HEB--Aunt Jemima Deal

I went to HEB today and I noticed the following deal:

Buy:
Aunt Jemima Pancakes or French Toast ($2.18)
GET FREE:
Aunt Jemima Waffles

That sounded like a pretty good deal, but I didn't want to buy it until I looked around to see if I could find any coupons to combine with the sale.

Go here and you'll be able to print a coupon for $1.00 off any Aunt Jemima Frozen Pancake, Waffle, or French Toast Item. You'll need to watch a very short video (30 seconds), and then you'll be able to print your coupon.

$1.18 for 2 boxes of pancakes/waffles sounds like an awesome deal to me!

I was hurrying through the store, so I forgot to pick up one of the yellow in store coupons. I don't think there were any size exclusions on it, but please make sure to read the coupon before doing the above deal just in case I missed something.

FREE Simply Orange Juice and Lemonade

Did you notice these awesome coupons on coupons.com?

Coupons are for:

$1.00 off any one Simply Limeade, Simply Lemonade, or Simply Lemonade with Raspberry, any variety or size

$1.00 off any one Simply Orange, any variety or size

Walgreens has Simply Apple, Lemonade, or Orange 13.5 oz. on sale this week for $0.99...so FREE after coupon!!

This is my favorite lemonade, so I am excited about this deal!!

If you aren't planning a trip to Walgreens, then you can always price match at Wal-Mart.

Note, these are for the individual size bottles. If you can't make it to the store this week, then there's a good chance that you'll be able to find these regularly priced around $1.00 at most stores sometime before the coupons expire.

Meal Planning

I have posted before about the importance of having a meal plan. In order to really shrink your grocery budget, you need to have a plan.

In my opinion it is very important to make a meal plan. When making a meal plan, you should FIRST take stock of any items you have in your pantry/freezer and use those items when deciding what meals you will be preparing for the week. After you have taken stock of your own items THEN look through the store ads to find the best possible deals at the stores this week.

I have to admit that I got a little off track with this during the summer months. With children being home I didn't spend a lot of time chasing sales and stocking up on staples, so I will need to get back in the game. :) I had enough of a stockpile built up that we were still able to stay within our grocery budget, but the shelves are starting to get bare, so I'll need to get back on it.

I decided to sit down last night and make our meal plan for the week. My goal was to spend as little out of pocket on the essentials we would need to get through the week. This will allow me to use any extra in our weekly grocery budget to start building up our stockpile with items that our at their rock bottom prices.

MEAL PLAN:

September 1: Leftovers (Hamburger Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Veggies)

September 2: Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, Rolls

September 3: Eat at In Laws House

September 4: Hotdogs, French Fries, Vegetable

September 5: Chicken Spaghetti

September 6: Tacos, Rice and Beans

September 7: Leftovers/Sandwiches

Breakfast usually consists of cereal, waffles, toast, yogurt, fruit.
Lunch usually consists of leftovers or sandwiches.

I shopped from my pantry before making our weekly meal plan, so I only had a few items that I NEEDED this week:

I was able to purchase all of this for under $10.00. This will free up the majority of our weekly grocery budget to stockpile other items
I will probably have to purchase more milk and fruit before the week is over, but I will still have over half of our weekly grocery budget to begin stocking up on items that are at my rock bottom prices.

I am running low on both ground beef and chicken, so I will definitely be using a good portion of leftover money to start stocking back up on meat...just hoping that there will be a good sale soon.

What about you? Did you take a break during the summer? Are you having to rebuild your stockpile?

Chex Mix--$0.50 a bag

Go here to print a coupon for $0.50 off any one bag of Chex Mix.

CVS has Chex Mix on sale for $1.00 this week, so just $0.50 after coupon!!

If you weren't planning on shopping at CVS this week then you can always price match this at Wal-Mart.

Game Coupons

Coupons.com has released some great game coupons!

The coupons include:

$4.00 of any one Connect 4 Game

$5.00 off one Simon Flash, Scrabble Flash, Yahtzee Flash, or Bop It XT Game

$4.00 off any one Monopoly Game

(I found these using zip code 76904 and clicking on the Toys and Games Category).

I know with the 100 degree weather it doesn't seem like it, but Christmas is just around the corner so you might want to think about printing these out to help with your Christmas shopping.

