Thursday, May 31, 2012

5/31 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon


 

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off Tops 64-oz. premium orange juice and expires 6/6/12. Play the game here to see if you win a $50 Tops gift certificate. Not the winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

5/30 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon




Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off a 6-pk. of New York style bagels and expires 6/5/12. Play the game here to see if you win a $50 Tops gift certificate. Not the winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

5/27 - 6/2 Tops deals

I wasn't "wowwed" too much by this week's ad, plus I don't need too much this week, so I only picked up a few things at Tops today.  I may pick up a couple additional things, but here is the bulk of this week's shopping...
1 roll Reynolds Wrap heavy duty foil - $0.50
On sale 2/$4, used a $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) printed from the Reynolds website

2 boxes Kellogg's Crunchy Nut cereal - $1.10 each, see note
On sale 4/$10, used 2 $0.70 coupons (double to $1.40) printed from here
Note: Look for boxes with a Spider Man promotion featured on it.  If you collect codes off 6 specially marked boxes, you will earn a free movie ticket!

10 packages Knorr Lipton sides - $1.00 each
On sale 10/$10, I actually had no coupons for these but bought them because my family likes them, plus they were part of a deal that earned an extra 200 gas points.  The deal requires 8 items be purchased to earn the gas points, so I must have not been thinking clearly and bought 2 extras.  Oh well.  They will get eaten. :-)
*Each of these earned a bonus Monopoly game piece.

2 loaves Bimbo bread - $0.90 each
On sale 2/$4, used 2 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) that are no longer available to print (sorry!)

1 Marie's yogurt dressing - $1.00, see note
On sale 2/$5, used a $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) printed from here
Note: Before shopping, I activated a $1 Marie's eCoupon on SavingStar, so when I cash it out this will be FREE!

4 packages Hillshire Farms sausage - $1.70 each
On sale BOGO ($4.49), used 2 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) from here (try zip 77477 if you don't see it)

1 Smithfield marinated pork tenderloin - $4.99
On sale for $6.99, used a $2 Tops coupon from the Burst the Bags game

8 Banquet fruit pies - $0.75 each
On sale 10/410, used 2 $1 off 4 coupons from here (try zip 77477 if you don't see it)

I also bought a lot of grapes (on sale, no coupons).

The total retail cost of this shopping trip was $89.34 and paid $39.60 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of 56%.  I now have a gas discount of $1.10 per gallon.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

5/27 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon


Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off Garlic Expressions salad dressing & marinade and expires 6/2/12.  Play the game here to see if you win a $50 Tops gift certificate.  Not the winner?  You get to download the coupon just for playing.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Money Saving Challenge - week 21 in review

I didn't have as many money-saving activities this week as I had last week, but I also didn't have as many expenses as last week which is a good thing.  Theses are the things I did during the last seven days to help save money:
  • I received (and used -- these are so yummy!) a Kraft Fresh Takes free product coupon in the mail.
  • We ate leftovers for dinner 2 nights.
  • I received a free Tide Pod sample in the mail.
  • I let the kids wash our 2 cars.  It saved me gas by not having to drive to the car wash, it saved me the cost of 2 car washes, and provided free entertainment for the kids on a hot day. 
  • I combined my errands on outings to help save on gas.
  • I stayed home 1 day this week to also help save on gas.
  • The wooden playset we ordered last week arrived.  My husband and I are going to work as time allows to assemble it, rather than hiring someone to do it for us.  It will take longer this way, but it will be a substantial savings and the kids are looking forward to being able to to little jobs to help out.
  • I took some of the extra money from couponing and my husband's overtime and deposited it into a savings account.
  • I matched coupons, sales, and SavingStar offers at Tops to help save on grocery costs.
  • I paid an additional amount on the principal of my car loan this month.  While it didn't save me money from leaving my wallet this week, it will save me on interest in the long run.
  • The dishwasher was run only when it was full and with a half dishwasher tablet. I am very pleased that it seems to have also become a habit with my son and husband. :-)

What did you do to save money this week?  Let me know in the comments below!

5/26 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off Pink Elegance Bouquet and expires 6/1/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

Holiday weekend = no coupon inserts

Due to the Memorial Day holiday, there will be no coupon inserts in tomorrow's newspaper. As much as I love coupons, I find it nice to have an occasional weekend off in order to get caught up.  Enjoy the coupon break!

