1/6 - 1/12 Tops shopping: free yogurt/protein bars, cheap cereal & more

First of all, I'm sorry it's taken me until today to get my shopping results posted.  Between a sick kiddo and other personal responsibilities to take care of this week, life just got in the way of blogging. :-)  I also apologize for no pictures, but the website seems to have suddenly changed the way I can upload pictures.  I'd rather take the time to get my deals posted without pictures for you all instead of taking the time to figure out the new process.  In the meantime, here is a breakdown of the multitude of transactions I made at Tops this week.  Overall, I spent $95.40 for $279.41 worth of groceries -- a savings of about 66% -- and bought a ton of stuff...

Transaction 1

6 Larabar Uber bars - $0.43 each
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $0.85 off 3 coupons (double to $1.70) printed from here (there is also a $0.75 off 3 coupon available here)

20 cans Campbell's tomato/chicken noodle soup - $0.76 each, see notes
On sale 10/$10, used 6 $0.40 off 3 coupons (double to $0.80) from here
Notes: In my opinion, $0.76 for a can of this soup isn't a great price, but the promo offered this week included a $10 Catalina coupon good on you next order when you spent $20.  Since there were other items I wanted to buy this week that I didn't have coupons for, is was worth it to me.  Also, Tops' policy is to double 4 like coupons ,however the cashier I had doubled all 6 of mine.  Keep in mind that your mileage may vary with the policy depending on your cashier.

4 boxes Lean Pockets - $1.38 each
On sale 5/$10, used 2 $1.25 off 2 coupons printed from their Facebook page

The retail cost of this transaction was $47.10 and I paid $23.72 after coupons and discounts (plus earned $10 off another order), for a savings of about 50%.

Transaction 2

1 box NutriGrain bars - $1.10
On sale 2/$5, used a $0.70 coupon (doubles to $1.40) from here

4 boxes Ortega taco shells - $1.00 each
On sale 2/$3, used 2 $1 off 2 peelie coupons from previous purchases

1 package Johnsonville chicken sausage - $1.50
On sale 2/$7, used a $2 Catalina I had received on a prior shopping trip (I think there was a $1 coupon in the 1/6 SmartSource, if I remember correctly, which would make them $2.50 each)

24 cartons Yoplait yogurt - $0.37 each, see note
On sale 10/$5, used 4 $0.40 off 6 coupons (double to $0.80) printed from here
Note: Be sure to activate the $0.40 off 6 SavingStar eCoupon before you head to the store, so you can get more money refunded to you and lower your final out-of-pocket cost.

2 cartons Yoplait Simplait yogurt - FREE
On sale 10/$5, used 2 $0.30 coupons (double to $0.60 instead of just $0.50) from here (there is also a $0.40 coupon here)

The retail cost of this transaction was $39.38 and I paid $15.20 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of 61%.

Transaction 3

2 boxes Hefty Slider bags - $1.17 each
On sale 3/$5, used a $1 off 2 coupon from the 1/6 Red Plum coupon insert (there is also a $1.50 off 2 coupon in the 11/11 Red Plum coupon insert)

2 boxes Honey Nut Cheerios - $0.30 each
On sale 4/$6 (when you buy quantities of 4), used 2 $0.60 printable coupons (double to $1.20) that seem to be no longer available -- sorry!

2 boxes Cheerios - $1.00 each
On sale 4/$6 (part of the above promo), used the $1 off 2 coupon from the 12/9 SmartSource coupon insert

1 bag Hershey's Simple Pleasures candy - $1.49
On sale for $2.99, used the $1.50 coupon from the 1/6 SmartSource coupon insert (there is also a $1.50 printable here)

6 boxes Green Giant frozen veggies and sauce - $0.67 each
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $1 off 3 coupons from the 12/9 SmartSource and 1/6 SmartSource coupon inserts

1 Good 'n Natural protein bar - FREE
On sale 10/$10, used a free product coupon from the 1/6 Red Plum coupon insert

1 box Atkins meal replacement bars - $4.99, see note
On sale for $5.99, used a $1 coupon from the 1/6 SmartSource coupon insert
Note: These are on sale cheaper at Target this week.  Unfortunately, I didn't see them in the Target ad until after I bought them at Tops. :-(

2 Pure Protein bars - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used a $1 off 2 coupon from the 1/6 Red Plum coupon insert
Note: These seem to have triggered a $1 off 4 Catalina coupon.

