!!

There will be a $5/$20 coupon on the front of the ad. How easy is it to spend $20 at Staples? I think I can do that sleeping...

Bic Fashion Pens are $1.
Use the $1/1 coupon here to get them free

8-packs of pencils are $0.01--no coupon needed. (Valid July 12-15, 2009 only. Limit 2)

Bic White Out is $1.
Use the $0.50/1 coupon here to get it for $0.50.

Staples Photo Plus 4 x 6 paper is on sale for $9.99
You'll get a rebate printed with your receipt for an $8.99 rebate making this $1 after the rebate (Limit 2)

8 1/2 x 11 Copy Paper is on sale for $3.69
You'll get a rebate printed with your receipt for an $3.68 rebate making this $0.01 after the rebate (Limit 2).

I would advise going and getting the $0.01 packs of pencils. I used loose change from the car last year. You can get 2 packs a trip. Sometimes they let you go out and come back in. You can also go with someone else and each of you can purchase the limit of 2.

Now you may be thinking: I don't need pencils. Think of this. How many people do? Later in the summer grocery stores collect back to school supplies to give to needy families. You can also donate these to shelters and churches. They will always take things like this.

What did I do with all mine? I donated bags and bags of things (Along with Mom's help) last March to a teacher at Charlton Middle School. She was making a trip to Haiti and was bringing supplies down to the children there. She was taking all sorts of things. Sunglasses, flip flops, notebooks, crayons, etc. She was planning on making it an annual event. This summer I'm taking some time out of my day to stock up on things to send with her. I will find out in September is she is going again. I figured that if she isn't going, I will donate the supplies to a church or shelter. No waste here. If you have any time to stop into Staples this week and pick some things up keep her mission in mind. You may not need the items, but there are children out there who do.

Food Lion ~ 7/1-7/7

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:07:00 +0000

UPDATE: The wording on the pdf coupon says one per person, per transaction, per day! That just killed all my previous plans. You can use 1 Home 360 coupons and 1 Healthy Accent coupon per person, per tranaction. Ewwww. I would do the Jello deal (7 boxes) plus 1 Home 360, and 1 Healthy Accent per transaction. Still a fine deal, just not as good as I thought.

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Because no one should have to pay full price for groceries! Here are some freebies (and a few deals)! I'm waiting to hear back about what the coupon policy actually is. ~~To be safe, don't use more than 5 pdf coupons per transaction.~~ You can also ask customer service (not a cashier!!!!)when you get there.

If you are going to be buying items which will be free, toss in something you need and pay for it. Stores don't like when you walk out not paying for things. I would personally do the Jello deal with the freebies. You would pay $3.50 the first trip and $0.50 each trip after!!!

Happy Couponing,
Aimee

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Jello Gelatin
Dates: 7/3 - 7/16/09
Buy 3 or 4, Get $1
Buy 5 or 6, Get $3 (I think this should be 2. Checking)
Buy 7 or more, Get $3

Jello is on sale through 7/7 for 2/$1

Deal
Buy 7 boxes of Jello for $3.50 and get $3 back in Cats

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Home 360 Deals
Use with this pdf coupon

Rubber bands, Erasers, Pencil sharpeners, .33¢ - free
Kids Scissors .99¢ - free
Baby Bibs .97¢ - free
Transparent Tape 59¢ - free
Single Antibacterial Wipes .89¢ - free

Toothpicks 250 ct $1.12
Aluminum foil 25 sqft $1.35
Drinking Straws 40ct $1.36
Scrubber pads $1.39
Envelopes $1.49
Adult Scissors $1.49
Packaging Tape $1.49
Baby Wipes 40ct $1.50
Facial Tissues 230 ct $1.62
Fabric Softener Sheets 40 ct $1.69

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Healthy Accents Deals
Use with this pdf coupon

Rubbing Alcohol .99¢ - free
Peroxide .69-.99¢ - free
Hand Soap .95¢ - free
Epsom Salts .99¢ - free
Petroleum gel $1 - free
Nail polish Remover .97¢ - free
Toothbrushes $1 - free
Cotton Balls .99¢ - free

Dental Floss is $1.29
Calamine Lotion $1.49
Hand Sanitizer $1.49
Kids and Adult Bandages $1.79
Q-tips $1.99

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My Scenario: (Updated)

Trip 1:
7 boxes of Jello
1 Healthy Accent product ($1 or less)
1 Home 360 ($1 or less)

Use 1 pdf coupon for Healthy Accent ($1)
Use 1 pdf coupon for Home 360 ($1)

Pay $3.50 and get a cat coupon for $3

Trip 2+:
7 boxes of Jello (If the cat deal works)
1 Healthy Accent product ($1 or less)
1 Home 360 ($1 or less)

Use 1 pdf coupon for Healthy Accent ($1)
Use 1 pdf coupon for Home 360 ($1)
Use $3 cat coupon from previous Jello purchase

Pay $0.50 oop and get a $3 cat

Lather. Rinse. Repeat!

Kraft Cheese Deal

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:57:00 +0000

There is a pretty nice Kraft Cheese deal running this week. Here's the breakdown.

Kraft Shredded or Cracker Barrel Bar Cheese 2/$5
~ $0.50/1 tearpad Q available in Shaws (This is right above the cheese located in the aisle!)
Shaws will double this coupon to be $1 off!

If you can't find any then email me, I have plenty!

