I am not sure what it is, but Fall always speaks to me in the most basic way- ie. I start hoarding away food for the winter.
I know, we have lovely little grocery stores and huge mega-stores that carry anything you want all year round, but still- come Fall, every year, my instincts kick in. I mentioned the other day about harassing my Dad to fill my freezer with deer meat- I was totally serious.
My couponing always kicks in to top gear in the Fall and that is what I've been doing lately. Popcorn and pizza may not be the healthiest meal, but hey- food is food and thanks to some deals, we have quite a few frozen pizzas and several boxes of microwave popcorn, along with various other odds and ends.
I have been a bit lazy recently with my couponing. So much has been going on, it just hasn't been top priority, but with the colder temperatures recently, it has picked back up!
My saddest realization is the lack of canned and frozen fresh foods from this year. Unfortunately, prices never really got to where I wanted to see them for me to *buy* and freeze corn. Meanwhile, a ton of rain early in the season stunted the gardens in this area. No fresh salsa for me, and definitely no canned salsa this year. Sigh.
Oh well, there is always frozen pizza and popcorn :).
-Kristen
Showing posts with label couponing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label couponing. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
My Target Trip- AWESOME
Check out my haul at Target today! Now, would you believe I spent only $3.39 for everything you see in the picture?
I used three different phone apps- one was Target Cartwheel, which got me 10% off the peanuts, 5% off the strawberries and 5% off the meat.
Then I used a Target printable on the Right Guard, plus a Manufacturer's coupon. It was free.
Then I used Target Mobile Coupons (you text FRESH to their number and get coupons that you open with your phone's internet browser) and got $1.00 off the peanuts, $1.00 off the snickers bars, $1.00 off the meat and $1.00 off the strawberries!
Then I used a $0.50 coupon on the strawberries, which I got when I joined Driscoll's email list.
THEN I used a $2.00 gift card I had earned through Shopkick. You earn points for just walking in to Target or a variety of other stores, then you can cash out for various gift cards.
Oh- and I brought my own shopping bag, so I got another $0.05 off.
So there you have it- lots of different ways to coupon now, which can lead to huge savings- especially at Target, where you can triple stack Cartwheel, Target Qs and Manufacturer's Qs. Add in gift cards that you earned and you can rock the trip!
-Kristen
Monday, February 25, 2013
Grocery Shopping
I've recently rekindled my love of coupon shopping at grocery stores. For a while, it was hard to want to make the effort- the newspaper inserts are ridiculous now- save 40 cents off 3 $8 each products is hardly worth the effort it takes to work the scissors. It's definitely not worth rushing out to stock up on anything.
Thankfully, we've had some better deals come up. My grocery store, Harris Teeter, just did a week of "Super Doubles", where they doubled coupons up to $2. I was able to get pork ribs (already on mark down) for $1.30 a package! I also stocked up on some things for Tim- quick meals, chili, etc. We got a bag each of dog and cat food for much cheaper than I usually have to pay and saved around 60 cents a bag on shredded cheese.
Was it an amazing, stop the presses, call in the media kind of trip? No. I did manage to save around 80% on my first trip and 60% on my second- plus I got 4 cups of Uncle Ben's rice as a side for Tim. They were regularly on sale for $1 each... I paid a penny each- after tax.
The thing that I (and you) have to remember about coupons is that you don't have to hit it out of the park every single time. If you save 80% on filler items like quick microwave meals, rice, etc., that is still money in your wallet. So what if the sales aren't as good and the coupon values stink? If you are going to buy it anyway or really want to try it, even 30 cents is helpful.
Pennies make dollars- and it works both ways. Would you rather those extra cents be making money for you, or lining the pockets of CEOs?
-Kristen
Thankfully, we've had some better deals come up. My grocery store, Harris Teeter, just did a week of "Super Doubles", where they doubled coupons up to $2. I was able to get pork ribs (already on mark down) for $1.30 a package! I also stocked up on some things for Tim- quick meals, chili, etc. We got a bag each of dog and cat food for much cheaper than I usually have to pay and saved around 60 cents a bag on shredded cheese.
Was it an amazing, stop the presses, call in the media kind of trip? No. I did manage to save around 80% on my first trip and 60% on my second- plus I got 4 cups of Uncle Ben's rice as a side for Tim. They were regularly on sale for $1 each... I paid a penny each- after tax.
The thing that I (and you) have to remember about coupons is that you don't have to hit it out of the park every single time. If you save 80% on filler items like quick microwave meals, rice, etc., that is still money in your wallet. So what if the sales aren't as good and the coupon values stink? If you are going to buy it anyway or really want to try it, even 30 cents is helpful.
Pennies make dollars- and it works both ways. Would you rather those extra cents be making money for you, or lining the pockets of CEOs?
-Kristen
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Kellogg's Family Rewards
KFR is a reward program that allows you to enter free codes and codes from inside Kellogg's packages. You can then redeem them for prizes- coupons, instant win games, or physical items like totes, magazine subscriptions, toys, etc.
You can also use their facebook app to spin "the wheel" 3 times a day for free and you could win points or even free groceries.
I currently have 825 point without buying a single item. Not bad.