The retail cost of this transaction was $51.23 and I paid $16.93 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of about 67%.

Transaction 4

1 box NutriGrain bars - $1.10
On sale 2/$5, used a $0.70 coupon (doubles to $1.40) from here

2 boxes Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-ups - $0.90 each, see note
On sale 2/$3, used a $0.60 off 2 coupon (doubles to $1.20) from here
Note: Be sure to activate the $0.50 off 2 SavingStar eCoupon before you head to the store, so you can get more money refunded to you and lower your final out-of-pocket cost.

2 boneless pork tenderloins - $7.20 ($1.47/lb.)
On sale BOGO ($6.99/lb. -- still out of my meat price range!), used the $10 Catalina from my first transaction of the week to get these down to a cheap price

1 box Tops frozen fruit bars - $2.50
On sale 2/$5, no coupon but I had a sick kiddo at home :-(

8 boxes Yoplait Go-gurts - $1.15 each
On sale 5/$10, used 4 $0.85 off 2 coupons (double to $1.70) printed from here (there are also $0.75 off 2 coupons here, making them $1.25 each)

2 bottles Suave shampoo/conditioner - $0.19 each
On sale for $0.69 each, used a $0.50 off 2 coupon (doubles to $1) from the January issue of All You magazine

The retail cost of this transaction was $75.06 and I paid $22.25 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of 70%.

Transaction 5

3 boxes Betty Crocker Fruit Roll-ups - 2 @ $0.90 each, 1 @ $1.50, see notes
On sale 2/$3, used a $0.60 off 2 coupon (doubles to $1.20) from here
Note: I have no idea why I grabbed 3 boxes, since my coupon was for the purchase of 2.  I'll probably return one, of my kids don't open and devour them first! Be sure to activate the $0.50 off 2 SavingStar eCoupon before you head to the store, so you can get more money refunded to you and lower your final out-of-pocket cost.

4 boxes Fiber One 90 calories brownies/bars - 2 @ $0.50 each, 2 @ $0.70 each, see note
On sale 4/$6 (when you buy quantities of 4), used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) from here and 2 $0.40 coupons (double to $0.80) from here
Note: Be sure to activate the $0.40 off 1 SavingStar eCoupon before you head to the store, so you can get more money refunded to you and lower your final out-of-pocket cost.

4 cartons Yoplait Simplait yogurt - FREE
On sale 10/$5, used 2 $0.30 coupons from here and 2 $0.40 coupons from here (these coupons should have only doubled to $0.50, but mine all doubled the full amounts)

3 boxes Green Giant frozen veggies and sauce - $0.67 each
On sale 10/$10, used a $1 off 3 coupons from the 1/6 SmartSource coupon insert

The retail cost of this transaction was $34.66 and I paid $6.90 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of 80%.

Transaction 6

4 boxes Hefty Slider bags - 2 @ $1.17 each, 2 @ $0.92 each
On sale 3/$5, used a $1 off 2 coupon from the 1/6 Red Plum coupon insert and a $1.50 off 2 coupon from the 11/11 Red Plum coupon insert

2 bags Quaker Popped rice cakes - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used a 41 off 2 coupon from the January issue of All You magazine (my February issue just came yesterday and there is another $1/2 coupon in it, so I may grab 2 more bags today)

12 cartons Yoplait yogurt - $0.37 each, see note
On sale 10/$5, used 2 $0.40 off 6 coupons (double to $0.80) printed from here
Note: Be sure to activate the $0.40 off 6 SavingStar eCoupon before you head to the store, so you can get more money refunded to you and lower your final out-of-pocket cost.

1 carton Yoplait Simplait yogurt - FREE
On sale 10/$6, used a $0.30 coupon (doubles to $0.60) from here (again, these all doubled the full amount instead of up to $0.50)

1 Good 'n Natural protein bar - FREE
On sale 10/$10, used a free product coupon from the 1/6 Red Plum coupon insert

2 Pure Protein bars - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used a $1 off 2 coupon from the 1/6 Red Plum coupon insert
Note: These seem to have triggered a $1 off 4 Catalina coupon.

The retail cost of this transaction was $31.98 and I paid $10.40 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of 67%.

