Giant 9/14

This week at Giant I got a bunch of cheap and free stuff.

Green Giant Steamers 10/10 - $1 q = FREE
Pasta Roni 10/10 - .50q doubled =FREE
Giant Care One Mouthwash 10/10 -$1 CareOne q = FREE
Giant mini Pancakes 4/$5 - $1 Giant q = .25
Guaranteed Value (generic) Honey Grahams 1.49 - 1.00 GV q = .49
Pure Power toilet bowl cleaner 2.34 - 2.00PurePower q = .34
Danimals yogurt 1.69 - $1q = .69
Betty Crocker delights 1.49 - .55q doubled =.49
8 Motts Juices 2/$4 = $16 - 4 $1qs = $12 (1.50 each plus .20 off gas!)
Poptarts 1.69 and Eggo waffles 3/5 -2.00 wyb both = 1.36
6 Green Giant boxed veggies 3/$4 = $8 - 3 $1/2 q = .83 each
Old El Paso taco shells 1.03, soft shells 1.24, refried beans .84, Salsa 1.40 - 2 $1/2 q = 2.51 for all plus seasoning packet FREE wyb 2 old el paso items.

Walmart last week

Last week I spent .99 at Walmart.

This is what I got:

2 packs of Huggies CleanTeam wipes 1.64 each
1 Glade Plug in 3.64
2 Kraft mac and cheese .50 each

I used $4 off coupon for The Glade Plug-in
I used $3 off 2 for the wipes and got them for .14 each

After tax and overage my bill was .99

Giant 9/11

Fantastic deals this week!
Giant gives 1 gas point per dollar spent. 100 points equals 10 cents off a gallon of gas. This I bought enough participating products to earn 60 cents per gallon off my next fill up. Gas for under 3.00 woo hoo!

My receipt this week looked like this:

Total before savings: 81.84
Total Savings: 43.56
Total After savings: 38.28

Some of these deals included:

~Arnold Sandwich Thins 1.89 (each package had a .50 q on them)
~Green Giant Steamers 10/$10 - used a $1 q from last Sunday's paper = FREE
~Welch's Grape Jam 2/$3 - used a $1q = $1 each
~Cheerios 3/$6 - used 3 $1 qs = $1 each
~PurePower dishwasher tablets 2/$4 - used a Giant store q for $2 off any Pure Power product= FREE
~Giant Vanilla Wafers: 4/$5 - used Giant Store q for $1 off any Giant product =.25
~Great Value HoneyGrahams $1.49 - used Store q for $1 off any GV product = .49
~Breyers Kids 6pack swirled yogurt 2.29 - used .50 manuf q (doubled) = 1.29
~Nature Valley Granola Bars 2.29 - used $1q = 1.29
~San Georgio Pastas .85 each. No q but this was a great deal! Got 4 boxes.
~Quaker Oats 2/$3 used .50 q for Sunday's paper (doubled) = .50
~Giant Pie Crust - FREE q if you buy Reddi wip - used .50q off reddiwip (doubled) got pie crust and reddiwhip for 1.29.

Giant is celebrating their 85th anniversary and offering lots of coupons and deals!

Giant 8/9

Today I got 4 more of those Jell-o pudding singles and 4 boxes of Nabisco 100 calorie packs.

I used 4 .50/1 coupons for the Jello which after doubling made them .06 each.

I used 4 .55/1 coupons for the 100 calorie packs - after doubling, they were $1.50 each.

for $6.24 I got $15.84 worth of stuff.

Walmart 8/4

I did great at Walmart tonight! I paid $18.65 for just over $40 of stuff.

6 Huggies Clean Team $1.64 each = 8.88
minus 3 $3 off 2 coupons = .14 each

5 Electrasol Power Tabs 2.62 = 13.10
minus 5 $2.25 coupons = .37 each

9 packets of Kool-Aid = 1.80 *Which got me the following for FREE:

Family Size Wheat Thins 3.48
FREE wyb 3 kraft/nabisco products

Oscar Mayer hot dogs 2.50
FREE wyb 3 kraft/nabisco products

Kraft Deluxe Cheese singles 3.47
FREE wyb 3 kraft/nabisco products

Other items on my list but no coupons:
Pineapple: 3.00 (it's HUGE)
Tostitos 2.50
2 bags of shredded cheese 2.42 each (ouch)
I container ricotta cheese 1.62
1 packet chili seasoning .44 -all needed for this week's menu


(will add pic later, blogger won't let me add right now)

