A lot of bang for my buck today!

Sorry!  I've been bad keeping up with my blog lately.  School started and my job search seems never-ending.  I'm also doing training right now to work at some flu shot clinics this fall.  Life seems hectic.  Nonetheless, the savings need to continue!  So, today I did my weekly CVS run.  I seemed to fill the cart and spend very little.  I intended to do the gas card deal (this is the last week to earn a gas gift card) but my store was already out of Dawn and Tide and those were two of the things I wanted to purchase towards the $30.  Oh well.  I still did well.  The cashier (he is new) was impressed.  So this is what I got for $24.05 today.

This is the run down of how I bought the above items for only $24.05.

• Kellogg's cereal (the big boxes!!!) are on sale 2/$5. I bought 4 boxes and used 2 $1/2 coupons to make these $2 per box.
• McArthur 1 gallon milk $3.49. By 1 gallon receive $1 ECB for a total cost of $2.49. (limit 2)
• Hershey's Syrup on sale 2/$4.  I used the MC $1/2 for a final cost of $3 or $1.50 each.
• Nabisco Cookies 10/$10 Use the MC $0.75/2 for a final cost of $0.63 each
• Nutri-Grain bars on sale 2/$5. I used MC for $1/2 for a final cost of $2 per box.
• b Water 24 pk case on sale for $2.22. I needed to restock our bottled water supply.
• Crest ProHealth $2.99 plus receive $1 ECB (limit 2).  I bought 2 and used 2-$1/1 coupons for a final cost of $0.99 each
• Oral B floss $1.99 plus receive $1 ECB (limit 2).  Again, I bought 2 and used 2 MC $0.75/1 for a final cost of $0.24 each.
• Advil is on sale buy one get one 50% off.  I bought 2-24 ct tablets marked at $3.99.  I used 2-$2/1 coupons for a total cost of $1.98 per bottle.
• Flintstone vitamins are on sale buy one get one 50% off.  I bought 2 marked at $7.49 and used 2-$2/1 coupons for a total cost of $7.23.  I bought 2 bottles for less than 1 bottle would cost full price without coupons!!!
• I bought Garnier hairspray (just because I need it) and paid $3.34 and used a MC $1/1 for a total cost of $2.34.

Overall, my total out of pocket expense (-$11 ECB I redeemed) was $30.05!  I earned $6 ECB for a final cost of $24.05!!!!  I saved $59.72 today!  And my pantry is re-stocked!  Happy Saving!!!

CVS Shopping Trip 8/1/2011

Stocking up once again!  A lot of great deals out this this week at CVS.  I paid $36.65 and earned $15 ECB to use next week!  Here's how:

• Milk is priced $3.79. Buy 1 gallon receive $1 ECB (limit 2) for a final price of $2.79  I'll probably go back at the end of the week for another gallon!  :)
• Skinny Cow Single Crisp Candy $0.99 Receive $0.99 ECB.  I used a BOGO coupon and got 2 bars for free plus $0.99 ECB.  They paid me to take them out of the store!
• Coke Products $4/13. Receive $3 ECB on 4 pk. I bought 4 and received $3 ECB for a final cost of 4/$10 or $2.50 per 12 pk
• Gilletee Fusion ProGlide Razor is priced $9.99 use MC for $4/1 and receive $5 ECB for a final cost of $0.99
• Bic Soleil Shimmer razor is priced $5.99. Use MC $3/1 plus receive $3 ECB=FREE
• Bumble Bee Salmon is priced 2/$4.  A good deal so I picked up 2 cans.
• Puffs tissues priced at $0.88.  Use MC $0.25/3=$0.21 per box.  These are going to school!
• CVS advanced healer compare to Aquaphor $4.99. No deal just a need.
• Suave spend $10 receive $3 ECB.  I was in need of shampoo and conditioner so I got 3 bottles for myself and 3 bottles for the boys.  These were priced 3/$5 plus I received $3 ECB. I bought 6 bottles of shampoo/conditioner for $7!

Overall, not a bad trip.  I have $15 ECB to use for my next shopping trip.  Good luck finding deals to meet your needs!

CVS Shopping Trip 7/24/2011

After my $10 gas card and $15 ECB.....I paid $37.52 for the above pictured items!!!  I purchased 3 boxes of Claritin Reditabs 10ct, Opti-Free Contact Solution (Value Pack), 2 boxes of cereal, 2 boxes of Rice Krispie Treats, 8pk Bounty Paper Towels, 4 pk Charmin Toilet Paper, 1 Skintimate Shave Gel, 3 New Skintimate Shave Cream, 2 Crest Pro-Health Whitening Toothpastes, 3 Softsoap, 2 pkg Crystal Light Flavor Packets, 8ct Paper Mate Pens, 1 Birthday Card & 3 M&Ms.  Here's how...