I went over my weekly budget a bit, but I needed to up my stockpile of school lunch foods (Go-gurts, yogurts, bars of all sorts) plus I was able to buy "special" meat, so I'm very happy with this week's shopping trips.

Next week looks to have some good bargains as well. Until then, happy shopping!

Cleaning product coupons

Looking for coupons for cleaning products?  Grab some coupon prints here for the following:

• Save $1.00 on any TWO Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, or Fantastik products
• Save $2.00 on any TWO Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel products
• Save $1.50 off any 2 Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Brush Refill products
• Save $2.00 on Armstrong Concentrated Floor Cleaner
• $1 off Comet Stainless Steel cleaning item (Redeem only at Target) (Ends 6/30)
• Save $0.75 off any ONE (1) Comet Bathroom Spray

Money Saving Challenge - weeks 24 - 26 in review

I can't believe it's been so long since I've chronicled my attempts to save money!  For a while there, I was really good about jotting down my efforts on a daily basis and somehow I just got out of the habit.  I'm sure there are a few things I've forgotten over the past few weeks, but here are the things that come to mind:

• As a special treat, we took the family to see a movie (Madagascar 3 -- it was very cute!).  I used a free movie ticket I earned from a Kellogg's promotion, plus the tickets we bought were cheaper since we went to a matinee.
• I received a rebate check from a previous no beer purchase rebate for fresh fruit.
• I planted tomato plants that were given to me (free) and lettuce seeds (cheap).
• I cut roses and tiger lillies from my yard to enjoy, instead of buying flowers.
• I matched sales and coupons at Tops and Wegmans.
• We've been enjoying free fruit from the strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries picked from our yard and a relative's yard.
• In order to limit my air conditioning costs, I've been keeping the curtains and blinds closed as well as opening the windows to catch the cooler morning and evening breezes.
• I used a free Redbox code to enjoy a movie at home.
• I cashed in Swag Bucks for a $5 Amazon gift card, to be used to offset Christmas gift expenses later this year.
• I combined errands on outings in order to save on gas.
• Now that school is out, we've been utilizing the public library more for books and free kids' activities.
• I received a free cereal coupon in the mail from a giveaway at Thrifty Ways and Ideas (thanks, Maria!).
• I received a free Target cosmetic bag in the mail, packed with nice samples and Target coupons.
• I paid a couple of bills online to save on stamps.
• I received a mailer from Tops containing store coupons.
• I've been running the dishwasher with half of a dishwashing tablet.
• I cashed out my SavingStar balance.

I have a feeling I'm forgetting some things, but there are still quite a few things I was able to do to help us save money.  If you have been tightening your budget, I'd love for you to leave a comment with the things you're doing to help stretch your dollars!

6/17 - 6/23 Tops deals: trip #1

I didn't get a chance to blog about yesterday's Tops trip at the time, so here it is now...

I will be doing a MAJOR yogurt and fruit snacks stock up this week, and I have planned at least 4 trips this week in order to abide my the store coupon policy.  Here is the breakdown of yesterday's trip:

4 boxes Betty Crocker fruit snacks - $0.40 each, see note
On sale 4/$4 (must buy quantities of 4 to get this price), used 2 $0.60 off 2 coupons (double to $1.20) printed from here (there is also a $0.50 off 2 coupon here)
Note: Before shopping, I activated the $0.50 off 2 eCoupon at SavingStar.  After I get the eCoupon amount refunded to me, my final out-of-pocket cost will be $1.10 for all 4, or
$0.28 each!

3 boxes (10-pack) Kool-Aid jammers - $1.50 each
On sale 5/$10, used a $0.75 off 3 coupon (doubles to $1.50) from the 5/6 SmartSource coupon insert

2 boxes Silver Palate oatmeal - $0.99 each, see note
On sale for $1.99 each, used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) from boxes of Silver Palate products previously purchased
Note: The oatmeal I bought has a bunch of Silver Palate coupons inside the box that can be matched up with sales the week.  Or, you can wait on them because these coupons have no expiration date (rare!).  Inside the box is also a mail-in-rebate offer for a free product coupon when you send in the purchase requirements.

