Garage Sale Saturday

This morning, I got to hit up several large garage sales, included a community garage sale.  I went all by myself, which was nice...but lately, Jeremy and the kids have been coming too, and that's also fun.  Today though, I parked my car and walked all over this community looking for some great deals. 

My favorite find was a large trashbag full of pit balls and a blow up swimming pool (the pit) for $3.75 (all I had left).  It is already a huge hit in our house. 

I also found this beautiful lamp shade.

It's exactly what I've been looking for to place in our bedroom.  I am slowly "re-decorating" it.  We have a black and white (with a little green) comforter, white shelves I bought at a garage sale and a few odd and ends to help tie things together.  So, now I have the lamp shade, I've been envisioning...but no lamp.  This is what I want. 

I am willing to find something in another color and spray paint it...be it at Goodwill, a garage sale or something.  I've also considered "making" a lamp if I find a really cool black pedestal that I can run a wire through.  Let me know if you find something to help me complete my piece.  I would LOVE to buy a new bedroom suite too...a black one, but I also think it's absurd to spend $1,000 on something I want but don't need.  Something like this or this,   Our bedroom furniture is great...it's lasted a long time, and I'm pretty sure it'll last many more years.  If I happen to find a great deal somewhere and we have cash on hand, maybe we'll "move up" to an adult set...if not, what we have has been working fine.

Also today I bought a lite-brite for Nicole for Christmas and Twister for a family game night.  I found a big giant, soft truck for Nathan to roll around and several great math books with lots of practice problems.    I feel like I had a pretty good garage sale day. 

When I got home, I took the kids outside to play in the water while Jeremy worked on the yard.  Check out these girls!

Date Night Deal

Hey....I have a deal to share with you.  If you go here, you can order a $20 Buca Di Beppo gift card and 2 Regal or AMC move tickets for $20.  Pair your gift card with a $10/$20 Bucca coupon (that you can always find) and you can have yourself a nice little inexpensive date night.


Spend $20 today for dinner and a movie on your next date night.  I found this deal at My Litter of Six.

I love to save money!!

I went to Target this morning because they had some great coupons I was hoping to capitalize on.  I bought Jeremy a T-shirt for $2 using a $2/ men's clothing coupon, organic strawberries for $1.49 using a $1/produce item coupon.  I also bought this really cute bathroom organizer thinging for $3.39.  It was on sale for $13.39 and I used a $10/any bathroom item coupon.  I hope it's useful, if not, I'll take it back....but here's hoping.

Anyway....that is not what I got so excited about at Target this morning.  We walked by the meat department, and I saw a ton of $3 off peelie coupons on the packages.  I came on the right day.  They were marking down their meats that would "expire" in the next couple of days.  I usually don't buy meat at Target...but there were a few deals I just couldn't pass up!  Let me share!

8 Count Bone-in Pork Chop reg. $15.42. sale $7.32 with a $3 off coupon.  Final Cost $4.32 (this is enough for 4 meals for us!

Bone -in Strip Steak reg. $8.19 sale for $5.73 with a $3 off coupon.  Final Cost, $2.73 for nearly .9lb steak

Pork Roast $6.49 with a $3 coupon. Final Cost $3.49 (I should get 2 or 3 meals out of that one)

2 packs of Filet Mignon.
1st pack reg. $15.39 marked down to $6.53 with a $3 coupon.  Final Cost $3.53 for 2 Filet Mignons totaling 1.1lbs
2nd pack reg $17.14, marked down to $9.34 with a $3 coupon. Final Cost $6.34 for 2 Filet Mignons, weighing 1.7 pounds total

I also bought 3 packages of 2 count organic chicken breasts.  They were $4.99 each with a $2 coupon. 

So my meat, regular price would have been $77.60
I paid $29.48
So, I saved $48.12!!! 
Yippee.  I have enough meat for 12 meals at under $2.50 a piece....not to bad.  Guess we don't need to go out to eat for a while.  I NEVER buy Filet Mignon, because I'm afraid to spend $20 on a steak and it not taste great.  So, this will be fun!

