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.  :-/

1/1 - 1/7 Wegmans deals

I ran into Wegmans to grab a few things today, then realized as I was driving away that I forgot to add a couple of things to my list and of course didn't remember them while I was in the store.  Luckily I drove by another Wegmans a little while later and picked up the rest of my items.  Here is what I bought today:

1 gallon of milk - $1.99
No coupon, of course :-(

6 jars of Barilla pasta sauce - $0.99 each
Priced at $2.49 each, used 6 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) printed from here (try zip 33133 if you don't see it)

4 cans of Muir Glen organic tomato sauce - FREE
Priced at $0.99 each, used 4 $0.75 coupons printed from here

1 pack Mentos Pure Fresh gum - $0.39
Priced at $1.49, used $0.55 coupon (doubles to $1.10) from the 1/1 SmartSource coupon insert

4 bags of Snikiddy Snacks - $1.00 each
Priced at 2/$5, used 4 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) printed here (zip zip 90210 or 33133 if you don't see it)

2 bars Olay soap - FREE
On sale for $0.49 each, used 2 $1.00 coupons (1 from the 1/1 Proctor & Gamble coupon insert and 1 I received via snail mail)

4 bottles of Excedrin Extra Strength - $0.99 each
Priced at $2.99 each, used 4 $2.00 coupons printed from here

1 bag Ricola Dual Action lozenges - $0.49
Priced at $1.99, used $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) from the 1/1 SmartSource coupon insert

1 carton Silk Almond Milk - $2.39
Priced at $3.39, used $1 coupon printed from the All You website (I think it may no longer be available)

The total retail cost of my groceries was $52.63 and I paid $16.13 after Shoppers Club and coupons, for a savings of about 69%.  I noticed that I did get some overages today.  Both of the Olay coupons were put through manually for the full $1.00 instead of being marked down to $0.49.  Also, all of the Muir Glen coupons gave me overage as well.  They've always "doubled" up to $0.99 in the past, but I believe the ones I used today all had the new style bar codes.  All the coupons I used with the new bar codes (there were several) at Wegmans had to be entered manually since they beeped.  I'm curious when Wegmans will update their registers, since I've seen tons of the new bar codes on coupons I've printed since January 1st.

1/1 - 1/7 Tops deals

After not buying much the past few weeks, I was pretty excited for my Tops trip today.  I was even more excited when I walked in and found a sign on the door saying that the gas points earning period that had ended on 12/31 has been extended until 1/14!  Since I had earned a discount of $2.30 per gallon as of last week, I could now potentially get free gas (or at least really, really cheap!  Gas points should be redeemed by 1/28.

Here is today's haul:

Since I had a lot of coupons, I ended up splitting my order into 3 transactions in order to maximize my gas points (10 points per manufacturer coupon with a 100 point maximum per transaction) and stay within Tops' coupon doubling policy (4 like coupons per transaction).  I bought the following:

4 Chobani Greek yogurts - $0.40 each
On sale 10/$10, used 4 $0.30 coupons (double to $0.60) printed from here

8 blocks of Heluva Good cheese - $1.50 each
On sale 2/$5, used 8 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here (click on the green 'Click & Save' block)
Note: Depending on how comfortable you are with doing this, I noticed that instead of 2 prints per computer, this coupon allowed me to print 2 per browser (I used Internet Explorer and Firefox) per computer.

2 boxes Banquet Brown & Serve sausage links - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $0.25 coupons (double to $0.50) printed inside select boxes of Banquet value meals Note: The Banquet value meals had been on sale 10/$10 for most of last year (and still are on sale this week) and I noticed some of the boxes I had bought previously mentioned having $4 worth of Banquet coupons inside.  You may want to look for the specially marked packages if you're planning on buying any.

4 Banquet fruit pies - $0.60 each
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $0.40 off 2 coupons (double to $0.80) printed inside select Banquet value meals

12 Banquet pot pies - $0.80 each
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $0.60 off 6 coupons (double to $1.20) printed inside select Banquet value meals

2 dozen Eggland's Best eggs - $2.00 each
On sale 2/$5, used $1 off 2 coupon from the 10/2 SmartSource coupon insert (also in the 11/13 SmartSource insert), see note below

4 packages Weight Watchers spreadable cheese wedges - $0.90 each
On sale 2/$4, used 4 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) printed from here (click the coupon link on the right)Note: The eggs were more expensive than what I would usually pay, but they and the WW cheese were part of a store promo where you earn a $3.00 Catalina coupon when you buy 6 select products.  When I took into account the extra savings that I rolled into my next transaction, they were worth it in my opinion.  And on top of it, I also earned a bonus 200 gas points since my store will be getting a gas station in the future.