2 cartons (1/2 gallon) Silk Almond milk - $1.80 each
On sale 2/$6, used 2 $0.60 coupons (double to $1.20) from here
Notes: There is also a $1.25 off 2 coupon here and a $1 off 1 coupon here.  If you are headed to Target, I believe I saw in their ad that Silk is $2.99 this week, so if you are using  one of these  non-doubling coupon you would get a slightly better deal there.

4 cartons YoCrunch yogurt - $0.28 each
On sale 10/$6, used a $0.65 off 4 coupons (doubles to $1.30) from here

20 cartons Yoplait yogurt - $0.48 each, see notes
On sale 20/$12, used 2 $0.60 off 8 coupons (double to $1.20) printed from here (there is  also a $0.50 off 8 coupon here)
Notes: Buying 20 Yoplait yogurts earned me both $2.00 and $1.25 Catalina coupons.  I'll be using these on other trips to help bring down my out-of-pocket costs, which is especially helpful for things without coupons (like fresh produce).  I also activated a $0.40 off 6 eCoupon at SavingStar before shopping, which will make the net cost even less.

The retail cost of this trip was $53.69 and I paid $22.96 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of 57%.  My gas points discount is now at $2.40 per gallon .

I'm heading back out today to take advantage of the sales to stock up on things my family eats a lot of, as well as some other deals throughout the week.  I'll be back to update on today's trip later.

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!

Money Saving Challenge - week 18

These is the list of things I did this week to try to save money:

• I combined sales and coupons at Tops, Wegmans, and Target in order to save money (I didn't write a separate blog post, but I received a Target mailer with a coupon for a free dozen eggs and combined a couple Target clothing coupons with a cheap shirt and a clearance pair of shorts)
• I combined errands on outings in order to save on gas.
• I stayed home 2 days in order to also save on gas.
• I received a free reusable grocery bag in the mail from Believe in Heroes/Wounded Warrior project.
• I also received free Nivea samples and coupons via snail mail from CVS.
• I made another batch of homemade hair detangler.  Watch for the upcoming tutorial -- it is so cheap and easy!
• 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 utilized our Strong Museum membership and took the kids out for a fun day on the cheap.
• I took advantage of the school's PTA-sponsored family bowling event for a another fun and cheap outing.
• When a drive-thru was calling my name yesterday, I resisted the temptation and came home and made myself lunch. ;-)
• I only ran the dishwasher when it was full and used half of a dishwashing tablet each time.

Are you doing anything to pinch your pennies and stretch your budget? I'd love to hear about it!

Money Saving Challenge - week 17 in review

I felt very productive this week in my quest for being frugal and saving money.  Here is the rundown of what I did:

• I downloaded a free ebook onto my Nook.
• I received a bunch of freebie goodies in the mail this week: a coupon for a free drink at Dunkin Donuts, a full size bottle of MiO water enhancer, a Target beauty bad containing samples and coupons, and a bunch of Crest coupons. 
• I matched coupons and sales at Tops and Wegmans to save money on my groceries and deposited a portion of my savings into our bank account.
• I cashed in my Swagbucks for a $5 Amazon gift card, which I will use towards Christmas gifts later this year.
• I combined errands on my outings to help save on gas.
• I mailed out a $3 rebate which will make some fruit I bought a money maker. 
• I read my MyPoints emails to rack up points for gift cards that I will use for gift giving or a treat for my family.
• Since my car was on fumes, I used my gas points at Tops. I had a $4.00/gallon discount which enabled my to get about 17 gallons of gas for $1.00!  And to top that off, I did more shopping after my fill-up and am already up to another $0.50 per gallon discount with a full week's worth of shopping left in this earning period.
• I was in desperate need of a hair cut.  I went to the Supercuts close to my house (cheap price, plus saves on gas), used a coupon (even cheaper), and will get my next cut free (used my buy 8, get the 9th free card).

Did you do anything to help save money this week? I'd love to read about them in the comments below!

I love great mail days

I get so tired of retrieving loads of junk mail and bills from my mailbox, so I'm excited whenever there's a fun freebie waiting for me.  Yesterday, I felt like a kid on Christmas...

Yesterday's mail consisted of high value Crest coupons, a full size bottle of Mio water enhancer, and a Target beauty bag filled with samples and coupons.  Hurray!