- EZ25POINTSFORKFR (25 points)
- KFRGIFTOFSAVINGS (50 points)
- KFRDELTAENTERNOW (50 points)
- COSTOFCEREALPOLL (10 points)
- ENTERDELTASWEEPS (50 pts)
- KFRFAVPOPTARTS10 (10 pts)
- FAVHOLIDAYCOOKIE (25 pts)
- TAKECAREOFYOU20P (20 pts)
- MARIECLAIRE50PTS (50 pts)
- ERESUNGANADORHOY (50 pts)
- FOODNETMAG50PNTS (50 points)
- KFRNOWONFACEBOOK (20 points)
- goodhousemag50pt (50 points)
- redbookKFR50pnts (50 points)
- KFRFREEGROCERIES (50 points)
- MYFAVCHARACTER50 (50 points)
- HALLOWEENPARTY25 (25 Points)
- JOINKELLOGG2SAVE (50 Points)
- HOWITWORKS20PNTS (20 points)
- KFRFIBERPLUSPOLL (10 points)
Ibotta
There is an app out called Ibotta. It has been out for Apple products for a while, but has only recently become available for Android users as well.
You download the app to your phone and then have the opportunity to access money back offers- for instance, one of my offers is for a 12 pack of Coke Zero. You do little tasks to increase the monetary value, then scan the item and take a picture of your receipt when you buy it. Bam! I would get $0.75 back if I were to purchase the Coke Zero right now.
It's worth taking a look, it is an excellent way to save money and possibly even get the items for free if you pair a good sale with good coupons!
-Kristen
You download the app to your phone and then have the opportunity to access money back offers- for instance, one of my offers is for a 12 pack of Coke Zero. You do little tasks to increase the monetary value, then scan the item and take a picture of your receipt when you buy it. Bam! I would get $0.75 back if I were to purchase the Coke Zero right now.
It's worth taking a look, it is an excellent way to save money and possibly even get the items for free if you pair a good sale with good coupons!
-Kristen
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Check the Fine Print
We bought a TV Stand yesterday and it just happened to be Better Homes and Garden brand. With the stand came a deal- a free year subscription to the magazine of the same name.
I have no need for this magazine, but before tossing the little "free subscription card", I read it.
Turns out, you can turn in a copy of your receipt and the subscription card for a rebate! By writing REFUND on the card and filling out the information, I am going to get $6 back. That doesn't quite cover the tax on the tv stand, but hey- if you saw $6.00 lying on the ground, wouldn't you stop to pick it up? If you knew you could spend 45 cents (the price of a stamp) and get $6.00 back...wouldn't you do it?
Of course you would.
So the moral of the story is- take a few seconds and read those offers. Chances are, you can get money back if it is something you aren't interested in.
-Kristen
I have no need for this magazine, but before tossing the little "free subscription card", I read it.
Turns out, you can turn in a copy of your receipt and the subscription card for a rebate! By writing REFUND on the card and filling out the information, I am going to get $6 back. That doesn't quite cover the tax on the tv stand, but hey- if you saw $6.00 lying on the ground, wouldn't you stop to pick it up? If you knew you could spend 45 cents (the price of a stamp) and get $6.00 back...wouldn't you do it?
Of course you would.
So the moral of the story is- take a few seconds and read those offers. Chances are, you can get money back if it is something you aren't interested in.
-Kristen
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Holiday Bucks are back at Petsmart!
I am so inordinately excited about this deal from PetSmart I just had to write up this blog immediately.
Holiday Bucks are back at PetSmart! Basically, when you buy any of the products above, you look for a little red ornament shaped logo on the Purina or Science Diet products that mentions $5 Holiday Bucks.
Use your PetSmart PetPerks membership when you buy one or more participating items and a $5 coupon will print on your receipt. This receipt coupon is good on your next purchase of ANY Science Diet or Purina Purchase.
My recommendation is that you "roll" this $5 forward by only purchasing one eligible item per transaction to get the most "bang for your buck", since you will only get one coupon per Purina and/or Science Diet item purchase, no matter how many items you buy. The last time this was around, I stocked up on a mountain of cat litter- $5 off each bucket except the first one I bought, plus they are stackable with manufacturer's coupons.
This really is a great time to stock up on cat litter, or buy a few bags of food for your pets as long as you have a good place to store it. With three dogs and three cats, storage isn't much of a problem around here, as my guys can really put away the food.
-Kristen
Thursday, June 14, 2012
No Beer Purchase Required
My newest "money making scheme" (which really isn't a scheme at all) is the use of NBPR rebates. NBPR stands for No Beer Purchase Required and luckily for those of us in North Carolina, we get a lot of these.
You've seen those tear pads at the stores- "Get a $5 rebate when you buy $5.01 or more worth of meat and two cases of Beerofyourchoice Lite!" Maybe you pass them by because you don't drink Beerofyourchoice. Next time, stop a minute and check out the fine print. In a good number of states, you actually are not required to purchase the beer to get the rebate! So in this example, if I spent $5.01 on meat, I can get a $5.00 rebate back when I fill out the original form and mail it in.
I found a tear pad at Walmart the other day for $5 back when we bought propane and beer- but oh wait! Right there in the fine print, NC is a NBPR state! So I can get $5 back just on buying the propane for our gas grill, which we buy anyway.