There is also a cat deal for Kraft Cheese:

KRAFT NATURAL CHEESE 6/19 - 7/12
buy 3 get $2.00
buy 4 get $3.00
buy 5 or more get $4.00 OYNO

Includes: Kraft shreds, chunks, cubes, sticks, crumbles, cracker cuts, string/twistsCracker Barrel chunks, Cracker cuts, sticks, slicesPolly-o strings/twistsKraft deli fresh slices

DEAL:
Buy 5 Shredded cheese for $12.50
Use 5 coupons (which Shaws doubles to be $1 off) -$5
Pay $7.50 and get a $4 Cat good OYNO

This is like paying $3.50 for 5 bags of shredded cheese. Which would be $0.70 per bag. This is MUCH lower than my target price for a bag of shredded cheese ($2). By stocking up on cheese this week I will save $1.30 per bag off of what I try and pay for cheese.

Happy Couponing!

Free Redbox PLUS Cat Deal!

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:05:00 +0000

DOUBLE DIP!

Free Redbox movie rental wyb 4 select General Mills products Plus Cat Deal

Purchase dates 7/3/09 to 7/9/09

Participating products include:
Betty Crocker fruit by the foot 4.5 oz
BC fruit gushers 5.4 oz
BC fruit roll ups 4.5 oz
BC fruit stickers 5.9 oz
BC fruit snacks 9 oz
Sunkist fruit snacks 9 oz
Cinnamon toast crunch 12.8 oz
Cocoa puffs 11.8 oz
Cookie crisp 11.25 oz
Golden grahams 12 oz
Honey nut cheerios 9 oz
multigrain cheerios 9 oz
Yoplait trix yogurt 6 ct 24 oz

There is a Cat deal which can be combined with the free rental.

GENERAL MILLS FRUIT SNACKS 6/19-7/12
BUY 3 GET $1.50
BUY 4 GET $2.50
BUY 5 GET $3.50

Deal:
Buy (4, or 5) Fruits Snacks and get ($2.50, or $3.50) back in a Cat PLUS a free Redbox rental!

Many thanks to Irishoct31 from Slickdeals for posting about the free rental!

Shaws ~ 6/5/09-6/11/09

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Here are the best deals at Shaws this week! There is also a Cat deal starting. The info is at the bottom. If I come up with a clever scenario I'll post seperatly and let you know.

Happy Couponing,
Aimee
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2 DAY SALE: FRIDAY & SATURDAY (June 5 &6)
Hood ice cream, $1.88 (limit 2)
Thomas English Muffins (white only), $.88 (Great price!!!)
Coke 2-Liter, $.88 (limit 8)
Fresh salmon fillets, $4.88 lb.

Fresh blueberries, BOGO
Bottom Round or Roast, $1.99 lb.
Fresh Boneless Chicken, $1.99 lb.($1.00 off 3 lbs. or more Shaw's coupon)
Florida Natural Orange Juice, $2.47
24-pk Shaws Water, $2.99
Large cocktail shrimp, $5.99 lb.
Tostitos salsa or chips 2/5 ($1.00/2 Shaw's coupon)
{Check for tearpads for FREE Tositos salsa when you buy 2 bags of Tostitos}
Digornio or California Pizza Kitchen 12" pizzas, $4.99
Brawny 8 Giant Roll Paper Towels or Quilted Northern 18 Dbl Roll Bath Tissue $8.99
Shaws pasta, $.88 ($1.00/5 Shaw's coupon)
12-pk Super Chill Soda, 3/$6
12-pk Pepsi Products, 3/$12
2-liter Big Chill Soda, $.69
In-Ad Coupon: Get 1 FREE 2-liter Big Chill Soda wyb 3 Pepsi 12 packs (3/$12)
Wild Harvest Carrots $1.50
Wild Harvest Celery $1.99
Weight Watchers Yogurt (6oz) 10/$6
Pepperidge Farm Swirl Bread $2
Tribe Hummus (16 0z), $3.99
Over the Moon Milk $2.99
Kool-Aid 2/$6
Wise Chips $2
Wheat Thins or Triscuits (family size) $2.99
Wacky Mac $1.25 (locked in)
Eskimo Pie Frozen Snacks $3
-$1/1 Eskimo from 5/31 Smart Source
Planters Nuts, $3.99

Buy One, Get One Deals
Johnsonville Brats
-$1.00/1 from Shaw's Summer Solutions booklet
Plumrose Premium Ham or Turkey Breast

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CATALINA (CAT) DEAL
Buy $25, Get $10
Buy $15, Get $5
Buy $10, Get $2

**One offer per customer per shopping trip**
{Note: "Shopping trip" means transaction!}

2/$4
General mills cereal (Cheerios, Trix, Cocoa Puffs, Golden Grahams or Total)
-$1/3 General Mills Cereals from 5/3 and 5/31 Smart Source
Wishbone or Bountiful dressings
-$1/1 Bountiful from 3/15 Red Plum
-$1.25/2 Wishbone Dressing from 5/17 Red Plum
Suave Body Wash and Stylers
-$1/2 (or $.75/2) from 5/17 Red Plum
Skippy Peanut Butter
-$.40/1 Skippy from 4/5 Unilever insert
Green Giant Steamers w/sauce

2/$6
Nature Valley, Curves, or Fiber One Bars
Lipton Iced Tea Mix
Chex bars
General Mills Milk and Cereal Bars
Caribou Coffee Bars
Shedds Country Crock

2/$5
Suave lotion
Lipton to go mix
Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
Go-Gurts
Trix Yogurt
Coke, diet coke or sprite-6 or 8pk bottles
Bertolli pasta sauce
Bisquick
Full throttle or NOS energy drink
I Can't Believe Its Not Butter
Cooking and Baking Sticks
Promise spread
Brummel and brown spread

