I took a bit of a break from couponing to finish up my Master's Degree but I'm back in the saddle again! Will soon start posting! Disney just might have to wait just one more year, but we'll get there!

Friday Night Finds!

Just a quick update on my shopping finds tonight. Not a GREAT haul, but overall pleased.

 Target: Christmas Clearance is now 90% off! WHEW HOO! Purchased 24 gift bags, 18 packs of tissue, 3 craft kits, tree topper, 5 spools of ribbon, and 4 Gilette Shaving Gels (free with $1.00 off coupon). Total was around $7!

Found these at Albertsons, on sale for $1.19. Used 2 .35/1 coupons that TRIPLE making them .14 each!

Also found these M&M's on clearance at Albertsons for .99 bag. These are the larger sized bags. I had ZERO coupons, but it was still a great deal!

Went to Dollar General AGAIN and purchased two more ALL detergents for a total of $2 (before tax)!

My grocery shopping trip - didn't need much... paid $39.

I 'HEART' Target!

I went back to Target tonight with the goal of purchasing Pampers for my daughter and do a repeat of yesterday's couponing. I really wanted to see if I received another catalina for the FREE Breathe Right strips (I did NOT) :-(

This is what I got for $51.86 tonight - TWO transactions and a very friendly cashier. He called my a Crazy Couponer and I was flattered!

Transaction 1:

10 Lean Cuisine meals (on sale $1.86 - $2.00)
*Used 2 $1.00/5 coupons
*Received $5 Target Gift Card

3 Flinstone Gummie Vitamins (on sale $5.99)
*Used 3 $2.00/1 manufacture Q's
*Used 1 $1.00/1 Target Q (I could have used 3 if I had them)
*Received $5 Gift Card

Transaction 2:

(Will update this later this evening) Had Q's for everything except ice cream. Used the two $5 gift cards from Transaction 1 as well.

I HEART TARGET!

Dollar General, Target, and Walgreens!

UPDATE:  After I reviewed my receipt - I noticed that I did NOT get the overage @ Target. They just took off .69 per box. Still FREE - and FREE is excellent!

Spent $7.19 on all these items AND received a catalina (from Target) for FREE Breathe Right Strips!

Dollar General:
All Detergent: $3.50 (sale)
*Combined $1.50 store coupon with $1.00 manufacture coupon
Paid: $2.00 for both (not including tax)

Walgreens:
Studio 35: 2/$3.00 (sale)
*Used in-store coupon from monthly coupon book - $1.00 each
Paid: $1.00 for both (not including tax)

Target:
2 Market Pantry Mac-n-Cheese .69 per box
*Used two $1.00/1 store coupons
**It only took off .69 per box - no overage
4 Market Pantry Sauce and Shells: $1.00 each (sale)
*Used two $1.00 off when you buy pasta & sauce
Thera-flu Warming Relief: $4.50 (sale)
*Used $3.00/1 manufacture coupon
*Used $1.00/1 store coupon
**It has been rumored that this purchase triggers the catalina for the free breathe right strips.
2 Christmas craft packs: $4.00
*70% off Christmas
Paid. $4.19 (no tax)




I am trying to figure out how to link the coupons that I use to my blob. I am a BEGINNER beginner at blogging, etc.....

My THERAPY is COUPON therapy...

After a LONG day at work, I left a bit frazzled. On days like today, I like to grab a few deals! Today's purchases are not included in my $2,000 budget but were pretty good deals. Toilet paper could have been better, but we were about out! 

Purchased five (16-pack) packages of toilet paper. They were on sale at Staples for $5.99. Used four .35 off coupons and the $5 off $25 in-ad coupon - paid $23.85 plus tax!

Walgreens: $7 and change! Skinny Cow box candy on sale for $2.99 (Used two BOGO free coupons printed from web) and Triaminic was 2/$10 w/$5 RR. (Used two $2 off coupons)!

I'm happy, home, and feeling great that I'm stocked on TP!

Countdown to Disney has officially started!

I didn't do a lot of shopping today, but made a quick trip to my three trusty stores: Albertsons, CVS, and Walgreens. I am sure once I really go through all the ads and do my own match-ups, I'll go back for some deals.

My first stop was CVS. I picked up eight bottles of Pantene shampoos & conditioners, two Cover Girl eye-liners and four Tide laundry detergents. I spent a total of $20.19 out of pocket.

I then headed over to Walgreens. I purchased four boxes of Skinny Cow candy, 4 12-count Alka-Seltzers, 2 children's Triaminic strips, 6 pack of toilet paper and also picked up my free 25 4x6 prints from the photo lab. Total out of pocket was: $10.72.

OK - we all know we can't live off drug-store couponing, so I had to go to the grocery store! Since the Cowboys were playing today, I wore my jersey to Albertsons because you get 10% off on game day (when you wear a jersey).

I spent $113.67 at Albertsons today. That is quite A LOT for me to spend at the store. However; I did purchase 14 packages of meat (we had NONE in the freezer!) My advice to anyone trying to save money is to shop for items you DON'T have coupons for on game days. Great way to buy produce, meats, milk, etc.. things you rarely get coupons for!

So here I am on DAY ONE of my challenge.

Total spent today: $144.58

Total spent to date: $144.58

According to my receipts, I saved (between all three stores): $209.19 

My New Year's Resolution - 2012 (I MUST be crazy)!

My New Year's resolution for 2012... drum roll please... I must be crazy... with a husband, autistic 10 year old, and a toddler?... working full time... graduate school full time... but it can be done!... is.................... to spend less than $2,000 on my family's groceries AND toiletries for the YEAR! Yep - you may all think I've lost my marbles, I may very well have - however; I'm going to give this a shot! If I can do it, then YOU can do it to!

I included the dynamics of my family and my obligations outside of my family in my introduction for one simple reason. Couponing takes TIME! You have to find an organizational system that works for you. You have to devote your 'down' time (yeah, I know - what is that?) to couponing. You can't succumb to running to the store every night for dinner. Over the past few months, I haven't 'couponed' much so now is the perfect time to start back up.

And here is the kicker! If I can bring my family's food/toiletry budget to come in UNDER $2,000 - we will be spending next Christmas in Disney!