Friday, May 25, 2012

5/20 - 5/26 Tops deals

I want to apologize for not getting this week's shopping trips posted until so late.  This week has been an absolute bear for me with my allergies.  I've spent multiple days this week in a Zyrtec-induced allergy stupor and even though my shopping was done early on in the week, I just wasn't up to sitting at my computer for any length of time to post my match-ups.  Better late then never, here are my 3 transactions from the beginning of the week:
 Transaction 1

1 roll Reynolds non-stick foil - $1.49
On sale for $2.99, used the $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) from their website
*This earned a bonus Monopoly game piece

4 packages Crystal Light - $1.50 each, see note
On sale 2/$4, used 2 $1 off 2 coupons from the 5/6 SmartSource coupon insert
Note: I think I've paid less for Crystal Light before, but these (along with the Country Time below)were part of a "buy 6 items, earn a $0.20 gas bonus" promo.  We drink a lot of this and with the gas points incentive, it was worth it for me.
*Each of these earned a bonus Monopoly game piece

2 canisters Country Time - $1.50 each
On sale 2/$4, used a $1 off 2 coupon from the 5/6 SmartSource coupon insert
*Each of these earned a bonus Monopoly game piece

1 1.25-liter bottle Diet Coke - FREE
On sale 3/$3, used a free product Catalina coupon from a previous shopping trip
*This earned a bonus Monopoly game piece

4 bottles Soft Soap hand soap - $1 each, see notes
On sale $2 each, used 4 $1 coupons printed from here (on one of my computers I saw a coupon link, but on another computer I only saw a little white arrow on the right side.  Click that arrow if you don't see a coupon link.  You'll have to register before you can print the coupon.)
Note: These were part of a 'buy 4 and get 200 bonus gas points' promo. Also, be sure to check the size of the soap you purchase.  The coupon specifies it's valid for soap 8-oz.+ and some of the soaps on the shelf were 7.5 ounces.

1 Fresh Express salad - $1.00
On sale 2/$4, used a $1 Tops coupon from the "Burst the Bags" instant win game

4 packages Trans Ocean Crab Classic imitation crab - $1.25 each ($2.49 for 2)
On sale BOGO ($3.49), used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here

I also bought a $10 gift card (no coupon or sale).

The retail cost of this transaction was $65.88 and I paid $33.12 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of about 50%.

Transaction 2

2 bottles Kraft BBQ sauce - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used the $1 off 2 coupon from the 5/6 SmartSource coupon insert

3 1.25-liter bottles Diet Coke - FREE
On sale 3/$3, used 3 free product Catalina coupons from a previous shopping trip
*These each earned a bonus Monopoly game piece

1 Fresh Express salad - $1.00
On sale 2/$4, used a $1 Tops coupon from the "Burst the Bags" instant win game

4 packages Trans Ocean Crab Classic imitation crab - $1.25 each ($2.49 for 2)
On sale BOGO ($3.49), used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here

The retail cost of the 2nd transaction was $23.65 and I paid $7.37 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of almost 69%.


Transaction 3

4 Milky Way candy bars - FREE
On sale 3/$2, used 2 $0.75 off 2 coupons found here (These didn't double to $1.50 due to Tops' policy of no overage and the coupon amounts looked weird on the receipt, but they did take off a total of $2.67 which made everything free)

1 box of Jello gelatin - FREE
Priced at $0.89, I used a free product coupon I received from playing the Monopoly game

4 jars Smuckers ice cream topping - $1.17 each, see note
On sale 3/$5, used 2 $1 off 2 coupons from here
Note: I originally thought I could get these even cheaper, because I had some Monopoly coupons for Smuckers toppings.  When I doubled checked the coupons and the jars at the store, though, my coupons were for the 20-oz. products and the toppings on sale are only 12 ounces or so.
*These each earned a bonus Monopoly game piece.

1 box Tops gelatin - $0.67
On sale 3/$2, no coupons and it wasn't on my shopping list (rare for me!) but when I picked up my free Jello I had an idea for a dessert and needed a 2nd box of gelatin

2 pints blueberries - $2.50 each
On sale BOGO ($4.99), no coupons

1 carton Tops ice cream - $2.54
On sale for $2.79, used a $0.25 Tops Monopoly coupon (this was another impulse purchase, but after buying 4 jars of ice cream toppings, who can blame me? :-))
*This earned a bonus Monopoly game piece.

