Filled to the Rim!!!

This past week, I have been couponing like crazy with Harris Teeter doing super doubles. My coupon queens have taught me well. I have a refrigerator full of yogurt that I got free. My pantry is so full that I am going to have to put some canned goods in a tote. Besides saving money, I am trying to get stocked up for the winter. We don't go out and eat much in the winter. We stay home and eat lots of soup. Also, I didn't want to have a big grocery bill around the holidays. Our finally tally this week is that we spent $100 for $402 worth of groceries. I even did well at Food Lion this week with using my coupons at face value. Some things were at a close out price and using the coupon at face value made it free. I am going to give some to the food bank. I don't like some stuff I got, but it was free. I also found out today that Food Lion pulls produce that is going out of date, and donates it to our local soup kitchen. That is wonderful. I am a novice when it comes to couponing, but I am learning.

Armed, Organized and Ready!!!

Okay, I know I have talked about coupons all week long, but I was just so thrilled over my victory this week with them.  I have spent the better part of the week getting organized and buying my supplies to get organized.  It was kind of expensive for me to get organized....I always seem to gravitate to the more expensive things in the store.   I got a lime green binder...it has lots of little nooks and crannies for things...I loved that about it (that might be why the binder was $10...YIKES!!)

I put things into categories according to how I shop and we eat.  Like cereal and snacks are a category.  The reason for this is because we eat a lot of dry cereal (we look like over grown toddlers with our Fruit Loops LOL) and we eat cereal as a snack at night.  Very rarely do we eat it for breakfast.  I also made a tab for restaurant coupons and store rewards, such as register rewards at Walgreens and Care Bucks at CVS.  I am forever losing these.  I am also thinking about making a category for receipts...that way I can take advantage of rebates.  I am not sure about this yet as my binder has several pockets that these could go into. 

Anywho, I am now armed, organized and ready to take on the grocery stores, drug stores and whoever else takes coupons.  I even printed off every stores coupon policy and put it in my binder...oh yeah, I am ready for you.

My lime green binder

My tabs....I am getting organized

Look how nice and neat those coupons are

Bargains Everywhere!!

Yesterday was my great day of bargain hunting.  I started off at the Whispering Pines Thrift store, where I spent a cool $6.  I got Mark 2 Ralph Lauren shirts (they look brand new), a brand new ice cream scoop, New Mary Kay Cleanser, 2 new bottles of Clinque Clarifying lotion, toddler shoes, a cookbook, 2 mysteries and a box of cards.  The Mary Kay Cleanser, Clinque lotion and toddler shoes are all on Ebay. 

Toddler Shoes...for a quarter

Clinque Clairfying Lotion...20 cents

                                            Mary Kay Cleanser....$1

Then it was off to Walgreens where I had some coupons from their flier and some that I printed off the internet this morning.  My challenge this month was not to go grocery shopping, and so far I haven't been in the grocery store, so technically I think that I am still okay. 

These are the items I got at Walgreens.  Somehow, I got the reuse bag free...not sure why though.   Every thing was free after coupons and register rewards except one roll of tape.  My final bill was $1.06.  Plus I got $3 in register rewards.  I even got me some more tabs to organize my coupons in this load.  I am pretty much stocked up on packaging tape now....I have 10 rolls. LOL

After leaving Walgreens, I decided to stop in at Belk's....so glad I did.  They went to 80% off today in Southern Pines.  I had blouses ringing up $1.98 and skirts for $4.98.  I spent a total of  $31.72 and saved $354.65.  I got 5 blouses and 2 skirts.  I would show you a picture, but they have already been packed.  My Pender County friends, you will see these clothes at church the next several Sundays.  LOL  I was so excited as the cashier rang my items up...she kept shouting, "oh my, that was only $1.98."  She was kind of more excited than me at some point.

All in all, not a bad day in my shopping word and I didn't break my challenge and go grocery shopping.   Can't wait to see how much my finds will make me on Ebay...will let you know.

Trying it Again!!!

Coupons!!! I know they work, Amanda is living proof they work. I mean how else can you get $160 worth of items for less than a quarter. Even this past week I bought 5 bottles of dish detergent, 1 bottle of washing detergent and 1 bottle of fabric softener for $3.75 after coupons. These items would have normally cost me $17.35 without the coupons. So you see, I know using coupons work to save money. I just don't keep this strategy of saving money very long. Anywho, now for my big news. I am buying a binder and sheet pockets (or whatever the heck they are called. I know them when I see them) and start organizing my coupons. I ran into a couple of chicks (Angie & Kelly, I thought chicks made us sound cool) from my church at CVS this week. She had her binder out all organized and looked ready to attack those bargains. So I decided to quit stalling and get organized to save some money. I have a whole month since I am not going to the grocery store the whole month of September. I doubt I will keep that challenge (I will let you know when I break down). So wish me luck as I save tons of money on groceries and other items.

Guilty as Charged!!!

I am guilty!!! I had guilt written all over my face. I did it!! There is no question about it, I am your woman. I am guilty of getting a freebie!!! Let me explain about this incident. This past week there were coupons for Taco Bell in the paper. If you read a few blogs ago..the "change of heart" blog, then you know that I love the cherry limeades at Taco Bell. Anywho, there were lots of coupons to get a limeade FREE. No strings attached...these are free. Now usually I feel obligated to buy something else when I am getting something totally free. Why I feel this way I don't know. This was an incident where I decided to go for the gusto. I think Amanda has rubbed off on me about being frugal. I pulled up to the drive thru speaker and ordered my limeade, and told her, "by the way I have a coupon to get this free.". I didn't even blink an eye about ordering anything else. I pulled around and got my freebie and drove off. So I am guilty of couponing without guilt. By the way a free cherry limeade taste the best.

