With my $17.00 in Extra Bucks from last week, I took two trips to CVS. My personal philosophy about shopping at CVS is to limit my spending out of pocket to $10.00/week and purchase all of our personal and cleaning items. I like to spend Extra Care bucks on purchasing more Extra Care Bucks, but that doesn't always happen particularly when we need things like erasers or my favorite shaving cream. This week I spend about $7.50 and set us up with a couple months worth of shampoo!
Reese Whips 4 @ .50
- 2 $1.00/2 coupons
= free
Johnson and Johnson Bath Buddies 1.19
- $1.00 coupon
= .19
Eraser Pack $3.49
Photo 5 x 7 $.99
Subtotal = 7.67
- 3.00 coupons
- $4.00 Extra Bucks
= $.93 out of pocket
CVS savings (from bottom of receipt) $9.06
2nd Transaction
Head and Shoulders $4.99
- $1.00 coupon
$3.99 Receive $3.00 Extra Care bucks
2 Pantene Expressions $9.98
- $3.00/2 Pantene
$6.98 receive $6.00 Extra Care bucks
1 Pantene Shampoo plus Condition 72 oz = $7.99
- $2.00 coupon
$5.99
1 Aveeno Shave Gel $4.99
- $1.00 coupon
$3.99
2 Mentos Gum (buy one get one free) $1.69
- .55 cent coupon
$1.19
1 Sunday Paper $1.50
Subtotal = $33.40
- $5.00/$25.00 purchase
- $7.55 coupons
- $13.00 Extra Care bucks
Total out of pocket = $6.40
Extra Care Bucks received = $9.00
Net = $2.60
CVS Savings (from bottom of receipt) $31.14
Monday, January 26, 2009
Sunday, January 18, 2009
CVS deals this week
I just got back from CVS shopping this morning. Here's what I came home with:
2 St. Ives Apricot Scrub on sale $2.99
- used 2 $2.00/1 coupon
= .99 each (1.98 for 2)
1 Clairol Natural Instincts Hair Color on sale $5.99
- $2.00 coupon from paper
= 3.99 plus received $2.00 in Extra Care bucks
1 Colgate 360 Toothbrush $3.49
- $.75 coupon from paper
= $2.74 plus received $1.00 Extra Care bucks
1 Shick Quattro Titanium Razon $8.99
- $2.00 coupon from paper
= $6.99 plus received $3.00 Extra Care bucks
2 Bottles Dawn dish washing liquid (Buy one get one free) $1.99
- .50 and .25 coupon from paper
= $.62 each ($1.24 for 2)
1 Kleenex 3 pack 3.69
- .50 coupon from paper
= 3.19 plus received $1.00 Extra Care bucks
2 Maybelline Mineral Makeup $17.98
- $2.00 off $10 cosmetics
= $15.98 received $10.00 Extra Care bucks
3 Johnson and Johnson Buddies Soap $3.57
- $3.00/3 J and J coupon
= $.19 each ($.57 for 3)
I also had $2.00 in Extra Care Bucks plus a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase. There is a machine at the front of the store that you should always check by swiping your CVS card. It will print coupons off of products and usually once per week will give you a coupon for money off a purchase. I usually receive the $5/$25.
Grand total = $27.32
Extra Care Bucks received = $17.00
Total saved = $36.49
Extra care bucks can be spent just like cash. The fun of shopping at CVS is that you can use your extra care bucks to buy products that are on sale or that you will give you more extra care bucks. I was a little low this week, so I spent more cash than I usually do, but I will be all set for next week with $17.00 in Extra Care bucks and probably won't spend any more out of pocket.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Free Johnson and Johnson soap
Johnson and Johnson Soap buddies are great for kids. They have a nice fruity scent and a wash-cloth surface with the soap inside-- kids can wash themselves and you don't have to worry about the soap melting in the bathtub.
These are usually priced at about $1.00 each at major retailers, so this coupon for $3 off 3 JandJ products, would make them free.
You have to have a coupon printer installed to use this coupon. It's a quick download and just a way for the coupon company to keep folks from making too many copies.
shortcuts.com
Shortcuts.com is a website where you can add free coupons directly to your shopper's card so that you don't have to worry about clipping coupons or bringing them to the store.
Currently it appears that they work with Kroger stores including Payless, Frys and Dillons.