1 package Kraft Fresh Takes - FREE
Priced at $3.29, used a free product coupon I received via snail mail

1 dozen Tops medium eggs - FREE
Priced at $1.09, used a free product Monopoly coupon

The retail cost of the last transaction was $34.71 and I paid $13.79 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of 60%.

I will head back one more time tomorrow to grab some Snyder's pretzels.  They're on sale 2/$6, but between the coupons in the 5/20 SmartSource insert, the Monopoly coupons I have for them, and a SavingStar deal (get $5 back when you buy $15 worth), they should work out to a pretty decent price.

So far this week, I've spent $54.28 on $124.24 worth of groceries (abut 56% savings) and have already earned a gas discount of $0.60 per gallon.

T.G.I. Mega Swag Bucks Day!

I've done one search already on Swagbucks today. Have you? Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the chances of being rewarded large denominations of Swag Bucks is increased. What are you waiting for? 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. I've also done some surveys and earned a bunch of points very quickly. 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? Trust me, if you commit to doing 2 searches per day, the points can add up quickly. I started using Swagbucks in June 2011 and by the end of the year I cashed in for $45 in Amazon gift cards which really helped with my Christmas shopping. I figure this 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!

Amazon gift cards earned in 2011: $45
Amazon gift cards earned in 2012: $50

5/25 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off Healthy Choice Steamers and expires 5/31/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Target Beauty Bags are back!

Head over to Target Style Facebook page and register for a free Summer Beauty Bag.  I've gotten a couple of these bags before and they're always awesome -- filled with samples and coupons.  They go fast, though, so register right away if you want to get one!

5/23 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off Philadelphia Indulgence and expires 5/29/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.
Remember, you can stack it with this $0.55 manufacturer coupon.  I would imagine it would be fairly reasonably priced with $2.10 off using both coupons.  Do any readers know the current price on this product?  I was just at the store and forgot to check the price while I there. :-(

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

And the winner is...

Jennifer is tonight's winner of an envelope full of coupons, as drawn by random.org!  Jennifer, email me at rachelvcoupon@gmail.com within 24 hours with your mailing address so I can get your coupons mailed out to you. 


Thank you to everyone who entered the drawing.  I will definitely run a coupon giveaway again, so watch for your next change to win!

Monday, May 21, 2012

Reminder: Coupon giveaway ends tonight!

Remember, my giveaway for an envelope full of coupons ends tonight and you have to be in it to win it!  Head over to this post to see how to enter.  Good luck!

5/21 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off 2 Tops cereals and expires 5/27/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

5/20 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.50 off 64oz. Snapple and expires 5/26/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.
 
The last time Tops had one of these instant win games, they offered a coupon for this size Snapple for just a penny.  I loved that coupon and wish this one was the same.  The game lasts pretty long, so maybe we'll see that coupon again in the future.  At least I can hope!

Saturday, May 19, 2012

5/13 - 5/19: Just a few more Tops deals

Yesterday I stopped back at Tops for just a few more items, since I really didn't need a ton and I wasn't overly impressed with the sales.  Here's what I picked up on my 2nd trip of the week:


2 bottles Lipton Pure Leaf tea - FREE
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $1.00 coupons printed from here
Note: I was at first leery about this deal.  The wording on the coupon referenced "Pure Leaf" and not "Lipton Pure Leaf" so I wasn't sure if this was the same product.  The coupon did mention Unilever in the small print, though, and when I checked the side of the bottle it is in fact a Unilever product.  The coupon did beep at self-check, but the attendant pushed it through.  I'm not sure why it beeped, but I'm pretty confident that I used the coupon correctly.

1 loaf Tops bread - $1.04
On sale for $1.29, used a $0.25 Monopoly coupon

1 box Silver Palate oatmeal - $0.99
On sale for $2.99, used the $2 Tops "Burst the Bags" coupon from 5/12 (expired yesterday)

2 boxes Dreamfields pasta - $1.49
On sale for $2.49 each, used 2 $1.00 coupons printed from here 
Note: I generally don't like to pay more than $0.50 per box for pasta, unless it's a specialty pasta of some sort.  My husband is really trying to watch his carbs, though, so I was willing to buy it at this price.

