Monday, October 31, 2011

End of the month = print your coupons

Happy Halloween!  Hopefully you'll be handing out free or cheap candy tonight, thanks to coupons and sales.  :-)

Just a quick reminder to print any coupons you might be interested in, since most online sites will introduce new coupons on the first of the month.  Be sure to check coupons.com, Red Plum, SmartSource, and Coupon Network for any coupons you think you might want. 

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Tops gas points reminder

Just a quick reminder for anyone collecting Tops gas points, don't forget that today is the last day of the  current earning period.

Is anyone out there besides me earning points?  What type of discount have you earned?  I'd love to hear about it!  I'm a little disappointed this time.  Last time around,  I had over a $3.00 per gallon discount and only paid $0.47 per gallon.  Right now I'm at $1.80 off per gallon and should hit just over the $2 mark after I pick up some more groceries later today.  Definitely no where close to last time, but with gas prices the way they are I'll take any discount I  can get!

Friday, October 28, 2011

More candy coupons!


If you weren't able to get a good deal on candy at CVS, or if you did but you still need to stock up on more for Halloween, there's a great candy coupon over at coupons.com right now.  Save $1.50 on a 9.4 ounce or larger bag of Mars candy, which paired with a sale will make for some cheap treats!

Printable Bar-S hot dog coupon

If you head over and "like" the Bar-S Facebook page, you'll be able to print a coupon for $0.50 off any 2 Bar-S hot dogs.  These are currently selling for $1.39 at Wegmans, so after doubling to $1.00 they are pretty reasonable.  I've seen them go on sale before at both Wegmans and Tops for $0.99, and since the coupon doesn't expire until 12/31, you might be able to wait for a great sale!

Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day!

Today is Friday, so you know what that means, right?  Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the chances of being rewarded large denominations of Swag Bucks is increased.  Go do your searches now!
 
Not familiar with Swagbucks?  Here's the deal:

Swagbucks is a search engine (like Google or Yahoo).  You are awarded points randomly (called Swag Bucks) when you search the internet, answer surveys, watch videos, play games, etc.  Once you sign up (it's free!), you can also refer friends and family and earn points from their referrals.

I normally earn my points through doing the web searches only (and really, who doesn't already do that?  Why not get rewarded for what you're already doing?). I seem to get points after my third or fourth search and I try to do it once in the morning and again in the evening.  When I earn points for a search, they are generally in the 7 - 10 point range.  And every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the odds of winning high-value Swag Bucks are increased.

Swag Bucks are redeemed in the Swagstore.  While there are a lot of things to choose from, my favorite item hands down is the $5 Amazon gift card for 450 points.  I know, that sounds like a lot of points, right?  I've only been using Swagbucks a short time (and as much as I try to get my search points twice a day, life often gets in the way or I forget) but I've already cashed in for $20 in Amazon gift cards that I plan to use towards Christmas gifts.  I figure by next year I'll be consistent enough about it that I will have quite a bit of free money to play with!

Interested?  Sign up at Swagbucks (remember, it's free) and start earning free stuff!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

10/23 - 10/29 Tops deals

I had wanted to do a couple of transactions at Tops today, but I was running short on time and was only able to do one.  I'll be going back for some more deals tomorrow, but here is a look at today's purchases:

4 bottles of Tabasco sauce - FREE
On sale 10/$10, used 4 $0.50 coupons (double to $1.00) printed from here (must register)

8 jars of Heinz gravy - $1.00 each
On sale 10/$10.  I actually did not have any coupons for these, but bought them since I'll need gravy with Thanksgiving coming up and because they were part of a store promo -- buy any 8 featured items and receive a $3.00 Catalina coupon good for your next shopping trip.  I also received 200 bonus gas points from this deal!
Note:  When I was taking them off the shelf, I noticed that some jars of turkey gravy were marked as having a coupon under the label.  After checking them out at home, it turns out the specially marked turkey gravies have $1 off 2 beef or chicken gravies coupons on them!  I'm probably going to grab some more tomorrow using these coupons.  If you plan on buying these, definitely look for the jars with coupons on them.

1 package WhoNu cookies - $1.50
On sale 2/$5, used the $1.00 coupon from the 10/23 SmartSource coupon insert

7 packages Wholey Boneless frozen Swai fish fillets - $2.28 each
On sale for $2.99 each, used $5 off $20 seafood purchase coupon from the Tops ad

2 packages Weight Watchers shredded cheese - $1.75 each
On sale 2/$5, used $0.75 off $5.00 Weight Watcher purchase coupon (doubles to $1.50) printed from here

I also used 2 more of the above Weight Watcher coupon to buy 2 sets of Weight Watchers cheeses, each consisting of a package of cheese sticks and a package of spreadable cheese wedges.  The cheese sticks were on sale for $3.49 each and the wedges were on sale 2/$4.  Each set's sales price was $5.49 and after the $0.75 coupon doubled I paid $3.99 for each set, or $1.99 for each item.

