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Saturday, January 31, 2009

Walgreens - Clearance Items 1/31/09

I noticed that Walgreens had a lot of Clearance items in the store. I was looking for the Biofusion and Vive to be on Clearance like I had heard that other Walgreens were having, but ours didn't have it. I did find Oragel Children's Mouthwash and Toothpaste on clearance for $2.18. I had $1 off each MC and then one of the $1 Walgreen's Coloring Book coupons off too, so I was able to get the Mouthwash for $.18!

For those of you that don't know, there is a Walgreen's coloring book for $.99 that had a ton of children's products coupons inside it. When they are used, they mark off the amount of the coupon as many times as you purchased the item in that transaction. So if you bought 3 bags of diapers, and had the diaper coupon, it would take $1 off 3 times. You can also stack MC with it!

Milk Prices in Sparta, WI

My friend Sara S from Sparta sent this out, I thought it would be an interest to you. If someone has butter and cheese prices in the area - that would be wonderful!
  • Wal-Mart is $3.18/gallon
  • The Pig is at least $3.30
  • Kwik Trip is $2.60 - (I found this to be $2.36 lately, and you have to take into consideration that you get $1 off every 10 gallons. They also put out Internet coupons once a month on their email list for $1 off)
  • Sam's Club is $2.55.

Thanks for your research Sara! I added my comment about Kwik Trip - the bag milk is the preference for me there, unless it goes on sale somewhere else.

Piggly Wiggly Deals - January 22-27 - Follow-up

I just got back from Piggly Wiggly, and they do let you do more than one of those Buy 2 Get one Multi-grain Cheerios for FREE per transaction. In addition to that, I did find that it took off coupons for all 3 boxes, even the FREE one! I wasn't sure if PW allowed you to stack on a FREE item. I had $1.50 total in MC to take off the three cereals, so it cost me $4.50 or $1.50 a box. The Cataline printed out another coupon for $2 off 7 at PW.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Piggly Wiggly Deals - January 28-February 3

So here are my thoughts on deals for Piggly Wiggly this week.



  • Klement's Brats - BOGO = $3.99/2 - $1/2 MC (Manufacturer's Coupon) = $1.50/lb.
  • Nabisco Crackers - 2/$4 - $2/2 MC = $1 each
  • Kraft Salad Dressing - 2/$3 -$1/2 MC = $1 each
  • Kraft Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise - $2.99 - $.75 MC - $2.24.
  • Bolthouse Farms Baby Carrots - BOBO = $1.69 or $.85 lb.
  • Hunt's Manwich Sauce - $.99 each - $.50/2 MC = $1.39 or $.70 each
  • Bush's Kidney or Chili Beans - 3/$2 - $1/4 MC (in store pull) = $1.66/4 = $.41 each
  • Sargento Shredded Cheese = 2/$4 = 2/$.50 MC = 2/$3 or $1.50 each
  • Nestle Ready-to-bake Cookies - 2/$6 - $1/2 = $5/2 or $2.50 each
  • 5 qt. Deans Ice Cream = $4.99 with PW card (Yeah! a treat!)
  • General Mills Cereal - 2/$6 + Get one FREE when you buy 2 - $1/2 MC = 3/$5 = $1.33 each! Now, I do have another $.50 MC off 1 that I'm not sure they'll let you use if you are getting the 3rd for free. Comment on this post if you find out that this works or not.
  • Produce: Apples, Tomatoes & Avocados = $.99/lb. I might make some guacamole with the tomatoes & avocados!
  • PW Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns = $.88/8 count
Not a ton of things on a huge sale, but at least some are on sale. I look forward to fresh Granny Smith Apples, for sure. I may not get the cookies - depends on what we get for paychecks this week.

Some meal plan ideas for these:
  1. Brats, buns & chili
  2. BBQ, buns, Guacamole Salad (my step-mom used to make a recipe from Mexico, so I might do a search for one that is similar. It was basically avacado, mayo, tomato, & some spices? I'll share the recipe if I find something we like.)
  3. Venison Stew with carrots & Potatoes from last week & Apple salad

And the Winner is...

The winner is Ashley S. from South Carolina! Congrats! I am sending off her coupons as I am writing this. Please stay posted, I may do freebies more often. It was fun to clear out some coupons!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Tuesday's Talk - Why Coupon?

I thought I might write an article about why I coupon and shop the sales and why I think it's so important.

First of all, I believe that it is good stewardship of what God has given us. Everything we have is His, most importantly we are His! If we don't take care of the things He has given us, we can't truly say that we respect him. Also, His Word calls us to be Good Stewards of His possessions. If you read Matthew 25 about the 5 talents. The servant that was blessed greatly was the one that used what he had the most wisely. Those that wasted it, or didn't use the talent, got nothing in return. I think this can apply both literally in the financial way, and spiritually.