SuperFresh 8/3 plus new shoes

We were visiting my parents over the weekend, so I took it upon myself to check out the local ads in their area. I wasn't impressed by any of the prices, really.
I had a store credit to DSW Shoe Warehouse, and since we don't have one close to where we live, I took advantage of the one near my mom and dad's house. I got a brand new pair of running shoes for $5.60 after I used my store credit (which was actually a birthday gift from my sister)

Superfresh was in the same shopping center, so I armed myself with my coupons and ventured in. I had been warned that it's not the cleanest store and that it didn't exactly smell great either. Both are true statements. I wanted raspberries (on sale 2/$4) but I couldn't find any in the entire store. Canteloupe was advertised 3/$5, but in this store it was $1.99. I parked my cart in the frozen food aisle and was about to give up, but I found some saving deals.
AND coupons were tripled this week!

Dasiy Sour Cream (8oz) was 10/10. I had 2 .50 coupons, so I made an overage on them)
Pillsbury pizza crust was 1.50. I had a .35 coupon that tripled and I got it for .45.
I got 2 Zone Perfect bars (1.19 each) for FREE - I had .55 coupons that tripled.
I also picked up an avacado for 1.67.

My bill was 2.32 after coupons. I only paid for the Avacado and the pizza crust.

Cash

We have switched to cash for (at least) the month of August. We did this once before last fall and it was really a humbling experience.
We continue to use our credit card for gas purchases only. We take $100 from the ATM on Sunday and that is our allowance for the week. I need to plan very carefully when I grocery shop and prepare meals and also look ahead to any potential future needs (haircuts, DH lunches out with coworkers, emergency diaper runs, etc).
Luckily this time around, my pantry is more stocked and I pretty much can concentrate on buying fresh produce and meats instead of grocery items.

I like living on cash. We get entirely way too comfy with our credit cards. It gets away from us. Cash adds a bit of a challenge to our comfort of living. Who doesn't like a good challenge?

I recently saw this story on Good Morning America. It aired just days after I had decided that August would be a cash month for us.

Walmart and Babies R Us 8/1

Today, Babies R Us was running a promotion - Buy 2 cases of Pampers Diapers and get a $15 gift card - good deal. Each case of size 4 diapers contains 176 diapers and costs $37.99. I don't typically buy my diapers at BRU, but since I had some manufacturers coupons and 2 gift cards, I thought I'd buy into this deal:

2 cases Pampers Baby Dry: 75.98
minus 2x 1.50/1 coupons = 72.98
minus 15.00 BRU gift card = 57.98
minus 9.55 balance left on BRU gift card = 48.43

I paid 48.43 for 356 diapers plus got back $15. That comes to about 9 cents/diaper.

I then took the $15 gift card and used it to pay for a box of Huggies Wipes. The wipes were priced at 14.99. I used a $2 off BRU promo coupon and a $1 off Huggies manf coupon. I spent 11.99 on my gift card and still have a balance of 3.01 to use when I decide to go get some new sippy cups. BRU usually puts out a coupon for $2 off Gerber sippies. I will probably use it when the next coupon comes out and get them for (almost) free.


Our next stop was Walmart. Last time I was there, I noticed that Capri Sun drinks were on sale for 1.75. I had just purchased a value pack of Kraft mac and cheese at Giant last week and on it was a cupon for 1.50 off Capri Sun. I used it today and got my Capri Sun 10 pack for .25.
But wait... it gets better. Johnson's Buddy Soaps are 94 cents. I had 2 printable coupons for $1 each. They gave me a .12 overage combined and when applied to my 25 cent capri sun, I got it all for 13 cents. Not bad at all.

Giant 7/27

I think I did pretty well at Giant today... My total bill before coupons/discounts was 101.49. I saved 44.96 and paid 56.53.

Giant is running another gas deal this week. I had to purchase 6 items from those listed. I got 2 containers of Turkey Hill ice cream ($2 each) and had $1 coupons for both. I also got 2 BirdsEye Viola dinners which were 2/7. I had 2 $1 coupons for those. To make 6 items I picked up 2 packs of SteamFresh veggies for 1.80 each.

Now I have enough gas points for .70 off each gallon of gas next time I fill up. The promotion is running for another month. I am sure I can rack up a ton more points by then. (a point/dollar spent - $100 points = .10 off/gallon)

There is a Betty Crocker deal - buy 5 BC items and get $5 off your order. I got 4 Warm Delights (1.67 each) and had 2 coupons for $1 off 2. I also picked up 2 packs of BC cookie mix for 1.89 each and had a coupon for $1 off 2.

RiceaRoni and PastaRoni are 10/10. I printed a coupon for .50 off 1 which doubled and I got my ricearoni for FREE.

