Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Free Photo Frames!

Rite Aid - did this transaction mainly to increase the points on DBF's card.  I'm still at 10% on this card and if I earn the 20% discount by 12/31, I keep the discount for all of next year.  I now have 12 points to go, which shouldn't be a problem.
  • 3 John Frieda Sham/Cond (trial sizes) $1.34 each ($1.49 reg price, 10% Wellness discount) and will get back $5 (SCR #58) = $0.98 profit 
  • 2 Tugaboos $0.89 each ($0.99 reg price, 10% Wellness discount), used two $1 coupons (found inside package) = $0.22 profit
  • 8 Photo Frames four at $4.99 and four at $5 each, 50% off sale so $2.49 - $2.50 each, got back $2 UP for each = $3.96 (must buy frames starting at $4.99 to get the UP)
  • Used  $5 off $25 coupon, total was $20.09, overall profit $0.91
Then on my card, I bought:
  • 3 John Frieda Sham/Cond (trial sizes) $1.19 each ($1.49 reg price, 20% Wellness discount) and will get back $5 (SCR #58) = $1.43 profit
  • 2 Tugaboos $0.79 each ($0.99 reg price, 10% Wellness discount), used two $1 coupons (found inside package) = $0.42 profit
  • Total was $3.40
Walgreens
  • 6 packs Walgreens diapers $8.99 each, BOGO sale = $26.97
  • 2 No Nonsense knee highs $0.33 with in-circular coupon
  • Used $6 RR and seven $3 RR's, total was $0.64, got back $10 Jingle Cash for spending $50+ on merchandise.  This brings the cost of the diapers to $16.98 or $2.83 each.
The Jingle Cash is only valid from 12/12 - 12/18, so you can't roll it into more diapers.  And no, there's no bun in my oven folks.  :)  I am just stocking up for one day when I might need them.  Diapers are so pricey, so I don't see the harm in picking them up when I can get them for free or very cheap.  I had all the $3 RR's from the Natrol deal to use up so this was a great way to do it.

Monday, December 6, 2010

November Savings

November Monthly Totals
  • Merchandise Total (before coupons): $1,777.34
  • Value of Coupons/Store Sales: $732.95
  • Rewards/Gift Cards/EB's Used: $828.52
  • Rewards/Gift Cards/EB's Earned: $806.79
  • Rebates $442.83
  • Cost for the whole month negative $129.30
  • Number of Items 566, Number of Free Items 461
Rebates Purchased - just one this month, didn't see much that struck my fancy
  • 7 Kona $5 NBPR rebates on salty snacks Exp. 12/31 $1.43
Rebates Received
  • P&G Coupon Booklet - my address, parents' address & DBF's address
  • $2.99 Kellogg's Cinnabon Cereal - my address
  • $6 Bud Light rebate on pasta 28389 - my address
  • $10 Coors Silver Ticket Rebate - my address & DBF's address
  • $10 Aveeno rebate WYB $25 - DBF's address. Came with a letter saying they apologize for previously rejecting this rebate and that there was a problem with the rebate processing center.
  • $20 Olay Pro-X rebate - my address
  • $112.98 Rite Aid rebate - DBF's address
  • $116.97 Rite Aid rebate - my address

Sunday, December 5, 2010

90% Off Fall Decorations!

CVS - my card
  • 3 cases Diet Coke $3.33/4 each, used $2 off $10 CVS coupon for sugar-free items (50 Million Pound Challenge booklets found at Pharmacy counters) and got back $3 EB (Limit 1, WYB $10) = three for $5 or $1.66 each
  • Water bubbler fountain $9.99 (see below)
  • Stamps $8.80
  • CVS version of Aleve $7.29 
  • Autumn wreath $0.99 - $9.99 reg price, 90% store clearance
  • 2 Autumn tea light candle holders $0.39 each, $3.99 reg price, 90% store clearance
  • Used three $0.99 EB's, $1 EB, $2.99 EB, two $4 EB's, $4.99 EB and $9.99 EB, total was $7.19
Bought a second set of three Cokes on DBF's card and used $7.95 EB.