Even if your family won't play these games, think about buying games and donating to a family in need, Salvation Army Angel Tree, Toys for Tot, etc. There are always so many opportunities to give around Christmas time!

Note, the Monopoly coupon says save $4.00 off any one Monopoly Game. Monopoly Deal is a card game that is usually priced right around $5.00. You should be able to use this coupon to get a great deal on a card game; it would make a great stocking stuffer!

You also might look for the Travel size Connect 4 Game. There is no size restriction on these coupons, so you'll probably be able to pick up the Travel Size Connect 4 Game for right around a dollar using the coupon!

Spic and Span Coupon

Go here to print a coupon for $1.00 off 2 Spic and Span products. (I found this using zip code 76904 and clicking on the Household category).

The last time I was at Wal-Mart, the antibacterial spray cleaners were regularly priced at $0.97, so you should be able to pick up two bottles for $0.94...just $0.47 each!

Old El Paso Coupon

Go here to print a coupon for $0.50 off any Old El Paso product. (I used zip code 12345 to find it).

The last time I was at Albertsons, Old El Paso Taco Seasoning was priced at $0.99, so FREE after coupon doubles.

Albertsons also regularly puts other Old El Paso products on sale 10 for $10.00, so we might be able to get free taco shells or refried beans.

This is definitely a coupon you'll want to print!

HEB Ad/Coupon Match Up (August 31 - September 6)

MEAL DEAL:

BUY:
2 Ball Park Beef, Cheese, or White Turkey Franks
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Ball Park Franks (found in 8/7 RedPlum insert) (*expires 9/2)
GET FREE:
Hormel Chili
French's Yellow Mustard
HEB Shredded Cheese

COMBO LOCOS:

BUY:
Baked! Lay's Potato Crisps
GET FREE:
HEB Baked Potato Crisps

BUY:
Keebler Chips Deluxe Cookies
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Keebler Cookies (found in 8/7 RedPlum insert)
GET FREE:
HEB Chips Galore! Cookies

BUY:
Tyson Grilled Chicken Breast Strips, Fillets, or Oven Roasted Diced Chicken Breast
-use coupon for $1.00 off Tyson Grilled Chicken (found in 8/7 SmartSource insert)
GET FREE:
Skinner Pasta
Classico Pasta Sauce

BUY:
HEB Ready, Fresh, Go! Snack Pack Apples
GET FREE:
Skippy Natural Peanut Butter

BUY:
Oscar Mayer Lunchables Complete or Lunchables with Fruit
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Oscar Mayer Lunchables with Fruit (I found these coupons on a hang tag at HEB a couple of days ago)
GET FREE:
Corn Nut Chips

BUY:
Yoplait Go-Gurt Family Pack
-use coupon for $0.75 off 2 Yoplait Go-Gurt (found in 8/7 General Mills insert)
GET FREE:
Pillsbury Toaster Strudel

BUY:
1 lb. of HEB New Harvest Wild Gulf Shrimp
GET FREE:
Hill Country Fare Deli Style Potato Salad

BUY:
2 Tostitos Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips
GET FREE:
Tostitos Salsa

BUY:
HEB Premium Smoked Sausage Links
GET FREE:
Bush's Best Grillin' Beans
Simply Potatoes or Simply Macaroni And Cheese

BUY:
11" Apple Pie
GET FREE:
Pepsi Max (1.5 liter)

BUY:
HEB Fully Cooked Herb Shredded Chicken
GET FREE:
HEB Bake Shop 100% Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas

BUY:
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray
GET FREE:
HEB Ready, Fresh, Go! Green Beans

BUY:
Air Heads Candy (6 pack)
GET 2nd FREE

BUY:
2 Mars Single Candy
GET 3rd FREE

BUY:
Pepper Corer ($5.97)
GET FREE:
1 lb. of Fresh! Jalapenos
HEB Cream Cheese
Farmland Bacon

BUY:
Fresh! Skinless Inside Beef Skirt Steaks for Fajitas
GET FREE:
ChefStyle Large Roasting Pan

BUY:
ChefStyle 5 Tier Cupcake Holder Stand ($7.97)
GET FREE:
Cupcakes with Icing

BUY:
HEB Household Angle Broom ($3.99)
GET FREE:
HEB Mesquite Charcoal Briquets

BUY:
Atascosa 55 Gallon Barrel Grill ($79.97)
GET FREE:
Blue or Green Camo Extreme Insulated Cooler

