Walmart 6/13/11

We didn't do all that well at Walmart but I did get a few things FREE and a couple MM.  Also I gave a coupon to Mack and we forgot to use it.  :( 
Here's what we got:

Total: $60.71

Total OOP: $39.30  Not great but not to bad.

Some of the great deals we got:

FREE Aleve 200ct

FREE cottonelle. fresh wipes
2 FREE 3pk Ivory soap +$.06MM
FREE travel sized body wash +$1.03MM
We also got a few pretty expensive items too. 
4 Different spices, 35lbs of cat litter, olive oil, red wine, and brownies.  YUM!

Rite Aid 6/13/11

Super low OOP for RA this week.  They were out of a few things that I had wanted to pick up.  Also the shick razors are B1G1.  In the RA blog it said the razors were $7 something..... they were $10.29!  So I passed on those.  They were also out of the new Bayer asprin but I got a rain check.  This will be a money maker.  There is a $1.99UP and a $2 coupon this week making it free.  Also you can do the MIR for the $1.99!  So that's a $1.99MM!!  (money maker).  Cashier said to check back Friday.
Here's what I got:

Total:$20.99

Total OOP with sales and coupons: $1.64

Getting back from MIR: $5!!!!  After this the store would have PAID ME $3.36!

How I did it:

Trans 1

2 Oral B manual toothbrush $5.79 each sale $2.99 get $1UP

Filler cow tails .33

Used 

B1G1 Oral B manual toothbrush

$3UPs from last time

Trans 2

Arm and Hammer toothpaste $4.79 sale $3.99 get $3UP

Used

$1 off

$2UPS from trans 1

Trans 3

Finesse conditioner $4.29 sale $3.33

Used

$3UPS from trans 2.

This deal gets even better!  RA had a SCR (single check rebate) for $3 and there is a MIR right now for $2!!  Can't beat that!

Rite Aid 6/6/11

I went to Rite Aid today hoping to score a few deals. 
I was a little upset though..... they were out of the toothbrushes I had wanted as well as the specific VEET I had wanted as well.  It threw off my scenarios a bit so I didn't do nearly as well as I had hoped.  I am also upset because my VV (video values) isn't working.  None of the videos will play for me.  I could have saved an addition $3.
Here's what I got:

Total: $75.38

Total OOP: $23.69 Saved $51.69!

I also have $3UPS to spend next time.

Trans 1:
2 VEET $6.29 and $6.69
2 Caramel Creams B1G1
1 $2 in add coupon
1 $1 VV
1 $3 FB coupon
1 $2 FB coupon.  (For some reason it wouldn't let me print the $3 again)
 $5 ups from last purchase.
Total OOP: $1.77
Got back $5 UPS

Trans 2:
1 Jumbo pack of Pampers Swaddlers $8.97
1 Venus Embrace $8.99
1 $3 off any pampers (from mailer)
1 $3 off Venus 6/6 paper
 $5 UPS from trans 1
Total OOP: $7.96
Got back $5 UPS

Trans 3:
Neutrogena Baby free sun screen $11.99  :O
Gillette Deodorant 2/$7
Gillette body wash 2/$7
3 Fathers day cards 2 @ $3.49 1 @ $3.99
This gets a little confusing for the sun screen.
It had a RA peelie on it for $2
I had a $2 off any neutro sun care
RA in add coupon for $1.50 off
B1 gillette deoderant G1 Gillette body wash FREE- got in a pack of diapers
$3 off 3 greeting cards
$5 UPS
Total OOP: $13.96
Got back $3 UPS from the greeting cards for next time!

A little bummed I didn't get any surveys though. 

New Binder!!! 6/4/11

I haven't been posting much lately.  So I thought I would update with my new binder!  I got it at Walmart for $10.  It has D rings (love those), 4 expanding file inside, and a puch on the outside.
Here it is.

I use the pouch/zipper part for the coupons I will use at checkout.  Or my cell phone if I ever remember to take it.