Product review: Palmolive Fresh Sponge soap

Recently I was selected to receive a Palmolive Fresh Sponge dishwashing kit to use and review.  My first thought was "Ugh! I hate hand washing dishes."  Really, it is one of my least favorite household chores.  As a matter of fact, when my 12-year-old acts up I find myself hoping that there are dirty pots that need to be hand washed that I can assign him for extra chores.  My biggest pet peeve about washing dishes by hand is how the sponge gets slimy and smelly after a short time.  Even after running the gross sponge through the dishwasher, it never seems quite clean enough to me.

I was so surprised when my kit arrived.  I was expecting a tiny bottle.  Instead, I received a full size bottle of Palmolive Fresh Sponge dishwashing liquid, a new sponge, and coupons to share.  Palmolive Fresh Sponge dishwashing liquid has a unique dual action formula designed to wash away odor causing residue from sponges and clean dishes to a sparkling shine. Both sponge and dishes are left smelling freshly cleaned.

My first impression was very positive when I opened the bottle.  It has a scent that I can't quite describe.  I'd say it's kind of fruity smelling, but it's not a specific fruit I can identify.  It's not an overpowering scent, and it certainly strikes me as refreshing and clean.

I was also impressed when I squirted some out of the bottle.  It is very concentrated so a little goes a long way.  This large bottle will certainly last a long time. 

I find it cleans well, too.  In general, I've used it to clean pots and pans that can't go into the dishwasher.  Since they're non-stick, the food debris washed off easily, and the Palmolive cut through the grease just fine.  My pots and pans had a light, clean, fresh scent after they were dried, as did my sponge.

After almost 2 weeks, my sponge is neither smelly nor slimy.  I love that!

I would not hesitate to buy Palmolive Fresh Sponge in the future, especially since it is so concentrated to last long, smells so nice, and extends the life of my sponge.  And to make it even better, Palmolive coupons are released pretty regularly in the Sunday coupon inserts, so there should be no reason to pay full price for it! 

I have not yet looked locally for Palmolive Fresh Sponge, but the suggested retail value is $3.29 for a 25 oz. bottle and is available in most grocery stores and mass retailers like Target and Walmart.  It can also be purchased online at www.soap.com and www.walmart.com. 

*I received the above complimentary dishwashing kit from Colgate-Palmolive via Influenster for testing purposes.*

Money Saving Challenge - week 16 in review

Despite a nasty cold virus that hit 3 out of 5 of us this week (including me, who seems to have been hit the hardest by it, which is so not fair!), I was able to do a lot of things to help save money this week:

• I stayed home 2 days this week, which saved money on gas.
• I combined errands on my outings to also save gas.
• I matched coupons and sales at Tops to save money on my groceries, while racking up a huge discount off their gas price which I will take advantage off when my car is on empty.
• I cashed in my Swagbucks for a $5 Amazon gift card, which I will use towards Christmas gifts later this year.
• I made homemade hair detangler for free.  It is so easy, I will post a how-to tutorial later.
• I found a couple great mail-in rebates while I was at the grocery store, including one for fresh fruit.  I will definitely be using this one!
• My mailbox has been full of money-saving coupons lately.  Over the course of the week I received: a mailer containing several Proctor & Gamble product coupons, a coupon for a free Zone Perfect bar, a Target mailer which included a coupon for a free dozen eggs, and a Seeds of Change catalog which contained a $2 coupon off any product (will make for cheap organic rice at Wegmans).

If you have any frugal activities you did this week to help save money, I'd love to read about them in the comments below!

4/15 - 4/21 Tops deals

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I rarely shop or do match-ups this early in the week. As it turns out, one of my kids was attending a birthday party at the Tops Cooking School today, so what better use of my time and gas than to shop while she partied?!

In order to stay within the 4 like coupon doubling policy and to maximize my gas points, I made 3 trips into the store and came away with a bunch of stuff...