You can purchase NBPR original forms on ebay cheaply, which is a double edged sword. You can get a lot of rebates from all over the country, but people also steal the entire tear pad so they can make a few bucks on ebay- meaning you have to pay for something that should be free. The good sellers will type up which states don't require you to purchase beer and all the other little legal ins and outs as stated on the form- make sure if you do decide to purchase them, you buy only originals. 99.995% of the time, a copy is not acceptable to the companies and who can blame them?
This is a fantastic way to "find" money if you are lucky enough to live in a NBPR state- after all, you are probably going to spend $5.01 on meat at the grocery store anyway- why not get $5.00 back?
Just make sure you keep track of which rebates you've submitted! Most state only one per household and run for several months, so you don't want to waste postage on a rebate you have already done!
-Kristen
You've seen those tear pads at the stores- "Get a $5 rebate when you buy $5.01 or more worth of meat and two cases of Beerofyourchoice Lite!" Maybe you pass them by because you don't drink Beerofyourchoice. Next time, stop a minute and check out the fine print. In a good number of states, you actually are not required to purchase the beer to get the rebate! So in this example, if I spent $5.01 on meat, I can get a $5.00 rebate back when I fill out the original form and mail it in.
I found a tear pad at Walmart the other day for $5 back when we bought propane and beer- but oh wait! Right there in the fine print, NC is a NBPR state! So I can get $5 back just on buying the propane for our gas grill, which we buy anyway.
You can purchase NBPR original forms on ebay cheaply, which is a double edged sword. You can get a lot of rebates from all over the country, but people also steal the entire tear pad so they can make a few bucks on ebay- meaning you have to pay for something that should be free. The good sellers will type up which states don't require you to purchase beer and all the other little legal ins and outs as stated on the form- make sure if you do decide to purchase them, you buy only originals. 99.995% of the time, a copy is not acceptable to the companies and who can blame them?
This is a fantastic way to "find" money if you are lucky enough to live in a NBPR state- after all, you are probably going to spend $5.01 on meat at the grocery store anyway- why not get $5.00 back?
Just make sure you keep track of which rebates you've submitted! Most state only one per household and run for several months, so you don't want to waste postage on a rebate you have already done!
-Kristen
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Couponing Brag!
Our local grocery store, Harris Teeter, is doing SUPER DOUBLES this week. It means they will double any coupon up to $1.98- so a $1 coupon doubles to $2, so forth and so on.
I purchased:
2 Tubs of Country Crock Butter
2 small tubs of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
1 2pk of Tum's Freshers
1 100ct Bounty Napkins
1 4pk Double roll of Charmin
2 Kashi Steam Fresh Meals
1 box of Lance Cracker Creations
1 package of Kraft Fresh Takes
1 box of 20ct Tampons.
2 bags of Birds Eye Steam veggies.
By the time I used all my coupons, they were doubled and Harris Teeter's "ZVR" (store coupons loaded on to my loyalty card) came off, I only spent $3.40!
Half the coupons used were internet printables, the others were from old coupon inserts- another reason it's important to keep your inserts!
-Kristen
I purchased:
2 Tubs of Country Crock Butter
2 small tubs of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
1 2pk of Tum's Freshers
1 100ct Bounty Napkins
1 4pk Double roll of Charmin
2 Kashi Steam Fresh Meals
1 box of Lance Cracker Creations
1 package of Kraft Fresh Takes
1 box of 20ct Tampons.
2 bags of Birds Eye Steam veggies.
By the time I used all my coupons, they were doubled and Harris Teeter's "ZVR" (store coupons loaded on to my loyalty card) came off, I only spent $3.40!
Half the coupons used were internet printables, the others were from old coupon inserts- another reason it's important to keep your inserts!
-Kristen
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Check Your Receipt!
Tim called the other day, wanting to know if he could grab lunch out at Burger King. I know what you're wondering- "Why does he have to ask permission to go out to lunch?" Because, we're on a budget people. It's less asking for permission and more of checking in to make sure the money is available (since he doesn't do anything with the budget). He also knew I'd say yes because we have a booklet of BK coupons, so he could go get lunch for half price or less.
Anyway, he brought home the receipt so I could enter it in to my budget spreadsheet (I love you excel) and I flipped it over to see the survey offer. "Get a Free Whopper with purchase of fries and a drink at regular price, when you complete this survey online." Since I know that it is a pretty reasonable price to buy the smallest drink and smallest fry (we're looking at $2.00 vs. $5 for a Whopper Value Meal), I went online and did the survey. Poof- coupon code for a free Whopper.
PetSmart, Bath & Body Works and Chickfila often do "random" surveys for money off your next purchase, or a free item, etc.
Always make sure to check your receipt to see if you received one that is offering coupons. It's a great way to save some extra money. In the case of PetSmart, I recently used my receipt-coupon in conjunction with a manufacturer's coupon to score a free item! The surveys usually take just a few minutes and tell you in advance what the discount will be, so you can judge if it is worth your time or not.
Likewise, always check your receipt to make sure your coupon(s) came off total correctly. I've been overcharged by several dollars before. It's kind of a pain to go back in and get the totals fixed, but I look at it this way- if it takes 10 minutes for you to get your $3 back...that's like making $18 an hour. Worth it!