Walgreens - thought the bread was going to cost over $3, so I'd planned to use a $2.50 RR and a $3 RR.  When it rang up lower than expected, I wasn't able to use both.
  • Eggs $0.99
  • Nestle morsels $1.79 with in-circular coupon
  • Beefsteak bread $1.99
  • Used $3 RR, total was $1.77
ShopRite
  • 2 bags Kettle Cooked chips $2.50 each, will submit for $5 Kona NBPR rebate on $5 of chips = FREE
  • Used $2.50 catalina, total was $2.50
Gigi and Mousse are very curious about this fountain, but haven't quite summoned up the courage to drink from it yet.



 This is Mousse, watching from the safety of his coffee table fortress.
Such a brave little guy.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Waiting on my Coupons

ShopRite
  • Hormel Party Platter $9.99
  • 3 Chi-Chi's tortillas $5, used $1 coupon (10/24 SS)
  • Hormel Pepperoni $2.99
  • 2 Chi-Chi's Salsa $2 each
  • Total was $20.98 and got back $20 in catalinas, will also submit for Budweiser NBPR rebate for $6 when you spend $10.01 on turkey, ham or deli platters (will use the Oscar Mayer ham and turkey receipt from Walgreens yesterday to round this out).  
I had planned on getting the platter for $13.99, which would have cleared me for the rebate in one shot but I couldn't find it anywhere in the store.  I got the $9.99 one instead and added the salsas.

Also picked up two Jarlsberg cheeses at $2.15 and $2.31 each.  I'll use these to finish out the Michelob $6 rebate on cheese I started yesterday.

I was hoping my coupon order would have come in for the week today, but it didn't.  I decided to buy the Pantene anyway, and I'll go back to the store once my coupons come in for an adjustment.
  • 8 Pantene Sham/Cond $1.99 each, got back $10 catalina (WYB $25, this deal is working based on shelf prices)
I'm going to use four BOGO coupons (11/28 P&G), so my OOP will be $7.96, which makes this a $2.03 profit for every eight.  I bought three sets of eight, so that's around $6 profit.  I now have $47.76 towards another Olay $20 rebate that I'll send to my sister.

I also picked up four Smuckers at $2.79 each, and used two $1 off 2 coupons (11/7 RP) and got back $10 in cats = $0.84 profit.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Major Changes

Today I have to update my blog from "My name is Suzanne and I'm a 20-something living in New Jersey" to a "30-something." Happy birthday to me!
My parents sent me these gorgeous flowers, aren't they beautiful? I celebrated with my family last week when my sister was up from Virginia for Thanksgiving. She decorated this tin with the cutest arrangement of stickers. Wanna know what's inside?

Delicious chocolatey goodness, that's what! We had a really nice dinner together. My mom and VA sister gave me some beautiful jewelry and my other sister bought me Toy Story 3, which I've watched at least five times already. How funny is the scene where Buzz is in Spanish mode? I cannot get enough of that! Tomorrow night, my hunny and I are celebrating with a dinner and a movie. I took the day off work today, did some shopping this morning and have been lounging around ever since. Its so nice to have nothing-to-do time. As soon as this post is done, I do believe I'll be spending some quality time with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire before heading out with some friends later tonight.
Walgreens
  • Natrol Melatonin Time Release Tablets 5 MG (100 ct) $3, used $3 coupon and got back $3 RR = $3 profit
  • Half gallon milk $1.99
  • 3 bags WAG shredded cheese and 1 pack cheese singles $1.50 each with in-circular coupon
  • 2 Oscar Mayer cold cuts $3 each
  • Used $1.50 RR and two $6 RR's, total was $0.49
Forgot to take the cheese, milk and cold cuts out of the fridge for the shot. I love when I can use RR's on food!
  • Natrol Melatonin Time Release Tablets 5 MG (100 ct) $3, used $3 coupon and got back $3 RR = $3 profit
  • 2 Domino Sugars $0.89 each with in-circular coupon
  • Used $1.50 RR, total was $0.28
At another store -
  • Natrol Melatonin Time Release Tablets 5 MG (100 ct) $3, used $3 coupon and got back $3 RR = $3 profit
  • 2 Domino Sugars $0.89 each with in-circular coupon
  • 3 Domino Brown Sugars $0.24 each - can you believe this price?!? They were specially marked in the store with this price and I didn't see them this cheap anywhere else.
  • Clabber Girl Corn Starch $0.24 - same promo as above
  • 2 Betty Crocker muffin mixes $0.89 each with in-circular coupon
  • Used $1.50 RR and $2.50 RR, total was $0.52
Finally
  • Natrol Melatonin Time Release Tablets 5 MG (100 ct) $3, used $3 coupon and got back $3 RR = $3 profit
  • 2 Betty Crocker muffin mixes $0.89 each with in-circular coupon
  • 4 Campbell's Chunky Soups $1.50 each with in-circular coupon, used $2 off 4 coupon = $4 or $1 each
  • Used $1.50 RR, two $2 RR's and $2.25 RR, total was $0.03
Added an additional Natrol to three of those transactions (bought separately of course) = $9 profit. I'm going to use the sugar and muffin mixes for a Shock Top NBPR rebate for $6 when you spend $10 on baking items, pumpkins and/or fall fruit.