1 package of Weight Watchers spreadable cheese wedges - $1.00
On sale 2/$4, used $1.00 coupon from the November issue of All You magazine

1 container Bison chip dip - $0.19
On sale for $1.19 after the Tops store coupon from the weekly ad, plus used the $0.50 coupon (doubles to $1.00) from the 10/2 SmartSource insert

I also bought some produce, and one of the items had a $1.00 off peelie coupon because of a close "use by" date.

Also, the Red Plum mailer that the Tops ad came delivered in last week had a $5 off $50 purchase coupon which I used on this trip.

The total retail for this trip was $107.29 and after discounts I paid $39.60, for a savings of approximately 63%.  I also have my $3.00 Catalina coupon to use on my next trip (which will probably be tomorrow, since there are some more deals I'd like to take advantage of) and I'm up to a gas discount of $1.80 off per gallon of gas. 

My 10/23 - 10/29 Wegmans freebies & cheapies

I was finally able to do some grocery shopping today.  Here are my purchases from Wegmans:

2 half gallons of Silk Almondmilk - $1.89 each
Priced at $3.39 each, used 2 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) printed from here (must register)

1 bottle La Creme dairy creamer - $0.99
On sale for $1.99, used $1.00 coupon from the November issue of All You magazine

2 cartons of Cool Whip Season's Delight - $0.19 each
Priced at $1.69 each, used 2 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) from Cool Whip's Facebook page

1 Alba Botanica organic sunscreen - $0.99
On sale for $3.99, used $3.00 coupon from the November issue of All You magazine

2 cans of Muir Glen organic tomato sauce - FREE
Priced at $0.99 each, used 2 $1.00 coupons from the October issue of Nature's Marketplace magazine (available for free in the Nature's Marketplace section of Wegmans)

2 bottles of Frank's Red Hot - $0.19 each
Priced at $1.19, used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1.00) printed from here (must register)

2 bottles of French's yellow mustard - $0.69 each
Priced at $1.29 each, used 2 $0.30 coupons (double to $0.60) also printed from here

1 box Annie's Homegrown macaroni & cheese - FREE
Priced at $1.49, used $0.75 coupon ("doubles" to $1.49) printed from Facebook (Note: after "liking" and allowing the application, I could only get 1 print)

1 bag Food Should Taste Good chips - $1.99
Priced at $2.99, used $1.00 coupon printed from their website (click on the $1.00 coupon button near the bottom, then join the fan club)

4 bags of Snikiddy Snacks - $1.00 each
Priced at 2/$5, used 4 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) no longer available from coupons.com

2 boxes General Mills milk & cereal bars - $1.30 each
On sale 2/$5, used 2 $0.60 coupons (double to $1.20) printed from here (must register)

1 bag Grande tortilla chips - $0.50
On sale 2/$3, used $1.00 coupon from the 9/11 SmartSource coupon insert

2 bottles Johnson's baby shampoo - $1.49 each
On sale for $2.49 each, used 2 $1.00 coupons from here (I just printed it earlier but I'm not seeing it now, so it may have been pulled)

1 Satin Care shave gel - $0.79
On sale for $1.79, used $1.00 coupon from the 10/16 Proctor & Gamble coupon insert

2 packages of Summer's Eve cleansing cloths - FREE
On sale for $1.49 each, used 2 $0.75 coupons ("double" to $1.49) printed from here

1 bag of Hall's lonzenges - $0.19
Priced at $1.19, used the $0.50 coupon (doubles to $1.00) from the November issue of All You magazine

I also bought some milk (no coupons).

The total retail cost was $70.04 and after discounts and coupons I paid just $25.80, for a savings of approximately 63%. Not too shabby if I do say so myself!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

CVS: cheap Halloween candy!

I don't know about you, but I hate paying a lot of money for Halloween candy.  I just scored 4 bags of Hershey candy for $2.80 (including tax) and earned another $3 in ExtraCare Bucks at CVS today.  Here is how I did it:

Hershey snack-size bags of candy are on sale 4/$10, plus you'll earn $3 in ECBs when you buy 4.
I had $4 in ECBs from a previous trip, plus I used 4 $1 coupons printed from here, plus I now have $3 in ECBs to use on another shopping trip.

Note: The coupon specifies Halloween candy, but the CVS sale included mostly bags of regular candy.  I found orange Halloween Kit-Kats on sale and purchased those to be on the safe side. 

New Glade printable coupons

A bunch of new printable coupons for Glade products have been added to coupons.com. With the holiday season quickly approaching, I'm sure we'll be able to pair some of these up with sales!