My favorite scripture about stewardship is I Corinthians 4:1-2. "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (King James Version) We need to be faithful in all we do, in our house, our money, or possessions, or children.... everything!

I started as a Stay-At-Home-Mom 13 years ago when I was pregnant with my first child. I was a professional working a full-time job, but when I figured the costs of working, childcare, car repair, gas, clothing, etc. that comes from having a full-time job, it wasn't worth it. After all the expenses were subtracted from my income, I only made $100 extra a month. It was at that point that my husband and I decided to have me at home to raise our children. I could find a way to either make an extra $100 without going to work through direct sales (www.mycmsite.com/doristowell) or I could save that much in groceries, clothes, etc. For $100, I could find a way to make it happen.

So here I am, 13 years later, with no regrets where my children are concerned. Occasionally, I have worked an opposite shift from my husband or done a side job here and there, but for the most part, I have personally raised my own children alongside my husband. Sure we have made sacrifices, but every one was worth it. We don't drive new cars and we get our clothes at rummage sales, but we have done it on one income - creatively!

I generally save between $40-$160 a week, just in groceries. If you were to only save $50 a week in groceries, you would be saving $200 a month, or $2400 a year! Even if staying home is not what you need to save for, maybe it's a vacation you would like, or a new washer or dryer. Some women would love to have an extra $50 a week for a date night with their husband. Whatever your motivation, saving truly pays off, both spiritually and financially. Start today!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Piggly Wiggly Deals - January 22-27

The Quaker Oats are on great deals everywhere, I noticed. I actually debated doing this deal at Festival Foods, because they have a $3/5 off coupon in last Sunday's LaCrosse Tribune, but I wasn't sure I would have time to run there until Sunday. Also, I only have 1 coupon. Piggly Wiggly's deal is when you use your PW Card, you get $3 off/7 Quaker products. This also made it possible to stack coupons, which happen to be on pulls right by the bars and Oatmeals. Here's the deal without the $3/7:

Transaction #1:
-Captain Crunch = $2 on sale - $.50 AC = $1.50.
-2 Quaker Chewy Granola = 2/$4 - $1 pull coupon = $3
-Quaker Quick Oats = $2.50 - $.60 AC = $1.90
-2 Instant Quaker Oatmeal = 2/$5 - 2/$1 pull coupon = $3
Total after $3/7 = $6.90!

Transaction #2:
-4 Chewy Granola = 4/$8 - 2/$1 off 2 pull coupons = $6
-3 Quaker Instant Oatmeal = $7.50 - 3/$1 PC = $4.50
Total after $3 off 7 = $7.50

Transaction #3:
-6 Chewy Granola = $12 - 3/$1 PC = $9
-1 Oatmeal-to-Go = $2.50 - $.55 AC = $1.95
-3 Food Club Shredded Cheese = .99 each with PW Card
-2 Kelloggs Mini Wheats = 2/$4 - $1.50 AC = $2.50
Total after $3 off 7 = $13.42

I also did the $10 off $30 of Unilever products and used coupons for every one of the items I purchased. I added up the total to $30 before I went to be sure I spent only what I needed to get the deal.
Also, PW has a ton of $.99 items this week, many of which also had coupons in the Sunday Star Tribune, including: Hunts Spaghetti sauce, Creamette Spaghetti, FC Sour Cream, FC Cheese, PW loaves of bread, Dole Iceburg Salad, Hormel Chili and much more!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Walgreens deals - 1/11/08-1/18/08

Sorry I didn't get this up sooner, but I actually did really well with my Walgreens shopping this week. Just a key of some of the abbreviations I'm using.  BOGO = Buy One Get One. MC = Manufacturer's Coupon. AC = Walgreen's Ad Coupon.  EC = Easysaver's Coupon.

-2 Kashi Cereal - BOGO - $4.49/2 = $2.25 each.
-3 Halls Cough Drops - $.99 Ad Coupon each plus $.50 off from Sunday's paper.
-3 Planter's Trail Mix - $.99 each with Ad Coupon
-2 Peter Pan Peanut Butter  - BOGO - $3.49/2 = $1.75 each
-Bounty Basic Paper Towel - $.89 after AC
-2 No Nonsence Nylons - BOGO - $4.29/2 = $2.15 each
-Revlon nail file = $3.29 - $1 Manufacturer's Coupon from Sunday's paper, plus a FREE Revlon nail clipper from Walgreens BOGO = $2.29/2 = $1.15 each
-4 Geisha Mushrooms - 2/$1 with AC = $2
-Aquafresh toothpaste - $2.99 - $2 EasySaver Coupon - $1 MC = $.01 overage!
-Gillette Shaving Cream - $1.99 with AC
-2 Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Wipes - BOGO - $3.79/2 - 2/$1 MC = $1.79/2 = $.90 each!
-4 Glade Air Freshener Sprays - $2.80 ($.89 each) with AC - 4/$1 MC = $.44 overage!
-2 Oust Sanitizer Sprays - BOGO - 2/$3.79 - BOGO MC(the MC only went up to $3.49) = $.30/2 = $.15 each!
-Curel Foot Cream - $4.99 - $1 EC - $1 MC = $2.99

I also had 2 of the $10 Register Rewards left from the week before, so the total that I paid was $12.76!  Which by the way, I would have had in my Gift Card from Rebates, but for some reason, Walgreens sent me a check this month instead of adding it to my card. Apparently, if you don't cash in your rebate now, they will send you a check.  Has anyone else had that problem?