6 cartons of Voskos Greek yogurt - $0.67 each
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $1 off 3 coupons from the 3/18 SmartSource coupon insert (there is also a $1/3 printable here that I didn't find until after I shopped)
*These each earned a bonus Monopoly game piece.

3 bottles V05 shampoo/conditioner - $0.46 each
On sale for $0.79 each (same price at Wegmans if you're heading there), used a $1 off 3 coupon from the 5/13 SmartSource coupon insert

The retail cost of this order was $24.75 and I paid $10.57 after discounts and transactions, for a savings of about 57%.  Overall, not the greatest week but I also didn't need to stock up on much.  I'm definitely looking forward to earning gas points again next week!

Let me also point out that my absolute favorite deal of the week was the 10/$10 Tabasco sauce.  There is a $0.50 coupon available here, making it FREE after it doubles.  Unfortunately, this coupon has not been reset since I last printed it, so I didn't end up buying any. :-(  There was also a $1 off 2 coupon in the 4/29 Red Plum coupon insert, but I'm going to try to hold out for more free hot sauce (since I already have several bottles in my stockpile and it goes on sale often, so hopefully the coupon will reset at some point).


Money Saving Challenge - week 20 in review

I'll be honest: I spent a TON of money this week.  Even though I had a lot of money leaving my bank account, there were still a lot of things I did to help lessen the impact:
  • I received free samples of Lipton Tea & Honey and Gevalia coffee in the mail.
  • We ate leftovers for dinner 2 nights and 1 day for lunch.
  • I ordered pizza for dinner 1 night (bad!), but I used a coupon to get a second pizza for free (and there were enough leftovers for the lunch and 1 of the dinners mentioned above).
  • I paid several bills this week online and over the phone, which saved on stamps and gas.
  • I combined my errands on outings to help save on gas.
  • I cashed in my Tops gas points to get $1.10 off per gallon, which saved over $15.
  • We ordered a wooden playset for our kids.  This was a huge expense for us, but we shopped around online and ordered where we found the lowest price for the one we wanted (Home Depot, which surprised me).  It's getting shipped free to us, and I was able to purchase it through Ebates so we will be getting a portion of the purchase price refunded back to us.
  • I cashed in my Swagbucks for another $5 Amazon gift card, which I will use towards Christmas gifts later in the year.
  • I matched sales and coupons at Tops and Wegmans to lower my grocery costs.
  • I returned bottles when I went grocery shopping and used the proceeds to lower my grocery bill.
  • I cashed out my Savingstar balance.
  • I picked up some decent coupons for products we use from the reception desk at my daughter's orthodontist appointment. As a side note, I don't think I've ever mentioned that we paid for her orthodontia treatment in full upfront last year, which gave us a 10% discount, from my coupon savings over the course of a few months.  I am super proud of that accomplishment. :-)
  • I only ran the dishwasher when it was full, and cut the tablets in half each time.
  • I received All You and Wegmans Menu magazines in the mail, both of which contain coupons I'll use to lower grocery expenses.
  • I received a free sample of Dr. Scholl's high heel insoles to test, along with coupons, from Bzzagent.  This comes at a great time, because my feet have been bothering me lately and I was planning on purchasing insoles for a few pairs of my shoes.
I love hearing about new ideas for saving money.  Feel free to share any things you do to save money and stretch your budget.

Reminder: Tops gas points expire today!!

If you worked hard earning gas points during the past earning period, make sure you don't forget to use them to get your gas discount.  Gas points expire today, and it's use them or lose them.  Check here for a list of Tops gas station locations.
I was so pleased with this past earning period.  I had a $4.00/gallon discount that I used during the earning period, because I was on fumes and near a station, and then I was able to continue to earn another $1.10/gallon discount.  My husband went and filled up his car this morning for just under $40, which is still expensive, but at least he saved over $15 in the process!

5/19 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

 

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $3.00 off 18-ct. 12-oz. Gatorade or G2 and expires 5/25/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing

Friday, May 18, 2012

Sunday Coupon Preview

Wondering which coupons are coming in Sunday's newspaper? Check out Sunday Coupon Preview to get an idea of what to expect. Keep in mind that coupons and denominations can vary by region, so you may not get exactly what is listed on the website.

