Couponing Tale #10 11/6/11

I cannot tell you how excited I was that All Free and Clear was part of the CVS giftcard deal! It's the only detergent I use and it's hard to find it for less than 2 bucks a bottle. So anything at or below that price is a stock-up price for me... I've been hanging on to some All coupons for a month or so just waiting for a good deal.

6 bottles All @ 3.99 each (reg. price 7.99!) =23.94
3 boxes Pop-Tarts @ 1.67 (reg price 2.67) = 5.01
1 box Pop-Tart @ 1.66
Smuckers @ 2.50 (reg price 4.19)
Jif @ 2.50 (reg. price 4.19)
2 Softsoaps @ .99 each (reg. price 3.89!)= 1.98
2 Schick Hydro @ 9.99 each=19.98
3 American Greetings cards @ .99 each=2.97
=60.54

Used:
5 1/1 All
1 .50/1 All
2 .75/1 Soft Soap
2 5/1 Schick Hydro
14.99 ecb
=28.55
THEN used a 10 gc from last weeks gc deal
=18.55 and used up the rest of my GC for my gc challenge of 9.46, so my oop before tax was only 9.09!! Earned 16 ecbs and a 10 gc, so really I made money this trip!

Spent 18.55, Saved 67.68 or 78% (original retail cost 97.73!)


Even if you want to consider the 9.46 as money oop because I paid for the gc, I still got all this for less than 20 bucks, which is pretty awesome considering those 2 expensive razors and 6 bottles of detergent! I could have used another 7 ecb to really bring my oop cost down, but I'm trying to hold on to some for the Black Friday deals!!

Couponing Tale #9 10/30/11

So I'm a little late with this post I know, and I can't even believe a week has gone by since I did this deal!


Silly me I sent off the receipt for my P&G rebate before I did this, so I don't know exactly how much I put on the gc each transaction, but it should be close.

Transaction #1

2 Charmin @ 10.88

2 blush (bogo 50% off) 1 @ 4.99

               1 @ 2.5

2 aveeno trial size @ 2.98

Coffee drink @ 2

23.35

Used:
-4/20 CVS purchase

-Free coffee drink from magic machine--took off 2.49

-8/2 Covergirl Face products

1/2 Charmin

=7.86

-8 ecb= -17, (18.37 toward gc deal), get 7 ecb (but not really)

 Okay-several notes here. 1) I'm not exactly sure how it came out to negative subtotal, but I specifically remember that on the receipt--I've never had that happen because they usually adjust the ecb down. 2) You may notice there is no Aveeno there. Well, according to the CVS ad, ANY Aveeno from .5 oz and above was supposed to get 7 ecb. Blog world was saying to get the trial size because that was 1 oz. So I tried, but the manager wasn't having it even though it was what the ad said. I returned them right away. I didn't get those 7 ecb as planned... They ended up giving me back $3.19 or something because I paid for the rest in ecb. This all messed up my next transaction a bit from my plan, but really, I came out ahead even if i didn't mean to...

Transaction #2

2 concealor (bogo 50% off) 

 1 @ 5.99, 1 @ 3

Always @ 3

3 American Greetings cards @ .99 each= 2.97

=14.96

Used:
8/2 CoverGirl Face products

1/1 Always liners

=5.96, Use 2 ecb=3.96-3.19 from aveeno return=.77, Earned 3 ecb for cards and 10 gc for spending 30 on select products

On the above transactions I put 1.58 on GC and have 9.67 remaining!

11/2 Above


So on Wednesday, someone in my coupon group said that the trial sizes were now producing the extra bucks... Seems CVS must have gotten enough complaints about it because that is what the ad said and many stores were not honoring that. I thought I would give it another try, and this time, it did work!


2 Aveeno trial size @ 1.49 each
=2.98
Used:
3 ecb, adjusted to 2.98, oop 0!! Earned 7 ecb PLUS 1 ecb for green bag tag! Money maker! (put .21 all tax on gc, 9.46 remaining!

State Finalist for contest!

