Sunday 2/19/12 Redplum Insert

This is what's suppose to be in the Redplum insert this upcoming Sunday. We'll see how many come to our area. And apparently we will only get one insert. If you use Meow Mix, the $1 off is a pretty good coupon...however it remains to be seen if that one will come our way!

$1 off Advil Children’s product (exp 4/15)
$2 off Advil Congestion Relief, Cold & Sinus or Allergy Sinus (exp 5/6)
$2 off ahh bra product (exp 5/30)
$5 off Centrum Pro Nutrients supplement (exp 3/17)
$2 off Cheer detergent, excl trial sizes (exp 3/31)
$1 off Covergirl lip or eye product, excl trial sizes (exp 3/31)
$5 off DermaSilk full size product (exp 2/28)
$1 off Dial lotion, 12 oz + (exp 3/11)
.50/1 Gain detergent, softener, sheets, dryer bar or scent booster (exp 3/31)
$1.50/2 Gain detergent, softener, sheets, dryer bar or scent booster (exp 3/31)
$2 off Gillette Mach3 razor wyb Mach3 cartridge  (exp 3/31)
$2 off i-cool for menopause or +D for menopause + bone building (exp 4/30)
$5 off i-flex product, 120 ct. (exp 4/15)
.55/1 Keebler fudge stripes dark chocolate cookies, 11.5 oz (exp 4/15)
.55/2 Keebler cookies, 6.6 oz + (exp 4/15)
.55/1 Land O’Frost Premium, 1 lb (exp 5/14)
.75/1 L’Oreal kids shampoo or other kids product (exp 4/1)
.75/1 L’Oreal Studio Line styling product (exp 4/1)
.75/1 L’Oreal Vive Pro shampoo or conditioner (exp 4/1)
$1 off L’Oreal Paris skincare product, excl trial sizes (exp 4/1)
$2 off L’Oreal haircolor product (exp 4/1)
$2 off L’Oreal Paris face product, excl Magic Perfecting base and .17 oz (exp 4/1)
$5 off L’Oreal Paris Youth Code kit (exp 4/1)
$5/2 L’Oreal haircolor products (exp 4/1)
$1 off Meow Mix dry cat food, 3 lb + (exp 4/14)
$1.50/2 Milk-Bone dog snacks (exp 4/19)
.75/2 Nestle Wonka candies, 3.1-6oz (exp 3/31)
.50/2 Pop Secret products (exp 3/31)
.50/1 Purina Friskies cat treats (exp 4/19)
$2.50 off Purina Beneful dog food, 3.15 or 7lb bag (exp 3/25)
B4G2 Purina Beneful prepared meals tubs dog food, max $4.60 (exp 3/25)
.50/1 Sunlight Power Pacs dishwashing product (exp 4/1)
$1 off SuperPretzel soft pretzel product (exp 3/9)
$1 off Swiffer extendable handle duster, excl trial sizes (exp 3/31)
$1 off Swiffer WetJet refill, excl trial sizes (exp 3/31)

Commissary Shopping

My friend Billie Myrick shared some great information about commissary shopping today. Our family is not in the military and, therefore, I do not have the privilege of shopping at the commissary. (I do remember fondly, however, of shopping with my mom out at Tyndall AFB commissary when I was young since my father was retired military.) Billie found that many prices are comparable to sale prices at Publix, Winn Dixie ect. and, used with a manufacturer's coupon, can yield fantastic results.

For those ladies who have the privilege of shopping on base, make sure you price compare...you can check coupon matching sites for the commissary and/or actually go to the commissary website to print out prices. Then, even if you don't have the coupon matching website, you can use one of the many coupon databases (Coupondivas.com or Southernsavers.com, for instance) and look for coupons for the items you have found. One strategy might be to check Southernsavers.com for the great sale items from whichever non military grocery store you normally shop, then compare to commissary prices with coupons and see which is better. This is why it is really important to know what a good price is for the items you normally purchase... you want to know your "stock up" price. Just because a store says its on sale doesn't mean its the best deal.
Also, looking at the meat prices at her local commissary, it seems like their regular prices are good deals. I think you can find better ones for some of the items at their lowest sales prices, but none of the prices were above my personal price ceiling for meat. The commissary is a  great tool in your savings tool belt if you have access to it.

Normally, the "acorns" on Southernsavers.com are the best deals for those items, but, as my friend pointed out, there might be a better deal someplace else. If you want the VERY LOWEST PRICES on EVERYTHING you buy, keep a price book. However, please realize that if you use a coupon matching website and shop with coupons when things are on sale at JUST ONE store,  your overall grocery bill will be much lower than if you simply make a grocery list each week and  buy groceries  on a weekly basis, regardless of whether they are on sale. You must balance your time with your potential savings. I don't want to run you off from couponing by saying that you must keep a price book and shop at four or five stores on a regular basis to be a "real" coupon shopper. Just do what works for you and your life in whatever "season" you're in.

Ecoupons

I promised to post this to my blog...

There are 3 sites I am aware of to load up ecoupons:  cellfire.com
                                                                                  upromise.com
                                                                                   savingstar.com

Check out the sites and register your grocery or drugstore cards. Then when you scan your card at checkout, you will receive the savings. Another mobile method of couponing is having coupons sent to your cell phone. The one I use frequently is Target. The cashier simply scans the UPC from your phone and you get the savings. Very cool...no ink, paper or scissors utilized.

Blessings,
Donna

Coupon Inserts on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2012

This Sunday, there should be 2 inserts in the paper...a Smart Source and a Redplum. The new grocery store ads are out today for Publix and Winn Dixie...happy shopping!

Blessings,
Donna

Shopping for the week of the December 4th

I shopped two places this week. I went to Sam's for meat since our freezer was really low and I couldn't find any good deals on meat anywhere else this week. I spent about $63 on 30ish pounds of meat. I also went to Publix and spent $86.46 on the "other" stuff. I saved $102.25 at Publix. :-). I usually don't spend quite so much at Publix, but there was a good deal and good coupon on glass food storage containers, so I stocked up. 

The Great Coupon Box Experiment

After having used a coupon binder/file box method for several years, I have decided to try using a different hybrid method in 2012. Why? To be quite honest, I am always on the hunt for more efficient methods of couponing. Like yours, my time is valuable. I am always seeking the right balance with my time and our money so that I can be a better steward of each. So, hop on in my money saving minivan and I willl take you along for the ride.

I will try to spend as little money as possible,of course, as I switch over to my new method. I have a 13 inch by 14.5 inch photo box with an elastic loop closure on two sides that I will try to use first before purchasing something new.

There are 12 separate divisions in the box and a clear pocket in the lid that could hold store coupon policies. The biggest potential drawback I can see is the possibility of the box being dropped...hopefully the elastic loops will hang tough for me. One more possible problem...will it work in a shopping basket? I think it will definitely have to ride in the main part of the basket. Hmm...