I have the coupon policies, a notebook for my lists.  The other slots are for coupons that need to be filed or cut out.  I also have a calculator in there.  Then I have the envelops.  I take out the coupons I want to use for the trip and as I find what I am looking for I put them in the pouch for check out.

 And my coupons.

Holly 6/4/2011

So many of you may know that Holly has been a pretty misserable baby.  Well here is whats been going on.
From day one Holly ALWAYS needed to be held or she would cry.  As she got older she would scream bloody murder!  I have assumed since the start that she was just a "high needs" baby.  She was pretty colicky- screaming for hours and hours at a time- one time she screamed for 7hours straight!  I can't even go to the bathroomm without her crying and freaking out.  High needs, I get it.
So when she is screaming I thought she was in pain and guessed it was silent reflux.  When I talked to the doctors about it they just said all babies spit up, it's normal, bla bla bla.  Well it is NOT normal for a baby to be screaming in pain all day.  At 5 months I finally got a doctor to listen to me that there is something wrong with her- not just her high needs personality.  Well I see a different doctor and she has sever GERD.  No wondering my baby has been screaming in pain all the time!  She just started medicine for it and we hope this will help with her pain and fussyness.

Moral of the story- YOU know your baby best.  I kept pushing and pushing that this is not normal.  I know I am a first time mom.  However I helped raise my 9 year old sister and also have a 3 year old sister.  Holly is nothing like them and her crying out in pain I knew was not normal baby behavior. 
Anyways it has been a rough 5 months to say the least.  She is starting to have separation and stranger anxiety.  I've been reading that it is normal for high needs babies to start this pretty early.  It's been incredibly tough and just overall exhausting.  However with the new medicine I'm hoping that Holly will no longer be miserable all day and night.  Once I realized and started reading about high needs babies I understand better what I need to do for her.  It will be a little tougher but knowing what I know now will only make me a better parent.
I know this is kind of all over the place.... still a bit upset and lost about everything and being ignored for months causing Holly all this unnecessary pain.

Rite Aid and Price Chopper 5/23/11

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile.  Holly is a handful!
Anyways I was able to score some great deals at Rite Aid this week and picked up a few things at Price Chopper.
RA

Total: 34.10

Total OOP: $4.88

I went in planning to use my $10 UPS but my total before any UPS was $4.88 so a good thing but more OOP.  I ended up using the $3UPS I got from this trans and the $10 UPS to get Holly a 6foot pool and a tube floaty thing.  That out of pocket was less than $7!!

What I got:

4 body wash- sale 4/$10 get $3UPS

2 10pk breathe right strips- $5.99 each

2 peroxide B1G1 Free- $1.59 for both.

Candy $1.50

Here is how I did it:

I used 4 $1 caress body wash coupons from 5/22 inserts

I had a rain check for the breath rights from last week.  So $2.99 after rain check.

I had the FREE coupon from RA ($5.99) a $1 VV and a $1.50 man coupon from a free sample.

I also used a $3 off $15.

Price Chopper

Total: $27.25

Total OOP after coupons/rain checks/card: $12.51

Here is what I got:

8 Tuna at $1.19 each- $9.52

2 500ct Q-Tips reg $3.99- $7.98

2 Kraft Dressings $2.50 each- $5

1 Price Chopper pasta- $1

Almost 4lbs of onions- $3.75

How I did it:

Rain check for the tuna at $.50 each x 8- $4

Q-Tips 2/$5 had 2 $.30 coupons- $3.80

Dressing 2/$5 I had a store coupon for buy two Kraft get FREE pasta and a MAN for a $1/2 Kraft- $$4

Rain check for the onions $.49 a lbs.

Stockpiling.

My goal with coupons is to save my family money.  By using coupons and matching them to sales I am able to save the most money.  With the new show of Extream Couponing you always see the people have HUGE stockpiles of everything.  Now- as the name of the show implies, they have extream stockpiles.  Some so big they will Never use all of the items in their stock before they die.
The goal for me with stockpiling is to have enough of any given item until the next sale comes around.  Lets say pasta is on sale for $1 and you have a $.50/1 coupon.  If your store doubles then it's free!  So instead of buying 1 pasta I'm going to buy a few.  I want enough pasta to last about 3-4 months untill the next sale and coupon comes along.
It's important to me not to hoard things.  When getting something we use for free I really have to tell myself A. I WILL donate this, B. Do I really need this now?  It is pretty easy for me to get toothpaste and deodorant for free so I have to practice controll or donate these when sales come up.
Here is my stockpile.  I am set for a long time on:  Toothpaste, floss, deodorant, body wash, face wash, lotion, toilet paper, and hair gel for Mack.

