My trip to Wal-green's, 1/30/11 - 99% savings!!!

I bought:
2 Gillette Fusion razors @ $1.99 each
2 Aussie Hairsprays @ .99 each
2 Degree clinical deodorant @ $2.00 each
1 Dove Clinical deodorant @ $2.00 each
1 blink tears @ FREE + Overage
1 Arnicare @ FREE + overage

Coupons used:
2 Gilette Fusion razors $4.00/1 (1/30 PG)
2 Degree clinical $2.00/1 (1/30 PG)
1 Dove deodorant $2.00/1 (1/30 RP)
1 Blink Tears $1.00/1 (1/2 SS)
1 Arnicare $2.00/1 Printable

Subtotal: $85.56
Total After coupons: $29.08
RR earned: $29.00

That's like paying .08 cents!!!

My Trip to Kroger, 1/30/11 - 70% savings!

I bought: (all prices are after mega sale price and coupons used)

4 Silk Almond Milk @ $1.49 each
2 Franks hot sauce @ .49 each
6 Balance Bars @ .17 each
3 Hunts Tomatoes @ .35 each
8 Rotel Tomatoes @ .17 each
4 Kraft cheese slices @ .74 each
4 Kraft cheese slices @ 1.49 each - I messed up and bought the wrong kind! :s
2 French's Reg. Mustard @ .59 each
2 French's Spicy Mustard @ .49 each
2 French's dipping sauce @ .74 each
3 Easy mac @ .32 each
2 Coffee Mate Creamers @ 2.89 each

Coupons used:
2 Silk Almond Milk Catalina coupons that print when you purchase. 2/$1.00 (this is an on going sale)
4 Kraft Cheese .75/1 (1/9/2011 SS)
2 French’s Spicy Brown Mustard (1/16/11 SS)
2 French's dipping sauce (1/16/11 SS)
2 French's yellow mustard (1/16/11 SS)
2 B3G1 Rotel Tomatoes (All You Mag. January issue)
1 Hunt's diced Tom. $1/3 (All You Mag. January issue)
Easy Mac B3G1 Free (no longer aval. to print)
2 Franks Red hot sauce .50/1 (1/16/11 SS)
2 Balance Bars $1/3
1 Coffeemate $1/2 (All You mag.)

Subtotal: $91.66
Total Oop: 27.73
Percentage saved: 70%

** I did mess up slightly, and didn't catch it until in the middle of the transaction.  :(  The Kraft cheese coupons are for Fat free or 2% cheese.  I grabbed the wrong ones!  But... I saved so much, I just got them anyway.  I am anxious for more coupons to come in the mail so I can go back and get my other things!!!

My trip to Rite Aid, 1/28/11 - 85% savings!

I bought:
1 T.G.I. Fridays chips @ $2.19
1 Welch's jelly @ $2.99
1 Chili @ $1.99
2 Ready rice @ $2.29 each

Subtotal:
11.75

Paid with:
$10 in +up
$1.75 Oop

Recieved:
$4.00 +up

** Today I had to use these $10 in up's, or they were going to expire!  There wasn't any great deals this week (bummer!) So I bought some of the food that is on sale ($1 +up) this month.  There are video value coupons for the chili and rice.  Also another +up food sale this month is Betty Crocker baking items, and Jif peanut butter.  There are Video Value coupons for these as well, I just forgot mine at home!  :(  Anyway, Not too bad, and I got to recycle $4 of my Up's.  :)

My trip to Wal-green's, 1/28/11 - A 89% savings!

I bought:
1 1L Crest Pro-Health Mouthwash @ $4.99
1 Colgate Pro Clinical toothpaste @ $3.49
4 valentine candy treats @ .50 cents each

Coupons used:
1 Walgreens coupon (from January booklet) Crest mouthwash @ $2.00
1 manu. Crest mouthwash @ $2.00 (making the mouthwash .99 cents!  This is our favorite kind.)
1 walgreens coupon from ad, Valentine candy, .39 cents each.

