Believe It Or Not...

I have done very little shopping this week! I have just been really busy. So I made a trip out tonight to walgreens to use the $5/$20 that is only good through the end of today. Since you have to spend $20 BEFORE coupons I usually don't use these, but I decided to go ahead and get the FAR(Free After Rebate) items for the month. ONLY TWO, I was bummed. Anyway, heres what went down :)

Loreal Age Perfect Radiance 19.99
Almay One Coat Mascara 6.99
- $2 Loreal
- $1 Almay
- $5/20

Total 20.55 on my gift card. Will get 26.98 back (plus 10% bonus) I also submitted my October rebates today, should have those in a few days!

I hope you are all enjoying the cooler weather. It is still getting hot here in TX.

Walgreens and CVS
Another Walgreens Trip, I needed to get some things so I used some Register Rewardst hat I had expiring.

Pictures .95
4 Rechargable Energizer batteries, normally 12.99, one sale for 7.99 with $2 peelies :)
Tub $1
Sippie Cups $2
Eggs .99
OOP Zero, paid with RRs and Giftcard

CVS
Soyjoy $4/4
- $1 in qs
get back $4 ECB
Total OOP Zero, on giftcard


Total Spent since Sept 1st: $488.28
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $3370.26
87.35% Savings in total

Way far behind!!

I am sorry that I am so far behind! Here are the deals that I have done since Thursday.

CVS


Covergirl was an exchange.. so I am not counting it except the difference was $2.30.

Corn Pops $2/4
Tampax $5.99
Swiffer 6.99/ea
-4 $1 Kellogs
- .50 Tampax

Paid with ECBS OOP Zero


Transaction 1
2 Brach Candy 1.29/ea
1 Excederine 1.99
2 pumpkin Pails .99/ea
1 Funlight Glow Stick .99
1 Funlight glow necklace (on accident, not part of ECB deal, DANG!) .99
- $2 Excederine q
- $3 Excederine CRT
- $3 ECB

Total .53 paid with cash, my gift card is out :(

Trans 2
1 Windex 2.50
2 Scrubbing Bubbles 2.50/ea
2 Brach Candy 1.29/ea
1 Excederine 1.99
2 pumpkin Pails .99/ea
1 Funlight Glow Stick .99
1 Funlight glow necklace (on accident, not part of ECB deal, DANG!) .99
- $2 Excederine q
- $3 Excederine CRT
- $3 ECB
- $5 ECB
- $2.00 Windex
- 2 $2.00 Scrubbing Bubbles

Total OOP .03





Trans 1
Raincheck Soliel 5.99- I just realized she cahrged me 6.99 instead of 5.99 GRRR back to CVS
2 at 6.99
- 2 $2 coupons
- $7 in ECB

Total 1.04 in cash :( I didn't even notice she over charged me. GRRRRR

got back $8 on a gift card for ECBs from the deal.


Trans 2
4 Gum Toothbrushes 3.99 ea
- 4 .75 qs
- $11 ECB

Total OOP 2.08 OUCH I didn't have another small ECB atleast i had my new gift card.
Got back 15.96 in ECB

Walgreens

3 Idential Transactions
3 Rob at 3.99
Sandwich Bags .67
- 3 $3 Rob qs

Total OOP .63 times 3 trans 1.89, I forgot to use my gift card. Silly me :)


Nivea 4.99- Free after rebate
20 Lindt Bars 2.49
2 St. Ives 4.99/ea
- 10 BOGO Lindt
- 10 $.75 off Lindt
- $1 IVC Lindt
- Bogo St. Ives
- $2 St Ives

Total. 83 cents on gift card got back $5 RR and will get $4.99 rebate :)


3 Transactions- I had $75 in RRs that expire next Sunday, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to use them and I wanted to still be able to get some Christmas presents for free :) So DS lucked out :)

Transaction 1
3 Disney Plates $1/ea
2 Trick or Treat Bags .39/ea
Play douh 4 Pack 3.99
Music Spin Ball 9.99
Alphabet Foam May 9.99
Barbie Sunglasses 5.99
Plush Horse 9.99 ($5 MIR)
Tostidos 3.79 not pictured
- $45 RR and $2.50 on my gift card

Total OOP ZERO

Transaction 2
2 Disney Bowls $1/ea
Fusion Razor 8.99
2 St. Ives 4.99 ea
Wags brand purse tissue .29
- $4 Fusion
-$2 St Ives
- BOGO St Ives
- $10 RR

Total .29 on Gift Card OOP ZERO got back $9 in RR

Transaction 2
Fusion Razor 8.99
Wags brand purse tissue .29
2 St. Ives 4.99 ea
- $4 Fusion
- BOGO St Ives
- $10 RR

Total .29 on Gift Card OOP ZERO got back $9 in RR

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $488.28
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $3282.28
87.05% Savings in total

HEB Again

The meal deal this week was so awesome that I decided to do it again. I was at the doctors which is right by HEB so I stopped in. I didn't have my stouffers $1 coupon :( but I figured it would be way more in gas to make another trip out there, so I stopped.