Pocket Change!!!

I went to Harris Teeter this morning armed with just a few coupons. I thought that I would give this saving thing that Amanda does so well another try, and guess what...it worked. I bought 2 boxes of jello pudding, dawn dish detergent, 2 cans meow mix, Ritz Crackerfuls, French's Dipping mustard and a case of water. I had coupons for everything but the water, but it was an e-vic item this week for only $2.50 a case. I got a buggy and lying in the bottom of the buggy was a $1 off coupon for the water I was getting. I was so excited. It was hard not to put other things in the buggy, but I wanted to buy just what I had coupons for, so I could see my savings. I bought all my items and checked out. I went to pull my checkbook out, when the cashier told me that my total was $2.83. Woohoo!! I didn't need to write a check. Most of my items ended up being free when my coupons were doubled. Not exactly free, but it was just pocket change on this trip.

Deals & Steals!!!

On Saturday, I found myself with 2 ways to save money. One was a $10 rewards coupon from Best Buy. The other was a mystery coupon for Peebles. I already knew that I would be getting Carrie Underwood's latest CD at Best Buy, but I looked the store over anyway. A whole $10 to spend with no catch. This is not as good as a reward that Ken got to spend at Staples, but hey $10 is $10. I never buy a CD so this was a slight splurge for me. Only had to pay $3 and some change for the CD. Got it home and loved every song but two on the whole CD. That never happens to me. My whole $10 that I could spend at Best Buy...with no strings attached. I just had to spend at least $10, which was not hard.
The Carrie Underwood CD that I got to put songs on my MP3 player.

Then I was off to Pebbles. I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to get since I didn't know what my savings was going to be. I saw a handbag that caught my eye, and it was marked down to $11. The coupon was good on regular price, sales and clearance. So, I knew I had to have it.

A very good deal at only $5.50. I actually changed purses in the car before going to eat.

Then I decided that I wanted a really nice pair of flip flops. Dressy ones as I called them. They had a great selection, but they were $20 a pair. I was hesitate until I saw the BOGO half off, so I picked another pair.

I loved these with the stones on them. My mom bought me a necklace like this for Christmas, and I thought these would look great with the necklace. I already have an outfit in mind. Khaki Capri's with a turquoise shirt, the necklace with the flip flops. A girl has to plan!!!

I love these with the polka dots...and for $5 (that is what they were after my discount) who could leave them at the store. Now as my friend Tiffany Johnson says, "I have to make sure to have my toes "did" during flip flop season." She is so funny, and could be a blog all by herself.

When I got to the register the cashier said the flip flops were BOGO FREE. Okay, but that is not what the sign says, she says that the sign is an old sale. Who am I to argue with a store employee?? I just love a "know it all" employee. The sales paper for this week even said they were BOGO 1/2 off. The coupon could be for 20%, 30%, 50% off or a free gift. I figured I would get the free gift...that's my luck. When she scanned my coupon, I got the 50% off. That meant that my shoes were now $10 for both pair (averaging $5 a pair) and my handbag was $5.50. I was so excited. I did ask the cashier what was the free gift...thinking it was so lotion or something like that. Turns out that it is a $10 Peebles gift card that you can use on that purchase. Not a bad day in my shopping world. Only thing that could have been better was if they would have had the white eyelet shirt that I had been watching in my size. It was $56, but yesterday they were marked down to $21...could have had it for $10.50. But I am happy with my deals and steals.

A Little Savings!!!

While on our way back to Wilmington, I stopped into a Food Lion to pick up a few things we needed. I found a $5.50 off coupon on my entire order in my wallet. Surprise!! Surprise!!! I found more coupons in my wallet for things that I was going to purchase. It was like winning the lottery for me. My bill was $42.86, but I paid $15.36 for everything. That is good for me...a novice at the coupon game.

I am returning my portable DVD player today. The picture is either so dark you can't the person on screen, or they look like a negative picture. I bought this at hhgregg's in December. Their return policy stinks...14 days to return an appliance or electronic...give me a break. Anyway, I called and explained and Dan, the manager, is going to let me exchange. No money back, but I will take an exchange. I will let you know if they give me any hassle on this one.

Good Things!!!

Only good things happened today. Went to Peebles to buy a gift and had a 30% extra coupon. Had an extra coupon that I gave to Amanda. Met Amanda and got to see her darling little baby girl Brianna. I could do some serious spoiling there. She is so adorable. Met Erin for lunch. She took me to 195, and it was delicious. Thanks for the lunch and great conversation. Then to Michael's where I gave the lady ahead of me a 40% off coupon that saved her $9. Then more errands. Now home with a migraine, but a good day in spite of the headache.

Woohoo!!!

Merry Christmas to me!!! Today I got some Chick-fil-a coupons in the mail from my great pal, Amanda. I was so thrilled. Chick-fil-a is one of my favorite restaurants. I especially love the chicken, egg and cheese bagel and one of the coupons was for a free bagel. Woooohoooo!!! I love it. Thank you so much Amanda. You will never know how much your thoughtfulness touched my heart.