Monday, October 24, 2011

New J.M. Smucker printable coupons

Head over to Walmart's website and click the "See the Coupons" button for a bunch of printable J.M. Smucker brands coupons, including:
  • Save $0.50 off any Smucker’s jam, jelly or preserves
  • Save $0.75 off any Smucker’s topping
  • Save $0.35 off any Pillsbury brownie mix or frosting
  • Save $1 off Folgers Gourmet Selections coffee 10 oz.+ or K-Cup portion packs
  • Save $0.50 off any box of Smucker’s Uncrustables sandwiches
  • Save $1 off any 3oz. or larger Folgers product
  • Save $0.55 off any Eagle brand product
  • Save $0.55 off any Hungry Jack pancake mix or syrup
  • Save $1 off four Martha White muffin mixes
Unfortunately, the one I wanted most, $0.55 off any jar of Jif peanut butter, is already no longer available to print.

Keep in mind that even though these are on the Walmart site, they are manufacturer coupons that can be used anywhere.  I'd suggest taking the ones under $1.00 to a store like Wegmans or Tops where they'll double!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Frugal tip: homemade laundry soap

As a way to save money (along with couponing!) I've been making my own laundry detergent for well over a year, after watching the Duggar family on TLC making it.  I made another batch today and realized it might be something other thrifty couponers might be interested in, so I'm sharing it on the blog.  Here are your ingredients:

Everything is found inexpensively in the laundry aisle at Wegmans: Fels Naptha ($1.19), Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda ($3.49), and 20 Mule Team Borax ($3.99).  You'll need 1 bar of Fels Naptha each time you make the recipe, but after more than a year I'm still on my first boxes of washing soda and borax!  Since each batch makes 10 gallons of detergent, this ends up being really cheap and it lasts a long time.  Just a quick note: make sure you use washing soda, as baking soda will not work.

You will also need a 5-gallon bucket with a lid (I bought one at Home Depot) and a bunch of empty laundry detergent bottles.  If you don't mind using your everyday kitchen utensils, you'll also need a saucepan, cheese grater, ladle, and something to stir with.  I just wash my cheese grater really well after using, but I do use an old camping saucepan, ladle, and rubber spatula that I designate for detergent making.

Grate a bar of Felsa Naptha soap into a saucepan on the stove and add 4 cups of hot water.  Stir it continually until the soap dissolves and is no longer clumpy.  I find it takes about 5 minutes over medium-high heat.

Fill a 5-gallon bucket half full with hot water.  Add in the melted Fels Naptha along with 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and 1/2 cup Borax.  Stir the mixture until the powders dissolve, then fill the rest of the bucket with more hot water.  Give it another stir, then cover the bucket and let it sit overnight.

The next day it will be thick (think when you cook a turkey and the fat in the juices left in the pan starts to solidify -- it will look kind of gross).  Stir it up to break up the chunks a bit.

Fill your empty detergent bottles half with water and half with the detergent mixture (I find cutting the top portion off a 2-liter bottle works great as a funnel along with using my old ladle to scoop up the detergent).  This recipe will make 10 gallons, so start saving your old empty detergent bottles ahead of time and/or ask friends and neighbors to save them for you.

Shake the detergent bottle each time you use it (you might still see some little chunks, but that's OK).  I have an old top-loading washing machine and using a standard detergent bottle capful for each load is plenty.  If you have a front-loader, you'll use less. 

Unlike most commercial detergents, this is not going to get all bubbly and soapy so don't feel like you need to keep adding more because you're not seeing bubbles during the wash and rinse cycles. 

It has a very mild, clean smell which we like.  If you prefer a stronger scent, you could add some essential oils.  Since we have sensitive skin issues and always used 'free and clear' detergents, I didn't want to add anything extra to ours.  Needless to say, this detergent works fine with everyone's skin in our house.

It might sound like a lot of work, but really it isn't.  And the payoff is great!

Saturday, October 22, 2011

FREE Tabasco sauce!

Starting tomorrow, 10/23, Tops has the small bottles of Tabasco sauce on sale for $1.00 each.  Go here to print a coupon for $0.50 off any size/any flavor Tabaso.  After the coupon doubles, you'll get it for free!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Tops coupon in today's mail

If you receive a Tops ad via snail mail, be on the look-out for this:


On the front cover of the Red Plum insert that has next week's Tops ad inside of it, is a coupon good for $5 off a $50 Tops grocery purchase.  The coupon is valid through 10/31 and since a quick glance looks like next week's Tops sales are better than this week's, I should have no problem hitting the purchase minimum (pre-coupons, of course!) on my next shopping trip.

$2 Minute Maid coupon!

Head over here and get a high-value Minute Maid coupon.  You can share the link on Facebook for a $2.00 coupon (wow!) or just print a $1.00 coupon.  The coupon is good on one 10-pack of juice boxes.  These sell for $3.49 at Wegmans (I'm not sure what Tops charges), which will make them very reasonable with the $2.00 coupon.

Sewing and crafting coupons

My girls can't find Halloween costumes they like, so it looks like I'll be doing some sewing over the next week.  As a result, I've gone searching for coupons to make their costume material more reasonable. 