HEB


Stouffers Party Size Lasagna 11.39
Hearts of Romain 2.19
Hot Pockets 2.49
Juicy Juice 2.19
HEB Bread 1.69
Ice Cream 2.50
2 Packs of Pepperonis 5.38

- Free Romain, Ice Cream, Hot Pockets, Juicy Juice, HEB Bread

Total OOP 16.77

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $484.79
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $2964.43
85.59% Savings in total

YAY!

I finally got my Walgreens rebate! WOO HOO $104.71. Now next time it will jsut take a few days to load. It takes a bit of time to get it at first then the following months are almost instant. Woo hoo!!!

Eating Out

EDIT: I just realized I put an s on Restaurant...the link is now working :)

I just discovered the most amazing thing! Restaurant.com. Now, don't think I'm trying to make this blog all commercial or push stuff, I'm just really excited about it! DH and I had talked about just simply cutting out all restaurants. But we LOVE to eat out! This is the perfect solution.

Restaurants.com sells "gift certificates" but they really work more like coupons. When entering in the code "save" it takes 70% off the already low price. For instance, we love this little Italian place up the road. They have a $25 gift certificate for $10, with the "save" code it is knocked down to $3!! $3 for a $25 gift certificate. Now, they all have different exclusions. This one you have to spend $35 to use it. So you really pay $10 (assuming its exactly $35) and the $3 you already paid. $13 for a $35 dinner is certainly not bad :)

I am just too excited! I spend $13.90 and got 4 $25 gift certificates and 2 $10 ones. YAY

Pictures Today

I want to do a little side blog today some pictures we had taken today. Tina Zak did a great job with our family! Check out her blog http://tinazak.blogspot.com/ If you are in the Houston area and need some pictures taken, shes your girl! Thanks Tina!!
Our daughter, we do "I Love You" signs and "kiss" our hands together. She showed us her I love you sign then kissed them together. She melts my heart :)

Our Family!! While our baby didn't quite cooperate, the pictures turned out beautifully!

Not too exciting....

This week isn't all that fantastic. While I am excited about the Robitussin deal and the fact that there is FINALLY a good price on tampons... it wasn't that great.

Walgreens


Transaction 1
3 Skippy $3/5
6 Ragu $3/5
4 Princess Pencils .17 ea
3 Robitussin 3.99 ea
Jane Makeup Brush 4.99 (BOGO)
Jane Eyeshadow 4.49
Arm and Hammer 2.99

- 3 $1/2 Ragu
- $1/2 Skippy
- $.40 Skippy
- 3 $3 Robitussin
- 2 $2 Jane
- $1 Arm and Hammer
-3 $4.50 RR
- $3 RR

Total OOP .36 (negative .37 tax, I love that, lol) and got $15 in RR! And I will get a $1 rebate from Arm and Hammer

Transactions 2-4
3 Robitussin 3.99 ea
1 Twix .47

- 3 $3 Robitussin
- $3 RR

Total OOP .37 got $10 each in RR

CVS


4 Transactions Total

Transaction 1
Swiffer Sweeper 7.99
Swiffer Duster 6.99
Tampax 5.99 with free venus razor, woo hoo!
2 M&ms .79 ea
Sweetarts .79

- $1 Swiffer Sweeper
- $8.49 Swiffer Duster (buy sweeper get free duster)
- $.50 Tampax

Paid with ECBs

Total .83 on my gift card, ZERO OOP Got back $8 Ecbs

My total ended up being off, we then figured it was because we scanned my card last so the coupon we took off was for 8.49, the original price of the duster not the 6.99 sale price, so I had to grab candy, I hate that! My OOP would have been zero off of my giftcard, oh well!

Transactions 2,3,4- Different Stores

Tampax 5.99
4 bags of candy 2/$3

- .50 Tampax
-2 $1/2 Candy - 1 dollar a bag woo hoo! These coupons have come out twice so go get your cheap candy!