BUY:
Igloo Island Breeze 28 Quart Rolling Cooler ($25.98)
GET FREE:
HEB Soft Drinks (12 pack)

BUY:
HEB Cotton Rounds or Squares
GET FREE:
Hill Country Essentials Nail Polish Remover

BUY:
2 AcneFree Products or one AcneFree Kit
GET FREE:
Gold Bond Ultimate Hand Sanitizer

BUY:
Stayfree Pads, Carefree Pantiliners, or o.b. Tampons
-use coupon for $1.00 off Stayfree (found in 8/21 SmartSource insert)
-use coupon for $0.50 off Carefree (found in 8/21 SmartSource insert)
-use coupon for $1.00 off o.b. Tampons (found in 8/21 SmartSource insert)
GET FREE:
Carefree Pantiliners

BUY:
HEB inControl G20 Test Strips ($19.87)
GET FREE:
HEB inControl G20 Meter

BUY:
Glad Trash Bags
GET FREE:
Dixie Plates

BUY:
Mennen Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, or Teen Spirit Deodorant
GET FREE:
Colgate Wisp Mini Brushes

BUY:
Pert Plus Shampoo or Conditioner
-use coupon for $1.00 off Pert Plus (found in 8/14 SmartSource insert)
GET FREE:
Brut Men's Deodorant

BUY:
Zest Body Wash
-use coupon for $1.00 off Zest Body Wash (found in 7/17 SmartSource insert)
GET FREE:
Zest Bar Soap

BUY:
Hill Country Essentials M3 or M5 Magnum Women's or Men's Blade Razor System
GET FREE:
Hill Country Essentials Women's or Men's Blade Razor Refill Cartridges

BUY:
Orchid Professional Nail Lacquer
GET 2nd FREE

MEAT:

Fresh Beef Brisket $1.47/lb. (limit 1)
-Must make an additional $10.00 purchase.

Hill Country Fare Seasoned Beef for Fajitas $2.97/lb.

HEB Seasoned Pork or Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts for Fajitas $1.97/lb.

Pilgrim's Pride Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.98/lb.
(Sold in 2.5 lb. bag at $4.95 each)


PRODUCE:

California Large Peaches $0.88/lb.

Fresh Texas Corn 6 for $1.00 (limit 12)

Albertsons Ad/Coupon Match Up (August 31 - September 6)

Albertsons will:
-double coupons up to and including $0.50
-triple coupons up to and including $0.39
-only double/triple up to 4 like coupons per DAY
-accept TWO coupons during a Buy one Get one Free sale (as long as the coupon states $X.XX off ONE product)
-allow you to combine a manufacturer's coupon with a store coupon

It's getting close to football season again, that means extra savings at Albertsons. On the day that the Dallas Cowboys play, if you wear a Cowboys jersey to Albertsons, you will receive 10% off your purchase. There is a game day on Thursday, September 1.

GROCERY:

Capri Sun $1.88
-use in store manufacturer's coupon for $1.00 off (this is not in the ad, but something I found in the store)
Final Price: $0.88

Nabisco Snack Crackers (Triscuits/Wheat Thins pictured) $1.67
-use coupon for $1.00 off Wheat Thins Stix (found here)
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Nabisco Crackers (found in 8/7 SmartSource insert) (expires on 9/5)
Final Price: As low as $0.67

Stubb's BBQ Sauce $1.98
-use coupon for $0.50 off Stubb's BBQ Sauce or Marinade (found in July All You Magazine) (will double)
Final Price: $0.98

Popsicles/Fudgsicle (8 ct.) $0.99

Ball Park All Meat Franks BOGO
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Ball Park Franks (found in 8/7 RedPlum insert) (expires 9/2)

Albertsons Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns $0.79

Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage or Links $2.50 (limit 4)
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Hillshire Farm Sausage (found in 8/14 RedPlum insert)
Final Price: $2.00 each wyb 2

Gatorade Thirst Quencher $1.00
-Buy 10 for $10.00 and get 3 free
Final Price: $0.67 each wyb 13

Blue Bell Ice Cream $3.99 (limit 2)

Lay's Potato Chips BOGO

Select General Mills Cereal $2.00
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 select General Mills cereal (found in 8/14 SmartSource insert)
-use coupon for $1.00 off 3 select General Mills cereal (found in 8/7 General Mills insert)
Final Price: $1.50 each wyb 2