3/$4
Betty Crocker Suddenly Salad
-$0.40/1 from 5/17 Smart source

4/$5
Betty Crocker Cake Mix
Betty Crocker Brownie Mix
Vitamin water
Evian 1-Liter
Fuze
Gold Peak Iced Tea
- BoGo Free coupons found at Gas stations (cooler doors)
Dasani Essence

2/$3
Suave Shampoo or Conditioner
Suave Deodorant
-Various coupons from 5/17 insert

3/$5
General Mills Bugles
GM chex mix
Betty Crocker Frosting

2.99
Breyers Ice Cream
$.75/1 Breyers from 5/17 Red Plum
Klondike Bars

4.99
Powerade Ion 4 10pk or 8pk
~24 pk Dasani
~12 pk Nestea
~12 pk Minute maid
~10 or 8 pk Powerade
All laundry detergent

Shaws~ Cat deals of the week

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:20:00 +0000

Note: Amount in ($0.00) is the presale price. This is what the sale works off of. Your presale price total needs to be over $ amount listed under the title, before you scan your card.

These are the deals everyone is talking about this week. I'm not doing this as I have a great stockpile already. I also don't use disposable paper products as much as possible. I noramlly don't buy tissues, just use toilet paper. We NEVER buy paper towels, we use microfiber cleaning cloths.
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SELECT CLOROX & KIMBERLY CLARK PRODUCTS 4/26 - 5/9
Spend $15 in select Clorox and Kimberly Clark products and get $5 off your next purchase

Qualifying Products
Scott Paper Towels (8 pack) 2/$11 ($7.49)
Glad Trash Bags (15-80ct.) $6.49 ($7.99)
Kleenex Facial tissues (110 ct.flat or 80 ct. upright lotion) 10/$10 (80$2.29/ 110 $1.29)
04-05 SS Kleenex Facial Tissues $1.00 off 4 or .50/3
Clorox Cleaning Items (35 ct. wipes) 2/$5 ($3.49-$3.99 (ME))
Formula 409 ($3.29-$3.49)), Pine-Sol ($4.49), Clorox Clean Up 2/$6 ($4.29)
04-05 RP Formula 409 or Clorox Clean Up or Anywhere $1.00 off 2
Clorox Bleach (82-96 oz.) 3/$5 ($2.49)
04-05 RP Clorox Liquid Bleach 82 oz or larger $1.00 off 2
Viva Paper Towels (Choose-a-Size Single Roll) $1.99 ($2.29)
04-05 SS Kleenex Viva Paper Towels Big Roll $1.00 off 2 or .40/1 or .85/1
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P&G 5/1 - 5/7
Spend $20 of more of select P&G Products and receive a $5 OYNO coupon.
~ Get an additional $3 WYB any 3 of the following: Bounty Basics, Charmin Basics, Crest Paste, Gain, Herbal Essences, Joy and Pampers

Qualifiing Products
Puffs 60 count, $1
Bounty 8 Giant Roll, $9.99
Pampers Cruisers or Baby Dry, $19.99
Charmin Ultra 12 Roll or 6 Mega Roll, $6.99 ($8.49)
$1 off 1, Shaws Weekly Printable Coupon
SafeGuard 8 pack, Ivory 10 pack, Zest 6 pack - 2/$7
Dawn, 19-28 oz, $2.50 ($3.29, $3.39)
Febreeze candles $6.49 ($6.99)
Febreeze Noticeables Kit - $6.49 ($9.49)
Swiffer Dust & Shine Furniture Spray - $3.49
Covergirl 33% off
Duracell 4 packs AA and AAA, 2 packs C and D, 1 pack 9 volt, $3 ($4.99)
Tampax, 32- 40 ct., 2/$11 ($6.99)
Always 24 - 120 count, 2/$11 ($6.99 - $9.49)
Pringles $1.50 ($1.79)
Crest, 4.1 - 8 oz, 2/$6, ($2.49 to $3.59)
Clairol Nice and Easy $5.99 ($7.99-$8.99)
Mr. Clean Liquid or Multi Purpose Spray - $2.99 (Liquid $3.59)
Iams Dog Food $17.99
Downy, $5.49 ($6.49)
Bounce Softener Sheets. 100 - 120 count, $5.49 ($6.99)
Cascade Action Pacs, $4.99 ($4.99)
Cascade 75 oz liquid - $4.99 ($6.99)
Gillette or Venus Razor, $8.99 ($9.99 - $12.99)
Secret, Old Spice, Tag $3.50
Herbal Essences $2.99
Olay Body wash or soaps $5.99
Oral B Cross Action Toothbrush, $3 ($4.29)
Head and Shoulders - 2/$9
Olay Facial, Indulgence or Body Lotions - 20% off ($6.49 - $12.99 for the Quench line)
Tide To Go Instant Stain Remover, 1 ct., $2.49
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Happy Couponing!
~Aimee

Free Purell

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:06:00 +0000

These days with all the talk about the Flu going around people have been using Purell much more than normal. There is a great coupon available! Save $2 on 2! These are available at Walmart in the trial size for about $0.97! So you could use 2 of these coupons and get 4 for free, plus maybe a little overage! If Walmart gives you a hard time "The value of the coupon is less than the item" explain to them that their coupon policy allows them to mark the coupon down to match the value of the items. If they were $0.97 each, 2 would be $1.94 not the $2. They should write the $1.94 on the coupon and give you the items for free.

