A Whole Lot of Shopping 12/7...Part 2

Continued from previous post...

Stop #4 Meijer:

4-Gatorade $3.99...Buy 2 Get 2 Free
4- bunches Bananas (7.29 lbs!) $2.84
6- Green Giant Veggie Boxes $.99
5# Chicken Breast $9.17
6-Hormel Compleats Dinners $2
2-V8 Juice $2.89...BOGO
4-Pillsbury Bread Mix $1.89
4-Dinty Moore Beef Stew 4/$5
4-Finish Dishwasher Detergent $3
Used:
2- $.60/3 Green Giant Veggie mq
4- $.50 Finish mq (Doubled)
4- $.35 Pillsbury bread mq (Doubled)
6- $1 Hormel Compleats mq
$1/2 V8 printable
Spent: $48.07...Saved $42.31 (47%)


Stop #5 Aldi:

2# Pears $1.49
3# Oranges $1.49
3# Apples $2.49
Chicken Bouillon Cubes $1.69
Beef Bouillon Cubes $1.69
6- Tomato Sauce $.29
4- Diced Tomatoes $.59
3ct Green Pepper $1.49
3ct Cucumber $1.49
Grape Tomatoes $1.29
Cheese Slices $1.99
Artisan Lettuce $1.99
Iceberg Lettuce $.89
Spent $24.87...(not sure how to figure savings here lets just say a lot over purchasing my produce anywhere else!)

Stop #6 Walmart:

4- Axe Gift Sets $9.84
Used:
4- $3.75 Axe Holiday Set mq
Spent $24.36...Saved $15 (38%)
*this won't count toward budget since they are for Christmas gifts for our older nephews (18-24)


So over all (not counting Aldis):
Spent: 132.22
Saved: 161.40 (55% ot my best but acceptable)

Coming out of budget (including Aldi this time):
$120.30

A Whole Lot of Shopping 12/7... Part 1

I hadn't really done any big grocery trips since before Thanksgiving and I am planning to do a lot of baking and freezer cooking in the next couple weeks so a large trip was in order. I couldn't post these last night because I was straight exhausted from not only working all day but also hitting 6 (that's right folks 6!!!) stores in one night. So tired in fact I had to go out this morning to pick up the things I forgot :(

Stop #1 CVS:

2- Gallons milk $2.79...Got back $2ECB
4-Hershey's Kisses 4/$10...Got back $3ECB
Axe Gift Set $9.99...Got back $2ECB (Christmas item not coming out of budget)
Pampers (forgot to stick in picture lol) $9.99...Got back $4ECB
Used:
$2.50/2 Hershey Kisses sq
$2/2 Hershey Kisses printable
$1/2 Hershey Kisses mq
$3.75 Axe gift set mq
$2 Pampers printable
$11.40 ECB from previous trips
Spent $12.91...Saved $31.21 (71%)...Have $11ECB to use next time...$6.67 from budget


Stop #2 Walgreens:

 



 4-Nestle Crunch bars $.49
7-Kreon Microchangers $2.99...Buy 2 Get 1 Free (won't count toward budget these are for Christmas)
Play Food Set $9.99 (again not going toward budget is a Christmas Item)
Disney Princess Tent $9.99 (going to birthday box)
Spiderman Tent $9.99 (going to birthday box)
Disney Princess Tea Set $9.99 (birthday box)
Truck/Trailer/Boat Set $9.99 (guess what thats going to the birthday box :) !)
Used:
$4 off any $9.99 Toy sq (took off $20)
2-$.75/2 Nestle Crunch printable
5- Free Kreon Microchanger mq
$1RR from previous trip
Spent $32.40...Saved $42.06 (56%)..Earned 4100 Balance Reward Points....$26.41 from budget

Stop #3 Kroger:
**Note they were dead in there and the cashier was bored so I chose to do 6 seperate orders and finish off my Nesquick coupons :)**
Transactions 1-5:
2- Nesquick $1.09
Used:
2- $.50 Nesquick coupons (Doubled)
Paid $.18 for each order

Transaction 6:
2-Nesquck $1.09
3-Sierra Mist $1.25
Simply Apple juice: $2.99
2-Kroger Cream Cheese $1
Sour Cream $1.67
Cottage Cheese $1.67
3-Private Selection Yogurt $1.29
2-Kroger Bread $1
Private Selection Olives $4.79
Private Selection Pasta Sauce $2.59
Used:
Free Private Selection Pasta Sauce from Bzzagent
Free Private Selection Olives from Bzzagent
$.75/3 Private Selection Yogurt from Bzzagent
2- $.50 Nesquick mq (doubled)
3- $1 Sierra Mist blinkies (little machine on the shelf)
Spent $14.28 (all 6 orders total)...Saved $30.82 (69%)

OK so I think this post is long enough so I will finish the final 3 stores in Part 2.

Covergirl Flipstick

I was recently sent 3 seperate Covergirl Flipstick lipsticks to try in Minx, Vixen, & Stunner. Awesome names huh? I have to admit upon opening the package I was rather nervous 2 were rather bold colors but there was no need to worry!