You log in and check the current coupons they are offering for the week. It's about 20/week. They are especially good for items such as diapers. In our shopping trip today, we bought a $10.00 pack of Huggies for a baby shower. We had a coupon for $1.50 off from the Sunday paper, a $1.50 off via shortcuts and we'll receive $1.50 in our u-promise account (college savings). Pretty sweet deal for a baby shower gift.
They only ask for zip code, gender, name and grocery card number. I haven't received any spam mailings, although they do email when new coupons are added.
Currently it appears that they work with Kroger stores including Payless, Frys and Dillons.
You log in and check the current coupons they are offering for the week. It's about 20/week. They are especially good for items such as diapers. In our shopping trip today, we bought a $10.00 pack of Huggies for a baby shower. We had a coupon for $1.50 off from the Sunday paper, a $1.50 off via shortcuts and we'll receive $1.50 in our u-promise account (college savings). Pretty sweet deal for a baby shower gift.
They only ask for zip code, gender, name and grocery card number. I haven't received any spam mailings, although they do email when new coupons are added.
weekly menu and shopping
Sat- Meatloaf and sweet potatoes
Sun - Fried chicken, salad, brocolli
Mon - Manicotti or Lasagna
Tues - Chili
Wed- Tacos
Thurs - Calzone
Friday - Out!
Lunches for Kiddo
Mon - turkey bagel
Tue - pizza rolls
Weds - tuna
Thurs - chicken nuggets
Fri - PB and J
Shopping List
Ground Beef
Sweet Potatoes
Tuna
Chicken Broth
Bagels
Redi-whip
Chocolate Syrup
Frozen Turkey Sausage
Fruit rollups
Granola Bars
Apple juice
pizza crust
Recipe starters - onions, green peppers,etc.
Red Gold Tomatoes
Huggies (for our cousin)
Sun - Fried chicken, salad, brocolli
Mon - Manicotti or Lasagna
Tues - Chili
Wed- Tacos
Thurs - Calzone
Friday - Out!
Lunches for Kiddo
Mon - turkey bagel
Tue - pizza rolls
Weds - tuna
Thurs - chicken nuggets
Fri - PB and J
Shopping List
Ground Beef
Sweet Potatoes
Tuna
Chicken Broth
Bagels
Redi-whip
Chocolate Syrup
Frozen Turkey Sausage
Fruit rollups
Granola Bars
Apple juice
pizza crust
Recipe starters - onions, green peppers,etc.
Red Gold Tomatoes
Huggies (for our cousin)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Finding coupons online
Where do I find coupons? I don't spent a whole lot of time looking for them, now that I have my favorite sites. I also receive emails from most of these websites so that I know when new coupons are released (usually weekly).
Most stores do accept printed coupons from the web. I haven't had any problem using them.
Smartsource
Coupons.com
Health e-savers
Eat Better America
Betty Crocker
Right at home
Coupon Loop - a list of hundreds of current online coupons
I have also had luck going directly to the websites of products that I like and signing up for their newsletters. Often they send out coupons or opportunities to get free samples. By signing up with Morningstar, I recently received two $1.00 off coupons for their breakfast patties (our favorite veggie sausage).
Shortcuts is a site that works with Kroger and adds electronic coupons directly to your shopper's card. When you purchase something from your shortcuts list, it automatically adjusts the price at the register. Sweet!
You may wish to set up an alternative email address for your coupons as they can fill up your inbox.
Most stores do accept printed coupons from the web. I haven't had any problem using them.
Smartsource
Coupons.com
Health e-savers
Eat Better America
Betty Crocker
Right at home
Coupon Loop - a list of hundreds of current online coupons
I have also had luck going directly to the websites of products that I like and signing up for their newsletters. Often they send out coupons or opportunities to get free samples. By signing up with Morningstar, I recently received two $1.00 off coupons for their breakfast patties (our favorite veggie sausage).
Shortcuts is a site that works with Kroger and adds electronic coupons directly to your shopper's card. When you purchase something from your shortcuts list, it automatically adjusts the price at the register. Sweet!
You may wish to set up an alternative email address for your coupons as they can fill up your inbox.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Free coffee at Borders
Seattle's Best Coffee is offering a buy one get one free coupon at their Borders coffee shops. The coupon expires March 4, 2009.
A great opportunity for a frugal date...coffee and book-store browsing.
A great opportunity for a frugal date...coffee and book-store browsing.
Weekly roundup...
I met to post this over the weekend!