Select Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks $2.00
-use coupon for $0.50 off 2 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks (found in 7/17 SmartSource insert and 8/7 General Mills insert) (will double)
Final Price: $1.50 each wyb 2

Quaker Chewy Granola Bars $2.50
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Quaker Bars (found in 8/28 RedPlum insert)
Final Price: $2.00 each wyb 2

Pillsbury Brownie Mix $1.50
-use coupon for $0.40 off Pillsbury Frosting or Brownie Mix (found in 6/12 RedPlum insert) (will double)
Final Price: $0.70

C&H Sugar (4 lb.) $2.49
-use coupon for $0.50 off C&H Sugar (2 lbs. or greater) (found in September All You magazine) (will double)
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 C&H Sugar (2 lbs. or greater) (found in 8/28 RedPlum insert)
Final Price: As low as $1.49

Yoplait Delights, Gogurt, Trix, or Splitz $1.99
-use coupon for $0.50 off 1 Yoplait Multipack (Yoplait Delights included) (found in 8/7 General Mills insert) (will double)
-use coupon for $0.75 off 2 Gogurt, Trix, or Splits (found in 8/7 General Mills insert)
Final Price: As low as $0.99

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls or Cinnamon Rolls $2.00
-use coupon for $0.50 off 2 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls (found in 8/7 General Mills insert) (will double)
-use coupon for $0.50 off 2 Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (found in 8/7 General Mills insert) (will double)
Final Price: As low as $1.00

Pillsbury Toaster Strudel $1.99
-use coupon for $0.50 off 2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel (found in 8/7 General Mills insert) (will double)
Final Price: $1.49 each wyb 2

Nabisco Ritz Crackers $2.50
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Nabisco Crackers (found in 8/7 SmartSource insert) (expires 9/5)
Final Price: $2.00 each wyb 2

Chinet Plates $2.00
-use coupon for $1.00 off Chinet (found here)
-use coupon for $0.55 off Chinet Plates (found in 7/24 SmartSource insert)
Final Price: As low as $1.00

Glad Storage Containers $2.50
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Glad Food Storage Products (found in 8/21 SmartSource insert)
Final Price: $2.00 each wyb 2


MEAT:

Boneless Chicken Breast $1.99/lb.

85% Lean Ground Beef $2.99/lb.

Pork Chops (bone in) $1.99/lb.

Premium USDA Choice Bottom Round or Chuck Tender Steak Buy one Get one FREE

Fresh Pork Loin or Rib Chops (bone in) Buy one Get one FREE

Country Style Pork Ribs (bone in) Buy one Get one FREE

Hormel Pork Tenderloin Tip Buy one Get one FREE

Premium USDA Choice Beef Petite Sirloin Steak Buy one Get TWO FREE (with in ad coupon)

Boneless Pork Sirloin Chops (pre-seasoned) Buy one Get TWO FREE (with in ad coupon)

Boneless Skinless Fryer Breast (pre-seasoned) Buy one Get TWO FREE (with in ad coupon)


PRODUCE:

Green Seedless Grapes $0.89/lb.

Fresh Yellow Corn 10 for $3.00

Fresh Limes 4 for $1.00

Zucchini Squash $1.29/lb.

Hatch Chili Peppers $0.99/lb.

Albertsons Coupon Policy

I went to Albertsons this afternoon to try to get some clarification about the coupon policy. Let me start out by saying that I talked to a couple of people...Samie (spelling?) worked at the Customer Service Desk and Will Barnes is the store director. They were both very helpful and were patient with all my questions.

There is a new coupon policy...at least new since the one I received a year and a half ago, but it doesn't look like a lot has changed. I will give you the rundown of the current coupon policy, and then a couple of side notes that they told me about.

1. Manufacturer's coupons are accepted
-will triple up to $0.39 value (4 like coupons a DAY)
-will double between $0.40 and $0.50 (4 like coupons a DAY)

2. Internet coupons are accepted
-cannot be for FREE product...can be for Buy one Get one FREE
-cannot exceed $5.00 in value
-must have valid UPC bar code
-must have expiration date
-WILL NOT accept coupons from Vryl Marketing or Albertsons.com
(Side note...there has been some confusion with people printing off coupons from www.albertsons.com. That is a different chain from the Albertsons we have in Texas. Even if they scan at the registers, they are not supposed to be used at our Albertsons. Again, it all comes down to using coupons correctly and ethically).