RR recieved:
$2.50 for Colgate Clinical

Paid with: $5.00 RR
Oop: $1.56

*** This Wal-green's store is really starting to frusterate me.  Well, not the store, just the day time cashier!  She and I go around every time, making sure she works the coupons right.  She always tries to tell me that I can't use two like coupons (store and manu.) I always gently correst her.  Once she messed up my order and I ended up paying and extra $15!  So today when she told me I couldn't use the two coupons for the Crest, I told her to take it off and I would get it some other time.  She went and got the manager for me, who rung it all up with no problem.  I hate to become a hastle for her, I hope after this trip her manager explained things to her.  It makes me not want to go there!

On a postive note, I got our favorite toothpaste and mouthwash cheap!  :)  The candy I am saving for the girls.

My plan for shopping at Kroger over the next two weeks.

In case anyone thought they might be interested in shopping the mega sale at Kroger this week (and next!) I thought I would give you a little heads up on how to make it more profitable for yourself in the long run.

There are quite a few things in this sale that I can get for cheap, so I want to stock up on them.  Incase any of you are interested, here is a blog that I love to follow, and their matchups.

http://www.stockpilingmoms.com/category/Kroger

The dates are a little different for her area, like I said, our sales are just getting started!

A few things that I know I would like to stock up on are:

1. Honest Ade Juice/Tea - I checked eBay to see if there were any coupons floating around out there, other than the printables.  There are!  So for $4.35 I bought 20 coupons.  They are on sale this week, with the coupons, for FREE!  Plus an .18 overage (because Kroger doubles coupons)  so when I factor in the cost of the coupons, these will end up costing me .04 cents each!  Definitely worth having around for the girls!

2.  Rotel Tomatoes - My family loves chili.  So I can never have too many tomatoes.  In fact, I'm really low!  These are on sale this week for .49 cents a can.  I bought coupons on eBay for $6.00 (This was an expensive one! It looks to be rare!)  With the coupon, the tomatoes are free, plus an .11 cent overage.  So each can will cost me .19 cents after the cost of coupons.  Still worth the coupon price!

3.  Frank's hot sauce - This is something that will be nice to have on hand.  Jason loves hot sauce on anything.  I doubt I will need all 20 coupons, I don't think he could go through that in a year.  So I will plan on giving some to my parents!  The sale price, with coupon this week is .19 cents a bottle.  After I factor in the cost of my ($3.50) coupon auction, they work out to be .37 cents a bottle.

4.  French's mustard - Excited to be getting great condiments on the shelf!  I can pick these up for .49 cents with my coupons.  After the coupon costs are factored in, they work out to be .54 cents each.  Those that are more experienced with this kind of shopping might frown on that, but hey, I'm new and it sounds like a good deal to me!  :)

5.  Kraft cheese singles - On sale this week for .74 cents a package after coupon.  .88 cents after I factor in my additional auction cost. 

6.  Silk Almond milk - My husband can't drink regular milk, so shopping around to find a good deal on a soy milk is always a challenge for me.  I love Almond milk also, so this is a great week!  The milk is on sale for $1.99.  Add on my $1.00 off 1 coupon, that's .99 cents per half gallon!  Can't beat that!  (I can't wait for the day I own a deep freezer!)

7.  Snuggle - This is a little pricy, I'm not quite sure what a rock bottom deal on this would be.  I will have to look into that!  But... it's on sale for 2.27 this week, after sale price and coupon.  I probably won't buy too many of them, but I didn't think the price was that bad.

There are many other great deals this week, I just wanted to share with you the things that I plan on buying!  If you don't get a Kroger ad, you can check out their website, and there is an online version.  Remember that you have to buy the mega sale items in groups of 10's.  Can't wait to share my bargains!!!  :)

Remember, this is a different way to shop!  And planning your inventory (the things that your family will eat and use) is the most important part.  No reason to waste valuable time and money!  Perhaps your a little leery of the method, just know I have already cut my grocery bill in half!  After a few months of getting certain things stockpiled, I plan on being able to cut a lot more out of my family's food budget.  Every coupon you cut saves you money, every grocery list you make does as well!  In the end, you're paying yourself to take the time to plan ahead.  The time spent on these things isn't worthless!