Powerade (32 oz) was on sale for .69. I had a $1 coupon and got a .31 overage.

I also got a FREE cup of Yoplait yogurt (had to buy 6 cups- but got those on sale with a doubled coupon.

CVS 7/27

I have been having a rough few weeks with CVS. I really can't seem to make any deals that are worth it to me. And so my extra bucks keep dwindling.

Today I did this:

1 package of Band-aid Blister relief 2.99 (earn $2 ecb) (needed these badly)

1 Revlon limited edition lip color 9.99 (earn 9.99 ecb)

Tums 3.69 

CVS diapers 90% off   .94

I used a $1 coupon on the band aids 

1.25 manuf AND $2 for the Tums

I paid for the rest with $13 ECB and $1.37 cash earned $11.99 ecb back. 

Free Vivanno at Starbucks

Today Starbucks is giving away a FREE Vivanno drinks to Starbucks card holders.
While it wasn't the best drink I ever had, it was free and for free I have to say it was pretty darn tasty.
I chose the chocolate banana and had it made with skim milk. You can see the nutrition facts here. As you can see its probably not the worst thing for you to have when it comes to Starbucks. It has fiber and whey protein in it - delish! (note sarcasm) And with skim milk, the calories and fat are slashed just a bit.

Giant and Walmart this week

Its been awhile... I was away for a bit, and out of the couponing circuit, but now I'm back and getting back into the swing of things. This week was a pretty good week, I think.

First stop was Giant. They were running a deal this week - Buy 8 of 'the following' items and get 20 cents off each gallon of gas (purchased a Giant Gas)

2 Betty Crocker Brownie Mix 10/10 = $2 minus $1 off 2 q = $1.00
2 Trix Yogurt 2.19 = $4.38 minus $1 off 2 q = $3.38
Caribou Coffee bars = $2.29 minus .50 q doubled to 1.00 = 1.29
2 Pop Secret 3/5 =$3.34 minus $1 off 2 q = 2.34
Pillsbury Pizza Dough= $1.50 minus .35 q doubled to .70 =.80
Eggland's Best Eggs (not part of the deal, but pictured anyway) $1.99 minus $1 q =.99
I paid 9.80 for everything above AND I will be getting .20 off a gallon next time I fill up my tank.


These Jell-o singles are on sale for $1.06 through August 6th. I used a $1 coupon and got it for .06! I am going to get more coupons so I can get more!
This Action Scrubber was on sale for 4.39. I used a coupon for $2.25 and after tax I paid 1.74. The best part of the deal is that I have a Mail in Rebate from this Sunday's paper and I will be getting the item for FREE!

At Walmart, I got the following items:
Honey Bunches of Oats Just Oats Cereal: 2.50 minus $2 coupon = .50
Electrasol Dishwasher tablets: 2.62 minus 2.25 coupon = .37
3 Pert Plus @ 2.88 each = 8.64 minus 3 $3 coupons = .46 overage
3 Pain Patches @ .97 each = 2.91 minus 3 $1 coupons = .08 overage



My total was 33 cents plus tax. DH was in desperate need of socks. They were 8.00. They were technically the only item I paid for!

More Giant Food Stores Deals 7/4

Today I re-visited Giant to pick up a few more free items.

Activia yogurt 2/4
Honey Nut Cheerios snack mix 2/4
MultiGrain Cheerios 2/4
Starkist Albacore Tuna Pouches 1.29 x 2 = 2.58
Arcadia water 35 pack $5
3 (small) Hallmark Expressions Greeting cards 1.59

Total: 19.69

I applied the following coupons:
MultiGrain Cheerios $1/1 (doubled) = FREE
Cheerios Mix $1/1 (doubled) = FREE
Activia yogurt $1/1 (doubled) = FREE
Starkist tuna pouches $1/2 (doubled) = .58
Arcadia water FREE when you purchase 3 Hallmark Expressions Greeting cards = FREE
Giant Coupon (CRT) .75 off you next order (from a previous transaction)

Total OOP after tax: 1.52

Total savings: 18.27

Kmart cereal deal

Kmart has select General Mills cereals on sale for 1.49 each (must buy 4). I don't usually sho there, but I happened to be driving by and popped in to see if Fiber One was included in the deal. And, yay! It was!
Both DH and I eat this cereal almost every morning - I claim it to be the secret to my weight loss success (see skinnymich.blogspot.com). It typically retails for 3.49-3.89 in most stores, so I try to stock up when a good deal comes along- and 1.49 is a real steal. In fact, I've never seen it less than 1.99. I grabbed 4 boxes and matched up my coupons. I had an extra $1/1 coupon so I grabbed a 5th box (which was 2.49 -without buying 3 more to make a second set of 4)
All said and done, I paid 5.49 for 5 boxes of cereal which is 1.09/box. Not too shabby.
The register printed a coupon for 1.50 off 5 boxes of General Mills Cereal with my receipt. I can go back and do the deal again if I dare!