Paid with 9.96 ECBs

Total OOP Zero :)

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $468.02
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $2953.37
86.32% Savings in total

Enter to win a FREE handbag

You know I love free :) http://www.handbagplanet.com/ Check it out!

Want to try something out... let me know what you think.

I thought it might be helpful to list out the deals that I am doing before I do them so that others can plan too! Now, I don't plan to list all the deals, just the scenarios that I plan on doing.

CVS
Swiffer Sweeper 7.99
Swiffer Duster 6.99
Tampax 5.99
BOGO Nature Bounty Vitamins 4.99

- $1 Swiffer Sweeper
- $6.99 Buy Sweeper get Duster
-2 $2 Nature Bounty Coupons (printable here...
Total 13.97- pay with ECBs get back $10 ECBs

Its not a money maker week, but still, i need these items. Gosh, I never thought I would be one to think that at paying 3.97 for these items wouldn't be a good deal. LOL and I'm not even paying for them OOP :) LOL

I will post Walgreens later :)

Back to HEB Buddy Buck

First let me say that I LOVE COMMENTS :) If you stop by my blog, let me know :) I am more than willing to answer questions, help you get started, or explain something. Or, if you have tips for me, I would LOVE to hear them!!

Its been quite some time since I have been to HEB and while Kroger doubles/triples coupons they have been on my nerves lately. I decided to help out my grocery bill, I'm just going to shop sales, and make meals from that. Today's trips were a bit higher because DH HAD to have pop that wasn't on sale, I made a donation for Breast Cancer and I bought 6 lbs of hamburger and 5 lbs of chicken to help replenish the stockpile I lost in Hurricane Ike. I also went to Randalls to check things out there...

First, HEB has "meal deals" buy x and get y free. Usually there are several y's. :) There are also deals coupled in pairs in a true buy x get y fashion.

HEB


Oranges 1.62
Kool Aid Jammers 2.54
Heart of Romaine 2.19
Hot Pockets (not pictured) 2.49
HEB Brand Chips 2.19
Ice cream 2.50
Mac and Cheese-trying out this brand 2 at .39
Dora Fruit Snacks 2.29
Hormel Turkey 3.49
5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast- 9.80
Sunchips 3.79
HEB Break 2 @ 1.64
Juicy Juice 2.19
Keebler Sandies 3.29
Stouffers Chicken Enchiladas 11.39

- $1 Stouffers
- $.55 Sandies
- 2 FREE Frito Lay Prodcuts (We got some nasty Doritos with these spice balls in them... like the flavor in a big ball...NASTY, so we wrote them and they sent us coupons)
- $.55 Hormel

HEB coupons
Buy Stouffers Party Size Lasagna or Enchiladas get this free (i think im going back to do it again with the lasagna)
HEB Bread
Ice Cream
Hearts of Romaine
Juicy Juice
Hot Pockets

Buy Sandies get fruit snacks free
Buy Hormel Lunch Meat get bread free
Buy Koolaid Jammers get HEB chips free

Total Before Coupons 57.83

Total OOP 31.02 :) Pretty good considering all the chicken!

Randalls (Safeway)

I lost my receipt but remember the total, sort of :)

2 12 packs of pop $5.99 - BARF
6 lbs hamburger 1.49/lb
Granola Bars 2/$4
4 packs of shredded cheese $6
2 jars Classico Sauce $4
2 boxes Barrilla- get free when you buy 2 Classico Sauces
I think there are one more two more things, but I can't remember!

Total OOP $37.xx


Ok, little side note on the chicken. Some hard core couponers refuse to pay people to "de-skin and bone" their chicken. However, this is just one of those things that I am more than willing to pay for. I can hardly stand to trim the fat off much less rip a whole chicken apart.... just a little comment there :)

TARGET


I also went to Target last night. We got a ton of Halloween stuff, but I did get some deals too!

16 packs of trial tide at .99 each
- 16 $1 coupons adjusted to .99

Total OOP ZERO :)

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $466.55
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $2748.27
85.49% Savings in total

2 small trips

I went to CVS to get more of the Soleil razors that they were suppose to get in. BLAH they didn't have them. I wasn't happy since I had to drive to one that is a little further away. Anyway, I got a raincheck. That is a good tip, if a store is out of a item you want, MAKE SURE you ask for a raincheck :)

CVS and Walmart


So CVS I just got the Grape juice

2 @ 2.34 ea, normally 4.69 (the light juice is on clearance but still yields the ECBs)
- 2 $1 Welches coupon
paid with $2.29 ecb and change on a gift card.