I don't shop at Walmart if I can help it. Especially with coupons. They do not double any amount, ever! Plus some of their employees wear plastic gloves (due to handling icky money) and the gloves interfere with scanning of coupons! Trust me on this one! I had an awful experience one time when I was with Andy doing some shopping. Since then I've shyed away from shopping there. Walmart is also very ignorant about their own cooperate policies. I have them printed out and in my coupon holder! I have used these too often showing their own employees their policies!

Here is the Walmart coupon policy! Print it out and take it with you! Trust me.

BOGO Easy Mac Cup Coupons

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:28:00 +0000

There is a link here for "Buy One Kraft Easy Mac Cup, Get One Free". This coupon is allowing people to print it multiple times. Click the link, print the coupon, close the link. Rinse, repeat. Do that until it says "Print Limit Reached". I was able to print 4, but I heard about someone being able to print 14!

These are on sale at Shaws for $1 each until 9/09. With the coupon it would be $1 for 2 of the cups.

I heard that these are priced at $0.79 at Target. I'm not a fan of Target so I have no idea. Seeing as I don't have tons of these coupons it isn't worth the gas money to get to Target for me.

Happy Couponing!
~Aimee

Common Abreviations I Use

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:06:00 +0000

Here is a list of some common abreviations which I use all too frequently!

AC - After Coupon
AR - After Rebate
Blinkies - instore smartsource coupon dispensed near product, usually from black bow with red blinking light.
BOGO- Buy one get one free
BTW - By the way
B&M - Brick & Mortar, as opposed to an online store
CAT - Catalina (coupon dispensed at register after purchase, usually has a red border)
CBAD - Chef Boyardee
CPN - Coupon
CRT - Cash register tape
CVS - Consumer Value Store
ECB - CVS Extra Care Bucks
FAR - Free After Rebate
GC - Giftcard
HBA - The health and beauty aid section in the grocery store
IMO - In My Opinion
IMHO - In My Humble Opinion
IP - Internet Printable
IVC - Walgreens Instant value coupon
MFQ - Manufacturer's Coupon
MIR - Mail In Rebate
OOP - Out of Pocket
OOS - Out of Stock
OYNO - On your next order
P&G - Proctor & Gamble Sunday supplement coupons
Peelie - coupon that you peel off the package
POP - Proof of purchase
PP - purchase price
PSA - Prices Starting At
Q - Coupon
RC - Raincheck
RP - Red Plum Sunday newspaper insert coupons (formerly Valassis)
RR - Register Reward (Walgreens)
SCO - Self Checkout
SD - Slickdeals (A wonderful place I go to for couponing!)
SS - Smart Source or Sunday Supplement coupons
Stacking - Some stores allow the use of more than one coupon per item, IF the coupon itself does not restrict such usage.
Tearpad or TP - A pad of refund forms or coupons found hanging from a store shelf or display
TMF - Try Me Free
V - Valassis Sunday newspaper insert coupons (now called Red Plum)
WSL - while supplies last
WYB - When You Buy
YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary - success of the attempt may vary at your store
$1/1, $1/2, etc. - Dollar value off per number of items (i.e. $1/2 is 1 dollar off when you purchase two items)

Shaws ~ Free + Overage Vitamin Water 4/24-4/30

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:58:00 +0000

Remember a couple weeks ago when I posted about getting paid to buy Vitamin Water here? It is working again this week!

When you go to the link above you should be able to get the Manufacture's coupon. There is a new Store coupon here. I also have a lovely pdf version of this with 8 coupons per page. Send me an email and I will send it to you!
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The deal basically looks like this:

Buy 6 Vitamin Waters ($6)
Use 6 manufacture's coupons ($3)
Store doubles 6 manufacture's coupons ($3)
Use 3 store coupons ($3)
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$3 OVERAGE! Which can be used toward anything else in the store. 3 $1 items is the best!!!

I just LOVE being paid to shop!

Happy Couponing,
Aimee

CVS ~ Tresemme for $0.67 a bottle

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:53:00 +0000

CVS has a deal this week on Tresemme that is pretty sweet! Tresemme is on sale for 3 bottles for $10. When you buy 3 bottles worth, you get $5 back in Extra Care Bucks! There is a pdf coupon to save $1 off a bottle that makes the deal sweeter! There is a limit of 4 times you may do this deal (per card!)

Here's what your deal could look like:

Buy 6 bottles of any type on sale

Your total will be $20

Use 6 $1 coupons bringing your total down to $14.

Pay and on the bottom of your receipt will be a $10 ECB (You doubled the deal)

Bring your things out to the car. Put your bag away and cut off the $10 ECB and head back in!

Buy 6 more bottles.

Use 6 more coupons

Use your $10 ECB and pay $4!

Another $10 ECB will print at the bottom of your receipt!

You have now reached your limit for this deal. You have also paid $18 for 12 bottles of Tresemme and still have a $10 ECB to spend on something else in the store! This is like spending $8 for 12 bottles of Tresemme! Or about $0.67 a bottle! That's a pretty slick deal if you ask me.

I am going to post the coupon. You will notice that is says 24/7 Body. I had no problem using the coupon on other types of Tresemme. I bought 12 bottle of the Curly Hair line. Some of the coupons aren't scanning very well. The larger one seems to scan fine. Just tell the cashier you had trouble printing the coupon. "Oops silly me!"

These originated from Marie Claire online. In case you are wondering!
1 coupon per page

I have 2 per page which do scan as well. I can email them to you if you like. This site won't let me upload anything from my computer.

Happy Easter

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:56:00 +0000

Hope everyone is having a lovely Easter!

Happy Couponing,
Aimee

Don't worry Shaws is open from 7am-9pm!

What I'm buying this week

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:55:00 +0000

For the week of 4/10/09-4/16/09
Here is a list of what I'm buying and how I'm buying it.