Transaction 1

3 12-packs Marcal  Small Steps toilet paper - $2.99 each
On sale for $3.99 each, used 3 coupons printed from the Marcal Facebook page (it's a "bricks" coupons, so it will print 2 per computer, not per Facebook account like some FB coupons are! -- there are also $1 coupons in the 4/15 Red Plum and the 3/11 Red Plum (expires today!) coupon inserts

5 Dole Smoothie Shakers - 1 @ $0.67 and 4 @ $1.17 each, see note below
On sale 3/$5, used a $0.50 coupon (doubles to $1) from the April issue of All You magazine and 2 $1 off 2 coupons from here (there is also a $1 off 2 in the 4/15 SmartSource coupon insert)

1 package Dole frozen fruit cups - $0.50
On sale 2/$4, used a $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) from the April issue of All You magazine (there is also a $1 off 2 coupon in the 4/15 SmartSource coupon insert and a $1 off 2 coupon here)
Notes: These 2 Dole items are part of a store promo where you get a $3 Catalina coupon for use on a future order when you buy 6 selected items.  In addition, my store also is giving 200 bonus gas points in addition to the Catalina.

3 cartons International Delight coffee creamers - $0.57 each
On sale 3/$5, used 3 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) printed from here (must register, you can get 2 prints per email address per computer)

The retail value of this transaction was $48.48 and I paid $17.23 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of approximately 64%. In addition, I received my $3 Catalina coupon to use on transaction 2, plus additional Catalina coupons for $1 off 2 Dole frozen fruit cups and $2 off 4 Dole Smoothie Shakers.

Transaction 2

2 12-packs Marcal Small Steps toilet paper - $2.99 each
On sale for $3.99 each, used 2 coupons printed from the Marcal Facebook page

2 boxes Hostess Mini Muffins - $2.00 each
On sale 2/$3, used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here

6 Dole Smoothie Shakers - $1.17 each, see note
On sale 3/$5, 3 $1 off 2 coupons from here (there is also a $1 off 2 in the 4/15 SmartSource coupon insert)
Note: Part of the $3 Catalina and 200 bonus gas points promotion when you buy 6 select products

3 cartons International Delight coffee creamers - $0.57 each
On sale 3/$5, used 3 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) printed from here

The retail total for transaction2 was $47.77 and I paid $15.92 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of almost 67%.  I came away with another $3 Catalina coupon I used on transaction 3, plus Catalinas for $0.50 off Hostess mini muffins (it won't double because it's a Catalina), another $2 off 4 Dole Smoothie Shakers, and $1 off a half gallon of International Delight iced coffee.

Transaction 3

2 rolls of Reynolds recycled aluminum foil - $1.00 each
On sale BOGO ($2.99), used a $1 off 2 coupon from the 3/25 SmartSource coupon insert

2 12-packs Marcal Small Steps toilet paper - $2.99 each
On sale for $3.99 each, used 1 coupon printed from the Marcal Facebook page and 1 $1 coupon from the 4/15 Red Plum coupon insert

4 boxes Hostess Mini Muffins - $2.00 each
On sale 2/$3, used 4 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here

The retail cost of this transaction was $41.12 and I paid $13.37 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of 67%.  I also received another $0.50 Hostess mini muffin Catalina coupon.

Overall, I paid $46.52 for $137.37 worth of groceries for a savings of 66% and have earned a discount of $2.90 per gallon of gas. 

I think I may actually run back to Tops one more time today since I just found 2 more Marcal coupons (that expire today) and I rarely feel like I can get a good price on toilet paper in order to stock-up. Plus with the new Dole Catalinas I received earlier plus a couple more between today's coupon inserts and printables, I may do another Dole promo for the Catalinas and extra gas points.

Good luck with your Tops shopping this week!  If you find a great deal, I'd love to read about it in the comments. :-)

Free Target Beauty Bag!

Head over to Facebook to request a free beauty bag from Target.  I've received one in the past and it was a really cute little bag full of nice samples and coupons.  Supplies of these have depleted quickly when they've been offered before, so be sure to request your soon. 

Note:  According to their wall post, the form isn't mobile compatible and also may not work properly in Safari.