I saved $15.06 in Walgreens coupons.
I had $22.36 in Walgreen's advertized savings.
And I had $32.74 in Manufacturer's coupons & Register Rewards used. 

I SAVED A TOTAL OF $70.16!!  I also plan to go back and get some more of those Oust coupon stacking because I have 2 more of those BOGO MC.  I also found 6 coupons for $1/2 of the General Mills bars where you get $2 in RR back for buying 6.  I'll probably do that 2 times.  If I figured it out right it would cost about $7 for 6 plus you would get $2 in RR back, making them less than a $1 a box. 

Friday, January 9, 2009

Walmart Deals 1 1/9/09

I stopped by Wal-mart for milk, butter and bread and found some deals I wanted to share! These were in our Sparta store, but may be at more - you might check!

  • Golden Apples and pears were marked to $1/lb. (I usually grab and fresh fruit or veggies that go under $1!)
  • Iceberg Lettuce head was $1!
  • Pillsbury Pie Crusts were $1.75 with $1/2 coupons attached.
  • Pillsbury Christmas cookies were 4/$5 and I had $1/2 coupons for those from paper. (I thought the snowmen were fitting as we got 3-6 inches of snow today!)
  • Pillsbury Grands were all marked down to $1.65 each. I had coupons for $.35 off each - they are a wonderful treat around here!
  • Orville Redenbacher's Natural Just Salt Popcorn was down to 2/$6 and I had a $1/2 coupon.
  • Oscar Meyer Stack 'n Snack - $1.25 each and I had $1/3 from OM mailing a while back.

I'm sure there was more, but I had to get home to shovel. Seems that all that overstock from Christmas was finally getting marked down!

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Piggly Wiggly Deals - January 8-11

I really stocked up today on some items at Piggly Wiggly. I paid only $65.02 for all of this! I saved $135.79 between the PW card and coupons! Can you believe it?

I did have to do 3 transactions, though, I thought I had figured it out before I got there to be for 2. I was trying to buy $20 of General Mills products to get $5 and then I used all my coupons to get it down even more. Here are what I got, and any special deals I got with them:

Transaction #1:
Fiber 1 bars = $2.25 plus $.75 coupon from mail.
2 Green Giant box with sauce veggies = $2.66.
3 Salty & Sweet Nature Valley bar = $6.75 plus 2- $.50 coupon
Total after sales & coupons = $6.92
*I was totally thrown off by the register giving me the $5 off before I had everything there, that I really messed this one up. I had another coupon for $.50 for the veggies and only meant to buy 2 of the Nature Valley bars. Had I gotten this right, it would have only cost $4.17! I just couldn't figure it out, so I didn't act fast enough.

Transaction #2:
Fiber 1 Bars = $2.25 (I missed a coupon on this one too! Bad me!)
3 Honey Nut Cheerios = $6 plus $1 off coupon.
2 Progresso Soups = $1.98 plus $.50 off coupon.
12 Yoplait Yogurts = $6.00 plus 2 $.40 off coupons.
This total came to $8.43 after PC savings and coupons.

Transaction #3:
2 - 1/2 pints fresh Blackberries - $1.98
2 Charmin 12 packs = $11.98
4 - 8 oz. Shredded cheese = $5.96
2 - 10 oz block Cheese = $2.98
Club soda = $.99 (we are making volcanoes for science class!)
2 - 6 packs of FC Mac & Cheese = $5.98
2 - 16 oz FC Cottage Cheese = $3.38
5 FC Tuna = $3
6 Green Giant boxed veggies with sauce = $8 plus 3 $.50/2 coupons.
4 Hunts spaghetti sauce = $3.96
2 Old Orchard Juice = $3
3 Progresso soups = $2.97 plus $.50/2 coupon.

This was a stock up buy for us, we were about out of toilet paper, so I could hardly wait for today to go do this! The grand total on this was $29.67! Not too bad. I still can't really figure out why I was able to get those $5 off the $20 purchases, but Oh well, I know I got them!

Also, I know there was a deal for the TP other things to get another $5 off, but I just didn't want to spend that much this week. Next time... Happy Shopping!