So, always remember to glance at your receipt!
-Kristen
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
What Couponing Can Do-
A friend of mine just recently had a house fire. They lost pretty much everything- including some beloved family pets.
Thanks to the stockpile and my couponing, I was able to put together a box of toiletries, beyond what I could have afforded to send otherwise. Soap, razors, shaving cream, lotion, perfumes, makeup- I don't fully recall everything that went in to the box.
My point in this post is not to pat myself on the back that I helped someone that needed it. That's just what you do.
My point is that through couponing and buying items when I could combine sales for the best deals allowed me to give more than my budget would have otherwise allowed. In some cases, the items I gave away I had managed to get for free or made money by purchasing them.
I am able to give items away to friends and family who need them without a thought- because I do have 10 tubes of toothpaste in the closet, or 8 shaving creams under the sink. Friends have asked me to teach them couponing and stockpiling so they can help family members who are unemployed or donate to their local homeless shelters.
Don't make the mistake of thinking stockpiling is the same as hoarding. Many of us are not just sitting on thousands of rolls of toilet paper, giggling to ourselves and waiting on the next sale so we can go do it again. Donation isn't an excuse or a justification for buying 20 tubes of toothpaste. For a lot of people, it really is a way to save our households money while helping others.
-Kristen
Thanks to the stockpile and my couponing, I was able to put together a box of toiletries, beyond what I could have afforded to send otherwise. Soap, razors, shaving cream, lotion, perfumes, makeup- I don't fully recall everything that went in to the box.
My point in this post is not to pat myself on the back that I helped someone that needed it. That's just what you do.
My point is that through couponing and buying items when I could combine sales for the best deals allowed me to give more than my budget would have otherwise allowed. In some cases, the items I gave away I had managed to get for free or made money by purchasing them.
I am able to give items away to friends and family who need them without a thought- because I do have 10 tubes of toothpaste in the closet, or 8 shaving creams under the sink. Friends have asked me to teach them couponing and stockpiling so they can help family members who are unemployed or donate to their local homeless shelters.
Don't make the mistake of thinking stockpiling is the same as hoarding. Many of us are not just sitting on thousands of rolls of toilet paper, giggling to ourselves and waiting on the next sale so we can go do it again. Donation isn't an excuse or a justification for buying 20 tubes of toothpaste. For a lot of people, it really is a way to save our households money while helping others.
-Kristen
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Coupon Brag
A while back, I spent $4.19 to purchase everything you see here. I got some awesome deals, as this total was $42.77 before my coupons. The best part was I was able to submit it for a P&G promotion where you got a bakeware set when you spent X amount on P&G products.
Guess what arrived in the mail today?!
Guess what arrived in the mail today?!
My Bakeware set! Look at all the fun things! Mixing bowls, a silicone baking sheet, a spatula, a regular baking sheet, measuring cups and a pot holder. I love deals like this- not only was what I purchased before a great deal, this baking set is going to be a lot of fun and was totally free. It's been a good day!
-Kristen
-Kristen
Monday, March 5, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Couponing Brag!
I bought everything in the picture for $1.33. Got back $7.00 in ECBs from CVS and will be submitting the receipt for a $5 Mail in Rebate!
I used 4- BOGO coupons for the Speedstick, which was on sale for $1.99. For whatever reason, the coupon automatically took $3.99 (the max value) off. CVS is aware of this oddity and doesn't fix it- I was very surprised! I bought over $15 worth of Speedstick/Mennen products, so I got $5.00 ECBs
The toothpaste was on clearance for $1.94. I used a $0.75/1 coupon.
We use 1 ECB from a previous week.
So there we have it! Subtotal was $0.19, I paid $1.14 in tax and voila! A VERY good deal!
-Kristen
Monday, January 23, 2012
I love shopping
I love shopping when I have good coupons!
I went to Target today.
I bought:
4- 3.5lb bags of Purina One Beyond Dog Food
6- Lean Cuisine 100% Natural Meals
2- Boxes of Skinny Cow Candy
2- single roll Up 7 Up brand paper towels
And I only spent a little over $13 on all of it!
I also gave a lady in front of me a $2/1 Charmin Mega Rolls coupon I wasn't going to use before it's expiration date. Her son was wearing a UNC-Chapel Hill hoodie, so I grinned and told him it was only because he pulled for the right school. He then embarrassed me by begging her for some kind of treat he had already been told he couldn't have, because YOU GOT A COUPON MOM...MOM. BUT MOM...YOU GOT A COUPON!
Oops.
-Kristen
I went to Target today.
I bought:
4- 3.5lb bags of Purina One Beyond Dog Food
6- Lean Cuisine 100% Natural Meals
2- Boxes of Skinny Cow Candy
2- single roll Up 7 Up brand paper towels
And I only spent a little over $13 on all of it!
I also gave a lady in front of me a $2/1 Charmin Mega Rolls coupon I wasn't going to use before it's expiration date. Her son was wearing a UNC-Chapel Hill hoodie, so I grinned and told him it was only because he pulled for the right school. He then embarrassed me by begging her for some kind of treat he had already been told he couldn't have, because YOU GOT A COUPON MOM...MOM. BUT MOM...YOU GOT A COUPON!