Back to School Deals - Staples

I had a fun time at Staples this week and just had to share.  OK, first, I know that you are probably rolling your eyes thinking I'm such a weird-o for having fun at staples...sorry, I don't get out much! hehehe.

Here's what I bought.

2 Reams of 500ct Multi purpose paper
1 package of photo paper
2 8ct of pencils
2 2ct of preschool scissors
10 2 pocket folders with tabs inside.

Total $27.09 plus tax
Used $10/$25 Office Depot Coupon
Used $2.80 Staples Rewards Certificate
Used $14.20 Staples Rewards Certificate

Paid $0.09!!!!
I'll also get back $23.95 back in Staples Easy Rebates
So...with coupon math, I earned $23.86 to visit Staples this week and purchase their products.  Thank you Staples!

Also...you can get $2 back on every ink cartridge you recycle there, up to 10 a month.  I dropped 7 off on this trip, so I'll get an additional $14 back in Staples Rewards.  Did you get any back to school supplies this week?

I just found out a 24 ct box of Crayola crayons are $.25 at Walmart.  I'm going to go buy several....Crayola is usually pretty pricey.

Back to School Deals

Hey my money saving friends,

Back to School deals are starting.  There are some awesome deals this week at Staples and Office Depot.  You may have to pay out of pocket for some things, but do the instant or easy rebates,and you'll get most of the money back.

Remember last year, I was able to stuff 2 backpacks full of back to school items for needy children, and spent just a few dollars.  This year (she doesn't know it yet, she might find out on here), I have a dear dear friend who will be teaching in a very low income, very needy school district.  Most of her kids probably won't have much in terms of school supplies, so I'm going to give a lot of the stuff I purchase for her.  I've heard from other friends that have taught out there that often times, teachers end up buying a lot of supplies for their students, out of their own pockets.  So, hopefully I can help my teacher friend not have to do that (and Brooke....hit up these sales too!). 

Do you know of someone or an organization you can donate school supplies to?  This is an easy and cheap way to help them out.  Plus, it's so fun and such a "high" to get all this great stuff for cheap or free!

Today...is over

I LOVED hearing what some of you were doing today! Thanks for commenting.

So, today is over.  It was a good day.

For the first time I baked muffins with all 3 children!

Nathan can now sit up in the bumbo (pretend it's blue, not purple!), so he sat on the counter and "helped" Nicole, Hannah and I make chocolate chip muffins.

You can tell he enjoyed it.  Please notice that Hannah is wearing fuzzy slippers and Nicole is wearing her princess dress....stylish little girls, I know!

Here Nathan seems to be screaming "Take those scissors away from Nicole...N.O.W!!!!!!"

And here he seems very concerned about Hannah's stirring capabilities.

After our muffins were made, we picked up Mimi and brought her over to have a tea party with us.  Tea parties (this time with Juicy Juice) are one of Nicole's favorite activities.

Later in the day, I caught Nicole and Mimi having a moment chatting and looking out the window.

Grandma and I watched 2 movies during nap today and just enjoyed a nice relaxing day with the girls. 

By the way, did you notice our dining room chairs are different?  We have been looking for new chairs...just plain wooden ones, but haven't found them.  Our chairs are upholstered...always dirty and not practical to clean.  Finally, I decided I'd just buy slip covers...and expected to pay about $100 for all 6.  I found some cheap ones at Bed, Bath and Beyond the other day....only $8 a piece I think...so I thought they would do.  Well...when I checked out, they rang up at $1.99, plus my 6 20% off coupons...they were $1.49 each!!!!!  I was so excited!  I spent like 9 bucks on slip covers for all my chairs.  The color matches my living room curtains pretty well too.  Woohoo for cheap slip covers!

Honey, It's not free....you MADE a dollar!

Before we get to the title...I have a few other things to share.