If you are following my blog, thanks! Please vote for me daily on the Cheap Sally Bring Home the Bacon contest. I need to finish first place in Iowa to move on to the final round, which is a competition to find the best deals online. The winner gets a blog job worth $100,000!

Please vote for me daily! Every vote counts! Click on the image below to vote!

Couponing Tale #8 10/25/11

Okay this should be my last CVS trip this week : -) I am definitely good on Trick or Treat candy now! My students may just benefit from the leftovers. Or maybe just my favorite students. haha.


Skittles @ 2.50 (reg. price 3.99)
Reeses @ 2.50 (reg. price 4.49)
Hersheys @ 2.50 (reg. price 3.99)
Starburst @ 2.5 (reg. price 3.99)
Pepsi Max @ .99 + .05 deposit (reg. price 1.99)
Mask @ 3.74 (reg. price 4.99)
Enfamil @ 7.49

Used:
4 off a 20 purchase
1/2 Wrigley (starburst, skittles)
1/1 Hershey's IP
1/1 Hershey's IP
.55/1 Pepsi Max
5/1 CVS costume q (took off the full amount so I got overage applied to the rest of the transaction)
5/1 Enfamil Check
4.49 ecbs
OOP: .23!! (Put .84 on GC, 11.25 remaining!) Earned 3 ecb
Saved 30.75 or 99%!!

The last couple times I have spent more ecb than I made back, but that's okay! It comes back around when I get the 1 ecb for the green bag tag or the 5 ecb for beauty club! It works out in the end.

Couponing Tale #7 10/24/11

CVS
Maybe this should just be a blog dedicated to CVS since I shop there so much :-)

2 packs CVS Diapers @ 6.99 each (reg. price 8.89)
Bayer advance @ 4.29
Reese's Jumbo Snack size @ 5.99
Similac @ 6.99
Used:
20% of CVS purchase for non-sale items (occasionally CVS emails promotions!)-took off 2.19
3 off a 15 baby purchase
4/2 cvs diapers
5/1 Hershey's snack size 19 oz or more CVS q (from free Halloween goodies)
1/1 Hershey's snack size 9 oz or more printable found here
2/1 Any Similac
4.29 off for free Bayer
4 ecb
5/1 Similac Check

OOP .77, earned 2 ecb (put 2.08 with tax on gift card, 12.09 remaining)
Saved 29.28 or 98%!

Take your kids to CVS today!

On Sunday 10/23 only, dress up your kids in their Halloween costume for free stuff! I took AJ in with me in his fluffy bear outfit and got his picture taken. Unfortunately the one where he was actually smiling didn't save, but we still got a pretty cute 5x7 pic out of it. Plus, you get a free gift pack that has glow sticks, candy and coupons--which includes another free 5x7! I love CVS.

Be sure to call your CVS first to see if they are doing it all day or have a designated time. My CVS in Bettendorf is doing it all day... The cashier thinks they might do something like it for Christmas too, so I'll be keeping my eye out for that!

Couponing Tale #6 10/23/11

If you haven't started shopping at CVS yet, this is a good time to start. Buy the candy corn and carving tool mentioned below and spend 3.48 oop, but earn 3.48 ecb! Then you can start rolling that in to other stuff you want/need! Note that the candy corn only earns ecb thru Tuesday!

CVS

4 Starburst @ .50 (reg. 1.19)= 2
Cheez-it @ .50 (clearanced, reg. price .99)
Candy corn @ .99
Pumpkin Carving Tool @ 2.49

Used:
2 BOGO Starburst IP (no longer available-sorry!)
4.98 ecb (adjusted down from 5)

OOP: 0! All Free! (put .38 on gift card, 14.17 remaining!)
Earned 5.48 in ecb (.99 for candy corn, 2.49 for carving tool, 1 for starburst, and 1 for green bag tag!) SO not only did I not spend anything but tax, I actually made money on this trip!

Saved 9.23!

Couponing Tale #5 10/16/11

I know I'm behind on posting this, but my grandma passed away and I haven't had time to update the blog. Sorry if you couldn't take advantage of this deal, but they often have Almay deals like this.

