95% Savings!! My trip to Walgreens & CVS 10/18/09

I truly hope that this post is an inspiration to you and that you will become a "follower" of my blog. I really want to share the information that I have received and the techniques I have learned to help you save lots of money too!!! I only periodically post on here because so far I don't have any followers. If I knew that people were interested in learning with/from me, I would start writting more frequent and detailed post. Therefore, if you are interested in saving this kind of money too, than please, please, please sign up to follow my blog under "Followers" on the right hand side of the screen about half way down. This will benefit both you and I, as I will know that people are interested and therefore pursue this blog full steam, and you as well because you will receive notifications via email anytime I post a new blog. This will ensure that you have the latest coupon information to maximize your savings!!! Thanks to all, hope to talk to you again soon! :) PS Continue reading below to find out how I saved 95% this week!.....

I paid out of pocket for everything on the left side of the table, and got everything on the right side for FREE!!! The stuff I paid full price for is below. I spent a total of $17.85 out-of- pocket......

Below are all of the items that I got for FREE!!! $152.64 worth of FREE ITEMS!!! All of which I will use, except for the Sure Deodorant (which we will put in "care packages" for Christmas).....

Grand Summary:

I bought $180.05 worth of products for $17.85. I also am eligible for $9.00 in mail in rebates. So in the end I will have only paid $8.85 for all those items!!! Wow - that is brings my savings up to 95% this trip!! I was super excited!!!!!

Here is a list of everything I got:

(1) 12 pack Double Roll Cottonelle Toilet Paper

(2) Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner

(2) Dawn Liquid Dish Soap

(2) Pert Plus Shampoo

(4) Sure Deodorant

(2) Cottonelle Wet Wipe Tubs

(1) Fusion Power Razor

(1) Bic Comfort 4 Pack Disposable Razors

(2) 16 ct. Advil PM

(2) 6 pack Theraflu

(2) Robitussin DM Cough & Cold Medicine

(1) Triaminic Cough Medicine for Kids

(1) Zantac 24ct.

(1) Halls Cough Drops

(4) Colgate Total Toothpastes

(1) Chapstick Fresh Effects

(1) "Personal Item" ;)

(2) Glade Soy Candles

(1) Glade Large Candle

(2) Bags of Nestle Candy

(2) Boxes of Baking Soda

(2) Goldfish Snack Crackers

(5) Austin Peanut Butter Crackers 8 packs each

(1) Box of Pop-Tarts (they didn't make it in the picture thanks to my hubby) ;)

(2) Bars of Candy

(4) Halloween Pencils

Printable Coupons

Here are some printable coupons. I recommend that you print them now rather than when you need them because the manufactures usually only allow a certain total number of prints and once that amount is reached, the coupon is no longer available. You can usually print (2) of each coupon.

http://www.dealseekingmom.com/smartsource/ - has 110 different coupons

http://www.dealseekingmom.com/coupons-com/ - has 155 different coupons

$1.60/1 Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters printable (IE)

$1.00/1 Nestle’s Candy printable (must register)

$1.25/1 Fiber One Yogurt Multipacks printable (IE)

Find $20.35 in coupons on BettyCrocker.com right now, including a $1/1 Muir Glen printable coupon.

$1.50/1 Pond’s Towelettes — take this to Target and purchase the travel size Pond’s Towelettes to get them free after coupon!(Thanks, Freebie Blogger!)

$1/1 Wet Wipes printable (IE) or printable (FF) — use these on the travel size 15-ct. Wet Wipes also at Target to get them free after coupon!

$2/1 Healthy Choice Entrée printable - free after coupon at HEB

$0.55/1 Snapple printable printable (IE) - makes 1 bottle at checkout about 1/2 off

$0.50/1 Jello-O printable (IE) - about 1/2 off

$1/1 Coffee-Mate printable

$1/1 Tone Soap printable (IE) - 3 pack bar about $0.33 after coupon at CVS

$2/1 Benefiber printable (IE)

$0.75/1 Mom’s Best Naturals printable

$0.50/2 Libby’s Canned Vegetables

$1.50/1 Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion printable (IE)

$0.75/1 Trident Layers Gum printable

$1/1 Bumble Bee Tuna Pouch - free at HEB with coupon

Quiznos Restaurant - FREE sub when you buy any sub

$1/1 All Detergent 2X printable — look for the travel size at Target and get them FREE!