First...we are still sick, but not miserably sick like we were a few days ago.  We have wicked sore throats, runny noses and occasional coughs.  But, life goes on rather easily with those things.  I think God allowed me to be so sick on Friday morning so I wouldn't complain about how I feel right now.  I think Friday was the sickest I've been since I've had children...so no complaints here on how I feel.  I got a full night's sleep last night, so I'm ready for the day.  The kids and Jeremy are sleeping well...so we are on the mend, thank you!

Birthday pictures
Last Wednesday my parents brought over my birthday dinner....pizza from Gatsby's.  It's an Ohio State pizza joint...big Buckeye fans and pizza that rivals some of my family's favorites around Columbus.  We had a nice evening and got some cute pictures I wanted to share.

Finally....our first "family photo".  

Papa enjoyed spending time with Nate

Nicole found this clown wig (or "funny hat" as she calls it) at my mom's earlier that day.

Now...for how Jeremy mad a dollar.

A couple of weeks ago, the fan in my kitchen broke.  I pulled on the little fan speed chain, and it came right out in my hands.  Generally, we've always been the type to just go buy a new fan.  I don't know why...I think it's because in the past we've found that buying new is almost less expensive than fixing.  Anyway, Jeremy spent a lot of time trying to fix the chain on his own, but to no avail.  So, he called Home Depot (where the fan was purchased almost 7 years ago) and explained the problem.  We didn't have the receipt (it was a gift) but we did have the manual which narrowed the model number down to two. 

Anyway....Home Depot said they would call him back.  Which they did, rather promptly.  When they got him on the phone they said they found the part, it would be $9, would we like for them to order it for us?  We would.  So, the Home Depot person said, please stay on the line, we'll call our manufacturer for you and order the part.  So, the lady called the fan place, ordered the part, all while Jeremy was on the line with them.  Then, when she was finished, she asked if we needed anything else.  Jeremy said no.  THEN...the Home Depot lady said, "Thank you for contacting us.  We will send you a $10 Home Depot gift card in the mail for your troubles".  Jeremy quickly replied that she didn't need to do that.  The fan was over 5 years old, we were just happy to be able to get the part.  Well...she finished the transaction with him, and then she said again, "I would like to send you a $10 gift card, would that be alright with you?"  OK  said Jeremy.

So...he was excited to tell me about his deal in getting a Free part.  But, I quickly said...Jeremy, you didn't get it for free...you Made a dollar!"  That's how us crazies in the coupon world think.  The part cost $9, Jeremy got $10 back to Home Depot.  That's a one dollar profit, right?

Moral of the story...always try to fix your fans, and always buy from Home Depot.

Fuzzy Coupon Math

So, I've sort of fallen off the coupon bandwagon again.  It's just tough to keep up with it right now.  But, I'm slowly starting to get back on.  I had a fun bargain deal today I wanted to share.

Target had a blender on sale this week.  If you purchase it, you get a $10 gift card.  It had pretty good reviews, and a blender is something we've been talking about getting, so I bought it.

Target also had a diaper deal, and it worked out beautifully for me.  Buy 3 packages of Huggies diapers, get a $5 gift card.  The diapers were onsale for $8.99.  

I had these coupons

2 $3/1 coupons
1 $1.50/1 coupon
and 1 $1/1 Target Coupon
So...subtract $8.50 of coupons.

3 packs of diapers $26.97
- $8.50 in coupons
-$10 gift card
= $8.47 oop
Receive $5 gift card for my next purchase....in the coupon world, that means my 3 packs of diapers cost me $3.47...that's $1.16/pack.  I like that!

I was able to buy my blender and 3 packs of diapers, for less than what the blender all by itself would have been.  Not bad for my rusty couponing skills:-)

A great money saving blog

I just feel the need to pass this blog along.  Some of you have asked me where I find out about codes to use online, and coupons to print and great deals to help with Christmas shopping.  My primary source is from Hip2Save.  This blog is maintained by a really cool stay at home mom, whose husband is in the military.  She posts a ton throughout the day.  Sometimes the posts are good for me, other times I just pass them by.  But....I just found out that I can download a new Christmas song for free from Amazon every day until Christmas.  So...I just got Joy to the World by Casting Crowns for free...I can't wait to see what I can download tomorrow.

