Shopping Clearance at Target

I scored some great deals at Target yesterday by shopping the clearance sections.  One of my favorite things to do at Target is to shop all the inside end caps (the ones NOT on the main aisle).  I have scored some great deals doing this and yesterday was no exception. 

I got Olay Body wash (value twin packs x 3 for a total of 6 bottles) priced at $2.48
I had $1.50/1 coupon x 3
total= 2.94 or 49 cents a bottle!

Garnier conditioner with free shampoo priced at $1.48
I used a $1/1 coupon
total= 48 cents!

I also picked up a hot outfit for myself in the clearance racks- I will show you that tomorrow (I am working on a post, that will hopefully become a series)

Kimberly

Count Monkula the Sock Monkey

Well, Jack found a new home with my hubby's coworker and Jack 2.0 went to his boss, so I made a new monkey today.  Meet Count Monkula, he is full of Halloween spirit, and he is a little batty.  (really, look at the back of his head).  Like Jack, the Count has little fangs, but as long as we share our candy with him he promises not to bite.








If you find yourself longing for a little Monkula to share your candy with, let me know and I can see about whipping one up for you.

Night!

Kimberly

Target Run 10/22

2 Hershey Kisses @ $2.69 each
2 Ronzoni Whole wheat pasta @ $1.13 each
1 4 pack GE light bulbs @ $2.44
4 Reach Dental Floss @ $.97 each
1 Market Pantry Bread @ $.99
1 Scrubby thing (for hubby to use with his free Nivea Body Wash) @ $1.37
1 Market Pantry Milk (not pictured) @ $1.99

 Total  = $17.32

Coupons used
$1/1 off Hershey Kisses Target printable x 2
$1/1 off Hershey Kisses SS 10/ 17 x 2
$1/1 Ronzoni Past Target printable x 2
$.50 bread Target printable
$1 off GE lightbulbs from PG I think?
$1.5 off GE lightbulbs Target Printable
$1 off Reach printable x 4
Coupon total = $13

so $4.32 before tax + $.89 tax Paid with $5 Target Gift Card (from previous Curel deal)
Total out of Pocket = $.21 !!! 

Meet Jack, the Halloween Sock Monkey

I promise I do more than shop (and save).  And to prove it to you, I shall introduce you to Jack -

I ran across these cool orange socks at Target and knew I had to make them into a Halloween Monkey.
I wasn't really intending to sell him, I just thought he would be a great addition to our Halloween decor and monkey collection.  However, as it turns out, Hubby mentioned Jack during a  meeting at work (he works with all ladies) and a gal asked to buy him sight unseen, and then his boss asked for one too.  So I guess I will be making more, and going back to Target for more socks (I only thought to pick up 2 pair, so I will need more to make one for us to keep). 
 
I don't mind making more - in fact, I really love making monkeys.  Truth be told, I have like 15 more monkeys I haven't listed for sale, because I like making them more than I like taking pictures of them (you know, good, quality pictures, something I have not mastered in the least). 

Speaking of Haloween, are your decorations for Halloween spooky or cute?

And remember-
I am a monkey maker, not a picture taker.

I hope you enjoyed meeting Jack.


 Kimberly

Ohh La la Rue La La- how I love a great deal!

I just came across this site, Rue La La - it is similar to Haute Look- and they are offering new members a $20 credit!  I signed up, and I have my eye on this little tank.
It is made to slim your tummy! And at $35 + my $20 credit I could have it for $15!  How sweet is that?  You can sing up too, though it is by invitation only so click below to grab an invite- and either use the $20 right away or hang on to it till something catches your eye (new items are added daily!)
http://www.ruelala.com/invite/middlemama

Kimberly

How I MADE $6.08 at Alberstons Today

Woo hoo!  call me a coupon nerd, but I am so excited about the deal I just did at Albertsons today.
 I got all this and 8 cents back in cash + $6 in catalinas!

