Don't Cheat!

Every one should read this article posted by another big couponer. I like the TLC show, but I admit there are times I don't like some tactics people use.

J'Aime Kirlew Fraud on TLC?

The way I see it, if your actions will put your store at risk DON'T DO IT! With how many people are getting in to couponing, its only a matter of time before Authorities DO start arresting people for fraud. While Jaimes tactics will not last long because the stores are fixing the loop hole, its just not worth trying.

Be honest about your savings!

EPIC DEAL AT SHAWS

If you have a party coming up USE this deal!
They have a promotion going on that you can get 5 12 packs of Coke products for $10.
In their free coupon book (found in stands in the store) There is a $2 off 2 12 pack coke products (excluding actual COKE, Coke Zero, Diet Coke etc...)

If you snag 5 or more of the free coupon books you can get 10 Cases of Soda for ten bucks! (plus deposit) A Dollar a 12 pack?! What a great deal for getting cheep soda!

Mom and I bought 40 cases between us, we had four baskets full of stuff last night, We felt like extreme couponers!

At one point mom was standing in the Isle clipping coupons out of those books while I was loading up the baskets.

Keep in mind, while the 5/$10 includes Coke, the coupon does NOT. But with the coupon you can get other Coke products, like Minuet Maid, Nestea, Barqs, Spite, Mellow Yello, Fresca, etc... There is plenty to pick from, and certainly enough selection to be able to serve good drinks at any party, or just stock up and you wont need Soda, Lemonaid, Or Iced tea for a year!

More Free Gas Deals!

Wow! Heres the scoop on another free gas deal!


Kellogg's™ CARS 2™ Program <---- click here to go to their site, where I copied this from for more details!

End Date
06/30/12

CARS 2 is your passport to adventure. When star racecar Lightening McQueen and the incomparable tow truck Mater head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix, Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.

Get in the race! Pick up specially marked boxes of Kellogg's® products, enter codes online to collect your CARS 2 points, and you're off to the races! Register today for an account and start fueling up on awesome stuff!
(1 code = 1 point)

Requirements

Get awesome Grand Prix rewards.

1. Collect codes printed inside specially marked participating products.
2. Go online at kelloggs.com/CARS2 to enter your codes into your account. Kids, get permission before going online. Must be 6 years old or older.
3. Redeem points for your choice of CARS 2-themed rewards. Codes must be entered and redeemed by 6/30/2012. <----- 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Each participant may enter up to 8 codes per day during the program period. A maximum of 30 codes per account may be entered during the program.

What rewards are available (See additional info below):
- Bonus material - funny reel and movie trailer (no points required)
- Screensaver (1 point)
- Spy Pen (3 points)
- Gas Cash (4 points)
- Concession Cash (4 points)
- Pocket Translator (6 points)
- Soccer Ball (8 points)