Also...a couple of weeks ago, I found out about a coupon code to save $15 off a purchase of $15 or more at a certain store online.  I was able to purchase a Christmas present for someone ( to remain anonymous) for $2.99 because of this code...and I got free shipping.  All information courtesy of Hip2Save.  I just felt like I needed to pass this info on to you, in case you want to save too.

It's never to early to learn to be frugal

This morning, Nathan got to go on his first trip to the grocery store!  He even held my coupons!  I must say that he seemed bored by the whole experience, but....as the title says...It's never to early to learn to be frugal.  And, I feel it is my responsibity to teach him...even at such a young age:-)

I feel however that I let him down.  We were just pennies shy of saving more than we spent, which is always my goal.  If I would have remembered that $5/$30 coupon, we would have surpassed that goal, but in my flurry to get out of the house, we forgot it:-(  Oh well.  Sorry Nate...I'll try harder next time.

In other news, our little boy has decided to be different from other babies his age.  You see...most babies loose a certain percentage of their weight....at least several ounces over the first few days.  Nathan however is different...he's gaining weight like a champ!  Seriously, I'm not sure a professional boxer could be gaining weight faster than this little guy.  Today we stopped by my midwife's office and weighed him.  He was already 9 lbs 13 oz!!!  He's gained 10 oz in 3 days. 

Well, we are off to nap time, him and I.  I have some little things I want to share soon.  But, not on this post, so stay tuned:-)

Being Good Stewards of God's Money

This morning, my friend Teri and I had the opportunity to give a presentation at our local MOPS group on how to "Be a Good Steward of God's Money Through Couponing". I'm pretty sure our presentation was a bit hectic, a little unorganized, probably overwhelming to some, but also helpful to others. We had fun working on our powerpoint together over the past few weeks. Teri is going to upload it to the internet sometime and I'll post a link on here if you want to see.


Here I am....ready to have a baby, haha

It was fun because there were at least 3 ladies there who really don't use coupons and were shocked by some of the information we gave them. Like...stacking store & manufacture coupons on sale or BOGO items. We gave a lot of information in a little bit of time. We hoped to spend more time on some deal scenarios and helpful websites, but we just didn't get there.

Anyway, it was a fun morning. Thanks Teri for asking me to be a part of it. I've enjoyed learning from you over the past year. You keep me excited and inspired to keep saving my family money.

Publix 11/4
Yesterday I went to Publix to pick up a few BOGO items I missed out on during my regular shopping trip (by the way, this week I paid $48.xx for groceries and saved $78.xx...good week for me.

Anyway...Here's what I got.


4 Sour Cream BOGO $.99
used 4 $.55/1 Q FREE
All detergent sale $2.99
used $1/1 Q $1.99
Chicken Broth BOGO $2.46
used 2 $1/1 Q $.23 each
2 Wonka Candy sale $2 each
used 2 $1/1 Q $1.00 each
Pampers diapers sale $8.99
stacked Target $3/1 and
manfact. $1.50/1 $4.49
Turkey Breast (my mom needed it and I didn't have a coupon! ACK!!)
$4.66

Total $14.37 (less than $10 without the turkey meat)
Saved $25.95

I Need Your Help!!

To all of my non-coupon clipping friends and family. There is a VERY BIG and Helpful coupon in today's paper. This coupon is used to help friends start their coupon adventures at CVS because you don't have to pay for the product AND they get Extra Care Bucks back. It's a free investment.

