I saved 65% at Tops this week!

After being a bit bummed about having no new coupons in Sunday's paper due to the holiday, my savings at Tops made up for it.  The total before discounts was $139.86, and I paid $47.88 for a 65% savings! No pictures today, but here is a rundown of what I bought:

• 2 bags of Wacky Mac pastas
• 2 boxes of Goya rice
• 6 cans of various Goya beans
• 6 cans of Chef Boyardee pastas
• 8 frozen Banquet meals
• 4 packages of Bar-S hot dogs
• 4 packages of Frigo string cheese
• 4 jars of Peter Pan peanut butter
• 2 packages of Bar-S bologna
• 4 bottles of Naturally Delicious salad dressing
• 6 bagged salads
• 2 dozen eggs
• 1 package of raspberries
• 2 packages of Butterball turkey bacon
• 2 cartons of Blue Diamond almond milk
• 2 bottles of Trop 50 lemonade

I had coupons from previous Sunday inserts/coupons.com/product websites for everything but the salad (although 1 bag was marked down due to a near sell-by date), eggs, and raspberries. I felt great after this shopping trip.  I came home with a ton of food for not much money.  I'll be stopping by Wegmans and/or Aldi for a few more staples this week (milk, bread, hot dog buns, some more produce) but I'm pretty well stocked otherwise.

Sign up for YourBucks, get a $2 coupon!

While perusing Tops' website the other day, I found out about their YourBucks program.  Sign up here and you'll get a $2 coupon towards any purchase!  I registered my Tops Bonus Card (the card number starts with the 4 before the bar code and the last number after the bar code will not be entered) on Sunday and my coupon printed at the register today.  You can choose to be contacted via email or mobile regarding other offers.

Tip of the day: Clip it or skip it?

Here's a tip you might find useful when you're trying to decide whether or not to clip a particular coupon:  Would I use this product if I could get it free or at a very reduced cost? 

I don't clip every coupon I see.  If I come across a coupon for something like a brand of body wash which I either use regularly or have never used but am willing to try (especially if I can get a good deal on it!), I'll clip it.  I don't own a cat, so if I see a coupon for a cat product I'll skip it.

Looking ahead: Week of 5/29/11 Tops deals

After looking through next week's Tops ad, I've started planning some of my purchases for next week:

• Bar-S bologna and hot dogs are $1 each.  If you use the $1 off 2 coupon from 5/22's coupon insert, they are $0.50 each.
• Naturally Delicious salad dressing is on sale 2/$3.  There was a $1 off 2 coupon in the 5/1 Smart Source coupon insert, which makes these $1 each.
• Wacky Mac pasta is on sale $1 each.  Use the $1 off 2 coupon from the 5/8 Smart Source coupon insert to get these for $0.50 each.
• Trop 50 lemonade is on sale 2/$5.  Use the coupon at Coupons.com for $0.50 off 1, to make these $1.50 each.
• V8 juice is $2.79 each.  Use the Coupons.com coupon for $1 off 2 to make them $2.29 each.
• Frigo string cheese is BOGO ($5.29 for 2 packages).  Head over to Frigo's website and follow the link for a coupon, which will get you $0.40 off any Frigo cheese product.  I *think* Tops will let you use 2 coupons on a BOGO sale, which would get you a total of $1.60 off 2 packages after the coupons double.  This is the equivalent of paying $1.85 for each package.

There is also a Catalina deal to be had.  Spend $15 in a single transaction on the ConAgra Foods highlighted and get a $3 coupon off your next purchase, or spend $10 and get a $2 coupon.  Among the foods listed, Peter Pan peanut butter is 2/$3 and Banquet frozen meals and Chef Boyardee canned pastas are $1 each.  If you go to this website   and enter code 74575328, you can print off one of any of their various coupons including $0.50 off 1 jar of Peter Pan (that's only $0.50 for a jar of PB!), $0.50 off any 3 Chef Boyardee, and $0.50 off  any 2 Banquet frozen meals.  Most coupons allow only 2 prints per computer, but there doesn't seem to be a limit on these as long as you keep reentering the code.  Keep in mind, though, that Tops only doubles 4 like coupons per transaction.

Here's an example I'm planning on purchasing:

4 Peter Pan peanut butters = $6
4 Banquet frozen meals = $4
$10 spent before coupons - 4 $0.50 PB coupons ($4 after doubling) - 2 $0.50 Banquet coupons ($2 after doubling) = $4 paid out of pocket + $2 Catalina coupon earned for use on next shopping trip

I currently have a decent stockpile of peanut butter (thanks to 2 girls who eat PB&J pretty much every day) so we go through a lot, but this is also a good way to stock up on food to donate to a food pantry!