3. Store coupons CAN be combined with a manufacturer's coupon
-Store coupons say they can't be combined with any other offer...but this does not include a manufacturer's coupon.

4. Buy one Get one Free Sales
-You can use a manufacturer's coupon for each item...if it is a Buy one Get one Free sale, you can use 2 coupons, if it is a Buy one get two Free sale, you can use 3 coupons, etc.
(There was a little confusion about this. I didn't find this in the coupon policy, but Samie told me that this is only for LIKE items. There was some confusion with the deal last week, buy 6 select products and get 2 gallons of milk free...she said they wouldn't accept a coupon on the milk since it was a different item you were getting free. She said as long as they were buying 2 of the same items (buying one and getting one free), you could use 2 coupons).

5. You are limited to 75 coupons per day

6. They will not accept competitors' coupons

7. If your coupon exceeds the value of an item they WILL adjust the coupon down to the value of the product.
(A product is $0.99 and you have a coupon for $1.00 off. The cashier will manually enter the coupon at $0.99) (Note, I didn't see this in the coupon policy, but I specifically asked about this because I have had several people ask me about this. Both Will and Samie said that cashiers are supposed to adjust the coupon value down).

8. Using a Buy one Get one Free coupon with a Buy one Get one Free Sale
-Again, I didn't see this in the coupon policy, but Samie told me in order to use a Buy one Get one Free coupon with a BOGO sale you would have to buy 3 products...one would be free with the coupon, one would be free with the in store sale, and one you would be paying for...so you would be getting 3 items for the price of 1.

I did ask them about the difficulty of finding a copy of the coupon policy. I really think it is important for us to be informed about coupons and the way they work at specific stores. It allows us to use the coupons correctly and allows us to maximize our savings, and at the same time allows the stores to get reimbursed properly for the coupons we are using.

Will told Samie to give me one of the coupon policies, and later I asked Samie if it would be okay for you to get copies of it as well. She said they should be able to give them to customers. If you would like a copy, then drop by the Customer Service desk and ask.

If you have any more questions about the coupon policy, or something that needs to be cleared up, then please let me know and I'll do my best to find answers for you.

Albertsons--Capri Sun $0.88!!

I went to Albertsons today to try to get some information about the coupon policy (more about that later), and I came across an AMAZING deal that I thought some of you might be interested in.

In the ad this week, it shows that Capri Sun is priced at $1.88. As I was walking through the store, I noticed a large display that said they were $0.88 with in store manufacturer's coupon. I seriously don't think I have ever seen them priced this low.

I went through the line and bought 5 of them. The cashier told me that there was no limit on the amount you could purchase in a single transaction, and she said that they had a lot of coupons for customers to use. Once she told me that I didn't hesitate to go back through the line and pick up several more.

My boys take juice boxes in their lunches every day, so I made sure to stock up today!!

If you regularly purchase these, then this is the time to buy. I would encourage you to head over to Albertsons and grab some Capri Suns while they are still available!! I love a great deal on items that I regularly have to purchase without coupons.

Side note...Sam's sells these with 4 boxes wrapped together, and I believe they are regularly priced between $7.50 and $8.00. If you buy 4 boxes at Albertsons right now, you'll only pay $3.52 (before tax)...over 50% savings!

Albertsons Coupon Policy Continued

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up about the coupon policy at Albertsons. Like I said yesterday, a lot of stores are now updating/changing their policies. As coupon shoppers it is always important to stay on top of the changing coupon policies. It is important to be informed and to be using our coupons at stores in an ethical way. I emailed Albertsons to ask for a copy of the coupon policy, and this is the reply that I received:

Dear Lucrecia,

Thank you for contacting us with your request for a copy of the coupon
policy for the Albertsons store in your area. We appreciate the opportunity
to assist you.

Albertsons has many different coupon policies which include policies for
Store, Manufacturer, Internet, Catalina, Competitor and Double/Triple
coupons. If you have specific questions regarding one of these policies,
we would be more than happy to answer your questions and provide you more
information regarding coupon acceptance at your local store.

Please be aware that we are unable to send out copies of the coupon policy,
however we can answer most questions you may have about coupon acceptance.