Oops.
-Kristen
Monday, January 2, 2012
Couponing Awesomeness
Here lately, the coupons have been flying fast and furious!
Royal Canin sent me an email coupon for $4.00 off a bag of their cat food or a box of 3 small samples of different kinds of food. The samples cost $3.99 a box- free cat food!
Science Diet Ideal Balance Dog Food has a rebate out. So we paid $9.99 for a bag and will get that badk in a few weeks- free bag of dog food!
Arm & Hammer Cat Litter has a rebate out on their 20lb boxes of the new baking soda coated cat litter. $8.23 at Walmart, we'll get that back- free cat litter!
We also got a $10/$10 purchase coupon from Staples! I scored an 8 pack of Bounty paper towels, a box of 100 paper clips (filler item), a box of 100 bandages and a package of 2 personal size hand sanitizers for $0.54. We could have made this deal better, but the Bounty came up cheaper than it was supposed to be, so I had to get more filler items, rather than a reasonable priced second item. Still... $0.54 for all of that! I have no idea what we did to deserve that coupon, it came in the mail, so don't ask me- just be sure to read everything that comes in!
This isn't including the smaller couponing I've been doing- the non-free item kind. It amazes me what stores and companies will give away- just to try to hook you on their products.
I really need to learn how the Staples Rewards program works. If I know that, I could have rolled that free $10 in to more free money. Once I figure it out, I'll be sure to share :).
-Kristen
Royal Canin sent me an email coupon for $4.00 off a bag of their cat food or a box of 3 small samples of different kinds of food. The samples cost $3.99 a box- free cat food!
Science Diet Ideal Balance Dog Food has a rebate out. So we paid $9.99 for a bag and will get that badk in a few weeks- free bag of dog food!
Arm & Hammer Cat Litter has a rebate out on their 20lb boxes of the new baking soda coated cat litter. $8.23 at Walmart, we'll get that back- free cat litter!
We also got a $10/$10 purchase coupon from Staples! I scored an 8 pack of Bounty paper towels, a box of 100 paper clips (filler item), a box of 100 bandages and a package of 2 personal size hand sanitizers for $0.54. We could have made this deal better, but the Bounty came up cheaper than it was supposed to be, so I had to get more filler items, rather than a reasonable priced second item. Still... $0.54 for all of that! I have no idea what we did to deserve that coupon, it came in the mail, so don't ask me- just be sure to read everything that comes in!
This isn't including the smaller couponing I've been doing- the non-free item kind. It amazes me what stores and companies will give away- just to try to hook you on their products.
I really need to learn how the Staples Rewards program works. If I know that, I could have rolled that free $10 in to more free money. Once I figure it out, I'll be sure to share :).
-Kristen
Friday, November 18, 2011
Coupon-Stravaganza
I got a letter in the mail from Purina today, sending my "prizes" from when I spent every day at 11am competing against other people for one of 1,000 coupons on their dog and cat website.
What did I get?
FREE 3.5lb bag of Purina One Cat Food
FREE 4lb bag of Purina One Dog Food
FREE (1) Purina Beneful Dog Food Prepared Meals
FREE (2) trays of Fancy Feast Appetizers for Cats
FREE (2) cans of Friskies Tasty Treasures Canned Cat Food
FREE 6lb bag of Purina Cat chow
FREE (2) cans of Purina ONE Wholesome Entrees Dog Food
FREE 3.15lb bag of Friskies Cat Food
FREE 1 package of Purina Busy HeartyHide chew treat
FREE 14lb jug of Tidy Cats
FREE (2) cans of Alpo Dog Food
FREE (2) cans of Friskies Tasty Treasures Canned Cat Food
FREE (1) can of Purina ONE cat food
FREE (1) 10 oz. package of Purina T-bonz dog snack
FREE 6lb bag of Purina Cat chow
FREE 7lb bag of Purina Beneful dog food
FREE 1 3.5 oz. package of Busy brand Chew Treat
FREE 3.15lb bag of Friskies Cat Food
OH yes, I made out like a bandit. All I had to do was remember each day at 11:00am to refresh the Purina Cares page, type in my info and hit submit. That's literally all I did. Now I'm going to reap the benefits in the form of a lot of free pet food and treats. It took me less than 5 minutes each day.
Now who doesn't have the time to coupon?
-Kristen
What did I get?
FREE 3.5lb bag of Purina One Cat Food
FREE 4lb bag of Purina One Dog Food
FREE (1) Purina Beneful Dog Food Prepared Meals
FREE (2) trays of Fancy Feast Appetizers for Cats
FREE (2) cans of Friskies Tasty Treasures Canned Cat Food
FREE 6lb bag of Purina Cat chow
FREE (2) cans of Purina ONE Wholesome Entrees Dog Food
FREE 3.15lb bag of Friskies Cat Food
FREE 1 package of Purina Busy HeartyHide chew treat
FREE 14lb jug of Tidy Cats
FREE (2) cans of Alpo Dog Food
FREE (2) cans of Friskies Tasty Treasures Canned Cat Food
FREE (1) can of Purina ONE cat food
FREE (1) 10 oz. package of Purina T-bonz dog snack
FREE 6lb bag of Purina Cat chow
FREE 7lb bag of Purina Beneful dog food
FREE 1 3.5 oz. package of Busy brand Chew Treat
FREE 3.15lb bag of Friskies Cat Food
OH yes, I made out like a bandit. All I had to do was remember each day at 11:00am to refresh the Purina Cares page, type in my info and hit submit. That's literally all I did. Now I'm going to reap the benefits in the form of a lot of free pet food and treats. It took me less than 5 minutes each day.