A few Wegmans deals

I love shopping at Wegmans, but when it comes to getting a great deal with coupons I don't seem to do as well here.  I did find a few good deals this week, though:

• Suddenly Salad (regularly $1.99) is on sale $0.99 per box.  Head over here to print out a coupon for $0.50 off 2 boxes.  That's just $0.49 per box after the coupon doubles.  I make a really good pasta salad from scratch, but I'll make it from a box at that price!   
• Bar-S hot dogs are also on sale for $0.99 a pack.  There was a $1.00 off 2 coupon in Sunday's paper, making this another cheap deal.
• I also used a $1.00 off organic meat coupon from the Menu magazine I just received in the mail.  I honestly didn't think I'd use it since organic prices can be pretty steep, but I found a package of organic boneless skinless chicken thighs marked down due to a quickly approaching "use by" date.  With the coupon, I paid about $3.00 and had more than enough for dinner (along with my cheap pasta salad!).

Where do I get coupons?

If you're new to couponing, you may be trying to figure out where to find coupons.  My favorite places to get them are:

• The Sunday newspaper inserts.  There are usually 2 inserts each week: Smart Source and Red Plum.  Sometimes there may be more inserts and ocassionally there are less.
• Smartsource.com and redplum.com (the coupons online are sometimes different than the ones in the Sunday inserts).
• Coupons.com.  You can also now see at the bottom of the blog page which coupons are available from their site and print them directly.   
• Target.com.  Some coupons that print will be usable only at Target while others will be manufacturer coupons that can be used anywhere (or stacked with a Target coupon at Target!).

I also trade coupons with friends and family, so that we can all benefit.  Plus, don't forget checking websites of your favorite brands and products.  You'd be surprised how many coupons you can get this way!

Save money at Target -- even without a coupon!

So, I am so tired of all the plastic bags I have collecting around my house.  I decided I'd be green and bring in a reusable bag to use at Target today.  I saved $0.05 on my Target bill by bringing my own bag!  Who knew?!  Apparently a lot of people, because my friendly cashier informed me that this has been their policy for a while.  Also, he said he gives multiple credits for multiple bags but that is up to the discretion of the cashier. From now on, I'll live green and save some green at Target!

Free organic lemonade, cheap cheese & other deals at Tops

Looking for some deals at Tops this week?  My total before all discounts and coupons this week was $125.99 but after the sales and coupons, I paid $45.85. 

Here are my favorite deals from today:

• Santa Cruz organic lemonade is on sale for 2/$3.  Head over here to register for a $0.75 off coupon, which will double and make it free!
• Heluva Good Cheese is on sale 2/$4. Print out $0.50 off coupons from here, which double and make each block of cheese $1.
• The Tabasco sauce has been on sale for several weeks at $1 each, and a $1 off 2 coupon was in Sunday's paper.  So, I bought 2 bottles for $0.50 each.

There was also a $5 Catalina coupon deal I took advantage of (those are the coupons that print out along with your receipt when you buy certain products, in this case it's for $5 off your next order):

• 2 Hellman's mayo - $2.99 each plus I used 2 $1 off coupons
• 2 Wishbone salad dressings - 3/$5 plus I used a $1.25 off 2 coupon
• 3 Ragu pasta sauces - 3/$5 plus a $1 off 3 coupon
• 3 Knorr rice sides - $1 each plus a $1 off 3 coupon

In order to get the coupon, you had to have spent at least $15 in designated items. My total was $17.34, and after the manufacturer coupons, my total dropped to $12.07, plus I now have $5 to spend on my next trip.  If you do buy the products for this offer, be advised that my $5 coupon did not print out as it should have.  I took my receipt and ad to the service desk and they straightened it out there.

I also like a "save $4 instantly" deal they are running.  If you buy any 8  items out of a designated list, they will automatically subtract $4 off your bill. I used:

• 1 Hidden Valley Ranch Farmhouse Original dressing - 2/$5 plus I had a $1 coupon
• 2 Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce - $1 each plus a $1 off 2 coupon
• 1 KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce - 2/$3 plus a $1 coupon
• 1 Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce - 2/$4 plus a $0.55 coupon which doubles to $1.10 (can you tell we are anxious for BBQ season?)
• 2 Vlasic pickles - 2/$4 plus I used 2 $0.55 coupons doubled to $1.10 each
• 1 Tops relish - $1

So, I spent $13 but was able to deduct $6.30 with coupons and another $4 from the instant savings deal.  I paid $2.70 for 8 items!

