This week's grocery trip was not as successful on the money-saving route, because I did have to stock up on meat (ground beef and chicken), as well as getting a few non-grocery items (band-aids, dryer sheets, a shower curtain liner, etc.). Those non-grocery items were where I saved most of my money coupon-wise. I spent $62.33 and saved only $2.05 in coupons. Wal-mart brand shredded cheese was on sale for $0.96, down from it's normal around $2. I probably should have gotten more than one, but I don't necessarily need cheese for much in the next 2 weeks.
The reason I don't save as much in coupons as some is that I generally buy mostly store brands. I think they are just as good in quality and usually better in quantity. I do have a few favorite brands - Smuckers jelly, Skippy peanut butter, and Hidden Valley ranch, just to name a few - but otherwise I look for the lowest price per unit.
Just a note: Another good Bath & Body Works deal is coming up: a free antibacterial foaming hand sanitizer with any purchase. You can purchase a travel size item to get the free one - anything counts. http://f.chtah.com/i/34/528207786/20090629_9663_coupon.html This coupon is good through July 5.
Tomorrow is moving day! We have been hauling smaller loads already, using free boxes from our workplaces. If we hadn't had those, however, U-Haul now has free gently used boxes. You just have to ask for them!
Savings this post: $2.05
Savings so far: $116.51
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Our First Diapers...
This is the beginning of what I know will be one of my biggest deal searches. Jonah will be born in a couple of months, and the seemingly-endless diaper changes will begin. We bought our first bulk box of diapers today in preparation. When I registered for my baby shower, I got several coupons for diapers (most of which expire before he is actually born, which is not so helpful, but oh well). We used one today to get a 192-ct. package of size 1 Huggies, priced at $28.99, for $27.49. I'm sure there will be bigger and better deals, but this was a start...
Savings this post: $1.50
Savings so far: $114.46
Savings this post: $1.50
Savings so far: $114.46
Monday, June 22, 2009
MyPoints
I am in the middle of a 3 hour lab at the doctor's office, so I figured I may as well update.
MyPoints.com is an easy way to get free gift cards. There are a couple of options as to how to do this. First, you can sign up and link through to sites you already make purchases from, and earn points per dollar spent. Second, you can sign up for e-mails and earn points for each one you click through. I don't make a lot of purchases online, so I just go with the e-mails.
Each day, I get 2-7 e-mails from MyPoints. Each one has a link to click on, and they are generally worth 5 points each. Occasionally, I will get surveys as well, which are up to 50 points each. By taking 2 minutes out of my day, I can earn easy points. There is a long list of places to request gift cards once you earn enough points. I used to go for the 1400 points $10 Panera or Starbucks gift cards. This year, I decided to save up my points for the entire year to use for Christmas - I still haven't decided if it's going to be gift cards for presents for others or for me...Once you choose a reward, it takes about 2 weeks to get the gift card in the mail.
I have two e-mail accounts set up for this, and have over 2,000 points on each one. By Christmas, I'm hoping to have 5,000, which generally get $50 gift cards.
MyPoints.com is an easy way to get free gift cards. There are a couple of options as to how to do this. First, you can sign up and link through to sites you already make purchases from, and earn points per dollar spent. Second, you can sign up for e-mails and earn points for each one you click through. I don't make a lot of purchases online, so I just go with the e-mails.
Each day, I get 2-7 e-mails from MyPoints. Each one has a link to click on, and they are generally worth 5 points each. Occasionally, I will get surveys as well, which are up to 50 points each. By taking 2 minutes out of my day, I can earn easy points. There is a long list of places to request gift cards once you earn enough points. I used to go for the 1400 points $10 Panera or Starbucks gift cards. This year, I decided to save up my points for the entire year to use for Christmas - I still haven't decided if it's going to be gift cards for presents for others or for me...Once you choose a reward, it takes about 2 weeks to get the gift card in the mail.
I have two e-mail accounts set up for this, and have over 2,000 points on each one. By Christmas, I'm hoping to have 5,000, which generally get $50 gift cards.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Old Navy Deal continued...
I went and got my 5 tank tops. They are normally $8.50 at Old Navy, which is probably why I don't buy them there (I think tank tops are $4.50 at Walmart?). We got there an hour or so after the store opened, and they were fairly picked over already, but I found several that I liked, and a few larger ones so hopefully I can wear them for at least part of the pregnancy. So...I spent $10 and saved $32.50. Sweet!
Savings this post, from Old Navy: $32.50
Total savings so far: $112.96
Savings this post, from Old Navy: $32.50
Total savings so far: $112.96
Friday, June 19, 2009
Old Navy Deal
Tomorrow Old Navy has womens'/girls' tank tops on sale for $2. There is a limit of 5 per customer, and they'll probably go fast, because who can argue with 5 shirts for $10? I plan on picking some up, because even if they don't include the maternity (I'm pretty sure they don't), I will be able to wear the regular ones later on. I originally found this deal on Deal Seeking Mom's site. http://www.dealseekingmom.com/old-navy-2-tank-tops-620-only/
More June 2009 Savings...
I blame being pregnant, but of course there were a few that I forgot yesterday...
We got an oil change at Car-X a few days ago for $3.98 (regularly 26.98 + tax). This one we got lucky on, because they sent us a $25 off any services coupon in the mail, I think for customer loyalty. We got our brakes done there a couple months ago, as well as our previous oil change. They had price-matched a $19.99 coupon for me last time, and each oil change comes with a $5 off coupon for the next one, so they have a decent deal for oil changes anyways.