• I purchased 3 boxes of Claritin Reditabs for Andrew.  These were priced at $9.99 and are part of the free gas deal.  I bought 3 boxes and used 3 $4/1 coupons.  I paid $17.97 for all 3 boxes and received a $10 gas card!  I did have to pick up M&Ms to get to the $30 limit for the gas card (I was $0.03 short)  The M&Ms were buy 2 get 1 free.  They were $1.08 each.
• Opti-Free Contact Solution $14.99.  Buy 1 receive $5 ECB.  I used a MC for $3/1.  I paid $11.99 and received $5 ECB back for a final cost of $6.99 for this value pack!
• Post Cereal on sale 2/$4.  I used MC $1/2 and bought 2 boxes of cereal for $3 or $1.50 per box.
• Rice Krispie Treats on sale for $1.79.  I bought 2 boxes.
• 8 pk Bounty Paper Towels $7.99.  I used MC $1/1 for a final cost of $6.99.
• 4 pk Charmin Toilet Paper on sale for $2.99.  I used $0.25/1 for a final cost of $2.74.
• Skintamite Shave Gel on sale for $2.19.  I used MC for $0.75/1 for a final cost of $1.44.
• Skintamite Shave Cream.  This is a new product marked at $2.19.  I bought 3 and used MC $1.50/1 and 2-$1/1 coupons for a final cost of $1.02 each.
• Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste on sale for $2.99 and receive $2 ECB.  I bought 2 and used 2 MC for $0.75/1 for a final cost of $0.24 each.
• Softsoap Deal.  Buy 3 any Softsoap and receive $3 ECB.  I bought 2 Softsoap Pampered Hands for $2 each and used 2 MC $1/1 and 1 Softsoap Shea Butter and used a MC $0.35/1.  I paid $3.65 and received $3 ECB for a final cost of $0.65 for all 3!
• 2 pkg Crystal Light Flavor Packs.  These are on sale 2/$5 plus I used MC $1/2 for a final cost of $2 each.
• 8 ct PaperMate Pens priced at $1.99 and receive $1.99 ECB for FREE pkg of pens.
• Birthday Card for $0.99

I paid $62.52 out of pocket and received $10 gas card and $15 ECB.  Final price for everything when considering the gas card and ECBs=$37.52!  My total savings today was $77.02!!!

More School Supplies at Staples

More school supply shopping today.  I only paid $7.74 for everything pictured above!  I did pick up some toilet paper only because it was marked down to a great price.

• Charmin Basic 16 pk Double Rolls are priced at $4.99. 
• 2-12pk #2 pencils for $4 or $2 each
• 1 Box 24 ct Crayola Crayons $1
• 1-4 pk Dry Erase Markers $3
• 1 pkg Washable Crayola Markers $4
• 1 pkg Crayola Twistable Colored Pencils $6
• 2 pk Yellow Highlighter $0.01
• 1 pkg #2 pencils $0.01
• Crayola Colored Pencils 24 ct $4
• 1 pkg Multi-Colored Highlighters $2

I used a coupon from the Staples ad in the Sunday paper for $5/$25 purchase.  Then I used $16.70 Staples Rewards that I had.  I paid a whopping $7.74 out of pocket for all the above listed items!!!

Zhu Zhu Pets and More!!!

My All Time Favorite Shopping Trip!!!

This was my all-time favorite shopping trip!  Probably because the boys were so happy and had so much fun shopping with me.  Where did we shop?  CVS of course.  Let me start with the best deal:  CVS has all Zhu-Zhu pets and accessories priced 5 for $10!  $2 each!!!  The CVS manager at our store is awesome!  He saw the boys and I (of course, he recognizes me from shopping there once a week) and confirms the price.  There were limited Zhu-Zhu accessories on the shelf.  He personally went to the back and brought the entire cart (probably 8 ft tall) of Zhu-Zhu accessories out from the back.  He proceeded to tell us the best deals.  We came home with the Battle Arena, 2 centers that connect to the arena, a vehicle (Nicholas picked out) and a new Zhu-Zhu pet (Andrew picked out).  All 5 items for $10!  At regular price, these items would have cost $99.84!  WOW!  The boys left the store giddy with happiness.  They thanked the manager as we walked out of the store.  That's why this was my all-time favorite shopping trip.

Other savings.  Of course, there are other great deals at CVS this week.  Here is what I took advantage of.