It looks like we should expect 2 inserts: 1 SmartSource and 1 Red Plum.

Free/cheap Silver Palate products@ Tops - expires today!

If you printed out the Tops instant win game $2.00 off any Silver Palate coupon on 5/12, you may want to plan on grabbing some today if you haven't already done so.

I meant to check out the Silver Palate prices earlier in the week but forgot.  When I went back today, I grabbed one of my Tops coupons because they expire today and I wanted to use it if it would mean a good deal.

I bought the above pictured box of oatmeal for 3 reasons: 1) We go through a lot of oatmeal in our house, 2) It was on sale for $2.99, making it only $0.99 after the Tops coupon, and 3) The box advertised a free offer and coupons inside.

The coupons inside were:
  • $0.50 off any Grain Berry cereal
  • $0.50 off any Grain Berry pancake mix
  • $0.50 off any Grain Berry muffin mix
  • $0.50 off any Grain Berry crackers
  • $1.00 off any Silver Palate pasta sauce
  • $0.50 off any Silver Palate salad splash
  • $0.25 off any Silver Palate oatmeal
All the coupons have no expiration date.

There was also a rebate: get a coupon for a free carton of Grain Berry cereal, mix, or crackers when you mail in 5 UPCs and store receipts from 5 Silver Palate items.

I haven't even tried any of their products yet, but they just might be my new favorite brand!

I'm going to head back out with another Tops coupon and stack it with one of the manufacturer coupons for an even better deal.  The oatmeal would be only $0.49 and the pancake mix would be free (I saw it also on sale for $2.99).  I didn't look for any of their other items, but I'd imagine most of them would be free or cheap after both coupons.

If you're going to take advantage of this offer, remember that the Tops coupon from their "Burst the Bags" game expires today, 5/18.

It's my 1st birthday and you get a present!


It was 1 year ago today that I decided to start blogging. To commemorate Reality Couponing in Rochester's 1st birthday and because I truly appreciate my readers, I'm going to do a coupon giveaway! I'll send the winner an envelope chock full of coupons.  There are several ways to enter the drawing.  For each of the following you do, you'll earn one chance in the drawing:

  1. Publicly follow Reality Couponing in Rochester via Google Friend Connect (see the link to the right) and leave me a comment below letting me know you did this.
  2. "Like" Reality Couponing in Rochester on Facebook and leave me a comment below letting me know you did this.
  3. Blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment below letting me know you did this, along with the link to your blog post.

The coupon giveaway is open to U.S. residents and will end at 11:30pm on Monday, May 21st. The winner will be chosen at random.org. Good luck!

Earn free gift cards with Swagbucks!

I've done one search already on Swagbucks today. Have you? Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the chances of being rewarded large denominations of Swag Bucks is increased. What are you waiting for? 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. I've also done some surveys and earned a bunch of points very quickly. 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? Trust me, if you commit to doing 2 searches per day, the points can add up quickly. I started using Swagbucks in June 2011 and by the end of the year I cashed in for $45 in Amazon gift cards which really helped with my Christmas shopping. I figure this year I'll be consistent enough about it that I will have quite a bit of free money to play with. In fact, I surpassed last year's payout this week!

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

Amazon gift cards earned in 2011: $45
Amazon gift cards earned in 2012: $50

5/18 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off Fresh Express Premium Salad blends and expires 5/23/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing
 
Their salads always taste so fresh to me, so I'm sure I'll be using this coupon!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Free Band-Aids at Wegmans

Last week at Wegmans, I noticed assorted kids' Band-Aids were in the bins near the registers and on sale 2/$3.  Since I'm constantly amazed at how quickly my kids can go through a box, I decided I'd search online to find some good coupons to pair with the sale. 

I was able to find a $0.50 coupon here (the "click here" box near the bottom), so I figured I'd take them with me the next time I went to Wegmans and would pick up several boxes for $0.50 each after the coupon doubled.  As happy as I was with that scenario, I was ecstatic when I went today and found they are now marked down to $0.99 per box or FREE after the coupon doubles.  Bring on the boo-boos!

Quick FYI: The link on the screen makes it seem like the coupon will be valid only for Muppets varieties (which aren't on sale) but the coupon states it is valid for any Band-Aid bandages (excluding trial size).