We got a Garmin Nuvi 205 gps yesterday at Wal-mart. We had been talking about getting a gps anyways, and this one was on sale for $99, regularly $128. Also, the warranty plan was only $5.88, which is not bad, considering warranties for electronics are generally overpriced. We had looked into getting a refurbished one online, but the warranties aren't available on those. They are cheaper though. This is not as good of a deal as my friend Joni, who got a gps at Kohl's a few days ago for $57 after savings and rebate (originally $229, marked down to $129, $40 rebate, and a 30% off coupon). That's an awesome deal. I like ours though. We named it Rapunzel.
Finally, I got a free sippy cup for signing up for Juicy Juice's e-mail. http://www.juicyjuice.com/Public/Default.aspx (sign up at the top of the page). I know Jonah won't be using this for a little while yet, but it was free, and came within 2 weeks of signing up.
Savings this post, including oil change and Garmin sale: $54.00
Savings so far: $80.46
We got an oil change at Car-X a few days ago for $3.98 (regularly 26.98 + tax). This one we got lucky on, because they sent us a $25 off any services coupon in the mail, I think for customer loyalty. We got our brakes done there a couple months ago, as well as our previous oil change. They had price-matched a $19.99 coupon for me last time, and each oil change comes with a $5 off coupon for the next one, so they have a decent deal for oil changes anyways.
We got a Garmin Nuvi 205 gps yesterday at Wal-mart. We had been talking about getting a gps anyways, and this one was on sale for $99, regularly $128. Also, the warranty plan was only $5.88, which is not bad, considering warranties for electronics are generally overpriced. We had looked into getting a refurbished one online, but the warranties aren't available on those. They are cheaper though. This is not as good of a deal as my friend Joni, who got a gps at Kohl's a few days ago for $57 after savings and rebate (originally $229, marked down to $129, $40 rebate, and a 30% off coupon). That's an awesome deal. I like ours though. We named it Rapunzel.
Finally, I got a free sippy cup for signing up for Juicy Juice's e-mail. http://www.juicyjuice.com/Public/Default.aspx (sign up at the top of the page). I know Jonah won't be using this for a little while yet, but it was free, and came within 2 weeks of signing up.
Savings this post, including oil change and Garmin sale: $54.00
Savings so far: $80.46
Thursday, June 18, 2009
June 2009 Deals So Far...
This month I have really started searching for and using Internet coupons. Some of the sites I use are:
Coupons.com:
http://www.coupons.com/
RedPlum.com:
http://www.redplum.com/
A Full Cup:
http://www.afullcup.com/
Smart Source:
http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=5S2ZUA6PWPEPO
Coupon Cravings:
http://www.couponcravings.com/
Even if the coupons are only for a little bit, they add up. On our last shopping trip, I spent $57 and saved $5.70. That's 10%. Not bad for a little bit of searching.
Later on, we went back to get ice cream and used another coupon for Breyer's Light Bunny Tracks ice cream (regularly $3.00). We got it for $2.00.
I also found a Bath & Body Works coupon for a free travel size item with any purchase. They are having a big 75% off clearance sale right now, so I got a pink grapefruit body spray (regularly $6.50) and a travel size cherry blossom lotion (regularly 5.00) for $1.73.
Orange Julius has a deal tomorrow (June 19) for a free 20 oz. light smoothie (regularly $4.99) with a printed off coupon. http://www.orangejulius.com/downloads/freeCoupon.pdf I am pretty excited to try one of these, and excited that it's more than just a sample size.
Finally, I have found that signing up for restaurant clubs and e-mail promotions has allowed us to get coupons for various promotions. We already signed up for the Papa Murphy's e-mail club and got a coupon for a buy one, get on 50% off on any pizza. We ended up getting one large stuffed pizza and one delight pizza for $18.98, saving $5.00 off of the lower-priced pizza. Not the best deal ever, but it was good pizza.
Savings so far, including grocery coupons, Bath & Body Works coupon, free Orange Julius, and Papa Murphy's coupon: $26.46
Coupons.com:
http://www.coupons.com/
RedPlum.com:
http://www.redplum.com/
A Full Cup:
http://www.afullcup.com/
Smart Source:
http://coupons2.smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=5S2ZUA6PWPEPO
Coupon Cravings:
http://www.couponcravings.com/
Even if the coupons are only for a little bit, they add up. On our last shopping trip, I spent $57 and saved $5.70. That's 10%. Not bad for a little bit of searching.
Later on, we went back to get ice cream and used another coupon for Breyer's Light Bunny Tracks ice cream (regularly $3.00). We got it for $2.00.
I also found a Bath & Body Works coupon for a free travel size item with any purchase. They are having a big 75% off clearance sale right now, so I got a pink grapefruit body spray (regularly $6.50) and a travel size cherry blossom lotion (regularly 5.00) for $1.73.
Orange Julius has a deal tomorrow (June 19) for a free 20 oz. light smoothie (regularly $4.99) with a printed off coupon. http://www.orangejulius.com/downloads/freeCoupon.pdf I am pretty excited to try one of these, and excited that it's more than just a sample size.
Finally, I have found that signing up for restaurant clubs and e-mail promotions has allowed us to get coupons for various promotions. We already signed up for the Papa Murphy's e-mail club and got a coupon for a buy one, get on 50% off on any pizza. We ended up getting one large stuffed pizza and one delight pizza for $18.98, saving $5.00 off of the lower-priced pizza. Not the best deal ever, but it was good pizza.
Savings so far, including grocery coupons, Bath & Body Works coupon, free Orange Julius, and Papa Murphy's coupon: $26.46
The First Post
I have decided to start a blog to chronicle my money saving, whether through coupons, sales, or otherwise. It's mostly for me, so that I can see how my efforts are paying off, but it's also a way for me to share any deals I come up with.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