Total oop ZERO and got back $3 in ECB

Walmart
19 bags of Veggie Steamers at $1.22
- 19 $1 coupon

Total OOP $4.18 :)

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $398.03
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $2694.46
87.13% Savings in total

My house is starting to smell like a perfume shop

Alright..more free stuff for me :) Seriously, if you haven't started playing the CVS and Walgreens game, what is stopping you???

Here were my trips from yesterday

CVS

Made two trips looking for more Soleil razors, they should have some more in today, since i have 2 more coupons.

Transaction 1
Always Pads 4.98
2 Welches Grape Juice 2.34 normally 4.69 ea
CVS Vitamin D 2.99

-2 $1 Welches
- $4.98 ecb
- $5.69 ecb
Total OOP Zero.. got back 10.97 in ecbs

.. sometimes its more beneficial to loose a few cents on ecbs than to get something else and pay out of pocket. I think my last ecb here was 5.98 not 5.69.

Transaction 2
2 Colgate Max Toothpaste 2.99 ea

-2 $1 Coupon

Paid with $4 ECB

Total OOP ZERO got back $4 ecb

Transaction 3
3 Colgate Max 2.99 ea

-3 $1 coupon

Paid wtih $6 ecb

Total OOP ZERO got back $6 ECB


Walgreens
I had planned on doing less transactions to use the BOGO coupons I had to make it simpler, but the cashier insisted that I not waste my $5 ones :) Yay, more money for me! But as you can see :( two in the back are broken. I think it may have happened on the way home :( I'm sad.

Trans 1-6
1 Glade Wisp 5.99
-$5 coupon
Total 1.07 (tax) get $3 RR

Transaction 7
Dress Up Shoes for Christmas 3.99
Glade Wisp 5.99
-$5 q
- $4.50 RR from Oral B

Total OOP .51 got $3 RR

Transactions 8-10
Oral B Toothbrush 4.49
Pencil .20
-$3 RR
-$.75 Oral B
Total OOP 1.02 get $4.50 back

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $393.85
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $2661.90
87.11% Savings in total

Pads Pads Pads

Why do I buy them when i don't use them... well I have an awful addiction to taking anything out of the store that they will give me for free. Getting paid to buy stuff, that addiction is even stronger!! LOL Heres how it went down

Trans 1, 2 and 3, identical

2 Always Pads 4.98 Ea
Paid with $10 ECB

OOP ZERO... got back 9.96 per card :)

A little tip about CVS/Walgreens, at CVS you can get your cashier to "push through" your ECBs and loose the last bit of change on there, that way you don't have to get something else and pay more money for something you don't want. Now Walgreens on the other hand, your purchases HAVE to equal the Register Reward amount BEFORE tax.

Also, RRs at Walgreens count as coupons. So, if you have 3 items and 3 coupons to go with them and want to pay with an RR, you have to get another item.. called a filler. Just the cheapest thing you can find. If you have 4 items and 3 coupons and want to pay with 1 RR, no worries, no need for a filler. At CVS the ECBs do not count as coupons. Just FYI :)

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $383.86
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $2579.53
87.05% Savings in total

CVS Rocks my Socks :)

Yep, yep, I said rocks my socks :) Here are 4 more trips I did today :) I had to get a total of 6 cards to do it (I normally use 2) but it was well worth it!

CVS


Alright, I did 4 Identical transactions, one pumpkin is not pictured :)

Breeze Moniter 14.99 (normally 59.99- $10 ecb)
1 pumpkin cup .74 (normally .99)
1 vitamin water 2.29 (2.29 ecb)

- Breeze q, 14.99
- $3/15 CVS coupon

Total OOP .12 for all transactions (.03 each) got 49.16 back in ECB

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $383.86
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $2549.65
86.91% Savings in total

CVS and Walgreens, what a beautiful day!!