Neat app for couponing

Yes, I'm one of the only people around without a smartphone.  I did recently get an iPod Touch, though, and have been having fun checking out apps for it.  I just discovered Key Ring.  It seems like a lot of retailers are moving towards mobile coupons, which I don't have a compatible phone for.  I downloaded Key Ring on my iPod, and I'm able to use mobile coupons on it!  Right now there are some decent Target mobiles on it that I think I'll be using in the near future.  You can also use it to record your store loyalty cards on it as well.  Is anyone else using this app?

Who doesn't like FREE candy?

If you haven't been to CVS before, they have this machine where you scan your ExtraCare card and CVS coupons are printed out for you.  Supposedly there are some really awesome coupons available, but I have been getting candy coupons every time I scan my card.  Since my husband and I are dieting, this is the last thing I need hanging around my house!  As luck would have it, my son's art class is collecting candy to use for making candy sculptures.  I had planned on just picking up some candy from the bulk department at Wegmans, but today I was able to walk away with only paying the tax on these:

Normally $4.49 each, they were on sale 2 for $6.  I had 2 CVS coupons for $2 off 1 of these bags, and there was a $2 off 2 bags manufacturer coupon in one of the newspaper inserts a couple of weeks ago.  I paid $0.48 in tax, which beats what I would've paid in the bulk department!

Shopping fun at Target!

Since I've started really couponing, I really love shopping at Target since they allow stacking manufacturer and Target coupons.  Here's my score from today:

Up & Up Detangler (for my girls' unruly hair!) --- $1.34 - $0.75 Target coupon = $0.59
Dentyne Pure Gum --- $1.04 - $1.00 Target coupon = $0.04
Nivea Lotion --- $5.99 - $3.00 manufacturer coupon - $1.00 Target coupon = $1.99
Nivea Body Wash --- $3.99 - $1.00 manufacturer coupon - $1.00 Target coupon = $1.99
Sensodyne (trial size) --- $0.99 - $0.75 manufacturer coupon (no size restriction!) = $0.24
Up & Up Ibuprofen (came in handy today, haha!) --- $0.97 - $1.00 Target coupon = FREE!
Up & Up Rubbing Alcohol --- $1.02 - $0.50 Target coupon = $0.52
Up & Up Contact Solution --- $1.97 - $0.50 Target coupon = $1.47
Dove Shampoo and Condtioner --- $3.49 each - $2.00 Target coupon - 2 $1.00 manufacturer coupons = $2.98 for both
2 Morningstar Farms veggie burgers (not pictured, they are in my freezer until I see my vegetarian mother and give them to her) --- $3.49 each - $1.00 Target coupon - 2 $1.00 manufacturer coupons = should be $3.98 but I just noticed on my receipt that it looks like my manufacturer coupons weren't taken off and I was charged $5.98

All in all, a pretty nice haul.  I paid $14.97 for $32.44 worth of goods!

Week of 5/15 - CVS

I had 3 transaction wrung up at CVS this week. I have to say, the cashier who works at the CVS I shop at is awesome.  Not only does she not mind me having separate orders to try to maximize my savings, she encourages it!  Here is order #1:

If it ever stops raining here and we get some sun, I know we'll need more sunscreen.  I bought 2 Neutrogena sunscreen products at $8.49 and $9.99.  I used 2 $2 off Neutrogena sunscreen manufacturer coupons I found online last week.  I paid $14.48 out of pocket, and earned $10 in Extra Care Bucks to be used as cash on my next order.  Here is order #2:

I bought 2 bottles of V8 (husband loves this, I think it's gross) on sale at $2.50 each (regular price is $3.59 each), plus I had a $1 off 2 manufacturer coupon (and earned a $1 Extra Care Buck for purchasing them).  I bought 1 bottle of Pert shampoo on sale for $2.50 (regular price $3.99) and used a $1.00 off manufacturer coupon.  I also bought 1 tube of Sensodyne at $4.49 (regular price $5.99 - ouch!), used a $0.75 off coupon, plus earned another $1 Extra Care Buck for this.  I rounded out this order with 2 Kraft salad dressings at $1.99 each (regular price $3.99 each).  After using my manufacturers coupons and the $10 ECB from my Neutragena purchase, my out of pocket cost was $2.28. Here is order #3:

Finesse shampoo was on sale for $2.50 (regular price $3.99).  I used my $2 ECB from transaction #2 from above, so my order came to $0.70 after tax.  The best part?  There is a $2.00 rebate here so I will make $1.30 for buying it!  Thanks to Happy Deal Happy Day for posting this rebate offer.