$1/1 Duncan Hines Whole Grain Muffin Mix printable

$1/2 Campbell’s Soup printable (IE)

$1/2 Suave Shampoo or Conditioner printable

$1/2 Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent printable

$2/1 Aveeno Baby Care printable

$1/1 Aveeno Baby Care printable

Treat your pup to some high quality puppy food at a steal. Register with Eukanuba to receive a voucher for a FREE bag of Eukanuba puppy food!

$1.00 off Cherrios http://www.cheerios.com/promotions/10in1/Steps.aspx click "sign up" they will send you a $1.00 off coupon each week for 4 weeks - you can get single breakfast bowls at Walgreens for $1.00, so you can get 4 of these free!

Buy any three specially-marked packages of Kellogg’s cereal, and you can enter codes from the boxes to receive $10 in bonus bucks to be used on electronics, toys, sporting goods, books, concessions and movies at stores including, Walmart, Target, Kmart, and more!!!

It’s time to start thinking ahead to Christmas shopping!

I recommend printing these great Hasbro/Playskool coupons now and holding onto them for the big holiday sales. They don’t expire until 1/15/10, so I’m sure we’ll find a way to turn them into a great deal!

There’s a fantastic new SC Johnson mail-in rebate available! Get a $5 rebate when you buy any 3 items from the following SC Johnson brands:

Drano
Fantastik
Glade
Nature’s Source
Off
Pledge
Raid
Saran
Scrubbing Bubbles
Shout
Windex
Ziploc

Even better, you can submit for this rebate up to three times per household for a total of $15!

Freebie Finds - Week of October 4th

Here are some freebies you can pick up this week if you happen to be going to any of these stores.....

Walgreens

(4) Cans of Campbells Tomatoe Soup - on sale 2/$1.00
Print (2) of each of these coupons
http://walgreens.shoplocal.com/walgreens/Default.aspx?action=printdetail&title=Coupon&img=http%3a%2f%2fimages.crossmediaservices.com%2fdyn_li%2f400.0.100.0%2fRetailers%2fwalgreens%2fcoupon_images%2f091004_01A_23_BIL_3CPN.JPG&storeid=2429292
and
http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=qikjfoo6429651&bt=vi&o=58909&c=CS&p=H971e4Ch

CVS

Cheerios Individual Serving Cups, $1.00
$1/1 Cheerios printable (coupon will be sent to your email)
FREE after coupon!

HEB

Bumble Bee Premium Tuna Pouch, $0.89
Print this Coupon..
http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=XYLTWJS6DUKV4
FREE

CVS & Walgreens 10/04

Warning: This is a long post!! It is hard to explain this process in a short-and-sweet manner, so please bear with me. Trust me..when you start saving money, taking the time to read my post will be worth it ;)

I am working on learning the "system" to shopping at CVS and Walgreens. Visit Deal Seeking Mom to learn more about earning and using Register Rewards at Walgreens click here. To learn more about earning and using Extra Care Bucks at CVS click here.

Also... check out this amazing website that helps you utilize only $5.00 each weeks to get tons of great deals at Walgreens. This week she spent $5.00 out of pocket and got $14.47 worth of products. Plus she ended the transaction with $5.49 in Register Rewards (which have cash value, so in reality she made $.49 on this total purchase!!!) She can now use the $5.49 in Register Rewards to apply to next week's deals. That means that she should not have to come out of pocket at all next week. I think, I'm still learning too about "rolling over" your Register Rewards but I am thinking that is how it will work. Guess I'll find out next week ;) Here is the website for Walgreens http://kingdomfirstmom.com/category/the-walgreens-5-challenge. Here is the website for CVS http://kingdomfirstmom.com/category/the-cvs-5-challenge.

Okay, so back to my trip tonight. Like I said, I am still learning but I saved 71% at CVS (which is pretty dang good I think) and get this.....98% at Walgreens!!!! After shopping at both stores, I bought $88.08 worth of products for $26.09. That means I saved 71% on this shopping trip!!

Here is what I got for $26.09 (and I have $3.00 in Register Rewards to use next time I go into Walgreens)....