Here's what I did:
(4) Betty Crocker Cake Mix
(4) Betty Crocker Frosting
(5) Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
- (3) .75 off both cake + frosting coupons from 10/3 GM insert
-(1) .50 off both cake + frosting coupon
-(1) $.50/2 fruit snacks from 9/12 SS or 10/3 GM
-(1)  $1.00/3 fruit snacks
- $5.00 Instant Savings Promo
(2) Instant Oatmeal
-(1) $2/1 off Oatmeal  printable
-(1)  $1/1 off Oatmeal (from insert, forget which one)
1.41 lbs for Bananas 59 cents per lbs
-(1) off produce coupon (tear off pad in front of Oatmeal, buy 2 oatmeal, get $1 off produce)
(1) Iceberg Fresh Express salad 88 cents with in ad coupon
-(1) $1 off Fresh Express printable coupon
3 doublers
paid with $10 catalina from last week, got 8 cents cash back, + (2) $3 catalinas for buying Betty Crocker
 Total saved $46.86!

Kimberly

ConAgra Promo at Albertsons

Well after trying 3 Albertsons in the past week, I finally found one I could do the ConAgra promo at as one of my favorite blogs has been describing.  I went to the Albertsons in Woodinville WA.  I had semi success- as I was able to use my $10 catalina from a previous trip, buy $25 worth of ConAgra products (pre- sale prices) and score another $10.  I then took my groceries to the car and headed back in to roll the deal again.  This time I bought another $25 worth of ConAgra products (pre-sale price) and paid with my $10.00 catalina- with an out of pocket of $1.01- but the catalina did not print again.  I went over to customer service and explained what happened, and the gal said it has been an issue alot so she just wrote me up a rain check for $10 off my next order.  I decided not to push my luck, and called it a day.  I will use my rain check later on a different deal.  All in all I spent $47.52 out of pocket and still have $11.50 in catalinas and I went home with $128.50 worth of groceries.  ( I have to get some items not included in the deal, as I am new to couponing and thus don't have my needs all stockpiled yet).  Not included in the picture, that I also purchased = 12 rolls of Angel Soft  Toilet paper and a loaf of garlic bread.

Have you had any luck with the ConAgra deal?  I know alot of the stores are on the older system and you have to purchase $25 worth of product post-sale price for the Cat to print.  I am thinking of trying the Bonney Lake store tomorrow.  I would love to hear your experiences.

Virgin RiteAid run 10/07

So today all 3 boys had dentist appointments, that just so happened to be right next to a RiteAid.  After their appointments we popped in to see if we could score a few deals.  I have never shopped in a RiteAid before, so this was a 1st for me.  I joined the Wellness program about 2 weeks ago online, and have been watching the Video Values to earn valuable coupons.  So hear is what I did:

Crest Outlast +Scope toothpaste  2.69
Get 2.69 back in +Up Rewards
.50 coupon from 9/26 P&G insert
Final Price = FREE + .50 overage w/ Crest

Suave Kids Shampoo @ 2/$4
-$2/2 Value Video Printable (Oct)
= Total OOP: $1.00 each
Get back $1.00 UP Reward wyb 2 making these $0.50 each!

TRESemme’ Travel Size @ $0.99 each
-$5/3 Value Video Printable (Oct)
= Total OOP: $2.03 overage!

Buy Five Kellogg’s Cereal $10.00
use (2) $1.50/2 Kellogg’s Kids Cereal printable
and use $1/2 Select Kellogg’s Cereals or FiberPlus Chewy Bars RA printable
Pay $6.00
Get Back $2.00 UPR (mine didn't print)
$.80 each after coupon

Coffee filters 2.06

Used $5 off 25 coupon

the total rang up at $25.76 at the store, but adding up my reciept at home I am getting $22.92?  I am so confused..  in any case my total OOP was $8.92 and I got back $2.69 in up rewards for buying the toothpaste.

I would love to hear about your RiteAid scores this week, and any feedback from more seasoned RiteAid shoppers.

September Savings Summary

I just finished adding up my grocery receipts for September, and I have to say I am quite pleased.  September was my 1st month really using coupons more than the casual clip here and there.  All in all I spent $237.20 in groceries and saved $437.33!  Which means, without coupons and a little effort, I would have spent $674.53!