• Pepsi Products 12 pk 3/$10 receive $3 ECB.  This makes the price 3/$7.
• Scott 6 pk Paper towels $4.77.  Use the MC $1/1. Final cost $3.77.
• Gillette Fusion Hydra Shave Gel trial size $2.27 receive $2 ECB.  Use MC $1/1.  Makes this FREE!  I was unable to find this size.
• Pantene ProV shampoo and conditioner 2/$6.97 and receive $2 ECB.  Use MC $3/2 and get both products for $0.99 each.
• Crest toothpaste $1.99 and receive $1 ECB.  Use the MC $0.75/1.  I bought 2 of these using 2 coupons.  I bought both toothpastes for $0.24 each.
• Xtra 2X laundry detergent 28 loads $1.49.  Use the MC $1/2 for a final cost of $0.99.  I could not find this coupon but still bought 2 of these for a great low price. 
• Of course, my Zhu-Zhu Pets deal 5/$10.  I bought 5 for a cost for $10.

My final out of pocket expense was $34.13.  I earned $10 ECB to use next time.  My total savings was $118.13!  WOW!!!

Super Target Groceries and School Supplies-----GREAT DEALS!

Once again, I am in love with Super Target!  I found some great deals on groceries and school supplies today.

Groceries

• Poptarts 12 count box (that's the large box) are priced at 2/$5.  I bought 3 boxes and used the Target coupon for $1/3 plus the Manufacturer coupon for $2/3.  For a total cost of $4.50 for 3 or $1.50 per 12 count box!  
• Newton Fruit Cookies marked down to $3.  I use a Target coupon for $1/1 and a MC for $1/1 and paid $1 for a box of cookies.
• The boys had Lunchables for lunch.  These were marked down to $1 each.
• Kraft Mac & Cheese is marked down to $1 each. Of course the boys picked out the SpongeBob and Cars Movie shaped mac & cheese.....cheap summer lunch.
• 1 lb Driscoll Strawberries priced at $1.99. I used a Target coupon for $1/1 and paid $0.99.
• Morningstar products on sale for $2.99. I bought 2 and used Target coupon for $1/2 and paid $4.98 for both or $2.49 each.
• Mentos UP2U Gum $1.27. Use the $1/1 manufacturer coupon and pay $0.27.
• Up & Up Nail Polish Remover $0.97. Use the Target coupon for $0.50/1 and pay $0.47.

Check out the Hip2Save website for more great deals that I didn't take advantage of.

School Supplies

• Sharpie Permanent Marker 2 count is priced at $1.  Use the Target coupon for $1/1 = FREE
• Scotch Magic Tape priced at $1.  Use the Manufacturer coupon for $1/1 = FREE     I paired this with another manufacturer coupon for $0.50/1 and bought 2 tapes for $0.50 or $0.25 each!
• Papermate Eagle Pens 10 ct pack priced at $1.02.  I used the Target coupon for $1/1 = $0.02
• Elmer's Glue 4 oz is marked down to $0.40.

There are a number of other school supply deals that I did not need.  

My total savings on a bill of $218.58 (including 2 toys that the boys bought) was $41.07!  I saved close to 20% off my total bill!

FREE School Supplies

I know it's only July but I could not pass up this weeks Staples ad.  I may even go back later this week.  I spent around $200 in one trip on school supplies last year and about fell over.  Luckily, the school here handed out the supply list at the end of the school year so I have all summer to buy supplies.  I just received $24.60 in Staples Rewards from recycling printer ink and from my previous purchases.  Awesome!  I received this amount in 2 different emails.  One for $10 and one for $14.60.  I have not used Staples Rewards before so this was a learning experience for me.  I thought that I would use the $10 award today so I picked up enough items to reach that value....or so I thought.  I purchased 2 clipboards priced at $1.99 each,  2 Composition books priced at $0.77 each, a 2 pk of child scissors for $2 and a 3 pk of Lg Elmer's Glue Sticks for $4.  That should equal over $10.

When I checked out, my total came to $7.89.  I asked the clerk if I could use my $10 Staple Rewards and keep the amount I didn't use or if I should go pick up additional items to reach $10.  He informed me that I would get credit for the amount not used.  Sure enough!  At the end of my receipt printed a credit of $2.11.  Nice!  So, I bought a 2 pk of child scissors (one for each child's class) for $1 (they were priced at $2 but were on sale), 3 pk Elmers Lg Glue Sticks apparently marked down to $0.01 since they were out of Staples glue that was posted in the ad---BONUS!!!!, a pack of eraser caps priced at $0.01, 2 clipboards marked down to $1.34 and 2 composition books priced at $0.77 each.  Basically, I walked out with a bag full of school supplies and didn't pay anything out of pocket!  It was all FREE!!!!  I'll be back to use the rest of my Staples Rewards!