4 Hair gel, 4 Face wash, 2 Shampoos 1Conditioner, 15 mens/womens deodorant, 8 Floss (Free and paid $5 to "buy" these), 9 tubes of toothpaste, 2 toothbrushes, 6 Liners and 1 feminine pads. 

 2 lotions, 6 body wash, 1 sunscreen.

3 nice razors, 2 reg razors, 3 body wash, 18 bars of soap.

A crap load of tp.  When your pregnant you need a lot!  hehe.

4 boxes or cereal.

As you can see some things I have WAY to much of.  These items will be donated and the rest we will use!
I was able to score a decent deal on laundry detergent so I have one of the giant containers (just opened) and 3 of the small purex containers as well.

Price Chopper 5/20/11

I went to Price Chopper today looking to score some of the "midnight Deals".  AS suspected the really good deals were sold out.  BUT they gave me a rain check for most of them!  I was still able to score a few of the unadvertised deals.
Here's what I got:

Total: $82.24

Total OOP: $ $38.09!  Over 50% savings!!

Some of my good deals.

4 FREE toothpastes

2 FREE deodorants

4 boxes of cat food for $2- $.50 each!

1.5 lbs lunch meet for $8

6 fresh bagels $2.24

30 beers for $10.99!

Everything else I got for good deals too, just not super great. 

My rain checks are for canned tuna- $.50 each.  Onions $.49lbs and a free 2oz hand sanitizer.

Long week and Rite Aid trip. 5/17/11

I'll start with my trip to RA today.

Total: $29.83 

Total OOP: $6.73!

 

Last weeks trip:

OOP was only about $17!!

Things have been pretty busy around here.  Holly has been pretty grumpy from allergies and making life for us all a little harder.  Family was visiting this weekend.  Just all around busy busy week.  

Allergies! :(

I'm still pretty up set and worked up about this so please excuse my rambling and length.
My DH has really bad allergies.  Needing shots allergies.  My LO I fear is on the same path.  The last week or so she was coughing in the morning, and slight runny nose.  Nothing during the day or night, no fever.  Yesterday morning she actually vomited phlegm.  Her nose was all stuffed up and coughing for about a half hour.  That night she had coughed a couple times in her sleep.
Last night on our way home she was freaking out.  Crying so hard she was choking herself.  I had to pull over twice.  My DH passed us on the way home and stopped and saw her freaking.  He said it looks just like an allergy attack from when he was a kid.  Earlier that day her eyes were red a puffy and she was rubbing them.
Then came this morning.  I've been thanking god over and over again today that we are co-sleeping.  Even my DH- who has been pushing really hard to get her out of our bed said the same thing.  She was gagging and choking on the phlegm and vomited that up.  Her nose was really runny/stuffy (if that makes sense).
So off we went to the Dr.  She said it really sounds like allergies but because she is so young she doesn't want to diagnose her yet.  For now she said hope its a cold....
Thank god she is sleeping with us.  Thank god I am exclusively nursing.  I couldn't imagine how much worse they would be if she was on formula.  I don't even want to think about what could have happened had I not been right there this morning.

Family day! 5/7/11

Mack has finally had a few days off, yay!!  So today at Drivers Village they had an animal adoption drive with tons of different rescue groups.  Shorty and Hercules from Pit  Boss on Animal Planet.  They were doing photos but the line was super long!  So no picture for us.  :(  We did see a bunch of really beautiful dogs and cats for adoption!  Holly even got to pet the softest rabbit.  
It was really nice to be able to spend time together as a family! 