The coupon is the Bayer Contour Diabetic Monitor up to $30.00. If you will not be using this coupon, would you consider sending it or giving it to me? I'll be buying some extra papers this week too because of the value of this coupon...but I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask. Even some of your places of employment get papers and those coupons probably go to waste. I don't need the whole week...Just the Bayer coupons. Thanks in advance if you can help:-)

FYI....we've had a busy weekend, working hard. I hope to have a great post up tomorrow for you:-)

The deal of the year I do believe

My crazy friend Teri found a HUGE money maker tip last week about a sale at Winn-Dixie this week. So, she planned ahead, and let me in on it as well. She found this deal over at Thrifty Florida Mama

Here's the deal. Glade Plug -ins were Buy One Get One Free (BOGO). There is a BOGO free coupon. This works out to two free Glade Plug-ins. Then, Winn-Dixie added that they would print off a $1.00 coupon from their catalina machine for each plug in. This $1 coupon can be used at any grocery store on your next purchase because it's a "manufacturer coupon". So...here's what I did.

I bought 20 BOGO coupons from Teri (who ordered a crazy amount last week). I was able to purchase 40 Glad plug-ins (BOGO sale and BOGO Q) and pay only tax $.06/each. Then, each plug in gave me $1.00 back. So...I should have bought 40 plug ins for $2.40 and received $40 in catalina coupons. But...the deal gets sweeter.

I found out last night at our Clipper Chicks meeting, that my friend Sky (who also did this deal with Teri) purchased, sort of on a whim, 2 Juicy Juice Immunity boxes because they were on sale and she had coupons. Low and behold...the catalina printed MORE Juicy Juice coupons AND a $1.00 catalina for each juice she bought.

So...using the above knowledge and a coupon for a free package of diapers and a free package of wipes...here's what I bought....



40 Glade Plug-ins (first come first serve...who wants them? I don't, haha)
12 boxes of Juicy Juice Immunity and Brain Booster
1 34 ct. pck of diapers
1 64 ct. pck of wipes.

I did 6 transactions and spent $7.40 and received 36 Catalina $1 coupons back.
Now, my total out of pocket was way to high. I should have only spent $3.40...but I wasn't paying attention at first and paid for my first few transactions with my own cash intead of handing over some of my $1 catalinas. So...that stinks...I wasted $4.00

Oh well.

Here's what my purchase should have cost me
Glad plug ins $79.60
Juicy Juice $35.88
Diapers $7.99
Wipes $3.59
Grand Total (without sales/coupons) $206.66

Total Savings $199.26
PLUS $36 in Coupons to use at any grocery store (here I come Publix!)

Honestly though, I don't care about the plug ins. BUT...the Juicy Juice and diapers/wipes is an amazing deal. I'm happy to have paid $7.40 out of pocket for all that juice, diapers AND wipes.

Thanks Teri on the heads up of the amazing deal.

And Tiffy...I know your going to make fun of having all this glade stuff. Ask Chris if he wants me to bring you half of them *wink* *wink* haha.

Busted!! and Backpacks of love

For the past couple days, we have caught Nicole hanging out somewhere, she's not suppose to be anymore




The first time Nicole climbed into Hannah's crib was during nap time. It was a difficult moment not to laugh at, and especially difficult not to photograph. However, she had already been in a lot of trouble that day for playing (read....Destroying her room) during nap time. So, she ended up getting in trouble for climbing in the crib.

The second time it happened, was the same night (Monday) just after we put the girls down to bed for the night. I had left for my clipper chicks meeting and Jeremy heard the girls laughing. He again, found Nicole with her blanket, pillow and doggie, all lying in Hanah's bed. Again...she got in trouble.

However, this morning, she climbed in after everyone had woke up from sleeping all night. I finally could resist no longer and took the pictures. They were having fun. I don't mind so much if this happens, as long as it's not during naps or during the night. After naps and night night time is ok. I'm glad Nicole is learning to enjoy Hannah more.

Backpacks filled with love (and school supplies)

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I just haven't been able to resist amazing back to school deals. However, since my kids are not yet in school and I don't have a need for endless supplies of spiral notebooks, I decided I would have a blast "buying" all sorts of free and almost free items and donate them. I decided to donate two well stocked backpacks to Sunlight Homes, a Christian organization in town that takes in at risk pregnant teens and young women. They make them continue their education, do chores, go to church and counseling session as well as prepare them for their new life as a young mom. They provided prenatal support and a safe place for these young ladies. I'm always happy to help an organization that supports life.