As you can see there are two seperate shades in each tube. One end has a bold color and the other is a more shimmery neutral tone. The lipsticks are designed to be very blendable unlike many other lipsticks and with 13 seperate duos available the possibilities are endless. So far my favorite shade has been the Minx (think dark & light mocha shades) but I have plans to purchase a few more shades to add to my collection this week.

Matter of fact right now CVS has a  promotion running where if you purchase $10 worth of Covergirl lip products you can recieve $4 in Extracare Bucks back. At my local CVS these were $9.79 so you would need to buy two (and why wouldn't you buy at least two?!) and it would look something like this:

2- Covergirl Flipsticks @ $9.79= $19.58
Get back $4
That's like paying $15.58 for 2 (Really 4 since there are 2 shades in every tube!)

I have several $2 off coupons I would be glad to give out if anyone is interested in purchasing some of these for themselves!

I was given 3 free Flipsticks and multiple coupons to give my review but, that in no way affected my giving my honest opinion.

Free Vitamin Water 6 pack @ CVS through 12/5

Head on over here to print a coupon for a FREE 6-pack Vitaminwater with any $10 purchase (valid through 12/5). This would be a great thing to add on if your planning to do either the Hershey's candy or M&M's deals!

Walgreens and CVS 12/2

 

Walgreens....

Transaction #1:
*6 puzzles 3/$1 with in ad coupon
*Hershey's Pot of Gold $4.99
Spent $6.99...Saved $5.50...Got 1000 Balance Rewards Points (got me above the 18000 I needed for Transaction 2)

Transaction #2:
*6 Coloring Books 3/$1 with in ad coupon
*Princess & Tinkerbell Make Up Kits $9.99 each
*Air Hockey Set $9.99
*Spiderman Art Easel Set $9.99
*Hello Kitty Design a Bag Kit $9.99
Used:
$4 off any $9.99 Toy coupon (took off $20)
Cashed out $20 (18000) Balance Reward Points
Spent $11.95...Saved $41.00

That's a total of  $18.94 spent and $46.50 saved or 71%! ....I also will be heading back to Walgreens to pick up more toys for my Birthday Present box later this week.

CVS:
8- Hershey's Holiday Candy 4/$10
1- Cover Girl Flipstick  $9.79 (I will be reviewing this sometime this week!)
Used:
2- $2/2 Hershey's Holiday printable
2- $1/2 Hershey's Holiday mq
$2 Covergirl Flipstick mq
$21.14 in ECB from previous orders

Spent $.65...Saved $41.06 (98%!!)...Got back $6ECB

Let's try something new....

With New Years quickly approaching I have been thinking of ways to not only challenge myself more in regards to this blog but, also make it more fun & informational for my readers. So I have came up with 5 new things I will attempt to start this month but, will for sure be making a part of 2013!

#1...My dad has pointed out that I should really keep track of how much I save vs spend. I am going to start making that a part of my shopping trip posts and my monthly budget review and keep a running track for the year. This could get interesting :)

#2...Everyone loves Pinterest right? Well I am going to start posting my attempts at the recipes & crafts and reporting on whether or not they actually work/ taste good/etc.

#3...Freezer Cooking is a great way to stay on budget, and keep from going out to eat. Freezer cooking is also very necessary for us since I also provide food to my dad. I spend one Saturday a month cooking lots of food and then all I have to do is thaw it out during the month and we are ready to go.

#4...I am going to lower my budget to $500 and not count Grandma's groceries toward my budget. It was getting really hard to keep track of her stuff since I usually pick it up and immediately drop it off. This is only taking $100 off our budget but I am finding that we are actually consistently giving several bags of groceries out every month to someone who needs them/ food pantries/ or food drives. I would rather spend more on groceries and know that I am always going to have more than enough to hand someone in need several bags to help get them through. Also don't forget this also includes all gifts besides Christmas and since in the next couple weeks we will be adding another nephew that will bring us up to 3 parents, 1 grandparent, 6 siblings/spouses, & 15 nieces/nephews...not counting friends, weddings, baby showers, etc....Yikes that is a lot of birthdays!!!!

#5...And speaking of presents I am going to start a running list of what's in my birthday present box. I purchase things throughout the year when I can get them for super low prices and keep them hidden away until they are needed. Last years February Target toy clearance supplied me with Easter basket toys and birthday presents for many of the kiddies. 

I may add more features on as the year goes but for right now I will focus on making those and what I already do a success.

Start your year off right! Coupon Class

Is one of your New Years Resolutions going to be saving money?

Are you curious about how I do what I do?

Well then you are in luck! January 5th at 3pm I will be hosting my first coupon class of 2013 at my house (weather permitting). I will discuss general couponing rules, different stores coupon policies, and answer any questions you may have. As always there will be lots of fun, treats, and freebies!

And I am going to offer the class for FREE to anyone who RSVP's by December 25th, ($5 after). Just email me (thrillsandsavings@gmail.com) or comment on here for more information.