I never would have thought I could have fed my family of 5 for under $250 a month, we even hosted 2 birthday parties during that time! Even more crazy, is that I didn't step foot in a Costco the whole month.  Can't remember the lst time I have gone so long with out a $200-$400 Costco run. 

I think for October I am going to shoot for a budget of $190 for groceries.  even though we have another 2 birthday parties to host this month, I think I can do it.

What is your grocery budget for this month?

Saved 90% at Safeway today 10/3

Today was a nice lazy Sunday- started the day with 3 copies of the newspaper and doughnuts (to celebrate our baby's birthday).   I saw too many great deals to pass up, so we headed out to the store to score some great buys, and get some pizza (the birthday's boy's choice for dinner).

All this cost me $3.87 out of pocket and I received $2 off my next shopping trip!  I saved $35.52.

Here is what I did:

Hamburger Helper buy 4 at $1.99 each
- $4 off instant discount
- $0.75/3 cellfire ecoupon
- $0.75/3 shortcuts ecoupon
- $0.75/3 printable coupon
= $1.71, and get back $2 Catalina for your next meat purchase, like getting paid $0.29!

Betty Crocker Potatoes buy 2 at $1.99 each
Progresso Soup buy 2 at $1.99 each
-$4 Instant savings
-$0.50/2 Potatoes cellfire ecoupon x2
-$0.50/2 Potatoes Shortcuts ecoupon x2
- $0.50 Potato printable coupon
-$0.50/2 Progesso cellfire ecoupon x2
-$0.50/2 Progresso Shortcuts ecoupon x2
=$.96

Betty Crocker Cake Mix $0.89 buy 1
Betty Crocker Frosting $1.49 buy 1
 - in ad coupon for cake mix (requires minimum purchase of $10 before coupons)
-$0.50/2 cellfire ecoupon x2
-$0.50/2 shortcuts ecoupon x2
= $0.38

Pillsbury Toaster Strudels $1.88 each, buy 2
Use in ad coupon
Use $1/2 from Safeway $70 coupon book (found in stores)
-$0.50/2 cellfire ecoupon
-$0.50/2 Shortcuts ecoupon
= $o.88 each when you buy 2

Nature Valley Bars $1.79 buy 1
use in ad coupon
-$0.50/1 printable coupon
-$0.50/1 cellfire ecoupon
-$0.50/1 Shortcuts ecoupon
= $.29

bought hamburger for $5.07 and a Safeway Pizza for $3.99

Paid with $11 in catalinas from  my last Safeway trip, $3.87 out of pocket and got $2 catalina for next trip

I would love to see the deals you get at Safeway this week!

Coffee as a cleaner?

Anyone can carry a reusable bag to the store, recycle their newspaper or turn a Capri Sun pouch into a purse, but I like to come up with ways to reuse or recycle things you wouldn't normally think of- plus, the frugal side of me like to find multiple uses for one thing.  What does this have to do with coffee you ask?  Well, grab your cup, and I will tell you a little story.

I was painting my son's room tonight, and being the messy painter that I am, I got paint all over my hands and arms.  Now normally I would wash my hands with a little sugar to scrub the paint off, but hubby was upstairs, the kids were asleep and I didn't want to put my messy hands in my sugar jar.  So, I thought for a second and it came to me, the coffee grinds in the coffee maker from this morning.  (you know you don't clean yours out till the next morning either).  So I scooped out some used grounds, scrubbed up to my elbows (told you I was messy) and it worked like a charm.  Then, a sparkle caught my eye..  what in the world?  I have seen a sparkle like that in years...  it was my wedding ring!  I haven't taken my ring in to be cleaned at the jewelers since my 2nd child was born (about 5 years ago)- so needless to saw, it wasn't real clean.  Something about the coffee really made it shine though- I even made my hubby come look to confirm- even he was amazed.  I am not sure how 'safe' this is, I Googled it, but found nothing on the subject (it worked so well that I was sure someone had to have discovered this before me... )  In any case, my ring now looks Wonderful- and my hands, they are paint free and oh so soft.