Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Airfare Sale

In case you didn't spot it already, Southwest Airlines is having a sale to celebrate their 40th birthday with many fares across the US cut dramatically if you book in the next couple of days. Tickets start at $40 for one way. If you are looking to fly any time between now and December and you know your dates, now is a great time to book!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Grocery Shopping from June 15th


Between CVS, Smiths and Target I had a decent grocery shop this week. I'm still working on building my stockpile but also adding in the occaisional luxury like buying my favorite cheap wine.

Total Value: $104.34
Total Paid: $45.18
Saved: $59.16 (57%)

And here is my question dear readers. Do you like seeing the break down of what I spent where? Would you like me to just highlight the good deals? Would you rather not read it at all?

Monday, June 13, 2011

Using Overage to Pay for Produce

I went to Walmart very late last night on my way home because there was an opportunity for a saving that I didn't want to miss out on.

As a couponer, it can be very challenging to buy things like produce or proteins like meat and fish. We eat fish primarily in my house and I'm always sad when we run out because I know it'll take up a huge chunk of my grocery budget.

So I discovered that at Walmart, travel sized Dial body wash was on sale for $0.97. Also, a recent Manufacturer's coupon for $2 off any Dial Lotion or Body Wash with no size restriction meant that I could take these coupons to the store and use overage to purchase items I can't normally buy cheaply. I had six coupons and they happened to have six body wash left. So I purchased 2lb fish fillets, some fresh garlic and fresh ginger, along with 6 tiny bottles of Body wash for $1.65. This was down from $13.18 for a savings of 87%.

This is a rare feat, but a good one!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Drugstore Shopping from June 12th


I didn't go too crazy at the drugstores today. I tried to only get things that I knew I would use and I laid off most of the candy sales. Leon the cat refused to be parted with the milk while it was on the table.

Total Value: $33.20
Total Paid: $5.43
Total Saved: $27.77 (84%)
Got back $4 RR and $3 ECB

CVS

Transaction 1

Zyrtec 5 Count - $6.99
Sale Price - $5.99
Used $2/1 MQ
Used $1 ECB

Paid $3.48 OOP Got $5.99 ECB

Transaction 2

Motrin PM - $5.99
Sale Price - $4.00
Used $1/1 MQ

Viva Milk - $3.19
Sale Price - $2.99

Used $5.99 ECB
Paid $0.32 OOP Got $3.00 ECB

Transaction 3

Motrin PM - $5.00
Sale Price - $4.00
Used $1/1 MQ

Used $3 ECB
Paid $0.32 OOP Got $3.00 ECB

Those $3 ECB's will be used towards milk this week. I love using ECB's to buy milk.


Walgreens

Wal-Fex Allery 5 count - Sale Price $3.99

Nestle Crunch Bars - Sale Price $0.39
Used 2 $0.35/1 MQ's
Used 1 B2G1 MQ

Used $2 RR
Used $1.08 Store Credit
Paid $1.31 OOP Got $4 RR for next week.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Really Good Restaurant Deal

So today, Restaurant.com is offering an 80% discount on orders if you use the code DEAL when you check out. I just bought $100 of gift certificates to our favorite Sushi restaurant for $8. I highly recommend checking it out! They offer gift certificates for restaurants all over the country.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Finally Found It

I've finally found an awesome coupon matchup site that handles coupon matchups for Nevada as well as pretty much every other state. I've been doing these matchups myself and, while I will continue to do so, it's pretty awesome to have found a place to double check my work.

It's the little things that make us happy.

http://grocerysmarts.com/index.html

Sunday, June 5, 2011

May Totals

May was the first full month that I worked on extreme couponing/strategic shopping. I was really happy with the financial results from this first month. I ended up spending a total of $296.91 on all groceries. I saved $467.92 in total. I'm well on my way to making my goal of saving $1000 this year to the point that I'm laughing at how silly a goal that was in the first place.

The more immediate goal is to only spend $50 a week on groceries. I believe that is completely appropriate and I'm hoping to hit that this month.

One of the benefits of shopping this way is I'm actually able to add more variety into what we have in the pantry as we try new things. I'm happy with how it is going and I plan to keep working on it.

I had a really great grocery trip last week that I haven't written up because I've been both busy and sick. I should be back to normal posting soon though.

Another neat benefit of shopping this way is that I was able to tell my parents who were flying in from England to not worry about bringing toiletries. I was able to hand them a bag of shampoo, razors, deodorant, body wash, toothpaste and floss at the airport so they saved room in their packing and didn't have to deal with the liquid issue. I got all of those items for free. It was very neat.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Drugstore Shopping from May 29th


I decided to give Walgreens and CVS another go and am very happy that I did because I got a pretty great haul there for a very small amount.
At Walgreens, I did three separate transactions in order to roll my register rewards. At CVS I did two. Here is how I did:

Total Value: $77.71
Total Saved: $76.63 (99%)
Spent: $1.08
Received back $2 Register Rewards, $1 Extra Care Bucks

Walgreens

Transaction 1
Icy Hot Natural Pain Relief - $1.99
Sale Price - $0.99
1 $1/1 MQ
End Price - 0 (Got $0.99 RR)

Transaction 2
Wheat Thins - $3.99
Sale Price - $2.00
End Price $2.00 (Got $2 RR)

2 Dry Idea Deoderant - $4.49
Store BOGO
1 BOGO MQ
End Price - FREE

Gum Eez Flossers - $4.99
Rain Check - $4.99 off
End Price - FREE

Total - $2.38
Used $0.99 RR
Used $1.37 Store Credit
Paid - $0.00
Got Back $2 RR

Transaction 3
10 Dry Idea/Right Guard Deo - $4.49
Store BOGO
5 BOGO MQ's
End Price - FREE

Illy Latte Coffee Drink - $2.00

Total - $3.82
Used $2.00 RR
Used $1.82 Store Credit
Paid - $0.00

CVS

Transaction 1
Tasters Choice Coffee - $1.00
$1/1 MQ
End Price - FREE

Preparation H Wipes - $4.99
Sale Price - $3.99
1 $2/1 MQ
End Price - $1.99 (Got $3.99 ECB)

Total - $2.07
Used $0.99 ECB
Paid $1.08 OOP

Transaction 2
2 3 Musketeers Candy Bars - $1.19
Sale Price - $0.50
End Price - $0.50

Viva Milk - $2.99

Total - $3.99
Used $3.99 ECB
Paid $0.00
Got Back $1 ECB


So as you can see, by rolling my rewards and using store credit I did really really well. Half the deodorant and the Preparation H wipes are going into the donation box. The only reason I got the wipes was because I made $2.00 which covered the lions share of the milk that I needed. It went pretty well, I think!

May totals are almost in and then I have another shopping trip from today where I kicked some serious tushie to post. How did you do? Feel free to comment and link your strategic shopping success!