If you're in need of coupons for either fabric or crafting items, here is a 50% off one item coupon for Joann's and here is a 40% off one item coupon for Hobby Lobby. 

Both coupons expire tomorrow, October 22nd.

Friday = Mega Swag Bucks Day!

Today is Friday, so you know what that means, right?  Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the chances of being rewarded large denominations of Swag Bucks is increased.  Go do your searches now!
 
Not familiar with Swagbucks?  Here's the deal:

Swagbucks is a search engine (like Google or Yahoo).  You are awarded points randomly (called Swag Bucks) when you search the internet, answer surveys, watch videos, play games, etc.  Once you sign up (it's free!), you can also refer friends and family and earn points from their referrals.

I normally earn my points through doing the web searches only (and really, who doesn't already do that?  Why not get rewarded for what you're already doing?). I seem to get points after my third or fourth search and I try to do it once in the morning and again in the evening.  When I earn points for a search, they are generally in the 7 - 10 point range.  And every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the odds of winning high-value Swag Bucks are increased.

Swag Bucks are redeemed in the Swagstore.  While there are a lot of things to choose from, my favorite item hands down is the $5 Amazon gift card for 450 points.  I know, that sounds like a lot of points, right?  I've only been using Swagbucks a short time (and as much as I try to get my search points twice a day, life often gets in the way or I forget) but I've already cashed in for $15 in Amazon gift cards that I plan to use towards Christmas gifts.  I figure by next year I'll be consistent enough about it that I will have quite a bit of free money to play with!

Interested?  Sign up at Swagbucks (remember, it's free) and start earning free stuff!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Listerine deal at Target


Remember when I posted about the $2.00 Listerine coupon?  Well, I used my stash of them today at Target.  I found the 1-liter bottles of Listerine Total Care Zero (with a bonus travel size attached) clearanced to $4.24 on an end cap.  Attached to each bottle was a $1.00 Target peelie coupon, which when stacked with the manufacturer coupon ended up costing me $1.24 each!  I also had some $1.00 Target coupons I had printed from their website, but the wording on those reads only 1 Target coupon per transaction, and since I was buying multiples I opted to use the Target peelies instead which don't have the 1 per transaction wording.  And if I wasn't happy enough with this deal, I had a $2.00 off Listerine Catalina manufacturer coupon print out at the register.  Since there are more of these left on the shelf, I could go back and stack it with another peelie to take advantage of the deal again! 

Since the printable coupon over at coupons.com doesn't seem to be available any longer (although I do see one for $1.00 off which could still make this a decent deal when stacked with a Target coupon), hopefully you printed it already!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Salad coupons

I thought I was set for the week with salad ingredients, but this morning I realized I'm running low on a few things.  Since I was planning a Wegmans trip for today (milk and more free tomato sauce), I figured I pick up produce there.  I double-checked my Tops ad, though, and found a couple of good deals there:
Nature Sweet cocktail cherry tomatoes are BOGO ($3.49).  Use the $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) after "liking" their Facebook page and get 2 packages for $1.99! I haven't tried on a second computer, but this only let me print once before giving me a print limit message.

Almond Accents are also BOGO ($3.79).  Print their $1.00 Facebook coupon and get 2 packages for $2.79.

I guess I'll definitely be heading back to Tops this week!

Monday, October 17, 2011

10/16 - 10/22 Tops deals

Overall, this was a pretty disappointing sales week for me at Tops.  I did buy a few things today:

Transaction 1

9 boxes of Better Oats oatmeal - $0.67 each
On sale for $1 each, used 3 $1 off 3 coupons printed from here (my printer messed up so I didn't get my 4th coupon -- grr!!)

12 cans of Campbell's Select Harvest soup - $0.75 each
On sale 4/$5, used 4 $1.50 off 3 coupons printed from here

2 boxes of Pop Secret microwave popcorn - $1.25 each
On sale BOGO ($3.49), used $1 off 2 coupon from the 9/11 SmartSource coupon insert

A bunch of notes:  If I had been paying better attention, I probably wouldn't have bought the popcorn.  I realized after I got home that there are only 3 bags in each box, so I think I could've gotten a better deal by buying the store brand at Wegmans or Aldi.  I also forgot to use my $3.00 Catalina coupon I earned last week.  What can I say?  It's a Monday!  :-)  Buying the soup seems to have triggered a Catalina coupon for $1.25 off 5 Campbell's Select Harvest soups.  Since I need to stock up on soup, I may go back and use this later in the week.  Also, I had Puffs coupons and had planned to buy those today in this transaction but there was a notice on the shelf stating there was a typo in the ad. Instead of being $1 each, they were 4/$5 which didn't make them cheap enough for me.

Total retail cost was $54.57 and after discounts and coupons I paid $18.49 (I also made a $1 donation to the Golisano Children's fund at the register) for a savings of of 66%.