Money Saving Challenge - week 13 in review

 

This week felt to me like it was chock full of money-saving activities. Here are the things I did to help save money:

• I matched sales and coupons at Tops,Wegmans, and Target to save money on groceries and Easter goodies.
• I found a penny next to my car in a parking lot.  I know it's not much but every little bit counts, right? ;-)
• I combined errands on my outings to help save money on gas.
• I stayed home 1 day this week to also save money on gas.
• A few days this week I packed canned pineapple in my kids' lunches.  I saved the juice from the can and used it to add to a smoothie.
• I cashed in Swagbucks for a $5 Amazon gift card that I will use towards Christmas gifts.
• I packed leftovers for my husband's work lunches.
• I made sure not to run my dishwasher unless it was full, and I cut the tablets in half. I find this has really been a saver -- the tablets don't clean any differently when I only use half of one, so I'm getting them to last twice as long. I also picked up another big container of them at BJ's since they had a store coupon for them.
• I received some coupons and a packet of organic basil seeds from a giveaway I entered a while ago from Stonyfield YoKids. I can't wait to plant the seeds so I can use fresh basil along with the other herbs I have growing in my kitchen.
• I download a few free ebooks onto my Nook.
• After ignoring my MyPoints account for a really long time, I started reading the emails again.  I already have enough points sitting in my account to cash in for $10 or $25 gift cards.  I think I'll cash out and use them to give as gifts during the holidays, or when we're planning a special outing. (I'm not sure why I stopped reading the emails, because I really do like the MyPoints program.  If you're interested in joining, shoot me an email or leave me a comment and I'll send you a referral.)
• I mailed out my Johnson's Healthy Essentials rebate and will receive an envelope of coupons as a result.

What are some things you did this week to save money? I'd love to read about them in the comments!

Local Target mailer = free bread

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you've seen me mention my local Greece Target's ongoing renovation.  The signs in the store have said that they will start carrying fresh foods in an expanded grocery department, effective March 25th. 

If you're local, look for this postcard in your mail:

On the back side is a peelie coupon good for one 16 - 24 oz. loaf of Market Pantry white or wheat sandwich bread, valid 3/25 - 4/2. 

I'm excited to see how large their new grocery department will be, and you can be sure I'll stop by for my free bread!

Kellogg's cereal deals

If you're in need of cereal, this is your week!  There are several stores having sales on Kellogg's cereal right now.  To get a good deal, you will need the $5 off any 5 Kellogg's cereals (10-oz. or larger, any flavor)coupon printed from here (use zip 14626). Remember, you can print 2 copies per computer if you really need to build your cereal stockpile!

Note:  The above coupon specifically states that it is valid only in Rochester or Buffalo. Also, this is a pretty hot coupon so you may want to print it before it disappears!

Here are some scenarios for you, depending on where you're planning on shopping this week:

Tops
On sale 4/$10, buy 5 and use the $5/5 coupon
Final cost = $7.50 or $1.50 each

Target
On sale $2.75 each, buy 5 and use the $5/5 coupon plus the $1 off 3 Target coupon
Final cost = $7.75 or $1.55 each PLUS get a free $5 Target gift card when you buy 5 of the listed Kellogg's items, for a net cost of $2.75 or $0.55 each.
Notes: The ad states that the $2.75 price is for select Kellogg's cereals and others are priced at $3.99 each.  Also, the Target coupon is valid only on the following varieties: Raisin Bran Cinnamon Almond, Crunchy Nut & Honey Loops, Crunchy Nut Caramel Nut, Crunchy Nut Flakes, and Frosted Flakes.  In the above scenario, I'm assuming these are part of the $2.75 sale.  If not, you'd pay $8.75 total (or $1.75 each) by using justthe manufacturer coupon plus you'd still earn the $5 gift card).

Kmart
On sale 5/$10, buy 5 and use the $5/5 coupon
Final cost = $5.00 or $1.00 each PLUS get a free 8-ct. box of Pop-Tarts when you buy 4 Kellogg's cereals (net price of $0.83 per item for 6 items)
Note: The ad states this offer is a "Shop Your Way Rewards" members only deal.  I'll admit, I absolutely avoid my local Kmart like the plague, so I don't know how you go about obtaining a "Shop Your Way Rewards" membership.  I'm assuming you can just sign up at the store?  If anyone knows for sure what's involved, please leave me a comment below!