Happy mothers day everyone!

p.s. Keep your eyes open for tomorrows paper.  There is only going to be one insert, smart source, but there should be some good coupons available!

Holly's 4 month appt! 5/5/11

So I took Holly to her 4 month appointment today.  She turned 4 months on the 4/30/11.  She now weighs 14lbs and is 25inches long!!  I can't believe how big she has gotten!  She started out as my little peanut who was swimming in new born clothes to 6 month close that are loose.  Gosh, I just can't believe it.
She has even been sitting up a bit on her own.  Tuesday she sat on her own for about 5-10seconds. Today she sat on her own for over a minute!!  WOW.  Here comes picture over load!!

Sitting up for the first time!

 Snuggling her puppy.

 I found a foot!  :)

She LOVES her monkey!!

First Rite Aid Trip. Not great. :( 5/3/11

gOk So I wanted to try the drug store game.  I have a Rite Aids close to me so I thought I would start there.  They have some good deals this week with a lot of UP rewards (it's like RA cash).  Anyways I had 5 transactions planned out for a total of $14.49.  The first trans I had planned I couldn't do because they were out of the products I was looking for.  These items came with $8 UPs so without this my OOP should have been $19.40.  I did end up getting a couple items I had not planned on.  My total OOP was $32.71.  I saved $47.96 with sales, coupons and UPs.  I also have $4UPs to use next time and received 4 surveys for $3 off $15 purchase.  Here's what I got:

Total: $80.67

Total OOP: $32.71 and $4UPs

Transaction 1

2 Gillette Fusion razors sale $9.99 w/ $5UPs each

   2 $4 off Gillette Fusion razors

Total OOP: $11.98 got $10UPs

Transaction 2
2 Dial 3pk bar soaps 2/$3 w/ $1UP
2 Pantene shamp/cond 2/$7
   1 $1 off two pantene prod.
2 Excedrin Migraine $1.99
   2 $1 off exc migraine
2 Excederine Extra Strength
   2 $1 off exc ext strength
Total OOP: $.96!  Got $1UP
(I used the $10 ups from trans 1)

Transaction 3 (This is where things got REALLY messed up because I wasn't paying attention and got a couple things I wasn't planning on getting.)
2 Oreos $4.79 each!  (The sign said 2 each.  Apparently they are for the single check rebates but either way I wouldn't have gotten these if I had known.)
   1 $1 off oreos from VV (Video Values)
1 Chocolate Rabitte $.50
Milk Bone Treats $2.99 get $1UP
   1 $1 off milk bone
Pup-peronie treats $3.99 get $1UP (these were supposed to be $2.99 also)
   1 $1 off pup treats
Dawn Dish soap $.99
   1 $.50 off dawn
Raid Ant bait $2.99 get $1UP
2 OB toothbrushes $2.99 get $2UPs each
   1 $1 off OB toothbrush
   1 $.75 off OB toothbrush
Total OOP: $18.77 Got $6UPs
Used the $1 UP from trans 3 and 2 $1VV coupons

Transaction 4
2 Fructise Shampoos 2/$5
   1 $1 off two
Total OOP: $1
Used 3 Single dollar UPS from trans 3.

So for my first trip I guess I didn't do to badly and learned a lesson. 

Walmart 5/2/11

So I decided to take a quick trip to Walmart with Holly today.  After walking around and seeing all of the lights and colors she is now passes out on my chest.  :)  I wanted to pick up the free razors, cat litter and a few other good deals.  I was sad to find that they were out of the razors.  I'll have to try again next week.  Here's what I got:

Total: $30.65  

Total OOP: $12.25! 

Total savings was over 50%

I would have done a $1 better but for some reason one of the flosses rang up for $1.97 and I just caught it.

4 Cat Litter 10lbs $1.77 I got it for $.67 each!

4 $1.10 off any.  These were IP from last month.