Alright, I knew there were some big deals to hit up this week at CVS, and boy did I make out like a champ!! This is the week for FREE TOOTHPASTE, so make sure to take advantage of that!! Lets start with CVS ( by the way, the crest max fresh deal is a monthly deal so gather your coupons)

CVS


I started out with 22.78 in ECBs on card 1 and have ended with 36.56 :)
I started out with 13.79 in ECBs on card 2 and have ended with 28.27 :)

Wow I've got alot of spending to do!! :)

Transaction 1 and 2- Card 1 and 2
Bic Soleil Razor 5.99 (saved $1- get $4 ECB)
Breeze Moniter (not pictured) 14.99 (Saved $45- Get $10 ECB)
Vitamin Water 2.29 (get 2.29 ecb- FREE)
Always Infinity Pads 4.98 (saved 1.01 get $4.98 ecbs, FREE)
2 Colgate Max Toothpaste 2.99 (saved .30, get $2 ECB each)

- 2 $1 Colgate
- $14.99 Breeze Moniter
- $2 Soleil
- $3/15 purchase
- $11.99 ECB- Card 1, - $10.79 ECB card 2
Card 1 Total .25 paid with a gift card, total OOP ZERO :)
Card 2 Total 1.45 paid with a gift card, total OOP ZERO :)

Both of these transactions were identical, all in all, I made $27.56 and got lots of good free stuff :)


I got 3 more cards just to do the moniter deal. I have to get those at some point this week.


WALGREENS
Walgreens was just as fantastic today!!

Trans 1- Store 1
6 Crest Toothpaste 1.99
2 Glade Air Wisp 5.99
Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Max Kit 3.99 ea
2 Glade Caldes 1.99 ea
Skittles .89 Filler
- 5 $1 Crest
- 5 $1 Crest Easy Saver Coupon
- $3 Scrubbing Bubblues
- $5 Glade Wisp
- $5.99 BOGO Glade Wisp
- 2 $1 Glade Candle
- $4 RR from Fusion Razor

I also got the twix in this transaction but I don't see it on my recipet, i think she forgot to scan it :(

Total OOP .86 got back $3 RR

Trans 2- Store 1
2 Glade Air Wisp
- 5.99 BOGO
- $5

Total OOP 1.07 got back $3 RR

Trans 3- Store 2
6 Crest Toothpaste
1 Glade Air Wisp
- 5 $1 Crest
- 5 $1 Crest Easy Saver Coupon
- $5 Glade

Total OOP 1.01 got back $3 RR

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $383.74
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $2298.98
85.70% Savings in total

Walgreens, oh how I love Walgreens

Ok, last night I did one more quick trip to get one more razor and Toothbrush, i did it the same as the transactions below and did it twice. The gift pack worked the same as just the razor.


Trans 1
Fusion Razor 8.99 (normally 10.99)
Highlighter .35
- $4 Fusion Razor
- $4.50 Register Reward from Oral BTotal

OOP .74 got $4 in RR

Trans 2
Oral B Toothbrush 4.49
Highlighter .35
- .75 Oral B
- $4 RR from Fusion

Total OOP .10.. got $4.50 RR

Different store...
Trans 1 Fusion Razor 8.99 (normally 10.99)
Highlighter .24
- $4 Fusion Razor
- $4.50 Register Reward from Oral BTotal

OOP .79 got $4 in RR

Trans 2
Oral B Toothbrush 4.49
Twix .40
- .75 Oral B
- $4 RR from Fusion

Total OOP .15.. got $4.50 RR

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $380.80
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $2045.82
84.31% Savings in total

Too much shopping, too little time...

Walgreens again, just two simple transactions


Trans 1
Fusion Razor 8.99 (normally 10.99)
Pencil .20
- $4 Fusion Razor
- $4.50 Register Reward from Oral B

Total OOP .75 got $4 in RR

Trans 2
Oral B Toothbrush 4.49
Mini Highlighter .25
Highlighter .35
- .75 Oral B
- $4 RR from Fusion

Total OOP .36.. got $4.50 RR oop would have been less becuase I didn't want both highlighters, whatever!

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $379.02
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $2014.60
84.17% Savings in total

See...things have calmed down!

I made two trips tonight..

Walgreens

Fusion Razor 8.99
Oral B Toothbrush 4.49
Cottonelle TP $4
2 gel pens .14- fillers
-$4 Fusion
-.75 Oral B
-$1 Cottonelle easy saver book q
- $1 Cottonelle q
-2 $5 Febreeze Register Rewards

Total OOP 1.97 and got $8.50 in RRs

I also went to Kroger, didn't really get any good deals, and I was really frustrated about it. Grocerys are getting me down latley. Anyway, total OOP $46.23

Total Spent since Sept 1st: $377.91
Total Saved since Sept 1st: $1998.08
84.09% Savings in total