Our number one goal is customer satisfaction and if you have any further
questions, concerns, or comments please contact us at 1-877-932-7948.

Sincerely,
Marie R.
Albertsons Customer Care


Needless to say, this doesn't answer any of my questions about the changing policy. I honestly don't understand why they don't have a copy of their coupon policy available for their customers. It seems like it would benefit both the store and their shoppers if they did.

I will try to head up to Albertsons later today to see if I can ask some specific questions and get some specific answers for all of us.

Please keep in mind that this does not reflect negatively on our local Albertsons...it seems like this is a corporate decision to handle the coupon policy in this way. I have always had very positive experiences in shopping at our local Albertsons. The cashiers and managers are always very friendly and seem willing to help answer any questions that I have.

Hopefully I'll have more answers for you later today/tomorrow.

Printable Keebler Cookie Coupon

For those of you who don't already have this coupon, or for those of you who want to do the deal a few more times, I found a printable coupon for $1.00 off any 2 packages of Keebler Cookies. Go here to print this coupon. (You will need to register for this site before you can access the coupon).

You can do the following deal at HEB this week:

Buy 2 Keebler Chips Ahoy Cookies $2.38 each
Buy 2 HEB Chips Galore Cookies $2.00 each
-use $1.00 off 2 Keebler Cookies Coupon
-use 2 HEB in store coupons for buy Keebler Cookies get HEB Chips Galore FREE
Final Price: $3.76 for 4 packages of cookies...just $0.94 each!

Confusion at Albertsons

I just wanted to let all of you know that there is a bit of confusion going on at Albertsons concerning their coupon policy. It seems that a lot of stores are changing/updating their coupon policies, and I can't help but think it has to do with more and more people using coupons. A lot of new couponers see people on TV saving hundreds of dollars, and they get excited about the possibility of saving money themselves. That is great...I'm all for saving money, but only if you use coupons in the correct way.

That being said, please, please, please always read the fine print on coupons and use the coupons for the products that they were intended for...same BRAND, same SIZE indicated. Yes, sometimes the computers will scan and accept coupons even if you don't buy the specified product...but just because it is scanned and accepted does NOT mean that it is alright to use it. We really need to be conscientious of using coupons in an ethical way.

Okay, I'll get off my soap box now...back to Albertsons :) It seems like there are changes happening in the coupon policy...only problem is that I can't find a copy of the coupon policy. Their policy has always stated that you can only double/triple up to 4 like coupons in a single transaction. I have never had a problem breaking up my shopping trip into different transactions to maximize double/triple coupons. I was told late last week that they will now only double/triple 4 like coupons a DAY. I asked the person about it, and he said it is in their coupon policy. I asked for him to point it out, and he said the coupon policy is at the customer service desk. I asked him for a copy of it, but he said that they don't give out copies to customers. He informed me that I could get a copy of it on their Facebook page...but I can't find it on their Facebook page.

I am sending in an email to their corporate office asking for a copy of their new policy, and as soon as I receive a response I will be sure to let all of you know what I find out.

You can really get a lot of great deals at Albertsons, and I am assuming that they are needing to make changes because of the increase in coupon shoppers. It might take a little time to sort everything out, but be patient and everything should clear up soon. As always, if you run into any problems while checking out...be kind, be patient, and remember that cashiers/managers are having to get used to any changes that are occurring as well.

Weekly Shopping Trip

I had about $50.00 left in my August grocery budget, so I decided to use it to stock up on some items that we were running low on. Please keep in mind that this was not a shopping trip where I was trying to plan meals from, only one to stock up on items. I went to several different stores and focused on getting the best deals at each store.

I ended up spending $41.35 and saving $137.01!!