Transaction 2

4 packages Hot Pockets - $1.50 each
On sale for $2 each, used 2 $1 off 2 coupons found here

8 containers of Yoplait yogurt - $0.48 each
On sale 20/$12, used a $0.50 off 8 coupon (doubles to $1.00) printed from here

I also bought some produce (no coupons).

Total retail was $23.57 and I paid $13.79 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of about 41%.

Overall, I spent $32.28 for $78.14 worth of groceries, or a savings of approximately 59%.  After today's transactions, I'm at $1.50 off per gallon of gas. Not the best week, so hopefully next week's sale will be better!

Post cereal coupon

I rarely see coupons for Post cereal, but there is currently one available to print here.  "Walmart" is printed on the face of the coupon, but it states "manufacturer's coupon" so it should be accepted at any store.


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Free Bath & Body Works lotion

If your weekend plans include going to the mall, be sure to print out this coupon for a free 2 ounce bottle of Be Enchanted lotion from Bath & Body Works.  No purchase is necessary, but quantities are limited and the offer is valid only through tomorrow, 10/16.

Friday, October 14, 2011

10/9 - 10/15 Tops deals

It's been such a busy week for me, that it's taken me until today to finally do my Tops shopping.  It was a pretty good trip for me, consisting of 3 transactions:

Transaction 1

6 packages (12 double rolls) Cottonelle toilet paper - $5.99 each
On sale for $6.99 each, used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here and 4 $1 coupons from the 9/11 SmartSource insert (2 were regular manufacturer coupons and 2 were manufacturer coupons that said "Redeem at Family Dollar".  They are not store-specific coupons, but are indeed manufacturer coupons that can be used at any store.)
Note: These were part of a 'spend $25 in select products and get a $5 coupon good on your next trip or spend $40 and get a $10 coupon' store promo.  Since my pre-coupon price hit the $40 mark, I earned a $10 Catalina coupon I applied to my second transaction. 

I can't find this receipt (I think the retail price before tax might have been $59.94), but after discounts and coupons I paid $38.82 for a boat-load of toilet paper (and no, I don't have it stored under my kids' beds like the lady on Extreme Couponing!), plus I earned $10 towards my other groceries.

Transaction 2

4 bottles of Apple & Eve Fruitables juice - 2 @ $1.50 each and 2 @ $1.40 each
On sale 2/$5, used 2 $1.00 coupons printed from their Facebook page and 2 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) from here
Note: There is also a $1 off 2 coupon from the 9/18 SmartSource coupon insert, but it will only make the juice $2 each

1 jar Peter Pan peanut butter - $1.00
On sale 2/$4, used $0.50 coupon (doubles to $1) from the September issue of All You magazine

8 cans of Manwich - $1.25 each
On sale 4/$5.  I had no coupons for these, but bought them because they were part of a store promo (see note below).

8 boxes of Swiss Miss hot chocolate mix - 5 @ $1.25 each and 3 @ $0.92 each
On sale 4/$5, used a $1 off 3 coupon.  Again, not the greatest out-of-pocket cost, but they were part of a store promo, so I bought them.

Note: The Peter Pan, Manwich, and Swiss Miss were all part of a store promo this week -- spend $20 in select products and get a $5 coupon or spend $10 and get a $2 coupon.  Since I had some coupons and they are all products my family uses, plus I could lower my other out-of-pocket costs on a future order, I bought those items even if they weren't necessarily the best prices I've found in the past.  My total for those items qualified me for the $5 coupon, which I used on transaction 3.

My total retail cost of transaction 2 was $52.39 and I paid $16.42 after discounts and coupons (including the $10 Catalina coupon I earned from transaction 1), which is a savings of about 69%.

Transaction 3

6 bags of Mama Rosie's frozen pasta - $0.73 each
On sale BOGO free ($2.79 for 2), used 3 $1 off 2 coupons printed from here, plus a $1 off 2 Tops store coupon printed from here
Note: These are also part of a 2 store promos (at least at the Mt. Read store) -- get a $3 coupon and earn 200 points for every 6 select products -- that these qualified for, even though they are BOGO.

12 cans of Campbell's chicken noodle soup - $0.33 each
On sale 10/$6, used 4 $0.40 off 3 coupons (double to $0.80) printed from coupons.com

3 boxes Green Giant frozen vegetables - $0.67 each
On sale 10/$10, used $1 off 3 coupon from the 10/2 General Mills coupon insert

4 boxes Totino's pizza rolls - $1.27 each
On sale 3/$5, used 2 $0.40 off 2 coupons (double to $0.80) from here

The total retail cost of this transaction was $45.15 and I paid $10.44 after discounts and transactions (including the $5 Catalina coupon from transaction 2), for a savings of approximately 77%.  Plus, I now have another $3 Catalina coupon I can use on my next shopping trip as well as a gas discount worth $1.30 off per gallon of gas!