5/13 - 5/19 Tops deals

I wasn't too impressed with much in this week's Tops ad, so yesterday's trip only consisted of a few things.  I will most likely head back either tonight or tomorrow to grab a few more deals I spotted after the fact, but in the meantime here is yesterday's grocery list:

3 boxes Kellogg's Froot Loops - $1.33 each
On sale 3/$5, used a $1 off 3 coupon from inside a previous cereal purchase

2 boxes Kellogg's Cocoa Krispies - $1.17 each
On sale 3/$5, used a $1 off 2 coupon from inside a previous cereal purchase

1 dozen Tops large eggs - $0.75
On sale 10/$10, used a $0.25 Monopoly game coupon

4 Fuze drinks - cheap, see note below

6 Gold Peak teas - free?, see note
Note: the Fuze and Gold Peak are 10/$10 but part of a 'buy 10, get $3 off instantly' promo, which means they should just simply ring up at $0.70 each (at least they would if they put me in charge!).  Every time Tops has run a deal like this, my receipt is an absolute mess to read, none of the final prices are easy to decipher, and it frustrates me to no end.  In the end, I think they overcharged me by $0.67 and to be totally honest, I think I'll end up not bothering to right this at customer service.  I'm having a hard enough time with it myself, I'm not holding out hope that an employee is going to get what I'm saying.  At the end of the day, I still got a good deal and I think trying to get the few cents back would be more of a hassle than it's worth.  Anyway, I had 6 $0.75 coupons for Gold Peak (these showed up at coupons.com and then disappeared again right away after I printed them, so hopefully my readers saw them and were able to grab them while they were there) and 2 $0.25 Fuze coupons from the Monopoly game.  The Gold Peaks should have all been free and I should have paid $2.30 for 4 Fuze (2 @ $0.70 and 2 @ $0.45).  Like I said, my receipt is a disaster to read but I think I was overcharged by about $0.67.  If you do this transaction, make sure to check your receipt before you leave the store!

The retail cost of my order was $34.94 and I paid $10.45 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of approximately 70%.

Since a few other things caught my eye, I'll be back with a few more match-ups later.  Happy shopping!

5/17 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is 1 liter of Owater for $0.01 and expires 5/23/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.
 
I haven't seen this in the store, but I would imagine you would also have to pay a $0.05 deposit on this as well.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Ocean Spray fruit snacks printable coupon

Looking for a snack that your kids will love and you can feel good about? With new Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks, you need not look any further and we want you and your family to give them a try. Available in two delicious varieties and made with real fruit juice and natural colors and flavors, Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks provide kids with the great tasting snacks they crave and parents with the confidence that they come from a good place. Not to mention these fruit flavored snacks contain 100% daily dose of your Vitamin C, are gluten free, contain only 80 calories, and are available with double Box Tops all year long!

Want to check out Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks? We wanted to let you know that you can visit here to download a printable coupon to save $1.10 when you buy any TWO boxes of Ocean Spray® Fruit Flavored Snacks.

Disclosure: I received this information and the coupon offer from Ocean Spray® through MyBlogSpark.

New Green Giant printable coupon

There is a new printable coupon for $0.60 off 2 boxes of Weight Watchers endorsed Green Giant boxed vegetables, available to print here.

Take it to a store that doubles, like Wegmans and Tops, to get the most bang for your buck.  I know these have gone on sale 10/$10 at Tops before, so this coupon could make some for cheap veggies when paired with a sale.

Disclosure: I received this information and the coupon offer from Green Giant and Weight Watchers through MyBlogSpark.

5/16 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $2.00 off Full Circle Fillet and Steaks and expires 5/22/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Free Contact Lenses


I don't know about you, but I'm due for another eye exam and since I'm looking at ways to reduce the costs of my contacts, these offers come at just the right time!  Click on the banners above and below to check out which free contact offer may be right for you.

Mommy "must haves" from Vistaprint


Mother’s Day may be over, but you deserve to be spoiled year round! Treat yourself at a low cost this week because six essential premium Vistaprint products are now $3 or less each. Always be just a phone call away with Mommy Contact Cards. At just $2 for 25, you can share important information about your children with teachers, babysitters and everyone on the playground. Show off your kids in style with a personalized a photo book for $3. You can add all your favorite snapshots and customize a theme.