Transaction #1: Shaws
1x Vitamin Water $1
2x Wild Harvest Organic Honey $2.19 each ($4.38)
1x Wild Harvest Organic 1/2 & 1/2 $1.99
1x Mini Babybel Cheese $2.50
Used:
1x $0.55 Babybel Cheese coupon
1x $0.55 Shaws double
3x $1.00 Wild Harvest Coupon
1x $0.50 Vitamin Water coupon
1x $0.50 Shaws double
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Spent $4.77 (out of pocket)
Saved $8.49

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Transaction #2: Shaws
6x Post Trail Mix Crunch Cereal $4.39 each ($26.34! I'm not crazy, wait and see)
6x Snapple
2x Poland Springs 6pk Fliptops (700ml) $2 each ($4)
24x Nabisco Go Paks $1 each ($24, again you'll see)
7x Vitamin Water $1 each ($7)
1x Garelick Farms Whole Milk $3.89
3x Mini Babybel Cheeses $2.50 each ($7.50)
3x Jelly Beans 3/$1 ($1)
4x Mini Robin's Eggs $1 each ($4)
1x Reese's PB Egg (Fun Size) $2.50
1x Lindt Milk Chocolate Bunny $2.50
Used:
1x Rain Check for Post Trail Mix cereal 6 @ $1.50 each (-$17.34)
4x $2.00 Post Trail Mix Crunch Cereal (-$8)
6x $0.55 Snapple coupon (-$3.30
6x $0.55 Shaws double (-$3.30)
2x $1.00 Poland Springs coupon (-$2)
6x $3.00 when you buy 4 Nabisco coupons (-$18.00)
6x $0.50 Vitamin Water coupon (-$3)
6x $0.50 Shaws double (-$3)
1x Free Milk coupon (-$3.89)
3x $0.55 Babybel coupon (-$1.65)
3x $0.55 Shaws double (-$1.65)
1x $2.00 off your next order coupon (-$2)
2x $5.00 off your next order coupons (-$10)
==========================
Spent $14.74 out of pocket
Saved $85.04
Received $7 back in coupons:
1x $2 off your next order coupon
1x $5 off your next order coupon

So it's like spending $7.74!

Notes about this trip:
My cashier did not allow me to use all 6 Post Trail Mix coupons. She allowed 4 so I ended up paying $1 for 6 boxes of the cereal. If she had allowed the other 2 coupons I would have had $3 overage towards my total. Oh well. You win some, you lose some. $1 for 6 boxes of cereal is still loads better than paying the full price of $26.34! OUCH!

I also could have used an extra 2 Shaws coupons for Vitamin Water (Save $1 when you buy 2) I just did not have them with me. I would have just bought another 2 for free. I could have just bought my 6 Vitamin Waters and used the manufacture's coupons to get them all for free. I then could have used 3 "Save $1 when you buy 2" store coupons and had $3 taken off my order.

Bottom Line:
If I had brought my other 2 coupons and the cashier had allowed the other 2 Post coupons my total would have been $8.74 out of pocket and I would have received $7 back. This is the deal I was looking to do. Things go wrong sometimes, it happens.

Remember: You live, you learn, and then you get Luvs! No, that isn't it...

••••-:¦:-•:*'"*:•.-:¦:-••-:¦:-•:*'"*:•.-:¦:-••••

FREE Vitamin Water

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:41:00 +0000

Vitamin Water is on sale at Shaws for 10/$10. There are $0.50 off 1 manufacture's coupons available in pdf form. Then you combine this with a $1 off when you buy 2 Shaws store coupon and you get more Vitamin Water free or overage.

Buy 6 Vitamin Water = $6

- 3 { Use 6 $0.55 coupons}

- 3 { Double value }(Shaws doubles coupons with a value up to $0.99)

-3 { Use 3 Store coupons }

--------

$3 overage!!!

You can also use the $3 overage to buy another 3 Vitamin waters. You won't be able to use any more coupons for them in this transaction. The limit is 6 like coupons per transaction. But 9 FREE Vitamin Waters is not a bad deal. 6 FREE Vitamin Waters and $3 overage is even sweeter by me!!!!!

Shaws $1 when you buy 2

$0.50 Manufacture's pdf coupon

FREE Softsoap

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:16:00 +0000

This week at Walgreens you can get some FREE Softsoap Body Wash. Here's how:

Softsoap Body Wash - $3.99
$1.00 from 03/29 SmartSource insert
Get back coupon for FREE Softsoap Body Wash on your NEXT in-store visit

Why should you buy the April All You Magazine?

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:28:00 +0000

Here's why:

.50 on any Colgate Wisp 4 ct. product (new product) exp. 6/24/09
1.00 on any one Marzetti Dressing exp. 6/30/09
1.00 on any N.Y.C. New York Color product of $1.72 or more exp. 4/30/09
1.00 on any Sea Breeze Product exp. 6/30/09
1.00 on any BRUT Fragrance valid 3/1/09 thru 6/30/09
.55 on any BRUT antiperspirant or deodorant valid 3/1/09 thru 6/30/09
Get Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara FREE (max. value 6.47) coupon states only at Walmart but is a manf. coupon exp. 5/31/09
.50 on any White Cloud Bathroom Tissue Product exp. 6/30/09
2.00 on any Jane, Jane Be pure Mineral or AquaCeuticals full size product exp. 5/31/09
1.00 on any Colgate Total Advanced (4.0 oz or larger) exp. 6/21/09
1.00 on any one Excedrin PM product 100 ct or larger exp. 12/31/09
3.00 on any twoSplenda Sweetner Products exp. 6/30/09
.75 on any one bag 20 ct or larger of Halls exp. 6/30/09
1.00 off one 6 oz Bag of Stacy's Pita Chips excludes all other sizes exp. 5/30/09
1.00 off one 10 oz Bag of Stacy's Pita Chips exc. all other sizes exp. 5/30/09
2.00 When you Buy Faith Like Potatoes(dvd) exp. 5/19/09
5.00 off Dentek Custom Comfort Nightguard exp 3/20/10
1.00 off Dentek Floss Pick $2 or more 3/20/10
1.00 off People magazine exp. 4/24/09
.50 your next issue of All You mag goes on sale at Walmart 4/12/09 offer expires 7/1/09
3.00 any 1 TUMS Dual Action Product 25 ct or larger exp. 6/30/09
1.00 any one STOUFFER'S Family or Party size Meal 28-96 oz exp. 6/30/09
.50 on one pkg of A Tast of Thai Quick Meal exp. 6/30/09
1.00 on any 1 can of Underwood (canned meat spreads) exp. 6/30/09
2.00 on any Spectracide Triazicide Insect Killer exp. 8/30/09
.40 on any Palmolive Pure+Clear liquid dish soap (20 oz) exp. 6/24/09
.25 on any Palmolive Dish Liquid exp. 6/24/09
1.00 on any GE Energy Smart Energy Star fluorescent lighting product exp. 6/30/09
1.00 off 1 SunChips exp. 5/30/09
Buy any GLADE Scented Oil Candles Tin Holder, get a Scented Oil Candles REFILL pack exp. 6/27/09
.55 on any Spot Shot Instant Carpet Stain & Odor Eliminator Product exp. 7/31/09
2.00 on Noxzema SpaShave 4-Blade Shavers exp. 7/31/09
.50 on pkg of 6 White Castle Microwaveable Hamburgers or Cheesburgers exp. 7/18/09

Shaws ~ 3/27-4/2

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:08:00 +0000

Here are some good deals for Shaws this week!

Cat Deals

POST CEREAL 3/27 - 4/19
Buy ANY post cereal 10oz or larger
Honey-Comb, Shredded Wheat, Honey Bunches of Oats, Fruity Pebbles, Grape-nuts, Trail Mix Crunch, Raisin Bran, and Post Selects Raisins, Dates & Pecans
Buy 3 Get $2.00
Buy 4 Get $3.00
Buy 5 or more and get $5.00

KELLOGGS CEREALS / MILK 3/20 - 4/12
Buy Kelloggs Cereals 12 oz. or larger and get a coupon for free milk
Buy 3, get 1 free gallon of milk
Buy 5, get 2 free gallons of milk
Buy 7, get 3 free gallons of milk

Free milk up to $4.69 per gallon. Any brand. Any flavor.
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Deals this week:

Post Cereals 2/$3 (Must buy 2 for sale price)
Shredded Wheat, Grape Nuts & Honey Bunches of Oats
Use with cat deal above!

Kellogg's Cereal 3/$6.00
Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Cocoa Krispies, Honey Smacks, Apple Jacks, Corn Pops, Rice Krispies, Corn Flakes or Jumbo Krispies
Use with cat deal above!
Shaws.com coupons for $1/3 email me if interested.

~16 WAYS TO GET A FREE DOZEN OF EGGS~
buy 3 poptarts 3/$7
buy 4 BC cookie mix 4/$7
buy 4 Pills cookie dough 2/$6
buy 3 Sargento shredded cheese $3.79
buy 2 langers juice 2/$6
buy 2 BC warm delight minis 2/$5
buy 4 grands buscuits 2/$4
buy 2 kraft parm cheese $5.49
buy 2 lipton tea 2/$6
buy 4 pills pie crusts 2/$6
buy 4 pills crescent or cinn rolls 3/$7
buy 2 Palmolive dish soap 2/$5
buy 1 Culinary Circle chocolate cake $11.99
buy 1 Culinary Circle carrot cake $11.99
buy 1 Edwards cream pie or Mrs Smiths deep dish $5.99
buy 2 Lysol Wipes 2/$5

Pepsi products 10/$10
$1/2 coupon Pepsi Max from Shaws.com weekly coupons
I have multi per page pdfs. If interested, email me and I will send it to you! 12 coupons per page.

Free lemons
There are coupons at Shaws.com for FREE lemons. I have 6 per page coupons. Email me if interested. There is also $1/3 Kellogs coupons in same file.

If you are interested in any of the coupons listed, send me an email at MissEspy23@aol.com and leave what coupon you are intested in receiving in the subject. I will send them to you as soon as I can. I am online all the time, so it shouldn't take too long!

Happy Couponing!
Aimee

Walgreens ~ 3/29-4/4

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:56:00 +0000

There are some pretty good deals at Walgreens this week. Looks like I will be stalking the aisles here.

Softsoap Body Wash - $3.99 Plus Coupon for another FREE on next visit!
$1.00 03/29 SS coupon
Get back coupon for FREE Softsoap Body Wash on your NEXT in-store visit

Reynolds Foil--on sale for $0.89 after in-ad coupon
Use $1/1 from 2/8 insert
Free after coupons
(Mom- this is for you!)

SoyJoy Bars--on sale 2 for $1
Use B1G1 coupon from 2/22 SmartSource insert
$0.25 each
Don't waste your money. I don't care for them. You make like them though.

No Nonsense Pantyhose--on sale B1G1 Free (2 for $2.49)
Use $1/1 coupon from 3/29 inserts
$0.25 each after coupons
(Because I know you all NEED pantyhose!)