Mega Swag Bucks Day + 100 points for new members!

Today is Friday, so you know what that means, right?  Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the chances of being rewarded large denominations of Swag Bucks is increased.  Go do your searches now!
 
Not familiar with Swagbucks?  Here's the deal:

Swagbucks is a search engine (like Google or Yahoo).  You are awarded points randomly (called Swag Bucks) when you search the internet, answer surveys, watch videos, play games, etc.  Once you sign up (it's free!), you can also refer friends and family and earn points from their referrals.

I normally earn my points through doing the web searches only (and really, who doesn't already do that?  Why not get rewarded for what you're already doing?). I seem to get points after my third or fourth search and I try to do it once in the morning and again in the evening.  When I earn points for a search, they are generally in the 7 - 10 point range.  And every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the odds of winning high-value Swag Bucks are increased.

Swag Bucks are redeemed in the Swagstore.  While there are a lot of things to choose from, my favorite item hands down is the $5 Amazon gift card for 450 points.  I know, that sounds like a lot of points, right?  I've only been using Swagbucks a short time (and as much as I try to get my search points twice a day, life often gets in the way or I forget) but I've already cashed in for $15 in Amazon gift cards that I plan to use towards Christmas gifts.  I figure by next year I'll be consistent enough about it that I will have quite a bit of free money to play with!

Interested?  Sign up at Swagbucks (remember, it's free) and start earning free stuff! As an added bonus, if you sign up by 10/17 and enter code 5For5 during registration, you'll be awarded 100 points automatically!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Gluten-free coupon

We don't have anyone in our family on a gluten-free diet, but those types of foods have always seemed pretty pricey and the grocery store.  If you or someone you know eats gluten-free, click here for a coupon worth $1 off any one Gluten-Free Arrowhead Mills, DeBoles pasta, Tropical Source, Gluten-Free Cafe, Imagine Soup, or any Dream products.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

10/9 - 10/15 Wegmans freebies and cheapies

I had wanted to get all of my grocery shopping for the week done today, but it just didn't happen.  I did make it to Wegmans, and found some good seals, though.  Here is what I came home with:

3 packages Colgate Wisps - FREE
On sale for $0.99 each, used $1 off coupon from the 10/2 SmartSource coupon insert, and used 2 $0.50 coupons ("double" to $0.99) from here (need to fill out registration first)

2 trial size Eucerin lotions - FREE
Priced at $0.99 each, used 2 $1.00 coupons (no size restriction!) printed from here (scroll down until you see the "Get $1 off now" link on the left-hand side

2 cartons of Land O Lakes cinnamon sugar spread - $0.79 each
Priced at $2.29, used 2 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) printed from here (sign-up required)

1 trial size St. Ives lotion - $0.29
Priced at $1.29, used $1.00 coupon (no size restriction!) from the 9/18 SmartSource coupon insert (I think)

1 can Muir Glen organic tomato sauce - FREE
Priced at $0.99, used $1.00 coupon from the free October issue of Wegmans Nature's Marketplace magazine

1 can Suave Professionals dry shampoo - FREE
Priced at $2.79, used free product coupon I received via snail mail from this promotion (which I believe is still going on every Monday)

1 package Dole frozen fruit cups - FREE
On sale for $1.49, used $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) from the October issue of All You magazine

4 bags of Snikiddy Snacks - $1.00 each
Priced at $2.50 each, used 4 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) printed from coupons.com (check zip 10038 if you don't see it)

1 bag of Food Should Taste Good chips - $1.50
On sale 2/$5, used $1 coupon from their website (check the Special Offers tab and then join their fan club to get coupon access)

1 carton of Bison chip dip - $0.79
Priced at $1.79, used $0.50 coupon (doubles to $1) from the 8/28 SmartSource coupon insert

1 Kashi GoLean bar - FREE
Priced at $1.49, used $1.50 coupon received via snail mail

I also bought milk and produce, but had no coupons for those. :-(

My total retail was $45.65 but after Shoppers Club and coupons I paid only $16.40, for a savings of 64%.  This was definitely one of my better Wegmans trips!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Carmex lip balm coupon

Does anyone else besides me have chapped lips all the time?  I'm constantly looking for deals on lip balm because I feel like I'm always buying it because I go through it so quickly.  Go to the Carmex Facebook page for a $0.35 coupon, while supplies last.  Use it at a store that doubles, like Wegmans or Tops, to score some pretty cheap lip balm!

High-value Listerine coupon


There are several Listerine coupons over at coupons.com right now, with a my favorite one being $2 off any Listerine Total Care Zero -- no size limitations!  Paired with a sale (this seems to go on sale pretty much everywhere on a regular basis) or a trial/travel size, this should net very cheap or free mouthwash.