So...Monday morning, Nicole and I dumped all the schools supplies onto the floor and began pairing up all the matching pieces (most everything I bought two of)



Then we stocked the backpacks full of items like....(this is from memory)
*3 ring binder
*filler paper
*4 book covers
* a zillion (ok, maybe a little less) of pens and pencils)
*highlighters
*spiral notebooks
*white erase board and markers
*erasers, crayons, scissors, glue
*composition notebook
*protractor
*toothbrush and makeup remover
*and much more



We also filled a bag with "feminine products", band aids, blood glucose meters (for any girls with gestational diabetes), hygiene products, dishwasher soap, and a large box with outgrown clothes (btw...they need boys 18month and larger clothes right now if you have any).

It was a fun activity to do with Nicole because I got to tell her a little about the girls. She was so excited she "drew" a picture for them, "cooked" them some food (in her kitchen), and asked about them throughout the day. She would occasioanlly bring me items and ask me if "the girls with the backpacks" need them. I loved her help and I hope I can do things like this with her more often (especially with my coupons) and teach her to help others.

My Frugal Day Off:-)

The girls got to spend the night at Grammy and Gramp's house AND...they stayed most of today. When Grammy called to see if she could have the girls (I love when they ask because then I don't feel like I'm taking advantage of them...they want to....they of course meaning either set of grandparents). So....where was I? Oh....when I found out she also wanted to keep the girls all morning and put them down for naps, I began planning my frugal shopping extravaganza.

One thing I've been wanting to do, but just simply refuse to do with the girls in tow, is hit a bunch of thrift stores and consignment shops. It's been years (read highschool-never) that I've visited a thrift store except to donate items. So...that was big item on the agenda. I wanted to find maternity clothes and some picture frames (failed at both). BUT....I found something even better (Amanda....you're gonna love this!)


I bought 8 NEVER BEEN USED CLOTH DIAPERS for $.99 each. These are fuzzibunz and cost $17.95 EACH...I got 8 for $8.00!!!!! I'm super duper Psyched!!!!That's a $135 savings!!!!

My other main goal was to hit Staples and CVS and get some cheap/free school supplies. Why do I need school supplies when my kids aren't even close (ok...Nicole's getting close) to school age? Well...because it's fun to buy things for free...and I can donate them to someone who needs it. My goal is to stock 2 backpacks full of great, high quality school supplies, and I am well on my way. This is what I got today...


...paired with what I got earlier this week at CVS.
And there are more great freebie sales to come. Let me explain what I did.

CVS...get $5ecb for any backpack (limit 2)
Purchased each backpack at a different store. Used only ecb (save for $.30 in tax). Ended up with 5 ecb in the end. So...two free backpacks and 5 ecb.

Staples
Staples had some great rebates and in -store rebate items this week.
My total was $57.36
- $10 Office Depot Q
Spent $47.36 oop
Rebates I'm getting back $38.93
So....all of my school supplies have cost me $8.43!!! I'm totally cool with spending that much money to donate 2 backpacks....woohoo!!!!!!

Stock pile test

In Honor of what I see as a pretty crummy sales week at Publix (we don't eat tuna, and that seems to be the best deal this week), I have decided to do something drastic....for me. I will only be purchasing staple items NEEDED for the week and using whatever I have stocked up in the fridge, freezer and pantry for my meals. I will still be purchasing items for a fresh lunch daily for both Jeremy and the girls....and several Arnold whole wheat bread loaves which are the only BOGO item I want. The real test begins....is my stock pile really that good? I probably will not use a single coupon (wait...I have a few produce coupons I can sneak in) what do you think? Can I go under $25 for the ENTIRE Week? Wouldn't that be nice for once:-)

My list will look something like this....
1 gallon Whole Milk (Hannah)
1 gallon 1% milk
1 lb fresh deli meat
1 block of cheese
1 tomato
3 peaches
1 head of broccoli
1 or 2 cans of green beans
4 loaves of whole wheat bread

FUN night of Couponing

Publix
I had to go to Publix last night after our Clipper Chicks meeting because I didn't realize we were out of whole milk for Hannah AND there is a Fantastic deal on kids yogurt (read FREE!!!)