Week of 5/15 - *Free Cereal* at Walgreens

I don't generally shop at Walgreens, but the Cap'n Crunch featured on the front of the ad caught my attention.  Here is my first order:

I bought 2 Softsoap body washes at $3.00 each (and earned a $4 Register Reward for a future purchase), 1 Dove deodorant at $3.99 (and earned a $3 RR), and 1 Gillette and 2 Old Spice body washes at 3 for $10 (and earned another $3 RR). After using a Buy 1 Get 1 manufacturers coupon on the Old Spice and a $2.00 off manufacturers coupon on the Gillette, I paid $16.26.  I then purchased:

Cap'n Crunch was on sale for $1.75 each.  I had originally planned to use 2 $1.00 off any 2 Cap'n Crunch internet coupons I had printed, which would have brought the total to $5.00 and I could have used my $4 RR and paid $1.00.  Instead, I decided to save my coupons and used $7 in RRs so I paid nothing out of pocket for them.  And I still have $3 in RRs to use on a future visit!

Week of 5/15 - Rite Aid

I did well at Rite Aid this week, due to their sales and awesome coupon policy.  Rite Aid allows the use of 2 manufacturers coupons on a Buy 1 Get 1 Free deal, and I took advantage of it this!  Here is my first transaction:

The Ester-C vitamins were part of a buy 1 get 1 free sale at $6.49 (regular price $6.49 each), and I was able to use 2 $1.00 off any Ester-C manufacturers coupons.  I bought 3 toothbrushes on sale for $2.99 each (regular price $4.99 each), used a $1.00/2 coupon and a $1.50 coupon on them, plus earned $6 in +UP Rewards for my next order.  Remember the deal I mentioned previously, where I took a survey and got a coupon for $3 off a $15 purchase?  I have received them on almost all of my receipts, so I had 1 to use on this order.  After the sales and coupons, my total was $8.68.  Here's my second order:

The Finish dishwashing detergent (love this - it's the only brand that really seems to get my dishes clean) and Jet Dry were part of another buy 1 get 1 free sale.  I bought 2 detergents at $6.49 each and got 1 detergent and 1 Jet Dry free, and was able to use 3 $0.75 coupons and 1 $0.50 coupon.  Sure deodorant was on sale for $1.49 (regular price $3.29) and I used a $1.00 coupon.  I also bought Oral-B dental floss at $2.99 (regular price $4.29), used a $1.00 off coupon, and earned a $2 +UP Reward.  After the sales, my coupons (I also had another $3 off $15 coupon), and $4 in previously earned +UP Rewards I only paid $3.11!

My first free shopping trip!

I was going to start my blog entries with this week's shopping trips, but I had a shopping experience at Rite Aid last week that got me pretty excited, so I decided to include it.  Here is what it included (oh, and please excuse any pictures I post.  I am not a photographer and I live with 3 messy kids!):

3 Tylenol Precise products $5.00 each (regular price $7.99 each)

1 Viactiv calcium supplement $6.00 (regular price $8.99)

My total after the sale prices was $21.00.  At a previous visit to Rite Aid, I had an offer on my receipt to complete an online survey (took me about 2 minutes) and receive a coupon for $3 off a $15 order.  I used this $3 coupon to bring my total down to $18.00.  I also had 3 manufacturer coupons for $5 off any Tylenol Precise (1 came from the Sunday newspaper inserts, 2 I printed online) which brought it down to $3.  I also had a manufacturer coupon for $2 off Viactiv, which brought me down to $1.  From a previous sale at Rite Aid, I had earned a $1 +UP reward (to use as cash on a future purchase) which I applied to this order making everything FREE!  I love it!

My first adventure in blogging!

So, I'll admit it...I'm cheap. I also like to shop, crunch numbers, take care of my family, and bargain hunt. After watching TLC's "Extreme Couponing," I knew I had an extreme couponing personality and could totally be an extreme couponer. The problem? Here in my area, we don't seem to have the same awesome coupons and stores with such fantastic coupon policies that they highlight on the show. So, instead of being an 'Extreme Couponer,' I consider myself to be a 'Reality Couponer' and make the most with what I have! After putting together a speadsheet the other night to calculate the money I've saved versus the money I've spent since really getting into couponing at the beginning of April (I told you I like to crunch numbers. Did I also mention I'm a nerd?), my husband and I were both pretty impressed with the results. I figured I could use this blog to chronicle my progress and maybe help other people save on their grocery expenses, too!