(3) Degree Clinical Strength Deodorants
(1) 6 pack Dove Bar Soap
(2) 12 pack Diet Dr. Pepper
(1) 12 pack Dr. Pepper
(1) 3 pack Tone Bar Soap
(1) Colgate Total Toothpaste
(1) 6 pack Bounty Paper Towels (select a size kind)
(1) Clean & Clear Face Wash (trail size)
(1) Colgate 360 Clean Toothbrush
(3) Jars of Ragu Spaghetti Sauce
(2) Carefree Pantiliners (22 ct)
(2) Trident Gum
(1) Platex Cleaning Gloves
(2) Campbell's Tomato Soup

Want to start saving money like this too? Here is how to start... get a newspaper EVERY Sunday and clip out EVERY SINGLE coupon (even the ones you think you won't use, trust me!!). File all your coupons away for later. Here are some tips on how to organize your coupons http://personalbudgeting.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_organize_coupons.

Don't have any coupons? Want to start saving money this week at CVS and Walgreens? Here are a few scenarios of ways you can....

At CVS -

Dial, Tone or Coast Soap (2-3 pk.), $1.88
Get $1 ECB (limit 1)
$1/1 Tone Soap printable (IE) or printable (FF)
FREE after coupon and ECBs!

Colgate ActiFlex Toothbrush, $2.99
Get $2 ECB (limit 1)
$1/1 Colgate Acti-Flex Toothbrush printable
FREE after coupon and ECBs!

Here's how you would do this deal.... Print out both coupons

Buy Tone for $.88 out of pocket w/ coupon
Get $1.00 ECB on your receipt
Do a second transaction and apply your $1.00 ECB you just received on the Colgate Toothbrush
Get Toothbrush for $.99 out of pocket w/coupon
Get $2.00 ECB on your receipt for your next purchase

You will pay $1.87 for $4.87 worth of products!! Plus you will have $2.00 ECB's left over to use on your next purchase. Therefore you are really MAKING $0.13 off of these 2 transactions!! Cool, huh!!

At Walgreens -

Campbell’s Tomato Soup, 2/$1 (get coupon out of weekly flyer when you go into the store)
$1/2 Campbell’s Cooking Soups printable (IE) or printable (FF)
2 FREE after coupon!

Trident Layers Gum, 2/$2
Get $1 RR wyb 2
Use $0.75/1 Trident Layers Gum printable
$0.25 after coupon!

Chapstick Fresh Effects, $2.99
Get $2.99 RRs
FREE after RRs!

Robitussin DM To Go (2-pk.), $2.49
Get $2.49 RRs
FREE after RRs!

Emergen-C Booster, $3.49
Get $3.49 RRs
FREE after RRs!

Here is a scenario deal... Print all coupons prior to going to the store

Get (2) cans of Campbells Tomato Soup (the coupon does work, as I used it tonight) for FREE w/coupon
Get (2) packs of Gum for $1.25 out-of-pocket after coupon
Receive $1.00 in Register Rewards on your receipt
Do a second transaction and apply $1.00 Register Reward to buy Chapstick for $1.99.
Get $2.99 Register Rewards to use on your next purchase

You will pay $3.24 out-of-pocket for $6.99 worth of products. Plus you will have $2.99 in Register Rewards to use on your next purchase. Therefore you are really only paying $0.25 total for the items!!!

REMEMBER: Guard your Receipts that have your Extra Care Bucks and Register Rewards printed on them!!! Treat these as you would cash!!! P.S. Mom - they print out on your receipt and ARE NOT on your tag. You must have your receipt to redeem your Extra Care Bucks or Register Rewards!!

Well Folks, that's it for tonight! Whew, that was a long one. But hopefully, it was inspiring and helpful!!! Keep checking back for more great deal!!

What's in your pantry?

I found a wonderful recipe website called Recipe Key. You pick from a list the items you currently have in your pantry, fridge, garden, etc. and then it finds recipes for you based on the items you have on hand. Since I am trying to save money on our groceries, this resource is extremely useful because it helps me buy fewer things at the grocery store and help ensure that things don't go bad in my pantry. Here is the link....

www.recipekey.com

Pull-Ups Flushable Wipes Coupon - only $ 0.64 each

There’s a new $2/2 Pull-Ups Flushable Wipes printable coupon available. The soft packs of Flushable Wipes are just $1.64, so that makes them $0.64 each after coupon!

Huggies Pull-Ups Flushable Wipes, $1.64
$2/2 Pull-Ups Flushable Wipes printable
$0.64 after coupon!

Example: A Few Current Deals

These are current deals to give you an idea of what you can expect from future post. These 3 deals contain "printable" coupons which you can access now. Start clipping coupons out of the Sunday paper and saving them, because only about 30% of the good coupon deals available are "printable". Please note: The retail price listed is Walmart's price and can vary from store to store.