Treat yourself to some personalized stationery with note cards at $2 and return address labels at $2, too. You can find a matching set or pick from over 1,000 fun and trendy designs. Stamps are perfect for staying organized with mail, packing or storage. Customize one to fit your needs for $2. And who doesn’t want a personalized coffee mug with a smiley photo of your child? Get one for just $3! Plus, enjoy FREE uploads!

Click the banner above to get started!

5/15 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

 

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off Philadelphia cooking creme and expires 5/21/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

Monday, May 14, 2012

5/14 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $2.00 off Tops made-to-order 16" specialty pizza and expires 5/20/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Sunday Coupon Preview

Wondering which coupons are coming in Sunday's newspaper? Check out Sunday Coupon Preview to get an idea of what to expect. Keep in mind that coupons and denominations can vary by region, so you may not get exactly what is listed on the website.

It looks like should expect 3 inserts: 1 SmartSource, 1 Red Plum, and 1 Proctor & Gamble.

Money Saving Challenge - week 19 in review

Here is the list of things I did this week to try to save money:
  • I combined sales and coupons at Tops in order to save money.
  • I combined errands on outings in order to save on gas.
  • We ate leftovers for dinner 2 nights this week.
  • I received in the mail a coupon for a free quart of International Delight creamer.  I love saving free product coupons for a Tops gas points earning period -- not only do I get free stuff, but I help pad my gas discount this way!
  • I also received my Johnson & Johnson coupon mailer from the Healthy Essentials rebate.
  • I received my Renuzit Try Me Free mail-in rebate check. Between the coupon I used, the rebate, and store promo at the time, this ended up being a money maker for me.
  • I read my MyPoints emails in order to keep increasing my point balance so I can cash in for several gift cards later in the year.
  • I always run the dishwasher using a half dishwasher tablet.  I noticed that my husband cut the tablet in half, too, when he ran it earlier this week. :-)

  If you're doing things to help you maintain a frugal budget, I'd love to hear about it!

5/12 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $2.00 off any Silver Palate product and expires 5/18/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.
 
I've never bought anything from this brand (it looks like they make cereal, oatmeal, sauces, and dressings), so I have no idea how good of a deal it will be using this coupon.  Do any readers know how much Silver Palate products generally cost?

Thursday, May 10, 2012

5/6 - 5/12: More Tops deals

This week has been a weird one for me, as far as shopping and couponing are concerned.  I'm having computer issues, so I'm not able to print as many coupons as I'd like.  Then, I ended up wasting some prints because I accidentally loaded printer paper incorrectly and inadvertently printed a couple of coupons over the same spot on the paper, rendering them useless.  I somehow managed to lose a couple of coupons I had clipped and planned on using, as well as a magazine containing coupons.  And to top it off, I don't know if I read the ad wrong or I wrote it down wrong on my list but one of the things I bought wasn't as good of a deal as I had originally thought, based on incorrect pricing.  This is so unlike me! All things considered, I still managed to do OK at Tops yesterday:



9 Nestle candy bars - $0.29 each
On sale for $0.69 each, used 3 $0.60 off 3 coupons (double to $1.20) from the 4/29 SmartSource coupon insert

9 jars Prego pasta sauce - $1.12 each, see note
On sale for $1.79 each, used 3 $1 off 3 coupons from the 4/29 SmartSource coupon insert, plus part of a store promo where you get $3 off automatically when you buy 8 select products
Note: Somewhere along the line I had a brain fart with this one.  On my list, I recorded these as 3/$5, which would have made them $1 a piece.  I could have paid less than $1.12 per jar at Aldi or for the Wegmans brand of sauce, but since I was able to get some different "healthier" varieties of the Prego I ended up still buying these.