My trip to Kroger, 1/27/11 - 68% Savings!

I bought:
2 loaves bread @ 1.00 each (10 for $10 sale)
1 hotdog bun @ 1.00 (10 for $10 sale)
2 Organic horizon milk singles @ $1.00 (10 for $10 sale)
4 cookie snack packs @ 1.00 (10 for 10)
1 can of doritos @1.00 (10 for 10)
4 french's mustard @ .49 cents ea. (after mega price and coupons)
2 Frank's hot sauce @ .19 cents ea. (after mega price and coupons)
6 Balance bars @ .17 cents ea. (after mega price and coupons)
4 Honest Ade juice @ FREE + Overage! (After mega price and coupons)
1 Silk Almond milk @ 1.99 (After mega price)
3 Kraft mac and cheese @ .62 cents ea (after mega price and coupons)
3 Easy mac @ .66 cents ea (after mega price and coupons)
4 Orville popcorn @ .99 cents ea (after mega price and coupons)
broccoli @ 2.19
Bananas @ 1.36

Total before sale: $83.67
Total oop: $26.81

A savings of 68%

Coupons used:
Frenchs Mustard (1/23/11 SS)
Printable French coupons
Printable Frank's hot sauce coupons
Frank's hot sauce (1/23/11 SS)
Honest Ade/Tea coupons (.50 cents off 1)
$1/2 Orville Redenbacher’s Gourmet Popping Corn (1/23/2011 SS)
 $1.00/3 Balance Bar printable
 Kraft mac and cheese coupons (no longer aval. to print)
New York Texas Garlic bread  1/.50 cents (SS)

** Today was the first day of the mega sale for my area.  It runs for 2 weeks!  Because the mustard and hot sauce are so cheap, I ordered more coupons for that to stockpile off ebay.  Also ordered coupons for Kraft cheese single slices, those are at a stockpile price of .49 cents.  Snuggle coupons ordered to, 2/$2.00 off.  .99 cents a piece!  Also ordered Honest Ade coupons, 20 free bottles plus an extra .25 cents off every one toward my other groceries!  I am looking forward to the great buys at Kroger over the next two weeks!

Meijer - 58% savings!

I bought:
6 Kool aid Jammers @ 3/$5.00 then, $3.00 off your order instantly!  (.72 cents each)
(limit one per transaction.  I made a 2nd trip back in the store to stock up.)
4 Smart Tast pasta and
2 Healthy Harvest pasta @ 5/$5.00
1 Kraft mozz. cheese @ $1.88
1 Splenda @ 2.01
2 Jiffy pizza crust @ .59 cents each
3 salad dressings @ 3/$5.00
1 Jimmy Dean Sausage @ 2.69
1 Meijer Organic soy milk (forgot to picture!) @ @2.50
1 Meijer half and hald (also not pictured) @ $1.50

Subtotal: 24.90

Coupons used:
Printable Kraft Cheese @ .50 cents (doubled) = .88 cent cheese!
Printable Splenda @ $1.00 = $1.01 Splenda!
Printable Pasta coupons @ 2/$1.00 = All pasta .50 cents!
2 coupons for the dressing @ .50 cents (doubled) = $1.00 each dressing!


Total oop: $17.90
A savings of 58%

*** Pretty much I was just shopping the sales at Meijer this week.  Anything I couldn't get off my list on sale I ended up buying at Aldi.  That's what I have to do until I can build up a decent stockpile.  I almost hate buying things nowadays if they aren't dirt cheap.  :)  Our local Martin's has some good meat sales this week.  I am anxious to stock up of 90% hamb. while I can!  I got lazy on this post, sorry.  If you need to know the whereabouts to find any of these coupons, just let me know!