Smithfield Bacon--$2.58
Use $3/1 coupon here
Free

Here's a great coupon for those of you who like Bacon: Go to the sign-up at the top of the page here and fill in your information and you'll then receive a $3/1 coupon for Smithfield Bacon which you can print twice.
I'm not sure that I've seen this bacon in our stores before, but I don't ever buy bacon either, so I may have just missed it. However, I'm guessing that if your store sells it, $3 off the regular price is going to make for a great deal--possibly even free!
Thanks, Money Saving Madness!

Pillsbury Grands Biscuits Jr. Golden Layers Buttermilk biscuits (6 oz.)--$0.74
Use $1/1 coupon here
Free

I am guessing this coupon will go like hot cakes so print yours while you can! Go here to print a coupon for $1 off any size of Grands! biscuits. (If you don't use Firefox, here's the IE link and here's the Safari link.) You should be able to print this coupon twice per computer.
Use this coupon on the 5-count rolls of biscuits which are often on sale for $1 and you'll get them for free!
Thanks, Freebies 4 Mom!

Glade Sense and Spray--$5
Use $4/1 coupon from the 8/23 SmartSource insert or $4/1 coupon here
$1 after coupon

Walmart vs. HEB - My Pick

Most of the blogs I get my freebie and saving information from pairs up coupons with Walmart's prices. I have heard that shopping at Walmart saves you a lot more money than shopping at HEB. I tried using my coupons at Walmart and had nothing but problems (with the cashier that is) and only left with about 1/2 of what I went in for because the cashier wouldn't let me use particular coupons (which I should have been able to use according to Walmart's Coupon Policy). In addition, I got the classic "come on" huffs and puffs from the customers waiting in line behind me!! Note: when using multiple coupons, be sure to inform the cashier prior to the transaction that you will be using multiple coupons, therefore she/he has the option of closing the lane until the transaction is complete to prevent this problem. If she/he chooses not to turn off their light indicating the lane is closed, than the "come on" huffing and puffing is her/his problem, not mine ;) !!! Anyway, I used the rest of my coupons at HEB. I found that the prices at HEB were comparable to Walmart!! Most items were the same price, and those that were different were only by about .01 - .05 cents. I personally am willing to pay a few more cents for the convenience and customer service that HEB provides!!! I simply used the self check out line and had NO problems scanning my coupons and receiving my discounts. So, in the future I think I will use HEB rather than Walmart to redeem my coupons. There system makes the entire process go a lot smoother! Please note that any post I make on here will list Walmart's price as that is the information I have access to, but know that these prices are similar to HEB's and you can still get these savings at HEB as well! Happy Shopping Friends!!!

Keep Checking Back!

Want to Save Big Too???

I would like to share my savings with you, so as I find good deals, I will be posting them to this site. Check back often for the latest savings!

The Power of Coupons to Save Big!

In addition to the Freebies I picked up with coupons, I got a few items that I had to pay out of pocket for, but still saved quite a bit of money!

Here is a breakdown:

(4) Glade Sense & Spray Starter Kits - retail $5.00 each (used $4.00 off each coupons bought on Ebay for approx. $1.00 for 10, I'll use the others another time, paid $1.00 each)

(2) HEB Sure Comfort Pantiliners - retail $2.14 (used a coupon I received at the HEB Baby & Child Expo for $1.00 off each - paid $1.14 each)

(2) Febreeze Reed Diffuser - retail $4.50 each (used $3.00 off coupons bought on Ebay for approx. $1.00 for 10, I'll use the others another time - paid $1.50 each)

(1) Clorox 2 Color Safe Bleach (small) - retails approx. 4.14 (used a Blinkie coupon - the coupons that print out at the end of your purchase that they give to you at checkout, for $3.00 off - paid $1.14 - plus I got a bottle of bleach for free with purchase of Clorox 2 see previous post)

Retail Price of All Items: $37.42

I Paid (after coupons): $10.42 + $3.00 paid to obtain coupons on Ebay = $13.42

Grand Total Savings = approx. $24.00

The Power of Coupons to get Freebies

I Got All These Items for Free!!