CVS

Almay Intense i-color shadow @ 5.99 (reg 7.49)
Almay Intense i-color mascara (with bonus liner!) @ 5.99 (reg 8.49)

Used:
2 1/1 mq Almay color cosmetic (was in Walmart insert a couple weeks ago)
9.98 ecb (adjusted down from 10)

OOP: 0! Free makeup! (Put .84 on gift card, 14.55 remaining!)
Earned 8 ecb and my 5 ecb for spending 50 in beauty club!
Saved 15.98!

Couponing Tale #4 10/11/11

FREE Make-up

Last week there was a coupon in the P&G insert for $8 off 2 CoverGirl Face products (this includes powder, foundation, concealor, blush, bronzer and face tools). I've already used a couple of these coupons at Walmart where I got some overage.You can get blush, bronzer and face tools for $3.74 or less at Walmart. Also, check out the "Pink" rebate: if you spend $50 in select P&G products by 10/31/11 (Olay, CoverGirl, Venus and others), you get a $10 rebate. This is before coupons! Go Here for the rebate form. I'm already on my way there with the free Olay and CoverGirl I've gotten the last 2 weeks.

I decided to use another coupon at CVS so some money would go toward my beauty club (spend $50 in "beauty products," get $5 ecb), even though the same bronzer and blush is cheaper at Walmart.

This is a CVS deal you can do even without ECBs. The "magic coupon machine" is printing off a coupon for $3 off any $10 Cosmetic purchase this week (the coupon expires the next day, but I hear if you don't use it, another one will print). I also managed to get a BOGO Wet n Wild coupon when I scanned my card yesterday (it was an awesome magic coupon day for me!)

CVS
CoverGirl Bronzer @ 4.99
CoverGirl Blush @ 4.99
Wet n Wild nail polish @ .99
Wet n Wild eye liner @ .99

Used:
8/2 CoverGirl Face products
3/10 CVS cosmetic purchase
BOGO Wet n Wild (up to $3) Adjusted to .96 (I'm curious if this would have taken off the full $3 if I had other things in my basket to cover it because often times the CVS magic machine coupons provide overage, but I didn't really plan on getting anything else. I kind of wish I would have tried it though--so if you try it, let me know what you found out!)

OOP: 0! FREE! Saved 11.96 or 100% (Put .63 on GC for tax only)

Couponing Tale #3 10/10/11

Today is Arron and my one year anniversary, so it was fitting that CVS has American Greeting Cards with ECB! Buy 3, get 3 ecb. This does include the 99 cent cards, so they could be free!

Be sure to follow my CVS Gift Card Challenge on my Couponing Journeys page!

Snickers @ 2.50 (regular 4.29)
Snickers Peanut Butter @ 2.50 (regular 3.99)
Milky Way @ 2.50 (regular 3.99)
Pretzel M&Ms @ 2.50 (regular 4.39)
2 American greeting cards @ .99
1 American greeting card @ 3.59

Used:
1/1 Pretzel M & Ms
1.50/3 Mars brand
10 ecb

OOP: 3.07, earned 6 ecb, saved 86% (put 3.98 on GC)

This is a bit higher oop than I usually like to spend, but Halloween is just around the corner and candy is expensive, so I figure I will get a deal on it--less than 50 cents a bag is pretty good! I also don't usually like to earn just 6 ecb when I use 10, but that's okay. Stay tuned tomorrow when I head back to CVS for a make-up deal that will get me my beauty club reward!

Couponing Tale #2 10/4/11

Well, I meant to post this last week, but I've been so busy! This is still something you can take advantage of this week!

Target:

If you have a smart phone, sign up on Target's website for mobile qs!