Products

Kellogg's® Cocoa Krispies® cereal: 16.5 oz, 11.3 oz
Kellogg's® Apple Jacks® cereal: 1.5 oz cup, 12.2 oz, 17 oz, 21.7 oz
Kellogg's® Corn Pops® cereal: 1.5 oz cup, 12.5 oz, 17.2 oz, 21.4 oz
Kellogg's® Froot Loops® cereal: 1.5 oz cup, 12.2 oz, 17 oz, 21.7 oz
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes® cereal: 2.1 oz cup, 14 oz, 17 oz, 23 oz, 27.5 oz
Kellogg's® Eggo® Homestyle waffles: 24 ct
Kellogg's® Eggo® Buttermilk waffles: 24 ct
Kellogg's® Eggo® Cinnamon Toast waffles: 24 ct
Kellogg's® Eggo® Blueberry waffles: 24 ct
Kellogg's® Frosted Mini-Wheats® Big Bite cereal: 16 oz, 20.4 oz
Kellogg's® Frosted Mini-Wheats® Strawberry Delight cereal: 16.3 oz, 21.5 oz
Keebler® Town House® Original crackers: 16 oz
Kellogg's® Frosted Mini-Wheats® Bite Size cereal: 24 oz, 18 oz
Kellogg's® Frosted Mini-Wheats® Cinnamon Streusel Bite Size cereal: 16 oz, 22 oz
Kellogg's® Frosted Mini-Wheats® Blueberry Muffin: 16 oz, 22.5 oz
Kellogg's® Frosted Mini-Wheats® Little Bites Chocolate cereal: 15.8 oz
Kellogg's® Frosted Mini-Wheats® Little Bites Original cereal: 15.8 oz
Kellogg's® Crispix® cereal: 17.9 oz, 12 oz
Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal: 12 oz, 18 oz, 24 oz
Kellogg's® Nutri-Grain® Cereal Bars Apple Cinnamon: 8 ct
Kellogg's® Nutri-Grain® Cereal Bars Blueberry: 8 ct
Kellogg's® Nutri-Grain® Cereal Bars Mixed Berry: 8 ct
Kellogg's® Nutri-Grain® Cereal Bars Strawberry: 8 ct
Keebler® Town House® Reduced Fat crackers: 13 oz
Keebler® Town House® Wheat crackers: 16 oz
Keebler® Town House Toppers® Original crackers: 13.5 oz
Keebler® Grahams Cinnamon: 14 oz
Keebler® Grahams Honey: 16 oz
Keebler® Grahams Original: 15 oz
Sunshine® 100 Calorie Right Bites™ Cheez-It® crackers: 12 ct /.77 oz
Kellogg's Frosted Flakes® with Fiber, Less Sugar: 16.3 oz, 24 oz Walmart



For rewards redeemed online, you should receive a confirmation email and instructions within 72 hours to the email address linked to your All-K Pass registration.

For rewards redeemed through the mail, please allow 90 days for delivery. To check your order status, go to kelloggs.com/specialorders

Swag

I've only just begun using Swagbucks, but so far I'm loving it! I'm scoring points and have my husband using it to earn more. Its easy to use, and hey... free stuff is free stuff!

Check it out, set your browser up to open this page first when you get online and you'll always remember to find swag codes and enter them, or watch the vids.. or even just do a simple search to earn points. You can even get points for printing coupons!!

Good Tip for free gas!

I ran across a good tip from Coupon Divas today! Check it out! Here's a copy of what they posted, click on the link to look at her site!

CVS Pharmacy just announced a new program that will allow customers to earn FREE gas all summer just by shopping for essentials at their more than 7,200 locations nationwide. ExtraCare Cardholders can shop May 22 – August 28, 2011, can earn one $10 gift card to Exxon/Mobil, Shell, BP Amoco or BP Arco every week simply by spending $30 on specially-marked items found conveniently in the weekly CVS/pharmacy circular.

Each week when you reach your $30 spend, a special coupon will print on out on your receipt that can be redeemed immediately for a $10 gas card. $30 threshold must be met each week to qualify and shoppers will have the opportunity to take advantage of the deal once every week, with new products in each week’s ad. There is no carry-over balance to the next week, since the specially marked products may change.

Recent Adventures

Although I've not updated in a few weeks that doesn't mean I've stopped saving money by couponing!

I recently moved so I did get behind on my coupon binder, I've found one of the many keys to saving time as well as money is making sure you keep up with your binders! For two weeks I hardly touched it, I clipped my coupons and stashed them in a baggie for sorting later. Shopping was a chore because I didn't know where my good coupons were! It took me about 6 hours to get reorganized, but now I'm back down to my two hours or so a week.

Remember that subscribing to blogs is vitally important to couponing! Some people have dedicated their time to find deals for you! Money Saving Maine-iac has quickly become one of my favorites recently. I love the fact that a lot of the deals are more local, so it helps me out.

I'm very excited for the 31st to come! With several of my couponing buddies we're going to be taking a two hour class with an Extreme Couponer who was featured on TLC Extreme Couponing! I hope to get a lot of tips and learn how to save more money, and maybe be able to hold my own classes to help others learn how to do this properly!

It may seem dautning to get started, but if you just start you will find it worth it very quickly. I'm trying to keep track of how much savings I have each month. I've done a poor job of tracking this month, but last month I saved right about $310.00! Thats huge! My family can eat better, and use better quality products all because couponing saves me so much money!