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Walgreens deals - 1/4/08

So I had $76.24 in savings, plus $10 in RR and will be getting several rebates back also in two transactions at Walgreen's today. I should have done it in 3 transactions, and it would have saved me more, because I could have used $30 more dollars in RR that I have on hand. I will list the way that I would do it, if I could do it again, so you won't make the same mistake again.

Also, my Walgreen's is completely out of the Kellogg's for the extra $3 in RR. I have 2 $1/on 2 coupons to use on the Frosted mini-wheat's, so it would cost only $5 for 4 boxes of Frosted Mini Wheat's. I plan to go back on Wednesday or Saturday to see if they got more on their trucks.

Transaction #1:
  • One-A-Day = $7, plus $1/1 coupon from 12/4 circular.
  • Aleve 100 count = $8 plus $1/1 coupon from newspaper circular in past, also on in 12/4.
  • Flintstones vitamins = $5 plus $1/1 from 12/4 circular plus $1 Walgreen's coloring book coupon.

This would total the $20 required to get $10 back but only cost $15 - only $5 after RR! Be sure not to use any RR on this transaction, or you'll not get your $10 RR for it.

Transaction #2:

  • 4 boxes of Instant Quaker Oatmeal = $1.99 with Walgreen's flyer coupon plus 2- $1/2 Internet coupons found on www.afullcup.com under their coupon database. (I used www.commonsensewithmoney.com for a link, but it wouldn't work for me.
  • Loreal Vive conditioner and shampoo for 2/$9.98 plus 2 $1/1 coupons from 12/4. Added to that the $4/2 coupon in January Walgreen's Flyer.
  • Fructose Hairspray = $2.99 on sale plus $2 off January Walgreen's Flyer.

This total was $13.97. Use one of the past weeks RR of $10 & $1 to pay for it, which will come to $2.97. I had to do this transaction, because I still had another Quaker oats manufacturers coupon, but the in-store flyer had a limit of 4 boxes per coupon. This purchase also kicked out a $2/2 Quaker Instant Cereal coupon, that I may use another day!

Transaction #3:

  • 2 Children's Motrin = $11.98 plus - $1/1 Walgreen's coloring book coupons (one coupon rings 2 times for this) and $2/1 Walgreen's weekly flyer (also rings 2 times for 2 boxes).
  • Reyn0ld's Wrap 20 sq. feet = $.99 with Walgreen's Weekly Flyer (WWF) plus $.20/1 manufacturer's coupon from Sunday Paper (SP).
  • 3 Nabisco Wheat Thins = $7.50 on sale plus $3/3 boxes plus 3 2 L. Coke.
  • 1 Quaker Instant Oatmeal = $1.99 with WWF plus $.35/1 SP coupon.
  • 4- 2L Diet Coke = 4/$5 WWF on sale.
  • 2 Planter's Energy Mix Nuts = $7 - this gets me to $15 of Nabisco purchase for $5 mail-in-rebate (MIR).
  • Electrosol Dish Soap = $1.99 after MIR plus $2.50/1 SP 12/4 coupon. FREE plus overage!!
  • 2 Puffs Tissue = $1.79 after WWF coupon. (These were OK deal, but we were out!)
  • 4 Swanson Can Chicken Breast = $6 after WWF (I'm stocking up for camping!)
  • 2 Hershey's Reese's Whips = $1 WWF plus $1/1 SP coupon. FREE!
  • Palmolive Dish Soap = $.79 after WWF coupon plus $.35/1 SP 12/4 coupon.
  • 3 Jiffy Peanut Butter = $6 after WWF plus $1/3 SP 12/4 coupon.
  • Smucker jelly = $2 after WWF plus $.25/1 SP 12/4 coupon.
  • 2 Ben & Jerry Pints = $6 after sale plus 2/$3 off Internet coupons (deal is done!) FREE!!!

The grand total for this one came to $41.01 after coupons and sales! I still could have used $20 - $30 in RR for this. Unfortunately, I had put the first transaction on this one, so I couldn't. I will be using those next time though! Needless to say, if you followed all my recommendations (do what I say, not what I do) It would cost you around $29 for all three transactions!!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Walgreens deals - 12/30/08

I went ahead and got the Dimetap and Robitussin deal where you purchase $20 of them (5 bottles at $4 a piece.) You then use 5 of the $2 off each coupons from the Internet to have them cost only $10. On top of that, I got back a $10 Register Reward and 2 $5 Register rewards. To get more information on this deal, check out www.moneysavingmom.com. She has a full list of all the deals at Walgreens. I wasn't able to use a lot of them, because the LaCrosse Tribune doesn't have the coupons in them.

I am going to try getting the Star Tribune just on Sundays from Kwik Trip to get more coupons. I heard from one of the ladies at Walgreens that the Star usually has all the coupons that are going to go on sale for the next month at Walgreens. I'll keep you posted on that!