Transformer toy: 9.99
Olay Regenerist Facial scrub: 5.99
Olay Regenerist Facial wipes: 5.99

Used:
5/1 Transformer Toy MQ (available for print on Target's website or was in a special regional  insert in 10/2 newspaper)
5/1 Transformer Dark of the Moon Target Mobile Q (adjusted down-expires 10/14)
2 3/1 Olay Regenerist Facial Cleanser MQ (PG 10/2)
2 3/1 Olay Regenerist Target Mobile q (need two phones for this--I made Arron sign up!) ex. 10/14

OOP: Nothing but tax!

Note: For some reason the computer would not automatically take off the Olay mobile q, so I had to have them input it manually. The cashier had no problem with this because the mobile q does say "Olay skin care item-Regenerist or Pro-x." Clearly facial cleanser is a skin care item. Be sure to watch the register and stand up for it!

I also had problems earlier in the week with the Transformer toy q coming off--I think you need to show the Target mobile q first and you shouldn't have a problem. I didn't have a problem the second time when I did it this way. 

Coupon Tale #1 10/2/11

Well, I've been couponing for about 6 months now, but here is my first blog post!

As you look at my out of pocket cost (oop), I will list only the pretax total as tax is different for everyone. I will list coupons like 1/2, meaning $1 off of 2 or 2/1, meaning $2 off 1.

CVS
Keep in mind that I have already invested money into CVS in order to earn those Extrabucks (ecb) to have a low oop now.

Pepsi Max @ 1.50

2 12 pack Lipton @ 5 each=10
2 Cheetos @ 3 each= 6

Huggies 2 @ 8.99

Pre-coupon/ecb total: 26.49 (normal retail cost: 36.14)

Coupons Used

1 Free Pepsi Max when you buy 2 Cheetos

1/2 Cheetos

2/1 Lipton 12 pack

1 Free Huggies CVS q (CVS promo: Buy 6, get 1 free) @ 8.99

3/1 Huggies Slip-On MQ

8.98 ecbs

OOP: $1.02, Earnd 7 ecb !! (5 for $15 in Pepsico, 1 for Huggies, 1 for Green Bag Tag)
Savings: 35.12 or 97.2%!!

Target

4 Smart Ones @ 1.79=7.16
1 Smart Ones @ 1.89
Transformer @ 9.99
Olay @ 5.99
Captain America Shield @ 16.99 (reg. price 19.99)
Retail: $45.02

Used:
1/5 Smart Ones MQ
1.50/3 Target Q (TQ)
5/1 Transformer MQ
4.99 Transformer Mobile TQ (adjusted down)
2/1 Olay MQ
3/1 Olay Mobile TQ
5/1 Cap. America Shield MQ.05/1 Used own bag

OOP: $14.48
Saved: $30.54 or 67.8%

Walmart

Pampers @ 10 (Clearanced from 19.77)
2 Covergirl Blush @ 3.74=7.48
1 Covergirl Concealor @ 5.94
1 Covergirl Sponges @ 2.94
Retail Cost: 36.18

Used:
2 8/2 Covergirl Face products=16
2/1 Pampers box
OOP: 8.36!

Saved 27.82 or 76.9%!
$8 for a box of diapers is only 12 cents per diaper! Of course, not quite as good as my above cvs diaper purchase of FREE diapers, but considering orginal retail cost was 30 cents a diaper, this is a great deal! Plus, these are cute :-)

Couponing 101 is now live!

I have developed some Couponing 101 tips for you! Hopefully they are helpful! Let me know if you have questions or comments.

My Blogging Journey Begins!

I decided now that I've been doing better with couponing and many people have asked me how I do it, I may as well start a blog. It won't be anything fancy or too exciting at this point, but it will hopefully be a way for you to learn how to coupon, as well as a way for me to track my own couponing and deals.

While I'm at it, I will also post about AJ and how he is growing, learning and just being lots of fun!

I will start my first couponing post this weekend! So if you want to follow my journey, be sure to start clipping those coupons! This Sunday 10/2 the newspaper is supposed to have 5 inserts. I have found that the Des Moines Register and the Chicago Tribune has better coupons than the QC Times or Argus.

I hope you'll join me on my journey! I'm not worried about whether people follow me or not, but I do hope to help those who are interested! So feel free to comment or ask questions along the way.