The deals at ShopRite this week are pretty amazing. They are doing a slew of spend $10, get $10 and spend $20, get $20 catalina deals. The only catch is that the catalinas print out as four separate cats, each good for a particular week. Some of them are only good on toys, appliances or batteries, but that seems like a very broad category of items to me and I don't know how the cats could possibly be programmed to be valid on only those items. I used one today on food (shh, don't tell anyone) and it was fine. It went through self checkout without any beeps.

First store:
  • 4 Apple and Eve Fruitables $2 each, used four $0.75 coupons and got back $10 in catalinas = $8 profit *Cat is printing based on $3.69 regular price
  • 3 Finish Gelpac Detergents one at $5.99 and two at $2.89 each, used two $0.75 coupons (11/7 SS) and one $0.50 coupon and got back $10 in catalinas = $2.23 profit
  • 3 Solo Cups $1.99 each, used three $0.75 coupons and got back $2 cat (WYB 3) = $0.53 profit
  • Ready Pac Romaine lettuce $0.79 - in-store special
  • Rome Apples $4.63/$1.99 a pound - will use these towards a Woodchuck Hard Cider NBPR rebate for $2 when you buy a bag of apples or produce
  • SR tortillas $1.99
  • Got $0.15 bag discount, total was $19.45
Second store:
  • 4 Duracell batteries (finally got some 9V batteries for free!) $5.99 each, used four $1.50 coupons (11/14 RP) and got back $20 in cats = $2.04 profit
  • 3 Smuckers Strawberry Preserves (10 oz) $2.79 each, used $0.55 off 2 coupon (11/7 RP) and Diamond Sea Salt $1.79, got back $10 in cats = $0.94 profit
  • 6 Dannon Lite & Fit yogurts $0.50 each
  • Fontina cheese $6.15 - will use this towards a Michelob NBPR rebate for $6 when you spend $10.01 on gourmet cheese, crackers, dips and dip mixes
  • Used $2 cat (Solo) and two $2.50 cats, got $0.05 bag discount, total was $26.46
Final store:
  • 6 Pillsbury Quick Breads $1.66/7 each (three for $5), used $1 off 2 coupon (11/7 RP) and got back $10 in catalinas = $1 profit *Could use more coupons than I did. My coupon order for 11/7 got lost in the mail so I only had one extra insert from my mom
  • Used $2.50 cat and $5 cat, total was $1.50
I was planning a Pantene transaction as well (buy 8 sham/cond at $1.99 a piece, use four BOGO and hopefully four $1/2 coupons from the 11/28 P&G and get back $10 in cats for spending $25 worth) but my coupon order for the week hasn't arrived yet. Hopefully it will come tomorrow or Saturday and I can snag those up as well. I've done three $20 Olay rebates (WYB $50 worth of stuff) already, so if I can squeeze out another $50 of freebies, I'll send one to my sister in VA.