Here's a thought... I live in a tiny place, how can I stock? Is it worth it? YES! Even if you can only do a couple papers a week and dedicate only an hour or two its worth it! Get a couple plastic tubs, or a shelf to make a small stock pile. Ask a friend if you can put a shelf in their basement! Right now I am staying with my parents. I'm living out of a suit case until my new apartment is ready, but I've not stopped stock piling! I have two Medium-Small boxes full of stock pile items, stacked in the corner of the room. Just in the couple of weeks staying there I've saved a guestitmation of $150-$200! I'm hardly using any space at all, but I'm keeping items I will use, now or in my new apartment later.

My stock pile includes:
7 Tubes of toothpaste - 5 of them were free, two I paid .50 for
5 Toothbrushes - Free
4 bottles of Nevia body wash - Free
6 Boxes of tissues - spent a little money on them, but its cold season and we needed them, but still I got them with coupons! I think I paid about .75 for them each?
4 packs of pantie liners - 2 free, 2 paid .50 for.
3 bottles of dishsoap - Paid about .15 a bottle.
2 Boxes of hair color - paid about $2 a box
And other things

My Food stock pile grew yesterday after my shaw's trip. I'll be posting a picture of that haul later today hopefully!

4 jars of relish - Free
4 bottles of Franks hot sauce - .19 each
1 Bottle of mustered - .49
3 boxes of Pasta - free
12 tubes of biscuits - 1.00 each
1 box of tea - I don't remember how much i paid for that, but I don't mind spending a little extra on tea, considering how much I love the stuff!
Random Candy - Paid about .33
2 boxes of Cereal - Paid $1.00 (and I'm certain I have  few more boxes stored away waiting for my new apartment)
3 packs of tuna - paid .19 each
4 cans of Campbells chucky soup - Paid $1.00 each. (most of that is eaten already)
4 boxes of granoloa bars - 1.00 a box
2 boxes of Fiber bars - 1.00 a box.
There are a few more items in there, but Nothing I paid full price for!

Even when living in a small space is it more than worth it to coupon! Just think about the little box of toiletry items I have, I have close to $100 worth of items in there, and I paid only about ten bucks for it all.

Is it worth it to you to find a little space to stash a small stock pile of toothpaste, body wash, razors, toothbrushes and such items? I've lived in small spaces before. Its always doable! You may just have to get creative!

Watch for more tips and thoughts coming soon!

I love Couponing!

I did my shopping yesterday, and got every thing I needed at a great price! I don't have my exact figures with me at the moment, but i spent about $90 and got near $200 worth of food! Since the first day of April I have saved over $300 dollars! I can't wait until that number increases even more!

My Mother bought me the All You magazine the other day, and I wasn't so sure about it. I didn't know if I wanted to spend another $2.40 a month to get more coupons, but it was SO worth it! Its already saved me 5 times what she paid to get me the Magazine! I'll be buying it from now on. You can buy them at Walmart, OR get them sent to your house. Here is how to do that with a good deal!


Happy couponing!

Sweet deal at Riteaid

Nivea Body Wash for Men or Women (16.9 oz.), $3.99
Get $5 +UP Reward wyb $15 (Limit 1)
$3/1 Nivea for Men Body Wash, exp. 5-14-11 (RP 04/17/11 #2)
$3/1 Nivea for Women Body Wash, exp. 5-14-11 (RP 04/17/11)

Suggested Scenario

Buy (4) Nivea Body Wash, $15.96
Get $5 +UP Reward wyb $15
Use (4) $3/1 Nivea Body Wash, exp. 5-14-11 (RP 04/17/11)
Better than FREE after coupons and +UP Reward!

Make sure you buy four papers to get this deal! Also, call ahead to your Riteaid. They will put some aside for you so you can go in when they have them in stock!

A friend of mine just posted this site GiftCardGranny! This is exciting because I was never sure where to go to buy gift cards at a discount, I've heard it was possible, but now there's a great place to do it! Have you ever used this site or one like it? Comment below with your experience!