Halls cough drops--on sale for $1.39 with in-ad coupon
Use $0.75 coupon here
$0.64 after coupons
(Dad this is for you)

Buy 1 Edge Infused Energy Shaving Gel at $3.59, Get $3.59 Register Rewards
Free after Register Rewards

Buy 1 Skintimate Cream Shave at $2.99, Get $2.99 Register Rewards
Free after Register Rewards
---------------------------
Both Edge and Skintimate get our seal of approval. We enjoy these. At free I enjoy them even more!
---------------------------
Buy 1 100% Natural or True Shimmer Chapstick at $1.99, Get $1.99 Register Rewards
Free after Register Rewards

CVS ~ 3/29-4/4

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:40:00 +0000

This isn't looking the like best week to shop at CVS. There may have been something good I'm missing I'm sick with a sinus infection. I'm much better today than yesterday.

Buy 1 Glade Sense and Spray Lasting Impressions at $5.99, Get $1 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $4/1 coupon from the March All You magazine
Use $4/1 coupon from 03/29 SmartSource insert
Pay $1.99 get $1 ECB
$0.99 after coupon and ECBs
-----------------------
These are available in Apple Cinnamon and Clean scents. I've tried the Apples and Cinnamon scent and it was very nice. The only thing I would caution against is using it in the bathroom. Now that may seem like the perfect place to use it. Well it's fine until you wake up in the middle of the night and end up jumping because something is making noises at you. Scared me awake! Also Zedd, our very jumpy kitty, doesn't care for it at all. It scares him out of his wits, but so does most things. I would say to pick one up and try it. It comes with the scent and batteries. Not a bad deal. It would be even better if you got it free a few weeks ago at Walgreens, but this isn't a bad price either.
------------------------
Buy 1 Accu-Check/Aviva Diabetes Monitor at $9.99, Get $9.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
Free after ECBs
No mail in rebates or coupons, just a good deal if you want/need a meter.

Buy 2 Softsoap Ensembles hand soap at $3.99 each, Get $4 ECBs (Limit 3)
Use 2 $2/1 coupons from 03/22 SmartSource insert
Free after coupons and ECBs

Buy 2 Fantastik Cleaners at $2.50 each, Get $1 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use 2 $1/1 coupons from the 03/29 SmartSource insert
$1 each after coupons and ECBs

Rimmel Cosmetics are on sale B1G1 FREE
There is a B1G1 Free coupon in the April All You Magazine (Walmart). These deals will stack together. Buy 2, use your coupon, use your CVS card and pay $0 and leave with 2 mascaras. If they give you a hard time about this you can show them THEIR store coupon policy which says it is ok to do this. Or you could buy 2 more. Now you would have 4 mascaras, use the coupon to get 1 free, and you would get 2 free from CVS. So you would buy 1 and get 3 free. That isn't a bad deal either.
------------------
Buy 1 CVS Pharmacy Vitamin D 400, 100-ct. at $2.99, Get $2.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
Free after ECBs
This deal ENDS 3/31! But there will be new deals to post April 1. This is a monthly deal.
•-:¦:-•:*'"*:•.-:¦:-••-:¦:-•:*'"*:•.-:¦:-••-:¦:-•:*'"*:•.-:¦:-••:*'"*:•.-:¦:-•
What I will be buying this week:
I'm going to be getting my mascara and the Scense and Spray. I have a $0.99 ECB which I will use towards this. I will pay $1 and get $1 back. I need to use it, it is expiring. Not a bad trip I guess. Maybe there will be better April deals.

Hillbilly Housewife Emergency Menus

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:02:00 +0000

If you haven't been over to the Hillbilly Housewife you simply must go and take a peek. Susanne has an emergency menu for $40/week and $70/week. She just updated these with 2009 prices. It was at 2006 prices before. The prices were off before but it was a great place to start. I even emulated her and developed my own emergency menu. I will work on posting my emergency menu. It was created by Andrew (my brother) and myself. He is quite the frugal shopper himself.

Here is a link to the Hillbilly Housewifes Emergency Menu. It went from $45.16 to $70.37 for a family of 4-6.

Here is a link to the Low Cost Menu. This went from $70.19 to $89.26 also for a family of 4-6.

You really should go check the site out. Susanne is a fantastic person and I cannot say enough good things about her and her site. I highly reccomend it. Her site has helped me so much in my thinking of many things. I have modified many behaviors based on things I've learned from her. You MUST try her Magic Milkshakes. DELISH!!!!!

How low can you go?

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 13:30:00 +0000

I'm not talking about Limbo here. Although that is alot of fun (for kids who can limbo AND get up the next morning!). I'm talking about frugally. How low can you really go? I've been thinking about this lately. There are different levels of frugality. There is Severe, Moderate, and Mild.

Severe Frugality ~ If you were living this style of life you would be growing most of your own food, raising meat animals, raising dairy animals. You could rend fat from the animals to make your own soaps. Use fleece from the animals to spin into yarn to make clothing items out of. You would also compost.

I would have my own chickens, for eggs and meat. I would have sheep for milk, wool, and soap. I would raise my own veggies. I would cook everything from scratch only buying household staples if I needed to. I might even see about bartering some things that I did have for things I needed. I would expect to grind wheat into flour instead of buying flour. Babies would be cloth diapered and breastfed. Napkins would be cloth and cleaning cloths would be used instead of paper towels. I would hang clothes on a line instead of using a dryer. I might even use a wash basin to wash them. You can and dry all your veggie crops.