Here's my bill
2 Organic Valley whole milk 2/$7.00
4 Danonino Yogurt $2.00/1 and BOGO
4 Dannon Danimals $2.00/1 and BOGO
Turkey Pepperoni (needed for dinner)
Sub total $27.67

Coupons used
$1/2 any organic valley product
4 $1/1 Danonino yogurt (found in new Publix coupon book)
4 $1/1 Danimals yogurt (found in new Publix coupons book
$.55/1 pepperoni Q

Grand total $8.45 (almost a 72% savings)
By matching the Dannon Qs with a BOGO sale I got those yogurts for Free. Normall it would have cost me $16.00 JUST for the yogurt:-) Yipee!!!


CVS
Last night after our Clipper Chicks meeting, we headed to CVS. I already did most of my CVS deals on Sunday...but Teri found another GREAT deal that I had to do. Plus...I really needed Tide and there were 3ecb on it. Here's what I got.




4 Always Infinity (regular price $10.29) Sale $4.99/1
1 large bottle of Tide 12.99

Coupons used
4 $4/1 Always Infinity
1 $.35/1 Tide
Subtotal $17.59
Paid with 12 ecb and 5 ecb
Total out of pocket..... $0.59
And 3 ecb back:-)

If those Always Infinity weren't on sale (unadvertised by the way) the four of those alone would have been $41.96.

Double Qs at Kmart

K-Mart is doubling coupons again this week. I didn't get to do the deal I wanted (I'll explain it in a minute) but, I did get to get a few items. Here is my picture (I'm missing one deoderant and one edge gel that I gave to Valerie who so kindly came with us).

2 Kotex 1/$1.29 FREE with Qs

Secret deo $2.49 $.49 after Qs

Secret deo $3.99 $1.99 after Qs

3 Edge shaving gel 1/$1.99 2 were $.01 and 1 was $.49 after Qs

2 Bic Soleil 4pk refills 1/$3.24 Both FREE after Qs.

My total before coupons was $22.80

My total after coupons was $4.29

I splurged on my deoderant because I'm picky. I was pretty satisfied with that.

However, what would have made my picture look better was the deal I went in to do. Let me tell you about it. I wanted to buy (in my first transaction)

5 Pull ups $9.99

1 box of wipes $1.99

Total $51.94

-$5/$50 Kmart Q

- 20 (5 $2/1 pull ups Q then doubled to make it )

- 2 ($1/1 wipes Q doubled)

Total = $24.94

Then I would get a $14 K Mart Q for my next purchase.

My next purchase would have been some of the above items AND 2 garden soaker hoses. I'm pretty sure, grand total for the day would have been around $26. Maybe I'll hit another K Mart tomorrow for the pull-ups...I'd love to get all those pull ups and soaker hoses for free:-)

Morning Fun...and CVS

It's not even 9:00 yet and we've already got a handful of pictures. I couldn't resist this morning. Grandma bought Hannah a little outfit before she left and I put it on her this morning. It came with a matching doo-rag (how do you spell that?) A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!
So, of course I had to share....

Nicole was spinning in her pretty skirt

While I wait for these photos to upload, I better tell you about CVS this week. BIG week for CVS around here. My buddy Teri and I took off Sunday night after the kids went down to do most of our deals, because we had a $5/30 that was expiring. The big deal this week is that the Bayer Contour Blood Glucose Monitor is on sale with $5ecbs. Why do I need a glucose monitor? I don't, but it's FREE and I get money back, so I'll purchase them and then donate them. There is also a pretty good deal on Colgate toothbrushes, Schick Razors, and Bayer Quick Release crystals. So...here's the deal I did with my friend Allison last night, who is learning the ropes.