Walgreens:

4 Gain Detergent $5.00
-used 4 coupons for $1.00 off Gain Detergent (found in 8/14 RedPlum insert)
1 Tide Detergent $6.00
-used 1 coupon for $1.00 off Tide Detergent (found in 7/31 Proctor and Gamble insert)
1 Charmin Toilet Paper $4.00
-used 1 coupon for $1.00 off Charmin (found in home mailer...not sure which one)
1 Miracle Bubbles (summer clearance $0.50) (bought as filler item)
2 Wrapping Paper (clearance $0.25 each) (bought as filler item)
-used $16.00 in Register Rewards
Final Price: $9.74 PLUS I received a $10.00 Register Reward for purchasing $30.00 of Proctor and Gamble products; saved $39.73

CVS:

1 Diet Coke (2 liter) $0.99
-used coupon for $1.00 off any Coke product (received from Recycle Bank)
3 Herbal Essences Hairspray Clearance priced $1.09
-used 3 coupons for $1.00 off Herbal Essences or Aussie Product (found in 8/7 RedPlum insert)
2 Scope Outlast Mouthwash $3.99
-used 2 coupons for $0.75 off Scope Outlast (found in 7/31 Proctor and Gamble insert)
1 St. Joseph's Aspirin $2.00
1 Orbit Gum $1.37
-used coupon for $1.00 off Orbit Gum (received from CVS price scanner)
-used $7.00 in Extra Care Bucks
Final Price: $2.26 PLUS I received $6.00 in Extra Care Bucks...$4.00 from the Scope and $2.00 from the Aspirin: saved $25.96

Office Max:

10 Folders $0.01
3 Rulers $0.01
Final Price: $0.14; saved $5.34

Target:

2 Diet Pepsi (12 pack) $2.50
-used 2 Target coupons for $1.00 off Diet Pepsi (found here)
3 Suave Deodorant $0.97
-used 3 coupons for $0.75 off Suave Deodorant (found in 8/14 RedPlum insert)
2 packages Papermate Pens $1.00
-used 2 Target coupons for $1.00 off any Papermate product (no longer available to print)
2 Rimmel Eye Shadow $2.49
-used 2 Target coupons for $1.00 off Rimmel (found here)
-AND used 2 coupons for $2.00 off any Rimmel product (found here)
Final Price: $2.80, but I paid with a Target gift card that I earned several weeks ago, so final price was FREE; saved $16.23

Albertsons:

3 Velveeta Cheesy Skillets $1.99
-used 3 coupons for $1.00 off Velveeta Cheesy Skillets (found in 8/21 SmartSource insert)
Grapes $0.98/lb
Final Price: $5.16; saved 7.95


HEB:

2 HEBuddy Grahams $1.50
-used 2 coupons for $0.50 off HEBuddy Grahams (yellow in store coupon)
4 Keebler Chips Deluxe $2.38
-used 2 coupons for $1.00 off 2 Keebler Cookies (found in 8/7 RedPlum insert)
4 HEB Chips Galore $2.00
-used 4 coupons for Buy Keebler Cookies get HEB Chips Galore FREE (yellow in store coupon)
6 Eggo Waffles $1.97
-used 3 coupons for $1.00 off 2 Eggo Waffles (found in 8/7 RedPlum insert)
6 Dan-o-nino $1.87
-used 6 coupons for Buy Eggo Waffles get Dan-o-nino FREE (yellow in store coupon)
1 Welch's 100% Grape Juice $3.58
-used 1 coupon for $1.00 off Welch's Juice (found in 8/14 SmartSource insert)
1 Tony's Pizza $2.58
-used 1 coupon for Buy Welch's Grape Juice Get Tony's Pizza FREE (yellow in store coupon)
1 Pringles Grab 'N Go $0.59
-used 1 coupon for Buy Welch's Grape Juice Get Pringles Grab 'N Go FREE (yellow in store coupon)
2 Casa Fiesta Refried Beans $0.78
-used 1 coupon for $0.55 off 2 Casa Fiesta Beans (yellow in store coupon)
2 Oscar Mayer Lunchables with Fruit $1.50
-used 2 coupons for $1.00 off Lunchables with Fruit (found on a tearpad at a convenience store several weeks ago)
1 Fresh Express Salad $2.00
-used 1 coupon for FREE Fresh Express Salad (mailed to me from Vocalpoint)
Bananas $0.48/lb.
Final Price: $24.05; Saved $41.80

Not a bad shopping day. I haven't found a lot of good sales on back to school snacks for the kids, so I was excited to stock up on cookies. Based on the picture above, it looks like I only feed my children junk food. My kids LOVE fresh fruit and veggies, and those items can easily blow our grocery budget. I stock up on other grocery items when I can find them at their lowest prices so I have that extra room in our budget to purchase more produce.

HEB--Unadvertised Deals

I made a quick stop to HEB this afternoon, and wanted to point out several unadvertised deals that I came across.