Giant Food Stores Deals 6/30

Giant had 4 dollar doublers in this week's ad. We were away over the weekend and a neighbor brought my papers up to the house, only I couldn't find them. I figured I'd just grab an ad at the store and use the doublers from that. Unfortunately, the in-store ads did not feature and doublers (I imagine they were being abused). I purchased mostly produce and milk but managed to use a few coupons. This is what I got:

2 packs Ortega Taco seasoning .65 each = 1.30
1 French's yellow mustard 10/$10 = 1.00
1 KC Masterpiece bbq sauce 2/$3 =1.50

I used the following coupons:

.75 off 2 Ortega products -doubled (only up to 1.00) = .28 for 2
.50 off French's mustard -doubled = FREE!
.50 off KC Masterpiece bbq sauce - doubled = .50

I also bought Trix Yogurt for 1.99 and used a .50 coupon that doubled - making it .99
and
Daisy Sour Cream was 1.99. I used a .50 coupon that doubled making it .99
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Later, when I came home, I found my Sunday paper AND my dollar doublers in my Giant ad. I went back in the evening to use them:
3 cans Dole mandarin oranges 10/10 = 3.00
2 Starkist tuna pouches .89 each = 1.78
1 French's Spicy Brown mustard 10/10
2 Ortega taco seasoning .65 each = 1.30
1 Dannon Activia Yogurt 2/4
1 Kozy Shack sugar free pudding = 2.39

I used these coupons:
1.00 off 3 cans Dole Oranges (doubled) = 3/1.00
1.00 off 2 pouches Starkist tuna (doubled) = FREE (.22 overage)
.50 off French's mustard (doubled) = FREE
.75 off 2 Ortega products (doubled to 1.00) = 2 for .30
1.00 off Activia yogurt (Doubled) = FREE
1.00 off Kozy Shack pudding (doubled) = .39

I also purchased an avacado for 1.69 and my total came to 3.17

Target 6/22

Okay, so I can't ever go into Target and shop for only a deal... I always find something else to buy (and usually pay full price) This week, I didn't plan... didn't have all of my coupons with me AND was on a time constraint. So of everything I actually bought, this was the best deal:
This bag of Russel Stover's Chocolates was reduced 50% to 1.98. I had a 2.00 off coupon for Russel Stover Origin Select Chocolates.
I don't particularly care for Russel Stover's Chocolates. I don't even like dark chocolates. Heck, I don't really even eat chocolate much at all... but it was FREE and I DO like free chocolate.

CVS 6/26

I had already done the Charmin/Duracell deal earlier this week. But I realized that I had some Extra Care bucks that will expire while I am on vacation in 2 weeks. I have to use them up between now and then and I am nervous because the upcoming CVS deals aren't looking too great. I just have to make do the best I can - even if it means losing some bucks - like I did today.

Quarterly bucks will be printing on July 1st, and I might be able to make up my losses there.

Anyway, here is what I did today...

Aleve 2.99
Playtex Sport Tampons 7.99
CVS Band aids 1.99
Peanut Butter Crackers 1.00 (these were a filler)

Minus the following coupons:

Aleve: 1.00
CVS 1.50 off any pain relief purchase
Playtex 1.00
Extra Care Bucks 10.00

I ended up paying .47 out of pocket and saving 17.39. I also earned 1.99 + 2.00 back in Extra Care bucks. I don't usually like to spend more than I get back, but at least I got stuff we needed.

Next week I can get some sunblock (will need for vacation) and swiffer refills - I hope. Off to check the ad again!

Giant Food Stores Deals 6/26

This week at Giant, I spent most of my food budget money on produce. I LOVE produce in the summer time!
I went back today to get the items pictured above. Here is how it panned out:

2 packs Solo Plates 2/$4
Yoplait Kids 1.99
Sweet Baby Rays bbq sauce 1.00 (10/10)
Giant 12 Grain Bread .97 (on clearance)
=
10.13

I applied the following coupons:

Solo Plates -2.00
Solo Plates -2.00
Sweet Baby Rays -1.00
Yoplait kids - FREE (the cashier took off 2.00, not sure why)

My total came to .96! So basically I only paid for the bread.

I got home and found a $5 off $30 coupon for Giant in my mailbox! Happy Day!