Moderate Frugality ~ You have a garden with some veggies and herbs. You cook from scratch but will use convience items (if purchased on sale with coupons). You buy your flour ground and in bulk. If you shop deals at drugstores vivaciously and have a nice stockpile going this is probably you. You bake bread from scratch, maybe using a bread machine. You would use disposable cultlery and paper products only if it were a deal and you had coupons (you may even wash them and reuse them). You would be a pretty devoted coupon and deal shopper. You tend to buy holiday items the day after and take advantage of 50% off savings, stocking up for next year.

Mild Frugality ~ You are starting to cut back on your budget, if you even have one. You buy some things when they are on sale. It may not be a good sale, but it is better than full price. You would buy flour in whatever size package is on sale. You may try and group errand together and save gas. You would buy bread on sale. You would use coupons for items you were already going to buy. It probably isn't worth the time invested to bother with coupons though. You may only use 1-3 a week. You are buying more store brands.
----------------------------
If any of the above situations sounds like it might be you, then welcome! You are at the right place. If not, you may have traveled here on accident. But don't leave, stay and maybe learn something you didn't know before!

We would fall into the Moderate Frugality category with splashes of Severe. I would love to live the Severe Frugality life it just isn't in my cards right now. But I can dream. We compost, we garden (more planned this year!), I am an extreme coupon/deal shopper. We have a lovely stockpile going. I keep very strick inventories and rotate all food to eliminate spoilage! I was clothes in a machine and hang them out in the spring/summer/fall seasons. I use a dryer in the winter. I would love to raise angora rabbits for fleece. I would also love to learn to spin it into yarn.

Frugality starts out with a push. There is almost always a reason you want to start living this way. There are dozens of reasons for this. The reason doesn't matter. Starting is what matters. We don't make tons of money but I can tell you that we are living better now than we ever have since being together. Frugality has allowed our standard of living to increase.

I used to spend $150-200 per week on groceries. Now we spend $50 or less. That also includes stocking up, household and animal supplies. The federal government has determined that about $6/person/day is proverty level (for groceries). That would be $42/person/week. My family is 2 people so that would be $84/week. We spend about $3/person/day with some extra! I am shopping well below poverty level and living quite well.

We used to think buying store brands was saving us enough money. I remember going shopping and spending $150 and being thrilled at all the food we bought, only to realize there was no food. What I mean by that is, sure you may have icecream but that isn't dinner. It isn't even anything to make dinner. So you get to have icecream for dessert after your dinner of mac and cheese.

Now we have plenty of food for my people who stop by. We had food to bring to my mother when she lost power during the icestorm. I can give food to friends who are having a hard time. I can donate boxes of food to food pantries. This is what I mean when I said we are living better than ever before. Being frugal has allowed me to live better and bless other people. I won't kid you and tell you it isn't work. Trust me it is. I will tell you that the payout is really worth it!

Take some time and think about what you want out of your life. Will saving money help you do that? Great. Do you want to help bless other people. Great. I think Dave Ramsey says it best. "Live like no one else so later you can live like no one else!".

~Aimee

Crystal Light into Water?

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 14:23:00 +0000

Now, for my next trick I will turn a Crystal Light deal into a Water deal. Ready?

POOF!

Poland Springs water is on sale for 2/$4 this week. It is on page 4 of your flyer. You can find it next to Shaws 10/$10 icecream cones.

This deal includes
~ 8 pack, 11 oz bottles (tiny and fat little pods)
~ 6 pack, 24 oz bottles (I bought the sport cap ones)

Buy 2 packs (from the list above)
Your total will come to $4
Use 2 of these coupons

6 per page

Now your total is $2. You can either pay the cash or if you have a $2 coupon from the Crystal Light deal, use that now.

If you have a $2 coupon, your total is now FREE.

Go out to your car and put your groceries away. Head back in, don't forget your new $2 coupon that printed out of the register.

Buy 2 more packs

Use 2 more pdf coupons

Use your lovely new $2 coupon

Pay $0.00

Take your new coupon that prints out, and ENJOY!!!

------------------------------------------------------

You can do this deal more than 1 time in each transaction. There just needs to be 2 packs to trigger the computer to print the $2 coupon. So you would need to buy multiples of 2. Shaws also will not accept more than 6 like coupons. So you can only use 6 of the coupons from above in 1 transaction.

Short on time?

Buy 6 packs of water. Use 6 coupons. Either pay or use 3 $2 coupons. Take your water and new 3 $2 coupons and go home!

And that my dears is how you turn Crystal Light into Water!

Walgreens FREE Toothpaste

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:59:00 +0000

Why on earth would anyone ever actually pay full price for toothpaste? Some things just boggle my mind. Anywho, here's the deal!
-----------------------
Colgate Total Toothpaste 4 oz. ($2.99 - $3.49)

Use $2.50/1 coupon from the March Easysaver Catalog
Use $1/1 coupon from 2/22 SmartSource inserts OR
Use $1.50/1 from March All You Magazine (Walmart) OR
Use $1.50/1 pdf coupon

Free plus possible overage after coupons

Lather. Rinse. Repeat

Easy Corn Chowder

noreply@blogger.com (Aimee) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:26:00 +0000

2 cups water
2 chicken bouilon cubes
4 ears of corn off the cob (or 2 cans)
1 large white onion, diced
3 potatoes, cubed
1 (12 oz) cans evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter

Over medium heat, saute the onions until tender. Add water, bouilon, corn, and potatoes. Cook until potatoes are done. Add butter and stir until melted. Add in evaporated milk until creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

If you want less liquid, drain off some broth after the potatoes cook and don't add as much evaporated milk. You could save the broth and make another batch!