Printable egg coupon


If you "like" the Incredible Edible Egg's Facebook page, you can get a coupon for $0.55 off any 2 one-dozen cartons of eggs.  The last time these coupons were available, I was able to pair them with a $10/10 sale at Tops to get super cheap eggs.  Even if another great sale doesn't happen before the coupon expires, being able to double it at Wegmans or Tops will definitely make the cost much lower.  The coupon is available for a limited time only, so hurry if you want this one!

Note: if you have trouble printing, you may have to temporarily allow pop-ups.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Tissue coupons

It's time to start thinking about the upcoming cold and flu season, and there are a couple of tissue coupons that could potentially make for good deals when paired with a sale.
There is a $1 off 5 Kleenex tissues coupon here.  During the back-to-school sales about a month ago, these went on sale for $1 per box at Tops, which with a $1/5 coupon made them cheaper than the store brand.  I would guess we'll see cold-related products going on sale again as the fall progresses.  The coupon expires 12/3/11, so there is time to wait for a sale.

There is also a $1 off $5 Scotties tissues coupon here.  These also went on sale at Tops for $1 per box.

Not that I want anyone to get sick, but at least now if you do you can hopefully save some money while you recover!

Friday, October 7, 2011

Libby's veggies for $0.17 per can!

I made another run out Tops a little while ago and found good deal I had missed earlier in the week.  Libby's canned vegetables are on sale 3 for $2.  I bought 8 for $5.34, used 2 $1 off 4 coupons from the 8/28 Red Plum insert and 2 dollar doublers (I had other items that got me to the $15 minimum) and the price works out to  be $0.17 each.  That is an awesome price for canned veggies!  I only wish I had more coupons so I could've stocked up on more.

Today is Mega Swag Bucks Day!

Today is Friday, so you know what that means, right?  Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the chances of being rewarded large denominations of Swag Bucks is increased.  Go do your searches now!

Not familiar with Swagbucks?  Here's the deal:

Swagbucks is a search engine (like Google or Yahoo).  You are awarded points randomly (called Swag Bucks) when you search the internet, answer surveys, watch videos, play games, etc.  Once you sign up (it's free!), you can also refer friends and family and earn points from their referrals.

I normally earn my points through doing the web searches only (and really, who doesn't already do that?  Why not get rewarded for what you're already doing?). I seem to get points after my third or fourth search and I try to do it once in the morning and again in the evening.  When I earn points for a search, they are generally in the 7 - 10 point range.  And every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the odds of winning high-value Swag Bucks are increased.

Swag Bucks are redeemed in the Swagstore.  While there are a lot of things to choose from, my favorite item hands down is the $5 Amazon gift card for 450 points.  I know, that sounds like a lot of points, right?  I've only been using Swagbucks a short time (and as much as I try to get my search points twice a day, life often gets in the way or I forget) but I've already cashed in for $15 in Amazon gift cards that I plan to use towards Christmas gifts.  I figure by next year I'll be consistent enough about it that I will have quite a bit of free money to play with!

Interested?  Sign up at Swagbucks (remember, it's free) and start earning free stuff!

Possible coupons.com glitch = extra coupons

I don't know if there's a glitch in the coupon.com system, but I just printed 6 copies of a Snikiddy Snacks coupon instead of the usual 2 copies allowed per computer.  These are on sale for $2.29 at Tops this week, so they will be only $0.79 each after the coupon doubles.  Try zip 10038 if you don't see it.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Little Debbie brownie coupon

Go over to Facebook and grab a $0.55 Little Debbie brownie coupon.  These were offered last week and went fast, so don't wait if you're interested in it.  Selected brownies are on sale at Wegmans for $1.49, which will make for a cheap snack after the coupon doubles.

And no, I didn't miss the irony of following a post about organic and natural foods with a junk food coupon. :-)

Organic and natural foods coupons

A good place to find coupons for organic and natural foods is in the free Nature's Marketplace magazine Wegmans puts out monthly.  It's available on a rack in the Nature's Marketplace section, although I noticed at my Wegmans the other day that there were also small stacks of them available at each register.  If you haven't seen the October issue yet, here are the coupons included:
  • Save $1.00 on any 1 Udi's whole grain or white sandwich bread, plain or whole grain bagels, or gluten-free granola (expires 1/31/12)
  • $1.00 off any 3 4.6 oz. YoGreek Yogurt+Crunch products (expires 3/31/12)
  • $2.00 off any 1 Rescue Remedy 10ml (expires 3/31/12)
  • Save $1.00 when you buy any flavor/variety Muir Glen product (expires 1/1/12) -- This should get you a small can of organic tomato sauce for FREE at Wegmans!
  • $1.00 off Olbas lozenges (expires 11/30/11)
  • Save $1.00 on 4 oz. Simply Organic vanilla extract or baking mix (expires 4/30/12)
  • $1.00 off any Bear Naked product (expires 12/31/11)
They are all manufacturer coupons, so they can be used at any store.  I haven't looked for any of the above products at Tops, but using the dollar coupon doublers this week in conjuction with these coupons could make for some great deals on pricy foods.