BUY:
HEB Easy Melt (HEB's version of Velveeta Cheese) I believe this was priced at $4.58
GET FREE:
HEB Fresh Chorizo or Italian Sausage or Breakfast Chipotle Sausage
HEB Tortilla Chips

(If you enjoy snacking on chips and dip during the football season, this might be worth picking up!)

BUY:
Welch's 100% or Light Juice ($3.58)
-use coupon for $1.00 off Welch's 100% Juice (found in 8/14 SmartSource insert)
-OR use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Welch's 100% Juice (found here)
GET FREE:
Tony's Original Crust Pizza
Pringles Grab 'N Go Canisters

BUY:
2 Betty Crocker Premium Brownies or Cookie Mixes (forgot to look at the prices of these)
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Betty Crocker Brownies (found in 8/28 SmartSource insert)
-use coupon for $0.40 off 1 Betty Crocker Cookie Mix (found in 8/7 General Mills insert)
GET FREE:
HEB Butter

BUY:
Keebler Chips Deluxe ($2.38)
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Keebler Cookies (found in 8/7 RedPlum insert)
GET FREE:
HEB Chips Galore Cookies
(This deal works out to $3.76 for 4 packages of cookies...just $0.94 each!)

BUY:
Eggo Waffles ($1.97)
-use coupon for $1.00 off 2 Eggo Waffles (found in 8/7 RedPlum insert)
GET FREE:
Dan-o-nino Yogurt (My kids don't like the texture of this right out of the refrigerator, but they love them frozen. I pop a few popsicle sticks in the tops and I can't seem to keep enough frozen...as soon as they are ready, the kids gobble them up!)
(This deal works out to $2.94 for 2 waffles and 2 yogurt packs...just $0.74 each!)


Yellow In Store Coupons:

HEB Split Top Honey Wheat Bread $1.88
-$1.00 off HEB Split Top Honey Wheat Bread
Final Price: $0.88

Casa Fiesta Refried Beans $0.78
-$0.55 off 2 Casa Fiesta Beans
Final Price: $1.01 for both cans...or $0.50 each

HEB Buddy Grahams $1.50 (HEB's version of Teddy Grahams...my kids can't tell the difference)
-$0.50 off HEB Buddy Grahams
Final Price: $1.00

HEB Applesauce (6 pack) $1.59
-$1.00 off 2 HEB Applesauce
Final Price: $2.18 for both...$1.09 each

Oscar Mayer Lunchables with Fruit $1.50 (select varieties)
-hang tag manufacturer's coupons for $1.00 off 2 Lunchables with Fruit (found on the shelf right by the Lunchables)
Final Price: $2.00 for both...$1.00 each (These are regularly priced around $2.38, so a significant price reduction if you normally purchase these for your kids' lunches.)

There are always so many more deals than are advertised in the ad each week. If you come across a good deal, please let me know. If we all work together then we can save even more!

CVS--Herbal Essences Hair Spray Only $0.09

I made a quick run to CVS today and I found a GREAT deal on Herbal Essences Hair Spray.

Herbal Essences Hair Spray Clearance Priced at $1.09
-use coupon for $1.00 off any Herbal Essences or Aussie product (found in 8/7 RedPlum insert)
Final Price: $0.09

For those of you in San Angelo, I found these at the CVS on College Hills. They were on an end cap towards the back of the store. I picked up 3 bottles, and there was still a pretty good amount of them left. Please keep in mind that the coupon limits you to 4 like coupons per transaction.

Target--FREE Sample Beauty Bag

Go here to request a free beauty bag from Target.

They offered something similar to this a few months ago, and I was so excited when I received it. It came in a cute make up bag that was filled with different samples and a booklet of Target coupons. I'm hoping that this sample is similar to the last one.

Thanks Totally Target!

Chick-fil-A--FREE Breakfast Entree

You can go here to reserve your FREE Chick-fil-a breakfast entree for next week. You will be able to choose from about 10 different breakfast entrees.

I just reserved mine! :) Just a heads up, it looks like each store has a certain amount of free entrees that they will be giving out. For those of you in San Angelo, when I reserved mine it looked like they still had about 3,000 left, but you don't want to wait on this. You never know how many people will take advantage of this, and it would be a shame to miss out.

One more note, the site was running a little slow, so if you can't get through right away keep trying...it's worth it. :)