Now who doesn't have the time to coupon?
-Kristen
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Couponing: What is Stockpiling?
What is stockpiling?
It's just what you would think- stockpiling is "hoarding" items, especially when they are on sale! If you've ever shopped at a Club Store, you've probably stockpiled, whether you intended to or not (5 gallons of Mayo, anyone?) I'm laughingly using the term "hoarding", but think about it more like a squirrel in winter. You are putting away food and health/beauty care items in case of lean times. The only difference is you're doing it via great sales and deals, not picking it up off the ground and putting it in a tree.
The theory behind stockpiling is that you should never pay full price for certain items again. Have you ever seen a really great deal, bought one or two items, and then found yourself saying later "Man, I wish I'd bought more of that!" Stockpiling is just buying a little more of that really great deal, so it will last you until the next time there is a really great deal on it!
What should you stockpile?
Only stockpile items that are non-perishable, or you KNOW you will use before they expire. You aren't saving money if you save 50 cents a pound on fruit and have to throw it ALL AWAY. I even stockpile certain items as christmas gifts! Some people stockpile by freezing bread and milk. I don't want my bread soggy (though I know some people claim ways to do it without the bread going gross) and we don't drink enough milk that freezing it holds an appeal for me. You are in control of what and how much you stockpile!
Why should you stockpile?
Stockpiling is fantastic in certain cases. For instance, Tampax Pearl was running a promotion where you could buy a box of tampons and get a FREE movie ticket, valued up to $12. If that isn't enough reason to stock up, there were $2.00 and $1.00 coupons in each P&G coupon insert in the newspaper. So for the same price as storebrand, you got a box of tampons AND a movie ticket. Plus, since they don't go bad, there is no reason not to stockpile (unless you simply don't have a place to put the item!) It's a great way to save money!
Are you prepared if you or a spouse loses their job? Through having a stockpile, even if it's just for toiletries, that's one less thing to have to worry about. You can reroute money you would spend on a grocery bill in to making payments on your house or car, or to keep the lights on while you search for new employment.
When should you stockpile?
Stockpile at any time! Keep an eye on your grocery store deals and when you can get something free or nearly free, buy it! I buy Cream of Chicken Soup in bulk around Thanksgiving, when the sales are hitting hard. We use so much of it in cooking, it really adds up if you have to spend $1 a can. When Walgreens put it on sale for 50 cents a can a few months ago, I definitely stockpiled it- that's a huge savings!
There is no purpose to stockpiling if you are paying regular, or mostly regular price for the items.
Ways to stockpile:
-can! Yep, you can stockpile garden (or grocery) produce by canning it.
-dehydrate! If you have a food dehydrator, you can make all kinds of dried snacks, from fruit and veggies to meat or yogurt.
-freeze! Use high quality freezer bags or a food saver to stockpile anything that needs to be frozen.
-shop the deals! This is the most important way I stockpile. I shop the deals. For instance, I was able to purchase 4 Colgate toothpastes and 2 of my favorite brands of deodorant this week at Rite Aid. I ultimately paid the same price for all of these items as I would have paid for just 1 of the deodorants. I could have added in free lotion to the deal, but you know what? I have plenty of lotion. Pick what you need and want, and always keep an eye on your stockpile. Do you need 45 lotions? Unless you really go through that lotion, then no. Will 4 toothpastes come in handy? Absolutely. We use it, we go through it fairly quickly and it will keep us from paying full price until more "free toothpaste" deals come up.
Stockpiling can be a helpful tool to save money, but be careful. You do NOT want items piled up along the walls in every room in your house. Don't stockpile something you will never use, just because it's cheap! Start out slow, with one or two items. I recommend body wash or other health care items. You don't worry about an expiration date and it's a good way to get your feet wet. Plus, there are always tons of sales on body wash!
-Kristen
It's just what you would think- stockpiling is "hoarding" items, especially when they are on sale! If you've ever shopped at a Club Store, you've probably stockpiled, whether you intended to or not (5 gallons of Mayo, anyone?) I'm laughingly using the term "hoarding", but think about it more like a squirrel in winter. You are putting away food and health/beauty care items in case of lean times. The only difference is you're doing it via great sales and deals, not picking it up off the ground and putting it in a tree.
The theory behind stockpiling is that you should never pay full price for certain items again. Have you ever seen a really great deal, bought one or two items, and then found yourself saying later "Man, I wish I'd bought more of that!" Stockpiling is just buying a little more of that really great deal, so it will last you until the next time there is a really great deal on it!
What should you stockpile?
Only stockpile items that are non-perishable, or you KNOW you will use before they expire. You aren't saving money if you save 50 cents a pound on fruit and have to throw it ALL AWAY. I even stockpile certain items as christmas gifts! Some people stockpile by freezing bread and milk. I don't want my bread soggy (though I know some people claim ways to do it without the bread going gross) and we don't drink enough milk that freezing it holds an appeal for me. You are in control of what and how much you stockpile!