Some of the SR catalina deals work off of shelf price instead of sale, but its always so confusing to me which price to use. There's shelf price, sale price and then Price Plus card price, and the last time I tried to figure out the difference between them and which worked for the cat deal, I totally messed it up. I read that the Pantene is working based on a price of $3.49 a bottle, so that's how you'll qualify for $25 worth. I may go back for some other deals too. Depending on what you get, its really easy to walk out of the store with a lot of free stuff!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Do I Get Wings?

I got to be a coupon fairy today! I was walking up to the registers at the same time as another woman, her cart laden with wrapping paper, bows, candy and goodies. I told her to go ahead of me, she thought about it and then told me to go ahead of her. I asked if her if she had her 15% F&F discount, she looked puzzled so I whipped out an extra coupon I had and gave it to her. She was really happy and it felt great to share.

Here's what I got with my 15% discount (coupon good today 12/1 only). This is basically the same scenario as I did on Sunday, I was too lazy to figure something else out.
  • Neoteric Cream Healing (4 oz) $6.79 ($7.99 reg price), will submit for $7.99 rebate (form prints at checkout) = $1.20 profit
  • Salonpas Pain Relief Patch (5 ct.) $5.09 ($5.99 reg price), got back $6 RR = $0.91 profit
  • Natrol Melatonin Time Release Tablets 5 MG (100 ct) $2.55 ($3 sale price), used $3 coupon (this beeped b/c the item was less than $3, the cashier put it in manually) and got back $3 RR = $0.45 profit
  • 2 Envelopes $0.50 each with in-circular coupon ($0.59 sale price)
  • 6 Votive candles $0.14 each with in-circular coupon ($0.16 sale price)
  • WAG cotton swabs $1.59 with in-circular coupon ($1.99 sale price)
  • Used $1.50 RR, four $2.50 RR's and $3 RR, total was $1.09
At a bunch of other stores, I bought 10 more Natrols, and at $3 profit a pop, I made a $30 profit. My stores had tons in stock, so I'm planning on getting more tomorrow.

12/5 - 12/11

As always, my deals all come from the wonderful folks at HCW, Slick Deals and iheartcvs.com, iheartriteaid.com and iheartwags.com.