My trip to Kroger, 1/7/11 - 75% savings!

I bought:

1 Bounty 8 pack towels @ 6.99 (sale price)

7 Febreeze @ 2.79 (sale price)

12 Soft Soap @ .88 cents (sale price)

Coupons used:

1 Kroger ecoupon for Bounty @ $1.00 off 

1 Bounty @ .25 cents (p&g saver 12/16/10) doubled by Kroger to .50 cents 

7 Febreeze @ $1.00 each

12 Soft soap @ .35 cents each (doubled to .70 cents)

Also received $8.00 off p&g mega sale ($4.00 for 4 sale items)

Total retail: 55.03

Total savings: 41.12

Total oop: 13.91 - a 75% savings!

*** This is my last Kroger mega post this week, I swear!  :)  I only have 4 soap coupons left anyway.  (grin)  I have to say, I have all the hand soap and air freshener my family will use for the year!  Never again will we "run out" of something and go pay full retail... my goodness, all the money I've wasted!  :s  Oh well, better late than never.  Just to clarify, the hand soap ended up being .18 cents a piece, and the Febreeze .79 cents!  The bounty was $4.49 (.56 cents a roll, which is very good!)

My trip to Kroger, 1/7/11 - 81% savings!

I bought:
2 Febreeze Set and Refresh
2 Secret
4 Soft Soap

Coupons Used:
2 (Any) Secret @ .50 cents each (12/19 p&g saver)
Kroger doubled these to $1.00 each
2 Febreeze set and refresh @ $1.00 each (p&g quarterly mailer)
4 Soft Soap @ .35 cents each (SS?)
Kroger doubled to .70 cents each

I also saved $4.00 for the P&G mega sale this week.

Total retail: $17.99
Total savings: $14.60
Total oop: $3.31 - 81% savings!

*** I know some may think, "That's great, but she's only getting air freshener and soap."  True... this time.  :)  It may seem odd to stock up on things like air freshener.  But we use it in the bathroom, it's as much a staple at tee pee for us!  :)  So it makes sense for us to buy it when we can get it for .79 cents a can, rather than almost $3.00.  And the soap... we use it daily.  We should buy enough at .18 cents a bottle to last for 6 months to a year.  There are those out there that go crazy.  (Seriously, I've watched You Tube videos!  Just search "My stockpile"!  People are nuts!  :)  So it's important for me to remember 'why' I am doing this.  I've already managed to cut my grocery bill down to $100 or so a week (I'm still learning!)  I used to spend $200+!  It doesn't pay to live right next door to the most expensive grocery store in town!  :s  Hopefully I will be able to post a great Grocery shopping trip this week!  Come on good sales!  :)  Oh... I also thought I should mention:  I've become gun shy buying lots of items at once with my coupons.  Too many times things get messed up, and I'm out a good savings.  Since Kroger is 5 minutes down the street, I don't mind making a few multiple trips in this week while I am out doing other stuff.  Not every does this, or cares.  But it works for me.

My trip to Rite Aid, 1/6/11 - 95% savings!

I bought:
1 Centrum Ultra Men's Vitamins @ $7.99 (sale price)
2 Gas X @ $4.99 each (sale price)
2 pentech pencils @ .99 cents
1 Harvard pencils @ $1.79 each
2 Pentech erasers @ .99 cents each
2 Snicker bars @ .50 cents each (for my girls :)

Coupons used:
2 Gas X printable @ $3.00 each  (no longer avail.)
1 Centrum Ultra @ $1.00
1 Centrum @ $2.00 Rite Aid Video Values Coupon