2 Gain 40ct dryer sheets $1.87 got it for $.87 each

2 $1 of detergent or dryer sheets from 4/17 insert

1 Nivea Body wash $3 got it for FREE

1 $3 off Nivea body was from 4/17 unsert

1 Senokot $5.84 got it for $2.84

1 $3 off any

2 Floss 1@ $.88  1@ $1.97 Both for FREE plus $2.15 money maker!

2 $2.50 off floss from 4/17 insert

Kotex Liners $1.24 got for $.24

1 $1 off any liner 

I also picked up some bannanas and a pineapple.  Mack likes bagels and cream cheese so I had to get some of those- but no sale or coupons.  All in all I did pretty well!

This weekend Holly did really well sleeping by herself at Grandpas!

This was the third time in her 4 months of life to sleep by herself!  Shes growing so fast!!!!

Deals I'm excited for! 5/1-5/7/11

So I'm pretty excited for some deals this week:
Target:
Whisker Cat Treats- On sale for $.94
Use the $1 off two from 5/1 insert
I may or may not do this deal at Target. 
Aveeno Baby or Sun care sale *8.99 each
Buy 2 ($17.98) Use 2 $1 off Target coupons (Avail on Targets Web)
1 $3 off Man from 4/17.  If you have 2 of these even better!
Get a $10 Target gift card
Total OOP: $14 or $11 for both

Walmart:
Tidy Cats Litter 10lbs for $1.77
use $1.10 off any size- Only $.67 each!
(Coupon was avail online last month)
Head and Shoulders Price matching to KMart w/ in add coupon $3.50
Use B1G1 free coupon from 4/17  Each 1.75!
Nivea
Razors 4ct $1.97
use $2 off coupon from 5/1 insert or still avail at redplum.com
FREE after coupon!

Rite Aid:
Gillette Fushion pro glide or Man razor $9.99 Get $5UP reward (limit 2)
$4 off 1
total oop $5.99 with $5 UPS!
Milk bones $2.99 Get $1UP reward
use $1 off
Pup-peroni $2.99 Get $1UP reward
use $1 off

Theres some decent deals at Price Chopper too!
2lbs of Strawberries for $2.99
2lbs of Green peppers for $3.49
Ball park franks B1G1- there was a coupon for $1 off in 5/1 insert and online
Chicken breast on sale for $1.99

Sunday Paper 5/1/11

Good Morning!  Make sure to pick up a Sunday paper today!  Some regions are getting up to 6 inserts!  Including a P&G and Target depending on where you are!  I picked up two and when I see what I received may have to get another one!  Hope you get all the good coupons!

Organizing your coupons!

My Binder

I just got my binder finished!  Yay!  I still want a nicer binder but for now it works.
I am using baseball card holders- 9slots.  I also have holders with 6 per page.  You have to organize them so you know what you have and can easily find what you need.  I have mine labeled like this: 
Personal/Body- Here is where I have mouthwash/toothbrush/toothpaste along with shampoo, deodorant, razors, and feminine care products.
Over the counter- This has all the eye care and over the counter meds for my family.
Cleaning Supplies- Just as it sounds.  Cleaning for all rooms inc sponges and air freshener items.
Paper products- This inc. bath tissue, tissues, napkins, printer paper, paper plates ect.
Laundry- Laundry detergents, dryer sheets, softeners ect.  You could put this with cleaning supplies.
Baby- diapers, wipes, shampoo, lotions ect.  Anything baby.
 Pets- Dog food and treats.  Then cat food, litter and treats.
Food-I put all of the refrigerated things together, frozen together, shelf ect.
Misc.- I use this section for things that don't have a spot.  Batteries ect.
Store Coupons- This would inc. $ or % off certain stores.  Such as Lowes, The Home Depot, Portrait deals ect.
Then I have them separated into the actual stores
BJ's
Rite Aid
Target
Wegmans

Some people also use the Clipless method instead of the binder.  Here that put all of the same inserts together- RedPlum, Smart Source ect.  Date each one.  When you see a sale or follow a blog you just match up a sale to the coupon and clip them as needed!