My shopping trip 03/19/2011

This haul includes 
12 boxes of Cereal
2 bags of goldfish
3 Gallons of Milk
1 stick of deodorant
2 packs of English Muffins
2 Loaves of bread
2 packs of strawberry's
2 squares of cream cheese
2 bags of salad
2 boxes of crackers
2 dozen eggs
6 blocks of cheese
Retail price = 119.20
Paid: 64.62


This was all from Shaws. They have a deal this week that if you buy 4 boxes of certain cereals you will get a coupon for a free gallon of milk up to a value of 4.50. Separate your purchase so you can get the milk right away. If you buy the shoppers value brand milk, you will end up with extra room on the coupon they give you. Throw something else in that purchase to get something else for free! 


Remember that shaws will double manufacturers coupons (even if it says do not double) if the coupon is UNDER 1.00! I used 12 coupons for the cereal, all of which were doubled. In the end I paid about $1.00 per box of cereal. Therefore, I paid $12 and got 12 boxes of cereal, 3 gallons of milk and a box of crackers! 

Welcome!

I've been getting a lot of questions on how I am doing with my couponing. I have some friends joined up on a facebook group where we can share our findings, but I realize that I don't want strangers on my facebook, so... I've now started a blog! I'll post the same information there as I do here!

I recently sent a friend a message me wondering where I get all my coupons, so I typed up the process I went through to get started. Keep in mind, I am still learning! I don't have this all figured out, but I feel that I must share what knowledge I have! So here goes, hopefully you can benefit from this as much as I have already!
So here goes...

You definitely have to find the newspaper in your area that on Sundays gives you Redplumb and Smart Source. Also every few months there’s one called P&G.

If you can get people to give you their coupon that they won’t use you can save even more money. If not, just buy several papers so you get copies of the coupons.

Here are the steps that got me going. 

1.) I started with the Krazy Coupon Lady web site. Just Google her. She'd got a link for beginners, look through that.

2.) Start your own binder. A little coupon book is NOT enough. I use the Krazy Coupons Ladys (KCL) because it’s pretty extensive. You can just print it out from her website, or design your own, but she’ll give you some good ideas. You'll need to pick up some baseball card inserts so you can organize your coupons.

3.) Get daily emails from blogs, KCL has one, Iheartriteaid, IheartCVS, iheartwags, Dealseekingmom, athriftymom, $5dinners, venessasvalues, coupondivas,  - Keep in mind that there may be blogs geared for your region, just do a bit of research. I filter all their emails in to one folder in my email account to keep my inbox uncluttered. Spend ten minutes each day glancing through them. Write down deals you can use and ignore those you can't.

4.) Get the coupons sites. Coupons.com, couponnetwork.com, couponsurfer, redplum, smartsource I often use the ecoupon database from the Krazy Coupon Lady. She links to just about anything you might need. Other blogs have good databases as well, I’ve just yet to use them.

5.) You MUST get the rewards cards for the stores you use! Riteaid, CVS, Walgreens, Shaws, Hannaford… I don’t know what else you have down there but check it out. Use a keychain, or one of those goody metal hair tie rings and punch holes in the cards and keep them together. There are too many for a standard wallet, and you don’t want to make them look your number up every time! It’s easier to just scan the card.

6.) STOCKPILE! Couponing will save you a little money here and there for certain, but if you can clear some space where you live, or get a friend to let you stick a shelf in their garage or basement you can make a stock pile. So when you find something your family needs for a cheap price or even free, you can get ten or more of them, and that way you don’t have to buy them at full price when you’re in need! The stockpile is how you save the most money. I’m just starting mine.

Remember, some deals I get you can too, but some you won’t be able too, since some stores do them by region, and you may not be in my region.

As a side note, don’t throw away your expired coupons, militarily families stationed overseas can use them at commissaries for six months beyond the date. The KCL sends hers to a rep in the US who will send them all to Okinawa Japan, to the US Air Force base. I will be doing that, since I happen to like Okinawa… I was born there, on that base.

Here is the information for sending your coupons off. It’s much cheaper to send it to the US than to Japan, so this is great, and you get to bless others by giving them access to savings they otherwise can’t get.

KCL Overseas Coupon Program
c/o Andrea Ponder
30865 Shelton Rd.
Parma, ID 83660

If you have questions let me know! I’d be happy to help out!