Why should you stockpile?
Stockpiling is fantastic in certain cases. For instance, Tampax Pearl was running a promotion where you could buy a box of tampons and get a FREE movie ticket, valued up to $12. If that isn't enough reason to stock up, there were $2.00 and $1.00 coupons in each P&G coupon insert in the newspaper. So for the same price as storebrand, you got a box of tampons AND a movie ticket. Plus, since they don't go bad, there is no reason not to stockpile (unless you simply don't have a place to put the item!) It's a great way to save money!
Are you prepared if you or a spouse loses their job? Through having a stockpile, even if it's just for toiletries, that's one less thing to have to worry about. You can reroute money you would spend on a grocery bill in to making payments on your house or car, or to keep the lights on while you search for new employment.
When should you stockpile?
Stockpile at any time! Keep an eye on your grocery store deals and when you can get something free or nearly free, buy it! I buy Cream of Chicken Soup in bulk around Thanksgiving, when the sales are hitting hard. We use so much of it in cooking, it really adds up if you have to spend $1 a can. When Walgreens put it on sale for 50 cents a can a few months ago, I definitely stockpiled it- that's a huge savings!
There is no purpose to stockpiling if you are paying regular, or mostly regular price for the items.
Ways to stockpile:
-can! Yep, you can stockpile garden (or grocery) produce by canning it.
-dehydrate! If you have a food dehydrator, you can make all kinds of dried snacks, from fruit and veggies to meat or yogurt.
-freeze! Use high quality freezer bags or a food saver to stockpile anything that needs to be frozen.
-shop the deals! This is the most important way I stockpile. I shop the deals. For instance, I was able to purchase 4 Colgate toothpastes and 2 of my favorite brands of deodorant this week at Rite Aid. I ultimately paid the same price for all of these items as I would have paid for just 1 of the deodorants. I could have added in free lotion to the deal, but you know what? I have plenty of lotion. Pick what you need and want, and always keep an eye on your stockpile. Do you need 45 lotions? Unless you really go through that lotion, then no. Will 4 toothpastes come in handy? Absolutely. We use it, we go through it fairly quickly and it will keep us from paying full price until more "free toothpaste" deals come up.
Stockpiling can be a helpful tool to save money, but be careful. You do NOT want items piled up along the walls in every room in your house. Don't stockpile something you will never use, just because it's cheap! Start out slow, with one or two items. I recommend body wash or other health care items. You don't worry about an expiration date and it's a good way to get your feet wet. Plus, there are always tons of sales on body wash!
-Kristen
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Coupon Guilt
I spent today clipping coupons and mapping out scenarios at Rite Aid and CVS- and making up a grocery list for Walmart. Since we spent a week in Indianapolis, we were literally out of everything perishable (we avoided grocery shopping leading up to the trip so nothing went to waste).
We stopped first at CVS and unfortunately some of the prices at my store were higher than I had anticipated, turning a moneymaker into a very good deal, but not really worth it to me based on what I have in my stockpile at home. I did pick up 2 Softsoap hand soaps ($2/2 coupon in the 10/30 paper and they are on sale for 99 cents each). I also got some nail clippers for 19 cents after the CVS coupon that printed out for me at the magic kiosk, plus the manufacturer's coupon I stacked with it. Since I'm a member of the "Beauty Club" at CVS as well, my purchase goes towards that $50 needed to print out a $5 ECB. It takes me quite a while to build up to this since I coupon so aggressively, but every little bit helps!
We headed to Rite Aid next. I had some complicated scenarios worked out, but in the end I decided to stick to just the basics. I bought 4 Colgate toothpastes ($3.50 each, but I had $2.00 in coupons) for a little less than $13.00. Then I used the four $3.50 UP+ rewards to purchase two Secret Clinical Deodorants at $7.99 each. We spent $3.00 or so out of pocket and got $4 back in UP+ rewards that I will roll forward at a later date. So basically, I got 4 free toothpastes and two deodorants for what one deodorant would normally cost me after I use up all of my UP+ rewards. Not bad!
Then we headed to Walmart and therein lies the problem. Up to this point, we had done very well! However, we needed a new bath mat. I opted to get a better one than the el cheapos, so it ended up costing us around $16. Then I let Tim buy a Halloween decoration at $4 and we bought River two Halloween toys which ran us $1.50. That's over $20 on junk already (though the puppy is going through toys like crazy and we did need the bath mat).
We started hitting the grocery section and unfortunately we needed everything! Chicken, beef, hot dogs, cheese, bread, milk- all of it! I did use $6 in coupons, but most of what we purchased just didn't have coupons available. It's so hard to save on meat and produce with our limited stores. Long story a little shorter, we spent $93 at Walmart! OUCH!
We haven't spent that much in forever and no matter the other deals we got today, I feel guilty that I wasn't able to do better! Nevermind that we hadn't shopped in nearly three weeks and nevermind that Tim sprung a few last minute requests (like cereal) on me, it sucks to know I couldn't do better!
Siiigh. I guess I should be happy I get what I can get for free/cheap and just realize that every trip out isn't going to be a home-run, especially when it comes to groceries.