My favorite source for printable coupons is the Mambo Sprouts website.  In the past, I've been able to get Santa Cruz organic lemonade and Organic Valley half & half at very cheap prices using coupons I've found on their site. 

Sunday, October 2, 2011

10/2 - 10/8 Tops deals

I wanted to take advantage of the Planters peanut butter sale before my coupons expired, so I went out and purchased two transactions at Tops.  Here is what I bought:

Transaction 1

4 Farm Rich appetizers - $3.49 each, see note below
On sale for $4.99 each, used 4 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) found here

3 Fisher Boy fish sticks - $2 each, see note below
On sale 2/$7, used 3 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) found here

Note: The Farm Rich appetizers and Fisher Boy fish sticks are part of a Tops promo: buy $30 in select products, get a $10 coupon for your next shopping trip or buy $20 in select products, get a $5 coupon.   Since I bought $30 (pre-coupons), I received a $10 Catalina coupon.

6 jars Planters peanut butter - $0.88 each
On sale $1.88 each, used 3 $1 off 2 coupons from the 8/21 SmartSource coupon insert (these expire today, 10/2), plus used 3 $1 Tops dollar doubler coupons from the ad

1 Van's Natural Foods frozen waffles - $0.49
On sale for $2.49, used $1 coupon from "liking" their Facebook page, plus used $1 Tops doubler

Total retail cost was $64.56 and the total after discounts and coupons was $25.73, for a savings of 60%.  Plus, I received a Catalina coupon worth $10 to put toward my next order.

Transaction 2

4 jars Francesco Rinaldi pasta sauce - $1 each
On sale 10/$10, unfortunately I didn't have a coupon

2 boxes Mrs. T's pierogies - $1 each
On sale 3/$6, used $1 off 2 coupon from the October issue of All You magazine, plus used $1 Tops doubler

2 boxes Barilla piccolini pasta - $0.67 each
On sale 3/$5, used $1 off 2 coupon from the 8/28 SmartSource coupon insert, plus used $1 Tops doubler

1 bottle (64 oz.) Mott's for Tots apple juice - $0.50
On sale for $2.50, used $1 coupon I received in the mail from Vocalpoint (if you're not already a member, I recommend signing up as a way to get great samples and coupons), plus used $1 Tops doubler

1 carton of Marzetti's caramel apple dip - $0.99
On sale for $2.99, used $1 coupon from the 9/18 SmartSource, plus used $1 Tops doubler

8 Yoplait Greek yogurts - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used 4 $0.50 off 2 coupons printed from here

4 boxes of Betty Crocker specialty potatoes - $0.75 each
On sale 4/$5, used 2 $0.50 off 2 coupons from here

Since I also had the $10 Catalina from the first transaction, I used that towards this order.  The total retail value was $45.48, but after discounts and coupons I paid only $5.87 for a savings of about 87%!

A note about the dollar doubler coupons: There is a limit of 4 per customer, with a $15 minimum purchase (before coupons).  Also, when I do separate transactions under normal circumstances, I usually just separate my orders on the belt at the register.  While I don't have proof, I just have a gut feeling that they wouldn't allow this practice with the doubler coupons.  So, I either plan trips on different days or like today, I check out with one transaction, take the groceries out to my car and then return to the store to shop my second transaction (and I also try to go to another cashier, just to be on the safe side!).

*Hot* Cheap peanut butter at Tops - Today Only!


Tops has Planters peanut butter on sale for $1.88 per jar this week.  There was a $1 off 2 coupon in the 8/21 SmartSource coupon insert.  Combine that with a Tops Dollar Doubler coupon from this week's ad and that makes it $0.88 per jar!  The manufacturer coupon expires today, so make sure you hit the store today if you want in on the deal.  I just got back from the store and my Tops only had a few jars left.  Also keep in mind that you need a $15 minimum (before coupons) to use the dollar doubler.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Wegmans: FREE Poland Spring water

Head over and "like" Poland Spring's Facebook page and you'll be able to print a coupon for $1 off a 1 liter bottle of Poland Spring sparkling water.  They are regularly priced at $0.99 each at Wegmans, so they'll be free (although you will have to pay tax -- which seems silly on *water*, but oh well -- and deposit).  Don't forget, you can get 2 coupon prints per computer on these.  I was happy to grab 6 for free at Wegmans yesterday!  Oh, and the register prompted the cashier to enter the price since the coupon value exceeded the product price and she did gave me the full $1 which did help lower the out-of-pocket for the tax and deposit.

10/2 Sunday coupon insert preview

Head over to Sunday Coupon Preview to check out the coupon inserts in Sunday's newspaper.  Keep in mind that there can be regional differences among inserts, coupons, and coupon values, but it can give you an idea of what to expect.  I usually get one newspaper delivered, but it looks like I may want to head out to the store and pick up another one tomorrow!