Money Saving Challenge - week 4 in review

Here is a recap of the things I did this week to save money as part of the Money Saving Challenge hosted by Precious at Frugal Makes Sense:

• I matched up sales and coupons (as well as used a rain check) at Tops, BJ's, and Target to save money on my grocery bills.
• I cashed in Swag Bucks for a $5 Amazon gift card to be used for Christmas gifts later this year.
• After reading it on the Frugal Makes Sense blog, I started cutting my dishwasher tablets in half.  I love this idea!  I haven't noticed any difference in the cleanliness of my dishes and the tablets will now last me twice as long.  Thank you, Precious!
• I ordered free samples and coupons from Proctor & Gamble.
• I received a free reusable bag and coupons from Cabot cheese, as well as coupons from Charmin and Twix, in the mail this week.
• When I ran out of glass cleaner today, I made a homemade version I found online.  It works well, the ingredients are inexpensive and already in my home, and I didn't have to make a trip to the store and buy anything.  For anyone interested, I used the 4th recipe featured here on the Crunchy Betty blog (don't let the idea of cornstarch in your glass cleaner scare you!).
• Instead of paying full price for tonight's long-awaited girls' night out at the movies, I was able to purchase a ticket for $6 through Groupon, plus I'll be able to get 3% of the purchase price back through Ebates.
• I haven't done the biggest money saver for the week yet.  In a little while, I'll be cashing in my hard-earned Tops gas points and filling my tank for a steal.  I'll be sure to come back later and update about this one. :-)

Target: good news & bad news

If you regularly shop at the Greece Target like I do, I'm sure you've seen the remodeling that is currently happening in the store.

Last week I picked up a free box of Market Pantry macaroni and cheese and stopped by today to grab another (coupon is here) but the shelf was empty.  I also wanted to grab the Smart Ones frozen entrees deal: get a $5 Target gift card when you buy 10 ($1.89) using the $3.00 off 10 manufacturer coupon here and the $3.00 off 10 Target coupon here.  Unfortunately, the freezer case was clear and there are no rain checks available for this promo. I found an employee in the grocery department and asked when/if they'd get more in. 

The bad news: due to the remodeling, they are not restocking frozen foods and will wait until the new freezer cases are installed in a few weeks. :-(

The good news: he showed me how large the new grocery department will be, and it looks like it will be substantially larger.  When searching for good Target deals, I often see them for grocery items that the Greece store doesn't carry.  A new grocery department should net a lot more cheap groceries for us! :-)

2012 Money Saving Challenge - Week 1 in review

As I mentioned on a previous blog post, I've joined the 2012 Money Saving Challenge hosted by Precious at Frugal Makes Cents.  It's been a week, and here are the things I've done in the past 7 days to help save money:

• I made homemade turkey stock from a free turkey carcass courtesy of my in-laws.  I had never made stock before because it seemed like a daunting task.  It turned out to be really easy to do, and it tastes great to boot!  I'll post a how-to in the future for anyone else who's never done it before.
• I avoided using my vehicle 2 days this week in an effort to save on gas.
• I picked up some hand-me-down clothes from a friend for my daughters.  The girls were so excited!
• We ate leftovers for dinner one night and packed other leftovers in my husband's lunch.
• I downloaded some free e-books onto my Nook.
• I was tempted one day to hit a drive-thru for lunch, but stayed strong and ate at home instead.
• I consolidated my errands on outings to help conserve gas.
• I held off running an "almost full" dishwasher until it was completely full.
• After I was done using the oven on a cold day, I opened the oven door while it was cooling down in order to help heat the kitchen.
• I matched coupons and sales at Wegmans, Tops, and Target.

Some of these things may only save me pennies at a time, but eventually those pennies add up.  I was able to put aside some of my grocery savings this week. Hopefully I can see my savings grow by the end of the year!

Are you taking steps to save money this year?  Do you have any great frugal tips?  I'd love to read about them in the comments. :-)

1/1 - 1/7: A couple good Target deals

Here are a few good deals I picked up at Target today...

1 box Market Pantry macaroni and cheese - FREE
On sale for $0.59, used the $1.00 Target coupon

1 pack Mentos Up2U gum - $0.29
Priced at $1.29, used the $1.00 coupon from the 1/1 SmartSource coupon insert

2 bottles Softsoap hand soap - $0.50 each
On sale at $1.00 each, used $1 off 2 coupon from the 1/1 SmartSource coupon insert
Note: The coupon specified 8oz.+ size and I didn't notice until I got home that these soaps are 7.5 oz.  :-/

Target $10 gift card coupon is back!

Head over to Target's Facebook page for a link to a new coupon for a free $10 Target gift card with a purchase of $50 or more.  I printed last week's coupon but never made it over to the store, so I'm very happy they brought it back this week!