2 Edy's frozen fruit bars - $1.58 each
On sale 3/$10, used 2 $1 coupons from Facebook, plus these were part of a promo for getting $3 off automatically when you buy 4 select items
Note: We love these, so my plan was to buy 4, but between the printing and coupon issues I had, I was only able to get 2 prints for this coupon. :-(

2 Nestle Drumsticks - $1.75 each
On sale 2/$6, used a $1 off 2 coupon from the 4/29 SmartSource coupon insert, plus these were part of the buy 4/save $3 promo along with the Edy's
Note: If you have the May issue of All You magazine, there is a $1 off 1 coupon in it.  However, if you're like me and somehow lost your copy after you saw it on Sunday but before you were able to clip the coupon on Monday, then you're out of luck. :-(

4 bags Mama Rosie's frozen pasta - $0.90 each
On sale BOGO ($2.79), used 2 $1 off 2 coupons printed from their website

10 Stonyfield Oikos organic Greek yogurts - FREE, see note below
On sale 10/$10, used a $2 off 3 coupon from registering here, used 2 $0.50 off 2 coupons from their website (double to $1), and used a $1 off 2 coupon from Recyclebank (60 points)
Note: The combination of coupons took $5 off, so I paid $5 out-of-pocket.  Before shopping, I activated the $5 eCoupon at SavingStar, which will make these free after the reimbursement.  Since you only need a $5 minimum to cash out at SavingStar, I'm going to cash out as soon as the transaction is processed on their end.

4 boxes Jones frozen sausage links - $0.85 each, see note
On sale BOGO ($2.69), used 2 $1 off 2 coupons printed from here
Note: I didn't bookmark the original coupon link I used, and just now found a $2 off 2 coupon here while looking for it, making these just $0.35 each.

12 Ehrmann yogurts - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used 4 $0.75 off 3 coupons (double to $1.50) printed from their website (there was also a $0.75/3 coupon in the 4/15 RedPlum coupon insert)

I also bought more bananas because I swear my kids are part monkey (no coupons, but on sale).

The retail cost of yesterday's groceries was $111.56 and I paid $40.48 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of almost 64%.  I will be getting $5 back from SavingStar in the near future, too.


Hopefully your shopping week has gone more smoothly than mine!

5/10 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

 

Just in time for Mother's Day, today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $2.00 off a dozen roses and expires 5/16/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

5/9 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

 

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $0.50 off Daisy sour cream and expires 5/15/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

5/8 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

 

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $2.00 off Tops 3 lb. box of beef burgers and expires 5/14/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.

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My husband is just starting to really watch his carbs (and let's face it, it certainly woudn't hurt me to do it, too), so I'm sure this will come in handy.

Monday, May 7, 2012

5/6 - 5/12 Tops deals

I haven't had a chance yet to really sit down and go through this week's Tops ad in detail, but I did run to the store to pick up a few items that jumped out at me:

3 bottles Act fluoride rinse - $0.82 each
On sale for $2.99 each, used a $1.00 coupon from the 4/15 SmartSource insert and a $1.50 off 2 coupon printed from here, plus these were part of "save $4 instantly when you buy 3 select items" promo

4 boxes Kellogg's Krave cereal - $1.10 each
On sale 4/$10, used 4 $0.70 coupons (double to $1.40) printed from here
Note: I didn't realize until I got home, but 1 of the 4 boxes has a $1 off 2 Krave coupon on the back.  So, if you're planning on buying these you might want to check the backs first for additional coupons to add to your coupon stash!

1 Kraft Fresh Takes - $0.79
Priced at $3.29, used $0.75 coupon from here plus the $1.00 Tops Burst the Bags game coupon from 5/1 (expires today!)

I also bought bananas (no coupon, but on sale $0.39/lb).

The retail total for this trip was $38.42 (that's insane, isn't it?!) and I paid $10.12 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of approximately 74%.

Once I have had a chance to do more match-ups I'm sure I make another trip, although I'm pretty well stocked and don't really need to buy much this week. 

Also, don't forget that we are in the redeem only phase of the gas points program.  You will not earn any points right now and you have until 5/19 to use them.

5/7 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off Kraft Milk Bite granola bars and expires 5/13/12. Play the game here to see if you win the $50 Tops gift certificate. Not a winner? You get to download the coupon just for playing.
 
If you haven't already printed it, the $0.75 Milk Bites manufacturer coupon I used a couple of weeks ago is still available at coupons.com.  You can stack it with the Tops coupon for additional savings.  The last time these were on sale, I noticed the regular retail price was $3.49. After the manufacturer coupon doubles and the Tops coupon, that would make these just $0.99 per box!  My kids love these and even though I stocked up on them a few weeks ago, I see myself trying to grab some more now!