Oh well, I'm going to go have a pity party. At least now that we've been to Walmart, I can serve snacks!
-Kristen
We stopped first at CVS and unfortunately some of the prices at my store were higher than I had anticipated, turning a moneymaker into a very good deal, but not really worth it to me based on what I have in my stockpile at home. I did pick up 2 Softsoap hand soaps ($2/2 coupon in the 10/30 paper and they are on sale for 99 cents each). I also got some nail clippers for 19 cents after the CVS coupon that printed out for me at the magic kiosk, plus the manufacturer's coupon I stacked with it. Since I'm a member of the "Beauty Club" at CVS as well, my purchase goes towards that $50 needed to print out a $5 ECB. It takes me quite a while to build up to this since I coupon so aggressively, but every little bit helps!
We headed to Rite Aid next. I had some complicated scenarios worked out, but in the end I decided to stick to just the basics. I bought 4 Colgate toothpastes ($3.50 each, but I had $2.00 in coupons) for a little less than $13.00. Then I used the four $3.50 UP+ rewards to purchase two Secret Clinical Deodorants at $7.99 each. We spent $3.00 or so out of pocket and got $4 back in UP+ rewards that I will roll forward at a later date. So basically, I got 4 free toothpastes and two deodorants for what one deodorant would normally cost me after I use up all of my UP+ rewards. Not bad!
Then we headed to Walmart and therein lies the problem. Up to this point, we had done very well! However, we needed a new bath mat. I opted to get a better one than the el cheapos, so it ended up costing us around $16. Then I let Tim buy a Halloween decoration at $4 and we bought River two Halloween toys which ran us $1.50. That's over $20 on junk already (though the puppy is going through toys like crazy and we did need the bath mat).
We started hitting the grocery section and unfortunately we needed everything! Chicken, beef, hot dogs, cheese, bread, milk- all of it! I did use $6 in coupons, but most of what we purchased just didn't have coupons available. It's so hard to save on meat and produce with our limited stores. Long story a little shorter, we spent $93 at Walmart! OUCH!
We haven't spent that much in forever and no matter the other deals we got today, I feel guilty that I wasn't able to do better! Nevermind that we hadn't shopped in nearly three weeks and nevermind that Tim sprung a few last minute requests (like cereal) on me, it sucks to know I couldn't do better!
Siiigh. I guess I should be happy I get what I can get for free/cheap and just realize that every trip out isn't going to be a home-run, especially when it comes to groceries.
Oh well, I'm going to go have a pity party. At least now that we've been to Walmart, I can serve snacks!
-Kristen
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Price of Peanut Butter
I'm sure by now you guys have heard- though for once the internet was a little slow getting the news out.
The price of peanut butter is about to sky rocket. The hot, dry summer, coupled with farmers switching to more profitable crops, cause the peanut crop to drop by 13% this year compared to last year. JIF peanut butter is set to go up about 30%, while the new Planters peanut butter is going to be hiked up 40%. Rest assured, Great Value and the other brands will follow suit.
Companies that package nuts for snacks aren't sure yet whether their prices will go up, but I think we can expect to see a jump.
Scour the internet for peanut butter coupons and stock up now, before the higher prices hit the shelves. If you know your family will eat a jar of peanut butter a month, why not buy 10-12 jars now, at a discounted price? Just make sure you don't purchase more than you can eat before it goes bad, otherwise you are completely negating any savings.
Don't be afraid to call your favorite Peanut Butter company and ask for coupons- a friend of mine just called JIF and they are sending her some in the mail!
Here are a few coupons to get you started- I will update as I find more:
$0.60/2 Skippy Peanut Butter
$0.75/1 Planters (Target Printable)
$0/75/1 Smart Balance Peanut Butter
$1/1 Smart Balance Rich Roast Peanut Butter (SS 10/09/11)
$0.75/1 Smart Balance Rich Roast Peanut Butter (SS 10/09/11 RP)
-Kristen
The price of peanut butter is about to sky rocket. The hot, dry summer, coupled with farmers switching to more profitable crops, cause the peanut crop to drop by 13% this year compared to last year. JIF peanut butter is set to go up about 30%, while the new Planters peanut butter is going to be hiked up 40%. Rest assured, Great Value and the other brands will follow suit.
Companies that package nuts for snacks aren't sure yet whether their prices will go up, but I think we can expect to see a jump.
Scour the internet for peanut butter coupons and stock up now, before the higher prices hit the shelves. If you know your family will eat a jar of peanut butter a month, why not buy 10-12 jars now, at a discounted price? Just make sure you don't purchase more than you can eat before it goes bad, otherwise you are completely negating any savings.
Don't be afraid to call your favorite Peanut Butter company and ask for coupons- a friend of mine just called JIF and they are sending her some in the mail!
Here are a few coupons to get you started- I will update as I find more:
$0.60/2 Skippy Peanut Butter
$0.75/1 Planters (Target Printable)
$0/75/1 Smart Balance Peanut Butter
$1/1 Smart Balance Rich Roast Peanut Butter (SS 10/09/11)
$0.75/1 Smart Balance Rich Roast Peanut Butter (SS 10/09/11 RP)
-Kristen
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