Paid with:
$11.00 +up's
$7.66 oop

Earned:
$2.00 +up of Centrum

Also Earned:
2 - $2.00 scr for Gas X products

Total earned:  $6.00
Out of pocket cost: $1.66

**This transaction was truly a flop for me.  The shelves were tagged that when you bought the school supplies, you would receive a +up reward for them.  It's the only reason I bought them.  I didn't get the reward.  :(  I can call and whine about this, but... I am the type of person to just take the loss.  I mean, it's not like I paid for anything anyway!  Even still, most people would complain.  As for me, it's homeschool supplies, comes out of a different budget, and it was free.  So it works for me.  Rite Aid gives me so much free stuff, I still love them!  :)  I am bummed because I thought I was rolling my +ups.  Next week is going to be a great Rite Aid week, so watch you're flyers! (But isn't every week fabulous at Rite Aid? ;)

My trip to Kroger, 1/6/11 - 61% savings!

I bought:
1 Charmin - 12 big roll @ $5.73 (sale price)
4 Febreeze air freshener @ $2.19 (sale price
3 Downy @ 4.02 (sale price)

Total Retail:  41.38

I saved a total of $8.00 of the mega sale this week on P&G products.  Buy 4, get $4.00 off!

Coupons used:
Kroger ecoupon - Any Charmin @ $3.00 off (downloadable to your Kroger card!)
Kroger ecoupon - Febreeze @ $1.00 off (also downloadable to your Kroger card!)
1 downy @ $1.00 off (Flyer in the mail)
2 Downy @ .50 cents off (12-19-10 p&g) (doubled to $1.00 each)
4 Febreeze @ $1.00 each

Total oop: $15.81
A savings of 61%!!!

*** Not too many people online are very excited about Kroger this week.  I am guessing that I am because I am so new and just starting to figure out stockpiling! :)  The thing that I love about Kroger is the fact that they normally run their sales for a 2 week period.  So if I see something I would like to stock up on that is free or close to free (a rock bottom price) I can order extra coupons on ebay or from a clipping service.  This is the first week that it's actually working out for me!  Today I got my Febreeze for free.  (Actually had a .6 cent credit on each one toward my other items!)  That was because of my ecoupon on my Kroger card.  At my store (and many others) you can use a coupon on top of that which comes off of your card. (You have to visit thier website and load the coupons you want onto your Kroger card.)  This week they also have Soft Soap on sale for .88 cents.  This is something that our family uses at three different sinks, so it's worth it for me to stock up!  There is a man. coupon out there right now that came in some papers (not my region!  It always seems we miss out on the good ones, even though I know that can't be true.  I'm still such a newbie!)  Since Kroger doubles coupons (Love them!) I can use my .35 cents off coupon, save .70 cents and get one Soft Soap for .18 cents!  It's the perfect time to stock up!  When I saw that it would be on sale like that, I bought my coupons off eBay a few days ago and they arrived today.  I now have 20 Soft Soaps in my future (for a grand total of $3.60) that will last a family a good 6 months or so!  I think I'm finally figuring this out!  :)  Also I have my other P&G items to buy, so look out for Kroger posts in the near future!

My trip to CVS, 1/1/2011 - 95% savings!!!

I bought:
2 Listerine Zero Mouthwash @ 5.00 each (sale price)
1 Energy smart light bulb @ 3.99 (sale price)
3 packs extra gum @ 3/2.00 (sale price)

Total Retail:  $23.76

Coupons Used:
2 - $2.00 off 1 Listerine Total Printable
1 - $1.00 off 1 GE Energy Smart printable

Subtotal: $12.11

Paid with:
$3.00 CVS ECB
$9.11 oop

A savings of 95%!

Earned:
$5.00 ECB for spending $10 on Listerine
$2.00 ECB for GE bulb
$1.00 ECB for Extra Gum

Also Earned:
$2.50 ECB for quarterly spending (didn't know they did this.  It was a nice surprise!)


Total earned: $10.50
That's a $1.39 profit!

**I was very happy this transaction went so well!  I'm so nervous anymore that I'll mess something up, being so new to this and all!  I ended up getting the Listerine for .50 cents, so it's totally worth it.  In reality, I suppose it was free! :)