Trans 1

2 Blood Glucose meters $14.99 each

- $14.99 Q

= FREE

Received $10 ECB

Trans 2

4 Colgate toothbrushes $2.99

-2 $1/1 Q (wish I had 2 more for her)

=$10

Used $10 ECB

$0.00 oop

Received $5 ECB

Trans 3

1 Schick Razor $8.99

2 Colgate toothpaste (BOGO) $2.79(?)

=$12 and change

-$4.00 Schick Q

- 2 $1/1 toothpaste Q

=$6 and change

Used 5 ECB

Paid $1 and change oop

Received 4 ECB

Trans 4

1 Schick Razor $8.99

1 Bayer Crystals $2.00

=$11 and change

-4 Razor Q

-1 Bayer Q

Used 4 ECB

Paid $2 and change oop

Received 6 ECB

Trans 5

1 Schick Razor $8.99

-4 Razor Q

=$5 and change

Used 4 ECB

Paid $1 and change oop

Received 4 ECB.

She walked out with 6 ECB, paid between $4 and $5 for 3 Razors, 4 toothbrushes, 2 toothpastes, 1 Bayer Crystals, 2 blood glucose meters.

Way to go...it was fun teaching a newbie how to do this...and a great week to teach. So...if you have the coupons...go to CVS today:-)

K-Mart doubles and triples

Today was my first experience, ever with doubling and tripling coupons. K Mart was tripling coupons that were $.75 and less and doubling coupons up to $2.00. So....here's what I got.

2 softsoap bottles ($1.50 each) with 2 $.35 (x3)

$.45 for one $.90 for 2

1 Johnson's Lotion ($5.29) with $2.00 (x2)

$1.29 (this was a splurge!)

4 Colgate kids toothpaste (1.29) with 4 $.75 (x3)

$.04 for one!!! $.16 for all four

4 Skintimate shave gel $2.89 with 4 $.75 (x3)

$.64 for one $2.56 for all four

1 Oral B toothbrush $2.19 with $.75 (x3)

Free (wish there were more)

4 Huggies wipes $2.50 with 4 $.75 (x3)

$.25 for one $1.00 for all four

1 Cottonelle moist wipes $ 4.19 with $.75 (x3)

$1.94 (this was a mistake. I thought the wipes were $3.00, if I would have paid attention to

the scanner, I would have voided this)

2 Clorox Anywhere spray $2.79 with 2 $.75 (x3)

$ .54 for one $1.08 for both (this was also a mistake. I got the kind you spray on furniture.

Anyone want to swap for one with a Clorox Anywhere?)

2 Bisquick $3.69 with $.60 (x3)

$1.89 for one $3.78 for both (I go through bisquick pretty fast and they aren't BOGO at

Publix very often, so this was a decent deal for me)

3 Sparkle Paper towels (3 pack) $2.99 with $.50 (x3)

$ 1.49 for one $4.47 for 3

My merchandise total was $74.93

I used $57.44 in coupons (and doubles and triples)

Paid $17.49 out of pocket.

I didn't have the $5/$50 Coupon :-( or else my total would have went down to $12.49. If I wouldn't have bought the lotion and cottonelle wipes, I would have been below $10. Not to shabby. I was pretty excited. It was fun doubling and tripling coupons.

btw....Jeremy and the girls went with me. Jeremy was extremely patient and watched the girls while I bargained shopped. We did have one mishap. They were in the garden section when Nicole slipped (again) on a puddle and got completely wet and muddy. So we had to impulse by a new outfit and undies (the undies were on sale though $4.00 for a 9 pack). I made him ring those up separately so it wouldn't affect my bargain shopping receipts, haha. Nicole was fine and just suffered a wet bottom for a few minutes. I was extremely grateful for Jeremy's help. He's the best!