1 box Salada green tea - $0.49
On sale $1.99, used a $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) printed from here

4 Hunt's Snack Pack puddings - $0.75 each
On sale 10/$10, used a $1 off 4 coupon from the 1/1 SmartSource coupon insert

2 boxes of Hefty OneZip bags - $1.50 each
On sale 2/$4, used a $1 off 2 coupon from the 1/1 RedPlum coupon insert

4 bottles of Pine-Sol cleaner - $1.00 each
On sale 2/$4, used 4 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here (click 'Start Now' and write a brief review)

The total retail cost of my 3 transactions was $98.73 and I paid $42.78 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of approximately 57%.  Plus, I now have a gas discount of $2.80 per gallon.  I am so stoked about this!  And I have another week to rack up gas points (along with some freebies and cheapies -- stay tuned for details, but I'd encourage you to print off cereal and soup coupons I blogged about here and here and check the produce department for POM tearpads ;-)).

Here are a few other deals I considered but didn't end up buying.  Maybe they will be useful to some readers:

• Louis Kemp Crab Delights are on sale BOGO ($2.99).  If you bought 14 (I know it's a lot, but I have freezer space and I'm still considering it) it would come to $20.93.  If you then used the Tops store coupon in this week's ad for $5 off a $20 seafood purchase, you'd pay $15.93 or $1.14 each.  That's a great price!
• Clif Bars are 10/$10.  Use the $1 off 3 coupon printed from the Mambo Sprouts website and pay $0.67 each when you buy 3.
• Select Full Circle canned veggies and beans are on sale 10/$10.  Buy 2, use the Tops store coupon printed from here, and pay $0.50 each.

Snikiddy Snacks = $1 at Wegmans

You can get bags of Snikiddy Snacks at Wegmans for just $1 each.  They are priced at $2.50 per bag, but head here to print out $0.75 coupons (use zip 90210 if you don't see it).  After the coupon doubles, you'll pay just a buck a bag!  I have to say, I absolutely love these snacks.  Both my taste buds and my wallet are happy. :-)

Update: I was searching another zip code just now (33133) and saw there is a $0.75 coupon for "Eat Your Vegetables" by Snikiddy.  I searched a few local-to-me stores on the Wegmans website and these came up as "available at select stores," so I have no idea how much these run or at which stores they're available.  If you have them at your local Wegmans, you might be able to get a deal on them with this coupon.  I'd love to know if any readers find them at their local store and how much they cost.  Leave me a comment if you find them!

New Campbell's coupons

Just in time for the cold weather we're having, there are a couple of new Campbell's soup coupons out that I'm excited about.  Head over here to print coupons for $0.40 off any 3 condensed soups (excludes 'Great for Cooking') and $0.40 off any 3 condensed 'Great for Cooking' soups.  The last time I saw these coupons I was able to get chicken noodle and tomato soups for dirt cheap at Tops (something like $0.13 per can if I remember correctly).  Hopefully we'll see another great sale to pair these up with soon!  And since I often use their cheddar cheese soup for cooking and it never seems to go on sale, having a decent coupon is helpful.

My goal this year: save more money



With prices on everything on the rise causing my budget to get stretched, I've decided to strive to cut costs and save more money during 2012.  As a result, I've joined the 2012 Money Saving Challenge being run by Precious at Frugal Makes Sense.  I just discovered her blog recently and have really enjoyed reading some of the ways she lives frugally.  I encourage you to check it out.

Obviously, my main method of saving has been and will continue to be through matching coupons to sales and using my stockpile.  In addition to couponing, I'm making it my goal to find at least one other way to save money each week.  It may not sound like much, but that's a lofty goal for me and I figure if I post about it online, it will make me more accountable for my actions. 

At this point, I think my plan is todo a post at the end of each week detailing what I did to save money during the previous 7 days.  This is new to me, though, so I might end up changing how I post my money-saving actions. 

I'd love to hear from other readers if you have money-saving goals for the year or other frugal tips you find helpful.

Happy New Year & Happy New Coupons!

Well, it's a brand new year and we are off to a great start with some new printable coupons!  Be sure to check all of the printable coupon sites for coupons that interest you.  Here are some of my favorites:

• At coupons.com -- $0.75 off any Muir Glen product (will be free tomato sauce and tomato paste at Wegmans!) and $0.75 coupons for Frosted Toast Crunch, Dulce de Leche Cheerios, and Multigrain Peanut Butter Cheerios (try zip 77477 if you don't see them, I'm hoping for a 2/$5 sale which would make these $1 each after they double at Tops or Wegmans)
• At smartsource.com -- $0.50 off 2 Yoplait Greek yogurts, $0.75 off Multigrain Cheerios, and $0.75 off 2 Yoplait Go-gurts
• At redplum.com -- $0.50 on any StarKist tuna pouch (should make for free or cheap after the coupon doubles) and $2.00 off 2 Sensodyne products
• At pillsbury.com -- $1.10 on 2 Pillsbury refrigerated cookie dough (I just saw some Christmas ones on clearance for $0.99 each at Wegmans = cheap, plus my kids won't care!), $0.85 off any Muir Glen product (free at Wegmans), $0.60 off Cinnamon Toast Crunch, $0.60 off Chex mix (should make for free or cheap when doubled and paired with a sale), and $0.85 off 2 Yoplait Go-gurts

I definitely have my work cut out for me today, with lots of printing, clipping, and organizing to do!