Staples - its back again!
  • Duracell Batteries (20 pack, AAA or AA) $12.99, use $1.50 coupon (11/14 RP) and get back $12.99 in Staples Rewards (Limit 2) = $1.50 profit
CVS SORRY! This promo ended 11/29. I was too slow, I didn't buy any before the deadline - bummer! *Egift-cards are back! You purchase them online, they email them to you and they're ready to use right away, just like you would any other gift card. For every $25 you spend, you'll get a $5 bonus!
  • Sun/Mon/Tues Only: Coke 12 packs three for $10, get back $3 EB (Limit 1) = three for $7 *Look for $2 off $10 purchase CVS coupon for sugar-free items (50 Million Pound Challenge booklets found at Pharmacy counters)
  • Cold Buster Syrup (4 oz) $8.99, get back $8.99 EB (Limit 1) = FREE *Hidden deal, not in the circular
  • Spend $50 in gift cards, get back $10 EB. Includes Petco, Magazines.com, LL Bean, Foot Locker, Neopets or MyTech.
CVS Monthly Deal - good until 12/27
  • AZO Itch Relief Cream or Wipes $6.99, use $2 coupon and get back $5 EB (Limit 3) = FREE/$0.01 profit
Rite Aid - $5 off $25 coupon Expires 12/31
  • Garnier Items - spend $30, get $10 UP. Buy Nutrisse Hair Color $5.99, Herbashine Hair Color $5.99, Anti-Dandruff Sham/Cond $3.33, 2 Color Shield Sham/Cond $3 each, 2 facial wipes or cleansers $4.86 each (reg price $6.49, 25% off sale), use $5/$25, $2 Herbashine RA coupon (Nov. Video Values), $3 Herbashine coupon (or 9/12 or 11/7 RP), $3 Nutrisse coupon (9/12 RP), $2 Anti-Dandruff RA coupon (Nov. Video Values), $1 Color Shield RA coupon (Nov. Video Values), three $1 sham/cond coupons (11/7 RP), $2 skincare RA coupon (Nov. Video Values) and two $2 skincare coupons (10/10 RP) = $6.03 OOP and get back $10 UP = $3.97 profit *There's also a $2 RA coupon for Nutrisse floating around in stores. That would make this a $5.97 profit
  • John Frieda Sham/Cond (trial sizes) buy three at $1.49 each (less with 10% or 20% Wellness discount) and get back $5 (SCR #58) = $0.53 - $1.42 profit depending on discount
  • Wet n Wild Nail Polish $1.99, BOGO 50% sale, buy eight and use $5 coupon (WYB $10, Sept. All You magazine) and get back $1 UP for each = $1.06 profit
  • Thermacare (2-3 ct) $6.99, buy four, use $5/$25, four $3 coupons, two $1 RA coupons (Nov & Dec Video Values) and get back two $5 UP's ($5 for every 2 you buy) = $1.04 profit (even higher profit if you're at 10% or 20% Wellness discount)
  • NYC Nail Polish $1.99, BOGO 50% off, buy two and use two $1 coupons (use zip 28152) and get back $1 UP for each = $1.02 profit
  • Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste (4 oz) $2.99, use $1 coupon (Diabetes & You magazine, found at Walgreens) and $1 RA coupon (Nov. Video Values) and get back $2 UP = $1.01 profit
  • Chloraseptic Cherry Lozenges (18 ct.) or Max Berry Lozenges (15 ct.) $3.99, use $1 coupon (or 10/14 SS), get back $1 UP and $2 (SCR #81) = FREE/$0.01 profit
  • Chloraseptic Cherry, Menthol, Citrus or Grape Spray (6 oz), Max Spray (1 oz) or Grape Strips (40 ct.) $3.99, use $1 coupon (or 10/14 SS), get back $1 UP and $2 (SCR #82) = FREE/$0.01 profit
  • Bic Pens (8 or 10 pk.) $1.99 (less with 10% or 20% discount), buy two and get $3 UP = $0.58 or $0.18 depending on discount
  • Bufferin (130 ct.) $6.99, use $3 coupon (10/17 SS) and get back $3 (SCR #76) = $0.99
  • Hershey's Pot of Gold chocolates $3.99, get back $2 UP = $1.99 *If you buy $15 worth, send away for this $5 rebate through Real Simple. I wouldn't go out of my way to do this deal unless you really want the chocolate. The wording on the rebate says "Send in your original receipt(s) confirming purchase of $15 or more on any of the featured products in this promotion and you could receive a $5 cash rebate from Real Simple" - the operative word there being "could."
  • Picture Frames and Albums 50% off and $2 UP when you buy one - may be able to get some of the small ones for free or cheap
Walgreens - spend $25 in one order, get back $5 Jingle Cash/RR (will be valid from 12/12 - 12/18). You get back $5 for every $25 you spend, all the way up to $20 for spending $100.
  • Hallmark Tissue Paper three for $1 with in-circular coupon, buy six and get back $5 RR (listed in circular as applying to cards, but its working with the tissue paper as well!) = $3 profit
  • Hallmark Color Studio Wrapping Paper (50 sq ft roll) $1.99, BOGO sale, buy two and get back $2 RR (probably same promo as cards) = two for FREE
  • Crest Pro-Health Clinical Toothpaste (4 oz) $3.49, use $1 coupon (11/28 P&G) and get back $2.50 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit
  • Revlon Top Speed Nail Color $5.99, use $1 WAG coupon (Everything Bright and Beautiful coupon book found in stores, usually at beauty counter) and get back $5 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit
  • Optimum Care Relaxer Kit $5.99, use $2 coupon and get back $4 RR = FREE/$0.01 profit
  • Cortaid Maximum Strength 1% Cream (0.5 oz) $3, submit for $3 rebate (form prints at checkout) = FREE
Printable Rebate Offers