This week I received:
Old Navy gift card $10.00
Barnes and Noble gift card $25.00
These two came from American Express points saved up
Amazon.com gift card $20
Check $21.00
These are both from survey sites that I participate in. I give them my opinion...they give me money. More on that later.
Total gift cards/cash = $76.00
We also returned some random stuff to Walmart (their after Christmas return policy is extremely generous) and received $37.00 gift card that we used towards groceries.
This week I received:
Old Navy gift card $10.00
Barnes and Noble gift card $25.00
These two came from American Express points saved up
Amazon.com gift card $20
Check $21.00
These are both from survey sites that I participate in. I give them my opinion...they give me money. More on that later.
Total gift cards/cash = $76.00
We also returned some random stuff to Walmart (their after Christmas return policy is extremely generous) and received $37.00 gift card that we used towards groceries.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Meal Planning and Shopping List
For the past couple of months I have been making weekly meal plans to guide us during the week. There's nothing worse than getting home from work with no or uninspired dinner plans.
Usually on Friday I plan for the following week. This is after I have looked at the weekly grocery store fliers and check out the best deals. I also look in our pantry and fridge to see what we have.
Next Week:
Dinners
Saturday- Pancit (Philippino noodle dish)
Sunday - Beef Stew
Monday - Beef and Broccoli
Tuesday - Cheesy Mac (with turkey sausage and green peas)
Wednesday - Chicken Calzones
Thursday - Vegetarian Burrito Bowls (black beans, rice, cheese, lettuce, sour cream)
Friday - Salmon Patties
Lunches (for Kiddo)
M - Bagel with turkey and cream cheese
T - PB and J
W - Tuna Sandwich
Th - Popcorn Chicken
F - Crackers and Turkey
Sides - fruit cup, apple sauce, granola bar, chips, juice box
*C and I meet up for lunch at home and usually have soup and sandwich.
Breakfast Ideas
Bagels, Bacon and eggs, yogurt, biscuit and sausage, creamed eggs on toast.
Shopping List
Rice Noodles
Beef for Stew
Beef for stir fry
Chicken Breast
Eggs
Tuna
Chips
Spinach Salad
*We have been trying to buy meat on the day we will eat it- so we may be going to the grocery several times this week. Everything else for the menu we have in the pantry.
Usually on Friday I plan for the following week. This is after I have looked at the weekly grocery store fliers and check out the best deals. I also look in our pantry and fridge to see what we have.
Next Week:
Dinners
Saturday- Pancit (Philippino noodle dish)
Sunday - Beef Stew
Monday - Beef and Broccoli
Tuesday - Cheesy Mac (with turkey sausage and green peas)
Wednesday - Chicken Calzones
Thursday - Vegetarian Burrito Bowls (black beans, rice, cheese, lettuce, sour cream)
Friday - Salmon Patties
Lunches (for Kiddo)
M - Bagel with turkey and cream cheese
T - PB and J
W - Tuna Sandwich
Th - Popcorn Chicken
F - Crackers and Turkey
Sides - fruit cup, apple sauce, granola bar, chips, juice box
*C and I meet up for lunch at home and usually have soup and sandwich.
Breakfast Ideas
Bagels, Bacon and eggs, yogurt, biscuit and sausage, creamed eggs on toast.
Shopping List
Rice Noodles
Beef for Stew
Beef for stir fry
Chicken Breast
Eggs
Tuna
Chips
Spinach Salad
*We have been trying to buy meat on the day we will eat it- so we may be going to the grocery several times this week. Everything else for the menu we have in the pantry.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Download Suze Orman's new book
As part of the "Live your Best Life" series, Oprah and Suze Orman have teamed up and are sharing Suze's new book for free. It will be available on Oprah's website for one week. This is a 200 page book and will be published/available in bookstores, so get it now while it's free!
Free toilet paper at Kroger/Frys/Payless!
Hey everyone!
Here's a deal that everyone can do -- minimal effort and maximum return because it's free!
At Kroger this week, Cottonelle four-pack is on sale for .99. Print the coupon available here and Kroger will double it.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to save money, learn how to get what you use for less and share in our debt reduction journey.
Jenna
Here's a deal that everyone can do -- minimal effort and maximum return because it's free!
At Kroger this week, Cottonelle four-pack is on sale for .99. Print the coupon available here and Kroger will double it.
Stay tuned for more opportunities to save money, learn how to get what you use for less and share in our debt reduction journey.
Jenna
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