I have recently become a member of several coupon blogs and have been learning a lot about using coupons to reduce your grocery bills. Check out these two blogs to learn more about couponing http://www.dealseekingmom.com/ and http://www.thefreebieblogger.com/. Regular updates on the blogs inform you of the latest and best deals. One of the best features of http://www.dealseekingmom.com/ is the "Deals of the Week" for WalMart, Target, CVS, and Walgreens. Each week, the author informs you of coupons you can use, with products at regular or sales price to get huge savings, in addition to many free items. I have been saving coupons for months now and decided to put my coupon use to the test. I got all the items in the picture above for FREE!!! Here is the breakdown:

(11) Johnson and Johnson Bath Bars - retail for $0.98 each (used 11 coupons I purchased for approx. $1.00 on Ebay)

(3) HEB Infant Pain Relief Drops - retail for approx. $5.50 each (used coupons I received at the HEB Baby & Child Expo)

(1) HEB Gas Relief Drops - retail for approx. $3.25 (used coupons I received at the HEB Baby & Child Expo) (I'll be giving this to Kristin)

(2) Huggies Pull Ups Flushable Wipes - retail approx. $1.64 each (Printable coupon - $2.00 off any Huggies Diaper Product http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?tqnm=qinjblu9829492&bt=vi&o=57463&c=HG&p=7gaQhPFm )

(4) Kotex Pantiliners (small package) - retail $1.00 each (Used coupon for $1.00 off any Kotex product)

(1) Clorox Bleach - retail $1.89 (Got free with purchase of Clorox 2 for Colors)

(1) Bath & Body Works Trail Size Lotion -retail $5.00 (Used coupon received in mail for free trail size product, no purchase necessary - sign up at http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/ at the bottom of the page - current offer says "free with any purchase")

(1) JC Penny Toddler Outfit - retail value $9.98 (Used $10 or purchase of $10 coupon I received in mail for being a card holder - I get these every 3 months or so)

Grand Total Savings = Approx. $ 54.68

I am hoping that by posting my savings, you will be inspired to start couponing too!! Plus, I am proud of my accomplishment!! Check my blog again soon for more information on how to get freebies like this and awesome savings too!

Sobe Life Water - Buy One Get One Free

**Groceries**

http://www.sobeworld.com/index.php

Leggs Hosiery - $1.00 to $1.50 Off

http://www.leggs.com/email.asp

Supercuts - $2.00 Off Haircut

**Health & Beauty** - Supercuts - $2.00 Off Haircut

http://www.supercuts.com/Login/default.asp

Banana Boat Suncare - $2.00 Off

**Health & Beauty** - Banana Boat Suncare - $2.00 off (printable coupon)

http://www.bananaboat.com/coupon.aspx

Popeyes Chicken

**Food & Restaurant** - Popeyes Chicken - Enter your zip code for printable coupons

http://hosted.where2getit.com/popeyes/

Subway

**Food & Restaurant** - Subway - Sign up and receive printable coupons

http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/forms/buzz_me.aspx

KFC

**Food & Restaurant** - KFC - Enter your zip code and get free printable coupons

http://kfccoupons.cre8.com/

Arby's

**Food and Restaurant** - Arby's - Sign up and receive printable coupons

http://arbysextras.fishbowl.com/forms/arbys/join.asp

Macaroni Gril - Free Appetizer

**Food & Restaurant** - Macaroni Grill - Free Appetizer

http://www.macaronigrill.com/Home/Default.aspx

Chuck E. Cheese

**Food & Restaurants** - Chuck E. Cheese Coupons (printable)

http://www.chuckecheese.com/coupons/get-coupon.php

http://www.minutemaid.com/promotions/ChuckECheese2009.pdf

Barnes and Noble - 10% Off

**Stores** - Barnes and Noble - 10% Off (printable coupon)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/email/nav.asp?r=1&PID=28388&afsrc=1&r=1

Children's Place - 15% Off

**Babies & Children** - Children's Place 15% Off Entire Order (printable coupon)

http://www.childrensplace.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/EmailJump?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=10001&jumpId=JuneBCC

Free Nursing Cover - only pay S&H $7.95

**Baby** - Nursing Cover - for nursing mothers - only pay S&H $7.95

Code: ONEFREE

http://www.uddercovers.com/shop.php

Gymboree - 30% Off Online Order

**Babies & Children** - Gymboree 30% Off Online Order

Enter Code: CFFRIEND or CFCIRCLE for 30% off your entire purchase online. Plus Receive Free Shipping on Orders over $100

http://www.gymboree.com/