I prefer the binder method because I am able to take all of my coupons with me and see what I have.  This way if there is an unadvertised sale on something I have my coupons to match it and wont have to make a separate trip!
I used to use envelopes and the more coupons I had the harder and less efficient this method became.  I didn't know what coupons I had.  I had coupons constantly expiring and so forth.  With the binder I am able to just glance and see what I have.  An easy tip:  If you have multiples of the same coupon make sure to put the one that expires first in front of the later expiration dates.  I've been skimming my binder once every two weeks or so for expireds and place hem aside to mail to our troops who can use expired coupons for up to 6 months!

Target trip. 4/28/11

Total: $59.95

Total OOP: $33.18

So Holly and I were out and about with my mom.  I decided to stop at Target to use some coupons before they expired.  

I was able to get 8 large Viva paper towels (sale $9.99) for only $6.99.  Thats $.87a roll.  These are usually $1.99 a roll!!  Mack LOVES these.

Also got the two bags of dog food for $3 a bag!!  I love being able to stack Target and manufacturers coupons!

The orange container is sunscreen.  This was $6.99  omg!  At least I had a $1 off coupon.

I got a pretty good deal on the Fisher Price toy for Holly too!  20% off target coupon and $5 manufacturers!
Snaged the gum for $.50 each.
All in all I did ok.  Could have done better though- but I'm happy with my savings. 
On a side note if anyone is interested I can start posting HOW I am getting these deals.  It takes a bit more time but if someone is interested to know let me know and I will start including it in the breakdown!

Holly is still being a grump.  Poor baby is teething.  She had a total meltdown in the car too.  It was horrible.  I had to pull over and take her out of the car seat.  She was so inconsolable and just wanted out! 
We had a busy day and glad to be home!

Just because.   :)

Busy day with Holly!

It was so nice out today!  Holly, Angie (our dog), and Jack (our cat) all went outside today.  Holly got to lay on her blanket and play in her bumbo in the sun.  Yay for vitamin D.
Daddy gave Holly her first hair do too.  As you may know she has very little hair so it was an accomplishment!  I know its really hard to see but if you look really hard you can see she has a mow hawk!  Silly daddy!

Today was a decent day for printable coupons!  I was able to snag a couple for kitty litter.  Supposedly said kitty litter is on sale at Walmart- 10lbs for $1.77- so after coupon only $.67!  Also snagged some Newmans own coupons for pizza.
Swagbucks offered up a 50 swagbucks code today too!!  I earned a total of' 103sb today.  To get these it took me less than 10minutes of my time and is supper easy.  For every 450sb I can get a $5 Amazon gift card.  I just got my first one today! 
If you are interested in Swagbucks please let me know!  I will send you a referral link and we can both win some swagbucks together!

Not much going on.

Title says it all.  Not much going on today.  Holly and I are just hanging out.  She has been pretty misserable the last few days.  She is definitely teething and maybe a small stomach bug.  Poor baby.
On a positive note I won a free Gillette razor today!  It was a FB offer.
Thinking if I have time tomorrow I will post about swagbucks!  Stay tuned.

Price Chopper 4/25/11

My trip to Price Chopper!

Total:  $88.87 

OOP total: $41.49!  Over 50% savings!

In this PC shopping trip I was able to get some GREAT deals and save some money to stock up on a few things!  Here are some of the great deals I got.

4 boxes of Cheerios- Sale 4/$6 

    2 $1/1 cheerios

    1 $1/2= $.50 each

2 Boxes of Club crackers- Sale 2/$4

    $1/1= $1.50 each

5 Cans of Tomatoes- crushed/diced/and sauce

    All on sale this week for $1

2 Pouches Tuna- Sale $1/1

     2 $.50/1= FREE

3 peanut butter- in add coupon $3

    $1/1= $.75 each

2 Arnold wheat bread- Sale $2.99 each

    2 $1/1= $2 each
1 MIO - $3.99
     Try it for FREE fb offer

What do you think?  How did I do??  

I did a bit of planning on this one.  I follow a couple of coupon blogs that do a lot of the sale/coupon match ups for you.  I also did a couple of my own.  If you have questions of what I did please ask!

On a side note Holly has been HORRIBLE today.  She is teething and her tummy was pretty upset all day.  She did do a great job at the store though!  Made for an easy and mostly stress free trip!